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CANBERRA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Australian scientists have discovered a new target protein that could enable more precise and effective treatments for Hodgkin Lymphoma, a common blood cancer.

Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) revealed that the protein H2A.B, found normally only in sperm-producing cells, is hijacked by cancer cells in Hodgkin lymphoma patients, according to an ANU statement.

ANU Professor David Tremethick, who led the study, described H2A.B as "a rogue switchboard," actively reshaping gene expression, but since it's mostly absent in healthy tissues, targeting it could kill cancer cells while sparing normal ones.

"It's not just sitting on the DNA, it's actively reshaping how genes are read, how proteins are made, and even how the cancer cell's internal machinery is rewired to promote tumor growth," Tremethick said.

Co-author ANU Associate Professor Tatiana Soboleva said H2A.B is one of few proteins like it with the potential to be "druggable" to block its cancer-promoting actions.

The study, published in the journal Science Advances, was the first to reveal how H2A.B lets cancer cells take over gene networks normally active only during reproduction, the authors said.

The ANU team found that H2A.B partners with the SWI/SNF protein complex to activate genes, and blocking this partnership could stop its cancer-promoting effect. 
A WOMAN who spent the majority of her life in Hambleden has turned 100.

Jeanne Keene, who was born on July 14, celebrated her birthday at Chiltern Grange Care Home in Stokenchurch, where she now lives.

More than 40 friends and family members brought bouquets of flowers, presents and cards, and enjoyed an afternoon tea.

Mrs Keene was born in Aylesbury and remained there until she enlisted in the Land Army at around 20 years old, serving for three years in Marsh Gibbon, Bicester.

She said: Life was much easier than it was for most people because we had our own chickens, pigs and cows. We were not in an area that had the full force of any bombs but everybody was aware and we did things to help.

She completed a degree in rural science at Aberystwyth University before her first job in the Buckinghamshire Young Farmers Club.

In 1956, Mrs Keene joined the colonial service as a rural education officer at a college in Bauchi, Nigeria. Eight years later she was appointed principal of a new rural college at Minna.

She recalled: I was working at a college for ordinary teachers who wanted to try to learn how to control the soil and learn about sustainability and business. One of the best parts of the jobs was that we had to see whether they were putting what we taught them into practice.

Mrs Keene returned to England and married David, whom she had known during her days as a young farmer.

They spent more than 50 years at Colstrope Farm in Hambleden and celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2014.

Mrs Keene said: We supported various committees and ran things like the village hall. I also joined the Womens Institute, where I spent time as treasurer, secretary and president over the years.

She became the treasurer of the United Reformed Church in Pheasants Hill from 1970 until it closed in 2016.

She said: I was always supported by my faith, which ensured I was doing right through whatever I was doing. It helped me remain positive.

Her daughter Fran, who lives in Fingest, described her mum as an inspiration.

She said: I never thought I would have a mum whos 100, its amazing.

Mum and Dad gave us such a great childhood living and playing on the farm. We were so lucky.

They instilled a sense of community in us too, and Im now a trustee of Hambleden village hall.
Colombian authorities said Saturday that Ecuador had deported about 600 Colombian prisoners via a land border crossing, after Bogota protested the action came without prior agreement.

In 2024, Ecuadoran President Daniel Noboa announced his intention to deport Colombian inmates to ease overcrowding in the country's prisons. Small groups were transferred starting in April.

But Colombian President Gustavo Petro opposed the move, saying that a joint plan was needed to safeguard the prisoners' rights.

"In the morning, 603 people arrived, 60 women and 543 men, and we completed the reception of them" at the Rumichaca border crossing in Carchi province, Colombia's acting foreign minister Rosa Villavicencio said.

Authorities on both sides of the border had previously reported conflicting figures for the number of prisoners deported.

The inmates, wearing orange uniforms, waited in line to reenter their home country under the watchful eye of Ecuadoran police and military personnel.

Early in the day, some in shorts and t-shirts did exercises while waiting for their turn to cross the border in the chilly Andean air, saying "We want to cross, we want to cross."

On Friday, the government in Bogota lodged a formal complaint with Quito, saying such a move without prior agreement was a violation of international law and an "unfriendly gesture."

A source in the Carchi governor's office who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said the mass deportation began on Friday, and the 870 inmates slated at the time for expulsion represented about 60 percent of all Colombians in Ecuador's prisons.

Juan Morales, an official in the Colombian town of Ipiales, said that authorities had to scramble to handle the influx of people, because Ecuador had not informed them of the deportations.

Ecuador's foreign ministry said Saturday that Bogota was told about the plan on July 8.

The mayor of the border town of Ipiales, Amilcar Pantoja, told the media on Friday that prisoners without pending legal cases in Colombia would be released.

Drug trafficking gangs operating in Ecuador -- some involving Colombian criminals -- have turned the country into one of the most violent in Latin America.

The homicide rate has jumped from six per 100,000 people in 2018 to 38 in 2024, among the highest in the region.
ISTANBUL, July 27 (Xinhua) -- One firefighter died on Sunday as a forest fire in Turkiye's northwestern Bursa province continued to spread due to extreme weather conditions, Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.

According to Uraloglu, the firefighter had a heart attack while battling against the fire and then died at the hospital.

Meanwhile, according to Sozcu Daily, two forest officers suffered carbon monoxide poisoning during the blaze.

The fire, which broke out in two locations in Bursa on Saturday, rapidly expanded to three districts overnight due to extreme heat and strong winds. Temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius in Bursa on Sunday, with forecasts predicting a rise to 39 degrees on Monday.

The Bursa Governor's Office announced that a total of 480 households and 1,765 residents had been safely evacuated. Media reports said more than 100 hectares of land had been scorched.

Forest fires have broken out in various provinces since June 26. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said the public prosecutor has launched investigations into the incidents. "So far, 21 of the suspects taken into custody have been arrested, while judicial control measures have been imposed on 47 others," he said on social media platform X. 
BERLIN, July 27 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, expressing concern over the "catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza."

According to a statement from the German government, during the phone conversation, Merz urged an immediate ceasefire and called for urgently needed humanitarian aid to reach the starving civilians in Gaza swiftly, safely and at the required scale.

Germany will decide on its efforts to improve the situation in the coming days, in consultation with its E3 partners (France and Britain), as well as the United States and Arab nations, the statement said. 
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An infant in the northern Indian state of Bihar reportedly bit a cobra to death after it coiled around his hands.

The one-year-old boy, identified only by his first name Govinda, bit the cobra while he was playing at his home in the small town of Bettiah near the Indo-Nepal border, according to local news reports.

"When we saw the snake in the childs hand, everyone rushed towards him, but in the meantime, he already bit the snake, killing it on the spot," the childs grandmother told local news.

After biting the snake, the boy fainted and was rushed to a primary health care centre for initial treatment, after which he was taken to the towns Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH).

The boy, Govind Kumar, was referred here yesterday by the primary health centre close to his village where he was rushed by family members after he fainted soon after chewing on the live snake, hospital superintendent Duvakant Mishra told Indian Express.

The venoms effects were reportedly mild, only knocking the boy unconscious, but not fatal.

"Timely treatment saved Govinda's life," Saurabh Kumar, a doctor of the government hospital, told the Times of India.

"The child's condition is currently stable and treatment is being administered under the supervision of doctors. The medical team is treating the child, providing continuous medication, and he is under observation, Dr Kumar said.

Govinda reportedly is being closely monitored at GMCH Bettiah with treatment for poisoning expected to start if he started showing any symptoms, according to local news reports.

Cobra is displayed at the Irula snake-catchers cooperative on the outskirts of Chennai ( AFP via Getty Images )

India has around 300 species of snakes, including 60 highly venomous snakes such as the Russells vipers, kraits, and the saw-scaled viper, which are responsible for most of the bite-related deaths.

The Indian cobra completes this list of the "big four" species responsible for the most snakebites in India.

The country recorded over a million snake bite deaths in just two decades from 2000-19, according to a study published in 2020 in the journal eLife.

More than two-thirds of the recorded deaths came from eight of Indias 28 states, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.
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At least six people died and several others were injured following a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in the northern Indian city of Haridwar, according to local news reports.

The stampede occurred at the staircase leading to the temple and the injured are being rushed to hospital, Indian news agency ANI reported.

Upon reaching the site, around 33 people were rescued, out of which 6 have died. The injured have been admitted to the hospital, senior police officer Pramendra Singh Dobal told Indias IANS news agency.

Some 29 people were injured from the incident, according to Mr Dobal.

Someone in the crowd shouted about an electric current on the pathway around 9am, according to reports.

"Since the path is narrow and meant only for foot traffic, confusion and panic spread instantly," local priest Ujjwal Pandit told AP.

"A wall along the path is also suspected to have worsened the crowd bottleneck," he said.

The temple town receives a large influx of pilgrims between July and August every year, especially at the Manasa Devi temple, with local reports suggesting there was an overwhelming crowd this year.

The incident reportedly occurred after a high-voltage electric wire fell on a temple path, triggering panic among devotees.

"At around 9 am, we received information about a stampede on the pedestrian road towards Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, the temple towns district magistrate Mayur Dixit told PTI news agency.

The states chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared on X that relief and rescue operations are being closely monitored.

Relatives stand outside a hospital as the injured from temple stampede were brought, in Haridwar, India ( AP )

It is extremely distressing to receive news of a stampede on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, the chief minister said in a post on X.

Local police, and other rescue teams have reached the site and are engaged in relief and rescue operations, Mr Dhami said.

This is the latest in a string of stampedes at Hindu religious gatherings in India.

Last month, at least three people were killed and nearly 50 injured in a stampede after a crowd went out of control at a religious gathering in the eastern Indian city of Puri.

More than 600 people required medical assistance as they gathered for a temple chariot festival amid intense heat.

In February, 79 Hindu pilgrims died in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Indias Prayagraj, a toll far exceeding the official numbers, according to a local news investigation.

Pilgrims attempting to board a train to the same event at a New Delhi railway station were also caught in a stampede that killed over a dozen people.

In yet another incident in May, eleven people, including two children, who had come for a victory parade of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bengaluru died in a stampede.
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A microscopic discovery in a Californian lake ignited significant scientific debate over a decade ago.

Researchers claimed to have found bacteria utilising arsenic  an element lethal to known life forms  for growth. If validated, this would have profoundly expanded life's known parameters, on Earth and beyond.

However, numerous research groups failed to replicate the findings, arguing it is biologically unfeasible for an organism to use such a toxic element for DNA and proteins. Some scientists have since suggested the original experiments were compromised by undetected contaminants.

On Thursday, the journal Science, which first published the research, retracted it, though not because of misconduct on the researchers' part.

If the editors determine that a papers reported experiments do not support its key conclusions, even if no fraud or manipulation occurred, a retraction is considered appropriate, the journal's editor-in-chief Holden Thorp wrote in the statement announcing the retraction.

open image in gallery The researchers disagree with the journal's decision

The researchers disagree with the journal's decision and stand by their data. It's reasonable to pull a paper for major errors or suspected misconduct  but debates and disagreements over the findings are part of the scientific process, said study co-author Ariel Anbar of Arizona State University.

One doesnt retract a paper because the interpretation is controversial, or even because most disagree with the interpretation, wrote Anbar in an email. At least, that hasnt been the case until now.

Science has more frequently retracted papers for reasons beside fraud in recent years, said Thorp and Vada Vinson, Sciences executive editor, wrote in a blog post.

NASA helped fund the original work. The space agency's science mission chief Nicky Fox said in a statement that NASA does not support the retraction and encourages Science to reconsider.
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The mother of a victim of the Air India crash has spoken out about the heartbreaking moment she received the wrong body to bury in a botched repatriation scheme.

Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39, had been on the plane from Ahmedabad with his husband, Jamie, 45, after celebrating their wedding anniversary in India, when the plane to London Gatwick crashed less than a minute into the flight. Only one passenger survived when the Air India flight 171 lost power and hit a building, killing 260 people.

Mr Greenlaw-Meeks mother, Amanda Donaghey, told The Sunday Times it was heartbreaking to be sent the wrong remains. We dont know what poor person is in that casket. This is an appalling thing to have happened.

All the time, I feel like Im just standing on the edge of a black hole thinking, Has he been disposed of? Ms Donaghey told the newspaper. She had travelled all the way from the south of France to Ahmedabad on 17 June to find out what had happened to her son.

open image in gallery Fiongal (left) and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek (right) posted a video of them departing India shortly before the crash ( Instagram )

Families, including Ms Donaghey, were asked to supply DNA samples to help identify the remains of their loved ones because the nature of the crash saw temperatures reach 1,500C as a large fireball engulfed the area, which many of the victims had been burnt beyond recognition.

Having not slept for days, she went straight to the hospital and got the tests done with the hope she could bring Fiongal and Jamie home as soon as possible.

She was told the blood test would be analysed to track down Fiongal, which could take up to 72 hours to happen. After three days of searching, just as she was losing hope, Ms Donaghey was told there was a match for her son, which could finally bring his remains home to the UK.

She arrived back in London Gatwick with the assurance that her son was in the casket. But as the family was planning the funerals, police got in touch to say that a British coroner had run a second DNA test and the remains in Fiongals coffin were not his.

open image in gallery Only one person survived the plane crash, which killed 260 people ( Getty )

Family liaison officers met with Ms Donaghey, Fiongals father, sister and brother on 4 July, where they told the family they didnt have Fiongal, despite having carried out DNA tests.

The family has since spent every day on the phone with the Foreign Office trying to understand where their son is. They have been unable to lay Fiongal to rest with his husband as a result of this.

We would like to be able to do the rites necessary for Fiongal in order for us to move on as a family. And that is what is missing, Ms Donaghey told The Sunday Times. And we would now like the British government to do everything in its power to find out, and bring Fiongal home.

James Healy-Pratt, a lawyer representing several British families trying to bring back their loved ones, said the remains of at least 12 British victims had been repatriated.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to raise concerns over the errors during a meeting with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, during his state visit to the UK this week.

Air India said on Saturday that it stands in solidarity with the families and those affected by the AI171 accident.

A statement read: We continue to mourn their loss and remain fully committed to providing support during this difficult time. Over a month ago, Air India started releasing [an] interim payment of Rs 25 lakh (21,000) to the affected families, to help them meet their immediate financial needs.

The interim payment will be adjusted against any final compensation. Air India has, so far, released the interim compensation to the families of 147 of the 229 deceased passengers and also the 19 who lost their lives at the accident site.

In addition, the requisite documents of 52 others have been verified, to whose families the interim compensation will be released progressively.
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Two Jewish comedians have claimed their shows have been cancelled on the Edinburgh Fringe this year because of safety concerns from staff at the venue.

Rachel Creeger was set to perform her show Ultimate Jewish Mother at Whistlebinkies during the annual arts festival, while Philip Simon was due to host a Jew-O-Rama of Jewish comedic talents at the same venue. However, both acts claimed they were told their gigs would be cancelled because bar staff at the venue expressed fears of being unsafe.

Organisers of the Fringe said they were working to find alternative venues for the performers, but politicians and comedians have raised concerns about the move at a time when antisemitism is on the rise in the UK.

This would have been the third year in a row of that specific show at that venue, Ms Creeger told Times Radio on Sunday. When it comes to safety they said that they felt the extra safety precautions that many Jewish performers are subject to at the moment due to rising antisemitism made them feel, ironically, more unsafe.

The precautions included [that] when the extra police allocated for the festival had their beat patrols allocated they would pass by the beginning and the end of where Jewish shows were happening, so nothing invasive to the venue, and having some contact numbers by the phone in case they needed advice or to report any kind of antisemitic incident.

They also cited that they had increased graffiti in their venue since having us which they found threatening - were not sure why, we certainly werent the people creating the graffiti - but they claim that they had to repaint toilet doors where most of the graffiti was happening on a regular basis.

The shows are not political, we're not political performers.

open image in gallery Philip Simon claimed he was being cancelled just for being Jewish ( BBC )

Ms Creeger said that just last year, the venue had gone to great lengths to say the venue was a safe space and they would ensure the comedians always had a positive experience there.

While initially there had been plans to swap venues so they could still perform, it was too late to make these arrangements, The Telegraph reported. Their shows no longer appear on the Edinburgh Fringe listings website.

Mr Simon - who said that another venue in the city had also cancelled one of his shows - claimed that he was being cancelled just for being Jewish.

Anyone who knows me will know I have never expressed support for anything other than freeing the hostages and finding a way for peace, he said. It is sad to think that these views could conflict with anyone who wants to see a lasting peace in Gaza and Israel.

As a Jewish person living in Britain it is possible, and increasingly common, to have a love for Israel without supporting the actions of the government.

Israels deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel criticised the reported cancellations.

Its a shocking decision and it should be reversed, she told The Independent. This is further proof of the normalisation of antisemitism in the UK.

open image in gallery The two comedians have performed at Whistlebinkies before ( Google Streetview )

And shadow Scotland Secretary Andrew Bowie told Times Radio: That is a shocking state of affairs. Everybody should be welcome to this country, regardless of their faith, regardless of where theyve come from, to perform at the Edinburgh festival or anywhere else for that matter.

The very fact that is happening in the United Kingdom in 2025 speaks very ill of the state of affairs in this country and demonstrates what we were warning of a few years ago in terms of the rise of antisemitism in this country is real and something we should be combating at the very highest level.

The Independent has reached out to the Edinburgh Fringe, Free Fringe and Whistlebinkies for comment.

PBH Free Fringe CEO Luke Meredith told Chortle: The decision not to host the two shows was taken by the venue alone. So far as we understand, this was a staff decision based on last years experience when they experienced a significant rise in both Free Palestine and Zionist graffiti, together with police notices that they said made them feel unsafe.

The matter was first brought to our attention in late May, after the print deadline for the brochure had passed. I thought at the time that, having explained the police were only taking precautions and no actual threats had been made, and that moving them after they were already advertised in print might be detrimental, that the matter had been resolved. Apparently however it had been understood that we were to move the shows.

I was made aware of this a week ago and since then we have been working with the shows to try and find them a suitable replacement slot, including approaching other organisations. Nothing has been possible so far but we welcome any offer of help. If anyone has a space in central Edinburgh that would like to host them, we would be happy to run it.

This is not the first time that the Fringe has faced questions over alleged antisemitism. Last year, American standup comedian Reginald D Hunter found himself at the centre of an antisemitism row at the Fringe when two Israeli people were heckled and booed at his gig after they objected to a joke comparing Israel to an abusive spouse.
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Anti-racism protesters have marched through Epping in a show of solidarity with refugees, as tensions mount over a hotel being used to house asylum seekers.

Campaigners from Stand Up To Racism gathered outside Epping train station on Sunday afternoon before marching to The Bell Hotel.

The protesters were chanting Refugees are welcome here and Whose streets? Our streets as they made their way through the Essex town.

The demonstrators, some carrying placards that said Stop scapegoating refugees and migrants, were joined by volunteer security personnel after a series of violent protests in recent weeks.

Local residents watched from their driveways as the march passed by, while members of the group were seen trying to stop people filming the protesters.

Were happy to demonstrate but were not happy to be attacked by thugs, racists and hooligans, Weyman Bennett, co-convener of Stand Up To Racism, said.

open image in gallery Police have imposed strict measures to curb violence and disorder after what Essex Police described as an escalation of violence ( Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire )

A separate group of demonstrators, some waving Union flags, gathered near The Bell Hotel, which has been at the centre of protests sparked after an asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

Police confirmed that three people were arrested at the protest and counter-protest.

A 52-year-old man from Loughton was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence. It is understood the arrest was in connection with abuse being shouted towards counter-protesters.

A 53-year-old woman, also from Loughton, was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence connected with a previous protest, and it is understood she was part of the protest against the use of the hotel.

A 27-year-old woman from Deptford was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and a public order offence, and it is understood she was part of the counter-protest.

Essex Police have imposed strict measures to curb violence and disorder after what Essex Police described as an escalation of violence during protests since last week.

These measures include a ban on wearing face coverings, designated protest sites opposite the hotel, and a dispersal order in place from midday Sunday until 8am Monday, covering Epping town centre and nearby transport hubs.

open image in gallery A group of demonstrators, some waving Union flags, gathered near The Bell Hotel ( Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire )

The force said residents have reported feeling trapped, fearful of leaving their homes, and anxious about ongoing protest activity.

Hotel residents and staff have been advised to stay indoors after 5pm, following incidents of harassment, including a hotel resident who was chased and injured.

Essex Police added that officers had been assaulted and missiles were thrown. The hotel also sustained broken windows and graffiti during earlier protests, the force said.

The force said on Saturday that two more men have been charged and will appear in court after the disorder.

Lee Gower, 43, of High Street, Epping, was charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker on 17 July.

Joshua Meadows, 18, of Sunnyside Road, Epping, was charged with failing to remove an item worn and possession of cannabis on 24 July.

It comes after 10 people were charged in relation to the disorder, Essex Police said.

open image in gallery Hotel residents and staff have been advised to stay indoors after 5pm, following incidents of harassment ( Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire )

Meanwhile, there was a peaceful protest outside a hotel reportedly housing migrants in Bowthorpe near Norwich on Saturday.

Norfolk Police arrested two men in their 20s on suspicion of affray following demonstrations outside hotels in Diss and Bowthorpe last week.

There have also been protests outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf which is reportedly set to be used to offer temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

The Epping protest was sparked by the charging of asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, with sexual assault after he allegedly attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

He denied the charge at Chelmsford Magistrates Court and will stand trial in August.

Essex Police Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: "I want to thank those who attended for the peaceful nature of both protests.

"Our role is to ensure that you can express your democratic right to protest safely and lawfully and we had a proportionate and robust plan in place to ensure that could happen.

"I am pleased that today has passed off without incident and I am grateful to our colleagues from other forces for their support."

Weyman Bennett, co-convener of Stand Up To Racism, told the PA news agency that volunteer security personnel accompanied them.

He added: "We're happy to demonstrate but we're not happy to be attacked by thugs, racists and hooligans."
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When we look at how people vote in elections and why they choose certain parties, analysis often focuses on age, education, location or socioeconomic status. Less discussed in Britain is religion. But close to two-thirds of its adults are still religious  expressing either a religious identity, holding religious beliefs, or taking part in religious activities.

For the one-in-three adults in Britain who are Christian, this identity remains an important influence on their political behaviour. New polling, published here for the first time, shows how Reform UK is disrupting our previous understanding of how Christians vote in British elections.

The relationship between Britains Christian communities and the major political parties goes back centuries. The Conservative party has been very close to English Anglicanism since its emergence in the mid-19th century. Catholics and free-church Protestants (such as Baptists and Methodists) have tended towards the Labour and Liberal/Liberal Democrat parties. Even as Britain has become more secular, these relationships have persisted.

Anglicans, for example, have tended to vote Conservative even when the party was in dire straits. In the 2024 election, 39% of Anglicans voted Tory even as the partys national vote share fell to 24%.

Since the 1980s and particularly in elections since 2015, however, we have started to see changes to the Christian vote. The traditional Catholic attachment to Labour has deteriorated, as has Labours appeal to other Christian communities such as Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians.

open image in gallery ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

Instead, driven by the rising salience of social values (attitudes towards immigration, social change and national identity) as a determinant of political support, the socially conservative leanings of some Christians of all stripes has led to increased support for the Conservatives. And those who traditionally did so  the Anglicans  have become even more supportive. The result has been a steady coalescing of the Christian vote behind the Conservatives.

But now, new polling by YouGov (on June 23-24 2025) for the University of Exeter reveals that this realignment is being disrupted by the growing popularity of Reform UK.

Instead of asking who people would vote for tomorrow, a nationally representative sample of 2,284 adults was asked how likely they were to ever vote for each major party, on a scale from zero (very unlikely) to ten (very likely).

While not the same as a direct question about how someone would vote in an election, the likelihood question provides a much richer measure of the strength of their support for all of the major parties.

Among Anglicans, Labour remains deeply unpopular: over half gave the party a 0. In contrast, the Conservatives still enjoy strong support among Anglicans, with 35% giving them a vote likelihood of seven or higher  the kind of support associated with voting for the party in an election.

Reform, however, has caught up. Despite only 15% of Anglicans voting Reform in 2024, 38% now rate their likelihood of voting for the party as high. Thats the same as the proportion who are strongly opposed to Reform  showing that while the party polarises Anglicans more than the Conservatives, Reform could win as much Anglican support as the Tories in an election.

Catholics show a similar trend. Labours traditional support is eroding: 40% of Catholics said they had zero likelihood of voting Labour, while 29% are strong supporters. As with Conservatives for the Anglican vote, Reform is almost level-pegging with Labour for the Catholic vote at 28%. It has even supplanted the Conservatives, of whom 22% of Catholics are strong supporters.

It is not yet clear why this is happening. The distinction of Christian (and non-Christian) voting patterns is not an artefact of age  there are many studies that prove this is the case.

It may be that Reforms stances on issues such as immigration resonate with Christians concerns to the extent that they are willing to set aside their historic party loyalties. Or it may be that Christians are as prone as other British voters to turn to Reform out of frustration with the performances of Labour and the Conservatives in office.

Swing voters and party competition

This data also shows the extent to which voters support for parties overlaps or is exclusive. In other words, which voters have a high vote likelihood for only one party (and so are likely committed to backing that party in an election), which do not have such high likelihoods for any party (and so will probably not vote at all), and which have similarly high likelihoods for more than one party (effectively swing voters, persuadable one way or the other).

Among the religiously unaffiliated, 29% arent strong supporters of any party. For Catholics, its 26%. Anglicans are more politically anchored, however, with only 20% in this category.

While traditionally, we would have expected this to reflect Anglicans greater tendency to support the Tories, only 17% of Anglicans are strong supporters of only that party, compared with 21% who are firmly behind Reform. These arent swing voters; theyve switched sides.

A further 12% of Anglicans have high vote likelihoods for both the Tories and Reform. These are swing voters that the two parties could realistically expect to win over.

Catholics are even more fragmented. Only 13% are strong supporters of Labour alone, along with 12% and 17% who are strong supporters of the Conservatives and Reform alone, respectively.

Few Catholics are torn between Labour and the other parties, but 5% are swing voters between the Conservatives and Reform: the Tories gradual winning over of Catholics over the last 50 years is also being challenged by the appeal of Reform.

The party has provided a socially conservative alternative to the Conservatives, with the result that the Christian vote has become more fragmented. The Tories are no longer the main beneficiaries of Labours loss of its traditional Catholic vote.

In addition, Reform is as popular as the Conservatives among Anglicans, and as popular as Labour among Catholics. This suggests it is appealing across the traditional denominational divide more successfully than either of the major parties.

If there is to be a single party that attracts the bulk of Britains Christian support, at this point it is far more likely to be Reform than anyone else.

Stuart Fox is a Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Exeter.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Firefighters are battling a significant blaze at a factory after 20 tonnes of tyres reportedly caught fire in the West Midlands.

More than 70 firefighters have been at the factory on Great Bridge Street, between Tipton and West Bromwich, after West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) was called to the scene around 10.40am.

Seventeen fire engines have been sent to the site, along with several specialist resources. No casualties have been reported.

Members of the public warned to stay away from the area, as the fire has sent a thick plume of smoke into the air. One social media user posted on X that it could be seen from as far away as Bilston, about four miles away.

The fire involves a single story unit measuring 100 m by 100 m, WMFS said. They added that good progress was being made in tackling the blaze, with support from police and the ambulance service. Firefighters are working to prevent the fire spreading and to contain the blaze.

A drone team was on site alongside a hydraulic aerial platform and a high volume pump team.

Local residents and businesses have been advised to keep doors and windows closed, as there is large volumes of smoke in the area.

Representatives from National Grid, Severn Trent, the Environment Agency and Sandwell Council were also at the scene.

A West Midlands Fire Service spokesperson said:

We have 15 crews in attendance at Great Bridge Street, Great Bridge, where they have responded to a Factory Fire. Please avoid the area, where possible.
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Muslim women have spoken about how wearing the hijab is empowering in the face of a new poll that has revealed almost half of Britons believe that women are pressured into putting it on.

The survey found 49 per cent of the British public believe Muslim women wear the hijab due to family or community pressure, while just a quarter (26 per cent) see the decision as a personal choice.

The new YouGov survey  which was commissioned by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and involved polling 2,130 UK adults earlier this month  comes as more than 20,000 Muslim women gather at the countrys biggest Muslim convention, Jalsa Salana UK.

Dr Munazzah Chou, 40, one of the over 6,000 female volunteers at Jalsa Salana helping to run a tent city on 210 acres of Hampshire farmland, told The Independent she started wearing the hijab at the age of 16. There are many choices we make every day, she said. I have made the choice to wear the hijab, as an expression of my religious beliefs.

open image in gallery Munazzah Chou (left) with Iffat Mirza-Rashid, who described the hijab as making a statement about who you are ( Nooresahar Ahmad )

Her words were echoed by Dr Maleeha Mansur, who felt the hijab was empowering.

Responding to the findings, the 36-year-old obstetrics and gynaecology registrar from Uxbridge, west London, said: Im not surprised by the results, but its disheartening, because I wish people would listen to how Muslim women actually feel.

The women we spoke to at Jalsa Salana believe that wearing the hijab is a liberating choice.

Wearing the hijab is a choice like any other, and the hijab enables us to feel spiritually grounded in a world that is materially oriented, said Dr Chou, an ophthalmologist from Farnham, in Surrey.

Its empowering because when Im going about my day-to-day life, I dont have to think or worry about appearances  I don't think thats the most important thing, echoed Dr Mansur, who is also a teaching fellow at the Nuffield Department of Womens and Reproductive Health at the University of Oxford.

Its empowering because I choose who gets to see my beauty and who doesnt.

open image in gallery Dr Maleeha Mansur, 36, said she found the new research disheartening ( Dr Maleeha Mansur )

The survey results also showed that the majority (53 per cent) of Britons believe that Islam is not compatible with British values. And a stark disparity was found between the number of people who view Muslim immigrants negatively (41 per cent) compared to Christians (7 per cent), Jews (13 per cent), Sikhs (14 per cent) and Hindus (15 per cent). Meanwhile, almost a third of the British public (31 per cent) believes Islam promotes violence, according to the research.

At Jalsa Salana, the Union Jack will be raised along with an Islamic flag to mark the beginning of a three-day Muslim festival with over 40,000 people attending from across the world.

open image in gallery Muslim woman say wearing the hijab is a choice they make themselves ( FS-Stock/iStock )

The annual event, held by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, features a series of keynote addresses by His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Caliph and worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Attendees at this years event which also showcased exhibitions, bookstalls and a bazaar, insist that there is no conflict between being British and being Muslim.

Media narratives are to blame for the rise in misconceptions, believes Dr Chou. Public perceptions are not formed in a vacuum. I do think that media coverage of Muslim women perpetuates the idea that we are other rather than fully fledged members of society.

open image in gallery There are over 6,000 female volunteers at Jalsa Salana helping to run a tent city on 210 acres of Hampshire farmland ( Bareera Ghaffar )

Iffat Mirza-Rashid, 26, a doctoral student at Cambridge University, said of her decision to wear the hijab:

Look at society today  theres a lot of pressure on women to look a certain way. The hijab is a powerful response and resistance to that sort of pressure. It encourages the people around us to see us for who we are, rather than what we look like  and thats really empowering.

The comparative literature researcher continued: Its just a piece of cloth  but then its so much more, because its a reflection of your beliefs. Its powerful to be able to express your beliefs because you can make a certain statement about who you are and what your priorities are.
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The Scottish National Party (SNP) is set to intensify pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, threatening to compel a parliamentary vote on the recognition of Palestinian statehood by the UK.

Stephen Flynn, the SNPs Westminster leader, announced plans to introduce a "Palestine Recognition Bill" in the House of Commons once Parliament reconvenes from recess, unless the Prime Minister alters his stance on the issue.

This move follows a cross-party letter signed by 221 MPs, predominantly from Labour, but also including Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP, and Independents, urging the Government to take this significant step.

Sir Keir has faced mounting pressure after French President Emmanuel Macron announced France would formally recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, amid global anger at starvation in Gaza.

The SNP said it would table the Bill to coincide with the gathering of world leaders, and Mr Flynn said the Government could not stand idly by in the face of what is happening.

open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer ( PA Wire )

The Prime Minister has committed to recognising Palestinian statehood but said it must be part of a peace process in the Middle East.

Unless Keir Starmer stops blocking UK recognition of Palestine, the SNP will introduce a Palestine Recognition Bill when Parliament returns in September and force a vote if necessary, Mr Flynn said.

He added: Keir Starmer must stop defending the indefensible, finally find a backbone and demand that Israel ends its war now.

Close attention will be paid to how any potential vote plays out, after the Commons descended into chaos last February when the SNP used one of its Opposition Day Debates to press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Labour, then the official opposition, responded by tabling an amendment to the motion with different wording, and the then-Tory government put forward a separate one calling for an immediate humanitarian pause.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle came under fire at the time for breaking with convention to select both the Labour and Government, which he said was to give MPs the widest range of options to consider.

The SNP said they were being denied an opportunity to have a vote on their motion, which was originally meant to be the focus of the debate, and the Speaker later apologised.

The Government has been contacted for comment.
UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday urged Cambodia and Thailand to agree to a ceasefire.

Guterres urges both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the dispute, said Farhan Haq, the UN chief's deputy spokesperson, in a statement.

Guterres "is deeply concerned about the continuation of armed clashes at the border between Cambodia and Thailand since 24 July," he said.

"The Secretary-General condemns the tragic and unnecessary loss of lives, injuries to civilians and the damage to homes and infrastructure on both sides," Haq said. The UN chief "remains available to assist in any efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the dispute."

On his social media platform Truth Social Saturday, Trump said that he has spoken to the Prime Minister of Cambodia and the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand to request a ceasefire between the two countries.

Thailand and Cambodia both want to have an immediate ceasefire and peace, according to Trump.

Trump also said the United States is currently dealing with trade with both countries, but he doesn't want to make any deal with either country if they are fighting.

"After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see," he noted.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday reiterated Cambodia's willingness for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" between the armed forces of Cambodia and Thailand after the phone discussion with Trump.

Thailand on Sunday also responded to Trump's call for a ceasefire, saying that the country agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place but would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.

Gunfire continued to be heard along the Thailand-Cambodia border in the early hours of Sunday, the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand reported, citing Thai army sources.

Clashes in the border areas between Cambodia and Thailand began on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors on Friday afternoon to deal with the clashes at the request of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. 
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Some of Europes top music festivals will feature half as many British acts as they did before Brexit this summer, as red tape continues to hammer the music industry.

Sir Elton John is among those who have warned that the UKs departure from the EU has caused a logistical nightmare and placed leg irons on travelling musicians.

Last year he warned the issue risks jeopardising artists futures and the UKs status as a cultural force, saying he was horrified.

Now new figures show fans in France, Spain, Germany and Denmark will miss out as the number of British acts on the bill in some of Europes biggest festivals plummets.

Sir Elton John is among the world-famous British artists who have warned about the impact of Brexit on the industry ( PA Archive )

The analysis found that, on average, the number of British musicians who have played, or are scheduled to play, European festivals this summer has fallen by a quarter, compared to 2017-2019.

The study looked at four major music festivals: Benicassim in Valencia, Lollapalooza in Berlin, Rock en Seine in Paris, and Roskilde Festival in Denmark.

Overall Benicassim saw the biggest drop, with 58 per cent fewer British acts taking to the stage in Spain, the analysis by Best for Britain found.

Industry leaders and musicians have highlighted that increased paperwork and costs are still damaging opportunities, particularly to take up last-minute slots.

At the same time, British venue operators have warned of their struggle to attract EU-based artists.

Earlier this year hundreds of music industry professionals signed an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen calling for action.

Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best for Britain, which campaigns for closer UK-EU ties, said: From legends like the Beatles, Queen and David Bowie, via Britpop stars Oasis and Blur, to modern icons like Amy Winehouse, Adele and Raye, Britain is world famous for our incredible musical legacy  with live performances the lifeblood of the industry.

Barriers for touring artists are bad news: for acts, audiences, and ultimately the UKs vibrant 7.6bn music industry, meaning a further hit to our squeezed economy, not to mention the dimming effect on our soft power around the world. The government must urgently examine what scope there is to address these challenges  and work with our partners in Europe to implement solutions.

Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the Independent Society of Musicians, said: Brexit is bad for UK musicians, European events and live music lovers across Europe. As this research shows, opportunities for emerging as well as much-loved acts are disappearing, which is a situation that cannot continue.

Labours election manifesto committed to sorting out the issues for touring musicians following Brexit.

UK Music chief executive Tom Kiehl said: The rising costs and extra red tape involved in touring the EU post-Brexit is a huge challenge for the whole UK music eco-system, ranging from musicians and artists to technicians, engineers and crew.

Earlier this year The Independent also revealed that Brexit had created a mind blowing 2 billion extra pieces of paperwork  enough to wrap around world 15 times.

Brexit is also on course to cut UK trade by 15 per cent, the governments independent financial watchdog has warned.

A government spokesperson said:"We are proud of the international reputation of our arts and creative industries. We continue to explore how best to improve arrangements for touring across the European continent with the EU and EU Member States."
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Kemi Badenoch has offered to work with the Labour government in the national interest to tackle the militant doctors strike  but only if Keir Starmer reverses a key election pledge.

With resident doctors  previously called junior doctors  in the middle of a five-day strike over their demand for a 29 per cent pay rise, the Tory leader has warned that people are going to die as a result.

And speaking to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News, she said the government needs to go back on its plans to scrap the minimum service guarantee during strikes which the previous Conservative government brought in to tackle striking doctors.

She also wants the government to ban doctors from going on strike in the same category as the police and military.

open image in gallery Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch wants doctors to be banned from striking, like the police ( PA Wire )

The row comes at a difficult time for the government with health secretary Wes Streeting facing a legal challenge from physician associates after he limited their roles at the same time as doctors going on strike.

But Ms Badenochs remarks have provoked fury among trade unions who have pushed the government to stick to its workers rights package.

They have also fuelled anger over the way Tory and Lib Dem peers are holding up the workers rights legislation in the House of Lords with more than 600 amendments proposed.

The bill is at its third and final reading with peers when they come back from the summer recess but looks set to be amended and sent back to the Commons for a rethink. There are fears that the delay by so-called ping pong between the two houses of parliament will mean that the package may not be implemented for months.

It is understood that before the election, chancellor Rachel Reeves had been in favour of watering down the workers rights package which is being pushed through by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. However, a last-ditch meeting with union leaders, Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Rayner before the manifesto launch saw the plan restored as a priority.

In her comments, Ms Badenoch made it clear that there will be a push to remove the part of the bill which will take away the minimum service guarantee.

She said: We need to bring this sort of strike action by doctors to an end. The Conservative Party is happy to work with Labour in the national interest, versus the BMA, which has become increasingly militant.

We need to introduce minimum service levels. Thats something that we brought in when we were in government. I did that as business secretary. Labour scrapped that. But this is the 11th strike that were seeing since 2023.

She pointed out that doctors had a 28 per cent pay rise last year, calling their demands for 29 per cent this year unrealistic.

open image in gallery Doctors on the picket line ( AFP/Getty )

Ms Badenoch added: What we need to look at is, who suffers. The last set of strikes meant that patients died. People die when these strikes happen. Its not a joke. And I dont think that Labour know how to negotiate.

Speaking later on the programme, BMA chair Dr Tom Dolphin insisted doctors do not want to strike.

He repeated the line that the dispute is about pay restoration because they have lost a fifth in the value of their salaries. And he warned that doctors are leaving the country to find better pay elsewhere.

He said the problem was that the government this time is insisting on senior doctors carrying out pre-planned operations during the strikes when they should be covering emergency care instead.

He said: Senior doctors cant be in two places at once. They cant both be looking after the planned-care patients and also looking after the emergencies. So of course, theyre going to go and look after the emergencies because theyre an emergency, and planned-care patients are going to end up being cancelled on the day.

Mr Streeting has blasted the BMA for trying to hold the country to ransom.

But unions warned the government against taking up Ms Badenochs offer and watering down workers rights legislation.

A TUC spokesperson said: Attacking the right to strike is not the way to resolve disputes  it will just escalate tensions.

Not one single employer has used minimum service levels since they were introduced under the last Conservative government  employers know they are unworkable and would poison industrial relations.

What is needed here is a negotiated settlement  not the Tory leader cynically and opportunistically stirring the pot.

Meanwhile, the physicians associates union UMAPs has sent Mr Streeting a pre-action letter notifying them of an intended judicial review claim. This comes after a decision to limit physician associate contracts following recommendations made in a review by Professor Gillian Leng which raised safety concerns because of a lack of qualifications.

They point out that physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) had previously carried out 20 million appointments a year and limiting their scope has played into the hands of striking doctors.

Stephen Nash, general secretary of UMAPs, said: It is hard to see Mr Streetings decision as anything other than an attempt to mollify the increasingly radical BMA, which has spent the last few years waging a vindictive and highly coordinated campaign against medical associates.

Now he has played right into the BMAs hands, preventing qualified medical professionals from treating patients properly so that their strikes bite even harder.
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Speaker Mike Johnson called on Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, to come clean and told Americans that he "hoped" she could be trusted as he faces the growing uproar around the White House's handling of the investigation.

Johnson appeared Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press, where moderator Kristen Welker asked him point-blank if the convicted sex-trafficker girlfriend of Epstein could be trusted to accurately testify about the crimes she and Epstein committed. Epstein was awaiting prosecution for sex trafficking underage girls after a previous conviction on similar charges when he died in federal custody.

Maxwell has been thrust back into the spotlight as the MAGA base has grown frustrated with President Donald Trump and his administration's shutting down of the so-called Epstein files release. Last week, a top Department of Justice official met with Maxwell about the case.

"Well, I mean, look; it's a good question. I hope so," Johnson told Welker in response. "I hope that she would want to come clean."

"I hope she's telling the truth. She is convicted, she's serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking. Her character is in some question....but if she wants to come clean now, that would be a great service to the country. We want to know every bit of information that she has."

open image in gallery Mike Johnson called a resolution aimed at forcing the release of the Epstein files 'reckless' but said he hopes Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell tells the truth in interviews ( NBC News )

The House Oversight Committee voted this week to issue a subpoena for Maxwell after the Justice Department announced its own plans to speak with her. Agency officials did so for nine hours between Thursday and Friday, after making a statement seeming to confirm that her testimony hadnt been aggressively sought before.

Some have called Maxwell to testify and suggested she should be given a pardon for sharing what she knows about the Epstein case. She was convicted of sexual abuse against minors and sex trafficking for helping Epstein carry out crimes.

Johnson touted the Oversight subpoena favorably Sunday, casting it as evidence that GOP leadership supported efforts aimed at transparency.

The Trump administration turned speculation about Epsteins death and the so-called Client List of his co-conspirators into a raging wildfire in early July. The Justice Department and FBI published a joint memo explaining that future releases from the files would not take place, and that the list of Epsteins accomplices was not found. Epstein was rumored to have cultivated personal relationships with many powerful men and institutions.

Critics of the president have alleged that a cover-up is in the works regarding the Epstein files. Democrats have hammered the president for his reversal, and a pair of scoops from the Wall Street Journal have reported on the presidents connections to Epstein, to Trumps fury. The newspaper reported the contents of a message allegedly penned by Trump to Epstein as part of a 50th birthday celebration in 2003, including allusions to a shared secret between them. Trump firmly denied authoring the note, and sued the Journal and its reporters in response.

A second article from the Journal days later reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that he was mentioned in the Epstein investigation multiple times, but it was not clear in what context. The White House called that story fake and has repeatedly insinuated that Democrats including Joe Biden tampered with evidence while Trump was out of office.

Being mentioned in the files does not mean wrongdoing, and hundreds of names are reportedly included.

open image in gallery Thomas Massie and Rho Khanna, co-authors of the House Epstein files resolution, appeared on Meet the Press on Sunday ( NBC News )

The lead GOP co-sponsor behind a House resolution that would force the Justice Department to release the entirety of its collected evidence related to Epstein said Sunday that his push was to help the convicted pedophiles victims and would only grow stronger in the coming weeks.

Earlier on the same network, Rep. Thomas Massie appeared alongside the resolutions lead Democratic co-sponsor, Rep. Ro Khanna, as the two promoted a resolution that would force Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials related to the Epstein and Maxwell investigations.

Massie told Welker that the release of the Epstein files is emblematic of what Trump ran for and explained that the presidents MAGA base expected results.

There seems to be a class of people beyond the law, beyond the judicial system...we all thought that when Trump was elected, he would be the bull in the china shop and break that all up, said Massie.

Massie went on to say that the Trump administration had lost his trust on the issue after publicly supporting transparency around the investigation, then doing an abrupt about-face. The administration is now calling on its supporters to move on from the issue and focus on hashing out issues with the 2016 Russiagate investigation instead of Epstein.

Top administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, also spent months calling for the very releases the Justice Department says it wont authorize.

People who were allegedly working on this werent sincere in their efforts, Massie said. Somebody should ask Speaker Mike Johnson, why did he recess Congress early so that he didnt have to deal with the Epstein issue?

Politics is the art of the doable. Theres enough public pressure right now that we can get 218 votes and force this to a vote on the floor, said Massie.

He also firmly rejected a DOJ memo explaining the administrations position against further releases of information from the Epstein files, despite the very public promises of Bondi and others to do the opposite. In the memo, agency officials said that explicit imagery involving children was intertwined throughout the files collected by the Justice Department.

Some have said the files should not be released to protect sex-abuse victims of both Maxwell and Epstein.

Thats a straw man [argument], Massie responded on Sunday, after Welker read part of the memo. Ro [Khanna] and I carefully crafted this legislation so that the victims names would be redacted, and that no child pornography will be released.
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Oklahomas Trump-loving top school official, known for mandating Bibles in every classroom, is now facing an investigation after naked women were seen on TVs in his office, according to reports.

What should have been a mundane Oklahoma State Board of Education executive session Thursday turned shocking after board members saw naked women appear on a TV screen behind Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction and board chair, in his office, according to The Oklahoman.

The Independent has reached out to Walters for comment. A spokesperson for Walters branded the incident as a "junk tabloid lie to the outlet.

Now, the states Senate has launched a porn probe.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton told the Oklahoma Voice that leadership at the agency is working through proper channels to initiate the investigation.

open image in gallery Naked women allegedly popped up on a TV screen during a meeting in the office of Oklahoma state Superintendent Ryan Walters, who has tried to ban books in school libraries that contain sexual content, which he deemed as pornographic ( Oklahoma State Department of Education )

This is a bizarre and troubling situation that raises serious questions about the events and what took place during yesterdays executive session at the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting, Paxton told the outlet in a statement. The accounts made public by board members paint a strange, unsettling scene that demands clarity and transparency.

Its not immediately clear who was responsible for showing the women. Some board members said Walters was facing away from the TV during the meeting.

His spokesperson told The Oklahoman: "Any number of people have access to these offices. You have a hostile board who will say and do anything except tell the truth, and now, the Wokelahoman is reporting on an alleged random TV cable image.

Becky Carson, a board member who attended the meeting, said she was "disturbed" by what she saw on TV.

I saw them just walking across the screen, and Im like, no. Im sorry I even have to use this language, but Im like, Those are her nipples. And then Im like, Thats pubic hair....I was so disturbed by itI was very stern, like Id been a mother or a classroom teacher. And I said, What am I watching? Turn it off now! she told The Oklahoman.

Walters then promptly shut it off, Carson told the outlet.

She added: "It looked like it was made in the 60s, maybe.

Fellow board member Ryan Deatherage, who also attended the meeting, said the TV was on throughout the session but the volume was turned down.

Quite frankly, I didnt know how to handle it. I was just in shock. I was being human and I didnt know what to think.  I kept thinking that it was just going to go away and so I quit watching it, he told the outlet.

open image in gallery The state Senate is now initiating a probe into the incident  a meeting that some school board members have called disturbing and bizarre ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

He told The Oklahoma Voice that Walters should be held to account.

We hold educators to the strictest of standards when it comes to explicit material, Deatherage told the outlet. The standard for the superintendent should be no different.

Walters has argued strictly against showing what he deemed pornography in schools.

Last year, Walters advocated for banning books that he claims contain pornography, such as the novel The Kite Runner, which contains sexual content. He threatened to lower the accreditation of a school district if it didnt remove such books from libraries shelves. Edmond Public Schools then filed a lawsuit against Walters.

"Edmond Public Schools not only allows kids to access porn in schools, they are doubling down to keep pornography on the bookshelves," Walters said in a statement.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school district last June, determining Walters and the states department of education overstepped.

Walters has also touted the teachings of the Bible. Last June, he issued a mandate requiring the historic text be a fixture in classrooms and curriculum for grades 5 through 12  across the state.

The left is upset, but one cannot rewrite history, he said last June.

Faith leaders and parents then sued Walters last October. The Mandate interferes with the parents ability to direct the religious and moral upbringing of their children. The children themselves face coercive instruction on religion in their public schools that is contrary to their own beliefs, the plaintiffs argued.

The state supreme court temporarily blocked the mandate in March.

Last week, however, he filed a motion with the states highest court, demanding it lift the stay.

The Left has launched an all-out assault on Christianity in this country and will stop at nothing to destroy the Bibles significance in our country and the principles that shaped this country, Walters said in a statement Tuesday. Students cannot fully understand American History without understanding the Bibles role in it, despite the liberal hysteria we continue to see.
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Darren Beattie, a top State Department official who was fired from the first Trump administration after speaking at a conference attended by white supremacists, has been appointed to lead the U.S. Institute for Peace, an independent nonprofit funded by Congress.

Beattie, who will continue serving as U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy while leading the institute as acting president, has a history of inflammatory views.

The former academic has lauded eugenics-style population control and mass sterilization, praised the Chinese Communist party and dismissed its repressive campaign against the Uyghurs, claimed the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol was a conspiracy by federal agents, and wrote on social media last year that competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work.

We look forward to seeing him advance President Trumps America First agenda in this new role, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

The Trump administration has tried to exert control over the peace-keeping organization as part of the presidents radical restructuring of federal agencies and diplomacy.

open image in gallery Darren Beattie, a former White House official who was fired in 2018 for speaking at a conference attended by white nationalists, now serves as a top diplomat in the State Department and has been appointed to lead the U.S. Institute for Peace, an independent nonprofit funded by Congress ( National Conservatism / YouTube )

In February, the president signed an executive order slashing most of the groups staff, part of a wider effort to drastically change U.S. tools of foreign influence and diplomacy that also saw the administration gut the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The following month, Elon Musks so-called DOGE initiative seized the peace institutes headquarters with the help of police and the FBI, ejecting staff from the building.

Staff members then sued over the takeover and mass firings, and a federal judge in May temporarily blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the institute.

The administration then appealed, and a federal appeals court in Washington last month returned control of the building to the administration as the legal process plays out.

open image in gallery Darren Beattie has a history of controversial statements, including praising mass sterilization and claiming the January 6 riot at the Capitol was a federal conspiracy ( U.S. State Department )

In March, Democratic members of Congress wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who sits on the board of the U.S. Institute for Peace, expressing alarm over Beatties appointment in February to his diplomatic post.

Darren Beatties white nationalist loyalties and public glorification of our adversaries authoritarian systems make him unqualified to serve as the top diplomat representing American values and culture to foreign audiences, the members wrote.

The Independent has requested comment from the State Department and U.S. Institute for Peace for comment.

After his dismissal from the Trump administration in 2018, Beattie returned to the government two years later, with the White House appointing him to the Commission for the Preservation of American Heritage Abroad, a body that preserves historical sites, including those related to the Holocaust.

The Biden administration forced Beatties resignation from the commission in 2022.

Beattie isnt the only Trump staffer welcomed back into the government after controversy over their views.

Marko Elez, a DOGE staffer who previously praised eugenics, declared himself racist before it was cool, and said he wanted to normalize Indian hate, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal, resigned from the administration in February, but soon found a new position in the Social Security Administration.
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Donald Trump, who has regularly indulged in conspiracy theories alongside his supporters during his rise to power, complained on Sunday that its Democrats that are too focused on conspiracy theories.

Trump, whose administration is under scrutiny over its handling of Jeffrey Epstein investigations, claimed that all they know how to do is talk and think about conspiracy theories and nonsense.

If they'd waste their time talking about America being great again, it would be so much nicer, the president said during a meeting in Scotland on Sunday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Trump himself has long employed conspiracies as a candidate and then president, from becoming one of the leading proponents of the Obama birther conspiracy to playing into his supporters fixation with the QAnon movement.

On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump continued this trend, latching onto a baseless and racist conspiracy theory that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating neighborhood pets.

open image in gallery Donald Trump vented frustration on Sunday over Democrats talking about conspiracy theories, a likely reference to the ongoing push to release more of the Jeffrey Epstein files, even as the Republican has accused former president Barack Obama of leading a treasonous coup against him for investigating Russia efforts to influence the 2016 election ( REUTERS )

Now, after years of courting conspiracy theories about his opponents, the spotlight has turned on Trump over Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting a federal trial on sex trafficking charges

The administrations handling of materials related to Epstein investigations  disclosing an initial tranche of information that was mostly already public earlier this year, then suggesting it would not provide further releases, even as recent reporting further highlighted Trumps longstanding relationship with the late financier  has driven a rare wedge between Trump and his base.

The Epstein scandal has also provided ammunition to Democrats to scrutinize the president.

Pressure reached such a fever pitch that House Speaker Mike Johnson sent Congress off to its summer recess early, temporarily averting a bipartisan push to release more Epstein files.

open image in gallery Trump and his allies have taken a variety of stances on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, at first promising to release more Epstein files, then suggesting no more releases were appropriate, then asking a court to unseal Epstein-related grand jury testimony, even as the Justice Department looks to shut down a key Epstein associates appeal at the Supreme Court ( Getty )

Despite Trumps protests, the issue doesnt look set to settle anytime soon, after Epsteins longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors, was subpoenaed to testify in Congress and gave an interview to the Department of Justice.

Amid continued furor over the Epstein case, the Trump administration has asked a judge to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the alleged trafficker while opposing Maxwells bid at the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction.

The Epstein saga appears set to continue, as does Trump and his allies insistence that conspiracies are at work to thwart the MAGA movement.

The president has taken to describing the 2016 investigations into whether Russia collaborated with this presidential campaign as a coup orchestrated by Barack Obama, while Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has called for the former president to face criminal charges for the treasonous conspiracy.

Obamas office has called the claims a ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.
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President Donald Trump and his White House are influencing GOP congressional candidates and advising who to run and who to stand down as Republicans try to keep control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections next year.

The White House is strategizing to make sure Republicans win enough seats and is putting together a 2027 policy agenda so Trump, who plans to join candidates on the campaign trail, can explain what continued GOP control of the House, Senate and the White House could look like, a White House official told Politico.

This strategy includes telling which Republican candidates to run for office and which to stay put, the official said.

For example, Iowa Republican Rep. Zach Nunn was weighing a gubernatorial run when the president told him to stay put, the outlet reported. Nunn this month announced he was running for re-election.

After prayerful consideration with his family and the strong support from President Trump, Zach is more committed than ever to maintaining the Republican majority and advancing the America First Agenda, the congressmans campaign spokesperson said. The president has also publicly endorsed Nunn.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and his White House have a hand in which Republican candidates races as they try to retain a GOP trifecta, according to a report ( AFP via Getty Images )

The president also advised Michigan GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga to avoid running for Senate. Trump instead publicly backed Senator Mike Rogers this week, saying he has my Complete and Total Endorsement  HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!

Earlier this month, Trump met with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst to encourage her to run for re-election, Politico previously reported. Questions about Ernsts political future swirled after her viral remark about proposed Medicaid cuts: We all are going to die.

President Trump is the unequivocal leader of the Republican Party  just look at those who have bet against him in the past because they are no longer around, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Politico. The President will help his Republican friends on Capitol Hill get reelected, and work to pick up new seats across the country.

Democrats are likely hoping for a repeat of the 2018 midterms, when they destroyed Republicans trifecta by taking control of the House during Trumps first term.

Im sure theres some memories from 2018, but its all about these last two years of his presidency and his legacy, and he doesnt want the Democrats nipping at his heels all the time for the last two years, Tony Fabrizio, the pollster for Trumps 2016 and 2024 campaigns, told Politico.

open image in gallery Trump met with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst to encourage her to run for re-election as questions swirl around her political future, according to a report ( Getty Images )

Trump has acknowledged the power he has to influence voters. He recently suggested holding rallies for candidates, two White House officials told the outlet.

The president reportedly told one of the officials last week: Were going to have to campaign in the states and really get out there a lot, huh? Because really, its just me that can pull them out in a lot of places.

Republican strategists have said they plan to use the threat of Trumps third impeachment, should Democrats take the House, to compel voters.

We know what the stakes are in the midterm elections, John McLaughlin, a Trump pollster, told NBC News this week. If we dont succeed, Democrats will begin persecuting President Trump again. They would go for impeachment.

The White House also plans to use its 2024 campaign strategy as a guide, targeting young and working-class voters that came out to support Trump in droves.

One of the main strategies is to put Trump on the ballot in the midterms, one of the White House officials told Politico. Well have a midterm agenda that were running on. Not only heres what weve done, but heres what were going to do next.

Democrats are eating up that idea.

Democratic National Committee spokesperson Rosemary Boeglin told the outlet: The White House has the DNCs full support in their plans to put Trump on the campaign trail with frontline Republicans to tell the American people that they took money out of their pockets, took food off their table, and took away their health care in order to give massive handouts to billionaires.
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German broadcaster WDR confirmed on Saturday that a statue of its iconic children's television mascot, 'Die Maus', was set on fire by vandals.

Known simply as 'Die Maus', the cartoon character is the eponymous star of 'Die Sendung mit der Maus' (The Show with the Mouse), a programme that has captivated audiences since its debut in West Germany in 1971. Its short episodes are renowned for their educational segments and inclusion of other languages.

The distinctive statue, depicting the character's famous orange body, brown ears, arms, and legs, serves as a welcoming figure for families and children visiting the media building in Cologne, Germany.

A receptionist for WDR saw several young people standing around the statue in Cologne on a camera feed overnight Friday into Saturday. She then noticed flames and called the fire department, WDR said.

The fire blackened parts of the mouse's face and arm, images show. The station said a police complaint had been filed against an unidentified person.

Matthias Kornich, head of children's programming for WDR, said it's not just a figurine that was damaged.

A piece of childhood, a symbol of joy and togetherness has been attacked, he said. The mouse belongs to Cologne.
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Several people were killed when a passenger train derailed in southwestern Germany near the town of Biberach, close to the border with France, German media reported on Sunday, citing security sources.

Police in Stuttgart, who were cited by media in initial reports of the crash, were not immediately available for comment. A picture published in German media showed carriages had left the tracks and rolled over.

Federal police told dpa that the severity of the injuries was not immediately clear.

Roughly 100 people were aboard the train when at least two carriages derailed in a forested area around 6:10 p.m. local time (1600 GMT), dpa reported.

The crash happened near the town of Riedlingen, dpa reported, roughly 158 kilometers (98 miles) west of Munich. Reports say there had been a storm in the area shortly before.

Storms passed through the area before the crash and investigators were seeking to determine if the rain was a factor.

There have been heavy rains here, so it cannot be ruled out that the heavy rain and a related landslide accident may have been the cause. However, this is currently the subject of ongoing investigations," said Thomas Strobl, interior minister of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg .

German chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was monitoring the situation. He wrote on X: The train accident in the Biberach district shocks me. I am in close contact with the Interior Minister and the Transport Minister and have asked them to support the rescue forces with all available means. We mourn the victims. I express my condolences to their relatives.
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Flames are closing in on Turkeys fourth-largest city as wildfires that have killed at least 14 people continue to ravage the country.

More than 1,500 people have fled their homes and one firefighter has died as overnight fires in the forested mountains surrounding Bursa, in northwest Turkey, have spread rapidly.

Flames have scorched 3,000 hectares around the city and more than 1,100 firefighters have battled the flames around Bursa, while the highway linking the city to the capital, Ankara, has been closed as surrounding forests burn.

A firefighter died from a heart attack while on the job, the citys mayor, Mustafa Bozbey, said in a statement. The governors office stated on Sunday that 1,765 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the northeast.

Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for the province, described the scene as an apocalypse.

By morning, lessening winds brought some respite to firefighters, who continued their efforts to battle the flames. However, TV footage revealed a barren landscape where farms and pine forests had earlier stood.

open image in gallery Temperatures reached 50.5C on Friday in Turkey ( AFP via Getty Images )

Some 14 people have died in recent weeks, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir in western Turkey.

Unseasonably high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have fuelled dozens of severe wildfires hitting the country daily since late June. The government declared two western provinces, Izmir and Bilecik, disaster areas on Friday.

Turkeys minister of agriculture and forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli, said fire crews across the country tackled 76 separate blazes on Saturday, 28 of which were in forests and 48 in rural areas, and the countrys northwest was under the greatest threat, including Karabuk, where wildfires have burned since Tuesday.

Mr Yumakli said Turkey broke an all-time temperature record on Friday of 50.5C in the southeastern city of Sirnak. Information published by the countrys General Directorate of Meteorology suggested that temperatures would rise by another 10 degrees from Saturday. The highest temperatures for July were seen in 132 other locations.

open image in gallery One politician called the fires apocalyptic ( AFP via Getty Images )

Justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said late Saturday that prosecutors had investigated fires in 33 provinces since 26 June, and that legal action had been taken against 97 suspects.

Minister Yumakli also shared a message to citizens: As the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, we are on the ground fighting forest fires with our planes, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles in the sky, our forest heroes on duty 24/7 on the ground, our land vehicles, AFAD, the provincial governors office, local governments, and non-governmental organisations.

We are ready, but the best way to extinguish fires  cost-free, problem-free, and without paying any price  is to prevent them from starting.
Key Points

Lockheed Martin's stock has declined due to concerns over its F-35 program.

These concerns appear overstated.

The stock offers a strong dividend and double-digit growth at a compelling valuation.

10 stocks we like better than Lockheed Martin 

Don't underestimate the value a dividend can bring to your portfolio.

Some people think dividend-paying companies are boring. While they aren't always flashy, a dividend is a badge of honor that signals the business is doing so well that it earns more profits than it needs. As a result, the business shares a portion of those earnings with investors.

The best companies can consistently increase their dividends, which generally requires continuous growth and success. Yes, that means they tend to make fantastic buy-and-hold stocks. That said, all stocks go through adversity at some point.

Famous defense and aerospace leader Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has tumbled 25% from its all-time high. Here's why investors may want to buy this dip and hold on to this magnificent dividend stock for the long haul.

Image source: Getty Images.

Why has Lockheed Martin declined so much while the broader market pushes to all-time highs?

It's generally an eyebrow-raiser when the stock of what many would consider an established company declines significantly while the broader market is doing well.

Lockheed Martin, in a way, is a publicly traded extension of the United States military-industrial complex. It's among the world's largest defense contractors, generating the vast majority of its revenue by selling various weapons and defense products used by the U.S. military and its allies on land, at sea, and in space.

The stock has lagged behind both the broader market and its defense industry peers in 2025. Investors appear concerned about Lockheed Martin's growth prospects after it lost its bid to build the sixth-generation Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet to Boeing.

Lockheed Martin's fifth-generation fighter jet, the F-35, is its flagship weapon program, but it has been criticized over the years for its numerous delays and massive price tag. The Air Force anticipates Boeing's upcoming jet, dubbed the F-47, could be operational sometime between now and 2029.

Don't write Lockheed Martin off just yet

The selling pressure on Lockheed Martin may be an overreaction, at least for now.

Even though the Air Force anticipates the F-47 taking flight by 2029, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be production-ready. If the F-35's numerous delays and cost overruns prove anything, it's how complex and challenging these machines are to perfect. A lot could change over the next several years, and the F-35 is still critically important in the meantime.
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A priest in Poland is accused of the brutal murder of a 68-year-old homeless man, prompting the Archbishop of Warsaw to formally request his defrocking by the Vatican. The victim was reportedly beaten with an axe and set on fire.

Prosecutors have charged the priest, identified only as Mirosaw M. in line with Polish privacy rules, with murder committed with particular cruelty. He is currently being held ahead of trial and faces a potential sentence ranging from 15 years to life imprisonment.

Investigators allege that Mirosaw M. and the victim, Anatol Cz., were together in a car late on Thursday when an argument escalated, according to Aneta Gozdz, a spokesperson for the Radom District Prosecutors Office.

The fight stemmed from a donation agreement where the priest had agreed to provide lifelong assistance and care for the man, Gozdz said in a statement. The argument escalated over the homeless man's future housing.

open image in gallery A crowd gathers in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, where newly elected Pope Leo XIV will deliver a blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, May 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, File) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The priest allegedly struck the victim on the head with an axe, doused him in flammable liquid and set him on fire, the spokesperson said. The priest then drove away when he saw a bicycle light approaching.

The cyclist found the victim engulfed in flames and called for first responders, Gozdz said.

An autopsy showed that the victim suffered burns covering 80% of his body and head injuries caused by a sharp-edged heavy object, Gozdz said.

Warsaw Archbishop Adrian Galbas on Saturday requested the Holy See to dismiss the priest from the priesthood, the highest penalty in canon law for a cleric.

The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have parachuted aid into the Gaza Strip as the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory deepens.

Israel said on Sunday that it would halt military operations each day for 10 hours in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors into the strip. Israel has been facing growing international criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomed the pause but said it was long overdue and called for land routes to be opened urgently, warning that air drops alone cannot alleviate the needs of those desperately suffering in Gaza.

open image in gallery An aircraft drops humanitarian aid packages over the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel ( Reuters )

Military activity will stop from 10am to 8pm until further notice in al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area that stretches along the coast, as well as in the central city of Deir al-Balah, and in Gaza City, to the north.

The military said designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will also be in place between 6am and 11pm, starting from Sunday.

Jordan and the UAE delivered 25 tonnes of aid by parachute in the first airdrop in months. Palestinian health officials in Gaza City said at least 10 people were injured by falling aid boxes.

The Egyptian Red Crescent also said it was sending more than 100 trucks carrying 1,200 metric tonnes of food to southern Gaza.

Aid groups have warned of mass hunger among Gazas 2.2 million people, and international alarm has grown.

The United Nations food agency welcomed the steps to ease aid restrictions, but said that a broader ceasefire is needed to ensure that the goods reach everyone in need. Unicef called it an opportunity to save lives.

open image in gallery Israel has faced growing calls to deal with the aid crisis ( Reuters )

The World Food Programme said the pause could allow a surge of urgently needed food aid. It added on X that it has enough food already in or on its way to the region to feed Gazas population for almost three months.

Dr Muneer al-Boursh, the director general of Gazas health ministry, called for a flood of medical supplies and other goods to help treat child malnutrition.

This [humanitarian] truce will mean nothing if it doesnt turn into a real opportunity to save lives, he said. Every delay is measured by another funeral.

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said staff would step up efforts to feed the hungry during the pauses in the designated areas.

Our teams on the ground ... will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window, he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

open image in gallery Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City ( AP )

Meanwhile, health officials at al-Awda and al-Aqsa Hospitals in Gaza said Israeli firing had killed at least 17 people and wounded 50 people waiting for aid trucks on Sunday. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Dozens of Palestinians have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to officials in the Hamas-run territory. The Gaza health ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total number of deaths from malnutrition and hunger to 133, including 87 children.

Israel is facing increased international pressure to end the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, after US-led peace talks in Qatar were cut short on Thursday.

Washingtons special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of having a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.

The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages, and the remains of 18 others, in phases, in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Aid supplies would be ramped up under the deal, and the two sides would negotiate towards a lasting truce.

Israel, which halted aid in March before partially reopening it in May under new restrictions, insists it must control shipments to prevent them from being diverted by militants.
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At least 57 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza in the last 24 hours, health authorities said as Israel announced a brief pause in military activity.

The majority of victims were killed by gunfire as they waited for aid trucks close to the Zikim crossing with Israel, The Guardian reported.

The Israeli military announced on Sunday a pause in military activity in three designated areas of Gaza. The pause will take place daily in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, from 10am (0700GMT) to 8 pm (1700 GMT) until further notice, the military said. Designated secure routes will also be in place permanently from 6am until 11pm, it added.

open image in gallery Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Aid trucks have started moving towards Gaza from Egypt, the Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said, after months of international pressure and warnings from relief agencies of starvation spreading in the Palestinian enclave. The UN and experts say that Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of famine, with reports of increasing numbers of people dying from causes related to malnutrition.

Australias prime minister Anthony Albanese was among those accusing Israel of breaching international law in blocking aid into Gaza, warning that his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, was losing support internationally. International activists who set sail on an aid ship from Italy to Gaza said in a post on X that their vessel had been intercepted.

Israel said "humanitarian corridors" would be established for the safe movement of United Nations convoys delivering aid to Gazans and that "humanitarian pauses" would be implemented in densely populated areas.

And now, for the first time in months, Israel said it is allowing airdrops with British prime minister Keir Starmer saying the UK was working urgently with Jordan to get British aid into Gaza.

open image in gallery People make their way towards trucks carrying humanitarian aid in western Jabalia ( AFP via Getty Images )

"The airdrops will include seven pallets of aid containing flour, sugar, and canned food to be provided by international organisations," the military said.

However, the UN has condemned the move, calling air drops a distraction and a smokescreen that risked causing more harm.

Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians. It is a distraction & smokescreen, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said in a post on X.

A manmade hunger can only be addressed by political will. Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements with dignified access to people in need, Mr Lazzarini said.

Dozens of Palestinians in Gaza have died of malnutrition in the past few weeks, including 85 children, since the start of the war, which began nearly two years ago.

open image in gallery International aid agencies have warned of the growing food crisis in Gaza ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Those killed by Israeli airstrikes on Saturday before the humanitarian pause included four people in an apartment building in Gaza City, hospital staff said.

The latest strikes came as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas hit a standstill. The US and Israel recalled their negotiating teams on Thursday, throwing the future of peace talks into further uncertainty.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he was considering alternative options to ceasefire talks with Hamas, without going into specifics.

open image in gallery An Israeli soldier stands beside humanitarian aid packages awaiting pickup on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing in the Gaza Strip ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks alongside the US, said the pause in peace talks was only temporary and that diplomacy would resume, though they did not say when.

In the UK, Sir Keir is facing growing calls to recognise a Palestinian state after French president Emannuel Macron indicated he would do so in September.

The British prime minister is set to meet US president Donald Trump on Monday, when Gaza will likely be among the topics they discuss behind closed doors.
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It is easy to mock the new party launched in a struggle between its joint figureheads, but that is no reason to pass up the chance. It takes a special skill for one figurehead (Zarah Sultana) to announce the founding of a new party only for the other figurehead (Jeremy Corbyn) to deny, a day later, that it had happened (discussions are ongoing).

Then, when Corbyn, three weeks later, announced that it was indeed time for a new kind of political party, which appeared to be called Your Party because that was the name of the website, Sultana snapped on social media: Its not called Your Party!

It turned out that Your Party was a placeholder name and the real name will be decided democratically at the inaugural conference, details TBC.

Mockery is always useful, because it reminds us how incapable the Corbynite tendency usually is at organising anything more complicated than a split. But it cannot be the whole story, because we know two other things.

One is that there is a big pool of potential support for soft Corbynism, if it can suppress the doctrinaire Marxism, the disdain for Britain and the accusation of antisemitism (denied by Corbyn, of course) that is never far from the surface.

The other is that Corbyns allies showed that they could, briefly, run a competent general election campaign when they came close to unseating Theresa May in 2017.

So the Not-Your-Party could be a force to be reckoned with. According to some opinion polls, it would take most support away from the Green Party, but it would also siphon votes away from Labour. It is all very well Peter Kyle, the science secretary, describing his former leader as not a serious politician, but Labour has to take the threat from the new party seriously.

It is doing so. Keir Starmer has been criticised  not least by Sultana  for copying Farage and thereby pushing Labour voters who are repelled by Reform in her direction. But I think this is to get Starmers strategy the wrong way round. He knows that part of Labours electoral coalition is repelled by Farage, but he wants to use that force of magnetic repulsion to try to keep hold of those voters, not to drive them away.

This is what might be called the Emmanuel Macron strategy. Macron twice fought off a threat from Jean-Luc Melenchon, the French equivalent of Corbyn-Sultana, by becoming the leading candidate against Marine Le Pen, the anti-immigration candidate of the party formerly known as the Front National.

In 2017, and again in 2022, Macron came top in a divided field (winning just 24 per cent and 28 per cent of the vote) in the first round, forcing voters to choose between him, a centrist with roots in the Socialist Party, and Le Pen, regarded with horror by polite French opinion. Each time, he won the run-off vote comfortably.

By running against Le Pen, Macron was able to unite a coalition stretching from Melenchon through Macrons former socialists to the remnants of the establishment conservatives.

Starmer wants to fight the next general election as, in effect, a presidential run-off contest between him and Farage. He knows that the threat of Farage as prime minister is his most powerful weapon.

Presenting the election as a contest between Starmer and Farage is the best way of squeezing not just the Corbyn-Sultana vote, but the Green Party vote and even that of the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.

The one point on which apologists for the Corbyn-Sultana party become evasive is when they are asked if they would be helping to let Farage in. That is the irresistible logic of the first-past-the-post voting system, but they have to try to deny it to keep their dream alive.

Most longstanding Corbynites understand this very well. That is why Corbyn was so reluctant to launch the new party, which some of his acolytes were keen to do the moment he won his Islington North constituency as an independent last year. He knows that the only reason he nearly succeeded in 2017 was that his supporters had taken over the Labour Party.

An outfit outside the party, on the other hand, will quickly discover that support for Gaza and anti-capitalism, however wide, is not deep. If Farages popularity holds up, the next election will be decided in seats that are contested between Labour and Reform; in those seats, a vote for the new party will be a vote for Farage.

It will be time, as Macron said in France, for all good people to rally to the cause of defeating anti-immigrant authoritarianism. That is a message that could work for Starmer here with voters otherwise tempted to vote Tory, Lib Dem, Green  and with voters attracted to whatever the Corbyn-Sultana party ends up being called.
partner content

EI's proof of concept initiative will also offer non-financial supports. Photo: Getty

Enterprise Ireland has launched a new proof of concept funding initiative, designed to support academic researchers with early-stage, high-potential innovations that need further validation before progressing toward commercialisation.

The funding  available through the agencys established Commercialisation Fund  offers up to 100,000 over 12 months to help researchers de-risk promising ideas and assess their commercial viability.

The initiative is open to researchers in third-level institutions across Ireland and is already accepting applications on a rolling basis.

This early-stage grant aims to address a critical gap in the business journey: helping researchers do the groundwork needed to attract a dedicated team and secure follow-on funding.

The grant can be used for key de-risking activities, including customer discovery, prototype development, early-stage human-use studies, and other validation work.

Eligible costs include personnel, subcontracting, and technical support.

Its a valuable opportunity to explore commercial potential in a structured, supported way

The scheme targets concepts in a range of sectors, including life sciences, ICT, manufacturing and engineering, energy, and agriculture and food.

While these sectors are a focus, applications from all disciplines are welcome, as long as they demonstrate strong innovation, a clear commercial opportunity, and a credible plan to develop and test the technology.

For researchers wondering whether their work could translate into a commercially viable output, this funding provides a valuable opportunity to explore the commercial potential in a structured, supported way.

The impact of early-stage funding is already visible. UCD spin-out LaNua Medical is one such example.

After securing initial Commercialisation Fund support to validate its novel embolisation device, the research team, including chief medical officer Dr Cormac Farrelly, successfully spun out and went on to raise 6m in seed funding in 2024.

Projects funded under the proof of concept initiative will also gain access to non-financial supports from Enterprise Ireland  including the Market Research Centre, sector-specific mentoring, and networking opportunities  helping researchers align their innovation with real-world market needs.

Interested applicants are encouraged to consult their institutions Technology Transfer Office (TTO) and engage with their Enterprise Ireland commercialisation specialist early in the process.

Applications are typically co-developed with the support of a TTO case manager or equivalent, who can help shape the proposal and ensure it aligns with the funding criteria. These include commercial opportunity, technical innovation, execution plan, potential economic impact, and budget justification.

The proof of concept initiative is an open call  researchers can apply at any time. For those aiming to create a spin-out company, the grant also acts as a gateway to further Commercialisation Fund support, enabling a seamless transition from lab to market.

You can learn more at Enterprise-Ireland.com/supports/commercialisation-fund. Emma Callinan is director of spinouts and research commercialisation at Enterprise Ireland
Michael OLeary names the four brilliant young managers that may succeed him at Ryanair

He wont run for the non-job at the Aras, and demands an aggressive Airbnb tax

Michael O'Leary. Photo: Getty

Fearghal O'Connor Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

Ryanair boss Michael OLeary has name-checked four potential young candidates from within the airline who could take over his role when he finally steps down.
Tom Maughan and his wife Victoria cited environmental impact grounds in High Court challenge to Amberfield Homes development

A senior partner at Bain Capital, a US investment firm that is a major player in Irish residential property, has lodged a judicial review challenge in the High Court against a proposed residential development.

Tom Maughan, a senior executive at the firm, and his wife Victoria, a pilates instructor, are challenging a decision by An Bord Pleanala (now called An Coimisiun Pleanala) to give the go-ahead for 48 residential units proposed by developer Amberfield Homes Ltd close to their home at at Brighton Road in Foxrock.
It is indefensible to supply goods and money to such a regime

Ukrainians flee the site of a Russian air attack on Kharkiv last week. Photo: PA

Irish exports to Russia have soared to their highest level since before 2015, as the Ukrainian embassy in Dublin criticises continued trade with the war-waging country.

The value of Irish goods exported to Russia hit almost 397.9m over the first five months of the year, according to the latest export figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The export figures available on the CSOs website only go back to 2015  but the level of goods being sold to Russia is higher now than at any time since then.

Selling to Russia destabilises not only Ukraine but the entire European continent

Asked about the surge in exports to Russia, the Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland said there was no moral, political, or economic justification for continuing to trade with Russia as it wages a brutal and illegal war of aggression against our country.

Every euro and every product sent to Russia strengthens its capacity to kill, destroy, and destabilise not only Ukraine but the entire European continent, it said.

Ukrainians flee the site of a Russian air attack on Kharkiv last week. Photo: PA

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th

It is indefensible to supply money and goods to a regime that openly defies the rules-based international order.

Continuing business as usual, particularly in sensitive sectors, undermines the integrity of the sanctions regime and weakens our collective response to Russian aggression.

The jump in export value was driven by a surge in medicinal and pharmaceutical products, which reached almost 113.5m. Pharmaceuticals and medicines are exempt from sanctions for humanitarian reasons.

Sales of metalliferous ores and metal scrap also surged, to over 183.4m.

Essential oils, perfume materials, and toilet preparation exports also experienced a year-on-year increase, nearly doubling to over 60m.
Who knew Irish weather would be such a draw? Lisney boss David Byrne on Europeans joining Trump-averse US buyers for their place in the shade

Business is good, says the estate agent MD, but Byrne believes the Government is not implementing the measures it needs to to help resolve the housing crisis

'Demand in the residential property segment is exceptionally strong across all price points,' says Lisney boss David Byrne

Sean Pollock Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

American house buyers with objections to US President Donald Trump and continental Europeans hunting for cooler holiday homes are helping drive international demand at real estate agent Lisney, says managing director David Byrne.
Key Points

Dividend-paying stocks usually outperform those that don't pay a dividend.

Realty Income is a leading net lease REIT that has been offering a 5.6% yield.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities and the life science industry it serves are going through a rough patch.

10 stocks we like better than Realty Income 

You don't need to be an income-seeking investor to appreciate dividend-paying stocks. That's because businesses that commit to returning profits to shareholders have a tendency to outperform businesses that don't.

The average dividend-paying stock in the benchmark S&P 500 index produced a 9.2% annualized return over the 50-year period ended 2024. Stocks in the same index that didn't pay dividends produced a disappointing 4.3% average annual return over the same time frame, according to Hartford Funds and Ned Davis Research.

Realty Income (NYSE: O) and Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE: ARE) are two reliable dividend payers that offer an average yield of about 6% at recent prices. Here's how they could make excellent portfolio additions for most investors, whether they're interested in above-average returns or growing their passive income stream.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. Realty Income

Shares of this real estate investment trust (REIT) are down by about 23% from a peak they reached in 2022.

In June, Realty Income announced its 131st dividend raise since becoming a publicly traded company in 1994. The stock has declined over the past few years, but this reliable dividend grower hasn't lowered its payout. At recent prices, it offers an unusually large 5.6% yield.

While Realty Income's payout has grown steadily, its pace in recent years has been slower than usual. Considering its slowing pace of growth and the rising risk-free rates investors can receive from Treasuries, it's no wonder the dividend stock has been under pressure.

Realty Income is a net lease REIT, which means its tenants are responsible for all of the variable costs of building ownership, such as taxes and maintenance. At the end of March, 98.5% of its portfolio was leased out with an average remaining term of 9.1 years. With annual rent escalators written into long-term leases, cash flows are extremely predictable.

Borrowing costs have risen, but this well-established REIT can source capital at rates its smaller peers can only dream of. With an A3 credit rating from Moody's, and an A- rating from S&P Global, Realty Income recently sold 1.3 billion euros worth of long-term notes at an average yield of 3.7%.

Publicly traded net lease REITs account for about 4% of the addressable market in the U.S. In Europe, this figure is less than 0.1% which means there's lots of opportunity for expansion. With some of the lowest borrowing costs available, Realty Income will get to pick and choose tenants most likely to keep up with their rent. It might not be the most exciting stock to own, but it could be one of the least stressful positions in your portfolio.
Plus, what happens when you pay twice online by mistake, and the travel insurance issue

Most of the works are contracted to our builder and his sub-contractors, but some fixtures and fittings  such as kitchen cabinets, windows, and paving slabs  can be sourced either through our builder or by ourselves.
One of Irelands wealthiest people has failed in his bid to gain gun rights in the US, after an American court dismissed his case last week.

In February, John T Dorrance III, Irish citizen and an heir to the Campbells Soup fortune, took a legal action against US attorney general Pam Bondi complaining he couldnt legally hunt with a firearm because he renounced his US citizenship.
Barry Egan: My lunch with Ozzy Osbourne  and the day he told me he wished he could relive

The Prince of Darkness had a reputation as a hellraiser, but over a meal at the Merrion Hotel in 2009 he described how ditching drink and drugs brought clarity to his life

Ozzy Osbourne in Dublin in 2009. Photo: David Conachy

Barry Egan Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

It is not every day you get to have lunch with the Prince of Darkness, the heavy metal antichrist who brought madness into the mainstream. But Ozzy Osbourne, ensconced in a giant suite at The Merrion Hotel in Dublin, turned out to be the perfect host.
Church will hand over records as excavation in Tuam continues

Parish says it will co-operate fully and make requested records on former mother and baby home available to investigators

Reporter Wayne O'Connor with Catherine Corless. Photo: Ray Ryan

Wayne OConnor and Ali Bracken Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

Church archives will be made available to forensic experts carrying out an excavation at the former mother and baby home in Tuam.
Marian Price seeks court order forcing Disney to remove Jean McConville murder scene in Say Nothing

Convicted IRA volunteer sues after TV drama shows her character shooting mother of 10 in the head

Ex-IRA bomber seeks in junction to stop Disney+ showing Jean McConville execution scene

Mark Tighe Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

Former IRA bomber Marian Price is suing Disney over a scene in the drama series Say Nothing, which she claims falsely portrays her as having carried out the execution-style murder of Jean McConville by shooting her in the back of the head.
Regan and Magnier are at war and were just the peasants caught up in the middle

Colourful details in John Magniers battle over deal to buy lavish estate has all the ingredients of a Sunday night drama, court hears

Regan and Magnier are at war and were just the peasants caught up in the middle

Mark Tighe Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

Its day 15 of the bitter legal battle over the sprawling Barne Estate in Tipperary and there was a rare moment of levity to break the tension.
Donald Trump puts chances of EU deal at 50-50 as tariffs deadline looms this week

Exporters seek new adjustment fund similar to EUs 5.4bn response to Brexit

Elliot Hughes of Dingle Distillery in Co Kerry. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Sean Pollock Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

Companies hardest hit by the new US tariff regime will need financial support to help save jobs, a group representing Irish exporters has claimed.
What now after your Leaving Cert results? Heres how to plan your next steps  whether you got top points or not
US authorities arrest 56 Irish citizens under Trumps immigration crackdown

Most were arrested in Boston, New Jersey or New York and are mostly young people who overstayed tourist visas

People protesting against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Manhattan. Photo: Reuters

Mary Regan Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

At least 56 Irish people have been arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office so far this year, as Donald Trump embarks on a major immigration crackdown.
Despite Energy Transfer's strong financial position and growth opportunities ahead, it trades at an enterprise-value -to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), or EV/EBITDA, multiple of just 8 times. That's a discount both from a historical perspective and compared to peers. Midstream MLPs, as a group, traded at an average multiple of 13.7 times between 2011 and 2016, making the stock look like a great bargain at current levels.

The company has already signed up one data center customer to directly provide natural gas to an upcoming project, and it is currently in talks with over 60 power plants and more than 200 data centers across 14 states. It also looks ready to move forward with a long-awaited liquified natural gas (LNG) export project, which is one of the fastest-growing areas in the energy market.

Growth is back on the table, too. Energy Transfer plans to spend $5 billion this year on new growth projects, up from just $3 billion last year. One of the most notable is the Hugh Brinson Pipeline, which will transport natural gas from the Permian to other areas of Texas to support growing demand coming from data centers.

Meanwhile, its distribution payout is back above pre-cut levels, and management has now raised it for 14 quarters in a row. Last quarter, its coverage ratio, based on its distributable cash flow (operating cash flow minus maintenance capital expenditure, or capex), was over 2 times, which is about as strong as you'll find in the midstream space.

Its balance sheet is now in a much better position after spending the past few years reducing its leverage and improving its financial position. Management now says this is the strongest balance sheet in the company's history, with leverage sitting at the low end of its targeted range.

Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) is my largest MLP position, and for good reason. Admittedly, the company hasn't always been the most investor-friendly, and it had to cut its distribution back in 2020 to whip its balance sheet into better shape. However, this is a much different company than it was just five years ago.

Let's look at three high-yield MLPs I own that I have no plans to sell.

When I invest for long-term income, one of my favorite spots to look is in the midstream master limited partnership (MLP) space. While there may be a bit of extra paperwork come tax time, the high yields and benefits -- such as much of the distribution income being tax-deferred -- are well worth it.

Story Continues

Between its 7.5% yield, its valuation, the upside from new projects, and the much-improved financial profile, Energy Transfer remains a top long-term holding for me.

Enterprise Products Partners -- 7% yield

Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) is the type of stock you can build a portfolio around. It's a sleep-well-at-night type of stock and my longest-held position. While the stock currently has a robust 7% yield, the real story is its consistency. The MLP has increased its distribution for 26 consecutive years and counting.

Roughly 85% of its cash flow comes from fee-based contracts, many of which have take-or-pay terms and inflation adjustments. This kind of contract structure helps smooth out cash flow no matter what energy prices are doing.

Enterprise is also conservatively run. The company ended last quarter with leverage of just over 3 times and a distribution coverage of 1.7 times. Enterprise doesn't need to constantly raise capital to fund growth, as it's largely self-funding projects from its cash flow.

Impressively, its debt is locked up for 18 years on average, with a weighted-average interest rate of only 4.7%. That's a valuable asset in today's higher interest rate environment. Meanwhile, since 2020, it's been able to actually lower its unit (share) count through buybacks.

That's not to say that Enterprise won't pursue growth when it sees an opportunity. In fact, the company will spend between $4 billion and $4.5 billion on growth projects this year, up from only $1.6 billion in 2022. It consistently gets a return on invested capital of around 13% for its projects.

For anyone who wants income with very little drama, Enterprise continues to be one of the best names in the space. The stock is also reasonably valued, trading at an EV/EBITDA of just under 10 times.

Image source: Getty Images.

Western Midstream Partners -- 9% yield

Western Midstream (NYSE: WES) carries the highest yield of the trio, but it's not just a high-yielder; it's backed by solid fundamentals. The 9% yield is supported by a 1.2 times coverage ratio based on free cash flow and leverage below 3 times. Meanwhile, the company's infrastructure primarily supports its parent, Occidental Petroleum, which also owns more than 40% of the MLP.

What sets Western Midstream apart is the stability of its cash flows. Much of its revenue is tied to cost-of-service and minimum volume commitments. That structure helps deliver steady results, even when commodity prices are volatile. In short, it's built for income-focused investors.

The company is also focused on steady, manageable growth. It isn't chasing flashy projects -- it's finding ones with good returns that generally support Occidental and its growth plans. Its most notable project in the pipeline is Pathfinder, a large-scale produced-water system expected to be up and running by the start of 2027. It's a $400 million to $450 million investment that should handle over 800,000 barrels of produced water per day and deliver solid EBITDA growth once it's fully online.

Having Occidental as a major stakeholder helps, as it provides strategic alignment and long-term support. For investors looking for a high yield without stretching for it, Western Midstream offers a nice combination of a solid coverage ratio, moderate leverage, and distribution growth. The stock is also attractively valued, trading at an EV/EVITDA of just over 9 times. It's a stock I'm happy to own and plan to keep for the long haul.

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Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Energy Transfer, Enterprise Products Partners, and Western Midstream Partners. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners and Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

3 Ultra-High-Yield Dividend Stocks I Don't Plan on Ever Selling was originally published by The Motley Fool
Anti-vaccine campaigner Dolores Cahill urged to sell her castle to community

Academic bought Whites Castle in Athy for 450,000 in 2019 as a venue for political events

Dolores Cahill is billed as co-host of the Weekend Truth Festival in Cumbria

Maeve Sheehan Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 06:30

Conspiracy theorist and academic Professor Dolores Cahill has been approached to sell her Kildare castle to the local community over fears it is falling into disrepair.
Yes, aid can sustain warring parties  but it also saves hundreds of thousands of lives

The UN has been warning about imminent famine in Gaza since late October 2023. If these warnings were made in good faith, why have we not seen famine yet  or until now? And why, even now, with starvation deaths being reported and emaciated children on our screens, is the word famine still not being officially used?
Epoch-making culture clash between Europe and US is set to play out in court as French first couple take on Candace Owens

Slapgate: A screengrab from a video showing Brigitte Macron shoving husband Emmanuel Macron on a plane as they arrived in Vietnam recently

In our new fractious global order, diplomatic incidents have become as frequent as budget flights in high season: a new one takes off every few minutes.

Still, the cross-border legal clash between the far-right YouTuber Candace Owens and Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron definitely wasnt on my bingo card for 2025. And yet here we are.

As a professional internet edge-lord, Owens is no stranger to a little litigation. The life of Candace Owens, it works like this, she said on her podcast last week. I wake up, stretch, I have a cup of coffee, and then I am served with a lawsuit.

It must have been a surprise, nonetheless, on Wednesday, to see the lawsuit of the day bore the signature of Monsieur and Madame Le President de la Republique.

The Macrons say they are seeking justice against the American commentator and conspiracy theorist. Owens is host of an eight-part documentary series, titled Becoming Brigitte and based on a French book of the same name, in which she claims, among other things, that Brigitte Macron was born male and is guilty of statutory rape of Macron while he was still a student at the school where she taught.

These, say the Macrons, are verifiably false and devastating lies. Owens interest in the couple represents a sustained campaign of global humiliation. She has repeatedly ignored requests to correct the record, they say, and so, in a fit of piqued Gallic pride, they have launched a legal battle.

Podcaster Candace Owens

Should they have though? They have requested a jury trial, and even gone so far as to pledge to make an appearance in person in the court in Delaware, where the suit was filed. According to the standards of now-unfashionable concepts such as fairness and truth, they arguably have a case.

That said, after the recent slapgate controversy in Vietnam, Brigitte and Emmanuel are not immune to accusations of peddling false narratives themselves.

US courts grant broad discretion to individuals to comment on public officials

But it is unusual, unprecedented, even  this cross-border case between a sitting head of state and their internet troll.

It is folly, was the unspoken subtext behind comments given by legal expert Jane Kirtley.

I think President Macron is going to have a really difficult time with this libel suit, said the professor of media ethics and law at the University of Minnesota. And the reason for that is really simple.

"Under US law, public officials are required to prove actual malice, knowledge of falsity and reckless disregard for the truth. In [Macrons] lengthy complaint, he has certainly alleged that on the part of this podcaster, but I think hes also probably not giving enough deference to the fact that courts in the United States grant broad discretion to individuals to comment on public officials.

It raises the question, do the Macrons understand what they are getting themselves into?

Owens called it a disaster PR strategy for the Macrons

Even their legal submission, running to 218 pages, itemising in exhaustive detail their complaints and responding, point-by-point to the accusations, betrays a yawning cultural gap that will probably work against them. It exposes, too, the infinitely unshakable French faith in form-filling and paperwork.

Owens, meanwhile, seems to be relishing all the attention. Dining out on the new international profile the case has brought her, she called it a disaster PR strategy for the Macrons. For her, though, she said it represented an irresistible and delicious opportunity to face Frances First Lady Man in the flesh.

On behalf of the whole world, I will see you in court, she declared, with gladiatorial flourish, addressing an online auditorium billions strong.

Slapgate: A screengrab from a video showing Brigitte Macron shoving husband Emmanuel Macron on a plane as they arrived in Vietnam recently

It is tempting to suspect the Macrons simply couldnt resist this opportunity to seize the moral high ground. A battle to defend their reputation and their rights was too tantalising, even if participation in a trial risks tarnishing the dignified, statesmen-like image that centrist European leaders, Macron chief among them, are trying to reinforce as a silent rebuke to the vulgarities of populism.

In their case against Owens, the Macrons seem to imagine themselves as standard bearers for European values

Not least because it serves as a proxy for a broader, epoch-defining ideological clash between European liberalism and the anti-enlightenment neo-conservatism of Trumps America.

Macron himself regularly postures as the poster-boy for the former on the international stage.

He draws on a long tradition of French universalism, and a national self-image cherished in France, as the birthplace of modern liberal democracy.

The country that authored the Declaration of the Rights of Man helped shape, in no small part, contemporary notions of civic rights and individual liberty in America. How affronting, then, for Macron to discover his personal dignity skewered and mounted on the implacable spike of the First Amendment.

Thinking of Macron and his wife rocking up to court in the US, I am reminded of the speech by Francois Hollande at the 67th United Nations General Assembly: France wants to set an example, not to teach others a lesson but because its our history, our message. Setting an example in promoting fundamental freedoms is our battle and a matter of honour for us.

In their case against Owens, the Macrons seem to imagine themselves as standard bearers for European values, hoping to jog memories in Delaware, Americas first state, of a shared philosophical history.

Its a nice idea, but I fear their mission is doomed.

Do you want to share your opinion on the issues raised in this article? Email sunday.letters@independent.ie to submit a response of up to 300 words to be considered for publication in our letters section
A Palestinian child at the funeral of people who were killed while trying to reach aid trucks in Gaza city. Photo: AP

Nothing else happening in the world matters much when set beside ongoing reports of starving children in Gaza.

Trumps tariffs. The National Development Plan. The presidential election. All pale into insignificance next to the hell endured by innocent Palestinians caught up in the 21st centurys most brutal conflict, with no respite or hope of escape.

Israel suffered abominably in the October 7 massacre two years ago. Seeking to destroy Hamas was a legitimate response. The medieval cruelties being inflicted on Gaza with high-tech efficiency have, however, gone far beyond self-defence. To even call it a war any more is an abhorrent abuse of language and decency.

Given the industrial scale of the horrors unfolding before the worlds eyes, yesterdays announcement by the Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris, that the Government is open to holding a national day of solidarity for Gaza might seem like an irrelevant sideshow.

There is already an International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, which has been observed annually on November 29 since it was instigated by the United Nations in 1977.

Coming on foot of continuing efforts to pass the Occupied Territories Bill  which will inflict little economic damage on Israel, while leaving Ireland vulnerable to revenge by Washington  a national day of solidarity might even be said to conform to an unfortunate tendency in Irish life to make grand gestures that have little real-life benefits, but only serve to make us feel smugly virtuous, as if our being on the right side of history will be any consolation to the dead.

Symbolic acts do matter, all the same, and more so if, as Harris hopes, many countries did it together. He has promised to speak to colleagues on how to make this happen.

Will there even be a Palestine to recognise if Israel continues its campaign?

For young people watching it play out in real time on the screens of their smartphones, the world must seem like a terrifying place right now. Last week, Ireland joined other countries in implementing strict new age verification rules aimed at preventing children seeing porn online, as well as other violent or harmful content.

It is not before time. For too long, social media companies and others neglected the responsibility to police their platforms. They lost the right to self-regulate. Collective action was inevitable.

Sparing children from the sight of other psychologically dangerous content on the internet will prove more difficult. How can they have the security young people need if they see their elders turning their backs on what is happening in Gaza?

Present generations always wondered why the mass murders of the 20th century were allowed to happen on their forebears watch. Future generations will ask the same question of us.

It only brings home the surreal inanity of the diplomatic row that broke out in recent days after France pledged to become the first major western power to recognise the state of Palestine. The US and Israel both condemned the move as a surrender to terrorism.

The real question is whether there will soon be a Palestine to recognise if Israel continues its campaign. Piles of rubble and dead bodies do not make a viable state, no more than international days of solidarity have ever saved a single life.
Hundreds protest in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, against Israel's attacks on Gaza. The Bosnian capital suffered its own genocide in the recent past. Photo: Getty

A telegram was sent to the White House on February 8, 1994, by US ambassador to Croatia, Peter W Galbraith, stating that genocide was being committed in Sarajevo.

The telegram referred to the Genocide Convention, set out the criteria for defining genocide and cited the constant and indiscriminate shelling and gunfire of Sarajevo by Radovan Karadzics Yugoslav Peoples Army, which have taken a heavy toll among the civilian population.

It added that minority groups are also being harassed and subjected to pressure in an attempt to force them to leave as evidence that genocide was being committed.

In 2005, the US Congress passed a resolution declaring that the Serbian policies of aggression and ethnic cleansing meet the terms defining genocide.

Over the last two years in Gaza, there has been continual and indiscriminate shelling and gunfire, which has taken a heavy toll among the civilian population.

Tens of thousands of innocent people, including 17,000 children, have been killed. Almost two million Palestinians have been displaced.

Israel has engaged in collective punishment of a captive civilian population, using starvation as a method of war and ethnic cleansing on a huge scale. It is genocide.

There are many similarities between what happened in Sarajevo and what is happening in Gaza.

Yet the US ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, recently said Ireland is much out of step with America on Israel and Palestine.

It is the US government that is much out of step with any objective sense of morality.

Are there any two words in the English language hollower than never again?

Or maybe the term does not apply if the perpetrators are Israeli, in which case it is meaningless.

The people of Palestine are not some kind of sub-human dark matter to be left to a psychopathic regime to erase and displace.

They are human beings who deserve the full protection of international and human rights law.

The West should hang its head in shame.

Rob Sadlier, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16

Western powers are either complicit, or apathetic to sickening Gaza atrocities

Many of us thought the genocidal situation in Gaza could not get much worse.

On July 25, I listened to Professor Nick Maynard speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland on his latest experiences working as a surgeon in Gaza.

Even the word genocide, or any words, fail to adequately describe the barbarism being inflicted by Israel and its supportive allies on the Palestinian people.

Prof Maynards first-hand eyewitness accounts cannot be ignored.

The deliberate starvation of children and adults while thousands of truckloads of food are being prevented from crossing the border into Gaza, combined with bombing, shooting and destruction of all vital life-saving facilities, amount to crimes against humanity.

Yet the so-called international community, including the Irish Government, continues to fail to act to end these atrocities.

Many have been actively supporting this genocide by providing weapons and other military, financial and political support to Israel.

The French government belatedly promising to recognise the state of Palestine, the Irish Government still failing to enact the Occupied Territories Bill and the failure of the UN, EU, US and others to effectively sanction Israel are just some examples of double standards, or no standards at all.

Edward Horgan, Castletroy, Limerick

Its the Israeli forces who are the main perpetrators of terror in horrific war

Spokespersons for Israels government excuse the actions in Gaza as a war on terrorism.

The only terror seen in Gaza is that inflicted on unarmed civilians by the Israel Defence Forces  on children in particular.

Its time for the world to speak the truth in relation to Israeli activities in Gaza.

Michael Moriarty, Rochestown, Cork

Cork fans could take a leaf out of Geneva of Ulsters book on modest mourning

Frank Coughlans lament on Corks loss in the All-Ireland final deserves sympathy and perhaps a cold compress, but I must gently remind him that some of us are not inclined to such theatrical mourning (A Tipp of the hat, as a proud Cork man is put in his place, Irish Independent, July 25).

Here in Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland  if anyones asking  we go about our GAA heartbreaks, triumphs and theological responsibilities with the quiet assurance of a place that knows its worth.

Weve had more than our share of heartbreaks, but prefer to carry them with a degree of decorum.

Were less the Venice of the North and more the Geneva of Ulster: small, significant and quietly influential.

Even in defeat, modesty can be its own kind of statement.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Armagh

Nothing to see here is US government response, so whats in the Epstein files?

While campaigning for the US presidency last year, Donald Trump promised to release all files about the well-connected sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Trumps MAGA supporters have since grown frustrated with the administrations handling of the issue, including its failure to deliver a rumoured Epstein client list.

In a memo earlier this month, the US Justice Department and FBI said there was no such list.

Riddle me this: How is it that Trump and his Republican colleagues appear to be blocking the release of these files when there is supposedly no list?

John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

Kudos to Ringrose for the honesty concerning his health after Lions pick

I commend Garry Ringrose. Having been selected for the British and Irish Lions for the second test, he opted out of the team for the sake of his health and success of his fellow players.

Having been team doctor to Ulster, Ireland and Barbarians rugby union over many years, I can assure you this would never have happened in the amateur and early professional era, as players would try to pull the wool over the team doctors eyes to get their feet on the pitch. His decision shows honesty.

Well done, Garry, and hopefully you will be fit for the final test game.

Donal OShaughnessy, Rathfriland, Co Down
The late Timmy O Connor was honoured at a Tribute Concert in his honour in the Culturlann, on the first anniversary of his passing. Photos by Sheila Fitzgerald

Bernadette O Shea, Rachel O Connor, Ciara Hartnett and Leonora O Callaghan all set for the stage at the Timmy O Connor Tribute Concert at the Culturlann in Newmarket. Photos by Sheila Fitzgerald

Musical royalty from across the country took to the stage at the Culturlann in Newmarket last Saturday night, to honour the late Timmy OConnor, who would have been 90 years old at the weekend.

On Sunday, Annes Bridge Street Ceili Band played a lively set and this was followed by a video presentation entitled The Man from Tureendarby, documenting Timmys long and fruitful musical journey. The tribute event was organised by Eoin Stan OSullivan and friends to celebrate the life and amazing musical legacy of Timmy, who passed away last year.

Raymond OSullivan who was MC at the Saturday night concert welcomed the full house audience and said: This is a celebration that is very fitting for a legend. All of our lives were touched by Timmy. At his funeral last year, we decided to have a bash for his 90th birthday which would have been this week. Im sure there will be fierce craic in heaven for the birthday but I know he would love to be here with us as well. When we think of Timmy, we will always be smiling, Raymond said.

This reporter was lucky enough to be a lifelong friend of Timmy, through our mutual love of music, and a few years ago we sat down and spoke about his lifelong passion for playing the accordion. When I was very young, we used to visit my aunts in Kanturk and Rockchapel, there was a Gramophone in the two houses and I loved listening to the records, we had no radio at home at the time, Timmy said.

Around his home in Tureendarby, Newmarket, he said there was plenty of music when he was young.

Someone was playing a melodeon one night and I brought out a few tunes on it. I saw a melodeon for sale in Tim Ryans shop window, the bother was it cost 7.10 and I didnt have the money. A couple up the road from me bought it for their son and I was dying lonesome. Then another one came in and my sister Joan bought it for me. I was around 15 at the time. We had to hide it from my father, he thought it was a fierce waste of time but he found it one day inside in a press and said Oh great God, were going to have an awful winter of playing.

I used to play every night with my two brothers and a neighbour, Timmy explained.

Timmy, as a fledgling musician, was taught by his neighbour Johnny Micky Barry who himself learned from the great Tom Billy Murphy of Ballydesmond.

When he reached his 20s, Timmy began playing at house parties and at socials with his sister Sheila and brother in law Jim Barry. We were the Tureendarby Ceili Band, one night we were booked to play at a Pioneer Social by the local priest, we were late because we were all night looking for a drum, the Priest was going mad, Timmy reminisced with a smile.

A musician by night, Timmy worked on his farm during the day and was also employed at the sugar factory in Mallow. He recalls playing at the Listowel Wren Boys Festival, at Dan OConnells in Knocknagree and the Rambling House in Boherbue. For over 40 years, he was a key member of the traditional group that played at Scullys in Newmarket at the renowned Monday night sessions. He was also part of the group that performed throughout the country in the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Irish Tour. Timmy was featured on The Long Note Programme on RTE 1 and was a member of the Monks of the Screw Traditional Group.

He described music as the best therapy of all: Dr. Verling told me one time that its probably better than all the tablets, and I said, one would maybe want to take the tablets as well. I went to Dr. Daly a while ago with a sore ear, I said I suppose it will kill me, Ill have to give up the late nights and Dr. Daly replied giving up the late nights would most likely kill you away quicker!

On a final note, I remember asking Timmy what advice he would give to young musicians. You have to like it, to have the gra for it, to like it is everything. If the pupil does not like music, it is impossible to teach them, he said.

Across the Tribute Weekend, it was wonderful to see both musicians and audience members pay tribute to Timmy, who was as renowned for his warm personality as for his music.
Significant damage has been caused by a fire at a business in Farranfore Industrial Park.

Significant damage has been caused by a fire to a business based in Farranfore Business Park.

Fire crews rushed to the scene of the blaze in the early hours of Sunday morning and spent much of the morning tackling the fire which started around 4.30am.

The fire broke out at Diamant Linen  a company described as one of the biggest commercial linen laundries in Europe and which has a large number of employees

They serve the hospitality industry across Ireland and are based in 4 Park Business Centre, close to Farranfore village.

It is now yet known the full extent of the damage caused but there is significant damage to the warehouse unit including to the roof. The cause of the fire has yet to be established.

In a statement An Garda Siochana said they are attended the blaze this morning.

Gardai and emergency services are currently attending a fire at a business premises in Farranfore, this morning, Sunday, July 27, they said.

No injuries have been reported.
Rubber ducks competed in a race to raise funds for the NRLI Lifeboats

Iryna, Tamara, Anna, Natalie, Alana and Maria from the Ukraine Community with their homemade bakes at the Diversity Day in Courtown Harbour. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

A lot of quack was had at Sea Sunday in Gorey as over 500 rubber ducks were thrown into the water to race at Courtown Harbour to raise funds for the RNLI. In the end, duck number 148 was named the lucky winner.

Locals gathered anticipating the unusual event, on Sunday, July 13 for Courtowns annual Sea Sunday. Organised by Elaine Hernandez, she said she was inspired by her friends who hosted a similar event.

We were looking for new ideas for Sea Sunday. We thought that we had the ideal location in the harbour that we could release the ducks from one bridge and have them go to the other.

We are absolutely delighted that we raised just shy of 5,000. It was absolutely fantastic and the weather was lovely, she said.

The race saw spectators line out across the harbour, anticipating the fun. There were people all across the pedestrian bridge, the stone bridge and all out at the back of Flanagans Wharf. It really was the ideal location to be able to spectate safely, Elaine said.

She also ensured no ducks were lost at sea, rounding them up shortly after the race. None of them are gone to Wales that we know of, she added.

The rubber duck race was apart of Sea Sunday, organised by the RNLI fundraising committee, where the blessing of the boats also took place to honour local members of the community whose lives were lost at sea. Alongside this, the community also celebrated Diversity Day.

Elaine Hernandez selling tickets for the rubber duck race at the Diversity Day in Courtown Harbour. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Elaine thanked the members of the community with selling and promoting the fundraiser. It was really well supported. There were lads going around with duck hats and t-shirts, so we were all gone mad. They were all going around saying whats the quack, instead of the craic.

I had seen it in other places, and we had never attempted to do something as extravagant as it, she said.
The Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District, Councillor Lourda Scott, has expressed concern at the lack of a dedicated capital investment plan for social housing retrofitting in the National Development Plan (NDP) Review 2025, despite growing pressure to address long-standing issues in local authority housing estates across County Wicklow.

Just last week, Hillview estate, in Wicklow town, was in the media spotlight due to serious concerns raised by residents about the condition of their homes, she said.

In my own area, I have been constantly raising serious issues about Farankelly estate over the past number of years. These estates urgently require retrofitting, insulation and repairs to meet even the most basic standards of comfort, not to mention energy efficiency.

"We recently welcomed a survey assessing repairs needed in Farankelly, and a report on Hillview has already been sent to the Department. We know that significant funding will need to be made available for the council to follow through."

The updated NDP sets out over 28bn in housing capital investment between 2026 and 2030, but fails to ringfence any portion of this funding for retrofitting existing social housing, Cllr Scott explained. While the document acknowledges Irelands target of retrofitting 444,000 homes by 2030, it does not commit to specific funding or timelines for delivery, nor does it identify how local authorities will be supported to scale up their retrofit programmes.

Councillor Scott continued: It is extremely disappointing that the Government has not outlined how the national retrofit target will be achieved for public housing, nor how councils will be resourced to carry out the work.

"This is particularly concerning when Wicklow residents are already facing the consequences of underinvestment in housing maintenance and energy efficiency. This is not just about lowering emissions, but about making homes safe to live in.

"Ive seen with my own eyes black mould on ceilings, rivers of water flowing in through windows and doors, attic insulation dripping with wet. This is unacceptable anywhere and shouldnt be accepted for social housing tenants. This is an equality issue as much as a housing issue and must be addressed with the urgency it deserves.

Im calling on the Housing Minister to urgently clarify how retrofitting for local authority housing will be funded between now and 2030 when whole estates are waiting for essential upgrades, with specific reference to County Wicklow.
Baltyboys House in Blessington played host to the second annual entrepreneur forum for aspiring young Irish innovators, which featured a contribution from globally renowned immunologist, author and science communicator Professor Luke ONeill.

The Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum is part of Patch, Irelands flagship summer accelerator programme for young entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists. Patchs summer programme brings together 30 of Irelands brightest 1621 year-old entrepreneurial minds for seven weeks of intensive mentoring, project-building and networking.

The Baltyboys Entrepreneurs Forum was added to the Patch schedule two years ago to offer talented Irish youth access to insights and inspiration from top-tier innovators.

This years Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum was hosted by entrepreneur and Baltyboys House owner Brian Kingham. The line-up of founders and community experts who spoke at the event included Prof O'Neill who has been a professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin since 2009.

The forum also heard from Eoin Hinchy, founder of cybersecurity automation unicorn Tines, a no-code automation platform for security teams that raised over $270 million in funding and is valued at over $1.125bn, and Niamh Donnelly, CTO of Akara Robotics, a pioneering autonomous hospital robot manufacturer. Niamh is also a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and an EU Women Innovators prize winner.

Special guests also included David Shackleton, serial entrepreneur and founder of ding.com and OpenBack - two large tech companies that were both acquired, and Mark Cummins, founder of Pointy - a retail tech startup acquired by Google, and a repeat founder with multiple exits and long-time supporter of Patch.

Baltyboys House owner and longtime supporter of Patch, Mr Kingham, said: Irelands entrepreneurial spirit is deeply rooted in its culture and history. The structure of landholding over centuries fostered a culture of independence, adaptability, and enterprise.

"Today, that legacy is reflected in a new generation of innovators - ambitious, globally minded, and determined to shape the future. The Baltyboys Entrepreneur Forum is designed to nurture that spirit, connecting Irelands most promising young founders with those who have already walked the path.
With financial literacy growing at an exponential rate, people arent waiting to start thinking about their retirement. Without the security of a company-sponsored pension, most Americans contribute to things like a 401(k) to ensure they have enough funds to live off once they quit their 9-to-5.

Read More: Im Retiring a Multimillionaire: Heres What I Wish I Knew in My 30s

Learn More: 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle

According to a survey conducted by Northwestern Mutual, Americans believe they will need approximately $1.26 million to retire comfortably. Unfortunately, their savings may not be enough to cover this bold number. Here is how much the average person in their 30s has saved and what you can do to help boost your retirement funds if you are falling short of your goal.

Average 401(k) for People in Their 30s

Recent data from Fidelity shows that the average 401(k) savings for people ages 30 to 34 was $44,800 at the end of the first quarter of 2025, CNBC reported. The average 401(k) balance for individuals aged 35 to 39 was $71,400 during the same period.

The data was based on Fidelitys quarterly analysis of over 50 million retirement accounts.

Check Out: I Asked ChatGPT How Much Money Ill Need To Retire in 5 Years: Heres What It Said

How This Years 401(k) Balances Compare With 2024s

Overall, market volatility at the beginning of the year left some balances short of their 2024 levels.

According to data provided by Fidelity, 401(k) balances for individuals in their 30s decreased by approximately 2% in the first quarter. The good news, as highlighted by the investment company, is that savings rates remained consistent.

How Much Should Someone in Their 30s Have Saved?

Fidelity suggests that a person should have one years salary saved by the time they are 30. By age 40, the global financial services company advises that a person should have three times their annual salary saved.

Current 401(k) account balances indicate that individuals in their 30s may be significantly short of these recommendations. However, many savvy investors have other retirement accounts, such as IRAs or Roth IRAs, that may better align their savings with expert suggestions.

What To Do To Boost Retirement Savings

Millennials were skeptical whether they had saved enough, according to Northwestern Mutuals 2025 Planning & Progress Study, with 57% saying they were somewhat likely or very likely to outlive their savings. Fortunately, there are several options available to 30-year-olds hoping to boost retirement savings.

The financial experts at Charles Schwab recommend that individuals in their 30s and 40s strive to cut back where possible, particularly in the face of competing interests. While many millennials are well into their careers, they are also paying back student loans and raising families. Retirement savings may be on the back burner, but they should not be out of the picture. Putting more money into investment accounts, even small amounts, can help boost retirement savings exponentially, especially during this critical decade.
This weekend will bring a mix of sunny spells and showers, with temperatures set to hit 21C.

Today will bring a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, but the forecast looks positive for fans making the trip to Dublin for the All-Ireland football final.

It will be a cloudy start this morning with some patches of rain and drizzle. Showers will then spread from the west bringing a possibility of some longer wet spells in the north of the country.
latest | Aid airdrops into Gaza begin as Israeli military confirms pauses in bombing

Daily pause in three Gaza areas meant to facilitate aidIsrael says will also establish secure aid routes for convoysAid groups say mass hunger spreading across enclave

Airdropped humanitarian aid packages are released from military aircraft. Photo: Mahmoud Issa /Anadolu via Getty.

Nidal al-Mughrabi, Charlotte Greenfield, Dawoud Abu Alkas, Jaidaa Taha and Mayaan Lubell Reuters Sun 27 Jul 2025 at 19:00

Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates airdropped supplies into the enclave, where images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world.
Tensions broke out again in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed

A shop burns in the Sisaket province in Thailand

Thailand and Cambodia accused each other of fresh attacks as deadly border clashes entered a third day, leaving at least 33 people dead and more than 168,000 displaced.

Artillery fire and gunshots were reported near border villages, expanding the area of the fighting that flared again Thursday after a landmine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Cambodian and Thai officials claimed to have acted in retaliation.

Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia.

Cambodian authorities reported 12 new deaths yesterday, bringing its toll to 13, while Thai officials said a soldier was killed, raising the deaths to 20, mostly civilians.

The 800km border between the countries has been disputed for decades

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is under growing pressure to defuse the situation.

During an emergency meeting, members of the UN Security Council called for de-escalation and urged ASEAN to mediate a peaceful solution.

The 800km border has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief.

Tensions broke out again in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift.

Cambodias defence ministry condemned what it said was an expanded Thai offensive yesterday after five heavy artillery shells were fired into multiple locations in the province of Pursat, calling the attack an unprovoked and premeditated act of aggression.

Cambodias military spokesperson Lt Gen Maly Socheata said tensions flared in the province of Koh Kong, where four Thai naval vessels were reportedly stationed offshore and four others en route.

She said the naval deployment was an act of aggression that risked further escalation.

Seven civilians and five soldiers had been killed in two days of fighting.

Earlier, one man was reported dead after a pagoda he was hiding under was hit by Thai rockets.

The Thai army denied targeting Cambodian civilian sites and accused Phnom Penh of using human shields by positioning their weapons near residential areas.

Thai authorities also alleged Cambodian artillery shells had landed across the border in Laos, damaging homes and property. Lao officials have not publicly responded to the claim.
Mandala Murders ending explained

What is Mandala Murderss about?

Mandala Murders unfolds in the quiet yet unsettling town of Charandaspur

(Spoilers ahead, you know what to do)

Mandala Murders ending explained

Who is behind it all?

Vikram and Rea discover that the killings are actually human sacrifices linked to the Yantra's deadly power

Did Ananya die?

Just as the ritual collapses, Rea arrives and kills Ananya

Playing Rukmini as a cameo in ' Mandala Murders' gave me the chance to explore an entirely new space as an actor. Shes beguiling, enchanting , full of fire and unlike anything Ive done on screen before.



Really grateful Gopi sir and Adi sir trusted me to play her wildness . pic.twitter.com/h6Ay6LlQAl  Shriya Pilgaonkar (@ShriyaP) July 25, 2025

Will there be Mandala Murders season 2?

: Netflixs latest crime thriller Mandala Murders, featuring Vaani Kapoor, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, and Surveen Chawla, has captured interest with its, complex characters, and surprising turns. As the narrative moves through multiple timelines and unveils major revelations, it leaves the audience with several unanswered questions, particularly about Yasts fate and Ananyas decisions. If youve watched the series and are eager to understand the ending and what could come next, heres a detailed explanation and season 2 speculation., where two detectives begin investigating a string of brutal, ritualistic murders. As the case deepens, they uncover ties to an ancient secret society that has silently shaped the towns past for centuries. What begins as a routine investigation soon spirals into a dark conspiracy, blurring the line between myth and reality.Led by the enigmatic Mahamani Rukmini, the Aayast Mandal is a secretive cult determined to resurrect their god, Yast, through a dark ritual involving a mysterious device called the Aayast Yantra. But their 1950s experiment fails when terrified townsfolk storm the site, forcing Rukmini to flee and halting the ritualtemporarily.Decades later, suspended Delhi cop Vikram Singh returns to his hometown of Charandaspur, still haunted by the traumatic loss of his brother and the unexplained disappearance of his mother. When a series of brutal murders rocks the townstarting with the grotesquely mutilated body of journalist Abhishek, Vikram teams up with CIB officer Rea Thomas. Their investigation uncovers a chilling truth: the cult never disbanded, and the murders are part of a renewed effort to complete the failed ritual.As the case unravels,. The shocking twist? The mastermind behind it all is local politician Ananya Bharadwaj, Vikrams girlfriends sister and Rukminis granddaughter, who believes Vikram is a miracle child destined to bring Yast to life.In a climactic confrontation, Vikram is abducted for the final ritual. But Yast rejects his blood, and its revealed that a wish made long ago by Vikrams mother to save her son is what ultimately protects him.Its safe to say that Mandala Murders will return for a second season. In the final moments of the show, Rea is seen recounting the events and expressing her determination to uncover the mystery surrounding Yast. She clearly states that she wont rest until she solves the loop tied to the ancient god. Additionally, the last scene shows the Aayast Yantra reactivating strongly hinting that the story is far from over. So yes, Season 2 is likely, and we can expect Rea and her team to delve deeper into the secrets of Yast and what lies ahead.
Sarzameen ending and twist explained

(Spoilers ahead, you know what to do)

Sarzameen ending and twist explained

How did Harman come back?

#Sarzameen had a solid premise but failed to deliver. Weak screenplay and direction let it down. Prithvi, Kajol & the rest of the cast did well, but there was no real emotional connect. Overall, a mid watch with no standout moments.



AVERAGE pic.twitter.com/sKHJmAfeno  K A L K I (@iamkalki_13) July 25, 2025

Did Harman kill his parents?

What was Mehers past?

Sarzameen post-credits scene - Did Meher die?

: Sarzameen, the newly released patriotic drama on JioHotstar, features powerful performances by Kajol, Ibrahim Ali Khan, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Set against the intense backdrop of national duty and personal sacrifice, the film weaves together emotional depth and gripping action. Though the movie has received mixed reactions from audiences, its dramatic climax and touching post-credits scene have left many viewers curious. If you're looking to understand how it all ends, heres a detailed breakdown of Sarzameens ending and final twist.Harman becomes close to a neighborhood boy, Shoaib, who is secretly part of a terrorist network. During a wedding celebration, Harman is abducted, and the terrorists demand that Vijay release two brothers held for their suspected involvement in violent activities. Though Meher pleads with him, Vijay ultimately refuses, choosing national duty over family.Years later, during a rescue mission at a terrorist hideout, the army discovers a group of captives including a now adult and unrecognisable Harman. While Meher is overjoyed by his return, Vijay remains skeptical and suspects he's an imposter. Despite a DNA test confirming his identity, Vijay's doubts prove justified, Harman has been brainwashed by Kabil, a terrorist who filled the role of a father figure and turned him against his homeland.In a tense cabin meeting, Harman confronts Vijay with a gun, but Meher is accidentally shot during the altercation (they dont die then though). Devastated, Harman flees, burdened by guilt. Meanwhile, Kabil and Harman plan an attack on senior army officials, but their plan fails thanks to intel leaked by an unknown source. The Indian army thwarts the attack and later learns of another threat: a bomb set to go off at a dam inauguration.The biggest twist unfolds - Meher is revealed to be a covert Indian spy who had infiltrated enemy territory years ago and was the one leaking vital intel. In a final confrontation, Harman, driven by resentment, activates the bomb. Vijay pleads with him and manages to reach him emotionally. While Harman struggles to deactivate the bomb, Meher tortures Kabil for the code but is fatally wounded. She kills Kabil and sends the code to Vijay before dying.Just as Vijay and Harman try to stop the bomb, Shoaib appears and shoots them. Despite his injuries, Harman kills Shoaib and disarms the bomb in the nick of time, saving his father and countless lives.In the post-credits scene, we see both the father and son performing Mehers last rites, crying uncontrollably. Yes, while saving her son and husband, Meher took her final breath.
Bank holidays 2025: If you were planning a visit to the bank tomorrow, you may need to postpone it. All public and private sector banks will remain closed in Sikkim on Monday, July 28, 2025, as per the official RBI bank holiday calendar. The closure is due to Drukpa Tshe-zi, a significant Buddhist festival celebrated in Sikkim.

RBI Announces Bank Holiday in Sikkim for Drukpa Tshe-zi

According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar, July 28, 2025, has been marked as a bank holiday in Sikkim. This day is observed as Drukpa Tshe-zi, an important religious occasion for followers of the Drukpa Buddhist sect. The festival commemorates the first sermon given by Lord Buddha after attaining enlightenment.

On this auspicious occasion, locals participate in religious ceremonies at monasteries, wear traditional attire, chant prayers, and perform sacred rituals with deep devotion. Due to the cultural importance of this festival, banks across Sikkim will stay shut for the day.

What Services Will Be Affected During This Bank Holiday?

While internet and mobile banking services will remain operational during this bank holiday, several banking activities that require a physical visit to the branch will be unavailable. These include:

Updating or submitting KYC documents

Depositing or withdrawing large amounts of cash

Accessing safety locker facilities

Registering complaints regarding failed in-branch transactions

Closing or modifying joint bank accounts

Customers in Sikkim are advised to complete their in-person banking tasks either before or after July 28 to avoid any inconvenience.

Why RBI Declares State-Specific Bank Holidays

The RBI issues an annual list of bank holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act. This list is prepared after coordination with respective state governments, taking into account local festivals, religious observances, and regional events.

Each holiday ensures that religious and cultural traditions are respected while giving banking employees a chance to participate in community observances. The RBI publishes these dates on its official website and informs all financial institutions accordingly.

Check Your States Holiday List Before Visiting the Bank

If youre planning any banking activities this month, especially in Sikkim, its essential to check your states bank holiday calendar ahead of time. This will help you plan transactions efficiently and avoid last-minute hurdles.

Upcoming Bank Holidays in August 2025  Full List

Looking ahead, August 2025 will see a number of bank holidays across different states in India. Banks will be closed for a total of 15 days, including all Sundays, second Saturdays, and various regional holidays. Heres the detailed schedule:

August 3 (Sunday): Weekly closure across India August 8 (Friday): Tendong Lho Rum Faat  Banks closed in Gangtok, Sikkim August 9 (Saturday): Raksha Bandhan, Jhulana Purnima and the second Saturday Banks will be closed all over India August 10 (Sunday): Weekly closure August 13 (Wednesday): Patriots Day  Banks closed in Imphal (Manipur) August 15 (Friday): Independence Day, Parsi New Year, and Janmashtami  Nationwide closure August 16 (Saturday): Janmashtami  Banks to remain closed in many states such as Gujarat, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Telangana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh. August 17 (Sunday): Weekly closure August 19 (Tuesday): Birthday of Maharaja Bir Bikram  Agartala (Tripura) August 23 (Saturday): Fourth Saturday  Weekly closure August 24 (Sunday): Weekly closure August 25 (Monday): Tirubhav Tithi of Srimanta Sankardeva  Guwahati (Assam) August 27 (Wednesday): Banks observed holiday due to Ganesh Chaturthi and Samvatsari (Chaturthi Paksha) and Varasiddhi Vinayaka Vrata and Ganesh Puja and Vinayakar Chaturthi in Gujarat, Belapur, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh August 28 (Thursday): Nuakhai and continuation of Ganesh celebrations in Odisha and Goa August 31 (Sunday): Weekly closure

Whether its Drukpa Tshe-zi in Sikkim or Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra, its vital to be aware of RBI-declared bank holidays that affect your banking plans. Always check your state-specific holiday calendar to ensure a smooth banking experience.

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Rapper Azealia Banks is facing intense backlash after posting and deleting a series of tweets in which she appeared to defend US President Donald Trump amid renewed focus on his alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Banks, who publicly endorsed Trump during the 2024 presidential election, shocked social media users by minimising the seriousness of underage sex and calling public concern over the Epstein files irrelevant.

The tweets were posted on the evening of July 26, 2025, and deleted within hours following widespread criticism. However, screenshots have since gone viral.

Azealia Banks tweets defending Donald Trump ignited outrage.

In one of the now-deleted tweets, Banks referenced teenage girls, historical norms, and her personal experiences in what many perceived as an attempt to justify relationships between underage girls and adult men, Ok, in Donald Trumps defencefu**ing 14 year old girls was really only made a social taboo in the 1990s."

She went on to add, "My grandmother was born in 1927 and had her first child when she was 12.

Teenage pregnancy only became frowned upon with the rise of Jerry Springer and I also can be honest about the fact that I was old enough to choose, seduce and decide to fuck grown ass men when I was 15.

I really dont get why women are fronting like they werent fucking 40 year olds at 15 like come on now.

Im honestly not surprised or mad at Trump for getting some 15 year old pussy because those were the times.

In a separate tweet from the same day, she added, Because little Spanish girls be fu**ing at 13, in middle school with DD+ t**s and giving very much. Humans are going to do what humans are going to do. I am not trying to f**k anything under the age of 45, but IT IS WHAT IT IS. GOODNESS GRACIOUS, FORGET ABOUT THE EPSTEIN FILES WHO CARES? *

These statements were widely condemned as not only inappropriate but also dangerous, appearing to normalise or excuse child sexual abuse.

Although Banks deleted the tweets, they have continued to circulate widely, with many users tagging child advocacy groups to highlight the harm such statements can cause and demanding that her X account be banned.

When will Azealia banks Internet access be revoked pic.twitter.com/OGwfs7D1I6  Isa Alo | Here For It All |  (@starlettfantasy) July 27, 2025

Azealia Banks' endorsement of Donald Trump

Azealia Banks backing of Trump during the 2024 election had already raised eyebrows. She praised his unapologetic attitude and brushed off his indictments and misconduct allegations, calling him really funny in a post that Trump later shared on Truth Social.

Trumps name resurfaces in Epstein case

Donald Trump with Jeffery Epstein| Credit: X

The renewed backlash against Trump is tied to unsealed documents from court cases involving Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex trafficker who died in 2019 while awaiting trial. These files allegedly include the names of individuals who allegedly associated with Epstein or visited his properties.

The US president has long been associated with Epstein. The two were photographed together at parties in the late 1990s and early 2000s. A 2002 quote from Trump about Epstein reads, Ive known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy. Hes a lot of fun to be with. *

Trump was also named in a 2016 civil lawsuit filed by a woman who alleged he sexually assaulted her when she was 13 years old at an Epstein-hosted party. The case was later dropped, and Trump has repeatedly denied all allegations, calling them fabricated and politically motivated.

The newly unsealed files do not include criminal charges against Trump but have revived public suspicion due to his past proximity to Epsteins network, including presence in flight logs, guestbooks, and photo evidence.

DOJ closes Epstein case, sparking backlash over missing files

The U.S. Justice Department officially closed its investigation into Jeffrey Epstein in early July 2025, announcing no further files would be released. The move triggered widespread bipartisan backlash, particularly concerning a missing minute of surveillance video from the night Epstein died in prison in 2019 and the absence of a socalled client list previously hinted at by DOJ leadership. Critics, including survivors and lawmakers, accused officials of withholding key information, and a bipartisan House committee has since subpoenaed both the DOJ for unredacted files and Ghislaine Maxwell for congressional testimony as pressure mounts for full transparency.

Coming back to Azealia Banks, the rapper has a long history of incendiary comments, feuds, and social media meltdowns. From controversial takes on race and politics to bizarre personal claims, she has often positioned herself outside of mainstream cultural discourse, sometimes to her detriment.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Just in June, fans saw all the 7 BTS members wrap up their mandatory military service, and now the enlistment spotlight has shifted to the beloved K-drama actors. However, what happens when the artist enlisting is both a popular idol and an actor? Fans can't help but get emotional and that's exactly what happened with the news of ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo's enlistment.

Cha Eunwoo is officially set to begin his mandatory military service on July 28, 2025. Known for his stunning visuals and work in both K-pop and K-dramas, Eunwoo will serve in the Republic of Korea Army's military band. His service is scheduled to last 548 days, with a discharge date set for January 27, 2027.

Cha Eunwoo set to enlist in the military. Credit: Instagram|eunwo.o_c

Cha Eunwoo bids emotional farewell

Ahead of enlistment, in the live broadcast, Eunwoo appeared in a white T-shirt with his new haircut, offering finger hearts and a warm smile. He said, "I'll say goodbye for now Bye bye! I'll go and come back safely. I won't get hurt and will always be careful. Erm, how do I turn off the live? Once again, thank you and love you. Bye~ ppyong."

"I'll say goodbye for now.. Bye bye! I'll go and come back safely.. I won't get hurt and will always be careful..

Erm, how do I turn off the live?

Once again, thank you and love you. bye~ ppyong"



250727#ChaEunWoo | # | # | # | # | # | #ASTRO pic.twitter.com/8gEe9NwpLR  Cha Eun Woo  Daily (@chaeunwoodaily) July 27, 2025

Cha Eunwoo's meaningful send-off with ASTRO members and late Moonbin's sister

Not just the live chat - Cha Eunwoo also posted a set of photos on Instagram, showing off his new buzz cut. In addition, he shared a touching photo from his farewell dinner with ASTRO members MJ, JinJin, and Yoon San Ha.

One particularly emotional moment came with the presence of Billlie's Moon Sua, the younger sister of the late ASTRO member Moonbin. Fans were deeply moved by their reunion - a quiet tribute to the lasting bonds and cherished memories within the group.

Cha Eunwoo's K-drama work

The actor's recent work spans across multiple platforms, including the K-dramas Wonderful World (2024) and A Good Day to Be a Dog (20232024). Prior to the enlistment, he was busy with the upcoming Netflix series The WONDERfools (2025). He was also reportedly in discussions to star in a new K-drama by the Hong Sisters, but ultimately chose not to join the project.

As Cha Eunwoo begins this new chapter, fans are sending him off with heartfelt messages, especially on social media - and promising to welcome him back when he returns.

For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Kriti Sanon has emerged as one of Bollywood's most talented and versatile actresses. Through her consistent dedication and passion for her craft, she firmly established herself in the industry. Over the past decade, Kriti has consistently impressed her audiences with her engaging performances and magnetic on-screen presence. But apart from being an actor, she is also a successful businesswoman. As the Mimi actress celebrates her 34th birthday, here is a sneak peek into her financial business, net worth, and how rich this actress is.

Kriti Sanon's estimated net worth (2025)

According to CNBC TV 18 reports, Kriti Sanon's net worth stands at around Rs 82 crore as of 2024. While a significant portion of Kriti Sanon's net worth is attributed to her acting career, she has also built a strong entrepreneurial and brand presence.

The Crew actress endorses various brands such as Fossil, Bata, Whirlpool, Vivel, Titan, and Amul Ice Cream, among others. Additionally, Kriti is also a successful businesswoman, owning brands like Ms. Taken, The Tribe, Hyphen, and her own production house.

Kriti Sanon's pre-film fee reflects her rising stardom

As per Big TV, Kriti Sanon charged a fee ranging between Rs 4 and Rs 6 crore per film, a testament to her growing reputation following acclaimed performances in movies like Mimi (2021), Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, Crew, and Do Patti in 2024.

On the other hand, the report also revealed that, as per industry sources, she earned nearly Rs 3 crore for a role in films like Adipurush, and her remuneration for solo or ensemble-led films has reached closer to Rs 5 crore.

From acting career to business: Here's her entrepreneurial journey

The 34-year-old actress is more than just an actress, coming from a non-filmy background. Her ventures include:

Ms. Taken: A personalised clothing line launched in 2016.

A personalised clothing line launched in 2016. The Tribe: A fitness and nutrition platform that reflects her passion for health and wellness.

A fitness and nutrition platform that reflects her passion for health and wellness. Hyphen: A skincare brand launched in mid-2023.

A skincare brand launched in mid-2023. Blue Butterfly Films: Her production home that she started along with her sister, Nupur Sanon.

As per some reports, the figure of Rs 100 crore was the revenue that Hyphen generated. Not only this, but she also received recognition awards such as The Tribe, a fitness and nutrition platform that reflects her passion for health and wellness.

Brand endorsements and social media revenue

Brand endorsements: As a popular choice for top brands like Fossil, Titan, Bata, Amul, and Whirlpool, Kriti Sanon reportedly earns about Rs 1 crore per endorsement deal.

As a popular choice for top brands like Fossil, Titan, Bata, Amul, and Whirlpool, Kriti Sanon reportedly earns about Rs 1 crore per endorsement deal. Instagram revenue: With a massive following of over 60 million on Instagram, she is paid to generate an impressive Rs 12 to Rs 16 crore annually via sponsored content alone.

But do you know, Sanon stays in a duplex in Mumbai that is reportedly owned by Amitabh Bachchan?

Kriti Sanon's 34th Birthday |Credit: Instagram | @kritisanon

Kriti Sanon rents a Rs 10 lakh per month duplex, owns a Mercedes-Maybach GLS-600

Apart from her brand endorsements, the actress rents a luxurious duplex in Andheri, Mumbai, that is reportedly owned by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan for Rs 10 lakh per month.

The actress also has some investments in real estate in Juhu and Alibaug.

A look at the car collection:

Kriti Sanon owns some high-end cars:

Audi Q7

Mercedes-Maybach GLS600

BMW 3Series

Note: These all sum up to a value of Rs 3 to 4 crore.

FAQS

Q. How successful is Kriti Sanons skincare brand Hyphen, and what role does she play in it?

According to Entrepreneur, Kriti Sanon is the co-founder and Chief Customer Officer of Hyphen, which is a skincare D2C brand she launched with the mCaffeine team. Within just one year, Hyphen crossed 100 crore in revenue, making it one of Indias fastest-growing beauty startups.

Q. How much does Kriti charge for films and endorsements now?

Kriti's acting fee reportedly ranged from Rs 4 to 6 crore per film after major hits like Mimi, Crew, and Do Patti, though she reportedly earned about 3 crore for Adipurush.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here.
We recently compiled a list of 10 Most Undervalued Healthcare Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. stands tenth on our list and is currently making waves for launching a new digital PCR system.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO) is one of the most undervalued healthcare stocks. It is a global leader in life science research and clinical diagnostics and advanced its digital PCR capabilities in 2025 with the launch of four new Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) instruments, including the QX Continuum and QX700 series, acquired through its purchase of Stilla Technologies. These systems significantly expand the companys ddPCR portfolio, now offering over 400,000 assays, and enhance applications in oncology, infectious disease, and genetic analysis through improved multiplexing, throughput, and workflow integration.

Supporting the growing field of gene therapy, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO) released ddPCR kits for accurate measurement of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, enabling efficient viral titer and capsid integrity assessment. The company also extended its Vericheck kits to support additional viral serotypes for broader biotherapeutic research.

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (BIO) Launches New Digital PCR Systems in 2025

15 States with the Best Healthcare in the US

The corporations other key product launches include the TrailBlazer Tag and StarBright Dye Label kits for antibody conjugation in flow cytometry and Western blotting, and new purification toolsNuvia wPrime 2A resin and Foresight Pro columns, designed for scalable biopharma manufacturing.

Throughout 2025, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:BIO) has remained actively engaged in global industry events, offering workshops on diagnostic innovation and showcasing its expanding technology portfolio for both clinical and research applications.

While we acknowledge the potential of GOOGL 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: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money.

Disclosure: None.
In another major move within the IT sector, India's largest services provider company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is aiming to reduce its workforce by 2 per cent or approximately 12,000 employees, in its 2026 financial year, as per reports that came in on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Amid the TCS layoffs, let's explore the net worth of CEO K. Krithivasan and understand his financial standing.

According to Mint, the company is retraining and redeploying staff in a bid to become more agile and more firm to be ready for the future amid the fears of disruptions in technology, especially due to the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Moreover, the company's target is primarily focused on the middle and senior management, as per Reuters. However, this decision will also impact the employees from across the world and the domains where TCS operates.

TCS to lay off 12,000 employees.



 Tata Consultancy Services will lay off 2% of its workforce over the next year, Moneycontrol reported.



 The move will impact around 12,000 of the company's employees, primarily at middle and senior levels, TCS CEO K Krithivasan told pic.twitter.com/yXMHrhlNsM  Nitesh Sharma (@nitesh1572) July 27, 2025





Who is K. Krithivasan?

K. Krithivasan was appointed as the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) after MD and CEO Rajesh Gopinathan stepped down from his role in 2023. Krithivasan is currently the president and global head of the banking, financial services, and insurance business unit at TCS.

According to an excerpt shared on the company's website, "He is responsible for planning and executing growth strategies, improving financial performance, and enhancing customer mindshare and market positioning. He has helped key clients with digital transformation, change management cycle acceleration, achieving value beyond cost optimisation, and establishing IT program governance."

K. Krithivasan's net worth and more

The recently revealed annual report of IT services TCS provided a valuable insight into the C-suite executive salaries in India. According to The Week, the annual report revealed that K. Krithivasan takes home a staggering Rs 26.52 crore in FY2025, which is 2.21 crore a month!

The report further mentioned, in the fiscal year 2025, the CEO's salary increased by 4.6 per cent, and this stands in stark contrast to the median salary at TCS, as Krithivasan earned nearly 330 times more than others, which highlighted the significant salary gap within the IT services industry.

His total compensation of Rs 26.52 crore consisted of a Rs 1.39 crore salary, Rs 2.13 crore in benefits (including perks and allowances), and a commission of Rs 23 crore, as detailed in the annual report.

TCS CEO K. Krithivasan | Credit: X |@Uttupaaji

FAQs

Q. Why is TCS cutting 2% of its employees in the fiscal year 2026?

Given the possible disruptions from cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, TCS wants to become more adaptable and ready for any obstacles that may arise in the future.

Q. How much does K. Krithivasan get paid in comparison to other CEOs in the IT industry in India?

According to Financial Express, K. Krithivasan's total compensation of 26.52 crore for the fiscal year 202425 was much less than that of his colleagues. The CEOs of HCLTech, Infosys, and Wipro, for example, received 84.16 crore, 80.6 crore, and almost 53 crore, respectively.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here.
No fewer than 13 passengers have been comfimed dead while 26 others were rescued in a boat accident which occurred at Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that the the ferry, conveying 39 traders from market back to Zumba village capsized near Guni town on Saturday.

It was learnt that the mishap was caused by water turbulence and possible overloading.

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Speaking over the unfortunate incident on Sunday while addressing newsmen, Director General of Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba Arah, disclosed that the victims have been buried.

The agency noted that 39 passengers were in the boat at the time of the incident, and 26 passengers were rescued.

Abdullai said: 39 passengers were in the boat when it capsized. 26 of them were rescued.

13 passengers died, including eight women, three men and two children.

Also speaking over the incident on Sunday in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago extended his condolences to the people of Shiroro local government.

READ MORE: Passengers Missing As Boat Conveying Goods Capsizes In Niger

Governor Bago described the boat mishap as unfortunate, disheartening, and worrisome.

The statement partly reads: He expresses concern over the recurring capsizing of boats in the riverine communities of Niger State, despite the numerous efforts put in by relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies MDAs of both federal and state governments, including the N-HYPPADEC, to mitigate the negative trend.

He says while the government, through the relevant MDAs, is implementing the governments policies on safe water transportation, farmer Governor Umaru Bago urges those in the riverine communities to endeavour to adhere to all the regulations for their safety.

He specifically sympathises with the families of the victims and prays that Allah will repose the souls of the deceased, as well as grant quick recovery to those injured.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to go head-to-head with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, declaring it would match the party tactic for tactic.

This declaration was made on Saturday, during a meeting of the National Political Consultative Group (North) in Abuja.

ADC spokesman, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Nigerians are fed up with the Tinubu-led administration and are ready for a change.

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Every Nigerian who is hungry knows that he doesnt want this to continue, he said.

Every Nigerian who is finding it difficult to pay his childrens school fees, whose salary has been reduced to just a piece of paper, knows that he needs an alternative and the only alternative today is the ADC.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/enough-of-the-mockery-leave-our-party-ekiti-pdp-tells-fayose.html

Abdullahi dismissed claims that the party lacks strength because it has no sitting governors. He insisted the ADC represents a movement backed by the Nigerian people and is resilient despite predictions of its collapse.

When we started, they said it was dead on arrival. Now they are giving us a six-month lifespan, he said.

Also speaking, Interim National Chairman, Senator David Mark, lamented the state of Northern Nigeria, saying, The North is bleeding profusely, and we are the only ones who can heal it.

Former SGF Babachir Lawal added, Our people have mandated us to organize ourselves through the ADC.

He assured that the party would resist any manipulation in the 2027 polls: Votes will count. Whatever malicious activity they APC throw at us, we will counter and defeat them.
Tragedy struck in Osun State as a soldier allegedly attacked and killed an operative of the Amotekun Corps, Peter Samuel, in Ijeda, Oriade Local Government Area.

The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, with the victim succumbing to his injuries early Sunday morning at a hospital.

The Commandant of Osun Amotekun, Adekunle Omoyele, confirmed the attack in a statement issued by the corps spokesperson, Yusuf Idowu.

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According to the statement, the suspected soldier, identified only as Fiyinoluwa, approached the Amotekun station in Ijebu-Jesa dressed in military camouflage and reportedly expressed violent intentions.

Fiyinoluwa declared part of his reason for joining the military was to deal decisively with Amotekun personnel, Omoyele said.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/enough-of-the-mockery-leave-our-party-ekiti-pdp-tells-fayose.html

The confrontation escalated when Officer Peter was later ambushed while riding a motorcycle.

The soldier, along with unidentified accomplices, allegedly struck him on the head with a blunt object, causing him to fall. The brutal assault lasted over 20 minutes without any intervention.

The attackers left him in a pool of blood before fleeing the scene on a commercial motorcycle, the statement added.

Amotekun operatives rushed the injured officer to Wesley Hospital in Ilesa and reported the matter to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ijebu-Jesa and the Nigerian Army base in Ede.

Omoyele stated, Despite medical efforts, Officer Peter Samuel died in the early hours of Sunday. Investigations are underway to uncover the full circumstances and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for a thorough investigation into the conduct of military personnel within civilian communities.
APC chieftain in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged the partys new national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to prioritize winning strategies for the upcoming governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun States.

Oyintiloye made the statement on Sunday, while speaking with journalists in Osogbo, where he congratulated Yilwatda on his emergence as chairman.

He emphasised that the elections, which will take place ahead of the 2027 general elections, were critical to the partys momentum.

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The off-cycle elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun are crucial and must be won convincingly, Oyintiloye said.

Yilwatda must design a winning formula tailored to the peculiarities of each state.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/tinubu-congratulates-super-falcons-for-winning-10th-wafcon-title-says-victory-examplified-nigerian-spirit.html

He described Yilwatda as a man of impeccable character and integrity, adding that the new chairman must ensure the party consolidates its base and attracts more defectors.

He should continue the efforts of his predecessor by bringing in influential leaders from the opposition and rewarding loyal members who have built the party from scratch, he added.

Oyintiloye urged Yilwatda to maintain a cordial relationship with both the federal government and Nigerians.

We need to rally people behind the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, he stated.

He also warned against sidelining loyal members due to defections, stressing that those defecting should not displace committed APC members.

Oyintiloye concluded by calling for the strengthening of internal democracy to avoid internal crisis as the party heads toward 2027.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated vetting committees to scrutinise the sale of Federal Government houses and the titling of designated park plots in the FCT.

This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday, by the FCT Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, during the inauguration of the committees at his office.

According to the statement signed by the Assistant Director of Information and Customer Service, Badaru Yakassai, Nwankwoeze said the committees were set up following the discovery of serious irregularities and infractions in the sale of Federal Government houses in the FCT.

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He listed some of the infractions as deviation from approval mandate, improper verifications, late payments, inadequate documentation, poor interdepartmental coordination and other specific violations.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/goodluck-jonathan-is-best-choice-for-the-north-in-2027-not-peter-obi-pdp-chieftain-insists.html

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, approved the constitution of the committees with clear directives, mandates, and terms of reference to ensure that all processes are completed within a reasonable time frame, he added.

Nwankwoeze emphasised that the vetting team handling government house sales is expected to restore order, accountability, and transparency in line with the original 20032005 monetisation and sales policy framework of the Federal Government.

On the park plot titling, he said, A second vetting committee has been constituted to align the activities of the Department of Parks and Recreation with the current land reform policies of the FCT Administration.

Describing the initiative as significant, he stated: The setting up of the vetting committees is a bold and irreversible step toward restoring sanity and public trust in the FCTA.

He expressed confidence in the political will of the minister, noting: The FCT Minister is determined to drive this process to a logical conclusion, and this forms part of the aspirations of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Nwankwoeze concluded by assuring Abuja residents that: The government has deployed the necessary machinery to resolve all lingering issues surrounding the sales of the Federal Governments houses and designated park plots in the territory.
A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Sani, has said that former president Goodluck Jonathan remains the most strategic option for northern part of the country in the 2027 general election.

Speaking in an interview with Trust TV on Saturday, Sani, who served as senior special assistant on media and publicity to former vice-president Namadi Sambo, said that power shifting must be guided by fairness and the historical performance of each region within the PDP.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Sani was reacting to a rumor, claiming that PDP might be considering Obi for the next election as partys flagbearer.

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READ MORE: 2027: Were Bringing Peter Obi Back To PDP  Jerry Gana

He said that the opposition leaders must evaluate how power has been shared between the regions since the partys inception, insisting that the north has been deliberately shortchanged.

He said: Between somebody making a promise and somebody who is compelled by the law that he must leave, which one will you take?

He (Jonathan) has to go after four years. This one is making a promise. A promise can be kept and may not be kept either way. But on this one, you are sure that it must be kept.

So for the North, I think Goodluck Jonathan is the best choice.

Speaking over Obis promise to the coalition, saying that he will return power to North after completing his four years, Sani said that political promises must be kept.

He said: This one (Obi) is making a promise. A promise can be kept and may not be kept. But on this one, you are sure that it must be kept.

See Video Here: https://www.facebook.com/TrustTVNews/videos/1986699145201503/?app=fbl
Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has addressed the wave of criticism that followed his recent birthday message to actress Kate Henshaw, which stirred controversy due to its suggestive tone.

The reaction erupted after Iyke took to Instagram to pen a lengthy tribute to Henshaw on her birthday, where he openly reflected on their close relationship and hinted at past romantic interest.

You knew all that time I wanted to hit that, he wrote, a line that sparked outrage among fans and colleagues, with many accusing him of being disrespectful.

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READ MORE: I Sacked My Graduate Cameraman For Bringing Belongings To My House Claming He Was Chased Away After I Paid Him 500,000 Upfront  Peller

Actor Gideon Okeke was among those who condemned the post, saying it revealed too much information and was inappropriate, especially on a day meant to celebrate Henshaw.

In response, Jim Iyke defended his birthday tribute during an interview with 3FM 102.7 in Ghana, posted on Instagram on Saturday, insisting there was no sexual undertone in it and that it had been misinterpreted.

I meant everything I said in that post. I rarely say something I dont mean. I dont waste words. My words are my bound. I have known this person for over two decades of my life. We have grown as friends and as brother and sister, he stated.

He explained that his expression was deeply personal and meant to be understood within the context of his close bond with Kate Henshaw.

What happened was a wordplay that was told in a place of a comfort zone that only two people or less can cohabit. Because these are words that either resonate clearly in your head and never find expression through your voice; you carry them forever and one day you said, F**k it, take a pen and let the world have a glimpse of how you feel about certain people, he said.

I know the feeling is mutual. Theres nothing absolutely sexual about it [the birthday tribute]. It doesnt even suggest someone Im dating.

Iyke concluded by saying his post was simply an honest attempt to express how he feels about a long-time friend.
Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, has dismissed concerns over recent defections from the party, insisting the LP remains united and committed to offering Nigerians a credible alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Usman made the remarks on Saturday, while addressing journalists in Kaduna State.

She described the APC-led federal government as rudderless and visionless, adding that its administration has plunged Nigerians into unprecedented hardship.

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The APC has failed Nigerians. The suffering of our people has never been this widespread or this severe, she stated.

Reacting to defections from the LP to the ruling party, Usman expressed disappointment, labeling such moves morally indefensible and legally questionable.

READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/no-serious-challenger-in-anambra-governorship-race-soludo.html

She condemned the trend of politicians switching parties after benefiting from one platform, saying, It is disheartening to see people jump ship after securing victory on one partys platform, only to defect for selfish gain.

Despite the defections, Usman maintained that the LP remains unshaken, arguing that those who left never truly believed in the partys vision.

We made some mistakes in candidate selection, but those lessons have been learned, she said.

She further assured Nigerians of the partys renewed focus and revealed plans to launch a nationwide membership revalidation exercise, state congresses, and a national conventionall approved by the National Executive Council.

Calling on aggrieved members to set aside personal interests, Usman said, We will be more deliberate in choosing those who genuinely align with our mission of building a new Nigeria.

She urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the Labour Party as it works to restore national dignity and deliver people-centered governance.
A yet to be ascertain number of passengers have been declared missing following a boat accident in Shiroro area of Niger State.

It was gathered that the ferry was carrying commodities and some traders to Kwata, Zumba Market of the state on Saturday when the incident happened.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the boat submerged a tree and split into two, throwing all onboard into the river.

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The unfortunate incident was confirmed in a statement by Director of Information and Special Duties, Niger State Emergency Agency, Dr Ibrahim Hussaini.

READ MORE: Taraba Boat Capsizes, Six Lives Lost, Nine Passengers Rescued

Mr. Hussaini revealed that the driver and a few passengers were rescued, with one of them admitted to General Hospital Kuta and currently receiving treatment.

He said: NSEMA has received a report of a boat mishap incident which occurred today, 26th July 2025, around 11:45 am when a boat loaded with commodities and an unspecified number of passengers heading to Kwata, Zumba Market, capsized along with its occupants.

As at the time of filling this report, the number of casualties could not be confirmed.

Hussaini added that search and rescue operations are still ongoing by NSEMA desk officers, local divers and volunteers.
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK.

British American Tobacco (BTI): A High-Yield Dividend Stock with Defensive Strength

A close-up of an array of tobacco products, emphasizing the selection and consumer choice.

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) is among the best FTSE dividend stocks. Similar to its industry peers, the company is heavily focused on shifting towards next-generation products. What sets BAT apart is its global reach, offering investors exposure to the worldwide tobacco market rather than being limited to just the US or international markets alone. Its product lineup spans traditional cigarettes, vaporizers, heated tobacco, and smokeless options like chewing tobacco. For those looking to invest in the broader tobacco sector, BAT offers a straightforward, all-in-one entry point through a single stock.

In July, Jefferies began covering British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) with a Buy rating, selecting it as their top pick within the tobacco industry. The firm pointed to the companys growing profitability in its traditional combustibles segment as a key driver supporting its progress in expanding into smoke-free products.

Analysts also highlighted British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)s strong financial position and solid cash returns, while suggesting that there is still potential for margin improvement. From a valuation perspective, the stock was considered appealing, trading at a 35% discount compared to other tobacco firms  a gap Jefferies expects could close over time.

British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) has raised its payouts every year since 2018. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.7391 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.8%, as recorded on July 25.

While we acknowledge the potential of BTI 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: 14 Stocks That Paid Special Dividends in 2025 and Dividend Champions vs Aristocrats: 12 Under-the-Radar Stocks to Buy

Disclosure: None.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the widespread practice of renaming streets and public spaces in Lagos without proper legal and community consultation.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, Falana described the actions as unlawful and undemocratic, insisting that such renaming violates the Nigerian Constitution.

He particularly cited the controversial change of Charley Boy Bus Stop to Baddo Bus Stop by former chairman of Bariga LCDA, Mr. Kolade Alabi, stating that, Charley Boy Bus Stop acquired its name sociologically due to its functionality and the positive impact which Charley Boy has historically made in the area.

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READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/07/apc-must-win-anambra-ekiti-osun-elections-oyintiloye-tells-yilwatda.html

Renaming it without consulting the Bariga and Gbagada people smacks of authoritarianism, he stated.

He also criticized recent reports of streets allegedly being named after President Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the late Mr. Herbert Wigwe, stating such moves undermine the authority of local governments.

According to Falana, the Constitution reserves the right to name or rename streets solely for elected local government councils. He referenced the case of Chief Obidi Ume v. Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, where the court upheld that only councils can name roads.

The usurpation of the exclusive functions of local governments on street naming cannot be justified under the Nigerian Constitution, he added.

Falana further expressed concern that Lagos has retained many colonial-era names while erasing those honouring contemporary Nigerian figures.

He called on local government lawmakers to end this arbitrary trend and include public hearings in the naming process, stating, Streets should not be renamed arbitrarily to please the whims and caprices of political leaders.
Michael Borda, the associate vice provost for Research and the executive director of Strategic Initiatives, takes a closer look at Betty, the University of Pennsylvania's new supercomputer in Collegeville, as Marylyn Ritchie (rear left), vice dean of Artificial Intelligence and Computing at the Perelman School of Medicine, and Jaime Combariza, executive director of the Penn Advanced Research Computing Center, listen to Kenneth Chaney, the center's associate director of AI and Technology. Read more

The new, glass-walled supercomputer called Betty sits on the top floor of a high-fenced brick data center on a hill 30 miles northwest  by road and two separate twin-fiber data lines  from its operators at the University of Pennsylvania.

Betty is a stack of central processing units, a SuperPOD of graphics processing units, plus data storage, made by Nvidia, the worlds most valuable company, thanks to soaring demand for high-speed and artificial-intelligence queries.

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Betty is designed to run AI models that search, analyze, and report findings from videos, images, texts, and databanks. The models are designed to improve with each query, per researchers ever-more-specialized instructions.

At its home in Montgomery County, Betty hums louder than a commercial jet rising from an airport. It burns enough electricity to power a village of 1,000 homes.

The site, named for pioneering Penn computer scientist Frances Betty Holberton (1917-2001), is one of the tenants at Flexential Corp.s data center in Collegeville. Its run by the Penn Advanced Research Computing Center, its humming, flashing champion in the high-stakes academic struggle to meet fast-growing demand.

Penn expects Betty to land on the Top500.org list of the worlds most powerful supercomputers.

Top universities faculty are competing for grants and for students. If they dont have the resources to compete, they wont be in good shape, said Jaime Combariza, a computer scientist and systems manager Penn recruited from Johns Hopkins to run PARCC.

So all universities are providing these centralized research groups. The idea is to keep people happy, so they use the facility and will succeed, Combariza said.

An arms race in computing

During two years of meetings among deans and researchers from the universitys 12 colleges, the plan for Betty was approved quickly and built in less than a year  record time for Penn decision-making, according to Michael Borda, Penns associate vice provost for research.

No question, theres an arms race in computing, Borda said. We were not offering enough capacity.

Betty quadruples the universitys computing capacity, with plenty of room to grow, Combariza said. Todays denser, faster processor racks not only handle bigger, more complex queries but are much more efficient than machines built just a few years ago.

On July 11, info tech leaders from most of Penns 12 colleges walked through prison-style man trap doors and into the glass enclosure to visit Betty, for the first time.

The visitors inserted earplugs and filed into the space between Bettys twin man-high server banks, scouting for the machines that handle their research queries. They shared discoveries like first-year students visiting their new dorm.

Penn scientists and their grad students are doing a lot of research with large-language [AI] models and processing large images with large file sizes, so this is another computational capability we provide, said Meredith Fetters, associate chief financial officer of research information systems at Penns Perelman School of Medicine.

Were going from looking at single images to looking at entire videos  hundreds of images [for each search] per minute. Youre scaling up the computations, said Kenneth Chaney, associate director for AI and Technology for PARCC. AI is used for language, video, and audio. The more, the better.

The three-story building housing Betty colocates corporate tenants, including GlaxoSmithKline, which constructed the building to support its neighboring labs but outsourced the site and its rapid hardware, software, and connectivity updates to Flexential in 2017.

So why is Betty so far from Penns campus?

The hard thing in Philly is power, as in electrical capacity, Chaney said. Its hard to get an extra megawatt from Peco, the citys dominant power supplier. To have a data center in the city, Penn would have to build its own power plant, and suitable sites are scarce.

This will grow. Well need that next megawatt and more, Chaney said.

The third floor of the building, where Betty sits, has a view of the cooling towers of the Limerick nuclear power plant, whose capacity owner Constellation Energy wants to increase by 300 megawatts, or about 15%  enough to power 200,000 homes, or 200 Betty-size centers.

Pennsylvania will need more electricity to support larger AI-serving data centers planned in places including the Susquehanna Valley and at the former U.S. Steel Fairless Works in Bucks County. A proposal next to PBFs oil refinery in Delaware City, Del., would require more power than is currently generated to serve the states nearly 1 million residents.

Powering Penns new center

Flexentials Collegeville center is fed by two separate Peco substations at high voltage. But even short interruptions can crash AI applications and disrupt users for days or longer, so the first floor holds eight electric power generators. Fuel stored on site can keep the center running for several days in the case of an extended public power outage, said Patrick Doherty, Flexentials chief revenue officer.

Flexential runs 40 data centers around the United States. National competitors include Digital Realty and NTT.

Access to electric power is important, along with strong fiber communications networks, land for expansion, and population, where the users are. Philadelphia checks all the boxes, Doherty said.

Data centers are at historically low vacancy rates nationwide, he said. There is simply a lack of capacity and a need for endless computing power. AI is driving this.

How AI supports research

Research universities, with hundreds of professors, acting like small businesses with their own peculiar needs, are accelerating as fast adapters of AI technologies, Doherty said. Outsourcing allows them to free up real estate, deploy faster, and apply for more grants, and he sees Penns Betty as a model.

To demonstrate PARCCs capacity, Chaney runs a video of a quadruped robot being taught to walk a yoga ball in simulation, and then demonstrate what it has learned by crossing the intersection on a real-world yoga ball, at the busy intersection of 34th and Walnut Streets on Penns campus, in a project set up by Penn computer scientists Dinesh Jayaraman and Osbert Bastani.

They are asking ChatGPT to tell if the robot is doing a good job or not, Chaney said. Before we would have had to go to [an outside] data center or to Nvidia to schedule time on their systems, which are often fully booked. But with Betty, we can do this research completely at Penn.

A Betty project set up by Marylyn D. Ritchie, vice dean for AI and data science, and her team at the medical schools Institute for Biomedical Informatics is a genome study sequencing and rechecking the genes of 60,000 Americans  requiring more than 100 gigabytes per person at some stages. The project resembles the United Kingdoms Hundred Thousand Genomes Project, which has provided unprecedented data for communities in Britain.

Its not just professors and their graduate students who will rely on Betty, Chaney said. Todays undergraduates ask AI programs to write software code for them. They can make a full-stack Web deployment, back end, front end, user interface. It used to be you couldnt do something like that until several years into your job, Chaney said.

We always want to be looking forward, he said. Everyone is now employing these GPUs. Soon we want to be able to deploy quantum computing. Neumorphic processes. Maybe in five years.
Eight shootings  including a quadruple and a triple occurred over a tragically violent weekend in Philadelphia, leaving two people dead and at least 13 injured, including a child.

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In the quadruple shooting Saturday night in the citys Nicetown section, a 7-year-old girl was grazed by a bullet on the side of her head and her 26-year-old mother was shot in the arm just before 8:30 p.m. on the 1900 block of West Hunting Park Avenue, police said.

The girl was taken to Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital and then St. Christophers Hospital for Children, where she was in stable condition Sunday, police said. Her mother was in stable condition at Jefferson Einstein, police said.

Two men, ages 29 and 26, who were each shot multiple times, were pronounced dead at Temple University Hospital, police said.

It was the second quadruple shooting involving a mother and children in Philadelphia since Thursday, when gunfire during a graduation party in North Philadelphia critically injured four people, including a mother and her two children, a 12-year-old daughter, and an 11-year-old son.

These traumatic events will never be forgotten in the lives of particularly these young people who have a lot more life to live, City Councilmember Cindy Bass said Sunday of the shootings, one of which took place in her district. She said the issue now will be how to get resources and support to the children and families affected.

The children who have been shot, and those who were not shot and dont have the physical wounds, have a mental scar that needs attention, Bass said.

About a mile from the site of the quadruple shooting, police responded to Roberts and Stokley Streets in Nicetown shortly before 5:30 a.m. Sunday and found a 26-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the head and a 23-year old man shot in the leg. They were taken to Temple in critical and stable condition, respectively. Police said a 33-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his face arrived at Roxborough Hospital around 6:20 a.m. and was transferred to Jefferson Einstein in stable condition.

A suspect in the triple shooting, a 33-year-old man, walked into Nazareth Hospital with a gunshot wound on his left arm, police said. He was detained and transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for treatment as a prisoner hospital case. Charges are pending.

There were no reported arrests in the weekends other shootings. They included:

A shooting just before noon on Sunday on the 5100 block of Kingsessing Avenue. The victim, whose gender was not released, was transported by private vehicle to Penn Presbyterian in stable condition.

On Saturday, about three hours before the quadruple shooting, police responded to a call on the 1600 block of Orthodox Street, near the Arrott Transportation Center in Frankford. Initial reports were that about 10 shots were fired at a large gathering there in a vacant lot.

Police said preliminary information suggests an altercation occurred when an individual allegedly brandished a firearm and threatened a member of the private security team. A security guard, armed with a rifle, responded by discharging his weapon.

Officers later located the individual described and recovered a firearm from his possession. He was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to his leg.

That shooting was just a few blocks from the 7th District office of Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, whose district was the site of two of the weekend shootings. In a statement issued Sunday night, Lozada called them part of a disturbing pattern that continues to bring physical, mental and systemic harm to our most vulnerable communities and pledged to work towards reducing gun violence on our streets and build about lasting safety.

Earlier, around 8:15 p.m., officers responded to a call on the 100 block of West Tioga Street in Fairhill, where a 42-year-old man had been shot multiple times. He was transported to Temple Hospital where he remained in critical condition Sunday.

Early Saturday morning, around 1, police responded to a home on the 4500 block of North 20th Street in Nicetown, where they found a woman had been shot. The victim was transported to Jefferson Einstein; her age and condition unknown.

Around 9:30 p.m Friday, two men were injured in a drive-by shooting in West Philadelphia. Police said three men were shot at while sitting on the steps of a residence when a dark-colored sedan drove by and someone fired from the back door.

Both victims found by police were transported to Penn Presbyterian  a 33-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the right side of his torso and upper leg, and a 49-year-old man with a gunshot wound in his right leg. They were reported in critical and stable condition, respectively.

Less than an hour later, a 49-year-old man with two gunshot wounds to the abdomen was brought by private vehicle to Temples emergency department. No additional information on where that shooting occurred was available. He was reported in stable condition.

The last few weeks have been particularly violent compared to a relative drop in crime overall. The last 28-day period has seen a rise in shooting victims of about 27%, according to police data, though shooting incidents year-to-date are down 9% compared to last year.

Bass, the Council member representing parts of North Philadelphia, said families in her district need to be engaged in the lives of younger people living with them. She noted many shooters in recent crimes have been young people, often living at home.

Some of these shooters are living at home with parents and grandparents, Bass said. This is less of a police problem and more of a problem with us interacting with young people under our care. What do you do when the shooter lives with you?
In his brief time in this world, Phillip Diaz saw and savored more than most people do in a lifetime.

Born into a family of travelers, a passion for adventure ignited in him at an early age. When the Glenmoore teenager lost his life at 16 to an accident while on a family vacation, hed already decided to study history in college. He wanted to understand other cultures, not just visit them. His joy for life and discovery was incandescent.

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He was our star, said his mother, Aymee Comas-Diaz.

Soon, in an unusual but fitting tribute, Phillip Diazs essence will be among the stars forever.

In a few months, some of Phillips ashes, along with the cremated remains or DNA of over 200 other departed souls, will journey into space aboard Serenity, the latest mission of Houston-based Celestis and its Memorial Spaceflight Services.

Phillips voyage will be Celestis 26th mission of remembrance since its founding in 1994. Its clients have come from all over the world. Those who have taken these journeys range from the very young to the very old. They have come from all walks of life  truck drivers, homemakers, scientists, some cast members of Star Trek, astronauts, free spirits, and adventurers.

The fundamental thing that ties almost everyone together is an interest in space, an interest in space exploration, or just a sense that they find it appropriate to somehow rejoin the universe at their time of need, said Charles M. Chafer, Celestis CEO and cofounder.

Celestis offers four different space tribute experiences, either in place of a traditional funeral or as a unique tribute. They range from $3,495 for the Earth Rise flights that travel with a loved ones DNA or ashes into space and return with them as a keepsake, to upward of $12,995 for the Luna Service that gives the ashes or DNA a permanent rest on the moon, as with NASA planetary geologist Eugene Shoemaker.

Also in that upper range is the Voyager Service, which affords a permanent celestial journey into deep space. One of those transports included remains of Star Trek luminaries like creator Gene Roddenberry, his spouse and cast member Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, as well as James Doohan, who played Scotty. Their flight was called, appropriately, the Enterprise.

The Diaz family chose a fourth option for Phillip. His ashes, along with the remains of his fellow Serenity flight passengers, will travel into space and orbit the Earth for several years before reentering the Earths atmosphere. Once there, according to Celestis, they will combust and vaporize like a shooting star.

When Phillips mother heard about it, it sounded perfect for her boy.

I looked at my husband, and I said to him, This is the way for Phillip to see the whole world. And of course my husband said, Then we have to do it.

Phillips older sister, Katerina, now 20, agreed.

Creative, inquisitive, and kind, he had a light that shone from within. It was a light he was eager to share, and he did that from an early age in many places. His father Jeffrey Diazs finance career had the family moving quite a bit. At first, Florida was home, but the family also lived for a while in Doylestown, then Colorado, Pittsburgh, and most recently, Glenmoore.

Phillip was supposed to have graduated from Downingtown High School East this spring.

In lots of ways, he was a regular kid. He loved playing video games, reading comic books, and spending time with his friends. He was also a movie buff, with a special love for Stephen King adaptations.

But traveling was his passion. With his family, he had already been to 17 countries and 26 states, and there was so much more he wanted to do and see. On the familys many vacations, Phillip was never just along for the ride.

He was like our travel guide, said Comas-Diaz, a college compensation analyst. He would always study up on the places we were going to, and he had so many amazing plans for the future.

Each of the children was promised their own special trip for high school graduation. In fall 2023, Phillip was still only a junior, but he had already envisioned an epic family adventure. Fascinated by the Habsburg Empire, the budding history scholar had charted out a multicountry journey for them to take together through the Danube River Valley in June 2025.

Before that, however, the family was celebrating Thanksgiving 2023 with a cruise to the Bahamas. Which is where Phillip suffered a fatal fall from a balcony on the cruise ship.

There is no consolation for such a loss, but Phillips family has tried to find ways to keep his memory and his spirit alive. They started Phils Bright Star, a Facebook group that encourages people to leave little stars made of different materials wherever they go. People who find them are asked to go to the Facebook page and tell where they found them.

So far, Comas-Diaz said, Phillips stars have been left all over the country and in over 30 nations.

Theyve been to Machu Picchu, theyve been to Japan, to Australia  places Phillip had only dreamed of visiting, she said.

The family has also started the Phillip Diaz Bright Star Foundation aimed at spreading kindness. Theyve created a scholarship for history-minded Downingtown High students in Phillips name. To help with their own healing, the family has also created worry stones to distribute to schools, mental health professionals, and institutions like Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia to help provide comfort to those in need.

The Diaz family is still privately honoring Phillip in their own ways, too. This month, they went on that trip along the Danube that Phillip had planned. They brought their See the World for Phillip shirts along.

And when the people with Celestis tell them the time is right, later this year or early next, they will join the 200 other families in Cape Canaveral for a three-day tribute and one more gift of love: Sending their adventurous boy to the stars.

We thought: What better way for Phillip to see the world than to go where we couldnt ever possibly take him? his mother said. We didnt think we could take him to space, but off hes going. Hell get to see everything that he could ever imagine.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano is greeted and welcomed by his supporters at the Deja Vu Social Club, in Philadelphia on Sept. 30, 2022. Read more

From polling social media for his next campaign logo to posting an AI-generated image of kids gathered around a Doug 4 Gov graffiti message on his X account, State. Sen. Doug Mastriano hasnt been coy online about his interest in running for Pennsylvania governor again.

Mastriano (R., Franklin), who lost in 2022 to Gov. Josh Shapiro by nearly 15 percentage points and 800,000 votes, said in an interview with The Inquirer on Friday that he is close to entering the 2026 race for governor. And, Mastriano said, he wont be deterred from running by GOP insiders who plan to endorse in the race in September, 15 months before the general election and approximately eight months before the primary. The state GOP is likely to endorse Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is expected to announce her bid for governor in the next few weeks, and powerful labor unions that previously supported her for treasurer have come out against her.

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 READ MORE: Stacy Garrity hasnt even entered the race for Pa. governor yet and the jabs are already flying

The right-wing senator from Gettysburg said he has not made a final decision about whether hes going to run for governor next year and will make the choice in tandem with his wife, Rebbie.

I will announce on my timeline, not according to pressure from party insiders looking to rush an endorsement, Mastriano said in a statement. The future of our movement wont be dictated by insiders. It will be led by the people.

However, Mastriano, 61, has in recent weeks accelerated his hinting online about another gubernatorial bid. Last week, he posted a potential campaign logo that he said his X followers chose as their favorite, featuring his name and a keystone symbol filled with an American flag. Here is the peoples choice, he wrote.

He frequently reshares posts from X users encouraging him to run, or his previous endorsements during the 2022 race, including that of President Donald Trump and now-FBI Director Kash Patel. Politico later reported that Trump regretted endorsing Mastriano, and the president said earlier this year he would support U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser if he ran for governor, before Meuser ultimately declined to run.

In a written statement prior to an interview with The Inquirer, Mastriano wrote that I have a plan to beat Shapiro in 2026, noting that the late Gov. Bob Casey Sr. ran for governor four times before winning in 1996.

Now its up to the establishment to get off their behinds, stop whining and complaining and wringing their hands, and actually be helpful this time, Mastriano said in the interview.

He added that GOP insiders risk losing the grassroots movement that we developed through resistance to COVID-19 closures and voting integrity efforts in 2020, when Mastriano called for an investigation into baseless claims of election fraud in Pennsylvania.

Mastrianos interest in another gubernatorial bid complicates things for the state GOP establishment, which has been trying to coalesce around Garrity as their best shot at challenging the unusually popular Shapiro in 2026. Garrity also has yet to formally announce her candidacy for governor. No candidate has formally announced their candidacy for governor, and Shapiro himself still has to announce his reelection campaign.

Republican Party insiders are concerned they wont be able to stop Mastriano from winning the primary if he gets in the race, potentially hurting down-ballot candidates, such as retaining the two GOP congressional pickups in the 2024 election.

Jim Worthington, a Trump elector and Bucks County fitness empire owner, called Mastriano a good guy, who has a right to run, but said he and other party leaders worry about his candidacy.

Doug Mastriano would be a death sentence, for not only the governors race, but also would hurt us so bad in keeping the [GOP-held] Congress, Worthington said.

People need to speak out, not in a way that they attack the guy, he added. He has a right to do what he wants, but I have a right to say it would be terrible for our party.

Another prominent GOP leader in the state, who did not want to go on record criticizing his own party, said he is not too confident at this stage that any GOP candidate can beat Shapiro but the sooner the party can coalesce around a candidate like Garrity, who he thinks would have a better shot, the harder they can work to avoid down-ballot losses.

Mastriano called those fears absolute utter nonsense. He attributed his lacking performance in 2022 to the GOPs failure to embrace early voting and redistricting. Now, he said, he is ready to deploy his grassroots supporters to get more GOP voters to utilize early in-person voting and mail voting as Democrats have since 2020.

I wont run unless I believe I can win, Mastriano added.

The GOP insiders wary of another Mastriano run havent been making their concerns known to Mastriano himself, he said.

Not one of the insiders have had the courage to speak with me directly, he said. All Im hearing from insiders and outsiders is encouragement to run.

The partys promise to endorse a candidate in September  more than 15 months before the general election  deprives the people of a voice, he added.

Mastriano has also floated the idea of running with Garrity, as they are both retired U.S. Army colonels and have some overlapping grassroots supporters. She has not commented publicly on the idea.

If Trump weighs in again on the race, Mastriano said he will listen to his decision, noting the president is the biggest factor in any race.

But Mastriano remains confident in his supporters, who in 2022 collected a historic 29,000 signatures to get him on the ballot, adding they are active and battle-ready in every county across Pennsylvania.

We have the grassroots. They remain with Rebbie and I, Mastriano added. We fought the fight when no one else showed up.
The restrictions on health insurers helping to cover GP out of pockets were introduced in another era, when finding a bulk billing doctor was easy. Given the unprecedented cost of living pressures Australians are facing and modelling by Cleanbill on bulk billing rates, all options must be placed on the table for discussion if government targets are to be met, Koce said.
A man who was pulled from the water in Co Donegal has died in hospital, gardai said.

Emergency services were called to Bundoran after they were alerted to a man in the water at around 5.20pm on Saturday.
A man in a Cork chipper at midnight told another man to f*** off back to Belfast before attacking him, grabbing him in a head-lock and punching him fiercely.

That was the prosecution evidence against 47-year-old John Riordan, of no fixed address, and previously of Meadow Park Lawn, Ballyvolane, Cork, who denied assaulting the man and his wife, claiming he was the one who was threatened and assaulted.

However, Judge Dermot Sheehan said at Cork Circuit Appeals Court on Friday that the district court judge who convicted John Riordan and imposed a four-month suspended sentence got it right.

Judge Sheehan affirmed the conviction and sentence on John Riordan for assaulting Peter Walsh by punching him repeatedly, and assaulting his wife Nuala Ryan, who was knocked over as she intervened to protect her husband.

The couple went into Lennoxs chipper on MacCurtain Street, Cork, at about midnight on May 21, 2022, for some food on their way home and Mr Walsh sat briefly at a table while he and his wife chatted about what they would get to eat. Mr Riordan sat down opposite him with his own food.

Mr Walsh testified: This guy sat opposite  I never saw him before in my life. He kept staring and intimidating and he was mumbling stuff. Then out loud he said, F*** off back to Belfast.

"He was literally in my face. I stood up. He came across to me. I pushed him away. He attacked me. I was bleeding from the nose and a busted lip.

The appellant's barrister Andrea Gilligan put it to the injured party he started it by pushing Mr Riordan. He replied he pushed him because he was leaning over him and he feared he was going to be head-butted.

Nuala Ryan corroborated her husbands account, saying the appellant caught her husband in a head-lock and punched him fiercely into the face.

As for the comment about Belfast she said of her husband: He is from Ulster. He is not from Belfast.

John Riordan then gave evidence saying Mr Walsh said he was going to get a fella from the North to shoot me. He added: Over this threat and being pushed I retaliated.

Under cross-examination by State solicitor Frank Nyhan, John Riordan said: You are trying to accuse me of something  I got assaulted and I am the one on the stand.

Peter Walsh was recalled to be given an opportunity to respond to the allegation he threatened to get someone from the North to shoot Mr Riordan.

Denying he ever said such a thing, he said: I am shocked. That is BS.

When Judge Sheehan affirmed the two assault convictions, he asked if John Riordan had any other convictions.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the appellant had been convicted of seven other assaults and one other count of assault causing harm.

The judge did not alter the total sentence of four months suspended, which was imposed for the assaults on the couple at Lennoxs.
Intel (INTC) shares are down nearly 10% at the time of writing on July 25 after the semiconductor firm reported weaker-than-expected profit for its fiscal Q2.

Investors are bailing on INTC this morning because its earnings outlook for the current financial quarter came in shy of Street estimates as well.

More News from Barchart

Including todays plunge, Intel stock is down roughly 25% versus its year-to-date high in February.

www.barchart.com

Is Intel Stock Worth Buying After Q2 Earnings?

Speaking with CNBC on Friday, Bernsteins senior analyst Stacy Rasgon argued Intels Q2 release was far from all bad.

The chip company managed to beat revenue expectations in its second quarter and issued top-line guidance thats also decent for now  according to the semiconductor industry expert.

However, INTC shares remain a wait-and-see story until the management accelerates production and record customer traction for the next-gen processes (18A and 14A), he added on Closing Bell: Overtime.

Bernstein maintained its Hold rating on Intel stock after the companys second-quarter earnings report. Its $21 price target barely suggests any upside from current levels.

It May Still Be Reasonable to Own INTC Shares

Despite continued weakness in the recently concluded quarter and Rasgons cautious stance, Intel shares are not entirely void of reasons to invest.

For starters, INTC stock is currently going for a price-sales (P/S) multiple of 1.93x only, notably below the average for the broader semiconductor industry.

Plus, Intels current chief executive Lip-Bu Tan pulled the plug on the companys planned fab projects in both Poland and Germany on Friday.

Additionally, he slammed the breaks on INTCs commitment to building an advanced facility in Ohio, adding that winning new customers and the demand outlook at large will determine the pace of reacceleration in construction.

Under his leadership, the company is committed to lowering the global headcount by 15%, streamlining management layers by as much as 50%, and ending this year with 75,000 employees  all of which could translate to a higher stock price for Intel over time.

Wall Street Sees Material Upside in Intel

Other Wall Street firms arent particularly constructive on Intel stock either.
Three men have been arrested in Dublin after gardai found almost 350,000 in cash stuffed inside a suitcase in a car.

The discovery was made as part of an operation targeting an organised crime gang involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs and money laundering activities in the Dublin area.
A prayer service will be held in Co Clare for a mother and two children killed in a shooting incident in Co Fermanagh.

Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from Co Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, were killed in a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide at a house in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday morning.

Ms Whyte was originally from Barefield, a village near Ennis in Co Clare.

A murder investigation has been launched, while an adult male remains in a serious condition in hospital.

A prayer service will take place at the Church of Immaculate Conception in Barefield on Sunday evening.

A notice on the parish website describes it as a service to remember Vanessa, Sara and James.

Barefield parish priest, Fr Tom Fitzpatrick, said the community wanted to gather together to remember the family.

The prayer service has been organised to take place on Sunday evening to allow for Ms Whytes brother, Ivor, to travel home from Australia.

The prayer service was organised by the community, myself and the pastoral council. We planned it days ago, Fr Fitzpatrick said.

The purpose of the service is to gather as a community and be with the family and let them know we are thinking of them and we are here in shock and in pain.

When something happens in a rural community, even to one person, it affects everybody. We are coming here with hearts broken. A lot of the community knew Vanessa and she was so well loved.

Its understood that the funeral of the mother and her two children will take place in Barefield later this week.

On Saturday, detectives from the major investigation team, who are carrying out the murder investigation, said they are continuing with their inquiries and appealed for information involving the movements of a vehicle.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness said: Our investigation is ongoing and we are working tirelessly to determine the exact circumstances of this tragedy.

I would continue to appeal generally for anyone with information to come forward, and more specifically, I would ask anyone who saw a silver Mercedes saloon car being driven in the Clones Road area of Newtownbutler, or between Maguiresbridge and Newtownbutler, on the evening of Tuesday July 22 to call detectives on 101, quoting reference 276 23/07/25.

Anyone who was travelling in the area and who may have captured dashcam footage which could assist, please get in touch.

The man who remains in a serious condition in hospital was a member of the same household, the PSNI said.

On Friday, hundreds of people attended a community vigil for the family in Maguiresbridge.
The wild west of social media self-regulation has come to an end, but the battles that will define this new era have only just begun after a very busy week in this hotly contested space.

Last Monday, the second part of Irelands regulator Coimisiun na Means Online Safety Code came into force. It came after a nine-month lead in time for companies to prepare its systems for the code aimed at keeping people, particularly children, safe online.

This Part B of the nascent code means that the video-sharing platforms under its remit that allow pornography, like X, must use effective age assurance controls to make sure children cant watch it.

In other words, the Elon Musk-owned platform formerly known as Twitter must make sure people are aged 18 or over to view porn that is available on it.

There are other aspects to it too including prohibiting and sharing of content harmful to children such as content promoting eating disorders, self-harm or suicide, cyberbullying, hate speech, and extreme violence.

Critics have claimed parts of the code are too vague and dont provide clear enough timelines to take action against those in breach. These same critics say it will be on the regulator to show it has the teeth to hold platforms to account.

In theory, X or any of the other firms to which it applies like Meta and Youtube could face heavy penalties if they dont adhere to it. 20m or 10% of turnover, whichever is greater, can come in fines for breaches of the code. The latter percentage figure could run into billions of euro for some firms.

But, just because the code came into force on Monday, it didnt mean things had changed overnight.

Fine Gael TD Keira Keogh, who chairs the Oireachtas Childrens Committee, said the following day that children could still set up accounts which opens a doorway to unlimited inappropriate, disturbing and damaging content.

Parents are understandably frustrated that as of now, nothing has changed and their kids are still at risk of being exposed to all that is sinister in the world of social media, she said.

Given the availability and proliferation of the kinds of nasty content people have become used to on social media feeds, advocates had stressed how much firms shouldnt be let avoid their obligations any longer now Coimisiun na Mean had its powers in place.

Platforms have benefited from a substantial nine-month implementation period since the Code's publication in October 2024, allowing them more than enough time to develop robust age verification systems other than self-declaration, stringent content controls to prevent child exposure to harmful material, and clear and easy-to-use reporting systems, charity CyberSafeKids said.

It appears that the regulator agreed.

No age checks

On Wednesday, Coimisiun na Mean wrote to X seeking an explanation as to why there were still no age checks to watch pornography and asking them for an explanation as to how they were complying with their obligations by Friday.

Platforms have had nine months to come into compliance with Part B of the Code, it said.

We expect platforms to comply with their legal obligations. Non-compliance is a serious matter which can lead to sanctions including significant financial penalties.

The regulator also said it would take further action if there is evidence of non-compliance with the Online Safety Code.

We are continuing to review all of the designated video-sharing platforms to assess their compliance with the Code and will take any further supervisory, investigative or enforcement action required, it added.

The pressure on X and other platforms isnt just coming from Ireland. Across Europe, regulators are trying to get to grips with regulating this kind of content online.

In the UK, its Online Safety Act sets out childrens codes which came into force on Friday that will see some services, including pornographic websites, starting to check the age of UK users. Again, non compliance can see a fine of 10% of turnover, or even its executives jailed.

From Friday, anyone trying to access pornographic content in the UK wouldve been met with a new check on their age before they could access that site, as platforms clearly got the UKs message. On the other hand, concerns have been raised over a wider restriction on content deemed unsuitable and whether that amounts to censorship online.

At home, the Irish regulators work also fits in with wider European legislation, namely the Digital Services Act, and investigations from the European Commission into major platforms.

Its all very complex, but our Online Safety Code sits with the Digital Services Act and the EUs laws on terrorist content online. All together, theyre supposed to allow regulators to hold the social media companies to account in a variety of ways.

In the UK, Reddit and Bluesky introduced age checks in advance of the new rules coming into force there too showing that platforms are clearly hearing the obligations they now face. Picture: Anatoliy Babiy

Under the Digital Services Act, for example, the European Commission recently opened formal proceedings against sites including Pornhub and XVideos while member states also grouped together to take action against smaller pornographic platforms.

The Commission said these major sites hadnt put in appropriate age verification tools to safeguard minors. An in-depth investigation is now under way.

Curiously timed as it fell within the same week as Irelands and the UKs safety codes came into force, X did publish the methods it will use to check users ages, which include the use of a live selfie with an AI used to determine age or using someones email address to estimate their age.

We are required by regulations including the UK's Online Safety Act, the Irish Online Safety Code and the European Union Digital Services Act, to verify your age for access to certain types of content, X said on its website.

In Ireland, the regulator prescribes that age checks must be robust, effective and protect privacy and its understood it will be considering Xs proposals in this regard. Even in lieu of that, age verification on X appeared to have already come into force as access to such content became restricted over the weekend.

Things are changing and changing quickly.

Charities working in this space have said that while the legislative obligations on platforms are now clearly present where they hadnt been before, enforcement will be key.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, CyberSafeKids said: What we expect to see over the next 12-24 months is tech companies finally stepping up and accepting responsibility and accountability to ensure children are not accessing platforms that were not designed for them in the first place and that they're shielded from the kinds of harmful content they contain.

It is still early to fully assess how aggressively and effectively Coimisiun na Mean will act on enforcement; initial results suggest continued and predictable heel-dragging from the large social media providers, so proactive monitoring and swift intervention are now key for the integrity of the Code.

It said that if companies continue to drag their heels, the regulator must act firmly to impose quick and substantial financial penalties for non-compliance.

Meanwhile, online safety coordinator at the Childrens Rights Alliance Noeline Blackwell said given Coimisiun na Mean had opted for a principles-based approach, we will be very reliant on the regulator to be proactive to ensure companies meet their obligations.

Its Commissioners will need to ensure that they have the people, the expertise, the finances that they need and they will then need to have the will to follow up with the companies, she said.

We believe that it is extremely urgent that platforms are scrutinised for compliance and taken to task if they do not comply.

The real urgency with these regulations is that every day, every hour that the appropriate safeguards are missing is an hour, a day that children active on these platforms are at risk of harm from all the issues that the Code is meant to protect them from. Thats the whole point of the legislation.

Its not a game between the regulator and any or all of the platforms. Its a real threat to children when these systems are not in place.
Israels military has announced that airdrops of aid will begin on Saturday night in Gaza, and humanitarian corridors will be established for UN convoys, after increasing accounts of starvation-related deaths.

The statement late Saturday followed months of experts warnings of famine.

International criticism, including by close allies, has grown as several hundred Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while trying to reach aid.

The militarys statement did not say when the humanitarian corridors for UN convoys would open, or where.

It also said the military is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas.

International criticism about the situation in Gaza has been growing (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

The statement added that the military emphasises that combat operations have not ceased in Gaza against Hamas and it said there is no starvation in the territory.

Witness accounts from Gaza have been grim. Some health workers are so weakened by hunger that they put themselves on IV drips to keep treating the badly malnourished.

Parents have shown their limp and emaciated children.

The Israeli military statement said the airdrops would be conducted in co-ordination with international aid organisations.

It was not immediately clear where they would be carried out and it was not clear what role the recently created and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, meant as an alternative to the UN aid system, might play.

Israeli airstrikes and gunshots killed at least 53 people in Gaza overnight and into Saturday, most of them shot dead while seeking aid, according to Palestinian health officials and the local ambulance service.

Witness accounts from Gaza have been grim (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Deadly Israeli gunfire was reported twice within hours close to the Zikim crossing with Israel in the north.

In the first incident, at least a dozen people waiting for aid trucks were killed, said staff at Shifa hospital, where bodies were taken.

Israels military said it fired warning shots to distance a crowd in response to an immediate threat and it was not aware of any casualties.

A witness, Sherif Abu Aisha, said people started running when they saw a light that they thought was from aid trucks, but as they got close, they realised it was Israels tanks.

That is when the army started firing, he told The Associated Press. He said his uncle was among those killed.

We went because there is no food and nothing was distributed, he said.

On Saturday evening, Israeli forces killed at least 11 people and wounded 120 others when they fired toward crowds who tried to get food from an entering UN convoy, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa hospital, told the AP.

Palestinians carry the bodies of people who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza that has been used as a shelter (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

We are expecting the numbers to surge in the next few hours, he said. There was no immediate Israeli military comment.

Elsewhere, those killed in strikes included four people in an apartment building in Gaza City, hospital staff and the ambulance service said.

Another Israeli strike killed at least eight, including four children, in the crowded tent camp of Muwasi in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to the Nasser hospital.

Also in Khan Younis, Israeli forces opened fire and killed at least nine people trying to get aid entering Gaza through the Morag corridor, according to the hospitals morgue records. There was no immediate comment from Israels military.

Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas were at a standstill after the US and Israel recalled negotiating teams on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday his government was considering alternative options to ceasefire talks.

A Hamas official, however, said negotiations were expected to resume next week and called the recall of the delegations a pressure tactic.

Egypt and Qatar, which mediate alongside the United States, called the pause temporary and said talks would resume. They did not say when.
The mother of a British Air India crash victim has said her family is heartbroken after receiving news the remains of her son were wrongly identified, The Sunday Times reported.

The London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad Airport on June 12, killing 241 people on board.

Some 169 Indian passengers and 52 British nationals were killed.

Among the British victims were Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39, and his husband Jamie, 45, who had been returning to Britain after celebrating their wedding anniversary in India.

Mr Greenlaw-Meeks mother, Amanda Donaghey, told The Sunday Times she flew to India after the crash in order to find her sons remains, providing a DNA sample at Ahmedabads Civil Hospital to assist the identification process.

Following a match on June 20 last year, she returned to Britain with Mr Greenlaw-Meeks coffin.

But on July 5, as Mr Greenlaw-Meek and his husbands families prepared to bury the married couple together, police told Ms Donaghey that DNA tests carried out in the UK showed Mr Greenlaw-Meeks remains were not in the coffin.

We dont know what poor person is in that casket, she told The Sunday Times.

I had my doubts but to be told that was heartbreaking.

This is an appalling thing to have happened, she added.

And we would now like the British government to do everything in its power to find out, and bring Fiongal home.

It was revealed last week the coffin of another repatriated British victim, 71-year-old Shobhana Patel, contained remains of multiple people, The Sunday Times reported.

Mrs Patel was killed alongside her husband Ashok, 74, as they returned to the UK from a Hindu religious trip.

Their son Miten Patel told The Sunday Times: There may have been a mistake done.

But for religious reasons we need to make sure my mother is my mother and not somebody elses remains.

Knowing 100% that it is my mum is very important to us.

Shobhana and Ashok Patel were laid to rest last week, The Sunday Times said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (right) with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi (Kin Cheung/PA)

International aviation lawyer James Healey-Pratt, whose firm Keystone Law is representing families of victims of the Air India crash, has told Times Radio the identification issues have raised concerns over the total number of victims whose identities may have been misattributed.

We know that 12 caskets were repatriated from India to the UK, he said.

Of those 12, two had been mishandled, misidentified.

And so if you extrapolate that sample, youre looking at 40 mishandled remains out of 240.

So thats a very large number, but we simply dont know.

And to date, the Indian authorities have not been transparent or helpful about that, which is why there was pressure put on by the families to the FCO and the Prime Ministers office.

And this was actually mentioned in the meeting at Chequers between Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Modi on Thursday.

So the families are waiting to hear, first thing next week, about what actions are really being done in India to provide some degree of assurance.

It is understood no blame is being put on any UK agency for the blunders, Mr Healy-Pratt previously told the PA news agency.

The only surviving passenger on the plane was Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who previously told The Sun it was a miracle he was alive but felt terrible he could not save his brother Ajay.

A preliminary report into the incident from Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau found both of the planes fuel switches moved to the cut-off position immediately after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engine.

It has sparked questions over whether the crash was deliberate.
Chinas famous Shaolin Temple has announced that its abbot is under investigation on suspicion of misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets.

Shi Yongxin was alleged to have committed criminal offences and seriously violated the Buddhist precepts by maintaining relationships with multiple women over a long period and fathering at least one child, according to a notice from the temples authority on its WeChat account.

The notice said multiple departments are conducting a joint investigation against Shi Yongxin, and relevant findings would be announced to the public in due course.

The fame of the Shaolin Temple, based in the central Chinese province of Henan, has gone beyond a religious institution.

Shi Yongxin, third from right, is alleged to have committed several offences (Chinatopix via AP)

It is also famous for its martial arts culture, or kung fu, which has been referenced in many movies and TV dramas, including the 1982 film The Shaolin Temple, starring martial arts superstar Jet Li.

The news about Shi Yongxin, whose original name Liu Yingcheng, ranked top on Chinese search engine Baidu and X-like social media platform Weibo on Sunday night.

Local media reported that the abbot had been hit by scandalous accusations in the past, including claims that he fathered several children and embezzled money. According to news outlet Caixin Global, provincial investigation reports exonerated him of all charges in 2016.

Shi Yongxin entered Shaolin Temple in 1981 and became its abbot in 1999, according to the temples website. Xinhua in 2015 reported that he was known as a CEO monk, as one of the first Chinese monks to obtain an MBA, and he had sparked controversy for developing commercial operations like lucrative kung fu shows and merchandise.

Earlier on Sunday, Chinese local media outlets reported that authorities had dismissed an online notice claiming Shi Yongxin was intercepted by authorities while trying to flee with his mistresses and children as fake.
The death toll from an attack on a Catholic church in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by Islamic State-backed rebels has risen to 34, officials said.

The incident took place in the place of worship in Komanda, Ituri province.

Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator, said: The bodies of the victims are still at the scene of the tragedy, and volunteers are preparing how to bury them in a mass grave that we are preparing in a compound of the Catholic church.

At least five other people were killed in an earlier attack on the nearby village of Machongani, where a search is ongoing.

They took several people into the bush; we do not know their destination or their number, Lossa Dhekana, a civil society leader in Ituri, told reporters.

Both attacks are believed to have been carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) armed with guns and machetes.

The military has confirmed at least 10 fatalities, while local media reports put the total death toll at more than 40.

Mr Duranthabo said attackers stormed the church in Komanda town at around 1am. Several houses and shops were also burnt.

Lt Jules Ngongo, a Congolese army spokesperson in Ituri province, confirmed 10 were killed in the church attack.

Video footage from the scene shared online appeared to show burning structures and bodies on the floor of the church. Those who were able to identify some of the victims wailed while others stood in shock.

A UN-backed radio station said 43 people were killed, citing security sources. It said the attackers came from a stronghold around seven miles from the centre of Komanda and fled before security forces could arrive.

Mr Duranthabo condemned the attack in a town where all the security officials are present.

He added: We demand military intervention as soon as possible, since we are told the enemy is still near our town.

Eastern Congo has suffered deadly attacks in recent years by armed groups, including the ADF and Rwanda-backed rebels.

The ADF, which has ties to the so-called Islamic State, operates in the borderland between Uganda and Congo and often targets civilians.

The group killed dozens of people in Ituri earlier this month in what a United Nations spokesperson described as a bloodbath.

The ADF was formed by disparate small groups in Uganda in the late 1990s following alleged discontent with President Yoweri Museveni.

In 2002, following military assaults by Ugandan forces, the group moved its activities to neighbouring Congo and has since been responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians. In 2019, it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), which has long struggled against the rebel group, has been facing attacks since the renewed hostilities between the Rwanda-backed M23.
Wildfires that have engulfed Turkey for weeks are now threatening the countrys fourth-largest city, forcing more than 1,700 people to flee their homes and leaving one firefighter dead.

Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro are also battling blazes fed by unusually high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds.

Overnight fires in the forested mountains surrounding Bursa, in north-west Turkey, spread rapidly, tinting the night sky over the citys eastern suburbs with a red glow.

The fires come amid recent high temperatures (AP)

Dozens of severe wildfires have hit the country daily since late June, with the government declaring the two western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik as disaster areas on Friday.

The Bursa governors office said that 1,765 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the north-east as more than 1,900 firefighters battled the flames.

The major road linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara, was closed as surrounding forests burned.

A firefighter died from a heart attack while on duty, the citys mayor Mustafa Bozbey said, adding that the flames had scorched 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) around the city.

Helicopters helped battle wildfires near Montenegro (AP)

Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for the province, described the scene as an apocalypse.

By morning, lessening winds brought some respite to firefighters, who continued efforts to battle the flames. However, TV footage revealed an ashen landscape where farms and pine forests had earlier stood.

Forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli said fire crews across the country confronted 84 separate blazes on Saturday.

The countrys north-west was under the greatest threat, including Karabuk, where wildfires have burned since Tuesday and 1,839 people have been evacuated from 19 villages.

The minister warned that growing winds could suddenly reignite fires not properly watered down after being extinguished.

Turkey recorded its highest temperature on record on Friday with 50.5C recorded in Silopi 



This exceeds the previous record of 49.5C recorded on 15th August 2023 



This extreme heat is bringing serious health impacts and giving a very high risk of wildfires  pic.twitter.com/Pv9wiz3O6F  Met Office (@metoffice) July 27, 2025

Beleaguered firefighters and rescue workers also saved thousands of livestock and pets that had been left behind in the rush to evacuate threatened areas.

Unseasonably high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have been fuelling the wildfires.

The General Directorate of Meteorology said Turkey recorded its highest ever temperature of 50.5C in the south-eastern Sirnak province on Friday. The highest temperatures for July were seen in 132 other locations, it said.

Fourteen people have died in recent weeks, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir in western Turkey.

Justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said late on Saturday that prosecutors had investigated fires in 33 provinces since June 26, and that legal action had been taken against 97 suspects.

Smoke rises from trees burned by wildfire near Montenegros capital Podgorica (AP)

In Greece, firefighters battled active wildfires in the countrys south-west and on the island of Kythera on Sunday, following a blaze that scorched the northern Athens suburb of Kryoneri on Saturday.

Temperatures reaching 38C or more persist across much of the country, though winds have eased slightly.

In Kryoneri, 27 residents were evacuated overnight with police assistance after some initially ignored warnings. Authorities urged the public to comply with evacuation orders, warning that resistance puts both civilians and rescuers in danger.

On Bulgarias southern borders with Greece and Turkey, as well as the western Serbian frontier, firefighters battled wildfires as the government declared the worst-hit provinces disaster zones.

Residents across nearly half the country were issued with a code red warning, the highest level.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is one of the 11 Best Long Term Low Risk Stocks to Invest in.

The company confirms adding a new soda following a push from the U.S. President and a resilient Q2 earnings.

Coca-Cola Company Strengthens its Long Term Value with Cane Sugar Soda Launch

A row of factory workers assembling bottles of sparkling soft drinks on a conveyor belt.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a global total beverage firm offering over 200 brands across a wide range of beverages, including sparkling drinks, water, tea, coffee, and juices. Headquartered in Georgia, the companys portfolio is comprised of products available in more than 200 countries through an extensive network of bottling partners and distributors. It sells approximately 2.2 billion servings of beverages every day.

President Donald Trump has been pushing The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) to include U.S.-grown cane sugar beverages in its lineup. And in its Q2 earnings call released on July 22, 2025, the company officially announced adding a new soda made with American-grown cane sugar to its product portfolio. The move marks a historic shift in the companys sweetener strategy in the U.S.

In the Q2 earnings report, the company also highlighted a 1% growth in revenue despite a 1% decline in global unit case volume. James Quincey, Chairman and CEO, has made the following statement.

Amid a shifting external landscape in the second quarter, the ability of our system to stay both focused and flexible enabled us to stay on course in the first half of the year

With a low beta of 0.44, suggesting a strong resilience against market changes, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) expects a 6.24% 5-year EPS growth, thus earning its place in our list of best long term low risk stocks.

While we acknowledge the potential of KO 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 Metal Stocks with Insider Buying in 2025 and 10 Energy Stocks with Insider Buying in 2025

Disclosure. None.
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( Middle East Monitor )  More than 6,000 aid trucks carrying essential food and supplies are stuck in Jordan and Egypt, unable to reach Gaza due to Israeli restrictions, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned Saturday, Anadolu reports.

At UNRWA, we have the equivalent of 6,000 trucks in Jordan & Egypt waiting for the green light to get into Gaza, said agency chief Philippe Lazzarini.

Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) posted on X on Saturday, :

#Gaza: airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient & can even kill starving civilians.

It is a distraction & screensmoke. A manmade hunger can only be addressed by political will.

Lift the siege, open the gates & guarantee safe movements + dignified access to people in need. Allow the U.N. including @UNRWA & our partners to operate at scale & without bureaucratic or political hurdles. At UNRWA, we have the equivalent of 6,000 trucks in Jordan & Egypt waiting for the green light to get into Gaza. Driving aid through is much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper & safer. Its more dignified for the people of #Gaza. Finally, airdrops will not prevent aid diversion, principled humanitarian assistance will. It reaches those in need.

The latest USAID report confirms that there is no so called systemic diversion of aid provided by the humanitarian community in Gaza.

That is, he was arguing that airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient & can even kill starving civilians, noting that driving aid through is much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper & safer. Its more dignified for the people of #Gaza.

Lazzarini stressed that the only way to address Gazas manmade hunger crisis is through political will.

Lift the siege, open the gates & guarantee safe movements + dignified access to people in need, he added.

He also pushed back against accusations of aid diversion, citing a recent report confirming no systemic misuse of humanitarian aid provided in Gaza.

An unreported US Agency for International Development (USAID) study examined 156 cases of lost or stolen aid between October 2023 and May 2025, and found no evidence of the Palestinian group Hamas benefiting from US-supplied aid.

The report contradicts claims by Israel and the US, which have been used to justify a controversial new armed private aid operation, which has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths among starving aid-seekers.

Allow the UN including @UNRWA & our partners to operate at scale & without bureaucratic or political hurdles, the official said.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 59,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.



File photo of Gaza, July 31, 2024, by Emad El Byed on Unsplash

Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) had said on Friday at X:

#Gaza : A constructed & deliberate mass starvation. Today, more children died, their bodies emaciated by hunger. The flawed distribution system (GHF) is not designed to address the humanitarian crisis. Its serving military & political objectives. Its cruel as it takes more lives than it saves lives. Israel controls all aspects of humanitarian access, whether outside or within #Gaza. Airdrops are the most expensive & inefficient way to deliver aid. It is a distraction to the inaction. When bureaucratic & political hurdles are lifted, the humanitarian community has demonstrated it can deliver assistance at scale, in a dignified way, without diversion. During the ceasefire fire in earlier this year, we succeeded to reverse the deepening hunger. Today, @UNRWA alone has the equivalent of 6,000 trucks of food & medical assistance stuck in Egypt & Jordan. The unfolding famine can only be reversed by a political will. Make never again a reality. If we fail the Palestinians in Gaza, others are likely to be failed too in the future. Lets not set a dangerous and irreversible precedent.

Via Middle East Monitor
By Abrahm Lustgarten, Graphics by Lucas Waldron, Illustrations by Olivier Kugler for ProPublica

( ProPublica )  As the planet gets hotter and its reservoirs shrink and its glaciers melt, people have increasingly drilled into a largely ungoverned, invisible cache of fresh water: the vast, hidden pools found deep underground.

Now, a new study that examines the worlds total supply of fresh water  accounting for its rivers and rain, ice and aquifers together  warns that Earths most essential resource is quickly disappearing, signaling what the papers authors describe as a critical, emerging threat to humanity. The landmasses of the planet are drying. In most places there is less precipitation even as moisture evaporates from the soil faster. More than anything, Earth is being slowly dehydrated by the unmitigated mining of groundwater, which underlies vast proportions of every continent. Nearly 6 billion people, or three quarters of humanity, live in the 101 countries that the study identified as confronting a net decline in water supply  portending enormous challenges for food production and a heightening risk of conflict and instability.

The paper provides a glimpse of what the future is going to be, said Hrishikesh Chandanpurkar, an earth systems scientist working with Arizona State University and the lead author of the study. We are already dipping from a trust fund. We dont actually know how much the account has.

The research, published on Friday in the journal Science Advances, confirms not just that droughts and precipitation are growing more extreme but reports that drying regions are fast expanding. It also found that while parts of the planet are getting wetter, those areas are shrinking. The study, which excludes the ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland, concludes not only that Earth is suffering a pandemic of continental drying in lower latitudes, but that it is the uninhibited pumping of groundwater by farmers, cities and corporations around the world that now accounts for 68% of the total loss of fresh water in those areas, which generally dont have glaciers.

Groundwater is ubiquitous across the globe, but its quality and depth vary, as does its potential to be replenished by rainfall. Major groundwater basins  the deep and often high-quality aquifers  underlie roughly one-third of the planet, including roughly half of Africa, Europe and South America. But many of those aquifers took millions of years to form and might take thousands of years to refill. Instead, a significant portion of the water taken from underground flows off the land through rivers and on to the oceans.

The researchers were surprised to find that the loss of water on the continents has grown so dramatically that it has become one of the largest causes of global sea level rise. Moisture lost to evaporation and drought, plus runoff from pumped groundwater, now outpaces the melting of glaciers and the ice sheets of either Antarctica or Greenland as the largest contributor of water to the oceans.

The study examines 22 years of observational data from NASAs Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, or GRACE, satellites, which measure changes in the mass of the earth and have been applied to estimate its water content. The technique was groundbreaking two decades ago when the studys co-author, Jay Famiglietti, who was then a professor at the University of California, at Irvine, used it to pinpoint where aquifers were in decline. Since then, he and others have published dozens of papers using GRACE data, but the question has always lingered: What does the groundwater loss mean in the context of all of the water available on the continents? So Famiglietti, now a professor at Arizona State University, set out to inventory all the land-based water contained in glaciers, rivers and aquifers and see what was changing. The answer: everything, and quickly.

Since 2002, the GRACE sensors have detected a rapid shift in water loss patterns around the planet. Around 2014, though, the pace of drying appears to have accelerated, the authors found, and is now growing by an area twice the size of California each year. Its like this sort of creeping disaster that has taken over the continents in ways that no one was really anticipating, Famiglietti said. (Six other researchers also contributed to the study.) The parts of the world drying most acutely are becoming interconnected, forming what the studys authors describe as mega regions spreading across the earths mid-latitudes. One of those regions covers almost the whole of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia.

In the American Southwest and California, groundwater loss is a familiar story, but over the past two decades that hot spot has also spread dramatically. It now extends through Texas and up through the southern High Plains, where the Ogallala aquifer is depended on for agriculture, and it spreads south, stretching throughout Mexico and into Central America. These regions are connected not because they rely on the same water sources  in most cases they dont  but because their populations will face the same perils of water stress: the most likely, a food crisis that could ultimately displace millions of people.

This has to serve as a wake-up call, said Aaron Salzberg, a former fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center and the former director of the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina, who was not involved with the study.

Research has long established that people take more water from underground when climate-driven heat and drought are at their worst. For example, during droughts when California has enforced restrictions on delivery of surface water to its farmers  which the state regulates  the enormous agriculture enterprises that dominate the Central Valley have drilled deeper and pumped harder, depleting the aquifer  which the state regulates less precisely  even more.

For the most part, such withdrawals have remained invisible. Even with the GRACE data, scientists cannot measure the exact levels or know when an aquifer will be exhausted. But there is one foolproof sign that groundwater is disappearing: The earth above it collapses as the ground compresses like a drying sponge. The visible signs of such subsidence around the world appear to match what the GRACE data says. Mexico City is sinking as its groundwater aquifers are drained, as are large parts China, Indonesia, Spain and Iran, to name a few. A recent study by researchers at Virginia Tech in the journal Nature Cities found that 28 cities across the United States are sinking  New York, Houston and Denver, among them  threatening havoc for everything from building safety to transit. In the Central Valley, the ground surface is nearly 30 vertical feet lower than it was in the first part of the 20th century.

When so much water is pumped, it has to drain somewhere. Just like rivers and streams fed by rainfall, much of the used groundwater makes its way into the ocean. The study pinpoints a remarkable shift: Groundwater drilled by people, used for agriculture or urban supplies and then discarded into drainages now contributes more water to the oceans than melting from each of the worlds largest ice caps.

People arent just misusing groundwater, they are flooding their own coasts and cities in the process, Famiglietti warns. That means they are also imperiling some of the worlds most important food-producing lowlands in the Nile and Mekong deltas and cities from Shanghai to New York. Once in the oceans, of course, groundwater will never again be suitable for drinking and human use without expensive and energy-sucking treatment or through the natural cycle of evaporating and precipitating as rain. But even then, it may no longer fall where it is needed most. Groundwater is an intergenerational resource that is being poorly managed, if managed at all, the study states, at tremendous and exceptionally undervalued cost to future generations.

That such rapid and substantial overuse of groundwater is also causing coastal flooding underscores the compounding threat of rising temperatures and aridity. It means that water scarcity and some of the most disruptive effects of climate change are now inextricably intertwined. And here, the studys authors implore leaders to find a policy solution: Improve water management and reduce groundwater use now, and the world has a tool to slow the rate of sea level rise. Fail to adjust the governance and use of groundwater around the world, and humanity risks surrendering parts of its coastal cities while pouring out finite reserves it will sorely need as the other effects of climate change take hold.

If the drying continues  and the researchers warn that it is now nearly impossible to reverse on human timescales  it heralds potentially staggering and cascading risks for global order. The majority of the earths population lives in the 101 countries that the study identified as losing fresh water, making up not just North America, Europe and North Africa but also much of Asia, the Middle East and South America. This suggests the middle band of Earth is becoming less habitable. It also correlates closely with the places that a separate body of climate research has already identified as a shrinking environmental niche that has suited civilization for the past 6,000 years. Combined, these findings all point to the likelihood of widespread famine, the migration of large numbers of people seeking a more stable environment and the carry-on impact of geopolitical disorder.

Peter Gleick, a climate scientist and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, lauded the new report for confirming trends that were once theoretical. The ramifications, he said, could be profoundly destabilizing. The massive overpumping of groundwater, Gleick said, poses enormous risk to food production. And food, he pointed out, is the foundation for stability. The water science center he co-founded, the Pacific Institute, has tracked more than 1,900 incidents in which water supplies were either the casualty of, a tool for or the cause of violence. In Syria, beginning in 2011, drought and groundwater depletion drove rural unrest that contributed to the civil war, which displaced millions of people. In Ghana, in 2017, protesters rioted as wells ran dry. And in Ukraine, whose wheat supports much of the world, water infrastructure has been a frequent target of Russian attacks.

Water is being used as a strategic and political tool, said Salzberg, who spent nearly two decades analyzing water security issues as the special director for water resources at the State Department. We should expect to see that more often as the water supply crisis is exacerbated.

India, for example, recently weaponized water against Pakistan. In April, following terrorist attacks in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suspended his countrys participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a river-sharing agreement between the two nuclear powers that was negotiated in 1960. The Indus system flows northwest out of Tibet into India, before turning southward into Pakistan. Pakistan has severely depleted its groundwater reserves  the region is facing one of the worlds most urgent water emergencies according to the Science Advances paper. The Indus has only become more essential as a supply of fresh water for its 252 million people. Allowing that water to cross the border would be prejudicial to Indias interests, Modi said. In this case, he wasnt attempting to recoup water supply for his country, Salzberg said, but was leveraging its scarcity to win a strategic advantage over his countrys principal rival.

Whats needed most is governance of water that recognizes it as a crucial resource that determines both sovereignty and progress, Salzberg added. Yet there is no international framework for water management, and only a handful of countries have national water policies of their own.

The United States has taken stabs at regulating its groundwater use, but in some cases those attempts appear to be failing. In 2014, California passed what seemed to many a revolutionary groundwater management act that required communities to assess their total water supply and budget its long-term use. But the act doesnt take full effect until 2040, which has allowed many groundwater districts to continue to draw heavily from aquifers even as they complete their plans to conserve those resources. Chandanpurkar and Famigliettis research underscores the consequences for such a slow approach.

Arizona pioneered groundwater regulations in 1980, creating what it called active management areas where extraction would be limited and surface waters would be used to replenish aquifers. But it only chose to manage the water in metropolitan areas, leaving vast, unregulated swaths of the state where investors, farmers and industry have all pounced on the availability of free water for profit. In recent years, Saudi investors have pumped rural water to grow feed for cattle exported back to the Arabian Peninsula, and hedge funds are competing to pump and sell water to towns near Phoenix. Meanwhile, four out of the original five active management areas are failing to meet the states own targets.

They like to say, Oh, the managements doing well, Famiglietti said, but looking out over the next century, the trends suggest the aquifers will continue to empty out. No one talks about that. I dont think its an exaggeration to say its an existential issue for cities like Phoenix.



By Olivier Kugler

Both California and Arizona grow significant portions of Americas fruits and vegetables. Something has to give. If you want to grow food in a place like California, Famiglietti asked, do you just bring in water? If we deplete that groundwater, I dont think theres enough water to really replace what were doing there. The United States might not have much choice, he added, but to move Californias agriculture production somewhere far away and retire the land.

Chandanpurkar, Famiglietti and the reports other authors suggest there are ready solutions to the problems they have identified, because unlike so many aspects of the climate crisis, the human decisions that lead to the overuse of water can be speedily corrected. Agriculture, which uses the vast majority of the worlds fresh water, can deploy well-tested technologies like drip irrigation, as Israel has, that sharply cut use by as much as 50%. When California farms reduced their take of Colorado River water in 2023 and 2024, the water levels in Lake Mead, the nations largest reservoir, jumped by 16 vertical feet as some 390 billion gallons were saved by 2025. Individuals can reduce water waste by changing simple routines: shortening showers or removing lawns. And cities can look to recycle more of the water they use, as San Diego has.

A national policy that establishes rules around water practices but also prioritizes the use of water resources for national security and a collective interest could counterbalance the forces of habit and special interests, Salzberg said. Every country needs such a policy, and if the United States were to lead, it might offer an advantage. But the U.S. doesnt have a national water strategy, he said, referring to a disjointed patchwork of state and court oversight. We dont even have a national water institution. We havent thought as a country about how we would even protect our own water resources for our own national interests, and were a mess.

Correction July 25, 2025: This story originally included a quote from Jay Famiglietti characterizing Arizonas water supply as facing total depletion by the end of the century. Famiglietti communicated a correction to that assertion to ProPublica, which failed to incorporate it before the story was published. The quote has been adjusted to reflect Famigliettis view that Arizonas water supply will be diminished but may not disappear. Data Source: Hrishikesh. A. Chandanpurkar, James S. Famiglietti, Kaushik Gopalan, David N. Wiese, Yoshihide Wada, Kaoru Kakinuma, John T. Reager, Fan Zhang (2025). Unprecedented Continental Drying, Shrinking Freshwater Availability, and Increasing Land Contributions to Sea Level Rise. Science Advances. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx0298 Visual editing by Alex Bandoni. Additional design and development by Anna Donlan.

Via ProPublica

Abrahm Lustgarten

I report on climate change and how people, companies and governments are adapting to it.

Im discreet and handle confidential communications and sources with extreme care.

Lucas Waldron

Lucas Waldron is a graphics editor at ProPublica.
Israel declared a "tactical pause" in fighting in parts of Gaza on Sunday and said it would allow the UN and aid agencies to open secure land routes to tackle a deepening hunger crisis.

The military also said it had begun air-dropping food into the Palestinian territory and dismissed allegations of using starvation as a weapon against civilians.

It said it had coordinated with the UN and international agencies to "increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip".

UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the pauses, saying on social media he was in "contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window".

The charity Oxfam's regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi called the move a "welcome first step" but warned it could prove insufficient.

"Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops," she said. "What's needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza.

"We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege."

- 'Life's wish' -

In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her "life's wish" was to simply feed her children.

She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from aid points daily.

"We hope the aid comes in today, because hunger is killing us day by day," said 44-year-old Mohammed al-Daduh, also in Gaza City. "Egypt said it would send aid, but we don't know if Israel will allow it in."

AFP journalists saw Egyptian trucks crossing from Rafah, with cargo routed through Israel's Kerem Shalom checkpoint for inspection before entering Gaza.

The daily pause -- from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm -- will be limited to areas where Israel says its troops are not currently operating -- Al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza City.

Israel said "designated secure routes" would also open across Gaza for aid convoys carrying food and medicine.

The military said these operations, alongside its campaign against Palestinian armed groups, should disprove "the false claim of deliberate starvation".

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing "reasonable grounds" to suspect war crimes including starvation -- charges Israel vehemently denies.

Since Israel imposed a total blockade on March 2, the situation inside Gaza has deteriorated sharply. More than 100 NGOs warned this week of "mass starvation".

Though aid has trickled in since late May, UN and humanitarian agencies say Israeli restrictions remain excessive and road access inside Gaza is tightly controlled.

Before Israel's airdrop of seven food pallets, the United Arab Emirates said it would resume aid flights, and Britain said it would partner with Jordan and others to assist.

- 'Immediate' airdrops -

On Saturday alone, the Palestinian civil defence agency said over 50 more Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes and shootings, some as they waited near aid distribution centres.

In a social media post, the military announced it "carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip".

Humanitarian chiefs are deeply sceptical airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants.

A number of Western and Arab governments carried out airdrops in Gaza in 2024, when aid deliveries by land also faced Israeli restrictions, but many in the humanitarian community consider them ineffective.

"Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation," said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. "They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians."

Separately, the Israeli navy brought an activist boat, the Handala operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, into the part of Ashdod, after intercepting and boarding it late Saturday to prevent it attempting to breach a maritime blockade of Gaza.

The legal rights centre Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod but had been refused access to the detained crew, 21 activists and journalists from 10 countries.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

burs-str-dc/dv
We recently compiled a list of 11 Best Undervalued Stocks to Invest in Now. Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais  CEMIG stands tenth on our list.

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In line with global sustainability goals, Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais  CEMIG (NYSE:CIG) is expanding into renewable energy, with its first solar plants set to launch in July 2025. These investments also support the agribusiness sector, a key part of the companys economy. As part of its operational overhaul, the business is restructuring with six new regional management units to improve local responsiveness and customer service.

Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais  CEMIG (CIG)Launches $6.3B Modernization Plan

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Saturday, July 26, 2025 - Fresh details have emerged from a high-level meeting between former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, held in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.

The two leaders, both declared presidential hopefuls, discussed key national concerns and opposition plans ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

Gachagua, who has spent several weeks in the U.S mobilizing diaspora support against President William Rutos administration, revealed their talks focused on the wellbeing of Kenyans and the need for strong, people-centered leadership.

We discussed several issues affecting our country, Kenya, and our liberation cause. Our focus remains strong, and our commitment to the people of Kenya is unwavered, Gachagua said.

Matiangi and Gachagua later held forums with Kenyans living in the U.S, engaging teachers, healthcare workers and community leaders.

Central to their discussions was the Governments recent reduction in funding for free secondary education and the contentious university financing model.

Gachagua condemned the policy direction, terming it draconian and damaging to future generations.

He said the opposition would push for a reversal.

Both leaders are now key figures in an emerging opposition front that includes Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa.

While Gachagua is seeking the presidency on a DCP ticket, Matiangi has been endorsed by the Jubilee Party.

Gachagua, however, noted hes open to backing a consensus candidate to unseat President Ruto.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, July 26, 2025 - Shock and disbelief gripped congregants of a local church after a man confessed to stealing a church speaker and crosses in a desperate attempt to secure a soft loan from a shylock.

According to reports, the suspect gained unauthorized access to the church by jumping through a window in the dead of night.

Acting on intelligence, the church members, accompanied by police officers, tracked down the thief and arrested him.

The speaker was allegedly handed over to a loan dealer who accepted it as collateral.

However, the man had not yet disposed of the crosses, which he claimed were still safe.

I took the speaker to a shylock to secure a soft loan of Ksh 1,500. But I am still in possession of the crosses, he confessed, leaving the church members stunned.

The incident has sparked mixed reactions, with many questioning the ethics of shylocks accepting stolen property as collateral, and others lamenting the level of desperation pushing individuals to target even sacred places.

Watch the video.

Thief confesses to stealing crosses and a church speaker to secure a soft loan from a shylock pic.twitter.com/9bQUxFIqMC  DAILY POST  (@dailypost_ke) July 27, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, July 26, 2025 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki of misappropriating funds intended for Kenyas education sector.

Speaking during his ongoing tour of the United States, Gachagua criticised Ruto for abandoning a key campaign promise to sustain and expand free education to the secondary level.

He questioned why the President is now reversing course, despite earlier commitments made while serving as Deputy President.

His remarks come after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi recently warned that the Government may no longer be able to fully fund the free education programme due to rising enrolment and tight fiscal space.

Gachagua alleged that funds earmarked for education are being withdrawn in cash and redirected to what he described as useless developmental tours.

He specifically accused Kindiki of using the money to fuel helicopters for nationwide travel.

Part of this money is what Kindiki is using to traverse the country, Gachagua claimed. Thats the same money meant for our childrens education.

He urged the Kenya Kwanza administration not to dismantle the legacy of former President Mwai Kibaki, who pioneered free education.

Meanwhile, Education PS Julius Bitok reassured parents that the free education policy remains in place, insisting Treasury CS Mbadis remarks had been taken out of context.






Saturday, July 26, 2025 - Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has admitted that political leaders have failed to effectively engage Kenyas youth, especially the Gen Z population that has recently been vocal in national debates.

We have been talking down on young people. Let us change our tone so that we can have a conversation with them, Mudavadi said, acknowledging that politicians like himself are the biggest culprits.

His remarks contrast sharply with President William Rutos recent stance.

Speaking during the Talanta Bell-Ringing ceremony at the Nairobi Securities Exchange on Wednesday, Ruto dismissed the Ruto Must Go and Wantam chants, branding some of the protestors as members of the wash wash gang - a term associated with fraudsters.

I hear some people say 'Ruto must go' - and thats fine, the President said. My time will come, like it did for others before me.

But what is your plan when I go?

Ruto challenged critics to present concrete solutions instead of slogans, saying, If you think Im wrong, bring your counterplan. Dont just shout.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Corn futures are showing 3 to 3  cent losses so far on Friday, as futures continue to fade lower on the wet forecasts. The CmdtyView national average new crop Cash Corn price is down 3 cents at $3.75. As we round out July, a band of rain is expected to make its way from Nebraska to Ohio in the next week, with 1 to 2 inches. Lighter totals are along the lines north and south.

USDA reported a private export sale of 102,870 MT of corn sold to Mexico this morning for new crop shipment. Another 140,000 MT was reported to South Korea all for 2025/26.

More News from Barchart

Weekly Export Sales data has total corn export commitments at 70.110 MMT, which is above the USDA estimate for the full year and compared to the 102% average pace by now. Exports are now 60.172 MMT, or 86% of the USDA number and behind the 89% average.

Sep 25 Corn is at $3.98 1/2, down 3 1/4 cents,

Nearby Cash is at $3.83 1/4, down 3 3/4 cents,

Dec 25 Corn is at $4.17 3/4, down 3 cents,

Mar 26 Corn is at $4.35, down 3 1/4 cents,

New Crop Cash is at $3.75, down 3 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
We've got Galway coming up. You've had 35 festival winners there - what makes this festival so special for you and your team?

Weve just had great luck there. I've won the Galway Hurdle, I've been placed in it, I've won the QR, my daughter Kate winning the QR race there on the Monday night. It's probably as good a night as we've ever had up there and we've had some very good nights up there. It's just fun and people love going there. Syndicates also absolutely love having a runner there.

And it's just so unique, isn't it? I mean, there used to be Tralee, didn't there? But there's nothing like it now, is there?

There isn't, you know, the course is unique. There isn't another racecourse like it, especially the chase course with the in and outs of the second last and the last fences and then the long climb up the hill.

Hows the team shaping up?

I have a few entries in those handicaps, including the Galway plate. We've got various horses in the big handicaps, the mile handicap, the seven furlong handicap, for example. We have two horses that ran very well there last year; Norwalk Havoc, he's back in the mile after being just beaten in it last year, and Hurricane Ivor in the seven furlong, who was also only just beaten in it last year.

How big a team do you think you'll have?

It's hard to know; it depends on the ground. If we get a bit of dig in the ground we could have plenty of runners there. Horses like Riviera Queen, who is going to go for the two-mile amateur race; she needs soft ground. There are a few horses there who do and Im hoping its soft by the time of the festival. They've had a lot of rain and it's yielding ground at the moment. It just depends on whether we get another heat wave or not!

We'll have three or four horses probably running every day. We've got horses for the low grade handicaps, we've got a couple of two-year-olds that'll go there. I like running two-year-olds there. It gives them a great education. Ill have a better idea of how many runners well have about a week beforehand.

Hows Ashdale Bob and is he going to the festival?

Hell run in the Galway Plate. He won round there last year in the Guinness Open Gate Brewery Chase there last year, so he's won round the course and, while it's a competitive handicap, he's got a bit of class about him.

And do you feel extra pressure or excitement going into the festival each year?

Dread and excitement! It was like someone always liked being pregnant. Every time you finish it you'll say you'll never go back there again and the following year there you are again doing the same thing!

Has your approach changed as you've sort of migrated more to the Flat?

There's plenty of flat races up there and I've got a couple of jumpers that'll probably run in the low-grade handicaps up there, because it's a great thing about Galway; it's not all about good racing. Every class of horse has a chance to run up there. They cater for everyone; there are good races, but you also have low-grade handicaps, maidens and everything.

How important is the festival for your owners?

Some owners love it, some owners hate it. The love-hate relationship always goes on. Owners that have been lucky up there love it. Owners that are unlucky up there hate it!

And are there any trends or changes in the festival? Has it stayed pretty constant or any changes you'd like to see?

Not really; they do a great job up there. In fact, they do the best job ever. It's amazing how they can race for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Its a seven-day meeting! And on a small bit of ground, which they look after very well.

Galway is known for its unique atmosphere and its unique challenges. How do you prepare your horses for the demands of the festival?

Same as ever. Nothing special. You can't really replicate it.

Green Impact and Hotazhell are down for King George Day at Ascot. Are they due to run?

Green Impact is entered for the King George but it depends. I don't know where he's going yet. He may go to America for the Saratoga Invitational.

Hotazhell has an entry in the same race, but also in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, but again it depends if it rains. Everything is up in the air and open at the moment. It depends what the weather forecast is.

At the Irish Derby, people were critical of the raceday at the Curragh, aside from the Derby. What was your take on it?

There were a lot of high-class handicaps and that's what they want for the betting. Maybe they could rejig the program a little bit more and get a few more good races in. The same can be said for the Epsom Derby. They have nothing but handicaps on the day of the Epsom Derby. It seems to be the trend to get the punters' money off them. That's the way I look at it.

Harrington was speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the very latest

Galway Festival odds
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But getting started on that investment journey can be overwhelming, especially if $100 a month isnt possible for you quite yet. The important thing is to start saving with Ramseys 40-year horizon in mind.

We have never said $100 a month from [ages] 30 to 70 is $5 million  its not, Ramsey said, in a recent episode. Its $1,176,000, and that would be true of  any 40-year period of time you wanted to pick.

Ramsey said that saving $100 a month was an example  the idea is to save something every month and start building a money mindset.

Ramsey admitted that Isaiah isnt completely wrong about life expectancy, but said he was putting words in his mouth.

Heres why investing still makes sense  even if Americas lifespan stats suggest many men wont live long enough to enjoy all their savings.

Ramsey, who called Isaiah entitled and belligerent, said the real issue is the idea youre supposed to get rich in 10 minutes.

Isaiah pointed out that the life expectancy of a white American male is 72 years old, while for a Black male its 68, meaning most people will never live to see $5 million. He asked Ramsey to help him make sense of this advice.

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You keep saying to invest $100 a month beginning at age 30 and youll be worth $5 million at 70 years old, wrote a man named Isaiah. Thats the most ridiculous thing Ive ever heard.

One write-in guest on The Ramsey Show found out the hard way after trying to make sense of Dave Ramseys investment advice.

Sometimes you can get the best advice by poking the bear.

Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below.

Story Continues

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Once youve established your investment base, thats when you can start ramping up your contributions to move the needle to $100 a month or beyond.

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What is a money mindset?

A money mindset is your unique set of beliefs and your attitude about money, explained co-host Rachel Cruze in a blog for Ramsey Solutions.

That mindset drives the decisions you make about saving, spending and handling money and shapes the way you feel about debt.

Cruze pointed to a Ramsey Solutions study of more than 10,000 millionaires, which found that 97% believed they could become millionaires in the first place.

And having that mindset  not an inheritance, fancy education or wealthy parents  is exactly what caused them to succeed, she wrote.

Some people have an abundance mindset, a belief that there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to grow wealth. Others have a scarcity mindset, the belief that resources are limited and wealth is hard to come by.

An abundance mindset focuses on possibilities and potential. A scarcity mindset focuses on limitations and fear, which can lead to unhealthy financial behaviors, such as overspending or hoarding.

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Shifting your money mindset

Changing your mindset is easier said than done. It often means identifying where your limiting beliefs come from  maybe your upbringing or past money mistakes. Then it takes time and self-reflection to overcome them.

An abundance mindset means looking at how to build wealth over time. Its not just about saving $100 a month  its about how you use that money, whether through growing assets, investing or developing passive income streams.

Millionaires focus on wealth creation, not just income generation, wrote business strategist and CPA Melissa Houston in an article for Forbes. She added that they dont chase quick wins or get-rich-quick schemes.

Instead, millionaires build sustainable wealth through investments that appreciate over time and make sure their money works for them through stocks, real estate and scalable business models.

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For those looking to diversify beyond the stock market, the real estate sector might be worth considering. Real estate often acts as a hedge against inflation, and it can be used to diversify your portfolio against market shifts.

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With risk-adjusted target returns ranging from 14% to 17%, this approach can provide an effective, hands-off way to invest in owner-occupied residential properties across regional markets.

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Gov. Mike Kehoe talks with the State Board of Education meeting during its December meeting before officially taking office in January.
We recently published 14 Stocks Jim Cramer Discussed As He Went All In On Quantum Computing. Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed.

Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) is an industrial machinery company. Cramers comments about the firm came in the context of industrial stocks and Honeywells share price movement after its latest earnings. Honeywell shares dropped as investors wondered whether the firm would experience business health in 2025, and Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV)s shares dropped by 2.2% after the firms second-quarter earnings. The stock fell despite a revenue and earnings beat, which led Cramer to criticize the sellers:

And Im going to throw in a third one. Dover. With another unbelievable quarter. Very big guide up. Stock is down. Whoever is selling these, things Carl, theyre not trying to paint the tape. They just dont understand how stocks work. Because we have real major industrial companies that are doing incredibly well. And its almost like if theyre not merging, we dont want to own them, if theyre not AI, we dont want to. own. Theyre other things worth owning. . . Dovers worth buying, right here. . . Dover, Honeywell beat and raise.

Dover Corporation (DOV) Had An "Unbelievable" Quarter, Says Jim Cramer

Cramer recently discussed Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV)s exposure to data centers. Heres what he said:

No I mean data centers are the story again. Pennsylvania data centers. The building of them would be CoreWeave, the Presidents going to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania being a hub for all these. Everyone wants to play the parts of data center again. It really cooled in April. No one cared. The stocks got killed. . .I think that you can go back to these stocks. . .You just want to own Dover which is a stock we own for the charitable trust, besides Eaton which is there. You want to be there again, because the building is continuing and I just feel like, wow its a pretty good time.

While we acknowledge the potential of DOV as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now.
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A WOMAN who alleged that her ex-partner tried to strangle her asked a judge to alter his bail conditions, so that the man could return to her home.

The accused man had been granted bail, subject to conditions that included staying out of Laois with the exception of attending court.

However, the woman told the court last Thursday that she would agree to variation of his bail conditions to allow him to return to her home, as his life was under threat in Dublin hostels and he was living on the streets.

Judge Andrew Cody asked: This is the man that was strangling you, according to your evidence and this same man you want back in your house?

Gardai objected to bail when the 34-year-old man first appeared at Portlaoise District Court on 10 July on a charge of assault causing harm, after an alleged strangulation attempt the previous morning.

The case was adjourned until 24 July for directions from the DPP and the man was granted bail under a number of strict conditions. When defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick asked for a condition barring him from Laois to be relaxed, to allow him to consult with her, Judge Cody refused and replied: He is not to come into Co Laois at all.

The judge adjourned the case for two weeks to allow time for DPP directions and to monitor the mans compliance with his bail requirements.

Judge Cody asked the Laois woman whether she consented to her identity being reported. When she said she didnt, he imposed reporting restrictions in the case.

At the resumed hearing last Thursday, Sgt Jason Hughes said DPP directions were still awaited and would require a further four weeks.

Ms Fitzpatrick asked the judge to vary her clients bail conditions regarding his place of residence, as his life was under threat when he stayed at two Dublin hostels. The solicitor said the mans former partner wanted to support him and so did her family.

In the witness box, the mans ex-partner confirmed that she was not under any pressure to give evidence. The woman said her ex-partner was reaching out for help and his sister and father were supporting him.

The woman said she was trying to get her ex-partner to stay in her house, while he did anger management and addiction treatment programmes.

She said: We are all supporting him in that and were trying to get him into Coolmine or Cuan Mhuire. I hope that, if he is back at my place, he will get back to being clean and I believe he is committed to that.

The woman told Judge Cody that the man was not communicating with her in breach of his bail conditions. She knew about his situation from talking with his sister.

When the judge noted that she had given evidence of her ex-partner attempting to strangle her, yet now she wanted him back in her house, the woman replied: I was in fight or flight mode, because I wasnt on my medication at the time.

After noting further background details, Judge Cody said he would not allow the defendant back into the womans home under the circumstances.

The judge adjourned the case until 8 September for DPP directions on the assault charge, under the same bail conditions.

At the initial hearing on 10 July, Garda Kirby Cox said an emergency call was made to gardai about an attempted strangulation, at about 5am on 9 July.

She said the details she received were that a couple had been in an intimate relationship for the previous eight months. When she attended the scene, the woman alleged that she was dragged to the floor and that the man put his hands around her neck.

Garda Cox said the woman told her that, earlier in the night, the man was in the bedroom where she saw him take benzodiazepines. She heard their dog barking and went to see what was wrong.

The woman reported that the man then came down the stairs and she told him that, if he tried to get physical with her, she would scream for her sister.

Garda Cox said the woman alleged that the man jumped on the couch, pushed her to the ground and placed his hands around her neck, telling her now call your sister.

Garda Cox produced photographs, taken within half an hour of her callout, of bruising to the womans neck and forearm. An ambulance was called and paramedics saw to her injures, but the woman declined to be taken to hospital.

The garda said that, a short time later, a man was arrested nearby showing signs of intoxication. He was taken to the garda station but was declared unfit to be interviewed for six hours.

Taking the stand, the woman in her sworn evidence said she had been out earlier that night with friends.

She said: When I came home, he started on me. I told him, I was not taking it and went to sleep on the couch. He came down, jumped on the couch, put his hands around my neck and sat on top of me.

"I got up and said to him, watch Im ringing 999 and when I did that he scampered out the back door. Id have no problem if he gets bail. He can go back to Dublin. I dont want to go near him.
Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN) is among the 13 Best Global Stocks to Buy Right Now. The companys shares have gained 12.50% over the past month, as of the close of business on July 22, driven by recent developments that have encouraged investor sentiment.

Eaton Corporation plc (ETN) Has Gained Over 12% In The Past Month. Here is Why

Stock market data showing an upward trajectory. Photo by Burak The Weekender on Pexels

On July 16, the company announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire Resilient Power Systems Inc., a Texas-based developer and manufacturer of innovative energy solutions, including solid-state transformer-based technology. The transaction is set to close during the third quarter of the year and is expected to provide Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN) with increased exposure to fast-growing markets.

The intelligent power management company also recently announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to enable the shift to HVDC power infrastructure in AI data centers. The partnership is focused on designing best practices, innovative power management solutions, and reference architectures suitable for high-density GPU deployments.

Investor sentiment has also been strengthened by analyst rating updates in July, which have seen leading firms, including Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and Citigroup, lifting their price targets for Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN). Overall, Wall Street analysts maintain a positive outlook for the stock, with a consensus Buy rating.

While we acknowledge the potential of ETN 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 Small Cap Defense Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 13 Best Booming Stocks to Buy Now.

Disclosure: None.
Courtesy of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts

Northampton County Judge Jennifer R. Sletvold congratulates Antoinette Froilan for completing the mental health court program. Froilan aspires to become a certified nursing assistant. Courtesy of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts

Jeffrey Smith faced criminal charges resulting from his alcohol abuse.

But he also faced post-traumatic stress after a vicious injury suffered in the military, according to Northampton County Judge Jennifer Sletvold.

His case was a turning point for the judge, who oversees the countys treatment court programs.

I could not bring myself to send that man to prison, Sletvold said Wednesday. Instead, she recommended him for recovery court and resolved to expand treatment courts to include a special court for veterans.

On Tuesday, Smith graduated from recovery court. And the veterans court program had its first-ever graduate since the program launched last year.

Northampton County Judge Brian Panella congratulates Jeffrey Smith for completing the recovery court program at a ceremony July 22, 2025. Courtesy of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts

Treatment courts are one of the most meaningful examples of how our justice system can be both compassionate and effective, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Daniel D. McCaffery said at Tuesdays treatment court graduation ceremony.

The county had a combined 23 graduates from its recovery, mental health and veterans court programs. The programs help defendants address the special circumstances that led to criminal charges. If they complete the programs, their charges are dismissed.

With the help of trained professionals, they move through the program from level to level. They get needed treatment. They learn life skills like balancing a budget or keeping a clean home. They perform community service. Some go to community college. They apply for jobs.

By the time they graduate, they are sober, they are living independently, and theyre usually employed. Many times theyre reunited with their families and they realize their self-worth as human beings, Sletvold said.

In the past 10 years, 245 people have completed treatment court programs.

Navigating the program isnt easy. Not everyone succeeds. Missteps are common.

The way forward is rarely linear, Sletvold said.

The participants are buoyed by the attorneys, probation officers, case managers, counselors and mentors who run the program.

You will never meet more dedicated people than the team of people that exist in treatment courts, Sletvold said.

When someone makes it through, its a true cause for celebration.

It is the most rewarding work that I do as a judge, Sletvold said.

Northampton County President Judge Craig A. Dally, Northampton County Judge Jennifer R. Sletvold and Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Daniel D. McCaffery attend a graduation ceremony for Northampton County treatment courts on July 22, 2025 Courtesy of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts

The judge acknowledges there are many more people in need of treatment court placement than there are spots in the programs. The county has 90 people enrolled now.

If there werent a veterans court, though, that number would dip to only 79. So Sletvold and her colleagues celebrate on behalf of those who make it, try their best to help those who stumble and hope for the best for folks who dont make it.

Parts of it are absolutely heartbreaking, and its difficult work, but it is inspiring just from the standpoint of just sheer human resiliency, Sletvold said.

Northampton County Treatment Courts By the Numbers

Recovery Court

Year started: 2015

Current active participants: 22 women, 33 men

Total number of graduates since inception: 125

Graduates in 2025: 17

Mental Health Court

Year started: 2015

Current active participants: 10 women, 14 men

Total number of graduates since inception: 119

Graduates in 2025: 5

Veterans Court

Year started: 2024

Current active participants: 11 men

Total number of graduates since inception: 1

Source: Northampton County Treatment Courts Coordinator Stephanie J. Steward

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
A Judge has sought a reference from the commanding officer of a member of the Defence Forces who knocked down a traffic garda during the Electric Picnic.

Steven Dolan (27) of 50 The Borough, Maryborough Hill, Douglas, Cork, admitted dangerous driving and hit and run on the R445 Dublin Road, Portlaoise, on July 17, 2024.

Garda Sergeant Jason Hughes said the defendants car was flagged down to stop by gardai at a checkpoint during the Electric Picnic last year. He said the defendant drove off and Sergeant Flaherty was caught by the Audi A4 car and the impact took him off his feet and he was taken to hospital suffering with soft tissue damage to his left hand and shoulder.

Judge Andrew Cody noted the gardai had stopped to talk to him and he just took off and he appeared to have fled and stopped and then fled again.

When Andrew Dunne BL said his client's version wasnt exactly the same, Judge Cody said the facts must be accepted if there is a plea of guilty. You cant plead guilty to your reality, he said.

Mr Dunne said the background is my client is a serving member of the Defence Forces who was just recently married. He said the mans military career was at a critical juncture and he may be able to study for a degree while serving in the army.

His future in the army is somewhat entirely dependent on what is before the court today, said Mr Dunne. He explained that the man was a Private in the army and was based in the Curragh and living in the Whitefields Estate in Portarlington.

He said his client had previously volunteered with the Samaritans in Cork, had taken part in a charity event in Portarlington and played rugby with Portarlington Rugby Club. He said the mans wife resides in Ecuador and they are organising a visa.

He stated that he did not realise he was approaching a checkpoint, said Mr Dunne. The man had believed it was a traffic diversion on the day, he explained.

Mr Dunne said his client expressed sincere regret after the event. He noted his client had contacted gardai a number of times to check on the condition of the garda. He said the man is facing disciplinary action in the army as a result of the incident.

Sgt Hughes said the defendant had one previous conviction from 2021 for striking a wall and leaving the scene of an accident.

Mr Dunne said his client had brought 10,000 to court. He suggested the money be divided with half going to Sgt Flaherty and half to a cause chosen by the court.

I am asking the court to give him a fighting chance, he said.

He said his client had experienced considerable stress and anxiety and had learned a powerful lesson as a result of his actions.

Mr Dunne acknowledged the fact that he had previously crashed into the wall of somebodys house. He said the man had walked home having only caused paint damage to the wall.

Why does he drive away from effectively two checkpoints? Judge Cody asked. He said he knocked down a garda.

Mr Dunne said it was simply a moment of panic and again said he believed it was a traffic diversion.

Judge Cody said it was the second time he had been in a hit and run. He told the defendant he would give the issue consideration over lunch.

When he returned, Judge Cody said I have a lot of concerns about that. He said he was skeptical as to why the man had fled and said the behaviour was like that of someone who has ingested, is about ingest or is carrying something.

He said the 10,000 should be donated to Oglaigh Naisiunta na hEireann (ONE) which provides support to Irish veterans. He also ordered the defendant to take part in the Pro Social Driving programme.

I also want a reference from his commanding officer, said Judge Cody.

Mr Dunne said there was a member of the Defence Forces present in the courtroom for the proceedings.

Judge Cody adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on October 9 and told the defendant that he was not making any promises in relation to the case.
A customs officer was granted an application for a further detention order to extend the time cash and cigarettes seized in Portlaoise could be held.

Customs and Excise made the application against Thomas Brown with an address, care of Midland Legal Solicitors, in relation to a sum of 24, 895 in cash seized from Browns, 1 Dublin Road, Portlaoise on May 7, 2025.

The Customs Officer told a sitting of Portlaoise District Court that he was seeking the order to retain the cash for a further three months. He said the cash was seized during the search of a premises on May 7 last.

The officer said that prior to the search officers had carried out a test purchase and bought a packet of cigarettes for 6. He told Judge Andrew Cody that 17,000 unstamped cigarettes were also discovered during the search.

The officer said there were admissions under caution that five or six blocks of unstamped cigarettes were being sold daily at the premises for around three or four years. He said this would equate to between 7,000 and 8,000 cigarettes a week.

Judge Andrew Cody said he was satisfied to make the order granting the further detention.
AJUCHITLAN, Mexico (AP)  The Trump administrations decision to impose a 17% duty on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico has created a dilemma for the country providing more tomatoes to U.S. consumers than any other.

The import tax that began July 14 is just the latest protectionist move by an administration that has threatened dozens of countries with tariffs, including its critical trading partner Mexico. It comes as the Mexican government tries to also negotiate its way out of a 30% general tariff scheduled to take effect Aug. 1.

While the impacts of the tomato tariff are still in their infancy, a major grower and exporter in central Mexico shows how a tariff targeting a single product can destabilize the sector.

Surviving in times of uncertainty

Green tomato plants stretch upward row after row in sprawling high-tech greenhouses covering nearly six acres in the central state of Queretaro, among the top 10 tomato producing states in Mexico.

Climate controlled and pest free, Veggie Primes greenhouses in Ajuchitlan send some 100 tons of fresh tomatoes every week to Mastronardi Produce. The Canadian company is the leading distributor of fresh tomatoes in the U.S. with clients that include Costco and Walmart.

Moises Atri, Veggie Primes export director, says theyve been exporting tomatoes to the U.S. for 13 years and their substantial investment and the cost to produce their tomatoes wont allow them to make any immediate changes. Theyre also contractually obligated to sell everything they produce to Mastronardi until 2026.

None of us (producers) can afford it," Atri said. "We have to approach our client to adjust the prices because were nowhere near making that kind of profit.

In the tariffs first week, Veggie Prime ate the entire charge. In the second, its share of the new cost lowered when its client agreed to increase the price of their tomatoes by 10%. The 56-year-old Atri hopes that Mastronardi will eventually pass all of the tariffs cost onto its retail clients.

Mexican tomato exports brought in $3 billion last year

Experts say the tariff could cause a 5% to 10% drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than $3 billion for Mexico.

The Mexican Association of Tomato Producers says the industry generates some 500,000 jobs.

Juan Carlos Anaya, director general of the consulting firm Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agricolas, said a drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than 2 billion tons, could lead to the loss of some 200,000 jobs

Experts: U.S. will have difficulty replacing fresh Mexican tomatoes
A Laois government TD expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of deportations from Ireland.

Fianna Fail TD and ex Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Sean Fleming, made the comments at a public meeting which was held in Durrow to oppose IPAS(International Protection Accommodation Service) plans for the village.

Up to 300 people gathered at the meeting in Durrow last Monday to discuss two planning applications which have been lodged with Laois County Council to convert two pubs in the village for use as IPAS accommodation.

Deputy Fleming explained that the asylum seekers go through an application process and if they are deemed eligible, they are entitled to citizenship. If their applications are rejected they are issued with deportation orders, he said.

This year so far about 200 have been deported, said Dep Fleming.

He said these people will have to return to where they came from and if they dont they can be placed on a plane and sent home.

We are not seeing the planes going out fast enough, he told the crowd who had gathered at the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow on Monday, July 21.

READ ALSO: Hundreds attende meeting over planned Laois IPAS centres

Dep Fleming told the crowd that they would need to put in objections relevant to planning issues if they wanted to halt the IPAS plans in the village. He said the applicant cannot apply to IPAS without first having planning permission in place.

Dep Fleming cited other applicants for such accommodation in Laois which had been refused. He said the only major IPAS centre in Laois was in Emo and it has run for 20 years without issue. He said the people of Emo had welcomed them and he noted that Ireland needed people from outside the country to come here and work.
A Laois entrepreneur has made it to the final of Miss/Mrs Africa Ireland 2025.

Portlaoise woman Leah Vanessa Mxotshwa will represent Laois in the final on August 30 in Johnstown, Dublin.

Speaking to the Leinster Express / Laois Live, Ms Mxotshwa has said that this pageant means more than just beauty and glamour.

"My reason for entering was to inspire women who have been through silent battles," she explained.

Pictured: Miss / Mrs Africa Ireland finalist Leah Vanessa Mxotshwa

"Whether it is heartbreak, single motherhood, or fighting for your health, I have been through the same journey. I want to show women that beauty and strength can rise from these moments," Ms Mxotshwa shared.

"I want to help redefine beauty standards and celebrate African culture, and to show young women that they can be elegant, empowered and unstoppable, no matter what challenge they have been through."

Originally from Zimbabwe, the 28 year old mother of two works in beauty therapy, with successful nails, lashes and hair businesses.

Along with modelling and pursuing a music career in her free time, the entrepreneur has recently launched her own gym wear brand, 'NesFit', with clothing tailored to all body types.

As if motherhood and her businesses aren't enough, Ms Mxotshwa is also a musician, having released original Gospel music on Youtube.

"Most of my songs are in my mother language, Shona. I have been very busy with my music, my businesses and motherhood!" she laughed.

Ms Mxotshwa has said that her family and friends have been immensely supportive along this journey.

Pictured: Portlaoise Miss / Mrs Africa Ireland finalist Leah Vanessa Mxotshwa

"My family and friends have been amazing, my Mum, sister and brother have been my number one supporters," she said.

"They have been there for me through so many things. My Mum's friends and the people in our church have been so supportive, it has been amazing."

The business woman has said that the competition has been a fantastic chance to meet likeminded women and make new friends.

"We have been attending bootcamps, it has been so great. We have all connected, it has been amazing to have something like this for myself outside of motherhood," she praised.

To take part in this year's final, the Portlaoise woman needs to raise money to cover her entry fees, wardrobe, training and event appearances. She has launched a GoFundMe to help reach her 2,600 goal.

"Every euro donated brings me one step closer to representing our community and using this platform to inspire other women to chase their dreams, no matter their struggles," she said.

"Your supportwhether through a donation or by sharing this campaignmeans the world to me. As a thank-you, Ill be sharing regular updates on my preparation and journey, and giving special shout-outs to my amazing supporters on social media," Ms Mxotshwa highlighted.

"Lets show Ireland and the world the strength, resilience, and beauty of our community! Thank you for believing in me and helping me make this dream a reality," she finished.

Those who wish to support Ms Mxotshwa on her journey may do so here.
Kildare residents will be consulted about plans to lower speed limits.

The introduction of the 60 km/h speed limit on rural local roads took place in February.

READ NEXT New trees planned for this Kildare estate

Cllr Claire ORourke asked about the 30 km/h speed limit, which will apply in urban areas.

She asked, at a Kildare County Council meeting when more information will be available about this.

KCC official Celina Barrett said the Department of Transport is currently finalising an update of the Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits in Ireland.

Ms Barrett says this is mandatory guidance on the issue.

She also said changes will have to be authorised by government and it is expected that county councils will amend speed limits in urban areas by way of special speed limit bye-laws.

These will have to be voted upon by the councillors.

KCC will shortly commence a statutory public consultation process for amending the speed limits in urban housing estates, that are taken in charge. This is expected to start in July.

The meeting was also told that it is planned to address the issue of providing new signs in residential areas so that drivers will be aware of new limits.
A prayer service will be held in Co Clare for a mother and two children killed in a shooting incident in Co Fermanagh.

Vanessa Whyte, 45, a vet originally from Co Clare, her son James, 14, and daughter Sara, 13, were killed in a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide at a house in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday morning.

Ms Whyte was originally from Barefield, a village near Ennis in Co Clare.

A murder investigation has been launched, while an adult male remains in a serious condition in hospital.

A prayer service will take place at the Church of Immaculate Conception in Barefield on Sunday evening.

A notice on the parish website describes it as a service to remember Vanessa, Sara and James.

Barefield parish priest, Fr Tom Fitzpatrick, said the community wanted to gather together to remember the family.

The prayer service has been organised to take place on Sunday evening to allow for Ms Whytes brother, Ivor, to travel home from Australia.

The prayer service was organised by the community, myself and the pastoral council. We planned it days ago, Fr Fitzpatrick said.

The purpose of the service is to gather as a community and be with the family and let them know we are thinking of them and we are here in shock and in pain.

When something happens in a rural community, even to one person, it affects everybody. We are coming here with hearts broken. A lot of the community knew Vanessa and she was so well loved.

Its understood that the funeral of the mother and her two children will take place in Barefield later this week.

On Saturday, detectives from the major investigation team, who are carrying out the murder investigation, said they are continuing with their inquiries and appealed for information involving the movements of a vehicle.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness said: Our investigation is ongoing and we are working tirelessly to determine the exact circumstances of this tragedy.

I would continue to appeal generally for anyone with information to come forward, and more specifically, I would ask anyone who saw a silver Mercedes saloon car being driven in the Clones Road area of Newtownbutler, or between Maguiresbridge and Newtownbutler, on the evening of Tuesday July 22 to call detectives on 101, quoting reference 276 23/07/25.

Anyone who was travelling in the area and who may have captured dashcam footage which could assist, please get in touch.

The man who remains in a serious condition in hospital was a member of the same household, the PSNI said.

On Friday, hundreds of people attended a community vigil for the family in Maguiresbridge.
The Market Yard Carrick-on-Shannon will open its gates to celebrate Ukraines Independence Day on Saturday, August 9th.

The event is led by Leitrim Volunteer Centre in conjunction with Leitrim County Councils Local Authority Integration Team, the Leitrim Development Companys SICAP Programme, and the Leitrim International Community Group.

Those behind the event say the beauty of this event is that it is organised and led by Leitrim Volunteer Centres Daria Mazina and the Ukrainian community with the support of many key organisations in Leitrim. It is hugely important to promote integration between Irish and Ukrainians and this event is a marvellous way to make this happen.

This is a Free Community Event, and everyone is being encouraged to show their unity with the Ukrainian community by coming along to the event where you will be entertained with a mixture of music, song, dance, crafts and you can experience an authentic taste of Ukrainian food and culture.

In organising this event, Daria Mazina believes: The significance of this day and its celebrations cannot be lost by the Ukrainians who have been displaced. It is essential for the Ukrainian community to come together to celebrate the traditions of their home country, to find the time to remember, and to mark their national Independence Day here in Leitrim in the midst of the adversity they face.

READ MORE: Preserve Irish heritage with a dry stone walling masterclass in Leitrim

Dont miss out on this wonderful opportunity to celebrate Ukraines Independence Day on Saturday August 9th in the Market Yard, Carrick-on-Shannon from 12 -3pm.

This project is co-funded by the government of Ireland and the European Union.
Get ready for an unforgettable night of Irish traditional music when Joanna Sweeney & Friends take the stage at the Coleman Music Centre in Gurteen on Wednesday, 6th August, at 8 PM.

Joanna Sweeney, an accomplished Irish traditional musician, will lead the performance. With a Master of Arts in Irish traditional music performance from the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance, she brings a deep understanding of regional styles, especially from the North Connaught region. Her expertise and passion for the evolving nature of traditional Irish music shine through in every performance, whether shes playing the whistle or the bodhran.

Joannas career has seen her perform at renowned festivals and international showcases, including the Bergen Fleadh and Trad@Lunch at the Hawks Well Theatre in Ireland. Her performances are rooted in living cultural traditions, which she continues to explore through both practice and research.

Joining her for the evening are Cliodhna Quinlan and Mark Murphy, both well-known figures in the folk music scene. Cliodhna Quinlan, a master fiddler who specializes in both Irish and American folk music, has collaborated with a range of renowned artists, including Hazel O'Connor and Mike Scott. She is currently working on an exciting project combining music and poetry with poet Mary Branley, and their new EP will be released on June 27th.

Mark Murphy, a multi-instrumentalist and music teacher based in rural South Sligo, will also take the stage. A founding member of the folk trio GreenBirdFlying and the jazz group The Kobe Trio, Mark brings a unique blend of skills to the performance. His proficiency across multiple instrumentsincluding piano, guitar, mandolin, and banjoadds depth to any musical arrangement.

The evening will also feature Paddy Cummins (banjo/flute), Padraic Collins (harp/guitar), and Junior Davey (bodhran/bones), creating a dynamic and rich ensemble that will captivate audiences with their mastery of traditional Irish sounds.

Tickets for the event are 15, and booking is essential. You can reserve your spot by calling 071 9182599 or booking online at www.colemanirishmusic.com.

READ MORE Former TD Colm Keaveney banned from driving for four years
Leitrim needs homes not houses, stressed Minister Marian Harkin speaking about the revised 275bn National Development Plan (2026 to 2035).

The updated plan 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 and represents the most substantial capital allocation in the history of the State.

Speaking to the Leitrim Observer, Minister Harkin said that her priority has always been balanced regional development and she spoke about some of the biggest issues facing the county that, in her view, need to be addressed through the funding.

READ MORE: Call for road widening and safety works be carried out at the Hilly Road, Drumshanbo

She said: "Housing is as much of an issue in Leitrim as it is in Dublin; our numbers are smaller but it's still a significant issue.

We need to seek the construction of homes, not housing. We need investment in infrastructure; people won't live in areas where the infrastructure is not up to standard."

Minister Harkin continued that equal access to healthcare is also an important issue for those in Leitrim. "Most people from Leitrim attend Sligo University Hospital and I have pushed hard for the surgical hub in Sligo, meeting the relevant ministers; that would be for elective surgeries and would have a significant impact on the waiting list."

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.

Minister Harkin added that Carrick bypass is a significant development but funding is also needed for other national roads.

After almost three years since the COVID crisis, Ireland returned its hospitality, hotels and tourism VAT rate to 13% after it was originally cut to 9% and Minister Harkin said this is a topic that has been raised with her constantly.

She said: "Restaurants and food providers see this as an essential as some may not be able to remain open if it is not reduced. People have said that prices won't come down but the cost of doing business, whether that is insurance or other various costs, have escalated and we have to look at. Lowering the VAT will help that sector but will still have to look at those costs because they are closing and will continue to close."

READ MORE: Unregistered land a concern along proposed Leitrim greenway route

She said that Leitrim's town and villages "need businesses to function. Leitrim County Council are doing really good work with their plans for a number of towns; we have to make sure they are funded. In those towns you need to have services such as a healthcare centre etc., a place that looks well and that people want to live in and where you have people, businesses are more likely to thrive."

She stressed: "It's important to make sure that there is funding for the really good work that is already in train. That makes a real difference to the people living in the county."

READ MORE: Waterways Ireland are due to install crash barriers along section of Ballinamore canal

President Donald Trumps proposed 30% tariffs rate on EU goods entering the United States would have significant impacts for Irish Whiskey and the wider drinks sector, it was reported this week.

Minister Harkin commented: "We're under the shadow of the tariffs and don't know what's going to happen. Some companies in the county could be quite vulnerable to the imposition of the tariffs that Trump is looking at. Trying to support and protect existing businesses is going to be an important issue if we are hit with a trade war."
The current Portuguese prime minister, Luis Montenegro, during a televised debate ahead of the May 18 legislative elections, on April 30, 2025. FILIPE AMORIM/AFP

Barely two months have passed since the snap legislative elections of May 18 in Portugal. Yet that was enough time for the center-right prime minister (Social Democratic Party), Luis Montenegro, re-elected to lead the government, to execute a hard turn to the right.

Montenegro's previous strategy of relying on the left-wing Portuguese Socialist Party (PSP) to govern, as he did during his first term (2023-2024), has come to an end. While he had previously insisted he would never ally with the far-right Chega party, Chega's strong performance in the May elections has made it the prime minister's main parliamentary partner.

Founded in 2019, Chega has become the leading opposition party with 60 MPs (22.76% of the vote), two more than the PSP. Its growing influence on the Portuguese political scene has already been felt through the introduction of several reform proposals aimed at tightening immigration controls.

Toughening family reunification requirements

The first bill, an amendment to the law on foreigners, was deemed so strict by the center-right president of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, that before signing it into law, he decided to refer it to the Constitutional Court on Thursday, July 24. The court now has 15 days to rule on whether it aligns with the principles of the constitution.

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Long ReadGenocide, as defined by the 1948 convention, requires both certain criminal acts to be committed and genocidal intent. While the requisite acts have been proven in Gaza, legal scholars are divided over the intent. South Africa has filed a genocide complaint against Israel with the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Historians will provide their interpretation at some point in the future. But what about legal experts? When it comes to the question of whether a genocide is underway or has been committed by Israel against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, nearly all of them have an opinion. They have clashed in opinion pieces published in newspapers and scholarly journal articles.

The debate had already been simmering for several months, but with a single sentence, President Emmanuel Macron brought it out into the open in the French public debate. On the evening of May 13, during an interview on broadcaster TF1, journalist Gilles Bouleau abruptly asked the head of state: "Does what is currently happening in Gaza constitute genocide?" Clearly prepared and looking solemn, the president answered without hesitation: "It is not for a political leader to use those terms; that is up to historians, in due time."

The president neither endorsed nor condemned the use of the word "genocide." However, by deferring responsibility to historians and the passage of time, he appeared to overlook the fact that several legal proceedings are already underway, both before French courts and before relevant international bodies  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), both based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Genocide brought up soon after October 7, 2023

The question of genocide and Gaza is not just a matter for historians to address through archival research. Above all, it is the domain of law experts  prosecutors, investigating judges, and lawyers  who are working directly on complaints, lawsuits, and appeals that have already been filed. For instance, the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, which is responsible for investigating cases of torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, requested in May that a probe be opened following a complaint for "complicity in genocide" and "direct incitement to genocide." This complaint had been filed against French-Israeli activists who obstructed the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Only the investigation will determine whether there was complicity, and therefore a genocide, but this process could take several years.

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WCNC

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Katherine Graff moved into a newly built home in Morganton, North Carolina in May 2023. In less than two years, her brand-new home has already cost her $40,000 for structural repairs.

And based on recent engineering inspections, she believes it could cost her up to $300,000 more  despite a home inspection before she moved in.

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Im never gonna get my money back from this house. All my retirement, everything. I mean, this is your biggest investment of ones lifetime and its gone, Graff shared with WCNC Charlotte reporters.

Within a month of moving in, Graff says she noticed carpenter ants coming through significant gaps in her homes siding. When she went into the homes crawl space, she noticed even more issues with the foundation and structure of the home, including large gaps and misaligned pillars.

Complaints to the builder and government agencies went nowhere

Graff has experience in building. Shes worked in brand new buildings, including schools and hospitals, pulling wire, a term often used to refer to the work electricians do to pull wire through walls when running electricity.

Graff reached out to builder Timothy Truitt of CMTT Properties and Belmont Builders, but he responded with resistance. He pretty much said, Nope, and sent me a letter from his lawyer telling me not to contact him anymore, she said. Graff then filed a complaint with the North Carolina Licensing Board, which is currently investigating.

Graff also contacted Burke County officials for help but felt ignored, as they took no meaningful action or updated their procedures.

The situation worsened when Graff discovered Truitt might not have had a valid license when construction began. While county inspection sheets showed work started in September 2022, state records revealed the builders license wasnt valid then, and the county didnt conduct a license search until a month later. This raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the builders actions.

Buying property can sometimes be a risk, but there are ways to get into the real estate market without too many headaches. With First National Realty Partners (FNRP), for instance, you can diversify your portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties, without taking on the responsibilities of being a landlord.
THE SHELF life of the manager of a shop in County Limerick certainly hasnt gone past his sell by date as he has been honoured at a prestigious retail ceremony.

Damien White, of EUROSPAR Rathkeale, was named Small Supermarket Manager of the Year at the ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards.

READ MORE: More than 400 grants to restore vacant properties in Limerick approved

EUROSPAR Rathkeale is a nationally recognised community supermarket and Damiens success is further proof of the outstanding service the store provides the local community.

Peter Dwan, EUROSPAR sales director said Damien is a wonderful example of the tremendous talent we have within the EUROSPAR estate.

His dedication to duty and to providing an invaluable service to the Rathkeale community is second to none. To be named Small Supermarket Manager of the Year is a phenomenal achievement, especially given the heady competition in this competitive category, said Mr Dwan.

Derek Downes, owner and operator of EUROSPAR Rathkeale, praised Damian on his achievement.

Damians recognition with this award is a true testament to his outstanding dedication. He is the life and soul of this store and is deeply appreciated by both customers and colleagues.

The ShelfLife National Grocery Management Awards are now in their 20th year and are the long-standing benchmark for those in management in the retail industry.

The shop is at the heart of the local community in Rathkeale. Late last year Derek and his staff handed over a cheque for 4,100 to the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. They organised a static-cycle in the store and invited staff and customers to donate to the cause which they did with incredible generosity.
IN 1940, the Battle of Britain raged over the skies of southern England, Nazi Germany invaded France and Irish people were living with strict rationing and shortages of items during The Emergency.

It was against the backdrop of these tumultuous times that Agnes Raincin (nee McMahon) opened a newsagents across from the village hall in Adare. Eighty five years later it stayed in the family, continued on by her daughter Patsy and grandson John Kelly.

Now, the door of Raincins has been closed for the final time by John as he embarks on a new career.

I think Agnes would be proud if she knew it lasted this long, said John.

READ ALSO: Knife in the heart of Limerick town as last butcher shop closes doors

The name Raincin was in honour of her late husband Joseph. The Kildare man was a garda based in Dromcollogher and Croom. He and Agnes had got married and moved to Wexford after Joseph was transferred there.

She gave birth to my mother (Patsy) in 1935. Joseph then died suddenly three months later when my mother was only three-months-old. Agnes was left up in Wexford with no family. There was no pension or anything back in those days so my cousin's grandfather (PJ Hogan) went up and brought her back down to Adare and helped her set up the shop, said John.

As soon as his mum Patsy was tall enough to reach the till she helped out in the grocers and then worked there full-time after school. John did the exact same and has worked in Raincins for the last 36 years. John and sisters Oonagh and Trish were bred into it as their dad Vincent Kelly had a bakery which later became a shop in Rathkeale until 1991.

John has expanded the offering over the years but at its heart was still a pint of milk, loaf of bread and newspapers.

I renovated it just at the beginning of Covid and got in a coffee machine. We kind of concentrated on Irish artisan food and drink and I got a small collection of toys, said John, who is married to Edwina.

His mum and dad have both gone to their God - Patsy in 2004 and Vincent two years ago, just shy of his 90th birthday.

After 36 years in Raincins, John said he had been mulling over closing the doors.

It had been in my head. I was working almost 70 hours a week - its seven days a week, said John, who cited the changes in towns and villages over the decades.

Its the way things have gone - when we were younger, these small shops were the hearts of a community - nowadays they're kind of becoming fewer and fewer. Small shops were in every small town and village but you hardly see them anywhere. It's a huge commitment and it's hard to make money for the hours you're putting in. You can't compete with the supermarkets at the end of the day, said John.

He had applied for a new job and was successful so it was time to make the sad decision to close Raincins.

Ill be working nearly half the hours, smiles John, who wont be selling the building.

It would be a lot worse if I was forced to close. It would be a lot sadder. I'm doing it on my own terms, said John.

Crowds of people showed up on their last day to thank John and buy their last Sunday paper in Raincin Newsagents. Some would have been going there since they were children buying candy bars and penny sweets.

Once second Mass was over, there was a steady crowd coming all day. I planned on closing at 3pm but it was 6.30pm by the time I closed the door. It was a great occasion and great atmosphere with friends and customers calling. It was a beautiful day so we could sit outside with cups of coffee and cake and share nice memories.

I would like to thank all my loyal customers over the years - they're the core of the business. God, I got an incredible amount of cards and well wishes, said John.

He and his sisters are immensely proud of their brave grandmother who started the business and their parents who continued it on.

I think Agnes would be proud if she knew it would last this long, he concluded.
BAKERY STUDENTS from Limerick Youth Service (LYS) achieved success at the Alliance of Bakery Students & Trainees (ABST) annual conference.

The young adults who are students with the Professional Bakery Skills Course at the LYS Community Training Centre, joined their peers from across the UK and Ireland at the prestigious event, held in Alton Towers, England.

Now in its hundredth year, the ABST Conference is an opportunity for baking students and trainees to network with possible employers while attending lectures and workshops with leading professionals in the baking industry.

READ MORE: Bus shelter shortage in Limerick sparks growing concern over public transport gaps

The attendees also compete in live competitions that feature categories showcasing the diverse nature of baking. LYS was represented in several categories with students Kiril Boiko and Vladyslav Sivits, taking home silver and bronze medals respectively in the Dead Dough Modelling Plaque.

There was bronze medal success for Keelin Fitzgerald in the Novices Award. This competition is only open to students and trainees who have not entered any previous bakery competitions.

Meanwhile, away from the stoves, LYS enjoyed a double success in the Lob the Cob event with Ayesha Jones and Maksym Lisiutin crowned world champions in their respective categories.

The event involved lobbing a 400g bread cob over your head using a bakers peel - which resembles a wooden shovel.

LYS baking instructor, Paul O'Brien said, The learners should be extremely proud of themselves as they represented their families, friends and LYS with pride.

They went above and beyond in preparing for this years competitions and deserve all the success they achieved, said Paul.

LYS has been attending the ABST for many years and each year the young people continue to improve and truly embrace the occasion, he added.
GVMS John OConnell reports that he has disappointed underbidders seeking land all over County Limerick after selling a farm in Pallaskenry.

A 33 acre holding at Moig, Pallaskenry sold in two lots at a combined figure of 350,000. It was described as rough grazing land.

READ ALSO: Depth of the market for land shown at auction of 95 acres close to Limerick-Clare border

Mr OConnell was delighted with the figure achieved for the vendors. He said he has disappointed underbidders seeking good quality holding all over County Limerick.

GVM colleague Tom Crosse is perhaps even more delighted after he sold a farm as it is his second result thanks to Cork.

In the days before the All-Ireland final, the Tipperary native sold a farm of land in north Cork.

Mr Crosse described the 38 acres at Mount Nagle, Mallow as medium quality land.

The roadside holding also contained an old derelict house. Four bidders participated in a lively affair. Bidding opened at 350,000.

The property was placed on the market at 475,000. A final bid of 480,000 won the day, said Mr Crosse.

It is understood that the new owners are local professionals who intend on renovating the house. The underbidders are believed to be local farmers.

The auctioneer was celebrating again a few days after his second result thanks to the Rebel County.
(Bloomberg) -- Dozens of lawmakers are urging US health regulators to crack down on the booming market for knockoff weight-loss drugs amid mounting concerns over their potential safety risks.

On Friday, a group of more than 80 bipartisan lawmakers asked the US Food and Drug Administration to stop counterfeit and copycat versions of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound from flooding the market  a problem that emerged over the last year.

We are concerned about recent reports revealing a surge in illegal and counterfeit anti-obesity medications, they wrote in a letter to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. Undoubtedly, illegal counterfeit medications pose an increased risk to patient safety with sometimes fatal consequences.

The group  spearheaded by Representatives Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Herb Conaway of New Jersey  asked the agency to ramp up enforcement over illegally imported weight-loss drugs. They suggested issuing warning letters and better monitoring non-compliant online retailers and so-called compounding pharmacies that sell the medicines.

The lawmakers also said the FDA should work in tandem with US Customs and Border Patrol agents to stop Chinese entities from shipping unsafe weight-loss drugs into the US. They requested an update on the FDAs efforts by July 30, given the urgency of the situation.

A spokesperson for the FDA said the agency will work with the US Department of Health and Human Services to provide a complete and thorough response to the issues raised in the lawmakers letter.

Any effort to undermine Americas supply of safe medicines is an issue that FDA takes seriously, the spokesperson said. And we are deeply committed to strengthening the oversight of imported products at US ports of entry.

In recent years, the popularity of GLP-1 drugs has led to an explosion of copycats and counterfeits made by companies seeking to capitalize on the hype.

State-licensed pharmacies were temporarily allowed to make copies of the drugs during a supply shortage, but are no longer permitted to do so after Novo Nordisk A/S and Eli Lilly & Co. boosted production. Still, some pharmacies have refused to wind down their operations while others have pivoted to selling the drugs in lower doses in order to avoid regulatory scrutiny.

Counterfeit drugs are made by unregistered entities typically using illegally imported ingredients. As recently as April, there continue to be instances when counterfeit Ozempic pens covertly enter the drug supply chain undetected. Some patients are also purchasing ingredients directly from online sellers in an attempt to make the drugs themselves at home.

In both cases, the medications dont go through the same rigorous approval process as brand-name drugs made by Novo and Lilly. Experts worry the lack of oversight is putting patients at risk. The FDA has said its aware of hospitalizations potentially linked to the copycat drugs, but that adverse events are likely being underreported.

We support the bi-partisan call for the FDA to crack down on counterfeit and illegally sold weight-loss drugs, said a spokesperson for Hims & Hers Health Inc., one of the telehealth firms that sells compounded GLP-1s. We appreciate lawmakers recognition that legitimate compounded medications dispensed by state-regulated pharmacies are not counterfeit. Patient safety must always come first.

Novo and Lilly have discouraged consumers from using compounded and counterfeit products, including suing telehealth firms that sell the copycat versions and working with border agents to seize illegal shipments. Under the Biden administration, the companies repeatedly urged the FDA to take action, but the agency mostly limited its actions to issuing consumer warnings  even as its top drug official publicly acknowledged safety concerns.

Under the Trump administration, the HHS has also focused more heavily on other issues, such as banning food dyes and examining vaccine schedules.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are ramping up their calls for action. State attorneys and other lawmakers have sent letters to the FDA and Federal Trade Commission advocating for greater transparency around the treatments and more scrutiny around marketing practices.

(Updates with statement from FDA in sixth and seventh paragraphs.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Lenskart IPO: Peyush Bansal-led Indian eyewear company Lenskart has received the approval of its shareholder to raise 2,150 crore through a fresh issue of shares, reported MoneyControl, citing people aware of the development.

According to news report, the company filed its corporate action development with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs' (MCA) Registrar of Companies (RoC), as per the data accessed by TheKredible.

The proposal to raise money via an IPO was reportedly given the green light at the company's annual general meeting on 26 July 2025, said the report, adding, the eyewear company is expected to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the capital markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), in the upcoming days.

The overall IPO size is expected to be around $1 billion or 8,500 crore, which includes a secondary offer-for-sale (OFS) component by the existing investors, the report added.

Build-up to Lenskart's IPO Earlier this month, Mint reported that the eyewear company's founder, Peyush Bansal, is looking to buy a 1.5-2% stake in the eyewear retailer worth about $150 million from existing investors ahead of its planned IPO.

Peyush is buying small stakes from a bunch of investors. This is being negotiated at around $7-8 billion valuation.

Existing investors like TR Capital, Chiratae, Softbank and Kedaara Capital are expected to sell their stake as part of the deal.

Over the years, the company has raised $1.08 billion in funding across 19 rounds, including its latest Series I round for $18.2 million on 21 July 2023. It has received investments from various firms, including SoftBank Vision Fund, TPG, and Chiratae Ventures.

Kotak Mahindra Capital, Axis Capital, Citi, Morgan Stanley, and Avendus Capital are the company-appointed book-runners for the IPO, which is soon expected to hit Dalal Street. The company was founded in 2010, and since then, it has emerged as one of the biggest players in the Indian eyewear industry. It has 2500 retail outlets across the nation and a presence globally, such as in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Anil Ambani-owned listed firms Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure on Sunday informed the stock exchanges that the action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now concluded.

The enforcement agency continued its search operations against the Reliance Group companies until Saturday, 26 July, in Mumbai, marking the third day of the raid. They reportedly recovered a number of documents and computer peripherals from multiple locations, according to a PTI report citing officials aware of the development.

The action by ED has concluded at all locations. The company and all its officials have fully cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the authority, the company informed the NSE through the filing.

Also Read | Anil Ambani's Reliance Group breaks silence on ED raids

In a similar official statement, both listed companies said that recent developments related to the matter have had no impact on their business operations and performance.

Both Reliance Power and Reliance Infrastructure said that they do not have any business or financial linkage to Reliance Communications (RCOM) and Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL). They also said that Reliance Power and Infra are both separate and independent listed entities.

The companies also disclosed that as of 27 July 2025, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani is not on the board of directors panel for both the listed companies, hence he does not have any governance, management or operational power.

Also Read | Reliance Power, Reliance Infra deny financial impact of ED action

ED Raids The Enforcement Directorate started its search operations at more than 35 premises across Mumbai and Delhi on Thursday, 24 July 2025, as part of the agency's money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) into the Reliance Group of Companies.

Multiple media reports suggested that ED-conducted raids on Thursday were in connection with an alleged 3,000-crore bank loan fraud involving Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Group of Companies and Yes Bank.

Shares of Reliance Power closed 4.99% lower at 56.72 after Friday's stock market close, compared to 59.70 at the previous market session. Reliance Infrastructure stock also closed 5% lower at 342.05, compared to 360.05 in the previous market session.

Also Read | Anil Ambani group stocks hit 5% lower circuit after ED raids at his properties

Read Full Statement Here Reliance Power's full statement: The action by ED has concluded at all locations. The Company and all its officials have fully cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the authority.

Action by ED has no impact on the business operations, financial performance, shareholders, employees, or any other stakeholders of the Company.

The same appears to pertain to allegations concerning transactions of Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) or Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) which are over 10 years old.

Reliance Power is a separate and independent listed entity with no business or financial linkage to RCOM or RHFL.

RCOM is undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process as per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 since over 6 years.

RHFL has been fully resolved pursuant to the judgment of the Honble Supreme Court of India. Similar allegations as those set out in the media reports are sub-judice and pending before the Honble Securities Appellate Tribunal, as per publicly available information.

Mr. Anil D. Ambani is not on the Board of Reliance Power. Accordingly, any action taken against RCOM or RHFL has no bearing or impact on the governance, management, or operations of Reliance Power.

The Company continues to operate in the normal course and the said action has no impact on its business operations. The Company continues to focus on its business plans and remains committed to creating value for all stakeholders.

Also Read | ED raids on Anil Ambani Group firms over 3,000 crore loan fraud enter Day 3

Reliance Infrastructure's full statement: The action by ED has concluded at all locations. The Company and all its officials have fully cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the authority.

Action by ED has no impact on the business operations, financial performance, shareholders, employees, or any other stakeholders of the Company.

The same appears to pertain to allegations concerning transactions of Reliance Communications Limited (RCOM) or Reliance Home Finance Limited (RHFL) which are over 10 years old.

Reliance Infrastructure is a separate and independent listed entity with no business or financial linkage to RCOM or RHFL. RCOM is undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process as per the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 since over 6 years.

RHFL has been fully resolved pursuant to the judgment of the Honble Supreme Court of India. Similar allegations as those set out in the media reports are sub-judice and pending before the Honble Securities Appellate Tribunal, as per publicly available information.

Mr. Anil D. Ambani is not on the Board of Reliance Infrastructure. Accordingly, any action taken against RCOM or RHFL has no bearing or impact on the governance, management, or operations of Reliance Infrastructure.

The Company continues to operate in the normal course and the said action has no impact on its business operations. The Company continues to focus on its business plans and remains committed to creating value for all stakeholders.
(Bloomberg) -- Banco Sabadell SAs chief executive officer said an acquisition offer by BBVA SA remains too low, leaving little prospect for plans to create a Spanish banking powerhouse.

At this price, its impossible for this to work, CEO Cesar Gonzalez-Bueno said in an interview. BBVA, he said, has two options after Sabadell rejected its bid: Substantially improve the offer, or withdraw it.

A rise in Sabadells shares since BBVA made its offer in May 2024 has bolstered Gonzalez-Buenos defense against the unsolicited bid. That stance also has a measure of support from Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs government in Madrid.

BBVA has offered one newly-issued share and 0.70 in cash for each 5.3456 ordinary shares of Sabadell. That values Sabadell around 13.6 billion, compared with a market value of 15.6 billion. Sabadell shares have risen 70% since news of BBVAs interest broke in April 2024, outpacing its bigger rivals 20% gain and leaving its stock at a 15% premium to the offer price.

If it wants to acquire Sabadell, we think that BBVA would have to increase the cash component to as much 1.00 per share of Sabadell, KBW analyst Hugo Cruz said in a note. Paying 1 euro per share would translate into about 5.3 billion, according to Bloomberg calculations.

Gonzalez-Bueno hinted at obstacles to a higher offer, echoing BBVA Chairman Carlos Torres own warning last year that hes hemmed in by the potential impact on BBVAs share price.

In its latest defensive move, Sabadell  Spains fourth-biggest bank by assets  agreed to sell TSB, its UK unit, and pledged to return 6.3 billion ($7.4 billion) to shareholders over three years.

The tussle has parallels to Italy, where government resistance tanked UniCredit SpAs unsolicited bid for Banco BPM SpA  a setback for Chief Executive Officer Andrea Orcels efforts to reshape Europes financial industry. The European Commission has criticized Italy and Spain for meddling in the deals.

While government interventions risk violating European Union rules on the free movement of capital, Gonzalez-Bueno signaled he doesnt see a risk if BBVAs bid succeeds. The transaction as proposed is neutral in that respect, he said.

Spains government has told BBVA, the countrys second-biggest bank, that it wouldnt be allowed to fully integrate Sabadell for at least three years if the combination went ahead. Gonzalez-Bueno said the governments condition would reduce the deals promised synergies to zero.

Its perfectly reasonable and honorable to change your mind when a transaction no longer makes sense, Gonzalez-Bueno said. I dont think Orcels prestige has been destroyed by Unicredits setback, he added.

As part of its defense, Sabadell also held informal talks with Unicaja Banco SA shareholders about a combination. It also explored a potential merger with Abanca, the Expansion newspaper reported. Abanca said its not interested.

While Sabadell is open to mergers with smaller rivals, I dont see them in the medium term as theres no appetite, Gonzalez-Bueno said. In contrast, he said Sabadell is seeking to expand in investment banking, to have the market share that corresponds to us.

BBVA, formally known as Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, is keeping it offer alive despite the governments conditions, saying they will only delay some of the synergies. BBVAs leaders have said they dont intend to boost the banks offer for Sabadell for now.

Sabadell last week announced the payout plan and a more ambitious profitability target along with second-quarter earnings that beat analysts estimates.

The payout pledge includes a 2.5 billion extraordinary dividend from the sale of TSB, which is awaiting regulatory approval and signoff by shareholders at a meeting on Aug. 6.

Ordinary capital creation is our best weapon against BBVA bid, Gonzalez-Bueno said.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
By Caroline Valetkevitch and Lewis Krauskopf

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Investors appeared to embrace news of a trade deal between the U.S. and European Union on Sunday that is expected to bring clarity for companies and some certainty to markets ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's Friday tariffs deadline.

The euro rose against the U.S. dollar and was last up 0.15% at $1.176. The currency also was up about 0.1% against the pound and 0.2% against the Japanese yen.

U.S. stock index futures rose after resuming trading late Sunday, with S&P 500 e-minis last up 0.3% and Nasdaq futures up 0.4%. Nikkei futures also traded higher.

Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday announced the deal, which imposes a 15% import tariff on most European Union goods, half the threatened rate.

The EU-US deal is similar to parts of the framework agreement the U.S. clinched with Japan last week, but it also leaves open questions, including tariff rates on spirits.

"It's really in line with the Japan deal, and I assume investors will view it positively as they viewed the Japan deal," said Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Vernon, New Jersey.

"The reality is there will be higher tariffs, which may lead to more inflation, depending on how much of it is absorbed by the manufacturers and how much of it is passed on to consumers."

Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone in London, said: "For the euro, it removes that risk of a huge tariff and potentially getting towards trade embargo levels with the U.S."

Optimism over easing trade tensions broadly helped push U.S. stocks to record highs last week and lifted European shares to their highest since early June.

"It is odd to think that a late July week in the middle of the summer could prove to be the most pivotal of the year. It has already started with a key trade deal with a major partner," Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading in Stamford, Connecticut, wrote in a note following the news.

Investors have been bracing for increased volatility heading into August 1, which the U.S. has set as a deadline for raising levies on a broad swath of trading partners.

Trump's April 2 "Liberation Day" announcement of sweeping global tariffs sent stocks plunging in the immediate aftermath, due to spiking fears about a recession that have since faded.

Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank in London, said of the EU-U.S. announcement: "The crippling uncertainty is largely over, the deal is bearable for the EU. Modestly good news for equity markets, that probably priced in most of it beforehand.
New Delhi, Domestic drug majors Sun Pharma, Lupin and Dr Reddy's Laboratories are recalling drugs in the US market due to manufacturing issues and product mix up, according to the US health regulator.

As per the latest Enforcement Report of US Food and Drug Administration , the Mumbai-headquartered Sun Pharmaceutical Industries is recalling 5,448 bottles of a generic medication in the US.

Princeton-based Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc is recalling the affected lot of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate capsules due to "Failed Dissolution Specifications", the US health regulator stated.

The medication is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .

The drug firm initiated the Class II recall in the US on June 16 this year, it added.

Another Mumbai-based drug maker Lupin is recalling 58,968 bottles of a generic combination medication used to treat high blood pressure.

Naples-based Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc is recalling Lisinopril and Hydrochlorothiazide tablets . The affected lot was manufactured at the company's Nagpur-based manufacturing facility.

As per the USFDA, the company initiated the Class II recall on June 20 due to "Product Mix Up".

This product is being recalled because of a complaint received that a sealed bottle of lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide tablets 20mg/12.5 mg had a foreign tablet identified as atazanavir and ritonavir tablet 300mg/100mg, the US health regulator stated.

In another filing, the US health regulator said that Dr Reddy's Laboratories is recalling 1,476 bottles of Omeprazole Delayed-release capsules.

The medication is used to treat certain stomach and esophagus problems.

Princeton-based Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Inc initiated the Class II recall on June 30, 2025, USFDA stated.

The affected lot was produced at the company's Bachupally -based manufacturing facility.

The recall is due to the presence of foreign tablets/capsules, USFDA said.

It is due to the presence of foreign Divalproex Sodium extended-release 250mg tablets in a bottle of omeprazole capsules, it added.

As per the USFDA, a Class-II recall is initiated when the use of, or exposure to, a violative product may lead to temporary or medically reversible health consequences, or when the likelihood of serious adverse health outcomes is minimal.
TCS layoffs: Indias largest software services provider Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will reduce its workforce by 2% or roughly over 12,000 employees in its 2026 financial year.

The company is retraining and redeploying staff in a bid to become more agile and future ready amid rapid disruptions in technology, particularly around Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Mid to senior ranks in focus The companys decision is primarily targeted at the middle and senior management, reported Reuters.

This decision will impact employees from different countries and domains where TCS operates.

TCS has an employee headcount of 6,13,000 for the latest quarter ended June.

TCS assured that this transition is being planned with due care to ensure no disruption in delivering service to the clients.

In the April-June quarter, TCS's operating margins narrowed 20 basis points to 24.5%, amid the company's plans to boost them to 26-28% levels.

Just two weeks ago, TCS also said that their priority focus is delivering wage hikes for its over 6 lakh workforce.

My priority is getting back to the wage hike, said Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Samir Seksaria without specifying a deadline for the salary hike for its employees.

The companys attrition rate TCS employee attrition rate climbed 13.8% on a last twelve-month (LTM) basis as of the end of the April to June quarter of FY2025-26. This marked a marginal rise on a quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) basis, compared to its 13.3% levels in the January-March quarter of FY 2024-25.

The company's CFO said that with the attrition rate hitting a concerning level as of the April-June quarter, the company will now focus on retaining top-level talent, which is difficult to build through fresh hiring.
New Delhi: India and the UK have agreed to create a subcommittee on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures to address regulatory barriers in agricultural and food trade as part of their free trade agreement (FTA).

This move is aimed at ensuring that plant, animal, and food safety rules do not become unjustified obstacles to market access, while also allowing the two sides to protect public health based on scientific principles.

Also Read | India-UK FTA uncorks new promise for imported scotch and gin

Given the high degree of UK safety stipulations and relatively lax Indian regulations, enforcement of these measures is expected to address problems such as fertilizer residues in Indian agricultural exports.

According to the FTA document, the agreement grants India duty-free access to over 95% of the UKs estimated $8588 billion agricultural imports in 2024.

Indian agri and processed food exports to the UK are projected to increase by over 50% in the next three years as a result of these tariff concessions, bringing Indian products on par with those from the EU, South Africa, Turkey, Canada, Peru and Vietnam, who currently enjoy preferential access to the UK market.

The first meeting of the SPS Subcommittee is expected within a year of the FTAs entry into force, with subsequent annual meetings unless otherwise agreed.

According to exporters, the introduction of the new SPS framework is a welcome step and would go a long way in boosting agricultural exports. By bringing greater clarity, predictability and global alignment, it helps address long-standing challenges such as inspection delays and shipment rejections.

For exporting basmati rice to Europe, where only pesticide-free rice is permitted, each shipment requires an EIA (Export Inspection Agency) approval certificate prior to dispatcha process that can take 10 to 15 days and which impacts shipment timelines.

"This development is expected to facilitate smoother clearances, helping preserve the quality and shelf-life of our premium basmati rice in international markets. The emphasis on transparency and scientific validation will also enhance global confidence in Indian agri-exports. Also, mutual recognition of certifications will simplify processes and reduce compliance-related costs," said Amit Goel, founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Noida-based KNAM Foods (P) Ltd.

According to trade experts, the progressive policy can strengthen Indias standing in the global trade and support exporters reach global consumers more efficiently and reliably.

The move will provide a forum to exchange information on each country's sanitary and phytosanitary regulatory system. Additionally, under the trade deal, the two countries would identify and provide opportunities to identify initiatives to strengthen bilateral technical cooperation.

"The decision to establish a dedicated subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures under the IndiaUK FTA is a welcome step. However, given the significant differences in the two countries SPS systems, progress is likely to be slow. To avoid prolonged and inconclusive discussionsas has often been the case in pastthe two sides should prioritize their top 100 agricultural export items and commit to a clear timeline for resolving SPS issues. This targeted, time-bound approach would help unlock meaningful trade gains without getting lost in regulatory complexity," GTRI (Global Trade Research Initiative), founder, Ajay Srivastava said.
Trade deals that India signed initially failed to deliver. But India has since learnt from its mistakes and tweaked its strategy to see better success. Mint explains how the India-UK free trade agreement is a case in point when it comes to that process of evolution.

How did Indias early trade agreements fare?

Not too well. On 7 August 2009, India signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with South Korea. A few days later it inked a Trade in Goods agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In 2011, India concluded a CEPA with Japan. From Indias perspective, all these trade agreements underperformed.

The ASEAN agreement saw a sharp increase in trade volume. But Indias trade deficit widened from $6 billion in 2009 to $38 billion fuelled by a sharp increase in imports. In the case of the South Korea and Japan deals, too, imports shot up while Indias exports stagnated.

What caused their underperformance?

Experts have pointed to several shortcomings.

The tariff concessions India offered initially were asymmetrical. For instance, in the ASEAN deal, India was far more liberal.

These earlier deals did not factor in non-tariff barriers. That hurt, especially in the case of the deal with Japan, whose sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, apart from technical standards, hit Indian exports.

The deals primarily focussed on goods with limited provision for services and mobility of professionals, which are Indias strengths.

The deals lacked safeguard and review clauses, and industries affected by import surge had no options to fight.

Have recent trade agreements fared better?

Yes. India began by choosing its trade partner wisely for such agreements. It also broadened the scope of such agreements.

Indias exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have grown 14% annually since New Delhi signed a trade deal with the West Asian nation in 2022. Indias trade deal with Australia, signed the same year, eliminated tariffs on both goods and services, seeing utilisation by Indian exporters rise by over 75%.

Has the India-UK free trade agreement taken this process forward?

Apart from a sharp tariff reduction on goods, India has removed duties on 90% of its tariff lines while the UK has on 99%.

The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) also has a strong focus on services. India has opened up its accounting, auditing, financial services, telecom, and environmental services. The UK will grant commercial presence rights to Indian companies in computer services and consultancy space.

The trade deal will also allow mobility of 1,800 professionals between the two countries, a modest start in an area India has been keen on.

Is the UK deal a benchmark for the future?

While trade negotiation with each nation is unique, the India-UK CETA does offer pointers to nations such as the US, Europe, Oman, New Zealand, Chile, and Peru, which are negotiating similar trade deals with India.

By agreeing, for the first time, to cut tariffs on imported cars (but with quotas to allow Indian firms more time to become competitive) and allowing UK firms to participate in government procurement, the Indian government has indicated its readiness to be flexible in achieving a win-win deal without compromising its position on sensitive sectors such as dairy and sugar.

Also Read | India draws the line on GM foods, dairy for next round of US trade talks
India-UK trade deal: India's seafood exports to the United Kingdom are set to gain market share after both nations signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The CETA offers zero-tariff access and opens up key services sectors for both nations.

Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying said that the recent trade deal will help exporters gain market share for key seafood exports to the United Kingdom, such as Vannamei shrimp, lobsters, and frozen pomfret.

Indias key seafood exports to the UK currently include Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), frozen squid, lobsters, frozen pomfret, and black tiger shrimpall of which are expected to gain further market share under CETAs duty-free access, said the Ministry in an official statement.

This will be achieved by removing UK import tariffs on a wide range of seafood items for Indian exporters, as part of the trade deal.

Under the IndiaUK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), all fish and fisheries commodities falling under the UK tariff schedule categories marked A now enjoy 100% duty-free access from the date of entry into force of the agreement.

The CETA deal will also benefit labour-intensive sectors like textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, among others, which India exports to the European nation.

This is expected to particularly benefit exports of shrimp, frozen fish, and value-added marine productsboosting Indias presence in one of its major seafood destinations alongside labour-intensive sectors like textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery, they government said.

India Seafood Export Data The Indian seafood export industry reached a total export worth $7.38 billion or 60,523 crore in the financial year 2024-25, marking a total of 1.78 million metric tonnes in quantity, according to the official data. Out of the total exports, Frozen shrimp ranked the highest at 66% worth $4.88 billion.

Seafood exports to Britain were valued at $104 million or 879 crore in the same period, with frozen shrimp contributing nearly 77% of the total exports to the UK.

However, Indias share in the UKs $5.4 billion seafood import market is just 2.25%. With CETA now in force, industry estimates project a 70% surge in marine exports to the UK in the coming years, added the statement.

Coastal states of India like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are key contributors to the total seafood exports to foreign nations.
New Delhi: As trade negotiations between India and the US entering a critical stretch, New Delhi remains firm that genetically modified (GM) food crops such as maize and soybean, and dairy imports, should not be part of the deal.

A senior government official said Indias position on GM crops and dairy remains non-negotiable".

These two sectors have emerged as key points of contention ahead of the next round of face-to-face discussions between India and the US for a bilateral trade agreement. The discussions are scheduled to take place in New Delhi in the second week of August.

The government has consistently maintained that GM food crops and dairy imports are not aligned with Indias domestic prioritiesbe it on health, environment, or livelihood grounds," the official said, requesting anonymity. We are ready to explore other areas of convergence, but we cannot compromise on these issues."

The US has been pushing for greater market access for GM maize and soy-based products. Besides, the USs dairy industry has been lobbying for access to Indias vast consumer market.

However, Indian policymakers have consistently resisted such proposals, citing concerns related to biosafety, political sensitivities, and potential disruption to millions of small-scale dairy farmers.

Any import of dairy products from subsidized markets like the US could severely hurt Indias rural economy and traditional milk cooperatives," this official added.

India has instead proposed mutually beneficial options, such as promoting value-added sectors, simplifying regulatory procedures, and offering tariff concessions in non-sensitive areas.

New Delhi is also seeking better access for Indian pharmaceuticals, textiles, and services to the US market.

A crucial stretch

India and the US pushed back their deadline to finalize abilateral trade agreement from the earlier 9 July cutoff to later in the month as US President Donald Trump, while announcing rates for some countries, decided to enforce his reciprocal tariffs from 1 August.

The trade deal is crucial for India as negotiators seek the elimination of the reciprocal tariffs and additional duties such as those on steel, aluminium, and auto components.

India recently withdrew quality control orders for three key industrial chemicalsacetic acid, methanol, and anilineto ease compliance burdens on domestic manufacturers. India imports substantial quantities of acetic acid and aniline from the US and China.

Also Read | India may cut duties on US shrimp imports

The decision to withdraw the quality control orders is being viewed as New Delhis gesture to address US concerns, especially after the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), in its 2025 National Trade Estimate Report released in March, flagged several trade barriers in India, including high tariffs, digital restrictions, and regulatory hurdles.

The USTR report specifically raised concerns over Indias quality control orders, including one on polyethylene introduced in January 2024. The report said such measures did not align with international standards and disrupted trade in plastics and chemicals.

India, however, maintains such policies are essential to prevent the entry of substandard imports.

The US remains one of the few countries with which India maintains a strong merchandise trade surplus. In 2024-25, Indian exports to the US rose 11.6% to $86.51 billion, while imports grew 7.4% to $45.33 billion, pushing the surplus to $41.18 billion.

India opens up autos, services, liquor to UK; gains access in goods
India-UK trade deal: The Indian government will organise nearly 1,000 outreach programmes, including stakeholder meetings, workshops, awareness drives and feedback sessions to increase industry awareness about the India-UK trade deal, reported the news agency PTI, citing people aware of the development on Sunday, 27 July 2025.

These 1,000 outreach programmes will be organised in the next 20 days across the whole country to boost industry familiarity and ensure effective implementation and maximise benefits from the comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA), according to the agency report.

India and the United Kingdom (UK) signed a comprehensive economic and trade agreement (CETA) on Thursday, 24 July 2025.

Sectoral Meetings The people aware of the development told the news agency that the government plans to host sector-wise outreach programmes, and also instructed the respective Ministries to hold programmes on the arrangement.

According to the agency report, teams will be visiting different states to inform them about the benefits of this India-UK trade deal.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industries, Piyush Goyal, will hold a meeting on Monday, 28 July 2025, with the nation's leather and textiles sector, discussing the trade agreement.

I will be having sectoral meetings with every sector till the Parliament is going on and after that I will go to all states, said Goyal, cited in the agency report.

Goyal also has plans to visit Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, to discuss about opportunities for the nation's fishing industry with the local fishermen community.

I will visit tech centres of Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Gurugram (and inform) how the double contribution convention pact (DCC) will help them expand their services exports, said Goyal, according to the agency report. We will be sensitising the sectors to get the best out this agreement.

Goods to benefit from India-UK trade deal Bihar's Bhagalpur silk, Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) Pashmina shawls, Maharashtra's Kolhapuri chappal, Tamil Nadu's Thanjavur dolls, West Bengal's Baluchari sarees, Gujarat's tie-dye textile art Bandhini, Kanchipuram sarees, and Tiruppur knitwear are among other key goods which will now have a chance to appear on the shelves in malls and shops across the United Kingdom.

We will send delegations to UK ...and prepare the ground work in the next few months while their parliamentary approval is going on so that we can start leveraging the FTA as soon as it is operational, said Goyal, cited the news agency.
As we look ahead to month of August 2025, here's an overview of what changes you can expect: From updates to unified payments interface (UPI) guidelines, to the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (RBI MPC) meet next month and various tax and economic policies under consideration during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

How will new UPI guidelines impact you? According to new guidelines issued by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), there are a few changes that are set to impact UPI users. These include changes to regulations related to the autopay feature and the account balance check.

Called the new Application Programming Interface (API) usage rules, it will be application for apps of all public and private banks and payments services.

From August 1, UPI users will only be able to check their account balance 50 times a day. The aim is to reduce disruptions during peak hours and make the experience seamless, the NPCI said.

Autopay transactions to be restricted to specific times rather than randomly throughout the day. All auto payments, such as for utility bills, mobile recharge, subscriptions and easy monthly installments (EMIs), will now be conducted at fixed time slots.

Further, to reduce customer inquiries bank will be required to provide balance updates with each transaction, removing the need for manual checks. These changes are mostly aimed at reducing transactions that overload the system, and may not have significant impact on everyday UPI users.

Trading hours for Repo markets: What are new hours? While this will not directly affect customers, the RBI has issued new trading extended hours for market repo and Tri-Party Repo (TREP) operations. Originally announced in June 2025, it will come into effect next month.

Trading hours for market repo and TREP operations will be extended by one hour; with trading set to take place from 9 am to 4 pm.

There is no change in timings for the other operations such as the derivatives markets, foreign exchange, and government securities market.

Also Read | American Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 flight evacuated due to fire: WATCH
The hope, and the expectation, is that when U.S. officials meet their Chinese counterparts in Stockholm to talk economics and trade next week, they will build on a recent lessening of tensions as the U.S. tries to set up a fall meeting between the countries leaders and lay the groundwork for another loosely defined trade pact.

While the Trump administration has the hardest of hard-liners who want to decouple from China, as well as those who want to cut big deals, some of the hawks now look to be on the run, says Kurt Campbell, formerly the top Asia advisor in the Biden administration and co-founder of the strategic advisory firm The Asia Group.

The more commercially oriented faction now hold more sway, he says, although it is impossible to tell how the balance of power will develop. Campbell expects moves from Commerce and Defense Departments that could run counter to the more commercially-oriented efforts, adding to the fragility of the relationship..

A second positive indication is that the administration is looking for President Donald Trump to visit with Xi in China, possibly alongside U.S. corporate chiefs, in a trip akin to those in the 1990s, Campbell says. That was a time when globalization was in vogue and the relationship on a better footing.

The recent truce between the two countries has calmed investors, allowing the S&P 500 to reach record highs, even as many Chinese imports still face levies of 55%including 20% related to fentanyl flows imposed early in the administration. Another 34% in tariffs loom if an Aug. 12 deadline to reach a deal isnt extended.

Analysts expect the two countries to not revisit the level of escalation seen in April, when China retaliated against Trumps far-reaching tariffs. The tit-for-tat spiraled into three-digit tariff rates that stifled trade and cut U.S. industrial companies off from critical rare-earth minerals such as those used to make magnets.

After two meetings, officials were able to walk back the tensions. China agreed to allow export licenses that would give U.S. companies access to the magnets they need. The U.S. eased restrictions to allow Nvidia, for example, to sell its H20 AI chips to China.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who will take part in the Stockholm talks, said on Fox Business this week that the two sides would discuss extending the Aug. 12 tariff deadline, as well as Chinas purchases of sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said this week that discussions would include export controls, which have become a focal point for tensions.

The web of controls the U.S. has put into place to limit Chinas access to advanced technology, starting with the first Trump term and tightened during the Biden administration, has been a sore point for Beijing. They tell us every time that this is what they wantand they are getting traction," says Mary Lovely, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. China flexed its muscle [with its own export controls on magnets]. It has other cards to pull."

Its possible Beijing may not have to in the near term. In recent weeks, U.S. officials have taken a softer tone. Bessent this week described the relationship as reaching a very constructive" level and Lutnick spoke talking about kicking off a bigger trade discussion.

The odds of a trade deal with China  while still low  appear to be rising," says Andy Rothman, head of the China-focused research firm Sinology, noting Trumps consistently positive comments about Xi and his relationship with the Chinese leader. He formerly served as a U.S. diplomat in Asia.

Rothman sees little incentive for Xi to sign any trade pact where China is stuck with levies higher than others, considering Japan just signed a deal for 15% tariffs. If Trump wants a 25% or higher tariff on Chinese goods, Xi cant stop him, but would decline to sign a deal," Rothman says.

Trump though may have something else on offerretreating from other export controls if it gets to a big, beautiful trade deal," says Rothman, arguing that the president views export controls as form of negotiating leverage, rather than as a critical tool to protect national security.

Indeed, in the first term, Trump canceled sanctions that had been imposed by his Commerce Department on the Chinese telecom ZTE, noting at the time that the company bought many of the parts it uses from U.S. companies.

The takeaway at this point is that the administration could eventually emerge with a deal similar to the one it struck with Beijing in the first term. For now, most analysts are looking for the two sides to kick the can down the road, keep tariffs from going higherand possibly lower the 20% fentanyl-oriented tariffs Trump imposed early in this term.

One possible way the tariffs could be reduced emerged in the latest U.S.-Japan trade pact, in which Tokyo agreed to invest $550 billion in the U.S. Many trade watchers are focusing on Trumps suggestion Friday that countries may be able to buy down" their tariff rate with commitments to invest in the U.S. or buy U.S. goods.

While there are questions about the nature of Japans investment and purchase commitments, analysts say Trump would likely welcome Chinese offers to buy U.S. goodswhether that is Boeing planes, liquefied natural gas, soybeans, or pork. One caveat is that Beijing didnt make good on similar purchase agreements during Trumps first term.
New Delhi: The Indian economy could see a significant boost if more women are brought into the formal or informal sectors, according to S. Mahendra Dev, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). Citing official data and economic studies, Dev said raising the female worker population ratio (WPR) is not just about equity, it is a growth imperative.

Womens participation in the labour market is essential to achieve faster economic growth, as it has the potential to improve both growth and inclusive growth," Dev said in an interview.

The council's chairman said the government is actively working to improve the share of employed women in the population through a multi-pronged strategy that included education, skills training, entrepreneurship support, childcare access, better transport and flexible work options.

The role of women in all activities of the economy and society has been increasing in India, although the shares of women in some activities are low," Dev said, quoting official figures. Government policies should encourage womens participation in all the sectors of the economy: agriculture, industry and services, he added.

According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey annual report 2023-24, worker population ratio for females above 15 years has risen to 40.3% in 2023-24 (July-June) from 22% in 2017-18.

The legislation that seeks to allocate 33% seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies will also yield positive outcomes for womens empowerment in future, Dev said. "This law will now enable greater participation of women in policymaking and equitable governance at the state and national levels," he added.

The Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023, provides that reservation of seats for women in the Lok Sabha, state legislative assemblies, including that of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, will come into effect after a delimitation exercise is held after a population census.

Dev said the government is following a multi-pronged approachfocusing on education, skill development, entrepreneurship, flexible work arrangements, improved childcare and transportationto improve the worker population ratio for females.

India could improve GDP significantly by raising the WPR for females.The Economic Survey 2023-24 highlighted the systemic barriers that impede job opportunities for women," he said. "It says in order to sustain and enhance womens participation in the workforce, it is essential to remove restrictions on women working in certain occupations. This responsibility mostly lies with the state governments."

While the worker population ratio of females has improved over the years, there is still a lot of ground to cover to achieve gender equality.

According to statistics ministrys data, worker population ratio among men above 15 years of age is 76.3%. In scheduled commercial banks, only about one-fourth of the staff are women as of March 2024, as per another report from the statistics ministry, titled Women & Men in India 2024.

As per this report, declining fertility rate and improvement in education is aiding the rise in working women. Meghalaya, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh are the front-runners in female labour force participationthe share of working or work-seeking women in the population, while Lakshadweep, Delhi and Haryana are the laggards.

The report also pointed out the improvement in gender diversity in business ownership, especially in the services sector, where the trend is stronger than in manufacturing and trading.

There is a lot of focus on women entrepreneurs in India. Women-owned enterprises can improve WPR and boost economic growth. There are government schemes to improve womens entrepreneurship. Certain flagship schemes of the government of India, such as Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Deendayal Antyodaya YojanaNational Rural Livelihoods Mission, etc. are oriented towards promoting women-led enterprises. This increases direct and indirect employment for women. Skill development and technology can also help raising womens employment," said Dev.

There is also need for raising share of women in company boards," Dev said. As per data available from the ministry of corporate affairs, only about one-third of the professionals who secured director identification numbers (DINs) in June for board positions in companies are women.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicates that womens economic empowerment and the closing of gender gaps in key areas is associated with positive macroeconomic outcomes, including higher economic growth, lower inequality, increased productivity, better financial sector outcomes, and greater financial stability, the council's chairman said.
Assyrians Make Pilgrimage to Ancient Church in Iraq

Assyrian Christians in Duhok province trekked around 1,500 meters up a remote mountain on Saturday to pray with joyous spirits at the Mar Qayum Church, one of the oldest in the area.

The church, located near the Assyrian village of Dooreh in the region of Barwari Bala, is built in front of a rock and a dam and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times.

Last renovated in 1999, the story of the church's building remains unknown, but historians say it is at least 1,400 years old.

Scores of Assyrian Christians from the Kurdistan Region and countries such as the United States, Canada, and several European countries flocked to partake in the journey.

"Our main goal is to connect the new generation with this place and how to allow them to see our places and villages. That's why we greatly value that all communities come here and see our village," Nina Kako, a participant, told Rudaw.

The participants said that while the challenging hike and scorching weather made their journey difficult, it was ultimately worthwhile despite the odds.

"The path was really challenging. We came all the way and didn't feel it. Although the road is very difficult with slopes and the weather is very hot, the main goal was to arrive, and we arrived," said Lina Nissan.

A 75-year-old Assyrian from Canada was among the visitors. Despite her old age, she stressed that her fervent faith made her forget the fatigue.

"I don't feel any fatigue. To go to any mountain, any important place, being able to visit such ancient churches that are thousands of years old, is proudly a sign of our civilization," said Piobi Yaqo.

The church consists of two floors, and the ascent to the second floor requires effort and guidance, for it would appear from the shape of the church that those who built it and lived in it constantly thought of danger.

There is no vehicular access to the church, and a steep trek remains the only means of access.
Turning to the companys financials, in fiscal 2Q25 (April quarter), we find that HPEs revenue, at $7.6 billion, was up 6% year-over-year and beat the forecast by $130 million. At the bottom line, the companys non-GAAP earnings came to $0.38 per share, or 5 cents per share better than had been anticipated.

Those areas include everything from business intelligence to data collation and security, to edge computing and hybrid cloud ops, to the latest AI applications. Earlier this year, HPE announced a $14 billion merger with Juniper Networks, a transaction that is widely expected to boost HPEs AI-native and cloud capabilities. The acquisition was closed on July 2, and HPE believes the move will bring $600 million in cost synergies over the next three years.

The first JPM pick well look at here is Hewlett Packard Enterprises, which was founded as an independent entity when Hewlett-Packard split up in 2015. Hewlett Packard Enterprises, HPE, inherited its parent companys business in the server, storage, and networking segments  the very segments that have proven indispensable in todays tech environment of expanding AI and cloud computing. HPE is known as an innovator in its field, developing AI-native and edge-to-cloud systems to meet customers needs in all areas of business operations.

Doubling down on that positive outlook, JPMorgans stock analysts are backing up Jacksons stance with specific Buy-rated picks they believe are primed to outperform. We tapped into the TipRanks database to see which names theyve singled out and what caught their attention.

Jacksons optimism doesnt stop at Q2. Looking ahead, he added, Markets appear to be, as we flirt with all time highs, sort of sanguine over the very, very near term. But over the next 12 months, I think markets are going to be higher than where they are today, probably meaningfully so.

When you look at the broader backdrop, youve got to look at resiliency in some of the earnings. And I think well see that in some of the tech earnings, Jackson explained in a recent interview.

Offering his take on the current landscape, JPMorgan global market strategist Jordan Jackson summed it up with one word: resilient. He noted that companies responded to recent uncertainty with swift and decisive cost-cutting, freezing hiring, trimming workforces, and renegotiating supply chain burdens to weather the storm.

Markets are riding high this week, reaching all-time records, as anticipation builds around a strong Q2 earnings season for tech. Its a sharp turnaround from the volatility that rattled investors just a few months ago.

Story Continues

JPMs Samik Chatterjee, an analyst ranked amongst the top 3% of Street stock experts, sees HPE with both a sound foundation and bright prospects, and he describes that in a recent note. Writing of the stock, the tech expert says, We rate shares of HP Enterprise (HPE) at an Overweight (OW) rating, given its solid position across servers, storage, and networking  the latter of which has been bolstered by the acquisition of Juniper, increasing its mix of higher-margin, less cyclical revenue relative to broader IT hardware equipment. Importantly, we see this as not only providing further headroom for upside relative to revenue and earnings growth over the coming years, particularly with the latter further reinforced by sizable cost synergies, but also driving upward pressure on the multiple that investors are willing to ascribe to the shares, which is set against the backdrop of the shares historically trading at a discount relative to the broader peer group.

The Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating noted above comes along with a $30 price target, suggesting a gain of 46% by this time next year. (To watch Chatterjees track record, click here)

HPE shares have a Moderate Buy consensus rating, based on 15 recent analyst reviews with an almost even split of 8 Buys and 7 Holds. The stock is priced at $20.51 and its $24.38 average price target implies an upside of 19% in the next 12 months. (See HPE stock forecast)

California Resources Corporation (CRC)

The second stock on our JPM-backed list is an energy company, California Resources. This is one of the many independent exploration and production companies operating in the North America hydrocarbon sector; as its name suggests, California Resources focuses its activities in the State of California.

Thats a rich field for an oil and gas producer  California is the seventh-largest oil-producing state in the Union, and one of the worlds largest oil and gas regions. CRCs operations are located mainly in the San Joaquin Basin, in the southern part of the states Central Valley. CRC is currently working in 42 oil fields in this region, and 73% of the companys proven reserves are located here. CRC also has active operations in the Ventura Basin, the Los Angeles Basin, and the Sacramento Basin, among others.

California Resources is a $4.4 billion company, with strong production numbers. In the first quarter of this year, the firm generated an average net production of 141 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (Mboe/d). Of this total, 79% was oil and the remainder was natural gas and natural gas liquids. The first quarter production figure was flat from the final quarter of 2024, but it was up nearly double the 76 Mboe/d reported in 1Q24.

In CRCs first-quarter earnings report for this year, the last report released, the company generated $912 million in top-line revenues. This was up an impressive 101% year-over-year, and beat expectations by more than $50 million. At the bottom line, the company realized a non-GAAP EPS of $1.07, which was 30 cents better than the forecast. The companys free cash flow of $131 million was up 11% from the prior quarter.

Watching this stock for JPM, analyst Zach Parham sees plenty of value here for investors. He is impressed by the companys prospects for further growth in the second half of this year, writing, We believe the stock is undervalued on a sum-of-the-parts basis We see the potential for value to be realized if drilling permit approvals resume in California, something we believe is possible in 2H25. Additionally, CRC has a unique set of non-PDP assets (Carbon Management, the Elk Hills Power Plant, and Huntington Beach real estate) that we value at an incremental ~$16 per share. CRC also has a number of unique catalysts in 2H25+ that should provide a pathway to further value creation, including 1) the expected first injection of CO2 from CRCs Carbon Management Business (CMB), 2) the potential passage of CA AB 881, which would allow for the construction of CO2 pipelines in CA and provide a pathway for CRC to further grow its CMB, 3) the potential restart of drilling permit approvals in CA, providing an opportunity for CRC to slow production declines, and 4) a potential PPA at the CRC-owned Elk Hills Power Plant.

These comments support Parhams Overweight (i.e., Buy) rating on the shares, while his $63 price target points toward a gain of 26% going into next year. (To watch Parhams track record, click here)

California Resources has earned a Strong Buy consensus rating from the Streets analysts, based on 10 reviews that feature a lopsided split of 9 Buys and 1 Hold. The stock is currently selling for $50, and its $58 average price target suggests that the shares have an upside of 16% on the one-year horizon. (See CRC stock forecast)

To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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As China prepares to roll out a nationwide child-care subsidy next year, policymakers are betting that modest cash incentives will help reverse one of the countrys most worrisome long-term trends: its shrinking population.

The central government is planning to provide 3,600 yuan ($503) a year for each child under age three, starting in 2025, according to recent Chinese state media reports. The move marks the first national-level effort to directly support families with newborns, following years of local experimentation and mounting concern over declining birthrates.

If the subsidy amount seems paltry by American standards, keep in mind that Chinas nominal per capita income this year was just $13,687, according to IMF estimates.

Chinas population has contracted for three consecutive years, with just 9.54 million births in 2024down from nearly 19 million in 2016. The drop poses a structural threat to the worlds second-largest economy, where fewer young people mean a shrinking workforce, waning productivity, and growing pressure on the pension system.

But whether the few hundred dollars a year will convince reluctant young couples to start families is far from certain.

I can see the government is trying, but its not enough to change my mind," said Liu Wen, a 28-year-old marketing analyst in Hangzhou. The cost of raising a child here isnt just diapers and formulaits school, housing, and our own careers. A subsidy wont fix that."

That sentiment reflects a broader challenge facing Beijing. While the new program represents a shift in the central governments willingness to fund pronatalist policy, analysts say its size may be too small to shift behavior in a meaningful way.

Goldman Sachs estimates the total cost of the program at around 100 billion yuan ($14 billion) annually in a steady state, or less than 0.1% of GDP. Because the subsidies will also retroactively cover children born before January 2025 who are still under age three, Goldman projects a larger 250 billion yuan expenditure in the second half of 2025. Even so, the impact on growth is expected to be modestadding about 25 basis points to GDP in late 2025 but fading quickly thereafter.

International experience suggests that a program of such size may not boost birthrates by much," Goldman analysts wrote in a recent report, adding that the move reflects Chinas new policy thinking and long-term planning to counteract cyclical and structural growth headwinds."

Michelle Lam, Greater China economist at Societe Generale, said in a note that the measure was tiny" in scale but notable for signaling a change in mind-set and [paving] the way for more stimulus to come."

Indeed, the symbolic weight of the policy may matter more than its near-term effect. For years, central authorities avoided the direct handouts common in other advanced economies, preferring tax breaks or indirect support. Now, China appears to be embracing a more direct approach, with the central government reportedly funding up to 95% of the program in less-developed regions.

Some local governments have already gone further. Hohhot, the capital of Chinas Inner Mongolia region, offered couples 50,000 yuan for a second child and 100,000 yuan for a third earlier this year. Cities like Hefei, Tianmen, and Panzhihua have also implemented targeted programs, with mixed results. Goldman notes that Tianmen saw a temporary reversal in birthrate declines after launching its subsidy in 2023, while Panzhihua managed to slow the drop.

Still, experts caution that financial incentives alone are unlikely to reverse deeper societal trends. Chinas marriage rate hit a nearly 50-year low last year, and many young people cite job insecurity, high housing prices, and burnout as reasons to delay or forgo parenthood entirely.

Thats especially true in major cities, where career pressure and the high cost of living collide. Im still trying to pay off my own student loans and save for a down payment," said Zhang Rui, a 32-year-old software engineer in Shanghai. How can I think about a baby right now?"

Beijing has started to acknowledge these structural obstacles. In his annual government work report this March, Premier Li Qiang pledged to expand child-care services and reduce the burden on working families. But details remain sparse, and the pace of implementation is uneven.

For investors, the implications go beyond demographics. A sustained drop in births could weigh on long-term growth, consumer demand, and labor supply, while also reshaping sectors from education and housing to healthcare and insurance.

The question now is whether Chinas latest policy shift marks the beginning of a broader family support agendaor merely a symbolic gesture.

Either way, the stakes are clear. United Nations projections suggest Chinas population could fall to 1.3 billion by 2050 and below 800 million by 2100. Without a meaningful rebound in fertility, Chinas economic future may rest on a shrinking base.

For now, though, most young families seem unconvinced that a few thousand yuan a year is enough to tip the scales.

Write to editors@barrons.com
India is evaluating a combat drone deal with a built-in localisation blueprintpotentially marking a turning point in how the country procures and produces high-end military technology.

Under a $4.5-billion emergency procurement programme launched soon after Operation Sindoor, the defence ministry is in advanced talks with US-based Shield AI to import its V-Bat combat drones for the Indian Air Forcewhile also laying the groundwork for local manufacturing through a joint venture with JSW Defence, part of the multi-industry conglomerate JSW Group.

The initial deal with the Indian Air Force is set to be worth $35 million, which is the upper cap for a contract being signed under the emergency procurement programme. Meanwhile, JSW Defence and Shield AI have entered into a $90-million joint venture (JV) deal for transfer of the drones technology to JSW. This could later make for a larger contract for the JV from the Air Force in the long run, three people with direct knowledge of the matter told Mint.

The imported drones, once approved, can be sourced as early as the first half of the 2026 calendar year. Subsequently, locally manufactured V-Bat drones could start being produced from JSW Defences indigenous assembly line as early as the end of 2027.

The development not only marks the first instance of foreign defence technology being localised in India, but also mirrors a heightened sense of urgency in the countrys defence corridors to acquire cutting-edge technology for contactless warfare, which include drones, loitering munitions, ultra-high resolution and uninterrupted satellite surveillance, and more.

Shield AIs V-Bat combat drones, which were used by Ukraine in its offensive against Russia last year, can operate even in non-GPS, network-jammed airspace regions, providing a key edge in modern warfare. These drones provide a level of sophistication and accuracy that cannot currently be matched by Indias indigenous drones made both by private firms such as IdeaForge and the Centres Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Further, according to a senior executive close to the development, the companys move to localize the drone in India with JSW Defence can help it operate outside the ambit of Americas restricted defence export controlsand cater to India, which is projected as a large defence market. The specifics of the deal are expected to be closed before the end of this calendar year.

Shield AI has already acquired security clearance from the US government to conduct the necessary transfer-of-technology arrangement that it is doing in India with JSW Defence, prior to signing the deal. This is significant since US defence suppliers need express clearance from Washington DC before it can offer its technologies to other geographies.

Emails sent to the ministry of defence and Shield AI did not receive responses until press time.

Urgent procurement plan

The Indian Air Force, Army and Navy will gain greater access to sophisticated global defence technology under an emergency procurement package cumulatively worth about $4.5 billion, which the defence ministry rolled out shortly after Operation Sindoor. The program is looking at multiple vendors, and is aimed at quickly addressing pain points in the countrys defence infrastructure.

The early deals are meant just to give India early access to fill in gaps in national defence, through imports," said a senior official requesting anonymity since the contracts are currently under evaluation. Going forward, successful execution of the emergency procurement deals could lead to longer-term contracts."

A second official aware of the matter said that other private defence contractors currently in talks include vendors from Israel, as well as Ukraine, but no other private contractor has as yet indicated interest towards technology transfer to India. The most sophisticated technologies are right now not within the capabilities of Indian manufacturers, which necessitates us to procure cutting-edge weaponry from outside of India," this official said.

Industry reactions

Industry stakeholders said such deals are of tantamount importance. India is one of the worlds largest economies, and as we saw as part of the recent Operation Sindoor skirmish, non-contact warfare is a crucial aspect of future national security strategies," said Sameer Patil, director of centre for security, strategy and technology at global think-tank Observer Research Foundation.

Indias emergency procurement push involves both loitering munition and precision stand-off capabilities, which would expand its conventional warfighting capabilities without having to climb the nuclear escalation ladder," Patil said. In case of major previous threats to national security such as in 2008's Mumbai attacks and 2016's surgical strike following the Pulwama terrorist attack, the availability of cutting-edge drones and precision munitions is what India lacked."

At the same time, India is also seeking access to uninterrupted satellite surveillance technologies as part of the same emergency procurement programme. While Indian firms are in the process of building indigenous versions of this technology, temporary sourcing could come from external suppliers such as vendors from the US, France and Israel, the first official added.

Such surveillance technology will require ultra-high-resolution satellites as well as low-latency transmissions for round-the-clock operations.

Indias current surveillance satellite infrastructure is not sufficient to provide continuous surveillance because of the limited numbers. The gap is presently filled by taking imagery from foreign commercial companies," said Anil Kumar Bhatt, director general of space industry body, Indian Space Association.

Indias Space-Based Surveillance-3 (SBS-3) programme, under the Centre, is currently being implemented to bring such capabilities through 52 satellites, of which 31 will be supplied by the private sector," he added.

For deeper capability building in defence technology, however, India needs to invest actively in research and development. The current emergency procurement contracts are not expected to come with indigenisation and technology transfer agreements.

The current spree of emergency procurement underlines Indias need to invest in defence-led research and development, including incentivizing the private sector to spend more", said Patil.

In the 2025-26 Union Budget, the government increased the allocation to the DRDO by 12% to $3.1 billion.
The Central government of India is planning to install 400 new BSNL towers in the Naxalite-affected and remote areas of Chhattisgarh to improve the region's digital communications, reported the news agency PTI, citing Union Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, on Sunday, 27 July 2025.

The Central government is working on a plan to install 400 new BSNL towers in the Naxal-affected and remote areas of Chhattisgarh to strengthen digital communication, said Minister Pemmasani.

According to the agency report, the Minister said that the towers will be installed in phases after the required approvals from the security forces and the forest department are obtained.

Pemmasani, the Minister of State for Rural Development and Telecommunications, conducted a high-level review meeting in Raipur, which was attended by senior officials from various departments and from the telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

Also Read | Central govt employees can take 30 days leave to take care of elderly parents

BSNL is currently providing high-quality 4G services across the country, and with this expansion, we are realising the mission of delivering digital connectivity to the last village in the country, Pemmasani said, according to the agency report.

Development in LWE-affected areas Minister Pemmasani also highlighted that the government is conducting development work in the LWE-affected areas (Left-Wing Extremist) in a mission mode and said that the government is coming up with a strategy to deliver services at people's doorsteps who are living in these regions.

Digitising schools to enable students to prepare for competitive exams like JEE and NEET, providing special facilities for differently-abled students under a sensitive and inclusive initiative, are among the development measures according to the agency report.

Rapid development and transformation are now being seen in deprived, tribal, and remote areas as well, he said, cited by the news agency.

The Minister in the meeting also expressed his satisfaction over the fast and effective implementation of flagship schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana- Gramin (PMAY-G), and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Chhattisgarh.

Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani also appreciated the role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) while acknowledging initiatives like the Pink Auto scheme to make women self-reliant, which could become a role model for other states.
Afsana Theatres rehearsal room ahead of the premiere of David Mamets A Life in the Theatre in August feels confusing. Everything that should be off-stage has suspiciously found its way on to the stage. The wings are inside out, the actor is facing away from the audience, and the backstage crew is going about their chaotic work like no ones watching. Its what happens when theatre makers decide to turn the spotlight on to their own lives. Written by legendary American playwright David Mamet in 1977, the play tells the story of two actorsthe senior Robert, and junior John. Robert is like the theatre stalwart we are all too familiar with, and John is the talented young kid on the block. Through a series of on-stage and off-stage scenes, Mamet traces the relationship between the actors and betrays in some detail, their predicament on stage and beyond.

For co-directors Gagan Dev Riar and Jitender Singh, reading A Life in the Theatre was a bit like looking into the mirror. Many of the conversations sounded like they had been mined from personal spaces as theatre makers," says Singh. Riar could relate to both Robert and John, and was also reminded of stalwarts in the theatre fraternity hed crossed paths with. We have a lot of senior actors in our midst who are well read, articulate and intelligent. But, it doesnt always translate to the stage. I found that very relatable," says Riar. Riar was sold on the balance of the poetic and the humorous in the language of the play. For Singh, it was the accuracy of the relationships. I could also relate to the senior-junior relationship between actors. It made me realise despite the hierarchy there are no systems to bind or separate you," says Singh. The pawns and the king go back into the same box at the end of the day," Riar adds. As theatre makers, it brought them a catharsis that came from their own worlds.

Riar and Singh had many concerns, but surprisingly, relatability wasnt one of them. Of the 200 people who are watching it, 50 may be watching a play for the first time but they are doing so with the 150 who arent. We did not want to break everything down for com prehension," says Riar, adding that it can be compared to a visit to the grocery store or an adventure activity. They may not understand theatre but they understand life. Its how Mamet puts ityou cannot separate the time spent at a grocery story or pursuing an activity from life itself," he says.

Also Read | The Pehel programme in Mumbai helps theatre newbies find their voice
Sachin Kundalkars new novel in translation, Silk Route , was first published in the original Marathi as Monochrome, Volume 1: Reshim Marg (2023), ostensibly as part of a projected series. Rendered into English recently by Aakash Karkare, its as slim as the authors earlier work, Cobalt Blue , which was translated by Jerry Pinto in 2013, and inspired a film of the same name in 2022.

Apart from their brevity, the two books share other affinities. Like Tanay, one of two protagonists of Cobalt Blue, Nishikant, who is at the centre of Silk Route, is a sensitive man. He shares a tragic past with his sister Nalini, as Tanay does with his sister Anuja. Both men also grapple with their desires through their formative years. Nishikant eventually moves on from his juvenile attraction to Nikhil, Nalinis lover, to find a reciprocal love in Shiv, his roommate in college, before meeting Srinivas, the great love of his life, as a student in London.

Also Read | How a surgeon saved lives during the Kargil War

As the story opens, Nishikant is out to find Srinivas, who has abandoned his thriving practice as a psychiatrist, his wife and family in Chennai, and disappeared. When Srinivass wife discovers his decades-long, correspondence with his friend, she summons Nishikant for help, which leads him on a trail of sinister and mysterious happenings.

View Full Image 'Silk Route': By Sachin Kundalkar, translated by Aakash Karkare, Penguin Random House India, 120 pages,  399

As with Cobalt Blue, Kundalkars ambition in Silk Route is high, though it remains, sadly, unrealised. The zigzag structure of the novel, which tends to move between the past and present without adequate signposts, doesnt make it easy for the reader to follow the action. There are far too many characters, each with their own distinctive streak of subversiveness. Its hard to keep track of, or even care, for them. Unlike the emotional intensity of Cobalt Blue, which came from its focus on the inner lives of the characters, Silk Route lacks depth, direction and discipline.

It takes immense patience and skilful pacing to build interiority in fiction. Silk Route repeatedly falters on both counts. More often than not, it reads like a scattered collection of reflectionssome vividly movingrather than a cohesive attempt to build a psychological universe into which the reader would want to invest. The author also seems to trip over himself in a bid to spin his yarn as fast as he can, often hanging the plot on a scaffolding of gratuitously titillating details.

Characters like Jules, an enigmatic Frenchman, and his mysterious companion Sophia exist as riddles, left to the reader to decode. Nishikants reckoning with the loss of his sister never gets the attention it merits. Worse, the conclusion feels gimmicky, hollow and unsympathetic. Surely, Kundalkars characters and readers both deserve much better.

Also Read | Jane Austen's novels are both a mirror and a map for Gen Z and millennials
There is a certain hum in the quiet lanes of Kalyani Nagar. As the weekend sets in, the upscale neighbourhood in Punes eastern quarters comes alive with folks gathering over drinks and chatter. If you linger, you will notice the lively cocktail scene that everyones been talking about  bar hopping feels natural.

As a student back in the aughts, weekends usually meant queuing up for buttery bun maska and Irani chai at the legendary Vohuman Cafe. For dinner, there was Mysore masala dosa at Vaishali, or an occasional treat at Malaka Spice and Arthurs Theme. Its rather strange to return to Pune every few months now to find a glitzy bar or a swanky restaurant taking over the familiar streets and neighbourhoods.

Over the last couple of decades, an IT and real estate boom followed by the pandemic, have amplified the citys culinary landscape, bringing in a young crop of chefs and restaurateurs, who are steering modern ideas and concepts for the increasingly discerning diner. The leafy lanes of Kalyani Nagar and Koregaon Park are now buzzing with cocktail bars and breweries. While on the other side of town in Deccan, Baner and Aundh, experimental restaurants driven by global inspiration are offering equal doses of nostalgia, storytelling and creativity.

View Full Image Hola Tomatillo from Juju.

City-based restaurateur Karan Khilnani of ECO Hospitality, which owns the popular cocktail bars Elephant & Co. and Cobbler & Crew, says, When it comes to Kalyani Nagar, there is a dynamic crowd culture comprising corporates and young entrepreneurs, who are well travelled, have the spending power, and are also open about new experiences." Since its opening in 2023, Cobbler & Crew has become the neighbourhood bar, where cocktails are concocted with Kolhapuri chilli and garnished with the classic Puneri bhakarwadi. The group also owns Juju next door, a Mexican-inspired bar known for its exhaustive agave-based drinks programme and smart tapas bites.

Although the trend is that of cocktail bars, I wanted to open a restaurant where food was the highlight," says Vardaan Marwah, chef and co-founder of Farro, where he draws inspiration from farro", an ancient grain that is commonly associated with Mediterranean cuisine. I did my research and decided to showcase the journey of the grain through different regions of the world, and also blend in my travel and childhood memories into the dishes," he adds. Try the savoury jalebis piped with Parmesan batter, a 30-layer truffle latke, a take on the Jewish potato pancakes, sourdough flatbreads stuffed with baba ganoush and tempered with the Bengali five-spice mix panchphoron, and lamb terrine inspired by his grandmothers saag mutton.

Also Read | From tripe to trotters, offal gets an upscale makeover

View Full Image Negroni-spiced kingfish crudo at Nanna's Negroni.

A similar approach nudged chef-restaurateur couple Ambar Rode and Damini Halli to open Nannas Negroni in January. We wanted to create a space where food is the hero, and the cocktails are complimentary," says Halli, who believes diners are now more curious about techniques and provenance of ingredients. Rode brings his French flair by focusing on slow cooking techniques such as curing, brining, fermentation, and confit to pack in maximum flavour. He uses cheese and peaches from Himachal, wheat from Punjab, trout from Kashmir, and seafood from the western coast, to plate up sourdough pizzas, handmade pastas, cured salmon, and a standout Negroni-spiced kingfish crudo. It makes sense because everyone is travelling more after covid. Even kids are watching MasterChef Australia these days," says Rode.

Its an exciting time for chefs and fermenters, whove spent years mastering their craft through extensive research trips and international training. In 2024, chef Gayatri Desai relaunched Ground Up with a fermentery, to make miso from scratch using native grains. On weekends, her test kitchen brings people together over unique tasting menus that spotlight hyperlocal ingredients sourced from all over the state as well as the North-East. At Gather, an all-day restaurant on Law College Road (that opened in January), head chef Hanoze Shroff has managed to get people talking about his deeply comforting, nostalgia-driven dishes. The joojeh kebabs, Japanese kare omelette, pork chilli fry and squid rechado are a few favourites from the menu.

View Full Image Andulasian spiced chicken tacos at Loco Otro.

Breaking away from the mould was natural for chef Siddharth Mahadik (of the much-loved Le Plaisir), who opened his second restaurant Loco Otro in 2023. The idea was to offer shareable, tapas-style plates, in a setting that felt like a neighbourhood restaurant and bar. In a crowded and competitive industry, why should dining out follow rigid structures of starters and mains?" he says. From date nights to family reunions, Mahadik is excited to see his diners return for Andalusian spiced chicken tacos, eggplant feta rolls, and karela tacos, a take on his family recipe.

In a city where diners hold on to nostalgia, brands are also finding their voice with experimental formats. At Aragma, chef Amit Ghorpade takes inspiration from his roots growing up in the hinterland of Maharashtra for his inventive tasting menus. The idea is to keep the integrity of our food traditions alive in a fun, aspirational way," he says. Along with founder Poornima Somayaji, the duo wants to drive the conversation around the farmer and his produce and create contemporary plates not with caviar or yellowfin tuna", but with matki and pavta (types of beans), and leafy greens like shepu and millets. A highlight from the summer menu is a superlative ice-cream sandwich infused with chafa flowers (Magnolia champaca).

View Full Image Food at Gather.

For years, Punekars relied on a certain version of south Indian food made popular by the citys many Udupi joints. And then We Idliwale arrived with its playful idli-curry combos. The awareness of regional south Indian food can be quite linear. Growing up, idli-chicken curry was a Sunday staple, so its definitely not my twist," says chef and co-founder Abhishek Joshi, who launched We Idliwale Barroom in 2023, to elevate the experience with innovative cocktails and rock n roll playing in the background. People knew us for our food, but we also wanted them to come and party with us," he adds. Go for the molgapodi cured bacon, ghee roast sausages, haleem toast, and Kerala toddy shop favourites, along with Negronis and highballs infused with kachampulli (vinegar), coconut and turmeric.

Like any Indian metro, growing infrastructure and traffic chaos have impacted the eating-out culture in Pune. But alls well as long as theres good food and drinks to while away the weekend.

Also Read | The food scene in Hyderabad offers more than just biriyani
Citigroup has become a latest entrant to join the competitive luxury credit card market with its new Strata Elite Card.

This latest offering is the bank's attempt to grab a piece of the high-fee, high-rewards credit card market that is currently dominated by American Express' Platinum Card and JPMorgan Chase's Sapphire Reserve Card.

Strata Elite: Costs, perks and benefits The Strata elite card is priced at an annual fee of $595, which is less than the Platinum Card and the Sapphire Reserve Card. The cost can also unlock almost $1,500 in value if used to its maximum potential.

The new launch also aims to be a strong contender by offering:

Points rewards: The card provides points for everyday spending, however a customer can earn largest points for certain types of spending, like hotels, car rents, air travel as well as restaurant dining at peak weekend times.

Rewards for each dollar spent on different bookings.

Generous credits: The card provides a $300 hotel credit and a $200 splurge credit usable at brands like Best Buy, Live Nation and others.

Travel rewards: The most significant earning potential comes from booking travel through Citi's new travel portal, which gives 12 times points on Citi's Thank You rewards programme. The perks also include four passes per year to airport lounges for customers who fly with American Airlines.

Citis history in the premium card space This is not Citis first foray into the high-end credit card market. In 2013, the company launched the Citi Prestige card which won high praise from travel fanatics when it debuted for its hefty rewards program and perks.

However, its prestige was short-lived. The release of Chases instant hit Sapphire Reserve Card in 2016 and subsequent overhauls to the Amex Platinum Card led to the Prestige Card losing its competitive edge.

Also Read | Amex to Pay $230 Million Over Prior Sales Practices

Citi stopped allowing new applications for Prestige in 2021, but the card's benefits still exist for customers carrying the card.

Intense competition ahead for Citis Strata Elite card The Strata Elite card is entering a highly competitive marketplace. Other than the Platinum Card and Sapphire Reserve, there are other rewards-heavy cards like Capital One's Venture X Card and an upcoming high-rewards card from Bilt early next year.

Chase recently raised the annual fee on Sapphire Reserve to $795 in June, and American Express has signaled upcoming revisions to the Platinum Card's rewards and perks later this year.

Also Read | 5 luxury credit cards users can explore for bountiful of benefits. Check details
During the previous financial year, my wife had an emergency caesarean delivery, and the baby was admitted to NICU for 5 days. A bill of  74,505 was generated, of which  62,833 was approved by the employer. At the time, the hospital had applied for the renewal of income tax exemption status under section 17(2) of The Income Tax Act 1961, read with rule 3A(1) & 3A(2) of Income Tax Rules, 1962, but the certificate was still awaited. Due to this, the sanctioned amount was subject to a tax deducted at source (TDS) of  19,604 and only  43,220 was credited. However, the hospital has received the tax certificate now with retrospective effect from 1 July 2024. As a result, the employer will not be liable to deduct tax u/s 192 of the Income Tax Act,1961 for such a sum. I wish to avail the refund of this TDS through income-tax return (ITR). Can I claim the refund of this TDS? If yes, how to claim the refund as it is not a deduction and the portal only allows to enter exemptions under section 10, which in effect reduces taxable income, and hence tax. But in my case, it is an exemption under section 17, and the portal doesnt have any option to put this. Should I reduce my income under sections 17(1)/17(2) by  62,833 from the amount in Form 16 and report this amount as exempt income? This will most probably trigger an automatic notice. I have also disputed this amount as nontaxable in the annual information statement. I have opted for the new regime, and a friend says that this amount may not be available as an exemption {Section 115BAC 2(iv)}. Also Read: Can charitable trusts invest in mutual funds and stocks? Our Response: Under the income-tax laws, the value of any benefit or amenities provided by the employer to an employee is taxable as perquisites, subject to prescribed exceptions.

As per the related provisions, medical reimbursements given by the employer for medical treatment of specified diseases/ailments to employees or their specified families are not considered taxable in the hands of employees, subject to satisfaction of specified conditions. It is assumed that your case falls under the prescribed diseases/ailments, the retrospective approval certificate of the hospital covers the period of treatment, and all other conditions are satisfied. Hence, the reimbursements may be considered as non-taxable.

Also Read: These bonds offer tax exemption on capital gains. But are they right for you? Since the reimbursements were taxed at the withholding stage and a tax was deducted at source by the employer, you may consider the same as non-taxable while filing your income-tax return (ITR) for the FY 2024-25.

While filing the ITR, you may directly exclude the non-taxable reimbursement amount from the salary reported in Schedule Salary (S) under Section 17(2). As this is a non-taxable reimbursement and not an exempt income, the same may arguably not be reported as an allowance exempt under Section 10 in Schedule S, or in Schedule Exempt Income (EI).

In case of any queries from the tax authorities (say on account of variance with the salary reported by an employer in Form 16), it will need to be responded, accordingly. You should also retain supporting documents, such as the hospital's approval certificate and medical bills, to justify the reduced salary reported in the ITR, if required.

Also Read: What India can learn from other countries in term insurance adoption Also note that this is a non-taxable reimbursement and does not form part of the specified disallowances under the new tax regime. Hence, the above treatment can be considered irrespective of the tax regime.

Parizad Sirwalla is partner and head, global mobility services, tax, KPMG in India.
Whats common between Japans 2011 tsunami, the 9/11 terror attacks in the US, and the covid-19 pandemic? Apart from being mass-scale tragedies that shook the world, these moments also serve as a reminder that when everything fell apart, insurance stepped in to help piece lives back together.

But tragedies dont always make global headlines, do they? Sometimes, they strike quietly, in the form of a sole breadwinners untimely death, setting the entire households standard of living backwards.

India has made commendable progress in lifting millions out of poverty. As per the UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index, India pulled 415 million people out of poverty between 2005 and 2021. However, the low penetration of financial protection mechanisms like term insurance continues to leave many vulnerable to falling right back into it. A Niti Aayog discussion paper highlights that the death of a primary earner is a critical poverty trigger that often goes under-addressed.

At a unit level, term insurance is the most cost-effective and responsible step to prevent intergenerational poverty. It protects not just income, but also preserves a familys future aspirations in the face of loss. Lets explore how term insurance in conjunction with other efforts can play a major role in protecting household wealth and standard of living.

From resilience to risk: Insurance is a universal solution

Across the world, term insurance serves as a financial lifeline for families when an unfortunate event strikes unexpectedly. In many countries, particularly those without generous welfare systems, term life cover fills the cracks left by the absence of a breadwinner. And in countries that do have strong public welfare, term insurance still plays a vital role, helping families preserve their standard of living in the wake of a tragedy.

Lets look at Singapore. The country, well known for efficiency and foresight, does not have a traditional welfare system like the western world. Yet, its people are among the most financially protected globally.

In Singapore, life insurance is the dominant form of insurance, accounting for approximately 72% of the nation's total insurance premiums in 2023. According to the 2022 LIA Protection Gap Study, the average life coverage per policyholder was around S$331,200, while critical illness coverage averaged S$193,300, typically across different policies.

Similarly, South Korea, often seen as a welfare-light economy, has one of the highest insurance densities in the world. More than 85% of Korean households are covered by life insurance, and the average insured amount per person is over KRW 50 million. When Covid-19 struck, government initiatives played their part, but on top of that, life insurance payouts helped citizens navigate job losses and medical emergencies.

Life insurers reported a notable spike in claims, covering not just covid deaths but income protection and hospitalisation benefits. Adequate private coverage, layered on top of public welfare, gave families the financial bandwidth to navigate the crisis without sliding into poverty.

The coexistence of public welfare and private insurance

Japan combines universal healthcare and pension systems with one of the most developed private insurance markets in the world. Japans insurance penetration is the third-highest in the world and according to the Japan Institute of Life Insurance, more than 90% of households own at least one life insurance policy.

In terms of scale, Japans life insurance share dominates the insurance industry with over 74% share in terms of gross written premiums. This proved invaluable in 2011, when Japan was devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Within months, Japanese life insurers had paid out billions in life claims alone. Life insurance, in that moment, acted as a bridge between grief and recovery.

Why India needs to take notice?

India, by contrast, remains deeply underinsured and unaware of term insurance. Despite being the worlds most populous country, the total insurance penetration lingers at ~4% of GDP, which is far below the global average. Term insurance, the purest and most affordable form of coverage, has a particularly low uptake. In a nation of over 1.4 billion, only 6-7 million have term insurance, which means that the death of a breadwinner in a household can trigger immediate financial distress.

Indias protection gap (needed insurance cover - actual insurance cover) at nearly 80% remains one of the highest in the world. The economic impact of this underinsurance is severe. Global and Indian case studies show that underinsurance correlates with poorer outcomes in education, health and economic mobility. Clearly, the need of the hour is to increase term insurance penetration on a war footing. The good news is that the government has recognised this reality and several steps like reducing GST on Term Insurance are being contemplated.

Term insurance is a public good

Term insurance is more than a financial product. It is a public good, a stabiliser and an enabler of inter-generational progress. Countries with high life insurance penetration arent just better prepared for personal loss; they are also economically more resilient.

Indias challenge, then, is not just to grow economically but to build resilience at the household level. Beyond covering mortality risk, it extends to preserving a countrys education, healthcare and opportunity backbone for the next generation. That, in essence, is the real value of a term policy for an individual and for a nation.

Sarbvir Singh is the joint group CEO, PB Fintech. Views are personal.
The Charity Commissioner of Maharashtras latest order could unlock capital inflows worth thousands of crores of rupees into mutual funds, while potentially setting a nationwide precedent for public trusts.

The state government body, established to oversee public trusts including charitable endowments, on 21 July issued a notice stating that trustees of public trusts in Maharashtra could invest up to 50% of the trusts total money in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), along with other specific investment options.

The key change: trustees of public charitable trusts will no longer need to seek approval from the Charity Commissioners office for such investments. The decision of where to invest now rests solely with the trusts trustees.

Until now, public trusts in Maharashtra could invest in mutual funds only when the trustee had taken approval from the charity commissioner, making the process restrictive due to cumbersome approval requirements.

Currently, 59,143 trust registration applications have been approved in Maharashtra, according to data from the Office of Charity Commissioner, Maharashtra State.

While there is no official data on the total investable surplus of charitable trusts in Maharashtra, market professionals and regulatory observers estimate that the collective corpus of active public trusts in the state could run into several thousand crores of rupees.

If we assume a mix of donation surpluses, reserve funds, and legacy assets, and 10-20% of those funds being investable under the new 50% limit, a conservative estimate would place the investable potential at 5,000-10,000 crore or more over time," said chartered accountant Gunja Thakrar, core group member, Bombay Chartered Accountants Society, who handles matters related to charitable trusts.

In Gujarat, Telangana and some other states, public trusts still have to take approvals from the respective state charity commissioner to invest in mutual funds and other vehicles.

Key Takeaways Public charitable trusts in Maharashtra can now invest up to 50% of their capital in mutual funds and ETFs without prior approval, simplifying a previously restrictive process.

The move could unlock 5,000-10,000 crore or more in investable funds, offering a significant new investor base to the mutual fund industry.

Maharashtras decision may influence similar reforms in other states, potentially reshaping how charitable trust capital is managed across India.

A new set of prospective investors

A few public trusts were investing in mutual funds, but the need for approval discouraged small and mid-sized trusts from exploring such options, said Thakrar. Many preferred to remain in low-risk, low-return instruments such as bank fixed deposits and government securities to avoid regulatory complications, she added.

Aditya Birla Sun Life Flexi Cap Fund, Tata Ethical Fund, ICICI Prudential Large and Midcap Fund, Sundaram Aggressive Hybrid Fund, and a few other mutual funds were approved for public trusts in Maharashtra to invest in before 2000. But since 2000, the approval process has nearly come to a standstill, industry experts said.

As per annualised returns data from Value Research, over the past 10 years, ICICI Prudential Large and Midcap Fund gave returns of 16.57%, Aditya Birla Sun Life Flexi Cap Fund gave 14.69%, Sundaram Aggressive Hybrid Fund gave 12.66%, and Tata Ethical Fund gave 12.48%.

This is far higher than 10-year returns of 8.25% from a State Bank of India fixed deposit.

More trusts are now expected to diversify into equity mutual fund instruments that may offer better long-term returns, Thakrar said.

This is a very welcome step by the government of Maharashtra, as in India trust money is long-term," said Nilesh Shah, managing director and chief executive at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Ltd.

Also Read | Can charitable trusts invest in mutual funds and stocks?

He added that while the Income Tax Act permitted all mutual fund schemes as eligible investment, trusts in Maharashtra were constrained as only few mutual funds were approved as eligible investment. The state charity commissioners latest announcement will expand the choice for trusts and allow them to generate better returns, Shah added.

Charitable trusts usually have long-term surpluses, and we expect bulk of investments to be long-term in nature. There may also be some short-term allocations, depending upon their cashflow needs," said Suresh Soni, CEO, Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund.

Akhil Chaturvedi, chief business officer and executive director at Motilal Oswal AMC, said the industry could now get a new set of prospective investors to participate in mutual funds across asset classes based on the needs of trust boards.

We have time and again received enquiries from the trusts expressing their opinion on investing in mutual funds. This development allows us to reach out to them and present various ideas around mutual funds and help them achieve their investment needs," Chaturvedi said.

Act with caution

Not all trusts, however, would want to invest in mutual funds, said experts.

Trusts registered under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act for tax exemptions must still follow stricter investment rules under Section 11(5), said Rohit Jain, managing partner at law firm Singhania & Co. If these trusts invest outside what 11(5) permits, they risk losing their tax benefits, he said.

Jain added that most public trusts could choose to maintain their exemption status and were unlikely to take advantage of the new relaxed rules. Only a small number of trusts that do not seek tax exemption might benefit, he added.

Soni of Baroda BNP Paribas Mutual Fund said public trusts, especially charitable trusts, are typically risk-averse and may want to invest in only low-risk mutual fund schemes. Also, some of these trusts may have to examine if their by-laws allow them to invest in mutual funds and amendments to these bye laws may take time, Soni added.

Trusts typically need steady income to meet their charitable objectives, said Jimmy Patel, MD at Quantum Mutual Fund, adding that public trusts looking for regular income may prefer systematic withdrawal plans that allow them to withdraw capital gains periodically in a tax-efficient manner.

Despite the relaxed rules, trustees must act with caution, added experts.

Their fiduciary duty means they are responsible for safe investing and should avoid risky products like small-cap or credit-risk funds, and not follow broker tips blindly," said Patel.
President 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.

Meanwhile, US tariffs on imports from India are set to double to 50% on Wednesday, with no indications that the countries are moving toward any kind of deal.

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).

Those tariffs face legal limbo in an appeals court case that could be decided within days.

Justice Department lawyers and lawyers for a group of small business importers who are challenging the tariffs imposed under this authority argued their positions before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. If the court rules against the government, it's likely Trump would appeal to the Supreme Court.

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world.

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An investigation against Harsh Vardhan Jain, arrested for running an illegal embassy in Ghaziabad, has revealed potential links to a 300 crore scam, a controversial godman Chandraswami, and a Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

Jain was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) on July 22, after conducting raids at his rented bungalow in Ghaziabad's Kavinagar area. During the raid, a fake embassy (Westarctica) setup was discovered, 44.7 lakh was recovered in cash, along with multiple foreign currencies, fake diplomatic passports, 18 forged diplomatic number plates, and seals purportedly from the Ministry of External Affairs, and firms in 34 countries.

What led cops to probe Jain's godman, Khashoggi connection? A senior police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told PTI that police are also looking into Jain's liaisoning network. His association and photographs with international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi have surfaced during the preliminary probe, the officer said.

"Authorities suspect there may be a counter-intelligence angle involved, and several incriminating documents have been recovered," the officer added.

According to a Hindustan Times report, pictures of Jain with the controversial godman Chandraswami were also recovered during the raid at his Ghaziabad home.

Chandraswami gained prominence in the 80s and 90s and was considered to be the spiritual adviser of three former prime ministers  PV Narasimha Rao, Chandra Shekhar, and VP Singh.

However, Chandraswami was arrested in 1996 in connection with financial irregularities. He was also accused of funding the assassination of Rahul Gandhi. A raid at Chandraswami's ashram also revealed his links to arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

How is Jain connected to Chandraswami, Khashoggi and  300 crore scam? During the probe, the UP ATS found that Chandraswami had introduced Jain to Khashoggi and Ahsan Ali Sayed in 2000 in London. Sayed allegedly worked with the fake diplomat to open 25 shell companies which were used for brokering deals, the HT reported quoted UP Police additional director general (ADG), Law and Order, Amitabh Yash, as saying.

Sayed also operated a company called Western Advisory Group, based out of Switzerland, which worked with other companies to help them procure loans in exchange for brokerage.

According to an NDTV report, the company allegedly collected brokerage worth nearly 300 crore and Syed fled from the country. He was arrested in London in 2022.

Cops are now looking into the degree of Jain's involvement in the 300 crore scam on Swiss territory. Given his links to Khashoggi, UP STF Additional Superintendent of Police Kumar Mishra said Jain's involvement in arms dealing is also under investigation.

'Westarctica' issues official statement The police have also taken note of a purported official statement issued by Westarctica on Friday in which the micronation (a self-declared entity but unregonised officially) distanced itself from Harsh Vardhan Jain, new agency PTI reported.

"Jain was an authorised representative engaging in unauthorised activities," the statement from "Westarctica" said, clarifying that while Jain held the honourary title of "Honorary Consul to India" after making a donation in 2016, he was "never granted ambassadorial status".

Founded in 2001 by former US Navy intelligence analyst Travis McHenry, "Westarctica" functions primarily as an environmental advocacy nonprofit registered in the US, with tax-exempt status since 2018, the report added.

"Although they have issued a statement but its status as a nation is unrecognised therefore the statement holds zero value for us. However, we are getting it legally vetted for further perusal," a police officer, involved in the probe, told PTI.

Jain had also styled himself as an ambassador to other fictitious entities like "Saborga", "Paulovia" and "Lodonia", allegedly defrauding individuals under the pretense of offering overseas jobs and visas.
In a massive accident, a tanker exploded near a plant near Vadodara in Gujarat on Sunday evening when it was being heated to empty asphalt from the vehicle, reported PTI, quoting the police as saying.

In the incident, three people were killed and their bodies were shifted to a hospital in Vadodara for post-mortem, added a police official from Bhadarwa police station.

The deceased were identified as Azamgarh's Armaan Ziaullah (26), Alwar's Ashok Gurjar (21) and Vadodara's Shakib Akhtar Khan (33), a resident of Vadodara.

According to the police official, the incident took place at Mokshi village in Savli taluka of Vadodara district, when the tanker was being heated to transfer stuck asphalt from the vehicle into barrels. Among the deceased were the driver and cleaner of the vehicle, as well as a labourer.

The tanker was being heated to remove the stuck asphalt. During this process, the gas pressure inside the tanker increased, and it exploded, PTI quoted the police official as saying.

Similar incident: In another incident, a woman was killed and eighteen others were injured in a multi-vehicle pile-up on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday, 26 July. The incident took place near the Adoshi tunnel under the Khopoli police station limits in Khalapur taluka of Raigad district, news agency PTI reported.

"The driver of the container trailer truck lost control of the vehicle after brake failure. It hit at least 20 vehicles, including luxury cars like BMW and Mercedes, resulting in serious injuries to 19 persons. They were admitted to a private hospital in Navi Mumbai. Of these, a woman died while undergoing treatment," the official said.

Traffic came to a standstill on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday after a major pile-up near Datta Food Mall, shortly after the descent from the Lonavala-Khandala ghat section.
In a shocking incident, three minor girls were poisoned to death by their own mother after being distressed over domestic issues in Thane district of Maharashtra.

The accused woman, identified as 27-year-old Sandhya Sandeep Bere,was arrested by the police on Sunday. She was living at Talepada in Asnoli village under Shahapur area of Thane district.

Sandhya, a housewife, allegedly mixed a pesticide in "varan bhat" (a traditional rice and lentil dish) and served it to her daughters, aged 5, 8 and 10, on July 20, a senior police official said, according to news agency PTI.

The minor girls soon experienced health complications, including vomiting and giddiness, and were rushed to a local hospital.

As their condition worsened, two of them were later admitted to a hospital in Mumbai where they died on July 24 and July 25. Another girl was shifted to a hospital in Nashik where she succumbed on July 24, the official said.

According to the police, the Khinavli police station initially registered a case of accidental death. However, the autopsy report on Saturday night revealed the presence of poison in the children's bodies.

On the basis of the crucial evidence, the police registered a case of murder against the children's mother and arrested her around 2 AM on Sunday.

Sandhya had been grappling with domestic issues, including her husband's habit of liquor consumption. She had separated from her husband and was struggling to care for her three daughters which apparently drove her to the crime, as per the police.

The woman's in-laws had suspected her involvement in the death of the three children.

Further investigation was underway into the matter.

UP news: 2 minor girls abducted at gunpoint, raped Two minor girls were allegedly gang-raped after being abducted at gunpoint from their home in the Budhana area of Muzaffarnagar district, reported PTI.

A case was registered against the two accused, identified as Pradeep and Gaurav, under sections of the BNS and the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, Circle Officer (CO)Gajendra Pal Singh said.

He added that both men are currently absconding and two police teams have been formed to arrest them.

The incident came to light when the minors, aged 15 and 16, returned home and informed their family members about the alleged rape.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday visited Bandra's Matoshree after a gap of 13 years and wished Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on the latters 65th birthday, reported PTI.

Raj Thackeray drove from his residence Shivteerth in Dadar to Matoshree and presented a bouquet of red roses. Earlier, Raj entered the residence in 2012 at the time of Balasaheb Thackeray's death.

Accompanied by MNS leaders Bala Nandgaonkar and Nitin Sardesai, Raj was received by Uddhav and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

In the images and videos going viral on social media, both Raj and Uddhav could be seen inside Matoshree with Balasaheb's frame in the background. Also, Raj handing a bouquet of flowers to his cousin on his birthday was also seen in another photo.

After the meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) took to X and wrote, Party chief Hon. Shri. Uddhavsaheb Thackeray was extended birthday greetings by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Hon. Rajsaheb Thackeray.

Reunited in July: Earlier in July, both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared a political stage in Mumbai's Worli. This was the first time in two decades the estranged cousins shared a stage together. They united on the issue of Marathi identity and "imposition" of the Hindi language. In the gathering, Uddhav hinted at contesting the upcoming civic elections together with Raj Thackeray's MNS.

"We have come together to stay together. We will together capture power in the Mumbai civic body and Maharashtra," Uddhav Thackeray had said, while evoking loud cheers from the crowd.

They hosted the rally named Awaj Marathicha to celebrate the Maharashtra governments reversal of a contentious plan to have Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schools.

In 2005, Raj Thackeray quit the Shiv Sena citing the differences with Uddhav and formed his own party - the MNS. Raj had contested elections against Uddhav.
In first comments after former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law was arrested after Pune Police busted a rave party on Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that although it appears that a crime was committed, he will only be able to talk more about it after he receives a proper briefing.

According to a PTI report, police arrested seven persons after busting a "drug party" following a raid at an apartment in Pune early on Sunday and seized narcotics, hookah set ups and liquor, officials said.

Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was among those arrested, they said. Rohini Khadse is state president of the women's wing of the opposition NCP (SP).

Reacting to the arrest, CM Fadnavis said, Even I saw it only in the media. I've been attending programmes since morning, so I haven't received an actual briefing on it yet. Based on what is being shown in the media, the police have busted a rave party, and some people have been found there. Drugs were reportedly found.

Once I receive a proper briefing, I will be able to comment on it. Prima facie, it appears that a crime has taken place at that location, the CM was quoted by ANI as saying.

Pune Police raids drug party The police's Crime Branch carried out the raid at the studio apartment located in the upscale Kharadi area of Maharashtra's Pune city based on a tip-off about a rave party, an official told PTI.

The raid was conducted around 3.30 am on Sunday and a drug party was busted at the studio apartment, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingle said at a press conference in Pune.

Also Read | Kangana Ranaut says drugs coming to Himachal from Pakistan

During the raid and subsequent search, police seized 2.7 grams of cocaine-like substance, 70 gm of a ganja-like substance, a hookah pot, various hookah flavours, and liquor, and beer bottles, Pingle said.

"We have arrested seven individuals, identified as Pranjal Khewalkar, Nikhil Poptani, Sameer Sayyad, Shripad Yadav, Sachin Bhombe, Isha Singh and Prachi Sharma, under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," he said.

All the accused were sent for medical examination and their reports are awaited, the official said.

Reacting to the raid, Eknath Khadse said it should be probed if there was a political motive behind the police action. Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Sushma Andhare said the raid is a message for those speaking against the government.
Pune police busted a rave party in a private apartment and seized drugs, hookah set-ups and liquor in the wee hours on Sunday. They also detained seven persons in the raid, including Pranjal Khewalkar, the son-in-law of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse.

Pranjal Khewalkar is the husband of Rohini Khadse, the state president of the women's wing of the opposition NCP (SP).

Also Read | Trouble for YouTuber Elvish Yadav: FIR registered for threatening witness

Here's what the police said: Pune police's Crime Branch carried out the raid on the studio apartment in the upscale Kharadi area of Maharashtra's Pune, based on a tip-off.

We had received information about a rave party being held at an apartment in the Kharadi area, a senior police official said.

During the raid at the party being hosted without necessary permissions, the official said that the police seized narcotic substances.

"During the raid, narcotic substances like ganja, liquor, and hookah were found. We have detained seven persons -- five men and two women," he said.

Also Read | Bengaluru Rave Party: Actress Hema among 9 named in chargesheet

One of the men detained is the husband of a woman politician, the official said, referring to Khewalkar.

All individuals have been taken into custody, and the process of registering a case is underway, he said.

Political motive?: Eknath Khadse NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse suspects foul play and has urged a fair police probe into the matter. He said a probe should be conducted to determine whether the police action had a political motive.

Also Read | Cops detain 39 college students for underaged drinking
India has to become strong and also wealthy from an economic point of view as the world understands power, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Sunday.

Bhagwat also said that India no longer has to be the golden bird and it was time for it to become a lion. It is necessary because the world understands power. So Bharat should become strong. It also has to become wealthy from an economic perspectives, he added, while speaking at the national education conference, Gyan Sabha, organised by the RSS-linked Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas in Kochi.

Bharat should not be translated The RSS chief went on to say that Bharat should not be translated as otherwise it would lose its identity and along with it the respect it enjoys in the world.

According to a PTI report, Mohan Bhagwat also said that Bharat, a proper noun, should not be translated as its identity is respected because it is Bharat.

"Bharat is a proper noun. It should not be translated. 'India is Bharat'. That is true. But Bharat is Bharat. That is why, while talking, writing and speaking, be it personal or public, we should keep Bharat as Bharat.

Also Read | RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat bats for 'Swadeshi' products

Bharat must remain Bharat. The identity of Bharat is respected because it is Bharat. If you lose your identity, whatever other meritorious qualities you may have, you will never be respected or secure in this world. That is the thumb rule, PTI quoted the RSS chief as saying.

Bhagwat's take on education system Just a day ago, Bhagwat had said that the education system in the country was developed under the long-term influence of colonial ideas and for a developed nation, an alternative based on Indian philosophy needs to be formulated. For that, the focus should be deep, realistic, and completely Indian-based, Bhagwat said.

According to the statement issued by the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, Bhagwat said during the conference that the workers should become competent in the field they work, be role models in it and develop friendly relations in order to lead others forward.

Before the meeting began, RSS chief Bhagwat visited the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya and lit a traditional lamp (Nilavilakku) to mark the start of the conference, held at the Chitvilasam auditorium.

Around 100 delegates from across India, including national coordinators of the Nyas and experts in education, are taking part in the discussions.

The focus of the two-day meeting is on building a roadmap for educational reforms to support the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat).
In anticipation of global pop icon Justin Timberlake's concert on July 27 at the Baku Olympic Stadium, the Baku Metro has announced extended operating hours for public convenience. According to Azernews, the metro system will remain open two hours past its usual schedule.

All metro stations will stay open until 2 am local time on the night of July 27-July 28. Entrances to the stations will be open from 12 am to 2 am for safety, according to Azernews. The concert begins at 8 pm, so the extended hours are meant to allow for easier, safer travel throughout the night.

Baku Metro: Which station to use for the Justin Timberlake concert? The agency running Baku Metro suggested that concert attendees should utilize Exits 3 and 4 of Koroglu station - the metro stop closest to the concert venue for ease of access to and from the stadium.

Major expansion plans underway for Baku Metro As part of the State Program for the Improvement of Transport Infrastructure in Baku and Surrounding Areas for 2025-2030, Baku Metro has signed a major agreement to launch its next phase of modernization.

Another Azernews report stated that the 35.4 million manat ($20.8 million) contract was awarded to Yuksel Proje, a globally experienced engineering firm and a subsidiary of AZCON Holding.

What will be upgraded? The upgrades, the report added, include designs of new stations Y14 to Y17 on the Green line, and B5 to B8 on the Purple Line. It also includes the construction of connecting tunnels and the redesign of the junction at 28 May station (Green-Red line interchange).

The upgrade will also include the development of a passage chamber, return tunnel, and underground car park at Icherisheher station.

Officials, according to an Azernews report, project that a metro compliance upgrade and development will help with a proven increase in passenger capacity, urban traffic solutions, and a more efficient and comfortable commuting travel experience.

FAQs What time does the Baku Metro open? The Baku Metro opens at 6:00 am local time and operates until midnight.

How to pay for the Baku Metro? Payment for the Baku Metro is made using a Baki Kart (Baku Card), which can be purchased at kiosks in the stations.

How old is the Baku Metro? The Baku Metro was officially opened on November 6, 1967, making it over 57 years old as of 2025.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reacted to Cincinnati immigration lawyer Trisha Chatterjee's claim that she was mistakenly redirected to Taco Bell when seeking their assistance, accusing her of lying for likes.

Chatterjee said she was trying to figure out how to submit paperwork for her clients detained at Butler County Jail.

After days without any response, Chatterjee said she finally connected with an ICE officer who assured her he would provide a contact number for someone who could help. However, Chatterjee claimed that the number given was actually for a Taco Bell restaurant.

In a post on X, Homeland Security said, "This is nothing but lying for likes. Once again, activists and the media are attempting to smear our brave ICE law enforcement, who are already facing an 830% increase in assaults against them.

ICE did not give immigration attorney Trisha Chatterjee, the woman in the TikTok video, a phone number to a Taco Bell. After she posted the video, ICE even attempted to reach out to her to get her information on her clients. She was provided several avenues to directly contact ICE and help resolve any issues, but she has made no attempt to contact the agency, it further said.

Netizens react One user responded with, Deport her, while another suggested, Someone should file a bar complaint. She should be disbarred for dishonesty and violating professional conduct rules.

Another commented, If this issue is really as difficult as she claims, youd expect her to record these calls. Theres a difference between evidence and propaganda. As an attorney, she should understand that.

Netizens react to the viral post.

This is nothing but lying for likes. Once again, activists and the media are attempting to smear our brave ICE law enforcement.

Someone else remarked, This might be a way for her to charge her clients extra for all the 'time' she supposedly spent trying to get in touch... it's all lies.

Yeah usually good lawyers with yellow nails go right to Tik Tok to advocate for their clients, added another user.
Donald Trump biographer Michael Wolff has suggested that First Lady Melania Trump may have had closer ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than previously known. Wolff reportedly claimed Melania was very involved in Epsteins social scene and suggested that it was through this network that she met Donald Trump.

Shes introduced by a model agent, both of whom Trump and Epstein are involved with. Shes introduced to Trump that way. Epstein [knew] her well, Wolff was quoted as saying by The Daily Beast in a podcast interview.

She never s by his side Wolff also spoke about the First Ladys recurring absence from her husbands legal and political battles, asserting that she often keeps a calculated distance.

She never is by his side, Wolff said according to the news outlet. Referring to Donald Trumps many courtroom appearances, Wolff added: She shows up once. I report in my book that one of the aides approached her and she said, Nice try, and then laughed.

White House hits back In response to the allegations, the Trump campaign issued a scathing rebuttal, the report stated. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung dismissed Wolffs claims and attacked his credibility.

Michael Wolff is a lying sack of s--t and has been proven to be a fraud, Cheung said in a statement as quoted. He routinely fabricates stories originating from his sick and warped imagination, only possible because he has a severe and debilitating case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his peanut-sized brain.

Melania denies Epstein link in book Melania Trump, who has generally avoided public comment on the matter, recently shared a two-page excerpt from her bestselling memoir "Melania", in which she refutes any suggestion that Epstein played a role in her meeting Trump.

In the excerpt posted last week, she wrote that she met Donald Trump at Manhattans Kit Kat Club, not through Epsteins circle.

Epstein case remains a flashpoint The Trump administration has been under scrutiny over any potential connections to Epstein, particularly after a July 6 memo from the Department of Justice and FBI reaffirmed that Epstein died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019. The report also reiterated that no client list of co-conspirators exists  a point frequently challenged by Trumps MAGA base.

Also Read | Epstein island guests tracked via leaked phone data, reports reveal shocking map
President 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.

Meanwhile, US tariffs on imports from India are set to double to 50% on Wednesday, with no indications that the countries are moving toward any kind of deal.

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).

Those tariffs face legal limbo in an appeals court case that could be decided within days.

Justice Department lawyers and lawyers for a group of small business importers who are challenging the tariffs imposed under this authority argued their positions before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. If the court rules against the government, it's likely Trump would appeal to the Supreme Court.

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world.

LIVE

1749 updates
US President Donald Trump's ally and influencer Laura Loomer asked on Sunday, "What are the odds that the person who went on a stabbing rampage in Michigan today is a Muslim immigrant?"

She said, "Michigan has been invaded," and even urged authorities to "deport them [illegal migrants or Muslim immigrant] all".

Michigan Walmart stabbing toll At least 11 people were injured in a stabbing incident that took place at a Walmart store in the Midwestern state of Michigan on Saturday.

Six victims were in critical condition late Saturday, and five were in serious condition, Munson Healthcare said in a statement, as per Reuters.

Local media reported three victims were undergoing surgery, citing police. The victims included six men and five women.

Man 'shoved and stabbed' people Eyewitness Julia Martell told The New York Times she heard screaming and saw a man with a knife running through the store's pharmacy section.

Martell said she saw the man shoving and stabbing people as he moved through the store.

The 30-year-old also witnessed three people with stab wounds and described seeing "blood everywhere."

A Walmart corporate spokesperson, Joe Pennington, said by email that the company was working with police and defer questions to them right now.

'Random attack' Police said it appeared to be a random attack. Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea told a press conference that the suspect was in custody.

"Based on the information that we have at this time, it appears they were random acts," Shea said of the attack in Traverse City, Michigan.

"The victims were not predetermined," Shea was quoted as saying.

Sheriff Michael Shea added that the suspect, a Michigan resident, apparently acted alone.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she was in touch with law enforcement regarding the "horrible news."

"Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence," Whitmer said in an X post.

Shea said the stabbing spree initially started near the checkout area of the store. "It is very uncommon for our area," he said of the violence.

Traverse City is a popular tourist destination located on the shore of Lake Michigan.
At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Michigans Traverse City on Saturday evening in what police described as a random and horrifying attack. Six victims remain in critical condition, and the suspect, a 42-year-old resident, has been taken into custody, Trending Politics reported.

Eyewitnesses who were present during the attack have described scenes of panic, chaos, and fear as the suspect moved through different sections of the store, randomly stabbing people with a folding knife.

Me and my sister work there. The whole store started screaming and running, said Tasha Nash, a Walmart employee told Channel 2. There was a guy with a knifehe stabbed six people. I saw someone stabbed in the eye.

The incident unfolded around 4:45 PM local time. Emergency services rushed to the scene within minutes, as did a sheriffs deputy who helped apprehend the suspect. Several customers also intervened to restrain the attacker and administer first aid to victims, the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office said.

The stabbings took place across multiple store aisles, including the produce and grocery sections.

One witness, Amber Paull, described seeing the attacker lash out at shoppers without warning.

A man, I think he was a foreign guy, was attacking people. An African American man pulled a hero move and drew his pistol to try and stop him. But then people screamed, and employees shouted for everyone to run. The suspect slipped away into the crowd before being caught, she told Channel 2.

According to another eyewitness, Kathryn Ann Clark, it was her friends son and another shopper who helped subdue the suspect before police arrived.

They didnt think twice  they went after him, she told local media.

Among those injured were an elderly woman and a child, though full details about the victims, including their ages and conditions, have not yet been released.

Sheriff Michael Shea called it a deeply disturbing incident. Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasnt more, he told reporters at the scene.

Local law enforcement confirmed that no shots were fired during the attack. The area around Walmart and Crossing Circle was briefly cordoned off, and the public was urged to avoid it as forensic teams processed the crime scene. Authorities also began interviewing staff and customers who had witnessed the attack.

Walmart issued a statement shortly after the incident:

Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders.

The FBI is also assisting with the investigation.

Officials have not yet disclosed the suspects identity or any possible motive.
Smoke from wildfires raging in Canada has once again blanketed the Tri-State area, triggering an air-quality alert that has been extended through the weekend. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health (DOH) have issued Air Quality Health Advisories, as per multiple reports, warning of elevated pollution levels that pose risks to vulnerable populations.

New York City Emergency Management has warned that air quality remains at Level Orange on the Air Quality Index (AQI), indicating values between 101 and 150  a level deemed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. These include older adults over 65, children under 14, pregnant individuals, outdoor workers, and people with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions such as asthma or heart disease.

NYC Emergency Management told residents to take precautions, limit outdoor activity, close windows, use air purifiers if available, and consider wearing a high-quality mask if they must go outside and are in a sensitive group.

Smoke origin and impact The haze is being carried southward by northerly winds from Canada, which have helped ease recent heat but ushered in wildfire smoke from active forest fires. While the smoke was thick early Sunday, forecasters expect the worst of it to shift toward New England later in the day. Healthy individuals face low risk from the smoke, but officials still urge caution.

Health symptoms and warnings The Suffolk County Department of Health Services warned that fine particulate matter in the smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract. Symptoms may include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Prolonged exposure can exacerbate chronic conditions.

Heat advisory Compounding the problem is the return of dangerous heat. A Heat Advisory goes into effect at 11 am Monday and lasts through Tuesday, with heat-index values expected to reach 105F. Health officials urge residents to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity during peak heat hours, and check on vulnerable neighbors.

Stay informed and take precautions Authorities are urging residents to monitor local air quality levels at AirNow.gov, follow public health advisories, and take extra care if they belong to any high-risk group.

Key advice for residents:
Venezuelans, who were detained in US President Donald Trump's March immigration crackdown, talked about the "horror" they endured during their time in the Salvadoran jail. They alleged witnessing abuse, beatings, violence, spoiled food and legal limbo.

"Welcome to hell!' In an interview with news agency AFP, 37-year-old Maikel Olivera recounted there were "beatings 24 hours a day" and sadistic guards who warned, "You are going to rot here, you're going to be in jail for 300 years."

"I thought I would never return to Venezuela," he said.

As many as 252 Venezuelans were detained in US President Donald Trump's March immigration crackdown. They were accused without evidence of gang activity, and deported to El Salvador's notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT.

"Welcome to hell!...You are going to die here!" heavily armed guards taunted them on arrival to the maximum security facility east of the capital San Salvador.

The Venezuelans were held separately from the local prison population in "Pavilion 8" -- a building with 32 cells, each measuring about 100 square meters (1,076 square feet).

Each cell  roughly the size of an average two-bedroom apartment  was designed to hold 80 prisoners.

The men had their heads shaved and were issued with prison clothes: a T-shirt, shorts, socks, and white plastic clogs, news agency AFP reported.

Mervin Yamarte, who had left Venezuela with his younger brother, hoping for a better life, told AFP a small tuft of hair was left at the nape of his neck, which the guards tugged at.

Life of a prisoner: Sexual abuse, rubber bullets, riots For four months, the prisoners had no access to the internet, phone calls, visits from loved ones, or even lawyers.

The men never saw sunlight and were allowed one shower a day at 4:00 am. If they showered out of turn, they were beaten.

At least one said he was sexually abused, AFP reported. The men also claimed they slept mostly on metal cots, with no mattresses to provide comfort.

There were several small, poorly-ventilated cells where prisoners would be locked up for 24 hours at a time for transgressions -- real or imagined.

"There were fellow detainees who couldn't endure even two hours and were carried out unconscious," Yamarte recounted.

Andy Perozo, 30, told AFP of guards firing rubber bullets and tear gas into the cells.

For a week after one of two riots that were brutally suppressed, "they shot me every morning. It was hell for me. Every time I went to the doctor, they beat me," Perozo said.

Edwuar Hernandez, 23, also told of being beaten at the infirmary. "They would kick you... kicks everywhere," he said. "Look at the marks; I have marks, I'm all marked."

The detainees killed time playing games with dice made from bits of tortilla dough. They counted the passing days with notches on a bar of soap.

'Out of hell' An estimated eight million Venezuelans fled the political and economic chaos of their homeland to try to find a job in the United States that would allow them to send money home.

Yamarte left in September 2023, making the weeks-long journey on foot through the Darien Gap that separates Colombia from Panama.

It is unforgiving terrain that has claimed the lives of countless migrants who must brave predatory criminal gangs and wild animals.

Yamarte was arrested in Dallas in March and deported three days later, without a court hearing.

All 252 detainees were suddenly, and unexpectedly, freed on July 18 in a prisoner exchange deal between Caracas and Washington.

"The suffering is over now," said 29-year-old Mervin Yamarte, enjoying a longed-for moment of catharsis.

On entering the sweltering Caribbean port of Maracaibo, the first thing Yamarte did after hugging his mother and six-year-old daughter was to burn the baggy white prison shorts he wore during four months of "hell."

"The suffering is over now," replied Mervin. "We've come out of hell," another ex-detainee said.

'Arrested simply for sporting tattoos' Many of the men believe they were arrested in the United States simply for sporting tattoos wrongly interpreted as proof of association with the feared Tren de Aragua gang.

Yamarte has one that reads: "Strong like Mom."

"I am clean. I can prove it to anyone," he said indignantly, hurt at being falsely accused of being a criminal. "We went... to seek a better future for our families; we didn't go there to steal or kill."

Many are now contemplating legal action.
Walmart stabbing case: A shocking incident surfaced at a Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday, July 26. A shopping trip for many turned chaotic when a man stabbed at least 11 people in a random act, police official informed AP.

Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasnt more, AP quoted Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea as saying.

According to The New York Times, all 11 victims were rushed to Munson Medical Centre in Traverse City, Chief Communications Officer for Munson Healthcare Megan Brown said. Six patients are reportedly critical while the other five are in serious condition.

Watch video here:

After the harrowing incident, one prime suspect was taken into custody shortly after 6:00 pm (local time), State Police reported.

Also Read | Walmart Hires Instacart Executive to Speed Up AI Adoption

Which weapon was used in the Walmart stabbing incident? As per preliminary reports, the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife. According to Michigan State Police, the accused is possibly a resident of Michigan, but more information is awaited.

An eyewitness recounted the tragic happenings and said, It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out, she said. This is something you see out of the movies. Its not what you expect to see where youre living."

Michigan State Police's sixth district said in a post on X stated, Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office is investigating a multiple stabbing incident at the Wal-Mart in Traverse City. The suspect is in custody, details are limited at this time. A PIO is in route to the scene and details will be posted @mspnorthernmi and @MSPWestmi as they become available. Please avoid the area as the investigation is on-going.

Shortly after MSP's update, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino in a post on X stated, FBI personnel are responding to provide any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart.

Walmart issues statement Following the incident which made headlines on Saturday, Walmart issued a statement. Calling the incident "unacceptable," it emphasised that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation.
At least 11 people were injured in a stabbing incident at a Walmart store in the Midwestern state of Michigan on Saturday. Authorities described the attack as seemingly random.

The suspect has been taken into custody, according to Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea, who provided the update during a press conference.

"Based on the information that we have at this time, it appears they were random acts," Shea said of the attack in Traverse City, Michigan.

"The victims were not predetermined," Shea said, adding that the suspect, a Michigan resident, apparently acted alone.

Six victims were in critical condition late Saturday, and five were in serious condition, Munson Healthcare said in a statement.

Walmart Stabbing case: Watch the suspect here

A local resident on Facebook alleged that the suspect was a "foreign guy," a claim made by Amber Paull and later shared on X by political commentator Laura Loomer.

Authorities have not confirmed the identity or background of the suspect, and no official information has been released to substantiate the claim.

Loomer said, The man who just stabbed nearly a dozen innocent people inside a Walmart in Michigan is being described by witnesses as a foreign guy. Sadly, Michigan has been destroyed by Islamic invaders who have ruined majority European cities in Michigan that have now been ruined by women in Burkas and the stench of Shawarma. Its highly likely that the man who stabbed people in Michigan today is an Islamic immigrant.

Eyewitness Julia Martell told The New York Times she heard screaming and saw a man with a knife running through the store's pharmacy section.

Martell said she saw the man shoving and stabbing people as he moved through the store.

The 30-year-old also witnessed three people with stab wounds and described seeing blood everywhere.

Shea said the stabbing spree initially started near the checkout area of the store.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said agents were providing any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart.

Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

(This is a developing story)
Actress Ruchi Gujjar who slapped producer Karan Singh at the So Long Valley premiere on July 25 is in the limelight. High drama unfolded on Friday at the launch of Man Singh's Hindi crime thriller when the model confronted and allegedly slapped the producer.

Accusing the producer of duping her of 23 lakh under the pretext of launching a television project, she filed an FIR with Oshiwara police in Mumbai on July 24, a month before her birthday  August 25. Furthermore, she alleged that Karan promised her a share in the profit and on-screen credit. The shocking video of the incident was caught on camera and went viral on social media.

Also Read | Ruchi Gujjars tribute to PM Modi at Cannes 2025 faces backlash

All you need to know about Ruchi Gujjar - from birthplace to music videos Popularly known for her viral song "EK Ladki" with Aman Verma and Haryanvi Song Heli Main Chor, she featured in several Bollywood projects. Born in Mehara Gurjarwas village of Neem Ka Thana district of Rajasthan, she obtained BBA graduate degree from Jaipur's Maharani College.

According to Stars Unfolded, Ruchi Gujjar joined a software company after graduation before switching to modelling industry. To follow her dreams, she relocated to Mumbai. In 2022, she appeared in Rishabh Giri's Ek Ladki music video alongside actor Aman Vema.

She also featured in Toshi Sabri's music video Jab Tu Meri Na Rahi released in 2024.

She made headlines this year after she debuted at the Cannes Film Festival wearing jewellery with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photos set in lotus design.

She is a single sister to two brothers and comes from a conservative Gujjar family. Besides working with several noted designers, Ruchi featured in several renowned magazines and tabloids, including Millesimal.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said Israel is now facing a critical moment as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas have broken down. He emphasised that the Israeli government will soon have to make a decision on how to proceed in Gaza.

They [Hamas] dont want to give [the hostages] back, Trump told reporters in Scotland. And so Israel is going to have to make a decision.

Trump added: I know what Id do, but I dont think its appropriate that I say. But Israel is going to make a decision.

Aid to Gaza: 'Nobody acknowledged it' The President also highlighted ongoing US aid efforts to Gaza, lamenting the lack of international recognition.

We gave $60 million two weeks ago for food, for Gaza, Trump said. And nobody acknowledged it, nobody talks about it. It makes you feel a little bad when you do that, and you have other countries not giving anything.

Trump said some of his own supporters criticised him for providing aid to Palestinians, but he defended the move.

There is a humanitarian reason for doing it, he said. Will I do more aid? Yeah. The US is going to do more aid for Gaza but we would like to have other countries participate.

Trump: US prevented starvation in Gaza Trump claimed that without American assistance, conditions in Gaza would have deteriorated further.

If we werent there, I think people would have starved, frankly, he said. They would have starved and its not like theyre eating well.

Calls for global help and recognition Trump called on other nations to contribute to humanitarian efforts in Gaza and expressed frustration at the lack of acknowledgment from the international community.

It would be nice to at least have a thank you, he said.

Background: Crisis deepens in Gaza Trumps comments come as Israel faces growing criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Over the weekend, Israel approved humanitarian airdrops and announced plans to establish corridors for United Nations convoys to distribute supplies.
After the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan in 2021, Nawida fled with her family to neighboring Iran. The lawyer had helped send members of the Islamist group to jail, and feared being arrested  or killed  for her work.

More than three years later, she is again in hiding  this time in a Tehran suburb with her siblings and eight-year-old son. Iran has embarked on a massive deportation drive of the countrys 3 million-plus population of Afghan refugees, some of whom authorities say aided Israels airstrikes on the country last month.

I dont know for how long we can keep ourselves like prisoners and I dont know what lies ahead for us, said Nawida, who no longer has a valid visa and didnt want to give her full name to avoid being identified. Were calling out loud on the international community to reach out and help us.

Iran is rounding up Afghan nationals like Nawida due to accusations that non-documented migrants from the country spied for Israel and helped it launch missiles during a 12-day bombing campaign in June. The claims have been made by the state broadcaster, while Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that several Afghans had been arrested on espionage charges and for possessing manuals for making drones and bombs.

The Israeli Prime Ministers office in Jerusalem, which oversees spy agency Mossad, had no immediate comment.

More than 1 million people have returned to Afghanistan since June 1, of which 627,000 were deported by the authorities, the United Nations said on Friday.

Our teams are at the borders, receiving and assisting streams of exhausted, hungry, and scared people, Babar Baloch, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said by email. Staff and structures are absolutely inundated.

While its difficult to verify the Iranian allegations, they have triggered a surge in xenophobic violence and harassment against an already marginalized Afghan community, which has grown in Iran since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent wars including the 2001 US invasion. About 2.6 million officially registered Afghans live in Iran, according to the UN, and a further 500,000 are undocumented and considered illegal by the Iranian state.

Iranian officials estimate the total number living in the country is closer to six million, or about 7% of the population, and often refer to them as guests who have access to housing and basic services at a time when Irans economy has been strained by sanctions.

The UN has warned the deportation effort will have devastating consequences for both Afghanistan and the communities and families being uprooted. That includes the loss of millions of dollars-worth of remittances sent home by Afghans working in Iran each year.

The Talibans Prime Minister, Mullah Muhammad Hassan, called on Iranian authorities to approach the deportation process with patience and gradualism. according to a statement from his office.

That contrasts with accounts from several deportees interviewed by Bloomberg, who said Iranian authorities have been rounding up Afghans in the street before taking them to remote detention centers. They are then taken by bus to Irans border crossing at Islam Qala, where they cross into Herat province, in western Afghanistan.

Many of them have been away for years, they dont have a house of home, the UNs High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said in a statement during a visit to Islam Qala. Many people live at or below the poverty line so the influx is going to be an extraordinary burden on the country.

Deportees face building a new life in an impoverished, heavily sanctioned Afghanistan struggling with multiple crises including acute food insecurity, water shortages, and basic infrastructure crippled by successive wars.

Many, like Nawida, will be at risk of being targeted by the Taliban if they worked for the previous Afghan administration or for US and European institutions. Girls and women will be excluded from education beyond sixth grade and are largely shut out of employment opportunities.

It feels like coming to the worlds biggest cage, although its my homeland, Ahmad Saber, one of the deportees in Herat, said by phone. What will happen to my three daughters education and their future?

London-based Amnesty International last week urged Iran to immediately stop violently uprooting Afghans as it violates an international principle prohibiting the return of anyone to a country where they risk having their human rights violated. Expelling women and girls to Afghanistan puts them in particular danger, Amnesty said, due to the Talibans policy of gender persecution.

Research published by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on Thursday found that Afghans who were forcibly transfered back to the Taliban-controlled state last year experienced serious human rights violations including torture, ill treatment, arbitrary arrest and threats to personal security.

The majority of Afghans who flee to Iran are from the minority Hazara community, who, like most Iranians, are Shia muslim and have faced violent persecution under the Taliban. With strong linguistic and religious ties, Iran has been seen as a natural port of refuge, and shares a relatively porous border with Afghanistan thats almost 1,000 km long.

But Iranian authorities keep strict limits on the ability of Afghans to integrate, even after decades of living in the country and raising families there. Afghans are generally prohibited from gaining citizenship unless one parent is an Iranian national. Universities and many job sectors are hard to access for Afghans, many of whom end up employed as casual laborers and construction workers.

While the Iranian government says its only deporting Afghans classified as illegal, the Afghan Analysts Network, an independent research organization, has heard numerous reports of individuals with passports and other legal identity papers being targeted, creating a climate of panic and fear.

Were hearing stories of people who were in Iran legally and had their paperwork and passports destroyed and defaced when they were stopped in the street by the police, said Roxanna Shapour of the AAN. They are then told now you are illegal, she said.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and noted the tourism in Maldives is set to grow after the Indian prime minister's visit.

Mohamed Muizzu hailed India as one of the major countries in terms of its contribution to Maldives' tourism. He said that the tourism would increase following PM Modi's visit. Our people-to-people connection will also be enhanced, he added.

"India is one of the major countries that helps the Maldives' tourism with the Prime Minister's visit, it is going to increase, and our people-to-people connection will also be enhanced," Muizzu said.

Meanwhile, Indian High Commissioner G. Balasubramaniam told WION news that UPI agreement between India and Maldives will "increase the number of Indian tourists in Maldives to 10-15%."

He explained that with the UPI agreement, it will be now easier for India tourists to book resorts in Maldives with their current savings account rather than coverting the currency.

Besides, Thoriq Ibrahim, Minister of Tourism and Environment of Maldives, said, We hope that the tourist arrival from India will increase with the opening of the airport, Velana International Airport and especially with the visit of Prime Minister Modi as well.

"This year, we are targeting about 2.3 million tourists to the country. Right now, we have reached about 1.2 million tourists, and I would like to highlight that the 1 million tourists are from India...," Ibrahim told news agency ANI.

When asked if he plans to visit India soon, Muizzu said he hopes to do so. I don't know whether this year or maybe in the near future, he said.

Heartfelt thanks In a post on X, Muizzu said, I extend heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister His Excellency Shri Narendra Modi for his state visit to the Maldives. We held fruitful discussions, witnessed the exchange of 4 MoUs & 3 agreements in vital areas, and announced the launch of FTA negotiations.

Together, we celebrated the Maldives' 60th Independence Day, released a commemorative stamp marking 60 years of formal ties, and inaugurated key development projects under Indian assistance. A defining visit that sets a clear path for the future of India-Maldives relations, the Maldivian President added.

Calling the state visit as a productive one, he noted that the visit led to the signing of four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and three key agreements, and also marked the beginning of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the two nations.

People-to-people ties Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was an honour for him to attend the Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, It was an honour to attend the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives."

This momentous occasion showcased the rich cultural heritage and vibrant spirit of the Maldivian people. It also signified the country's journey of transformation over the years gone by, PM Modi said.

From its ancient maritime traditions to global leadership in critical areas like climate change, the Maldives has carved a unique place for itself on the world stage. My best wishes to the great Maldivian people, he added.

"India and the Maldives share a deep-rooted partnership built on mutual respect, shared values and a long history of cultural and economic exchanges. Our relationship continues to grow, shaped by people-to-people ties and cooperation in various sectors. India remains committed to supporting the aspirations of the Maldivian people and to working together for the betterment of our planet," he added.

PM Modi also met the Indian diaspora in Maldives, calling it a strong bridge between India and the world.

Interacted with the Indian community in the Maldives. It is commendable how they are contributing to Maldives' progress and at the same time remain connected to their roots in India. The Indian diaspora continues to be one of the strongest bridges between India and the world. We are very proud of our diaspora.

Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal said that Indian community in Maldives is a key pillar of the enduring India-Maldives friendship.

In a post on X, he said, PM Narendra Modi interacted with the members of the Indian community in Maldives. PM appreciated their contributions in building upon the strong and vibrant people to people ties between India-Maldives. Indian community in Maldives is a key pillar of the enduring India-Maldives friendship.

Jaiswal called the visit a fruitful one. He said in a post on X, "A very fruitful & productive State visit to Maldives concludes."

Jaiswal said that PM Modi attending the 60th anniversary of Independence Day celebrations of Maldives was a historic moment.

In a post on X, he said, A historic moment in the India-Maldives bilateral relationship. PM Narendra Modi attended the 60th anniversary of Independence Day celebrations of Maldives at the Republic Square in Male, today, as the 'Guest of Honour'."

India has established itself as a time-tested partner of Maldives over the years and continues to be the 'First Responder' for Maldives in keeping with its 'Neighbourhood First' and 'MAHASAGAR' policies, Jaiswal said.
By Abigail Summerville and Mrinmay Dey

(Reuters) -French luxury goods group LVMH is in discussions with multiple buyers to offload its fashion label Marc Jacobs, people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.

The Bernard Arnault-led company has been holding talks with potential buyers including Reebok-owner Authentic Brands Group and WHP Global, the sources said, who asked not to be named because the discussions are confidential.

Authentic Brands declined to comment on the matter while WHP did not immediately respond.

Brookstone's owner Bluestar Alliance is also a suitor for Marc Jacobs, which could be worth around $1 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal, which earlier reported the news.

LVMH, Marc Jacobs and Bluestar Alliance did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the WSJ report.

In 2024, Bloomberg reported that LVMH was exploring strategic options for the label with advisers after receiving interest from potential buyers, though the company denied the claim at the time.

Founded in 1984 by American designer Marc Jacobs, the luxury fashion brand is renowned for its eclectic, bold designs that blend high fashion with street style. In 1997, LVMH tapped Jacobs to lead the Louis Vuitton brand and acquired a stake in the designer's eponymous label.

The Journal said that a deal could be finalized soon, provided talks do not fall apart.

LVMH has recently been offloading some of its brands to streamline its portfolio. Last year, it sold the Off-White clothing brand, founded in 2012 by the late Virgil Abloh, to New York-based company Bluestar Alliance for an undisclosed value.

Another label, Stella McCartney, earlier this year, repurchased the minority stake held by LVMH in the house she founded about five years after the luxury group bought it.

McCartney, who famously does not use leather or fur, said it will continue to advise LVMH chief Arnault and the group's executive team on sustainability matters.

Dealmaking in the luxury retail sector has drawn attention in Europe. Earlier this year, Prada acquired Versace from Capri Holdings, combining two iconic Italian fashion brands in a $1.4 billion deal.

LVMH's second-quarter sales, which include products such as Louis Vuitton handbags, Dior dresses and Moet & Chandon champagne, came in slightly below market expectations.

The company's shares rose with analysts pointing to hopes on the horizon as the group said it saw some signs of recovery in the key Chinese market.

Deutsche Bank analyst Adam Cochrane said that while the second-quarter results were not "stellar," there were some "glimmers of hope."
A regional passenger train derailed in southern Germany on Sunday, leaving at least three people dead and several others seriously injured, local authorities confirmed.

The derailment occurred around 6.10 pm local time (1710 GMT) in Baden-Wuerttemberg state. Police confirmed the injuries but did not provide details on their severity.

German newspaper Bild reported that the train, which was en route from Sigmaringen to Ulm, derailed in a wooded area, with at least two of its carriages coming off the tracks. Some German media outlets initially reported that several people may have been killed, but this has not been officially confirmed by authorities.

Emergency crews, including firefighters and paramedics, rushed to the scene, where video footage showed yellow-and-grey carriages overturned on their sides. Rescue teams worked to reach passengers trapped inside.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his sorrow over the tragic derailment via social platform X, mourning the lives lost and extending heartfelt condolences to the victims' families.

Deutsche Bahn, the nations leading rail operator, confirmed its collaboration with investigators and also shared its sympathies with those affected by the incident.

The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.
Wildfires that have engulfed Turkiye for weeks have intensified overnight, posing a direct threat to Bursa, the countrys fourth-largest city, early Sunday.

Overnight fires in the forested mountains surrounding Bursa in northwest Turkiye has led to hundreds of people fleeing their homes.

Mass evacuation of locals The Bursa governor's office confirmed on Sunday that 1,765 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the northeast of the city, AP reported.

Also Read | Canadian wildfires smoke blankets Midwest, forcing millions of Americans indoors

Over 1,100 firefighters have tirelessly battled the flames, which has also led to the closure of the highway linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara. Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for the province, described the scene as an apocalypse.

Temporary reprieve amidst widespread devastation While lessening winds on Sunday morning offered some respite to firefighters, TV footage revealed a landscape transformed into ash, where farms and pine forests once stood.

The firefighters have continued efforts to bring down the flames, AP reported.

Firefighters are working relentlessly to bring down the flames in Turkiye.

The country has been hit by dozens of wildfires daily since late June. Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yamukli said fire crews across the country confronted 76 separate blazes on Saturday.

Record temperatures fuel the crisis The regular and intense fires are said to be fuelled by unseasonably high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds.

The General Directorate of Meteorology reported Turkiyes highest-ever temperature of 50.5C (122.9F) in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday. Additionally, The highest temperatures for July were also seen in 132 other locations.

Temperatures in Turkiye soar as wildfires keep spreading.

Yamukli said the country's northwest was under the greatest threat, including Karabuk, where wildfires have been spreading since Tuesday.

Deaths and legal action Tragically, 13 people have died in recent weeks, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers who were killed on Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir, located in the western part of Turkiye.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said late Saturday that prosecutors had investigated fires in 33 provinces since June 26, adding that legal action had been taken against 97 suspects.

Also Read | Person found dead in a car as a wildfire forces the evacuation of a dozen villages in Cyprus
A recent working paper from the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA) ( shorturl.at/C8hdg ) reaffirms the outsized role that family business groups play in shaping India Inc. It found that even as overall market concentration in India has declined, the top 25 family business groups still accounted for 11-15% of the countrys GDP in 2020.

Regulatory measures like the Companies Act of 2013 and the Companies (Restriction on Number of Layers) Rules, 2017, were designed to curb excessive complexity. Yet, while these rules aim to check concentration, they overlook a more critical issue: governance.

As the paper notes, family business groups, regardless of size, often share a common design principle: intricate interconnected governance structures" that consolidate control through concentrated ownership.

These structures may make business continuity easier in the short run, but unless carefully stewarded, they risk entrenching poor decision-making, succession disputes and opaque accountability.

Also Read: Lodha vs Lodha: Why family names as brand names are always tough to disentangle

Why does this matter today? Because Indian family businesses are navigating multiple transitionsgenerational, structural and financial. Many are preparing for initial public offers, courting private equity or exploring succession. Regulatory scrutiny around related-party transactions has increased. Next-generation members are demanding clearer roles, merit-based advancement and purpose beyond profit.

Amid this churn, families are rushing to adopt governance tools, hoping these will future-proof the business. However, governance in promoter-driven companies and family businesses is not one-size-fits-all.

Family firms face unique internal agency problems quite different from the classic principalagent conflict, where managers pursue their own interests at shareholders expense. In family firms, founders may act out of parental altruism, favouring children even when it harms the business. Siblings and cousins may engage in family opportunism, extracting private benefits or hoarding power. The effectiveness of governance tools hinges on understanding these conflicts and the firms lifecycle stage.

Also Read: The TVS Groups nuclear family pact is path-breaking

Indian family businesses urgently need to understand this. Governance failure in family firms is rarely because of missing rules. More often, it is due to unresolved relationships.

Early-stage family firms often run on trust, charisma and shared ambition. But as the business scales and the founder ages, these invisible levers weaken. Younger members want autonomy. Non-family professionals want clarity. Ownership begins to fragment.

At this point, informal trust must evolve into formal governanceforums for dialogue, decision-making norms and dispute resolution mechanisms. And later, as ownership dilutes and family involvement reduces, the business must transition againtowards institutional governance with independent oversight, performance accountability and delegated authority.

But heres the catch: Governance mechanisms are not interchangeable. A board cannot fix a sibling rivalry. A constitution cannot resolve a lack of emotional readiness. A 2017 study by Aaken, Rost and Siedl (shorturl.at/XmoPS) rightly warned against the blunt import of governance tools without an assessment of their fit.

Also Read: The Godrej split holds valuable lessons for family businesses

So what does good governance look like in this moment of flux? It begins with a sense of shared purpose, which precedes structure. Why does the family want to stay in business together? What values do they share? What trade-offs are they willing to makesay between profit and legacy? Without alignment on these vital questions, governance tools wont work.

Governance also requires both management and ownership competence. Being a good owner is a learnt skill. Yet, in India, successors are often thrust into leadership without adequate preparation. Families must invest in the next generations development, not only through MBA degrees, but through lived exposure to decision-making, conflict and ambiguity.

Equally essential is emotional maturity. Governance in family firms is fundamentally about managing multiple loyaltiesto the business, to the family and to oneself. It means having hard conversations early and learning to let go with grace. This cannot be outsourced to advisors. It must be lived and led from within.

Good governance is also adaptive. What a founder-led business needs is very different from what a sibling partnership or a cousin consortium requires. Over-governing a young tightly knit firm can breed resentment. Under-governing a sprawling third-generation group can spell disaster.

Also Read: Raymond Group demerger: The hidden lesson for Indian family businesses

Finally, families must resist the urge to conflate governance with professionalization. The two are not the same. A business may have a professional CEO, but without clarity on family expectations, unresolved succession plans or informal interference, chaos is likely to follow.

As the IZA study reminds us, Indias economy continues to be shaped disproportionately by family business groups. If Indias family businesses are to remain not just enduring but enriching forces in the economy, governance must evolve from a box-ticking exercise to a deliberate, values-driven practice.

The future of India Inc may well depend on what happens not just in boardrooms, but around family dining tables.

These are the authors personal views.

The author is professor of economics and policy and executive director, Centre for Family Business & Entrepreneurship at Bhavans SPJIMR.
Jane Street is the title of multiple songs and the name of an indie rock band as well. Another Jane Street is currently in the public eye, a Manhattan-based high- frequency trading firm that was banned recently by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the market regulator.

The firm has been allowed back into the market after it deposited over $550 million as a good-faith gesture while the regulators investigation proceeds alongside. The Jane Street saga has raised multiple questions about Indias regulatory framework for the securities market, especially the kid-glove handling of equity derivatives since their formal launch in 2001. There are also concerns over the nature of inter-regulatory monitoring and coordination, and whether it is adequate to stem malpractices in Indian capital markets.

Also Read: Devina Mehra: How derivative dreams can turn into nightmares but still lure investors

History holds some lessons. There was always the whiff of something rotten in the kingdom of Indian derivatives ever since futures and options were introduced afterbadla, an opaque over-the-counter product, was definitively banned. Indias 1991 economic reforms took a wrecking ball to the old micro-structure of capital markets.

Prodded by the 1992 securities scam, reformers decided to introduce transparent equity derivative products. But, given the political influence of the stockbroking lobby, it took a while to finally introduce futures and options;badlahad kept popping up in different forms.

Unsurprisingly, Sebi decided to introduce individual equity futures alongside index products, contrary to official recommendations and global best practices. This was seen as a concession to the influential community of stockbrokers, who were in search of a speculativeand liquidproduct to replacebadla.

Also Read: Sebis Jane Street interim order made Indias stock market sit up for good reason

There was another deviation from the 1997 L.C. Gupta Committee report, which had made the official recommendations: instead of physical settlements, the regulator chose cash settlements. Sebis initial excuse was that exchanges lacked the required technology, infrastructure or management capacity to cope with the burden of physical settlements. Consequently, the futures and options market became a casino with no cover charge, or minimum buy-in requirements, fuelling large and unnatural spikes.

Faced with the spectre of a market collapse and a crisis, Sebi finally implemented physical settlements in 2018 after a gap of 17 years. Meanwhile, retail investor interest shifted from equity futures to index options, given the opportunities for higher leverage and relatively lower capital requirements. Fintech firms acted as enabling midwives in the process, while the regulators looked away.

And now along comes Jane Street and Sebis interim order. Opinion remains divided over whether Jane Streets derivatives trading strategy was illegal, whether it was manipulation or whether the trading firm was plain unlucky because its heavy volumes stood out in the Indian markets shallow infrastructure. However, on closer inspection, the market structure does seem to embolden rampages by high-frequency traders, perhaps at the cost of clueless retail speculators.

Also Read: Jane Street: Gaming an outdated system is not necessarily illegal in India

Lets try and connect some of the dots. Sebis tracking data shows that a bulk of the derivatives trade orders originate from co-located servers, or from institutional traders that pay a higher fee to locate their servers next to the exchange servers, thus allowing them to strike deals within nano-seconds.

According to Sebis 2023-24 annual report: Based on modes of trading at exchange platform 61.6% trading in the equity derivatives segment of NSE was through co-location route, primarily used by proprietary traders In case of BSE, 60.1% trading in the equity derivatives segment of BSE was through co-location route."

Simultaneously, there has been a surge of uninformed retail investors entering the derivatives market, lured by the facility of low capital commitment and easy profits. Sebi whole-time member Ananth Narayan said at a recent conference that 91% of individual traders incurred net losses in equity derivatives during 2024-25, with the total losses crossing 1 trillion.

Although it may be difficult to prove a direct link, it does beg the uncomfortable question: Were retail investors the counter-parties that Jane Street and other traders needed to rack up their super-profits? Juxtapose those retail losses against Sebis estimate of Jane Streets profits of 36,500 crore over two years.

Also Read: Andy Mukherjee: Jane Streets secret sauce for Indian markets should be tested out

Sebi took some remedial action in October 2024 and May 2025 to deter retail traders, but the damage had already been done. It is surprising that Sebi chose to ignore repeated red flags raised by multiple market observers over the past two-three years, even when data was pointing to unnatural spikes. And though Jane Street has now been identified, Sebi should also reveal the names of Indian companies indulging in similar manipulation.

Sebi must also identify fintech companies that inveigled unschooled retail investors into derivatives trading, thereby providing large traders with easy pickings. This may require Sebi to coordinate regulatory action with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) because many firms helped investors take unsecured loans to satisfy their speculative urges.

The Sebi-RBI combo should also coordinate efforts to overhaul the profile of Indias derivatives market in favour of large institutional traders, especially by reworking the outdated rule that limits bank finance for institutions.

The author is a senior journalist and author of Slip, Stitch and Stumble: The Untold Story of Indias Financial Sector Reforms @rajrishisinghal
Retailing for as little as $10, Indias beloved Kolhapuri sandals are a staple in wardrobes across the sub-continent. So, when global luxury brand Prada debuted a new type of footwear at Milan Fashion Week that bore a stark resemblance to them, it didnt take long for fury to build online.

The saga underscores how much power the South Asian giants digital tribe holds, where online outrage regularly influences public debateespecially when citizens perceive their heritage as under attack. International firms eyeing one of the worlds fastest-growing markets should weigh the risks of such cultural missteps.

The Italian fashion houses troubles began when it introduced its menswear collection in June. The sandals, described as leather footwear," displayed an open-toe braided pattern that was strikingly similar to Kolhapuri sandals made in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. (Your columnist has several pairs of Kolhapuris in her wardrobe.)

Also Read: Line of conscience: Why didnt luxury brands speak up?

Historically, the sandals were produced for specific communities. For farmers who worked in the fields, they were robust and able to withstand wear-and-tear; for the courtier class and nobles, they were more delicate and ostentatious. In 2019, the footwear was awarded Geographical Indication status, viewed as a mark of authenticity. Other Indian items to have received this tag include Darjeeling tea and Alphonso mangoes.

But Prada did not credit India for the designs, prompting a brutal social media backlash. The nationalistic sentiment whipped up by this controversy boosted sales of the traditional sandals. Indias online community accused the brand of cultural appropriation and the furore forced the fashion house into damage-control mode. It issued a statement saying it recognized the sandals were inspired by traditional Indian footwear.

The luxury brands experience is a reminder that in India, foreign firms have to be aware of how reputational risk could affect future revenue. Internet penetration is rising, with 55% of the population connected. Social media is growing fast, too: Its estimated to be home to 462 million social media users.

India is a rising global power, one that international brands are keen to break into. But local and foreign firms face challenges: Bureaucracy, shoddy infrastructure and unique consumer behaviours that include a fierce defence of Indias rich heritage. All these factors call for a sensitive approach.

Also Read: Bling battle: Yes, US luxury brands can take on European labels

Success in the market lies in the ability to balance local authenticity and global appealand the willingness to learn to love and speak to India," as Francois Grouiller, chief executive officer of the luxury consultancy IndLux recently noted.

Foreign brands cant afford to ignore Indias luxury market, which reached $7.74 billion in 2023 and is projected to approach $12 billion by 2028. Other estimates predict the sector could more than triple by 2030, growing to upward of $85 billion. The number of ultra-high-net-worth individualspeople with a net worth of at least $30 millionis expected to grow 50% by 2028.

These forecasts come with the obvious caveatsmost notably, there is still a huge wealth gap in the country. While Indias 100 million wealthiest folks are splurging, 400 million of their middle-class counterparts have cut back. Global economic conditions are less supportive, as US President Donald Trumps tariffs fuel trade tensions and put pressure on future growth.

Still, viewing consumers as a long-term opportunity rather than just a short-term play would help these firms thrive. Even more important is understanding that India is home to a diverse market with distinct needs. Some brands have grasped this alreadyhigh-end jeweller Bulgari offers a pricey Mangalsutra necklace inspired by a chain traditionally worn by married womentapping into the desire for luxury with home-grown sensibilities.

Also Read: Luxury brand Prada is eyeing its rival Versace but such a merger seems flawed

The Italian brand is not the firstand neither will it be the lastto fall afoul of cultural norms. Earlier this year, Gucci made the mistake of calling Alia Bhatts custom-made sari-lehenga a gown. Another online frenzy was set off in May, when a viral trend was criticized for calling the dupatta a Scandinavian scarf.

Prada doesnt own retail stores in India, depending instead on the super-rich diaspora and wealthy Indians who travel overseas. But the firmwhose shares have lost about 30% since February as investors took fright at its Versace purchaseisnt taking chances. In a conciliatory move, its now working with traditional artisans to understand the history of Kolhapuris.

Prada has learnt the hard way that cultural fluency is no longer a nice to haveits central to survival. Bloomberg

The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asia politics with a special focus on China.
China is moving ahead with its plan to build a hydroelectric project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet. India should be concerned. But appropriately. Worries that Beijing will use water as a tool of coercion or weapon of war are likely overblown. What ought to concern us more are the environmental consequences in the short term, disaster risks over the longer term and what it tells us about how a more powerful China will conduct itself in the present and future.

This month, Chinas top leaders announced the formation of the Yajiang Group, a new state enterprise charged with the construction of this project in Medog county, just north of the boundary with Indias Arunachal Pradesh, at an estimated cost of $167 billion.

Also Read: Arun Maira: Dedication to the states purpose is the key lesson we must learn from China

Comprising five dams, the Yajiang-Yaxia project will divert some of the water flow from the gorge where the Yarlung river does a U-bend into a system of tunnels, to generate 60 gigawatts of power, supplying electricity to 300 million people and creating 100,000 jobs for Han migrants in the Tibetan region.

According to official Chinese reports, the project is an important measure to implement the overall national security concept, the new energy security strategy and the Partys strategy of governing Xizang (sic) in the new era." While Beijing has advertised the project as intended to sell electricity to external markets, it is revealing that national security finds place as the first of its stated objectives.

After the Yarlung flows into Indian territory, it is joined by other tributaries and becomes the mighty Brahmaputra. That is why many in India and Bangladesh were alarmed when talk about this project began around a decade ago.

Since then, several studies have shown that the Brahmaputra is really an Indian river, as it gathers most of its water after it enters Indian territory. Many of these studies are based on data that is a couple of decades old. Even so, it is sufficient to reassure us that China cannot choke the water supply and livelihoods of Northeast India and Bangladesh.

At worst, it has the power to manipulate some of the water flow, but this is well within Indias capacity to adapt to. Similarly, while water flow can be controlled in service of military objectives, battlefield scenarios where this can be employed along the Medog-Arunachal Pradesh region are contrived and limited.

Also Read: China plus one: Its a moving target that India can still strike

This does not mean India should ignore the threat. Rather, it means that New Delhi must strengthen the risk management approach that is already at play in border regions.

Indias response should be to build a system of dams, buffers and channels that can serve both economic and security functions. The timetable for this should be calibrated to observe Chinese actions and designed to manage the risks from them.

Since Beijing has no interest in performing its customary duty under international lawaffirmed by the International Court of Justice in its climate-change verdict last weekto cooperate with its lower riparian neighbour, Indias infrastructure response must come from observation and analysis.

To be able to do that well, Indias government, especially its national security establishment, must invest in geospatial intelligence and analytical capacity. Our homegrown space and geospatial industries have an important role to play in this effort.

Even if the Chinese companies execute the project at the advertised quality and safety levels, it is inevitable that the construction phase will pollute the river and ecology of the region. We should expect higher levels of debris and sediment, which could have long-term consequences for the population of Arunachal Pradesh and other states downstream. This is the part that Indian diplomacy should focus on: to get China to cooperate in a way that minimizes permanent environmental damage and allows populations time and space to adapt to the changes.

Beijings track record on sharing information is terrible. In the Mekong Valley arrangement in South East Asia, it shares basic hydrological information a grand total of two times a year. However, considering the global climate situation and the fact that both Chinese and Indian people would be rendered vulnerable, it is worthwhile for Indian diplomacy to pursue this angle. So too for disaster management.

Also Read: China risks overplaying its hand by curbing rare earth exports

The worst damage China is doing is to its own reputation and long-term geopolitical interests. It is well within its rights to build dams in its territory. But doing so without informing its downstream neighbour is clearly imperious behaviour. New Delhi cannot stop Beijing from building these dams, but where India has roomsuch as on the resolution of the Tibetan question, Taiwan, global trade and relations with the USit is bound to respond to Beijings high-handedness.

It will make a grand rapprochement between the two Asian giants that much harder. In the meantime, Indian citizens and leaders will see the Yarlung project as yet another unfriendly if not hostile act, and this will colour both popular perceptions and foreign policy. Unfortunate, but true.

Tailpiece: A senior member of Delhis strategic establishment once told me, It is the weak who protest loudly. The strong do something about it."

The author is co-founder and director of The Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy.
President Trumps administration has opened a new front in its widening battle with the judiciary, sparring with federal courts over his picks to lead U.S. attorneys offices around the country.

Trump has submitted more than 30 U.S. attorney nominations to the Senate. Because of a rift between Republicans and Democrats, lawmakers havent confirmed any of them. That has put federal judges in the hot seat because the law requires them to appoint lead district prosecutors if Congress doesnt. The presidents picks can serve for 120 days in an interim capacity. Once the clock ticks down, the courts must decide if his nominees can stay.

Twice already, the answer has been no, prompting the administration to circumvent those decisions.

The biggest flashpoint has been Trumps former personal lawyer, Alina Habba, who was nominated to be U.S. attorney in New Jersey. She had been serving in an interim capacity since late March, but the states federal district judges last week declined to install her, appointing her top assistanta career prosecutor, Desiree Graceinstead. Hours later, Grace was fired by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The White House has since withdrawn Habbas nomination and reinstated her in a new acting capacity, to reset the time limits.

I am now the Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey," Habba wrote on X. I dont cower to pressure. I dont answer to politics."

Her office has been thrown into disarray, with some prosecutors fearing grand-jury indictments and plea deals could be challenged by defense attorneys over questions about Habbas status, said people familiar with the matter. It couldnt be determined whether Grace would go quietly. Im prepared to follow that Order and begin to serve in accordance with the law," she wrote in a LinkedIn message after she was fired. She didnt respond to a request for comment.

Bill Essayli, interim U.S. attorney, speaking in June on the Palm Springs, Calif., fertility-clinic bombing.

Other fights are brewing. In Los Angeles, Bill Essayli, interim U.S. attorney, said his soon-to-expire appointment is unlikely to be extended by judges. Essayli is an outspoken Trump supporter who made waves trying to prosecute people who violently protested against immigration enforcement.

Several prosecutors in Essaylis office resigned in May after he proposed a misdemeanor plea deal to a sheriffs deputy who had been convicted by a jury of a felony charge of using excessive force.

Essayli said last week on Glenn Becks radio program that he was up against very hostile judges" in Southern California and didnt expect to get their support. The Trump administration has tricks up our sleeves" to help the president get his prosecutors in place," he said.

Legal scholars and former federal judges said the recent clashes tie into Trumps push to assert executive power over another branch of government by disparaging judicial decisions and slow-walking compliance with court orders.

I think thats part of his war on the judiciary," said Shira Scheindlin, a former federal judge. Who is ultimately in charge? Me, not you."

Each district has its own practices and culture for voting on whether to ratify an interim U.S. attorney. Typically judges examine a candidates qualifications such as previous service as a prosecutor. They also consider whether the U.S. attorneys office is running well, including whether assistant U.S. attorneys are exiting the office in high numbers.

They want somebody that they can trust who wouldnt use the position as a political bullhorn or for carrying out the administrations broader political agenda," said Jeremy Fogel, a former federal judge and the executive director of the Berkeley Judicial Institute. The votes can lead to spirited conversations between judges, with some working behind the scenes to whip up support.

The Justice Department declined to comment about the clashes. In a social-media post last week after the New Jersey judges voted against Habba, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, Alina is President Trumps choice to leadand no partisan bench can override that."

Senate Democrats have blocked the nominees from easily clearing the chamber, saying Republicans did something similar during the Biden administration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) has put a hold on Justice Department nominees in protest of Trumps acceptance of a luxury airplane from the Qatari government.

A dozen of Trumps U.S. attorney picks have passed through the first stage of confirmation by clearing the Senate Judiciary Committee. On Thursday, one of them was Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host picked after an earlier nominee, Ed Martin, lacked support among Republicans to win confirmation.

Republican and Democratic staff members on the Judiciary Committee are now engaged in talks to break the logjam, according to people familiar with the matter.

Among others facing potential votes from judges in the coming weeks is Jay Clayton, the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York who took office about two months after an acting U.S. attorney resigned in protest over the Justice Departments order to dismiss the bribery case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. More recently, the departments firing of career prosecutor Maurene Comey angered her colleagues and Southern District office alums, leading some to question whether Clayton had made efforts to stop it.

Clayton has made an effort to talk to judges, and some have asked him tough questions, including about the Adams case, said people familiar with the matter. Such meetings are typical.

An office spokesman declined to comment.

In northern New York, federal judges declined to appoint John Sarcone, Trumps interim pick for the job therebut didnt choose an alternative to take his place. In an unusual workaround, Bondi essentially gave Sarcone his job back through a series of maneuvers, including naming him as special attorney to the attorney general."

Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official, said the selection process has worked smoothly in the past because previous presidents moved on to a new candidate when their picks werent approved by a court or confirmed by the Senate. The law doesnt address the scenario playing out with Habba, he said. We are dealing with issues we never dealt with before," he said.

Write to James Fanelli at james.fanelli@wsj.com, Dave Michaels at dave.michaels@wsj.com and Corinne Ramey at corinne.ramey@wsj.com
Astronomer Robert Kirshner investigates some of the universes biggest questions: What happens when a star explodes? Is the universe still expanding?

He recently added a new mystery to the list: Is China quietly building the worlds biggest telescope? He would like to know, because he leads a rival telescope project in the U.S.

There are clues. In January, state-owned Nanjing Astronomical Instruments said on social media that it won a $22 million bid for a dome to surround a 48-foot telescope. In an April social-media post, students visiting a science institute mentioned researchers showing them mirror arrangements for such a telescope. And a top Chinese astronomer told state media he wanted to finish the telescope before he retires.

Yet Chinese officials havent directly acknowledged the observatory, which would threaten American technological leadership and potentially give Beijing a military advantage.

You would expect, normally, some kind of chest thumping," said Kirshner, a Harvard emeritus professor.

The leading Chinese astronomer and his institute, a national research organization that appears to be in charge of the telescope, didnt return requests for comment for this article.

If China is building the big scope, that raises another question.

Why the hell are they doing that?" said Matt Mountain, head of the nonprofit organization that manages observatories, as well as the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes, for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Mountain has two hypotheses. First, astronomical advances benefit both scientific and military purposes, as astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson highlighted in his book Accessory to War." Huge telescopes can look at military satellites, not just stars and planets.

The second hypothesis: Beijing is investing in astronomy to inspire children to enter the sciencesso it can surpass the U.S. in a couple of decades.

Astronomy is an entry-level drug for science, technology, engineering and math," said Mountain.

American institutes are the New York Yankees of modern astronomy. By Kirshners count, 18 of the 23 astrophysics-focused Nobel Prize winners in the last half-century worked in the U.S.

While space telescopes such as the James Webb get more attention these days, those on the ground still matter. They are easier to service and much bigger, offsetting disadvantages such as light pollution and atmospheric distortions.

Bigger telescopes mean sharper images, making it easier to determine the distance between faraway objects, Kirshner said. Astronomers can then discover more planets orbiting stars in the Goldilocks temperature range that could support life.

The Hubble and Webb space telescopes have mirrors with diameters of about 8 feet and 21 feet, respectively. The four biggest ones currently on Earthone in Spain and three in the U.S.are all roughly 33 feet in diameter.

If China completes a 48-foot telescope soon, it would be the worlds biggest, unless a delayed 128-foot European telescope in Chile is finished first.

Kirshners Thirty Meter Telescope group, an international project with U.S., Canadian, Indian and Japanese institutions, proposes a 98-foot telescope on Hawaiis Big Island. Instead of making one massive mirror, which would require mountain transport and the construction of an unfeasibly huge furnace, it would use 492 hexagonal segments, each 4.7 feet wide.

These giant telescopes cost roughly $1 billion to $2 billion, Mountain said, and costs rise with size. They also take years to build.

Drawing on political rather than scientific wisdom, Kirshner realized it would help make the case in Washington for big-telescope funding if he could show China was building one too.

Kirshners best sources have been Chinese-speaking peers who informally confirmed the development of a telescope site in the Tibetan Plateau, in Chinas southwest. Mountain says Chilean astronomers told him China was also exploring a Southern Hemisphere observatory in Chile.

Armed with the information, Kirshner met congressional staffers and National Science Foundation officials.

He ran into a roadblock in May, when President Trump proposed to Congress that the NSFs annual budget be cut to $4 billion from $9 billion. Trumps science and technology adviser said then that scientific progress had stalled in some fields and more federal money wouldnt necessarily mean more scientific impact.

In its budget request, the NSF proposed advancing only the Giant Magellan Telescope, which is backed by a California-headquartered consortium. At 83 feet wide, the Magellan would be bigger than Chinas but smaller than Kirshners proposed telescope. Like the European telescope, this observatory would be in Chile.

The Magellans location would leave China with the Northern Hemispheres biggest telescope. Earths curvature means each hemisphere offers different views.

Kirshner got a reprieve in mid-July. A Senate spending committee recommended minimal cuts to the NSF, and said it supported both the Magellan project and Kirshners Thirty Meter Telescope.

Kirshner called on Congress to endorse what he called a vigorous response to Chinas efforts."

Write to Stu Woo at Stu.Woo@wsj.com
At Crumbls Utah headquarters , employees are working on a new dessert with a chocolate and pistachio flavor that has set the internet on fire.

Enter the Dubai Chocolate Brownie, the cookie makers attempt to cash in on a trend that has sent food companies racing to catch up. The new offering, with ingredients that have proven to be expensive and sometimes difficult to source, will hit stores in the coming months, Crumbl said.

The confection known as Dubai chocolate, legendary across the internet and a recent hit with many Americans, typically involves a shell of rich chocolate filled with pistachio cream and a shredded dough known as kataifi. Like many other recent food fads, it took off after an influencer promoted it on TikTok. Unlike others, it has triggered supply-chain squeezes, shaken up German courts and caused a run on U.K. grocery stores, forcing them to impose purchasing limits.

It has also spurred some of the biggest food companies in America to consider whether the Dubai chocolate flavor might endure as a future classic, like a pumpkin spice or salted caramel.

The internets acceleration of flavor trends is forcing brands to become more nimble and adventurous. Grocery stores and restaurants say theyre focused on social listening"corporate-speak for keeping a close eye on Instagram. The art, Crumbls co-founder Sawyer Hemsley says, is distinguishing a true underlying shift in consumer taste from a short-lived trend.

Its undeniable that the internet has accelerated the pace at which flavor profiles emerge, spread and evolve," Hemsley says. Weve seen firsthand how what mightve once taken years to catch on, can now reach global audiences in a matter of weeks."

The global markets for pumpkin spice and matcha, a flavor from the finely ground powder of green tea, are now each valued north of $1 billion, and both flavors exploded thanks to the web. But these were slow burns. Pumpkin spice goes back to the 1930s, when spice maker McCormick released its pumpkin-spice pie mix. The release of 2003s Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte accelerated its popularity. Matcha has climbed steadily in the U.S. since a surge in interest around 2015.

And not every trend that succeeds on the internet makes it in the long run. A whipped drink made with instant coffee that became an early TikTok star during the pandemic has faded into distant internet memory.

Businesses have been laser-focused on gauging what flavors will last. They look for immediate consumer interest, but prolonged demand is important, too. If customers tend to return for more, its a sign that the fad could be something more.

Dubai chocolate goes back to 2021 at Fix Dessert Chocolatier in its namesake city, when the shops co-founder Sarah Hamouda designed a chocolate bar to satisfy a pregnancy craving. She called it the Cant Get Knafeh of It" bar, after a popular Middle Eastern dessert made with kataifi. Somewhere along the way, the world started calling it Dubai chocolate. Its funny," Hamouda says. We never came up with this nickname ourselves."

Two years later, United Arab Emirates influencer Maria Vehera posted a video of herself eating one of the gooey bars on TikTok, garnering millions of views and triggering candy shops around the world to start marketing their own versions.

Dubai chocolate has since been going strong, with companies all over the world marketing the flavor in a variety of products including cheesecakes, syrups, coffees, milkshakes and bars of all shapes and sizes. Competitors range from large companies to teams of entrepreneurs like those at Dubai Choclava, a New York startup selling what its founders call the Ferrari of Dubai chocolate," made with high-end organic ingredients.

Hamouda says she doesnt mind Dubai chocolate-inspired products but does object to bars made to look exactly like hers, with the same packaging. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?" she says. But copycats cant re-create the element of nostalgia thats intentionally baked into every layer of every Fix dessert bar."

This year, Dubai chocolate has entered the mainstream: large food brands like Crumbl, Trader Joes, Aldi, Lidl, Shake Shack and Dunkin Donuts are announcing spinoffs, betting on the pistachio-chocolate-pastry combo as a flavor profile of the future. Chocolate and pistachio has been a mainstay of fine dining for years, Shake Shack executive chef John Karangis saysbut never a commercial smash. At Crumbl, executives thought of pistachio as a weak flavor associated with disappointing sales.

Shake Shacks limited-run Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake in April ran out of stock in hours across the country, and Lidls U.S. launch of its Dubai-style chocolate bar in June sold out within a day in some stores.

For makers, Dubai chocolate has brought with it supply-chain and financial nightmares. Kataifi dough has been hard for some companies to procure. Chocolate is a difficult bet for food companies these days, as weather conditions in West Africa have sent cocoa prices soaring to as much as $10,000 a metric ton this year after hovering below $3,000 a metric ton for years. Demand for pistachios, and their prices, are rising worldwide, according to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios in California. Shake Shack and Crumbl both say they have devoted significant resources to tracking down ingredients.

A hiccup for the flavor came this month as the Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of a pistachio and cacao spread sold in World Market stores across the U.S., due to salmonella contamination.

In Germany, the candy hit legal turbulence as a candy importer sued grocery chain Aldi Sud, contending that Dubai chocolate must actually come from Dubai. German courts have handed down conflicting verdicts; in June, a court in Cologne ruled against Aldi. Across the U.S., more than a dozen businesses have filed trademark applications for their Dubai chocolate products in recent months.

Companies are still trying to understand why the flavor gained so much traction, and what that means for the future. Some people suggest consumers are interested in desserts with a savory element. Others think customers are pleasantly surprised by the crispy texture. At Shake Shack, director of global culinary and product development Jim Frisch suspects that Americans are interested in the idea of Dubai itself. You have this exotic place that is known for its grandeur," he says. Our guests are very adventurousthey want that global experience of trying new things."

Whether or not Dubai chocolate endures to become a classic flavor, the pace of change isnt likely to let up. Lidl recently rolled out what it is betting is the next Dubai chocolate, even though its first Dubai-style chocolate bar only hit shelves in the U.S. last month. Angel Hair Chocolate," filled with Turkish cotton candy, raspberry chocolate and creamy pistachio, arrived at Lidl stores in the U.S. on July 18.
If youve been on the sidelines watching bitcoins wild price swings with caution, youre not alone. For years, bitcoin has had dramatic ups and downs, making everyday investors nervous about jumping in. However, this might be changing.

As reported by CoinDesk, a report from Deutsche Bank suggests that bitcoins volatility is likely to continue falling. It pointed to growing mainstream acceptance and an increase in the digital currencys adoption by companies, retail investors and governments.

Read Next: I Asked ChatGPT How To Get Rich Off of Bitcoin  Heres What It Said

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And if the trend continues, bitcoin could become more like traditional assets and even more attractive to long-term investors. What does this mean for conservative investors? Is it time to invest?

Why Bitcoins Volatility Is Easing Up

Since its creation, bitcoins price has been nothing but a wild ride. However, according to Deutsche Bank, several key factors are helping reduce volatility.

For one, theres growing institutional adoption. More companies, retail investors and governments are embracing bitcoin, not just as a speculative asset but as a long-term investment.

Second, theres more regulatory clarity. During the recent U.S. Crypto Week in Washington, D.C., the GENIUS Act, which aims to set a regulatory framework for stablecoins, was signed into law. The CLARITY Act, which would establish regulatory guidelines for cryptocurrencies, has also passed in the House.

Check Out: 13 Cheap Cryptocurrencies With the Highest Potential Upside for You

A More Mature Market Could Attract Long-Term Investors

Deutsche Bank sees the decline in volatility as a sign of a maturing market. If bitcoin continues on this path, it may start to look more like a digital version of gold  a stable store of value rather than a risky bet.

That shift could attract more conservative investors, including pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, who previously stayed away due to high risk and regulatory uncertainty.

Is It Time To Invest?

Bitcoin becoming less volatile doesnt guarantee that prices will only go up. It means the market could behave more predictably over time. If youve been hesitant about buying bitcoin because of the wild price swings, this trend toward stability might offer a more comfortable entry point.

Still, its important to remember that bitcoin is not without risk. It remains a high-risk, high-reward asset, and its still influenced by news, regulatory decisions and shifting investor sentiment.
The ISPCA invited Chanelle Pharma to the National Animal Centre on Friday, July 18 to see first-hand the work they do, and acknowledge the national flea and worm awareness campaign, as well as the importance of volunteering at the Centre.



Calling the partnership of a corporate and charity together as marvellous, the day gave the opportunity for Chanelle Pharma staff to participate in some tasks around the Centre, such as dog-walking and deep cleaning rabbit hutches.

Read more: Longford Teagasc advisor outlines multiple benefits of creep grazing for suckler calves



The beginning of the day had a presentation by Cillian, who runs the Longford Centre. The presentation was an overview of the work done by the ISPCA.



He explained that over 1,500 animals are helped annually. In 2024, 2,741 complaints were made to the Helpline, as well as 37 convictions by ISPCA Inspectors in the same year.



As Cillian said: Our Inspectors would prefer to check something out and find it to be nothing than not to check.



The presentation celebrated the presence of the Animal Care Assistants, who are considered the core of the animal centre. Cillian described them as everyday heroes for doing all the early morning feeds to late check-ins, as well as all the jobs in-between.



It also gave some backstory to the ISPCA, how it started in 1949, with the National Animal Centre founded in 2002. The four centres are Longford, Mallow, Wicklow and Donegal, with the motto of: Rescue, Rehabilitation and Responsible Rehoming.



Carmel Murray, who manages digital marketing for the ISPCA, explained what happens when animals arrive at the Centre from their Inspectors.



Animals first go into our isolation area first where they are accessed and checked for health issues and treated for any injuries by the vet. They are vaccinated, neutered, microchipped and treated for parasites.



There is strict barrier nursing in our isolation areas to contain any concerns such as mange, so these areas are restricted, and staff wear PPE so there is no cross contamination.



We regularly admit animals suffering from parasite infestation, which is easily preventable by regularly treating animals for worms and fleas etc. Once the animals get the all-clear, they then into the main area as they go through their rehabilitation journey in preparation for rehoming.



Cillian also showed the dogs in a round enclosed sand arena, which is in a field opposite the kennels. Cillian, whose expertise is also in dog behaviour, explained how this is a great facility and can be used if it is rainy, but we can let the dogs play off lead; and this is great for a meet and greet for prospective dog adopters who want to see if their current dog is compatible with them. Cillian did a training and dog behaviour demonstration for the Chanelle team, which was warmly received.



Russell Good from Chanelle Pharma commented:



Were very grateful first and foremost. I think the ISPCAs mission is to be surrounded by animal health and to be the gatekeepers of animal health in Ireland.



Likewise, Chanelle Pharmas mission is to enhance the lives of animals worldwide and we export a lot as well. We manufacture. Thats our business model. Were the largest manufacturer of generic medicines for the animal health industry in Ireland.

Having offices in Jordan and Portugal as well, Chanelle Pharma donated a cheque in the amount of 23, 549 to the ISPCA, which was received with a group photo outside the main house.



This initiative, in partnership with Chanelle Pharma, aimed to highlight the importance of regular flea and worm treatments for pets. Every Fleaway Plus that was purchased led to 50c being given to the ISPCA, which led to this successful campaign result.

Read more: Advice for Longford farmers with cattle over serious disease with warmer months

If you are considering expanding your pet family, get in touch with the ISPCA by email at rehoming@ispca.ie and call 043 33 25035 if you are interested in becoming an ISPCA Volunteer. For more information visit www.ispca.ie
Two midlands doctors and a secretary charged with multiple counts of stealing money under a state-funded healthcare reimbursement scheme and submitting false medical service claims on behalf of patients to the HSE are due to reappear before Longford Circuit Court in October.

Doctors Muhammad Azam (59), of The Rocks, Stonepark, Co Longford, and Waqas Farooqi (46), of Belvedere Hills, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, and secretary Gillian McCord (56) of Knockanboy, Co Longford, appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court last week.

It was heard that the trio had only recently been served with the book of evidence and counsel needed more time to go through it.

READ NEXT: Longford's Microsoft Dream Space Showcase is a finalist for eGovernment Awards

The three accused face a combined total of 135 charges, including 20 counts of theft and 22 counts of using false general medical services claims or out-of-hours payment forms.

Those false claims related to 12 different patients at the Primary Care Reimbursement Services, Exit 50, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.

Dr Azam faces a total of 48 charges, with Dr Farooqi facing 47 charges, and a total of 42 charges brought against Ms McCord.

It is alleged the trio used false medical documentation to indicate that patients had received medical services.

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Dr Azam and Dr Farooqi were also charged with multiple counts of money laundering at locations within the state between October 2017 and December 2019.

All three have been remanded on continuing bail and will reappear on October 28, 2025 for mention.
A Longford town man who admitted to carrying out two public order breaches, has been directed to make a payment to make a charitable contribution.

Ronan Creighton (33) of 8 Sycamore Close, Clonbalt Woods, pleaded guilty to two public order breaches on July 1, 2025.

Sergeant Enda Daly, court presenter, said when Gardai arrived they observed two men, a father and a son, engaged in a physical altercation.

READ NEXT: Longford driver who was 'dishevelled' fined 500 for drug-driving

Both men had to be separated and they remained abusive towards each other.

They were highly intoxicated at the time and Gardai attempted to find a peaceful resolution due to the males being father and son.

"Both males unfortunately resisted due to the level of intoxication and both men were arrested."

Mr Creighton had no previous convictions.

Solicitor Michelle Reynolds said Mr Creighton accepts what Gardai said happened on the night and he still lives with his dad.

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She stated her client had been and still is taking medication which 'does not mix well ' with alcohol and that had been a problem on the night.

"He accepts this and he has apologised to his father and he apologises to the Gardai for this and he has stated that he is a lot happier now."

Ms Reynolds said her client is currently unemployed, but he attended a training course recently in Dublin and he has a job lined up 'once he passes his driving test and gets his learner licence'.

She stated Mr Creighton does contribute to the bills at home and he had come to court with 300 for the court poor box if the judge was willing to consider that.

Judge Bernadette Owens (pictured) directed the defendant to make a 300 payment to Longford Women's Link and indicated if this was done she would strike out both charges.

"Mr Creighton has to realise he has used up all of his opportunity," she added.
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.

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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.

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.

READ NEXT: 'Falling on street outside a shop' -County Longford man fined for public order breach

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 (pictured) 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.

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.
The Marc Jacobs brand might be coming back to America.

Twenty-eight years after Bernard Arnault stepped in to first help support the designers brand, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton is said to be working with investment bankers at J.P. Morgan to find a buyer willing to pony up $1 billion for the business.

More from WWD

WWD had heard in January that the brand was quietly being shopped, but high-level sources at LVMH denied at that time that there was a process under way.

The process ultimately drummed up a good deal of interest from the licensing experts. Multiple sources said Authentic Brands Group, WHP Global and Bluestar Alliance are all said to be interested and involved in the talks.

Of the three, Jamie Salters Authentic is the largest and has a joint venture with Saks Global to develop luxury brands using its licensing chops.

But Salter is by no means the only IP specialist angling for luxury brands. WHP bought Vera Wang earlier this year and Bluestar bought the late Virgil Ablohs Off-White from LVMH last year.

LVMH, J.P. Morgan, Authentic and WHP all declined to comment. Bluestar could not be reached. The talks for Marc Jacobs were earlier reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The potential sale of such a well-known and respected designer brand shines a bright light on big changes in luxury on both sides of the Atlantic.

LVMH is the undisputed powerhouse in the sector, but is also in the midst of a kind of evolution.

Arnault, who built the company through decades of hard-nosed dealmaking and absolute fidelity to brand, has been positioning his children in key positions throughout the company, with one of them expected to step up eventually.

Meanwhile, the luxury market is down, Jonathan Anderson has stepped up as creative head at the companys Dior brand and even the powerhouse Louis Vuitton, which Jacobs once designed, has not been immune to a more sluggish consumer.

LVMHs track record for buying and developing U.S. fashion brands is not its strongest suit. Arnault, who is known for buying and holding, also once owned Donna Karan, but sold the business after several difficult years to G-III Apparel Group, which has been building the brand with U.S. retailers.

Marc Jacobs itself has gone through its share of ups and downs under LVMHs ownership. With Jacobs at the creative helm and his business partner Robert Duffy overseeing operations, the brand had a strong run in both fashion and accessories, especially with its Marc by Marc line (since discontinued) and there was even talk of floating the company separately on the stock exchange.
A winning Keno ticket worth $40,000 was sold at a restaurant in Chelmsford on Saturday.

The ticket was purchased at The Establishment on Princeton Street in North Chelmsford.

In Keno, players select up to 12 numbers spots to play, and then choose numbers between 1 and 80 to fill each spot. Each number spot offers unique prizes and odds of winning.

Players then choose how much they want to wager on each drawing  between $1 and $20  and how many drawings they want to use the same numbers for. The same numbers can be played in up to 30 consecutive drawings, and drawings take place every day every three minutes from 5:04 a.m. to 1:01 a.m.

Players can also multiply their prizes up to 10 times by marking the Keno Bonus. Keno Bonus is not available on the 10 spot, 11 spot or 12 spot.

Overall, at least 304 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Saturday, including six in Springfield, nine in Worcester and 20 in Boston.

The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.

The two largest lottery prizes won so far in 2025 were each worth $15 million. One of the prizes was from a winning Diamond Deluxe scratch ticket sold in Holyoke, and the other was from a 300X scratch ticket sold on Cape Cod.
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

We have another deceased coming down, an EMT called amid the chaos. Smoke cascaded from the Gabriel House and fire alarms blared in every direction across the dark night.

The Rev. Michael Racine met the first responders at the side of the building, anointing the victim  a man  with holy oil and prayers as he was carried down a ladder from a sooty window.

Across the parking lot, a makeshift morgue had been assembled. There, over the course of the night, Racine pulled back the blankets covering four other victims  revealing faces flecked with smoke and dirt  and anointed their foreheads, as well.

July 13 was a night the Fall River fire chaplain will never forget.

In a Friday interview, Racine, known as Father Mike, recalled the eerie, repetitive echo of alarms sounding through the former motel-turned-assisted living home where 70 people lived.

Because you knew there were a lot of rooms there, he said.

Father Michael Racine is the Fall River fire chaplain. Courtesy

Whether they were Catholic or not, Racine said he didnt hesitate to offer a blessing, prayers and spiritual comfort to victims in the immediate moments after their deaths, caused by a five-alarm fire that will go down as a historic tragedy in the South Coast city  and the state.

I didnt even know who these victims were, and in a case like that, as a Catholic priest, you just automatically assume, Racine said. You give them the blessing, the sacrament of the sick. You treat them with love and respect as Gods children. Theres no time to go around, Excuse me, are you Catholic? You do what your heart tells you to do.

Racine was pleased to learn later that all five people he anointed that night were, in fact, Catholic, and his actions brought their families great comfort as they were stricken with grief and shock.

The assisted living facility on Oliver Street shared a name with the archangel who, in the Bible, told Mary she would give birth to Jesus. And the city of Fall River itself is considered heavily Catholic.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River and its Catholic Charities arm have been involved in the aftermath of the fire, collecting donations for survivors and organizing fundraising campaigns.

As part of a growing memorial in front of the burned facility, someone recently placed a sunflower with an attached card that reads, Gabriel, Hero of God. God gives him STRENGTH. The Archangel of Annunciation.

Dozens of prayer candles depicting Jesus, Saint Jude and Our Lady of Guadalupe line the sidewalk. A wooden cross dangles from a fence.

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 fire chaplains account of the night

The fire broke out in a second-floor studio apartment around 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. Firefighters arrived at the scene within six minutes of a box alarm, and Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said flames were blowing out the front door.

First responders commenced their heroic rescues of residents, aided by courageous neighbors who were playing volleyball in a backyard nearby. They shattered windows and pulled people from the flames and suffocating smoke inside, dragging them down ladders to safety.

Firefighters and police officers physically carried residents with mobility challenges and helped them down flights of stairs.

Racine got the call around 10 p.m. and arrived on scene shortly after.

You didnt need a masters degree to figure out what was going on, he said. It was what you call controlled chaos.

Most of the buildings windows had been broken, and he described smoke billowing through the halls.

From then on, Racine was non-stop all night. He anointed half of the victims  also known as Last Rites, a sacrament of the church  and provided support to firefighters who likely had never seen a tragedy of such magnitude. And he offered comfort to surviving residents who were shocked and confused amid the mayhem.

A daughter of one of the first victims removed from the building cried on his shoulder for half an hour, he said. Through tears, she asked if Last Rites had been performed  Racine told her everything had been taken care of.

The fire was knocked down around 10:37 p.m. At the end of the night, nine people were dead and at least 30 injured. A 10th person died five days later.

Racine remained on scene until 3:45 a.m. the next morning, and he had two masses to conduct mere hours later. He began them by addressing the fire with his parishioners and praying for the victims. Some people were already aware of the tragedy, while others had not yet heard the news.

In the days since the fire, Racine has had the opportunity to meet with some of the victims families at his parishes: St. Bernard Catholic Church in Assonet and St. John Neumann Church in East Freetown. Hes encouraged them to pray for ourselves, too because burials and funerals have begun  the next step of processing such profound loss.

They need their faith, he said.

The citys leaders need support, too, Racine said. Hes been checking in on the mayor and fire chief, for example.

This is on their shoulders now, he said.

The priest applauded the intrepid efforts of first responders that night, saying everyone did their jobs  and did them well.

I do a lot of watching at a fire, and I just said to myself, These guys know what theyre doing.
Former superintendent for Uxbridge Public Schools Michael Baldassarre was found not guilty of driving under the influence, according to the Telegram & Gazette.

Baldassarre, of Concord, opted for a trial in front of a judge on Monday, July 21, who found him not guilty of the charge of operating under the influence (liquor), the T&G reported Friday.

Im relieved, Baldassarre wrote Tuesday in a post on his LinkedIn account. This has been a devastating chapter in my life. Im grateful to the court for its careful review of the facts.

After finding him not guilty, District Court Judge Jon L. Revelli placed Baldassarre on administrative probation for six months after the former superintendent tendered a plea of admission to sufficient facts on a charge of negligent driving, the T&G reported. He was ordered to pay $300 in court fees.

Revelli also found Baldassarre not responsible for speeding and not responsible for a marked lanes violation.

Massachusetts State Police arrested Baldassarre at around 2:40 a.m. on Jan. 18 on Interstate 495 in Bolton, the Telegram & Gazette wrote in January. A trooper and a field training officer on patrol accused Baldassarre of speeding and swerving before crashing into another car. Police said he refused a Breathalyzer test.

During his arraignment, Baldassarre pleaded not guilty.

In March, Baldassarre reached a separation agreement with the Uxbridge School Committee and Karen Dwyer was named interim superintendent.
A man in his 20s injured his spine diving off a boat at a popular beach in Massachusetts Friday.

The man dove off a boat at Crane Beach in Ipswich, hit his head and was seriously injured.

At about 5:10 p.m. on Friday, first responders were sent to the beach. The man was unconscious and Crane Beach personnel and two bystander physicians were performing life-saving care.

By the time first responders arrived, the man conscious but had acute spinal injuries. The Ipswich Fire Department chief credits the care before first responders arrived to saving the mans life.

A Boston MedFlight helicopter arrived about 12 minutes later. He was then flown to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington.

This was an example of our public safety members working seamlessly with the Cranes Beach personnel to ensure a successful rescue and extrication, Ipswich Fire Department Chief Paul Parisi said in a press release. We train with Cranes Beach personnel often, and today it paid off. We thank The Trustees for their support of this partnership. A special thanks goes to the bystanders who pulled the victim from the water, and to the two bystander physicians who performed life-saving measures that likely averted a fatality.
A homeless man is facing charges after assaulting a 77-year-old man during an armed carjacking in Newburyport Friday afternoon, according to police.

David Agneta, 46, has been charged with two counts of carjacking and one count of assault and battery on an elderly or disabled person, Newburyport police said in a press release.

On July 25, officers responded to a home on High Street shortly before 3:15 p.m. after receiving a 911 call reporting that an unknown suspect had shoved a man to the ground in the driveway of a home and stolen the mans car, police said. The car was last seen driving east on High Street.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the victim had just arrived home and gotten out of his car when the suspect came over to him and demanded his keys, police said. The suspect took the victims keys during a violent altercation and then stole his car.

The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics, police said. Officers took a description of the suspect and were able to identify him as Agneta through nearby security video.

Newburyport police obtained a warrant for Agnetas arrest out of Newburyport District Court, police said. Rhode Island State Police arrested him late Friday night in Exeter on a charge of possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Agneta is expected to be arraigned in court Monday morning in Rhode Island, police said. He will be brought back to Massachusetts to answer to the carjacking and assault charges at a later date.
Federal authorities are warning Americans that traveling to two Southeast Asian countries can be dangerous and they should be extra cautious if visiting. They also advise against traveling to the countries border altogether.

The U.S. Department of State advisory level for Thailand and Cambodia were increased Friday to a Level 2, exercise increased caution.

The travel advisories were raised due to unrest in Thailand and concerns for crime and landmines in Cambodia, according to the advisories.

The U.S. government also issued a Level 4 do not travel advisory, advising against traveling within about 30 miles of the Thai and Cambodian border due to fighting between the countries military forces that started in May.

There are reports of fighting, including rocket and artillery fire, between Cambodian and Thai forces along the border. Armed conflict has led to reports of civilian casualties, the advisors read. There is a collateral risk of violence, and U.S. citizens are advised to avoid all but essential travel to within 50km of these border areas until further notice. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these provinces due to the ongoing risk of armed conflict.

The caution regarding travel to Thailand is due to civil unrest associated with ongoing insurgent activities in the Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat provinces, that advisory said.

There is occasional violence between Thai security services and armed insurgents in those three southernmost provinces, the advisory explained, and 17 districts in that region are under a state of emergency due to the violence. Visitors risk getting caught up in the fighting and U.S. officials cant guarantee theyd be able to help, the advisory warned.

The issue in Cambodia is different. That countrys capital city, Phnom Penh, is dealing with street crime, with many travelers losing their phone and bags to thieves, that advisory said. Sexual assault and murder are also concerns.

Landmines and unexploded ordnances are the concern in the provinces of Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Siem Reap, Pailin, and Kampong Thom, the advisory said, particularly in forested areas and dry rice paddies.

If you decide to travel to Cambodia or Thailand, the U.S. Department of State advises:
NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK.

Is NatWest (NWG) Quietly Becoming One of the UKs Most Reliable Dividend Payers?

A person using a laptop to access a bank's online banking system.

NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) is an Edinburgh-based company that offers mortgages, loans, credit cards, and related services. The company recently announced its results for the first half of the year, highlighting a 4.2 billion increase in net loans to customers, bringing the total to 336.2 billion. This figure includes 2.2 billion in personal loans and credit card balances acquired from Sainsburys Bank as of June 30, 2025.

Within Retail Banking, NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG)s mortgage balances grew by 4.1 billion, while Commercial & Institutional balances rose by 2.0 billion, mainly due to increased lending activity in the Commercial Mid-market segment, particularly to housebuilders and housing associations, as well as within the Corporate & Institutions division.

NatWest Group plc (NYSE:NWG) reported an operating cash flow of 2.5 billion. The company also returned 1.4 billion to shareholders through dividends during this period. Its semi-annual dividend comes in at $0.1543 per share for a dividend yield of 3.92%, as of July 25.

While we acknowledge the potential of NWG 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: 14 Stocks That Paid Special Dividends in 2025 and Dividend Champions vs Aristocrats: 12 Under-the-Radar Stocks to Buy

Disclosure: None.
From thunderstorms to scorching heat, weather forecasters are suggesting people stay indoors this week.

On Sunday, Western and northern Massachusetts are most likely to have to deal with rain showers and thunderstorms. Rain is expected to last until 11 a.m. in these areas, while there could be rain in Boston until 2 p.m.

Theres also an air quality alert for the Berkshires.

Due to this, officials recommend limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with asthma or heart disease.

Starting Monday, there is a heat advisory for most of the state.

It is expected to feel like 95 degrees Monday and 100 by Tuesday. Officials are worried about heat illnesses.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors, the National Weather Service warned.

They also suggested limiting strenuous activities to early morning or evening.

When the heat index is this high, it can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, especially with prolonged exposure or physical activity.

Massachusetts has reported about 30 people have died due to heat over the past decade, and the frequency of these deaths is increasing as the climate changes. For these people, heat was listed as either the main or contributing cause of death, including excessive natural heat, excessive heat of man-made origin or effects of heat and light.

Two people died in June 2024 due to heat in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Two other died due to heat later in the year.

But the numbers arent complete as death certificates dont always reflect the role heat played  and it expands beyond Massachusetts, experts told the Associated Press.

In 2023, more than 2,300 people died in the U.S. due to excessive heat, according to their death certificates, PBS reported. It was the highest number in 45 years, according to the AP.

A government website warns that the most serious climate-related health hazards in Massachusetts result from an increased number of very hot summer days, increased precipitation leading to flooding, increased storm-related inland and coastal flooding and rising sea levels.

Climate change is expected to increase the number of days over 90 degrees Fahrenheit each year, which may increase hospitalizations for heat-related illnesses, the website states. Climate change may also alter existing patterns of environmentally related diseases (e.g., asthma) and result in new health threats, such as tropical mosquito-borne illnesses.

In 2005, there was an average of about nine days above 90 degrees. By 2030, Massachusetts is predicted to have more than 22 days above 90 degrees. By 2070, that number is expected to increase to more than 40 days.
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MyMenoplan.org, an NIH-funded site, proves effective in guiding providers counseling women through peri- and postmenopause.

  Trusted Source

Positive impact of a menopause website - MyMenoplan.org - on treatment intentions, knowledge, and decision making: A randomized controlled trial



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Navigating #menopause_symptoms can be tough! MyMenoplan.org is here to help. This new tool guides you through common symptoms, explains why they occur, and outlines treatment options. Take control of your #menopause journey! #WomensHealth #MyMenoplan

MyMenoplan.org Empowers Women with Evidence-Based Menopause Guidance

Increased intention to obtain treatment

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Craft Your Comfort: The 'Create My Menoplan' Tool for Personalized Symptom Relief

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Positive impact of a menopause website  MyMenoplan.org  on treatment intentions, knowledge, and decision making: A randomized controlled trial - (https://www.maturitas.org/article/S0378-5122(25)00438-4/fulltext)

despite the fact that over a million women in the United States enter this natural transition every year ().Shaped by stigma and misinformation, conversations about menopause are often avoidedeven though the experience can have a profound impact on physical, emotional, and mental health.To close this information gap, a team of clinicians and researchers with more than 25 years of expertise in womens health launchedThis comprehensive, evidence-based resource provides personalized guidance and decision-making tools to help women navigate menopause with confidence.The site is free, accessible to everyone, and requires no registration or personal data, ensuring privacy while delivering reliable information to support informed healthcare choices.Thisthat may help alleviate it, said Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D., M.P.H., distinguished professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego and principal investigator of the trial.In a recent randomized controlled trial published in the journal Maturitas that assessed the impact of MyMenoplan.org, researchers found that women using MyMenoplan.org reported:One of the unique features of the website is thesaid LaCroix. The goal is for women to create their own personalized plan to explore treatments, prepare to speak with their doctors, and try different approaches to feel more comfortable during the menopause transition.Findings from this trial support MyMenoplan.org, the first National Institutes of Health-funded website on menopause, as an effective resource for healthcare providers counseling patients who are experiencing perimenopause (the period of transition into menopause) or postmenopause (defined as having gone more than a year without a menstrual period).From increased risks of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease to sleep disturbances and mood changes, the health consequences of untreated or poorly managed menopause can be significant. Yet, due to cultural taboos, lack of education and gaps in medical training, many women navigate this phase without the support or information they need.Ideally, when a woman schedules an appointment with their doctor to discuss menopause, her doctor might say, I look forward to speaking with you. Please review this website before your visit and bring any questions you have after reading through the information, said LaCroix.It's time to break the silence and bring menopause into the public conversation  because awareness is the first step toward better health outcomes.Source-Eurekalert
We came across a bullish thesis on Northrop Grumman Corporation on Stock Analysis Compilations Substack. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on NOC. Northrop Grumman Corporation's share was trading at $568.48 as of July 24th. NOCs trailing and forward P/E were 20.98 and 21.37 respectively according to Yahoo Finance.

Why inTest Corp (INTT) Is Skyrocketing So Far In 2025?

A security guard patrolling a defense facility, protecting critical technologies.

Northrop Grumman Corporation stands as a mission-critical defense powerhouse, distinguished by unmatched technological leadership, deep government relationships, and a portfolio of long-cycle programs that create durable growth and shareholder value. As a premier global aerospace and defense company, Northrop Grumman has positioned itself as an indispensable partner to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied governments, with a strategic focus on space, strategic deterrence, and advanced digital capabilities.

The companys enduring competitive moat is built on unrivaled expertise in highly specialized, restricted domains, particularly stealth technology, exemplified by its role as the prime contractor for the B-21 Raider, the next-generation strategic bomber. Such franchise programs provide exceptional revenue visibility and decades of sustainment, protected by formidable barriers to entry, including proprietary intellectual property, a cleared and highly skilled workforce, and decades of flawless execution on classified programs.

Northrop Grummans portfolio is tightly aligned with the most enduring and well-funded U.S. defense priorities, making it a direct beneficiary of secular defense spending trends and insulating it from the cyclical swings that affect more commoditized defense hardware. Its Space Systems segment plays a pivotal role in missile defense, satellite programs, and space exploration, while its Mission Systems segment leads in advanced cyber, electronic warfare, and command-and-control solutions.

The companys predictable, robust free cash flow reflects the long-cycle nature of its programs and supports disciplined capital allocation, balancing reinvestment in technological leadership with shareholder returns through growing dividends and significant share repurchases. This combination positions Northrop Grumman as a uniquely resilient and elite enterprise at the forefront of the defense industry.

Previously, we covered a bullish thesis on Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) by Daan Rijnberk in March 2025, which highlighted its leadership in stealth technology, strong backlog, and capital returns supported by rising defense spending. The stock has appreciated about 15% since as the thesis played out. The thesis still stands as defense demand visibility remains firm. Stock Analysis Compilation shares a similar but emphasizes unmatched technological leadership and deep government ties.
Pictured is the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Department blocking an entrance to theTraverse City Walmart at 2640 Crossing Circle. (Photo/Sheri McWhirter) Sheri McWhirter

LANSING, MI - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has released a statement following reports of multiple stabbings at the Traverse City Walmart on Saturday.

The stabbings allegedly took place at the shopping center on Crossing Circle. The suspect is in custody, but police report that the details are limited at this time.

In a statement posted to X, Whitmer shared that shes in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City.

Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect, Whitmer stated.

She assured Michigan residents that the situation will continue to be monitored closely.
An aerial image of the Mackinac Bridge Swim in Mackinaw City, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the 4.5-mile swim for charity across the Straits of Mackinac, all swimmers made it to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Santino Mattioli | MLive.com

MACKINAW CITY, MI  Hundreds of swimmers faced a lifetime challenge Saturday morning, plunging into the Straits of Mackinac for a 4.5-mile journey alongside one of the worlds longest suspension bridges.

The Mackinac Bridge Swim, considered one of the most grueling organized swims in the Great Lakes region, began at sunrise when participants gathered at the Colonial Michilimackinac Visitors Center on the southeast side of the iconic bridge.

The start of the Mackinac Bridge Swim in Mackinaw City, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the 4.5-mile swim for charity across the Straits of Mackinac, all swimmers made it to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

Despite haze from Canadian wildfires visible over the Straits, event organizer and Splash Coordinator Eric Hansen described swim conditions as near perfect, with buoys recording 70-degree water temperature during the swim.

Swimmers encouraged each other and managed pre-swim nerves before entering the water at 7 a.m. in three waves, organized from slowest to fastest.

Every swimmer in the state that crosses over the bridge thinks in the back of their mind, man Id like to swim across that someday, said Hansen.

103 1 / 103 Over 260 swimmers take on the 2025 Mackinac Bridge Swim

Unlike competitive events, this swim isnt timed by organizers. Instead, the prize comes in the form of a handmade finishers medal made from the steel of the Mackinac Bridge. Hansen makes most of them himself.

John Walker, 81, of Wisconsin sits on a chair after completing the 4.5-mile Mackinac Bridge Swim across the Straits of Mackinac in St.Ignace, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the grueling swim for charity, all swimmers made it to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

The swim serves a dual purpose: providing swimmers with what Hansen calls a bucket-list swim while supporting local emergency services.

Proceeds from the event went to first responders at the Mackinaw City and St. Ignace Fire Departments.

If we are going to bring in people from around the country, they are going to leave something behind for the first responders here that support the 10,000 visitors a day each summer, Hansen explained.

Last years event raised $56,000 for the two departments on either side of the bridge. This year, Hansen set a more ambitious goal of reaching $100,000.

Safety remained the top priority throughout the event. Participants wore required wetsuits, swim buoys and assigned caps, and were supported by volunteer teams in personal boats and kayaks as they made their way from south to north, staying within 100 yards of the bridges east side.

Scenes from the Mackinac Bridge Swim in Mackinaw City, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the 4.5-mile swim for charity across the Straits of Mackinac, all swimmers made it to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

The United States Coast Guard shadowed the swimmers and closed the shipping lane beneath the bridge to all freight and recreational traffic, creating a secure zone. First responders from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City stood ready to provide emergency support.

Scenes from the Mackinac Bridge Swim in Mackinaw City, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the 4.5-mile swim for charity across the Straits of Mackinac, all swimmers made it to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

While some participants required assistance during the journey  either being pulled onto a boat or taking breaks before continuing  no one was ultimately pulled from the swim.

An aerial image of the I did it line during the Mackinac Bridge Swim in St. Ignace, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the 4.5-mile swim for charity across the Straits of Mackinac, all swimmers made it to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Santino Mattioli | MLive.com

All 266 swimmers reached the I did it line at Bridge View Park on the northwest side of the bridge in St. Ignace by 11 a.m. The fastest swimmers made it across in 90 minutes.

The I did it line at the conclusion of theMackinac Bridge Swim in St. Ignace, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the 4.5 mile swim for charity across the Straits of Mackinac, all swimmers made it from Mackinaw City to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

Eric Hansen, event organizer for the Mackinac Bridge Swim talks with a fellow swimmer as they embark on the volunteer swim across the Straits of Mackinac in Mackinaw City, Mich. on Friday, July 25, 2025. Volunteers had the opportunity to swim Thursday morning, before 300 swimmers planned to take on the swim on Saturday. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

Hansen, who has completed the swim multiple times himself, including with a volunteer group on Friday, ensured comprehensive safety measures were in place throughout the event. He was also there to greet the final swimmer as they came ashore in St. Ignace.

Eric Hansen, event organizer for the Mackinac Bridge Swim monitors the swimmers as they cross the Straits of Mackinac in Mackinaw City, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the 4.5-mile swim for charity, all swimmers made it to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.com

To qualify for the challenging swim, participants had to demonstrate a 40-minute mile swim time, either recorded by GPS or timed by a lifeguard.

A swimmer finishes off the 4.5-mile Mackinac Bridge Swim in St. Ignace, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the grueling swim for charity across the Straits of Mackinac, all swimmers made it from Mackinaw City to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Neil Blake | MLive.com

Hundreds of swimmers attended an after-party, with a meal prepared by first responders. During the after party Hansen received a proclamation from Mackinaw City and the fire departments named him a honorary fire chief.

At the event, Hansen presented checks to the two fire departments for $50,000 each, hitting Hansens goal of donating $100,000 to the volunteer departments.

Eric Hansen, splash coordinator presents $50,000 checks to the Mackinaw City and St. Ignace fire departments after the Mackinac Bridge Swim fundraiser in Mackinaw City, Mich. on Saturday, July 26, 2025. 266 swimmers took on the 4.5-mile swim across the Straits of Mackinac, all swimmers made it to St. Ignace before 11 a.m. Joel Bissell | Jbissell@mlive.co

The Mackinac Bridge spans approximately 5 miles connecting Michigans Upper and Lower Peninsulas, with two 552-foot tall towers and a span of 7,400 feet.

Click here to see the full photo gallery from the 2025 Mackinac Bridge Swim
DETROIT, MI - The Detroit Regional Communication Center received calls of a motorcycle crash at 1:25 a.m. on Saturday, July 26.

Michigan State Police (MSP) Second District was informed by a witness at the scene about the crash. According to the witness, a motorcyclist was traveling at a high rate of speed, approaching 100 mph on the ramp from eastbound I-96 to northbound I-75

The witness stated the motorcyclist was navigating the curve on the ramp when they lost control of the motorcycle, ran off the roadway to the right, and struck the concrete wall, police said.

The ramp from eastbound I-96 to northbound I-75 is several feet above the roadway of I-75 and is divided by a grass embankment, police said.

The motorcycle and rider went over the concrete wall and traveled down the grass embankment dividing the two roadways. The rider came to rest on the left shoulder of northbound I-75, while the motorcycle ended up on the right shoulder.

The 20-year-old motorcycle operator from Eastpointe was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Northbound I-75 was closed for two hours for the investigation, police said.

Driving a motorcycle requires a lot of training and practice, said MSP First Lieutenant Mike Shaw. We often find in single motorcycle crashes that the driver is driving faster than their capabilities. Driving the speed limit is even more important on a motorcycle.
TRAVERSE CITY, MI  Police have identified the man they believe entered a Walmart and stabbed 11 people at random.

Bradford James Gille, 42, is in custody and awaiting arraignment on numerous charges in connection with the mass stabbing, police said at a press conference Sunday, July 27.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after the stabbing inside the big-box chain store in Traverse City, leaving the community in shock.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea provided additional details as the investigation unfolds. Gille awaits arraignment on 11 counts of attempted murder and a single count of terrorism.

Gille is from Afton, a small town in northern Michigan 25 miles east of Petoskey.

Police say Gille entered the Walmart on Circle Crossing around 4:43 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, and used a folding knife to stab 11 people, Shea said.

A sheriffs deputy arrived within three minutes and took the man into custody. The sheriff said bystanders  including a man armed with a pistol  helped apprehend Gille.

Its not very often that we have citizens that are willing to step up and take action, Shea said.

A motive still has not been determined, the sheriff added.

Munson Healthcare officials say seven people are in fair condition and four remain in serious condition.

The victims include:

A 70-year-old man

An 84-year-old woman

An 82-year-old man

A 29-year-old woman

An 80-year-old woman

A 67-year-old woman

A 38-year-old man

A 39-year-old man

A 60-year-old woman

A 40-year-old man

A 55-year-old man

The sheriff was joined Sunday by Grand Traverse Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg; Joe Hurshe, president of Munson Medical Center; and Dr. Tom Schermerhorn, chief medical officer of Munson Medical Center.

Gille remains lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail. He is expected to be arraigned Monday or Tuesday, officials said.

More information about the Traverse City Walmart mass stabbing was released at a press conference on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Sheri McWhirter
TRAVERSE CITY, MI - The Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office hosted a press conference Saturday, July 26, to address the Traverse City Walmart stabbing.

Sheriff Michael Shea said during the press conference that they received a call at 4:45 p.m. from a shopper indicating that a stabbing was taking place.

Deputies were able to arrive on scene and apprehend the suspect unharmed within three minutes, Shea said. He described the suspect as a 42-year-old Michigan man, but wouldnt go into more detail.

Shea said there are six males and five female victims, ages unknown. Three of them were undergoing surgery at the time of the press conference.

Munson Healthcare took to social media to confirm that 5 victims are in serious condition and 6 are in critical condition among the 11 stabbing victims.

Based on the information that the sheriffs office has, the stabbings were random acts of violence that began near the checkout area. They also could not comment on whether the incident was due to a mental illness.

Shea said he does not know when Walmart will be reopened for shoppers. Michigan State Police Crime Lab is currently en route to process the scene.

In a message to the public, he urges locals to be vigilant and know that no area is immune to this type of activity.

If you see something, please reach out, call 911, and as I said, there was citizen involvement in this, and as we learn more about that, we will talk more about it. Its very tragic and no one is immune to it, unfortunately, Shea said during Saturdays press conference. 11 is 11 too many, but thank God it wasnt more.
Jedidiah Brown confronts a police officer during a protest in Flint on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (MLive file photo) Jackson Ranger | MLive.com

GENESEE COUNTY, MI  A trial date has been set for an activist who was arrested after bringing a casket to a protest outside Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeleys home.

Meanwhile, police had to shut down a recent event at Auto City Speedway in Vienna Township after a fight broke out between attendees.

Learn more about these stories and other Flint-area news from the past week with these headlines:

Activist who brought coffin to Flint mayors home rejects plea deal, trial set for Sept. 4

A pretrial hearing was held this past week for an activist facing two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct in connection with a protest he held at Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeleys home.

38-year-old Texas resident Jedidiah Brown brought a casket to the protest, which took place earlier this year.

Brown said he rejected a plea deal, and a Genesee District Court Judge set his trial date for Sept. 4.

Read the full story here.

Judge dismisses Mott Community College union lawsuit over presidents hiring

A lawsuit challenging the legality of the process by which the Mott Community College Board of Trustees hired the colleges president, Shaunda Richardson-Snell, has been dismissed.

The Mott Community College Education Association filed the lawsuit, which was dismissed by an Ingham County judge this past week.

The lawsuit stems from an alleged conflict of interest revealed after the boards decision to offer Richardson-Snell a contract for the colleges president position.

Read the full story here.

New trails, pickleball courts coming to Grand Blanc Township park - if millage passes

Grand Blanc Township voters will decide on a new millage in the Aug. 5 election thatd fund future parks and recreation improvements.

The millage would generate nearly $2 million in its first year for a variety of potential projects including new trails and pickleball courts at Creasey Bicentennial Park.

The proposed 1-mill levy would remain in place for 10 years if approved.

Read the full story here.

Whats next for Flint areas megasite after $63B semiconductor factory cancellation?

The future of the site of a proposed $63 billion semiconductor factory in Mundy Township remains uncertain following the recent cancellation of plans for the facility.

The factory would have been built in the Advanced Manufacturing District of Genesee County and was expected to bring as many as 10,000 jobs to the area.

Despite the setback, state and local officials are working to determine a use for the location also known as the megasite.

Read the full story here.

Police shut down Clio-area speedway event after fight breaks out

A fight between a pair of race fans at Auto City Speedway in Vienna Township developed into a brawl during a legal drift show last week.

Area law enforcement agencies responded to the incident, and the event was shut down early.

Auto City Speedway officials issued a statement following the brawl and said it plans to implement additional safety measures at the facility in the future.

Read the full story here.

Flint mayor asks council to start water system evaluation, including rates

Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley recently asked the Flint City Council to hire a company to assess the citys water system and rate structure.

Neeley recommended the council hire a Grand Rapids-based engineering and architecture firm to evaluate the system for a total cost of $136,000.

The evaluation could lead to increased water rates, which have remained unchanged since the Flint water crisis.

Read the full story here.

Second-oldest house in Flint area to undergo transformation

Fenton Township was recently awarded a grant that will help fund several improvements at the Pioneer Museum and Podunk House, one of the oldest houses in Genesee County.

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity officially awarded the township a $136,806 Community Museum Grant earlier this month.

Preliminary plans to improve the Pioneer Museum and Podunk House include connecting the property to the townships water and sewer system.

Read the full story here.

Prize money returns, 12K+ participants and 3 other takeaways on 2025 HAP Crim Festival of Races

The annual HAP CareSource Crim Festival of Races is returning to downtown Flint in its 49th year next month with a potentially record-breaking turnout and a cash prizes.

The Crim Fitness Foundation unveiled updated plans for this years event during a news conference at Flint Gas City this past week.

The Crim Festival of Races will be held from Aug. 22-23 this year and feature several races, including a 5-mile race, 10-mile race, and the Teddy Bear Trot for kids.

Read the full story here.

New Hyundai dealership could be coming to Grand Blanc area

The Randy Wise Auto Group is looking to build a new Hyundai dealership on a vacant property along Holly Road in Grand Blanc Township.

The Grand Blanc Township Planning Commission unanimously approved a preliminary site plan and special land use for the proposed Randy Wise Hyundai dealership this month.

The dealership would be the Randy Wise Auto Groups third Grand Blanc Township location.

Read the full story here.
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  Majestic hemlocks towering on dunes and along streams in Ottawa County may soon be a thing of the past if a tiny insect cannot be controlled.

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), a sesame seed-sized aphid-like insect from Asia, has been wreaking havoc on eastern hemlocks in Ottawa County parks for about 10 years, killing them in four to seven years if not treated.

Last year was a particularly tough year for hemlocks, said Nealy Molhoek, coordinator of natural resources management for Ottawa County Parks.

We saw a pretty precipitous decline toward the end of the summer because of the relatively droughty conditions.

Losing the beloved conifers could impact not only the parks aesthetics but also harm cold-water fisheries and dunes that depend on the hemlocks.

Visitors have noticed the decline of the beautiful trees, Molhoek said. I get emails about it, we get phone calls about it.

About a third of the 45 county park properties have hemlocks, Molhoek estimates, and all those properties are infested with HWA.

We had populations of hemlocks that we thought would be fine until the next year when we were able to treat them. And then this year were looking at them, and they might not be healthy enough to make it even with treatment, she said.

Nealy Molhoek is getting ready to treat hemlocks with insecticide. Courtesy/Ottawa County Parks

The invasive insect was first found in the U.S. in 1951, in Virginia. Since then the insect has slowly spread westward, decimating hemlock stands in its wake. It was first found in Michigan in 2006, along the shore of West Michigan.

Its been slowly making its way northward, on the western shoreline of Michigan, said Cheryl Nelson, forest health outreach forester with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). We do not know of it being in the U.P. yet, where the vast majority of our hemlocks are.

She said keeping the invasive insect from spreading is a priority for the DNR.

There are crews out there constantly working on this, Nelson said.

The infested area expands each year, now reaching north to Leelanau County. The only area affected outside of the lakeshore counties is a small area in Washtenaw County where hemlocks were planted from nursery stock and dont naturally occur, Nelson said.

The tiny insects dont move as adults  instead boring into hemlock twigs to feed on the sap. They stay there for the rest of their lives, creating a small tent of a white, waxy material that resembles tiny cotton balls. Thats where they lay their eggs.

They are, however, mobile during their immature stage  aptly called crawlers  when they resemble dark brown or black sesame seeds with tiny legs. Crawlers are carried by wind, birds, or mammals such as squirrels from tree to tree and can travel amazingly long distances.

They can also be spread by humans on vehicles.

The white coating on hemlock branches that contain the adults and eggs is what gives HWA its name and is the easiest way to spot an infestation.

To check for HWA, Nelson recommends checking the undersides of hemlock needles for the white woolly wax. With high infestations, the white covering is also visible on the top side of the branches.

Nelson recommends that landowners who find HWA report it online or through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network phone app. A community information kit is also available online.

Depending on how heavy the infestation is and the size and condition of the tree, different insecticide treatments are available.

The DNR estimates that around 176 million hemlock trees call Michigan home, occurring mostly in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, so losing hemlocks would dramatically change forests across the state.

The extent of hemlock woolly adelgid infestation in Michigan, June 2025. Courtesy/Department of Natural Resources

When parks staff first found HWA around 10 years ago at Historic Ottawa Beach Parks, they expected theyd be able to treat the infestation and prevent it from spreading.

Initially we thought we would be able to just nip it in the bud, Molhoek said. We would put all our resources into stopping it from moving north, and it would be good.

But it spread faster than they had expected, and now thousands of trees are affected - more than they can control. Molhoek said parks staff are developing a system to prioritize which trees receive treatment.

We are starting to move toward evaluating those trees for health and longevity and trying to make that call. Should we treat this tree or not? Is it a waste of resources? she said.

Hemlocks tend to grow along streams and near water, she said. When healthy, the conifers can block up to 90% of the sunlight, cooling the air and any water below. Theyre often found along streams, and cooling the water is important for some native fish.

Eastern hemlocks block up to 90% of sunlight, cooling the air and water below. The Plain Dealer

The trees also grow on dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan, stabilizing them.

Therell be a huge stand of hemlock on one side of (a steep dune) where its 200 hemlock trees, and thats stabilizing that dune, Molhoek said.

Depending on the size of the hemlock, staff apply an insecticide in one of two ways  either by directly injecting it into holes drilled into the bark or applying what they call a basal bark treatment on smaller trees, where the pesticide is sprayed directly onto the bark.

Because of the very targeted application methods, concerns of killing insects other than the HWA are minimal because only insects actively feeding on the hemlocks are killed.

One treatment controls the adelgid for around five to seven years, so it doesnt need to be applied yearly to each affected tree.

Treating thousands of acres of hemlocks, however, is expensive and time consuming, and HWA has spread from the lakeshore parks inland, reaching the popular Hemlock Crossing park in West Olive a couple of years ago.

Parks staff are planning to treat most of those hemlocks next field season, although we may proactively treat a few of the larger hemlocks in the more charismatic areas  like around the bridge that goes over Pigeon River this season, Molhoek said.

In Ottawa County parks the insecticide treatments have kept affected trees alive so far.

But Molhoek said she noticed that trees they treated six years ago are now re-infested. Without treatment, all infested trees would die.

Even though there are a lot of declining hemlocks, at least on our properties, there are not a lot of dead hemlocks, she said. I might give you a different answer next year.
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On paper, drawing down your 401(k) to delay Social Security benefits seems like a clever maneuver. After all, the monthly benefit check grows larger for every year that you manage to delay retirement.

However, theres more to consider than just the size of the monthly payout. Heres why you, and perhaps your financial advisor, should take a closer look at all the other variables that can impact your retirement income.

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A surprising impact

A simple calculation would have you believe that its best to delay collecting Social Security as long as possible.

After all, your monthly benefit checks can be roughly 30% higher if you wait until retirement instead of collecting at the earliest possible age of 62, according to the Social Security Administration.

However, this theoretical calculation is performed in a vacuum and doesnt consider any other factors.

Surprisingly, for some people, taking Social Security early might actually be the best option. Your total payout from the day you retire until the end of life could be higher. On the other hand, drawing down on your 401(k) first could set you up for success later.

Heres how to approach making this decision.

Read more: Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market  here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead

Consider all the factors

An often-overlooked yet critical factor in this equation is the opportunity cost of your 401(k) investments. Every dollar you withdraw from this account is one less dollar that could be compounding through the stock market.

For instance, over the past five years, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF has delivered a compounded annual growth rate of 15.85%. In other words, if you invested in this ETF, you could have boosted your nest egg by roughly 34% in just under two years, outperforming the Social Security boost, which is capped.

Even if the stock market returns are significantly lower  say, about 5% compounded annually  your nest egg would be around 30% larger within five and a half years.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Dave Grossman speaks during Silent Observer's Crime Stoppers USA Training Conference in Grand Rapids. The Southern Michigan Criminal Justice Training Consortium  a collaborative of more than 20 law enforcement agencies, including several in Jackson County  organized a recent training with Grossman at Jackson College. (Cory Morse | MLive.com)

JACKSON COUNTY, MI  Some Jackson County residents have raised concerns after local law enforcement agencies participated in an event led by controversial law enforcement trainer Dave Grossman.

The Southern Michigan Criminal Justice Training Consortium  a collaborative of more than 20 law enforcement agencies, including several in Jackson County  organized the training Friday, June 27 at Jackson College.

The training promotes a dangerous mindset, and puts the public and police at a greater risk, Summit Township resident Amador Ybarra argued during a Tuesday, July 22 Jackson County Board of Commissioners meeting,

This is not psychology, this is militarized propaganda disguised as a public safety training, Ybarra said. It fundamentally contradicts the role of law enforcement in a constitutional democracy at a time when we are striving to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the community.

Jackson County Undersheriff Jeremy Barnett said the consortium chooses the trainings, including this one. Grossmans training was more motivational and helped prepare officers to be vigilant and careful because it is a dangerous profession.

My perception of the training was its not about hurting people or killing, its about having the mindset to go in and do what it takes to save the innocent lives, Barnett said.

Grossman, a retired U.S. Army Ranger and former psychology professor at the U.S. Military Academy, has traveled the country since 1998 speaking to police groups and churches. He is credited with popularizing a warrior mentality in law enforcement officials and teaches the psychological effects of having to use lethal force.

He says he is the founder of a new field, termed killology, and has made revolutionary new contributions to our understanding of killing in war, the psychological costs of war, the root causes of the current virus of violent crime..., and the process of healing the victims of violence in war and peace, according to his Grossman Academy biography.

Grossmans books, on topics including killing, combat and spiritual warfare, argue police officers are sheepdogs, and contend police must squash their hesitancy to use violence and even kill when necessary.

According to his website, his most popular training courses are around psychological preparation for combat and school shootings.

Grossman did not respond to a request for comment.

Outside the Jackson College training, there were police vehicles from Spring Arbor, Springport, Kalamazoo County, Oakland University, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office and others.

During the training, Grossman discussed strategies for active school shooter situations. As is widely taught now, officers were encouraged not sit and wait to neutralize the threat, as every second counts, Barnett said.

Not that you wouldnt give them every chance to give up, but typically if somebodys made that decision to go in and harm children, theyre dedicated to what theyre going to do, Barnett said. We have to also be dedicated to what we have to do, which is save lives.

Spring Arbor Township Police Chief Dan Deering added Grossman pushed to avoid naming school shooters publicly, arguing many seek attention.

Barnett noted this training was a small percentage of the training officers receive each year. He said many focus on nonviolent topics, like crisis intervention and emergency vehicle operation.

Its very rare that we go to an active shooter scenario, but for those times we probably do need that military mindset, he said.

Deering said Grossmans training revolved around how to survive the job, and how to turn off the switch when you go back home, he said.

Its important for a lot of young officers, Deering said. Its traumatic to go to a shooting and the next day you go to a domestic where someones lip is busted open. Its traumatic, and you dont know it until its explained to you and youre like, Wow, no wonder I was on edge when I went home.

Grossman also talked about how fitness, sleep and not consuming too much alcohol can help one stay sharp on the job, Deering said.

I think it was just that you have to go home to your family mentality, Barnett said. This is a dangerous profession and certainly bad things happen. Bringing that military presence just reiterates that you got to be prepared for dangerous encountersLosing those for us means not coming home.

Ybarra said Grossmans training on lethal force could lead to increased use-of-force incidents, public mistrust and civil rights violations. Instead, people and officers deserve training that revolves around de-escalation, empathy, mental health response and community partnership.

He cited a video of Grossman that circulated in 2021. It depicts Grossman telling a class that police can have the best sex after killing someone.

To me, thats appalling, Ybarra said. What thats doing is encouraging people to see theres a reward for taking somebodys life.

In a 2021 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Grossman said the viral video clip was the result of deceptive video editing and taken out of context.

Grossman said in an email to the Free Press that the sexual reference was part of a discussion about the normal biological backlash from fight-or-flight (sympathetic nervous system arousal) to feed-and-breed (parasympathetic nervous system arousal) that can happen to anyone in a traumatic event.

Ybarra retired from the Michigan Department of Corrections after 27 years, and said he understands the need for coping strategies after using lethal force. However, he believes Grossmans training defuses people from considering nonviolent outcomes.

Ybarra is also part of the Jackson County for Immigrants Coalition, formed in response to the countys participation in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program. This training, combined with the agreement, is also a concern.

With training that says that anytime you have to deal with somebody that puts you in a possible antagonistic situation because youre a law enforcement officer, dont feel bad about shooting them if you have toIt dehumanizes, Ybarra said.

Deering disagreed with community concerns. He said others may not know what it takes to be a police officer, and the roles they must play. Deering said the best way to be transparent with people is to bring them along, and he encourages people to try riding with an officer.

Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page.
DETROIT -- Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk was injured after taking a foul ball off his mask in the second inning of Saturdays game against the Detroit Tigers.

Kirk was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list on Sunday.

To take his spot, the Blue Jays selected the contract of catcher Ali Sanchez, who spent part of the 2022 season in the Tigers organization.

Sanchez, 28, played for Triple-A Toledo after being claimed off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022. He was never called up to Detroit.

After spending 2023 with the Arizona Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate, Sanchez signed a big-league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of the 2024 season. He was waived at the end of spring training and landed with the Chicago Cubs, playing for Triple-A Iowa before being traded to the Miami Marlins last June.

He signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays over the winter.

Sanchez will be available off the bench on Sunday while Tyler Heineman catches Max Scherzer.
At 9:36 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, the National Weather Service issued an updated heat advisory valid between noon EDT and 9 p.m. EDT for Cass, St. Joseph, Branch, Hillsdale and Berrien counties.

The weather service states, "Heat index values up to 100 degrees expected."

"Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses," comments the weather service.

Mastering the heat: Guidelines for staying safe in high temperatures

Stay hydrated: Keep yourself well-hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.

Seek cool shelter: Opt for an air-conditioned room to stay comfortable.

Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and make sure to check up on relatives and neighbors.

Child and pet safety: Exercise vigilance when it comes to young children and pets. Never leave them unattended in vehicles during high temperatures, as car interiors can quickly become dangerously hot.

Caution outdoors: If you must work or spend time outdoors, take extra precautions.

Optimal timing: If possible, move strenuous activities to early morning or evening for more favorable conditions.

Recognize heat-related issues: Learn to identify the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Dress comfortably: Select lightweight and loose-fitting outfits for enhanced comfort.

Additional tips for outdoor workers:

For outdoor workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends regular rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.

If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.

In emergencies, call 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety recommendations are vital for your well-being during periods of high temperatures. Stay informed and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others from the heat's potentially dangerous effects.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
TVS to introduce 4 new Norton motorcycles in Q3 FY26 in India, UK, other European markets

Varun Singh

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3BHK OTT release: When and where to watch the Siddharth and Sharat Kumar starrer

3BHK will speak to you if you have ever struggled with expectations, saved for a better tomorrow, or found strength in your family's quiet support. It's a story about love, legacy, and the lives we create together, not just about being a homeowner. With no unnecessary commercial frills, the film remains grounded, powerful, and real.

Technical Brilliance Behind 3BHK. The story is given a nostalgic yet unfeeling touch by director Sri Ganesh, who lets the feelings develop organically without using melodrama.

The plot of 3BHK, which spans more than 20 years (20062027), centres on Vasudevan and his son Prabhu's mutual desire to own a three-bedroom apartment. The movie demonstrates how their modest goal transforms into a symbol of hope and resiliency through monetary hardships, emotional sacrifices, and shifting family dynamics.

When 3BHK debuted in theatres on July 4, 2025, it garnered widespread praise for its accurate portrayal of Indian family life. The movie will now be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the middle of August 2025. With subtitles in several Indian languages and available in both Tamil and Telugu, it will be accessible to a wide audience both domestically and internationally.

Backed by Shanthi Talkies, 3BHK stands out for its grounded narrative, relatable themes, and authentic performances, making it one of the most talked-about Tamil films of the year.

Palak Vij

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Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is included among the 10 Oversold Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.

Oversold Abbott Laboratories (ABT) Could Offer a Healthy Dividend Opportunity

An operating room with a doctor monitoring a patient's vital signs during surgery with a medical device.

The company reported strong earnings in the second quarter of 2025. It posted revenue of $11.1 billion, which showed a 7.37% growth on a YoY basis. The company reported GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.01, while adjusted diluted EPS came in at $1.26. Gross margin was 52.7% of sales on a reported basis, with the adjusted gross margin reaching 57.0%, representing a 100 basis point improvement.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) reiterated its guidance and pointed to strong momentum in both its devices and nutrition segments as it moves into the second half of the year. A brief valuation analysis, based on a five-year free cash flow CAGR of 5.74% calculated using 6% growth in operating cash flow and 2% growth in capital expenditures suggests that the current share price of $120.51 offers promising return potential.

On June 13, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share, which was in line with its previous dividend. This was the companys 406th consecutive quarterly dividend. In addition, ABT has raised its payouts for 53 years in a row. The stock offers a quarterly dividend of 1.86%, as of July 25.

While we acknowledge the potential of ABT 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: 14 Stocks That Paid Special Dividends in 2025 and Dividend Champions vs Aristocrats: 12 Under-the-Radar Stocks to Buy

Disclosure: None.
Avinash Tiwary hits back at body-shaming comment by Pakistani stylist: if you had done any research...

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Rana Daggubati reveals Kaantha's teaser will drop on Dulquer Salmaan's birthday: The road to release begins

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When former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar helped Salman Khan get bail in the 1999 blackbuck case

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Head and Neck Cancer Day 2025: Why doctors want you to quit smoking, chewing tobacco, vaping

Namita S Kalla is a senior journalist who writes about different aspects of modern life that include lifestyle, health, fashion, beauty, and entertainment.

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Mosul University Opens Assyrian Language Department

Mosul -- In a decision reflecting Iraq's growing commitment to cultural preservation and linguistic diversity, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research has officially approved the establishment of a Syriac Language Department at the University of Mosul. The announcement, issued on July 26, 2025, affirms the inclusion of Syriac--the language spoken by Chaldeans-Syriacs-Assyrians--into the university's academic offerings starting this academic year.

The move comes less than a year after the university hosted a seminar titled "Syriac Language and Its Role in Achieving Sustainable Development" in November 2024. That event drew scholars, students, and faculty into discussions on the Syriac language's role in preserving heritage, advancing education, and supporting broader human rights goals.

With this week's decision, Mosul University joins a growing academic momentum across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Earlier this month, Nohadra (Dohuk) University announced the launch of a Syriac Language Department in collaboration with Spain's University of Salamanca, offering a joint degree program in the Eastern Syriac dialect.

As efforts to revitalize the ancient language gain institutional backing, advocates hope the new department in Mosul--once a city torn by war--will become a beacon for the region's Syriac-speaking communities and a catalyst for educational and cultural regeneration throughout Beth Nahrain.
TURNBERRY, Scotland/SINGAPORE (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday the United States and the European Union had reached agreement on a trade deal that includes a 15% tariff on EU goods entering the U.S. and significant EU purchases of U.S. energy and military equipment.

The deal also calls for $600 billion in investments in the U.S. by the EU, he told reporters.

This follows a U.S. deal with Japan on July 23 that cut tariffs on auto imports and other goods in exchange for a $550 billion package of U.S.-bound investment and loans.

Markets cheered the news, with European futures rising sharply on Monday. EUROSTOXX 50 futures and DAX futures jumped more than 0.9% each, while FTSE futures gained 0.56%.

Nasdaq futures were last up 0.52% while S&P 500 futures advanced 0.4%.

The euro edged 0.22% higher to $1.1765.

Following are comments from markets to the announcement.

COMMENTS:

KRISTINA CLIFTON, SENIOR ECONOMIST, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY:

"It's a lot better than a worst-case scenario, but it's still a headwind for the global economy.

"We still have this deadline of the 1st of August, so there's still plenty of countries that haven't reached a trade deal with the U.S. yet...we still don't have a trade deal between the U.S. and Canada."

PRASHANT NEWNAHA, SENIOR ASIA-PACIFIC RATES STRATEGIST, TD SECURITIES, SINGAPORE:

"A 15% tariff on European goods, forced purchases of U.S. energy and military equipment and zero tariff retaliation by Europe, that's not negotiation, that's art of the deal. A big win for the U.S."

JARROD KERR, CHIEF ECONOMIST, KIWIBANK, AUCKLAND:

"I was anticipating a much higher tariff on the EU...I was surprised on this deal. Normally we've been surprised the other way, but this time I think this is positive, markets view it as positive...I think we will hear more and more from various regions and countries.

"What we're seeing here is quite clearly a Trump administration grabbing revenue, grabbing money, rather than diverting trade."

TONY SYCAMORE, MARKET ANALYST, IG, SYDNEY:

"It's got to be viewed as another win by Trump, the fact that he's been able to secure deals with Japan and the EU effectively within a week, is certainly a very positive step for the White House.

"Putting it all together, what we've seen with Japan, with the EU, with the talks which are due to be held in Stockholm between the U.S. and China, it really does negate the risk of a prolonged trade war, and the importance of the August tariff deadline has significantly been diffused."
What is Frontotemporal Dementia and how is it different from other dementias?

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Next round of India-US trade deal talks to be held in New Delhi in second half of August: Govt officials

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A devotee slipped, not an electrocution: Mansa Devi temple clarifies cause of Haridwar stampede

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Bharat must remain Bharat, should not be translated: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Indias identity

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'Sport must go on but Pahalgam should not happen': Sourav Ganguly on India-Pakistan clash at Asia Cup

The Asia Cup 2025 has led to a major furore in India as many have slammed BCCI for going on with the continental event. The tournament will be played between September 9-28 as confirmed by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday. The dates for the blockbuster meeting between India and Pakistan have also been revealed with a possibility of the arch rivals meeting thrice during the course of the tournament.

Apart from the public, several ex-cricketers have shared their opinion on the clash, which has received major flak online. However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels otherwise. Ganguly expressed that sports should continue, while condemning the ghastly Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives in the month of April. Read here
As for valuation, AbbVie's shares trade at 15.4 times forward earnings. That's well below the forward earnings multiples of the S&P 500 and the healthcare sector. But AbbVie's growth makes its stock look like even more of a bargain. The big pharma company's price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio, which is based on five-year earnings growth projections from analysts surveyed by LSEG , is a super-low 0.4.

How rock-solid is AbbVie's business? The company's autoimmune disease drug Humira ranked as the top-selling drug in the world for several years. Now, though, Humira's sales are sinking as it faces biosimilar competition. AbbVie barely skipped a beat. It has two newer autoimmune disease drugs on the market that are on track to soon generate combined sales that top Humira's peak sales. Because of these and other drugs, AbbVie expects to grow robustly at least through the end of the decade.

Let's start with the dividend, since it's our main focus. AbbVie's forward dividend yield is 3.44% as I write this, a level that I suspect most income investors will find appealing. It's a member of the elite group known as Dividend Kings , with 53 consecutive years of dividend increases. AbbVie has grown its dividend by a whopping 310% since being spun off from Abbott Labs (NYSE: ABT) in 2013.

AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) offers pretty much everything you'd want in a dividend stock. The big drugmaker has a great dividend. Its business is rock-solid. AbbVie has good growth prospects, and the stock's valuation is also attractive.

I think I might be able to help -- and you won't need a huge amount of cash to invest in these stocks. They're all trading under $200 per share as I write this. Here are my picks for the smartest dividend stocks to buy with $350 right now.

It's easy to succumb to analysis paralysis when trying to decide which dividend stocks to buy, though. There are over 5,800 stocks that pay dividends trading on U.S. stock exchanges.

I like dividend stocks. You probably should, too, even if you aren't interested in the income they provide. Dividends have driven a significant chunk of the S&P 500 's (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) total return over the long run.

Story Continues

With its share price hovering around $190, buying AbbVie will cost you over half of an initial $350. But it should be money well spent, and you'll still have plenty to buy the other two great dividend stocks on the list.

2. Dominion Energy

Dominion Energy (NYSE: D) isn't a Dividend King like AbbVie, however, its forward dividend yield of 4.58% might make up for the lack of an impressive track record of dividend increases. You can scoop up a share of this top utility stock for less than $60.

One of the main reasons I like Dominion Energy is that its business is incredibly stable. The company provides electricity to 3.6 million residential and business customers in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It provides natural gas to around half a million customers in South Carolina. In addition, Dominion is a major player in the renewable energy industry.

The company is a regulated monopoly in the markets it serves. Customers will need electricity and natural gas regardless of what happens with the stock market or the economy. With stock valuations at frothy levels and economic uncertainty flaring related to tariffs, I think Dominion Energy is an ideal dividend stock to own.

But it isn't just a defensive play. Dominion has solid growth prospects, too. The populations in the states where it operates continue to grow. Dominion's home state of Virginia hosts the world's largest data center market. This market should keep expanding with soaring demand for artificial intelligence (AI).

3. Realty Income

You should have around $100 or so remaining from your initial $350 after buying one share each of AbbVie and Dominion Energy. That's more than enough to pick up a share of Realty Income (NYSE: O), one of the best real estate investment trusts (REITs) around.

It's hard to overstate just how great Realty Income's dividend is. The REIT's forward dividend yield is a lofty 5.58% as I write this. Realty Income has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years and 110 consecutive quarters. It even pays the dividend monthly.

Realty Income believes that it sits "at the intersection of two global megatrends." I agree. One of those megatrends is the need for aging investors with less time to ride out stock market downturns to find stable and growing passive income. The other is that companies in the U.S. and Europe are seeking funding solutions, and they have a combined $14 trillion of real estate on their balance sheets.

The REIT has a diversified portfolio of properties, many of which are leased to businesses such as convenience stores, groceries, dollar stores, and home improvement retailers. I like that roughly 91% of its total rent is resilient to economic downturns and/or insulated from e-commerce threats. And I love that Realty Income has delivered positive operational returns every year since going public in 1994. Buying this dividend stock would be a very smart move.

Should you buy stock in AbbVie right now?

Before you buy stock in AbbVie, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and AbbVie wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $636,774!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,064,942!*

Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,040%  a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks 

*Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025

Keith Speights has positions in AbbVie, Dominion Energy, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AbbVie, Abbott Laboratories, and Realty Income. The Motley Fool recommends Dominion Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Smartest Dividend Stocks to Buy With $350 Right Now was originally published by The Motley Fool
Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran

Rewati Karan

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Op Sindoor showed India knows how to respond in their own language: PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

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'India our closest partner, thank New Delhi for pivotal economic assistance': Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu

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'Institutional arrogance': INDIA bloc wants SIR in Bihar to be halted, says data is 'flawed'

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Soybeans were under pressure heading into the weekend, with contracts down 3 to 6 cents, as August was down 29 cents on the week and November slipping just 14  cents. The cmdtyView national average new crop Cash Bean price is down 3 3/4 cents at $9.70 3/4. Soymeal futures were back down $1.60 to $1.80/ton, as August was $6.20 lower on the week. Soy Oil was 22 to 23 points lower on Friday, but managed 67 point gains this week.

USDA reported a private export sale of 142,500 MT of soybeans sold to Mexico this morning for new crop shipment.

More News from Barchart

As we round out July, rain is expected to make its way from the northern Plains most of the Eastern Corn Belt in the next week, with 1 to 2 inches.

Weekly Commitment of Traders data indicated a total of 21,412 contracts were cut from the managed money net short position in soybean futures and options as of July 22. That took their net position to 10,886 contracts by Tuesday.

Export Sales from Thursday tallied the marketing year commitments for shipped and unshipped sales at 50.809 MMT, which is just over the USDA export projection. Shipments according to FAS data are 46.831 MMT, which is 92% of the expected number and behind the 93% average pace.

Aug 25 Soybeans closed at $9.98 3/4, down 5 1/2 cents,

Nearby Cash was $9.65 1/4, down 4 1/2 cents,

Sep 25 Soybeans closed at $10.02, down 3 3/4 cents,

Nov 25 Soybeans closed at $10.21, down 3 1/4 cents,

New Crop Cash was $9.70 3/4, down 3 3/4 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Man with shoe on head forced to apologise over old dispute in MPs Shivpuri; one held

Rewati Karan

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'People ran over children, bodies were scattered': Eyewitness recounts what went down during Haridwar Mansa Devi stampede

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Reservation will survive only if Constitution survives: Akhilesh Yadav on Aarakshan Divas

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Tension in Jharkhand's Ramgarh as man dies after escaping from police custody, Congress demands immediate arrest

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Uttarakhand: Six killed in stampede at Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar

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Man wins Rs 2.3 lakh lawsuit against employer on being forced to attend online meetings after work

Ankita Sengupta

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Key Points

TSMC delivered terrific results on July 17 and raised its full-year guidance.

The company's earnings growth is expected to accelerate going forward.

TSMC's valuation and healthy growth make the stock an attractive buy right now.

10 stocks we like better than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) has been at the center of the artificial intelligence (AI) chip boom by virtue of its status as the world's largest semiconductor foundry. The company, commonly known as TSMC, reported second quarter results on July 17, only to remind the market why it is one of the best ways to capitalize on the growth in AI semiconductor demand.

All the major chip companies, such as Broadcom, Marvell, Nvidia, AMD, and Intel, have been using TSMC's fabrication plants to manufacture their AI chips. Moreover, the chips that go into AI-enabled smartphones are manufactured at TSMC's facilities since it counts the likes of Qualcomm and Apple as customers too.

This world-class client base and the secular growth of the AI chip market allowed TSMC to deliver outstanding Q2 results and boost its full-year guidance as well. Take a closer look at the latest numbers, and you'll see why it's not too late for investors to buy this hot AI stock.

Image source: Getty Images.

TSMC's AI-fueled growth is here to stay

TSMC reported an impressive 44% year-over-year increase in its Q2 revenue to $30.1 billion, exceeding the high end of its guidance range. Meanwhile, the company's adjusted earnings per share shot up at a much faster pace of 61%, a testament to its solid pricing power.

TSMC controls 68% of the global semiconductor foundry market, well ahead of its closest rival, Samsung, which has a market share of just under 8%. The company has managed to build such a huge gap over the competition thanks to the technological lead of its process nodes. As a result, TSMC has the ability to raise the prices of its services, and that explains why its gross margin increased by more than five percentage points last quarter from the prior-year period.

Importantly, TSMC is now anticipating its full-year revenue will grow 30% in 2025, up from its earlier estimate of mid-20% growth. But TSMC could end the year with an even bigger top-line jump as it has already achieved 40% year-over-year growth in the first half of 2025, and it is expecting a 38% spike in revenue in the current quarter (at the midpoint of guidance).

What's worth noting here is that TSMC says its guidance takes into account the potential impact of tariffs on its business. Even then, the company has raised its full-year outlook, and it won't be surprising to see it end 2025 with a bigger-than-expected jump in revenue and earnings. In fact, TSMC's red-hot growth seems sustainable for a long time to come, considering the secular growth opportunity presented by AI.
India and Japan positioned to co-lead values-driven 'third path' for AI

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iQOO Z10R buying guide: Should you buy it under Rs 20,000?

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.

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'A thumb wider than her ankle': Gazas 5-year-old Zainab dies weighing less than at birth

Pragya Trivedi

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Hours after Ishaq Dar's U-turn on US terror listing, TRF says armed struggle 'lawful and necessary'

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Zegona acquired Vodafones Spanish business for 4.4bn last year - Angel Garcia/Bloomberg

The boss of a little-known UK telecoms business was handed a record 131m last year, marking the highest-ever package paid by a London-listed business.

Eamonn OHare, who runs Zegona Communications, received a 129m bonus in 2024, on top of 2m in annual pay and benefits.

The companys operations chief, Robert Samuelson, also took home a total package of 66m. By contrast, the average remuneration for an FTSE 100 chief executive last year was 4.2m.

The lucrative pay awards were made after Zegona acquired Vodafones Spanish arm for 4.4bn last year.

Mr OHare and Mr Samuelson, both former Virgin Media executives, launched Zegona a decade ago to buy up struggling assets in the telecoms sector and turn them around.

Zegona went public in 2015 with a float on Londons AIM junior exchange, when it raised 30m. However, its value has since soared after undertaking a series of deals, buying up unloved assets and selling them on for profit.

It took over Spanish regional telecoms business Asturias in 2015 in a 640m deal before later selling it for a considerable profit.

Last year, Zegona also completed a deal for Vodafone Spain in a 5bn transaction amid a carve-up of the companys European divisions.

Zegona said the deal was the culmination of three years of concerted efforts and exceptionally hard work by its senior executives, which was reflected in key remuneration matters.

The companys pay structure rewards senior leaders with up to 15pc of the growth in value of Zegonas shares. The majority of the pay awards will take the form of stock.

Zegonas annual report said its pay structure was non-standard in nature but had been central to Zegonas outsize performance, driving unrelenting commercial focus and shareholder value creation.

The company reported revenues of 3bn and a loss before tax of 450m, which included acquisition costs. It has cut 28pc of Vodafone Spains headcount since the deal went through last year.

Mr OHares pay deal makes him the best-paid chief executive of any London-listed company. Denise Coates, of Bet365, is currently the UKs best-paid chief executive, taking home 150m last year. The Sunday Times first reported the pay deals.

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My hand was hanging by a thread: Indian man attacked with machete in Melbourne; four teens held

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Symbolic affirmation? Pak bestows top military honours on US General who called it 'phenomenal counterterror partner'

Pragya Trivedi

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Bloomberg / Getty Images Tesla launched its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas last month

Key Takeaways

Tesla could be set to launch its robotaxi service in San Francisco as early this weekend, according to a Business Insider report Friday, citing an internal memo.

The EV maker's shares climbed Friday, recovering some ground after tumbling in the wake of a weak earnings report.

Cathie Wood's ARK Invest also bought more than 140,000 shares the day after the quarterly results were released.





Tesla (TSLA) could expand its robotaxi service to San Francisco as early as this weekend, according to a report Friday. Its stock gained, making up some of its losses from the day before.

Tesla shares added 3.5% Friday, but still logged a losing week after tumbling nearly 8% Thursday on a weaker-than-expected earnings report. The electric vehicle maker's profits declined for a second straight quarter, as Tesla has seen sales fall in key markets like the U.S. and China.

Tesla could be prepared to roll out its robotaxis in San Francisco as early as this weekend, after their launch in Austin, Texas last month, Business Insider reported Friday, citing an internal memo to staff. The test program will operate in a geofenced area that includes a large portion of the Bay Area, the report said.

Tesla did not immediately respond to an Investopedia request for comment on the report.



Cathie Wood's ARK Invest Buys the Dip in Tesla Stock

Separately, a trio of Cathie Wood's ARK Invest ETFs collectively bought more than 140,000 shares of Tesla for nearly $44 million on Thursday, according to an Investor's Business Daily report.

The longtime Tesla bull's ARK Invest purchased more than 115,380 shares on Tuesday, and 60,000 shares on July 18, an earlier IBD report said. Tesla is the top holding of the ARK Innovation ETF, making up nearly 10% of the funds weight.



This article has been updated since it was first published to reflect more recent share price values.

Read the original article on Investopedia
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By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Chemical products companies in Brazil, which exported $2.4 billion to the U.S. last year, face a slew of contract cancellations as President Donald Trump has threatened a new 50% tariff on the South American nation's exports from August 1.

Since Trump's announcement, export orders have been canceled for certain resins and compounds used to make fertilizers, which Brazil supplies to the U.S. agriculture sector, Andre Cordeiro, head of Brazilian chemical lobby Abiquim, said on Friday.

"Fundamentally, these decisions are being made because the bet is that he will actually apply the tariff," Cordeiro said.

One company in Brazil had all its contracts for exports to the U.S. canceled, Cordeiro said, adding that other businesses have seen some of their contracts canceled. There are also cases where sellers had secured export financing for the order, which was later revoked.

He declined to name the affected exporters.

Losses associated with the tariffs go beyond direct exports, as almost every industry uses chemicals in manufacturing processes, from oil to steel, from machinery to production of agricultural commodities, he said.

"No one produces coffee, even grains, without some kind of chemical product in the process."

Cordeiro added that chemical companies are losing export business and also local sales to clients that export goods into the U.S. market.

Brazilian plywood exporters, for example, use chemicals for bonding and themselves have faced U.S. order cancellations, he said. Orange juice makers, which sent 42% of their exports to the U.S. last year, also use chemical preservatives.

Brazilian companies like Braskem have operations in the U.S. and could be affected.

Dow Chemical (DOW), which has 10 plants in Brazil and sizeable exports of silicon metal for processing in the U.S., is also at risk.

Braskem and Dow did not immediately comment.

Exxon Mobil (XOM), which declined to comment, operates in Brazil and serves clients in various industries.

Tariffs are unjustified because Brazil's chemical sector runs a $7.9 billion trade deficit with the U.S., Abiquim said.

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by David Gregorio)
Bremen tops Germanys crime rankings in 2024

Bremen recorded the nation's highest crime rate in 2024, with 15,424 offenses per 100,000 residents, surpassing Frankfurt and Berlin, according to Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) data.

The city leads in predatory crimes like muggings (194 cases per 100,000) and shows high rates of theft, particularly shoplifting, vehicle thefts and bicycle thefts.

Bremen's case clearance rate is just 44.5 percent, one of the lowest in Germany, largely due to high volumes of theft and fraud, which typically have low solve rates.

Seventy-three percent of suspects in 2024 were non-German nationals, up from 57 percent in 2023. Authorities noted overrepresentation of young men from North African and Middle Eastern countries in robbery and street crime.

With 45.1 percent of its population having a migration background, Bremen has the highest migrant share of any German state. Comparisons with lower-crime cities like Dresden (with only 10 to 12 percent migrants) are fueling a national debate on integration and public safety.

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) report has revealed that the northern city of Bremen officially recorded the highest crime rate among Germany's major cities in 2024.

According to the BKA report, Bremen has overtaken other major urban centers, including Frankfurt am Main (14,600) and Berlin (14,252), with 15,424 criminal offenses per 100,000 inhabitants.

The figures, originally presented by Bremen's Interior Senator Ulrich Maurer (SPD) in March, stem from the Police Crime Statistics (PKS) of the state, which documented nearly 89,000 criminal cases in 2024. The data, now confirmed by the BKA, positions Bremen at the top of Germany's urban crime rankings  a development the opposition FDP has seized on, branding Bremen "the most dangerous city in Germany."

One of the most troubling aspects of the report is Bremen's lead in so-called predatory crimes, which include muggings and violent robberies. With 194 such cases per 100,000 residents, Bremen outpaces all other German cities, including Bremerhaven, which follows with 178.

Theft remains another significant driver of crime in the city, making up nearly half of all reported offenses. Bremen showed particularly high rates of shoplifting and thefts from vehicles. Bicycle thefts were also rampant, with 1,087 reported cases per 100,000 people  a number only exceeded in the university cities of Gottingen (2,147), Munster (1,393) and Leipzig (1,105).

Bremen also ranks high in fraud and cybercrime, contributing to its overall position at the top of national crime rankings.

Street crime, a broad category that includes offences such as battery, theft and robbery occurring in public spaces, is another area where Bremen performs poorly. With 3,702 such crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, the city trails only Gottingen. (Related: Report: Almost half of welfare recipients in Germany are MIGRANTS.)

Adding to the concern is the low case clearance rate of the city. With only 44.5 percent of cases resolved, Bremen ranks at the bottom nationally. The Domestic Authority attributes this in part to the high volume of theft and fraud cases, which historically have low clearance rates nationwide.

Bremen's increasing crime rates linked to migration

Bremen's high crime numbers have various explanations, but one recurring theme in the debate is the unique demographic profile of the city.

According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb), 45.1 percent of Bremen's population has a migration background  the highest share of any German state.

Weser Kurier and public broadcaster Buten un Binnen report that in 2024, 73 percent of all criminal suspects in Bremen were non-German nationals, up from 57 percent in 2023. Authorities specifically cited young men from North African and Middle Eastern countries, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Syria, as overrepresented in police statistics, particularly in robbery and street crime. Law enforcement officials said many of the repeat offenders have since been imprisoned.

Moreover, Modernity made a stronger link between migration and crime, pointing to comparisons with cities like Dresden, which has a similar population size to Bremen, around 500,000 residents, but a much lower share of residents with a migration background (estimated at 10 to 12 percent). Dresden's crime rate is dramatically lower, despite being located in the economically weaker eastern part of Germany.

Interestingly, the cities with the highest crime rates  Bremen, Berlin and Frankfurt  also have some of the highest shares of migrants.

Head over to Migrants.news for similar stories.

Watch this video of two federal police officers at the German border estimating that around 500,000 soldiers are waiting for the day migrants can come in without any restrictions.

This video is from the Auriga Books channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Germany needs 1.5 million migrants per year and they don't need to speak German, says head of government's Council of Experts.

Germany: Nigerian migrant grabs 9-year-old boy and stabs 2 police officers, immediately released by the courts.

Germany SUSPENDS Schengen Area access scheme, tightens border security.

Germany: Murder victims in the Solingen massacre were activists in favor of 'tolerance' and 'integration.'

Germany pledges $326 million in humanitarian aid for Syria.

Sources include:

Modernity.news

WeserKurier.de

Brighteon.com
Declassified: DOJ strike force unleashed as docs show Obama aides orchestrated Russia hoax

The Justice Department formed a strike force to investigate declassified documents alleging Obama-era officials fabricated TrumpRussia collusion intelligence.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel have opened criminal probes against former officials John Brennan and James Comey.

Debriefs and interviews revealed key Obama officials admitted having no empirical evidence of TrumpRussia ties but pushed the narrative anyway.

Documents show Russia discreetly held damaging health/data on Hillary Clinton but chose not to release it in 2016, while Obama officials concealed efforts to defame Trump.

Democrats dismiss the scandal as a hoax, citing Senate Intelligence Committee findings, while Republicans call it a historic cover-up from the Obama administration.

Ongoing declassification of classified documents by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has exposed a coordinated effort by Barack Obamas national security team to weaponize intelligence and falsely allege collusion between Donald Trumps 2016 campaign and Russiaa narrative now widely discredited. The Justice Department has formed a strike force to investigate these claims, which include falsified reports, politicized intelligence assessments and potential criminal misconduct by former officials like ex-CIA Director John Brennan, former FBI Director James Comey and key Obama-era backups. The revelations, rooted in a 2020 House Intelligence Committee report and other newly released records, shine a light on how the Russia Hoax may have been manufactured to overshadow Secretary Hillary Clintons compromising emails and health issuesand its toll on U.S. democracy.

Declassified Docs Expose Manufactured Russia Collusion Narrative

According to documents declassified this week, Obamas intelligence team rushed to produce the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), a key pillar of the TrumpRussia probe, despite lacking empirical evidence. The ICA falsely claimed Russia sought to elect Trumpa conclusion House Intelligence investigators found contradicted by evidence that Vladimir Putin actually expected Clinton to win and intended to exploit her health and political vulnerabilities later.

The dossier paid for by Clintons campaign, which included unverified claims of Trumps golden showers with Russian agents, was inserted into the ICA at Brennans urging, despite being labeled highly problematic by intelligence officials. Congressional testimonies revealed top Obama aides had no evidence of collusion, conspiracy, or coordination between Trump associates and Russia. Even former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, CIA Director Brennan and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch admitted under oath they had no direct empirical evidence of Russian collusion with Trump but still advanced the narrative publicly.

DOJ Strike Force Targets Obama-Era Officials; Brennan and Comey Face Probes

The Justice Departments new strike force, consisting of prosecutors and investigators from the National Security Division, has opened criminal probes into Brennan and Comey for potential fraud, obstruction and conspiracy. The CIA earlier this month referred Brennan to the FBI after internal reviews found he knowingly included discredited fake news like the Steele dossier in intelligence assessments. Comey, who famously briefed Trump on the dossier in December 2016, faces scrutiny for violating protocols by relying on unverified sources and colluding with Obama officials to sustain the Russia narrative.

Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed to leave no stone unturned in the review of potential misconduct by Obama-era appointees who weaponized intelligence to defame an American president. The investigations have also implicated other figures, including former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Secretary of State John Kerry and FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who repeatedly admitted the Steele dossiers unreliability under congressional questioning but still used it to justify surveillance against Trump associates.

House Intel Documents Reveal Putins Unexpected Clinton Contingency Plan

The House Intelligence Committee report, first published in 2020 but kept under wraps until now, found Putins intelligence services quietly stockpiled damaging data on Clintons health and financial ties. Clinton was allegedly treated with heavy sedatives to manage mood swings, according to Russian sources, while her campaign planned to deflect scrutiny from her email scandal by falsely accusing Trump and Moscow. U.S. intelligence flagged these efforts but was overridden to push the Russia-Trump angle instead.

Were getting additional insight into Russian activities from (REDACTED), read Brennans handwritten notes from the Obama White House, which identified a Clinton campaign advisors plot to vilify Trump with a Russia scandal. The report also highlighted how Democrats concealed this information from the public, fueling a campaign of whataboutism that overshadowed Clintons legal vulnerabilities.

Political Fallout and the Lingering Legacy of the Hoax

Democrats, including Obamas defenders, have dismissed the declassified findings as a financially motivated far-right conspiracy, citing a 2020 Senate Intelligence Committee report (chaired by Marco Rubio) that found Russia indeed meddled in 2016 but stopped short of proving decisive impact on the elections outcome. However, the newly released documents suggest the ICA was politicized from its inceptiona charge amplified by the FBIs admission that the Trump surveillance program lacked a factual basis and violated counterintelligence protocols.

The scandal has reignited debates about whether U.S. intelligence agencies can remain apolitical, especially amid bipartisan relations fractured by the January 6 committee hearings and the Biden administrations handling of classified documents. Tulsi Gabbard, who oversees declassification, said the revelations demand accountability: When presidents weaponize intelligence to destabilize their political opponents, were no longer a democracy.

A National Security Crossroads

The Obama-era intelligence failures, now laid bare, mark a turning point for national security oversight and public trust in government. For conservatives, this is a confirmation of yearslong claims that Democrats cynically exploited the Russia narrative to undermine Trumps legitimacy. Liberals, meanwhile, argue the revelations are a distraction from ongoing threats like Chinas hacking campaigns. Either way, the vindication of Trumps 2016 no collusion stance raises existential questions about institutional safeguardsand whether Americas next foreign policy challenges will be met with truth or politicized lies.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

FoxNews.com

NYPost.com
Egypt pressured Al-Azhar to withdraw statement condemning genocidal starvation in Gaza, sources say

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi pressured Al-Azhar's Grand Imam to retract a statement accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza and criticizing arms-supplying nations.

The original Al-Azhar statement described Israel's actions as "deliberate and lethal starvation" and held complicit states morally accountable.

The statement was deleted shortly after publication, with Al-Azhar later claiming it could harm ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Sources confirmed the retraction came under direct pressure from Egypt's presidency, concerned about offending Western allies.

Scholar Ali al-Qaradaghi condemned the deletion as an attempt to silence moral and religious conscience amid a deepening famine in Gaza, where 115 people, including 80 children, have died of starvation since March.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt pressured the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, into retracting a scathing condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza.

The statement, published briefly on July 22 by Al-Azhar, the world's most prominent Sunni Islamic authority, accused Israel of committing a "fully fledged crime of genocide" through the deliberate starvation of Gaza's civilian population. It also criticized countries supplying weapons to Israel, labeling them complicit in the unfolding crisis.

"Al-Azhar strongly affirms that the deliberate and lethal starvation imposed by this abhorrent occupation upon the peaceful people of Gaza, people desperately seeking mere crumbs of bread or a cup of water, while simultaneously targeting shelters for displaced persons and humanitarian aid distribution centers with live ammunition, constitutes a fully fledged crime of genocide," the deleted statement read. "Moreover, anyone who supplies this entity with weapons or who emboldens it through complicit resolutions or hypocritical words is a partner in this act of genocide. They shall be held to account by the Just Judge, the Almighty Avenger, on the Day when neither wealth nor children shall be of benefit. Let those who support such actions remember well the timeless wisdom: 'We were devoured the day the white bull was devoured.'"

However, Al-Azhar immediately removed the statement after a few hours of publication.

The next day, Al-Azhar released a follow-up explanation, saying it had withdrawn the statement "with courage and responsibility before God" after realizing it could negatively impact ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. (Related: Starvation could lead to MASS DEATHS in the Gaza Strip, resident warns.)

"Al-Azhar Al-Sharif took the initiative to withdraw its statement with all courage and responsibility before God when it realized that this statement might affect the ongoing negotiations regarding the establishment of a humanitarian truce in Gaza to save innocent people and so that this statement would not be used as a pretext to withdraw from the negotiations or compromise," Al-Azhar wrote in their official statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

But two sources close to Al-Azhar and the presidency revealed that the decision to retract the original message was made after direct intervention from el-Sisi's office. The sources said the presidency was particularly concerned about language implicating third-party states, including Egypt's Western allies, in war crimes.

Scholar decries silencing of Al-Azhar statement as Gaza starvation crisis deepens

Since March 2, Israel's siege on Gaza has blocked the entry of humanitarian supplies by the United Nations (UN) and partner organizations, pushing the enclave's 2.1 million residents to the brink of famine.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 115 Palestinians, including 80 children, have died of starvation since March. On July 21 alone, 15 people died of malnutrition.

In turn, Ali al-Qaradaghi, the head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, condemned the deletion of Al-Azhar's statement as an unjustified and troubling act.

"Why are voices being silenced?" he posted on his official account on X. "The deletion of Al-Azhar's statement, which cried out to consciences to save Gaza, is an unjustified act and a desperate attempt to suppress the voice of human and religious conscience in a time of silence and complicity."

Visit Genocide.news for more stories related to this.

Watch this video that discusses how the famine in Gaza is forcing people to eat animal feed to survive.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

War on Gaza: How Israel is replicating Nazi starvation tactics.

Starvation as a weapon: Zionist Israel wages Holodomor against Gaza.

UN experts: Children in Gaza are dying because of Israel's "targeted starvation campaign."

GENOCIDE by STARVATION: Israel's bombing operations have exhausted the food supply in Gaza.

Israel blocks aid to Gaza, accused of using starvation as leverage in ceasefire talks.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net

X.com

Brighteon.com
EPA mulls rescinding climate change endangerment finding that justifies federal emissions regulation

The EPA is drafting a proposal to repeal the 2009 "endangerment finding," which classified greenhouse gases as a threat to public health and enabled federal regulation of emissions under the Clean Air Act. This move would strip the EPA's authority to enforce climate policies.

The proposal would eliminate legal justification for regulating greenhouse gases, removing motor vehicle emissions limits. Critics argue this undermines climate progress, while supporters claim it corrects overreach by the Obama-era EPA.

Environmental groups and legal scholars warn the repeal contradicts scientific consensus and court precedents, such as the 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA ruling. Legal challenges are expected, potentially causing policy delays.

The Trump administration aims to dismantle federal climate regulations to prioritize fossil fuel expansion. Critics say repealing the endangerment finding could permanently hinder future climate action, despite overwhelming evidence of climate risks.

The proposal marks a pivotal moment in U.S. climate policy, with far-reaching consequences for the environment, public health and the economy. It will face intense scrutiny and litigation, prolonging conflicts over climate regulation.

In a move that has sparked intense debate and concern among environmentalists and legal experts, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reportedly drafting a proposal to rescind the 2009 "endangerment finding," a cornerstone of federal climate policy.

This finding  which established that greenhouse gas emissions pose a threat to public health and welfare  has been the legal foundation for regulating emissions from vehicles, power plants and other sources.

The EPA, under the leadership of Administrator Lee Zeldin, announced in March that it would reconsider the endangerment finding, a decision that was part of a broader effort to roll back environmental regulations. According to sources familiar with the matter, the draft proposal aims to eliminate the legal justification for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. This would effectively strip away the regulatory power that has been used to implement significant climate policies over the past decade.

The proposal, titled "Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding and Motor Vehicle Reconsideration Rule," is currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget. Once the interagency review is complete, it will be published for public comment. The EPA has not disclosed the details of the draft, but sources indicate that it would remove all limits on motor vehicle emissions, a move that could have far-reaching consequences for the environment and public health.

Political and environmental implications

Thomas Pyle, president of the Institute for Energy Research, a conservative think tank, supports the review, stating that the EPA's original decision was not mandated by Congress and relied on a single Supreme Court case. He believes that Congress should have the final say on the matter.

Legal scholars point out that the proposal is likely to face significant legal challenges. New York University law professor Richard Revesz noted that while the repeal might not hold up in court, it could still create uncertainty and delay in U.S. climate policy until a final judicial decision is made. Vicki Arroyo, who teaches environmental law at Georgetown University, described the move as an attempt to "turn back the clock and re-litigate both the science and the law."

Joseph Goffman, who led the EPA's air office under the Biden administration, stated that the proposed rule conflicts with the 2007 Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, which first recognized greenhouse gases as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. He warned that the Trump administration's proposal could have significant legal and environmental repercussions.

The 2009 endangerment finding was based on a comprehensive scientific assessment that linked greenhouse gas emissions to rising global temperatures, more frequent and severe weather events, and increased health risks. Environmental advocates argue that repealing the endangerment finding would not only erase current limits on emissions but also prevent future administrations from implementing effective climate policies.

The Trump administration's efforts to roll back the endangerment finding 16 years later are part of a larger strategy to dismantle federal climate regulations. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has consistently prioritized the expansion of fossil fuel production and use, while undermining policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. (Related: EPA proposes repeal of climate regulations on power plants: A new era for energy policy)

Follow EPA.news for more similar stories.

Watch this Fox Business report about EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin shutting down Biden-era projects he describes as a "ridiculous waste of money."

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EPA faces scientific backlash: Climate skeptics challenge 40-year consensus.

EPA confirms existence of GEOENGINEERING programs, validating long-held public concerns.

EPA advisor admits panic-funneling billions to climate organizations ahead of Trump presidency.

Sources include:

ClimateDepot.com

NYTimes.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
Beautys hidden toll: How everyday products sabotage your bodys pollution defense

Personal care products disrupt a natural "oxidation field" that guards against pollutants.

Fragrances and lotions containing ethanol and phenoxyethanol dramatically reduce protective radicals, weakening this defense.

Over 70% of U.S. homes contain mold, and 90% of adults use products linked to health risks like cancer and endocrine disruption.

Fragrance-free labels dont mean safetykey ingredients in lotions still reduce protective molecules by 34%.

Solutions include switching to essential oil-based products, HEPA filters and natural odor-removing agents like baking soda.

When Dr. Joseph Mercola reported on a sweeping Penn State study in July 2025, it exposed an unsettling truth: Household beauty and cleaning products dont just scent or moisturizethey actively attack the bodys natural defense against pollutants. The research, published in Science Advances, revealed that ingredients in lotions, perfumes and even fragrance-free products disrupt a protective chemical layer around the human body, leaving people more vulnerable to air pollution. This invisible shield operates much like a force field, using reactive hydroxyl molecules (OH) to break down toxins before they enter the lungs or skin. Now, however, scientists warn that our obsession with synthetic fragrances and cosmetics is dismantling this critical barrier, posing risks from asthma to cancer.

How perfumes and lotions undermine your health

The Penn State team found that personal care products emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that consume OH radicalsthe protective molecules. Ethanol and phenoxyethanol, commonly found in perfumes and lotions, are primary culprits. Volunteers applying a typical fragrance saw OH radical concentrations drop by 86% as ethanol levels skyrocketed; one fragrance aerosolized more ethanol than a crowded stadiums beer-infused air. Even fragrance-free lotions containing phenoxyethanol reduced key defensive molecules by 34%, thinning skin oils that interact with ozone to create this shield.

The application of a fragrance and lotion together exacerbates the problem, said lead researcher Nora Zannoni. Fragrances cause immediate spikes in reactive chemicals, while lotions create persistent suppression, weakening the oxidation field over time.

This imbalance matters most around the face and chestzones nearest to breathing spaceswhere pollutants infiltrate unchecked. The study highlighted that 90% of Americans spend their lives indoors, giving these products ample opportunity to disrupt health.

Beyond air pollution: The hidden health toll of synthetic ingredients

The Penn State findings underscore a broader crisis. Cosmetic ingredients like phthalates, formaldehyde and oxybenzone, flagged in a 2025 Journal of Dermatology and Cosmetology review, cause skin allergies, hormone disruptions and cancer. Dr. Mercolas article warns of more than rashes:

Carcinogens: Formaldehyde in nail polish and parabens in lotions are classified as potential or confirmed cancer risks by the World Health Organization.

Formaldehyde in nail polish and parabens in lotions are classified as potential or confirmed cancer risks by the World Health Organization. Endocrine chaos: Phthalates mimic hormones, linked to infertility, thyroid disorders and developmental delays.

Phthalates mimic hormones, linked to infertility, thyroid disorders and developmental delays. Respiratory harm: Inhaled particles from powdered cosmetics trigger asthma and lung inflammation, while VOCs in fragrances exacerbate headaches and migraines.

The studys authors stress that even natural products arent flawless. Coal tar in dyes, heavy metals like lead in cosmetics and hydroquinone in skin-lighteners remain toxic, emphasizing the need for ingredient scrutiny.

Protecting yourself: Safer choices and proactive solutions

To mitigate risk, experts recommend:

Ditch synthetic scents: Switch to essential oils (lavender, eucalyptus) and avoid products listing vague terms like fragrance. A perfume made with linalool alone reduced protective OH radicals by just 10%, versus 86% for ethanol-heavy sprays. Adopt labels, not myths: Fragrance-free doesnt mean chemical-freeread ingredient lists to avoid phenoxyethanol and ethanol. Opt for single-ingredient moisturizers like coconut oil or tallow. Purify air proactively: HEPA filters and photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) devices, as highlighted in earlier research by Mike Adams, neutralize pollutants before they breach the bodys compromised defenses. Boost indoor ventilation: Open windows during low-pollution periods and use air purifiers, especially in bedrooms, to let the body recover overnight.

A call for transparency and regulation

The Penn State study underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations on cosmetics and a cultural shift toward non-toxic personal care. As global sales of beauty products approach $200 billion annually, governments must prioritize safety over profit. Meanwhile, consumers are empowered to demand transparency: question labels, avoid synthetic additives and embrace science-backed alternatives.

Scientific and historical context further amplifies the stakes. Indoor air, now 10-100 times more toxic than outdoor air since energy-efficient building codes of the 1990s, compounds these risks. We cant rely on politicianswe have to protect ourselves, said health advocate Mike Dillon in 2023, echoing a theme seen again in this groundbreaking study. By choosing wisely and advocating for change, we can reclaim control over the air we breatheand safeguard health for generations.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

PMC.NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

New-Medical.net
U.K. to ban ransomware payments by public sector and critical infrastructure operators

The U.K. government is advancing plans to ban ransomware payments across the public sector and critical national infrastructure, such as the NHS, local councils and energy providers, expanding an existing ban on government departments.

Despite a 35 percent decline in ransomware attacks in 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre warns the threat remains serious, citing recent attacks on Synnovis and the British Library as examples of ongoing disruption.

The proposal includes a mandatory reporting system requiring victims to report ransomware incidents within 72 hours, as well as a potential prevention regime requiring non-covered entities to notify authorities if they intend to pay a ransom.

Nearly 75 percent of respondents to a public consultation supported the ban and 63 percent backed mandatory reporting. However, opinions were divided on the appropriate penalties, with concerns about criminalizing victims.

While penalties for non-compliance received general support, the Home Office is still evaluating whether they should be civil or criminal, aiming to balance enforcement with fairness to affected organizations.

The U.K. government is pushing forward with plans to ban ransomware payments across the public sector and operators of critical national infrastructure.

Ransomware, a malicious software that locks users out of their systems until a ransom (often in cryptocurrency) is paid, remains one of the most disruptive cyber threats facing the United Kingdom. While recent data shows a decline in attacks, the threat persists. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reported a 35 percent drop in ransomware incidents last year compared to 2023. However, the National Cyber Security Center has warned that the threat remains immediate and disruptive.

The Annual Cyber Security Review, released in December 2024, cited several high-profile attacks as examples. A June 2024 ransomware incident targeting pathology lab Synnovis led to delays in elective procedures and outpatient appointments. A separate attack in October 2023 severely compromised the British Library's digital systems.

Ransomware may have declined in volume, but the financial toll of cybercrime remains significant. A report in June by blockchain security firm CertiK found that wallet compromises and phishing attacks now account for the bulk of crypto-related losses. (Related: Ransomware gang claims responsibility for recent hacking incident against conservative newspaper The Washington Times.)

In line with this, the U.K. government proposed a plan on July 22 that would prohibit organizations such as the National Health Service, local councils and energy providers from paying ransoms to cybercriminals. The move, which follows a public consultation, was built on an existing ban already in place for central government departments.

The proposals include a new threshold-based reporting system. Under this system, any victim of a ransomware attack would be required to file an initial report within 72 hours, including key details of the incident, followed by a more detailed account within 28 days. The Home Office is also considering new requirements for businesses and organizations not covered by the ban. These would include a mandatory "prevention regime" obliging victims to notify the government if they intend to pay a ransom.

"Ransomware preys on businesses and disrupts vital public services like schools and hospitals. We must protect our economy against the criminals who hold organizations to ransom. I've announced our plan to target these criminal networks and smash the ransomware operating model," said U.K. Security Minister Dan Jarvis.

U.K. ransomware payment ban gains broad support, but penalties spark debate

A clear majority supports the proposal to ban ransomware payments across public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure, but opinions are split on whether and how to penalize those who violate the rules. The consultation, which ran from Jan. 14 to April 8, drew 273 responses. Of those, 57 percent came from organizations, 39 percent from individuals and the remaining four percent from other groups.

According to the results, nearly 75 percent of respondents backed the proposed targeted ban, citing the need to curb the profitability of ransomware attacks that continue to disrupt vital public services. The consultation also revealed varying levels of support for related proposals.

A majority of 63 percent backed the introduction of a threshold-based mandatory reporting system. In contrast, only 41 percent supported retaining the current voluntary reporting framework. Opinions were more divided on the proposed prevention regime, with nearly half of respondents expressing support for an economy-wide ransomware payment ban, rather than limiting the measure to specific sectors.

However, views diverged sharply on what enforcement should look like. Respondents generally supported penalties for breaches across all three proposals, including the ransomware payment ban, a prevention regime for non-covered entities and mandatory reporting, but concerns were raised about the risk of "criminalizing victims." Some respondents questioned whether penalties should be criminal or civil in nature, and warned of unintended consequences for businesses already grappling with cyberattacks.

The Home Office acknowledged the complexity, saying it would "continue to explore the most appropriate and proportionate penalties" in light of the mixed feedback.

Visit CyberWar.news for more similar stories.

Watch the video below that talks about ransomware attacks, where victims are left without water or money access.

This video is from the InfoWarSSideBand channel on Brighteon.com.

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Ransomware attack on Dole causes SHORTAGE of salad in groceries.

Food giant Dole temporarily halts U.S. production following ransomware cyberattack.

Costa Rican government under siege from massive ransomware attack; hackers threaten to overthrow regime.

Was the FAA's nationwide ground stop on flights last week the work of ransomware hackers?

Ransomware attack on blood bank forces hundreds of hospitals in southeastern U.S. to activate blood shortage protocols.

Sources include:

CoinTelegraph.com 1

CoinTelegraph.com 2

Brighteon.com
UN report calls for ban on sex changes for minors, warns transgender ideology threatens womens rights

A draft report by United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem warns that transgender ideology is undermining the legal rights, safety and recognition of women and girls.

The report urges a global ban on gender-transition procedures for children, citing evidence of long-term harm and lack of informed consent, particularly among girls and autistic youth.

Alsalem denounces gender-neutral language and policies that erase biological sex, arguing they obstruct efforts toward genuine gender equality and compromise women's rights.

Nations like the U.K., Brazil and the Netherlands are commended for imposing tighter controls on gender-affirming treatments for minors, with the report encouraging others to follow.

The report marks a sharp departure from recent UN positions, signaling a possible turning point in global policy debates over sex, gender identity and women's rights.

A newly released draft report from the United Nations (UN) is calling for a ban on sex-change procedures for minors and warning that transgender ideology is eroding the legal rights, health and safety of women and girls.

The report, titled "Sex-Based Violence Against Women and Girls: New Frontiers and Emerging Issues," was authored by UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls Reem Alsalem. The report presented a stark critique of a "concerted international push" to redefine or erase the legal category of "woman" in both language and law.

"Recently, there has been a concerted international push to delink the definition of men and women from their biological sex and erase the legal category of 'women.' Such efforts have undermined the practical achievement of equality between men and women. Women are therefore being denied their rightful recognition as a distinct category in law and society. It is a form of 'coercive inclusion' that relies on the expectation that women will be kind enough to sacrifice their own recognition and protection for the sake of others," Alsalem wrote.

Alsalem also criticized the shift from sex-based to gender-neutral terminology such as "birthing persons" and "vagina havers." She argued that these changes obscure biological realities and hinder efforts toward gender equality. (Related: Author of U.K. report about child sex change procedures being TARGETED by trans activists.)

The 22-page draft has also raised alarm over medical and social gender-transition interventions for children, particularly for girls and youth on the autism spectrum. Alsalem cited growing evidence that children may be unduly influenced by prevailing social narratives and may not fully comprehend the long-term consequences of medical transition.

"Allowing children access to such procedures not only violates their right to safety, security and freedom from violence, but also disregards their human right to the highest standards of health and goes against their best interests. Children are also not able to provide informed consent for such procedures. In situations in which such procedures have been found to have caused grave and lifelong harm, consent would be meaningless for both adults and children." Alsalem wrote.

Furthermore, the report defended the preservation of female-only spaces and legal categories based on biological sex, warning that current gender policies risk compromising the safety and privacy of women and girls. It has also voiced strong support for free speech protections for those expressing dissent from prevailing gender ideology, including women who have been labeled as "transphobic" for advocating sex-based rights.

UN report may signal a turning point in global policy conversation

The report emerges in the context of a growing international movement challenging gender ideology as harmful to women and children. This represents a significant break from the stance many UN bodies have adopted in recent years and may signal a turning point in the global policy conversation.

Giorgio Mazzoli, the director of UN Advocacy at the Christian legal organization ADF International, welcomed the report, saying he was encouraged that the UN is acknowledging how the "erosion of legal clarity on sex" has contributed to the exploitation of young girls.

"The report underscores how the erosion of legal clarity around sex, an objective and immutable biological reality, has had devastating implications for the dignity, safety and rights of women and girls," Mazzoli said.

Visit Gender.news for more similar stories.

Watch Dr. Miriam Grossman's warning about the transgender movement being an evil cult below.

This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden wants all children to have access to sex change operations.

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.

Supreme Court allows Idaho to enforce ban on sex change procedures for transgender youths.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

OHCHR.org

LifeSiteNews.com

Brighteon.com
Evidence suggests verbal fluency and sleep quality are key predictors of longevity

Verbal fluencythe ability to quickly generate words/vocabularyis the strongest predictor of longevity among cognitive skills studied.

Older adults with lower verbal fluency lived nearly 9 years less than peers with high scores, according to research tracking over 500 people for up to 18 years.

Reduced deep sleep and REM sleep stages correlate with accelerated atrophy in brain regions early affected by Alzheimers, underscoring sleeps role in neurodegeneration.

Verbal fluency integrates memory, attention and mental agility, serving as a holistic indicator of brain health.

Practical advice includes maintaining sleep consistency, minimizing caffeine/late alcohol intake and engaging in word-based exercises to support cognitive longevity.

A groundbreaking study reveals that verbal fluencythe ability to rapidly recall and use wordsoutpredicts memory and general intelligence in estimating lifespan. Tracking 516 adults aged 70 to 105 over nearly two decades, researchers found that participants with robust verbal fluency lived nearly nine years longer than those with weaker language skills. Meanwhile, a separate analysis links poor sleep quality to brain shrinkage in areas critical for memory and spatial reasoning, suggesting sleeps role in staving off conditions like Alzheimers. These findings, rooted in decades of data, highlight the interplay of cognitive vitality and lifestyle factors in extending healthy aging.

Verbal fluencys role as a lifespan indicator

The key study, published in Psychological Science, utilized the Berlin Aging Study (19902008), one of the most comprehensive longitudinal datasets on aging. Over 500 participants underwent periodic tests assessing intelligence facets like verbal fluency (e.g., naming animals or words starting with S), perceptual speed, memory and verbal knowledge. Using advanced statistical modeling, researchers discovered verbal fluency alone drove longevity outcomes, even after accounting for demographics like age and education.

Paolo Ghisletta, a study co-author and University of Geneva scientist, emphasizes the tasks complexity: Verbal fluency requires goal-directed memory retrieval, rapid processing and working memory to avoid repetition. If these systems decline, life expectancy drops. Participants in the highest verbal fluency quartile lived 8.5 to 9 years longer than the lowest quartile, though the exact mechanism remains unresolved.

Sleep qualitys silent impact on brain health

While verbal skills capture real-time cognitive vigor, another critical piece of the longevity puzzle is sleep architecture. A 2025 study published in Nature Aging linked reduced deep (slow-wave) and REM sleep phases to atrophy in brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimers, such as the precuneus and inferior parietal lobule. Analyzing 270 adults over 1317 years, researchers found shorter sleep cycles in these stages correlated with shrinkage in memory- and attention-sensitive areas.

This aligns with prior findings that deep sleep aids the brains self-cleaning glymphatic system, flushing toxic proteins like beta-amyloid. Even one restless night boosts amyloid deposits, explains sleep scientist Dr. Rebecca Robbins. Over years, this accelerates neurodegeneration. The study also highlights actionable interventions: consistent bedtimes, morning sunlight and caffeine-free evenings to foster deeper sleep cycles.

Practical strategies to boost cognitive longevity

The studies underscore two modifiable pillars of aging well:

Verbal fluency practice: Engage daily in conversation, reading aloud, crossword puzzles, or learning new vocabulary. These activities strengthen neural pathways critical for memory retrieval and processing speed.

Engage daily in conversation, reading aloud, crossword puzzles, or learning new vocabulary. These activities strengthen neural pathways critical for memory retrieval and processing speed. Sleep optimization: Prioritize sleep consistency and quality through regular exercise, reduced alcohol consumption near bedtime and blue-light reduction in evening hours. Aerobic workouts, in particular, enhance REM and deep sleep, studies show.

Both habits reflect a broader trend: holistic health strategies outperform genetic predetermination for most. As Dr. Ulman Lindenberger of the Max Planck Institute notes, A mentally active, socially connected and physically engaged life is the best prescription for sustained brain functionand thus, lifespan.

Aging well starts with words and rest

The interplay of language mastery and sleep quality offers accessible tools to combat age-related cognitive decline. While verbal fluency may not be altered overnight, consistent linguistic engagement and sleep hygiene provide science-backed pathways to extend both years and quality of life. As Ghisletta says, This work reminds us that the brains healthperhaps more than any other organis shaped by choices we make daily.

Sources for this article include:

MindBodyGreen.com

NeuroScienceNews.com

MPG.de
At least 14 dead, dozens wounded as Thailand-Cambodia border clash escalates

At least 14 civilians were killed and dozens injured in intense fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, centered on disputed border areas near ancient Hindu temples. Artillery exchanges and Thai airstrikes marked a sharp escalation.

Violence erupted after a landmine wounded Thai soldiers, leading Thailand to recall its ambassador and expel Cambodia's envoy. Thailand deployed F-16 jets in "self-defense," while Cambodia condemned the strikes as aggression and appealed to the UN.

Six Thai villagers died in a gas station explosion, while others were killed in shelling near evacuation shelters. Over 40,000 Thai civilians were evacuated, some taking refuge in bunkers.

The dispute traces back to colonial-era maps and a 1962 ICJ ruling granting Cambodia the Preah Vihear temple. Tensions flared again in 2008 over UNESCO status and worsened after a May skirmish killed a Cambodian soldier.

The U.S. urged de-escalation, while China offered mediation. The UNSC scheduled emergency talks, but Thailand rejected arbitration. With both sides mobilizing forces, displaced civilians remain stranded amid ongoing hostilities.

At least 14 civilians were killed and dozens wounded as Thailand and Cambodia engaged in their deadliest military clashes in over a decade, which began Thursday, July 24.

The fighting centered on contested terrain near ancient Hindu temples along the 500-mile border, where sovereignty has been disputed since colonial-era maps were drawn in 1907. Artillery exchanges and Thai airstrikes marked a sharp escalation in the long-running border dispute.

The violence erupted after a landmine explosion wounded five Thai soldiers, prompting Bangkok to recall its ambassador and expel Cambodia's envoy. This diplomatic breakdown swiftly spiraled into open combat.

Thailand deployed F-16 jets in what it called "self-defense" airstrikes after accusing Phnom Penh of firing rockets into its territory. Cambodia, meanwhile, condemned Bangkok's actions as "brutal military aggression" and appealed to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for intervention. (Related: Almost a thousand Indian and Chinese troops engage in fresh clashes along disputed border.)

The clashes, unusually intense for two members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, left civilians caught in the crossfire. Six Thai villagers died in a gas station explosion in Si Sa Ket Province, while others perished in shelling near evacuation shelters.

"I heard a loud noise. My son told me it might be thunder," said 45-year-old Tep Savouen, a Cambodian mother of four who fled her village. "At that time, I was very scared."

Thailand and Cambodia's deadly clash over ancient temple

Historical grievances underpin the conflict. The International Court of Justice awarded Cambodia the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple in 1962, but Thailand has resisted its jurisdiction over other disputed zones.

Tensions flared again in 2008 when Cambodia sought UNESCO World Heritage status for the temple, triggering sporadic skirmishes. The current crisis deepened after a May skirmish killed a Cambodian soldier.

Moreover, leaked phone calls revealed Thailand's suspended Prime Minister (PM) Paetongtarn Shinawatra criticizing her own military while cozying up to Cambodia's former strongman Hun Sen. Paetongtarn's father Thaksin and aunt Yingluck were former Thai PMs, while Sen is the father of incumbent Cambodian PM Hun Manet.

Both nations traded blame Thursday. Thailand's health minister accused Cambodia of "war crimes" for shelling a hospital, while Cambodia insisted it acted in self-defense.

Over 40,000 Thai civilians were evacuated, some huddled in concrete bunkers as artillery boomed. The U.S. urged an immediate ceasefire, while China  a key ally of Phnom Penh  offered to mediate.

By nightfall, the UNSC scheduled emergency talks. But with Bangkok rejecting international arbitration and both sides mobilizing forces, hopes for de-escalation dimmed. For now, displaced families remain in limbo  their homes just another casualty in a conflict where history, pride and territory remain violently entwined.

Head over to Chaos.news for more similar stories.

Watch Tim Kirby and Vut Siamwalla discussing a new beginning in Thai-Russian relations in this "Tim Kirby Russia" video.

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Brighteon.com
Columbia University faces backlash over punishments on pro-Palestine student protesters

In July 2023, Columbia University took disciplinary action against nearly 80 students involved in pro-Palestine protests, suspending them for one to three years. The University Judicial Board (UJB), comprising professors and administrators, imposed the suspensions after a summer of deliberations.

The Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) group criticized the punishments as excessively harsh for a teach-in and non-violent protest. CUAD accused Columbia President Claire Shipman of manipulating the disciplinary process by removing student members and faculty oversight from the UJB, leading to accusations of an unfair crackdown on student activism.

The suspensions occurred amid heightened tensions on U.S. campuses due to pro-Palestine protests, which gained momentum after the onset of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023.

Columbia involved the New York Police Department (NYPD) in the protest, resulting in the arrest of 78 demonstrators. CUAD claimed that the NYPD's actions led to four students being hospitalized with concussions.

The suspensions are part of broader issues Columbia faces, including the loss of $400 million in federal funding due to alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus. Columbia agreed to a $220 million settlement with the federal government and an additional $21 million to settle EEOC investigations.

On July 21, Columbia University suspended or expelled nearly 80 students involved in pro-Palestine protests. The disciplinary actions announced the following day, July 22, include suspensions ranging from one to three years.

The move comes after students staged a takeover of Butler Library to host a teach-in honoring the late Palestinian writer Basel al-Araj, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2017. The protesters renamed the library "the Basel al-Araj Popular University" during their demonstration.

Columbia's University Judicial Board (UJB), composed of professors and administrators, issued the sanctions after a summer of deliberations. According to the university, the sanctions were based on the findings of each case and prior disciplinary records. However, the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) group argues that the punishments are unprecedented in severity for a teach-in and non-Palestine-related building occupation.

CUAD also alleges that Columbia President Claire Shipman manipulated the disciplinary process by removing student members and faculty oversight from the UJB to impose harsher penalties on the protesters. This move has fueled accusations of an unfair crackdown on student activism, particularly in the context of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

The suspensions come amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions on campuses across the U.S. as pro-Palestine protests have gained momentum since the onset of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023. The conflict, which has drawn international condemnation, has seen several countries and human rights organizations accuse Israel of committing genocide. (Related: Israeli tanks enter Deir al-Balah: A new phase in the Gaza conflict.)

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with over 100 Palestinians, including at least 80 children, dying of starvation due to Israel's siege. Additionally, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed at aid distribution sites since March.

Campus policing and allegations of brutality

The situation at Columbia was further complicated by the university's decision to involve the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in the protest. During the Butler Library takeover, the NYPD arrested 78 demonstrators.

Columbia defended the decision, stating that the police presence was necessary to ensure the safety of the community. However, CUAD claims that the NYPD's actions resulted in four students being hospitalized with concussions.

One arrested student reported being choked and repeatedly slammed to the ground, alleging that an officer attempted to gouge their eyes. These allegations of police brutality have intensified the debate over the university's handling of the protests and its relationship with law enforcement.

The suspensions are not the only issue Columbia is grappling with. The university is also attempting to regain $400 million in federal funding that was revoked by the Trump administration. The administration cited the university's alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus as the reason for the funding cut.

In response, Columbia agreed to a $220 million settlement with the federal government over three years and an additional $21 million to settle investigations by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The university is also committed to adopting a new definition of antisemitism and implementing additional antisemitism training.

However, the agreement fell short of some of the Trump administration's more stringent demands, such as a legally binding consent decree and a complete overhaul of Columbia's governance structure. Despite these concessions, the deal has been met with criticism from those who view it as an overreach by the federal government and a capitulation by the university.

Student activism persists

Despite the harsh sanctions and the university's attempts to quell the protests, student activists remain undeterred. CUAD has vowed to continue organizing.

"If this hearing was meant to isolate or shame, it has done the opposite," one student quoted on the group's Substack stated. "It has made us more clear: No sanction handed down here can expel principle."

The student's reference to Basel al-Araj's words, "Join them, and dont betray the question," underscores the resolve of the protesters. They argue that the sanctions have only strengthened their commitment to their cause and their belief in the importance of their activism.

The situation at Columbia reflects broader tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the role of universities in addressing contentious political issues. As the university navigates these challenges, it faces scrutiny from students, alumni and lawmakers.

Visit Resist.news for more similar stories.

Watch the video below of "Health Ranger Report" about how conventional Christian churches have committed morality suicide by supporting genocide in Gaza.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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MiddleEastEye.net

CUApartheidDivest.Substack.com

NBCNews.com

TheGuardian.com

Brighteon.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A federal appeals court on Friday struck down 2023 regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on funding a comprehensive market surveillance system, finding that Wall Street's top regulator had not provided a sufficient basis for allowing stock exchanges to pass on its costs to their members, court papers showed.

The unanimous decision represented another blow to SEC regulations adopted under the Biden administration, which faced concerted opposition from industry and Republican lawmakers. It was also a setback for the Consolidated Audit Trail, a repository of investor and transaction data meant to give regulators overarching visibility into U.S. market operations that has faced delays and obstacles for more than a decade.

The American Securities Association and Citadel Securities, which brought the lawsuit, both hailed the outcome.

The ruling "prevents a tax hike on every American investor who buys or sells a share of stock," ASA President Chris Iacovella said in a statement.

The SEC said it was considering its next steps.

"Before the court's decision, Chairman Atkins directed SEC staff to undertake a comprehensive review of the CAT," said a spokesperson, referring to commission chief Paul Atkins.

Over the objections of its Republican members, the SEC in 2023 split the operating costs among buyers, sellers, and exchanges. Officials said at the time this would divide costs evenly but also allow exchanges several years to recoup hundreds of millions already spent.

This drew stiff objections from the investment industry, which said it could be left paying an unfairly large share. The two Republicans are now part of the five-member commission's controlling majority.

In an opinion for a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for 11th Circuit, Circuit Judge Andrew Brasher said that, because the SEC had not advanced a sufficient justification in deciding how the system's cost would fall on different actors in the marketplace, "we conclude that the 2023 Funding Order is arbitrary and capricious" and therefore in violation of federal laws governing the crafting of regulations.

The appeals court sent the rule back to the SEC for further processing in line with the court's decision.

The SEC mandated the CAT's creation in 2012 as a response to the "flash crash" of 2010 when major Wall Street indexes temporarily erased nearly $1 trillion in market value in a matter of minutes. Officials say it can allow regulators to spot market manipulation and have cited its data in enforcement actions.

(Reporting by Douglas Gillison in WashingtonEditing by Rod Nickel and Diane Craft)
More than HALF of all expecting mothers now QUESTIONING safety and efficacy of all vaccines listed on CDCs recommended death jab schedule

Vaccines surely are NOT what they used to be. Nowadays, kids have to get 70 vaccines by age seven just to attend daycare and school, or society deems them a threat because of infectious disease fear-mongering. The vaccine CULT is relentless in their pursuit of the fully unvaccinated, blaming them for every person who catches so much as a head cold, including all the vaxxed sheeple and their vaxxed kids. Thats all changing now, thanks to the deadly clot shots that were dished out to billions of people worldwide during the plandemic. The vaccine violence is real, and people are finally figuring it out, especially pregnant and expecting mothers.

A significant shift in parental attitudes toward childhood vaccinations is underway, according to two nationwide surveys published in JAMA Network Open. The data reveal that 60% of new and expectant mothers are now questioning or delaying routine childhood immunizations, a dramatic increase from pre-pandemic figures when fewer than a quarter of parents expressed hesitancy.

Sharp Rise in Vaccine Hesitancy : Two national surveys published in JAMA Network Open found that 60% of expectant and new mothers are now questioning or delaying childhood vaccinationsmore than double pre-pandemic levels.

: Two national surveys published in JAMA Network Open found that 60% of expectant and new mothers are now questioning or delaying childhood vaccinationsmore than double pre-pandemic levels. COVID-19s Lasting Impact : Researchers and doctors attribute the shift to the public discourse surrounding COVID-19 vaccines, increased access to medical data, and concerns over vaccine safety and schedule overload.

: Researchers and doctors attribute the shift to the public discourse surrounding COVID-19 vaccines, increased access to medical data, and concerns over vaccine safety and schedule overload. Support for Vaccine Schedule Review : A majority of parents now favor a formal review of the CDCs childhood vaccine schedule, reflecting declining trust in one-size-fits-all guidelines and a growing preference for individualized decision-making.

: A majority of parents now favor a formal review of the CDCs childhood vaccine schedule, reflecting declining trust in one-size-fits-all guidelines and a growing preference for individualized decision-making. Growing Culture of Critical Thinking: Physicians and researchers say the trend reflects informed skepticism rather than misinformation, as more parents engage in independent research and seek respectful, transparent dialogue with healthcare providers.

Surveys: Majority of New Mothers Rethinking Childhood Vaccines Amid Rising Concerns

The studiesconducted by researchers at Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)surveyed over 1,900 parents and pregnant women. The findings, highlighted by The Defender, underscore a growing trend of vaccine skepticism that has moved from the fringe into the mainstream. Notably, vaccine hesitancy was more pronounced among women who had already given birth, while nearly half of first-time pregnant women reported being undecided about childhood vaccines.

Several experts link this growing caution to the broader public conversation around COVID-19 vaccines. Biologist Dr. Christina Parks emphasized that trust in vaccination is best built through transparency, not coercion, calling for respectful and informed engagement between healthcare providers and parents.

A separate poll conducted by Zogby Strategies and funded by Childrens Health Defense (CHD) found that 60% of parents now support a formal review of the CDCs childhood vaccine schedule. Gallup data echoes this sentiment, showing a 15-point drop since 2019 in Americans who consider childhood vaccines "very important."

Dr. Brian Hooker, CHDs Chief Scientific Officer, attributes this changing mindset to growing public awareness of vaccine injuries and concerns over the rollout and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. He credits Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for pushing new research into links between vaccines and chronic childhood conditions, including autism. One controversial study cited by CHD claims vaccinated children are 170% more likely to be diagnosed with autism compared to unvaccinated peers.

Physicians like Florida OB-GYN Dr. Kimberly Biss report that the data aligns with real-world trends, noting most of her reproductive-aged patients have declined vaccines since early 2022. Many new mothers, according to Parks, are blindsided by the number of shots recommended during early pediatric visits, prompting them to conduct their own research.

Additional studies reinforce this changing landscape. A Vaccines journal article from May 2024 documented a 15.8-point rise in pediatric COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from 2021 to 2022, while another study from March 2024 reported decreased adherence to the full childhood immunization schedule.

Dr. Clayton J. Baker Jr., an internal medicine physician, argues that the rise in vaccine questioning reflects a culture of critical thinking, not misinformation. People are using their heads, he said, highlighting that fewer parents are blindly accepting all recommended vaccines.

CHDs senior researcher Karl Jablonowski and Dr. Parks agree that more experienced mothers tend to be the most skeptical, encouraging new parents to ask tough questions. Early, honest conversations, they say, are key to empowering informed decisions.

As Kennedys HHS team calls for a re-evaluation of the 70+ recommended childhood vaccine doses, one thing is evident: todays mothers are more informed, more involved, and increasingly assertive in making individualized medical choices for their children.

Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental gene therapy injections that new and pregnant mothers are avoiding like the plague and for good reasons.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

NaturalNews.com

YourNews.com
FDAs Tidmarsh: Banned fluoride supplements a tough thing to defend

Dr. George Tidmarsh of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research criticized pro-fluoride advocates for lacking data, citing studies (like a JAMA Pediatrics paper) linking early fluoride exposure to lower IQ scores in children.

Critics, including Dr. Christine Till and Dr. Bill Osmunson, argued fluoride is tied to thyroid disorders and called water fluoridation a "hoax," noting it fails to prevent cavities in low-income children.

Organizations like the American Dental Association warned against ending fluoridation, but Tidmarsh dismissed their claims as unsupported by evidence.

The regulator banned prescription fluoride drops/tablets in May, citing harms to gut health, immunity and brain development. The decision relied on research (e.g., a 2024 NTP report) linking fluoride to IQ declines.

Utah and Florida are moving to end water fluoridation, with critics arguing its "mass medication." Tidmarsh emphasized prioritizing child safety, noting supplements could only return with rigorous evidence.

Fluoride supplements banned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are a "tough thing to defend," the agency's Dr. George Tidmarsh has admitted.

Tidmarsh  who was recently appointed as director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research  made this admission during a public hearing Wednesday, June 23. The meeting organized by the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA saw pro- and anti-fluoride advocates clash. Tidmarsh criticized pro-supplement presentations for lacking data. (Related: FDA taps former pharma executive Dr. George Tidmarsh to lead the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.)

"What this is saying is that the fluoride in water was causing a cognitive decrease in the younger children," he said, referencing a study from January published in JAMA Pediatrics. According to the paper, early fluoride exposure was linked to a decrease in childrens IQ scores.

"And the randomized studies say that there is no benefit. So that's a tough thing to defend."

The public hearing also saw doctors critical of water fluoridation in attendance  among them Dr. Christine Till of York University in Canada, whose work ties fluoride to thyroid disorders. Dr. Bill Osmunson of the Fluoride Action Network, meanwhile, dubbed the practice a "hoax," noting cavities persist in low-income children regardless of supplementation.

FDA commissioner: Ingested fluoride harms gut bacteria, immune health and brain development

Advocates of water fluoridation were also present, including the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatric dentist Dr. James Bekker, a member of the Utah Dental Association, warned of "very disturbing things" that could happen if water fluoridation were stopped.

But Tidmarsh took umbrage at Bekker's remarks, pointing out that the Utah dentist's remarks lacked evidence. The FDA director compared it to Osmunson's presentation, which mentioned that no randomized controlled trials had ever been conducted on the supplements.

In May, the FDA issued a ban on prescription fluoride drops and tablets for children. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary stated that ingested fluoride  unlike topical applications in toothpaste  harms gut bacteria, immune health and brain development.

The FDA's decision hinges on mounting research, including a 2024 National Toxicology Program report linking fluoride exposure above Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to lower IQ scores in children globally. This has prompted states like Utah and Florida to end water fluoridation.

Historical context underscores the stakes: Fluoride supplements, never FDA-approved, were grandfathered into use in the 1940s after sodium fluoride's initial role as a pesticide. By 2016, watchdog groups petitioned for their removal, citing the CDC's admission that fluoride's benefits are topical, not systemic.

Tidmarsh noted that while rigorous studies could revive supplements, the agency errs on caution for now. "When it comes to children, we should prioritize safety," he remarked.

Visit FDA.news for more similar stories.

Watch this video from Russia Today explaining that fluoride is poison.

This video is from the falseflag.info channel on Brighteon.com.

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Brighteon.com
Israeli minister sparks outrage with call to erase Gaza and resettle Jews

Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu sparked outrage by calling for Gaza's erasure and Jewish resettlement, declaring, "All of Gaza will be Jewish," and dismissing humanitarian concerns like hunger.

Over 59,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since October 2023, with 113 deaths from hunger. The WHO warns of "mass starvation" due to Israel's blockade, while aid trucks remain stalled.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ambassador Yechiel Leiter distanced Israel from Eliyahu's comments, emphasizing official aid efforts. Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the rhetoric as damaging to Israel's moral and diplomatic standing.

Eliyahu's stance aligns with broader far-right efforts, including a Knesset conference promoting Jewish settlement in Gaza, supported by figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Critics like MK Gilad Kariv warned that such rhetoric risks global isolation, endangers soldiers and undermines Israel's democratic and Jewish values, heightening fears of policy radicalization.

In a series of inflammatory statements, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has called for the erasure of Gaza and its resettlement with Jewish populations, igniting a firestorm of criticism and condemnation both domestically and internationally.

During an interview on Radio Kol Barama on Thursday, July 24, Eliyahu, a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, declared, "All of Gaza will be Jewish." He further stated, "We are racing toward erasing Gaza," and dismissed concerns about hunger in the besieged enclave, saying, "We shouldn't be dealing with hunger in Gaza  let the world take care of them."

Eliyahu said Gaza will be cleared for Jewish settlement, but added Jewish towns won't be "fenced in inside cantons." His comments come amid ongoing conflict and a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to local health authorities, more than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, with at least 113 deaths attributed to hunger. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Israel's blockade has pushed Gaza to the brink of "mass starvation." (Related: UN accuses Israel of starving Gaza civilians as hunger deaths mount)

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations' Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), has urgently called on Israel to allow access for 6,000 aid trucks currently stalled in Egypt and Jordan. However, Israeli officials have accused Hamas and other armed groups of hoarding supplies and attacking civilians at distribution points.

Political backlash and international condemnation

Eliyahu's remarks have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly distanced himself from the comments, stating, "This government's policy is clear and united. His statements do not represent it." Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter also condemned the remarks, calling them "wrong, foolish and totally unrepresentative of the government and people of Israel."

Opposition leader Yair Lapid was particularly scathing in his response, describing Eliyahu's words as "a moral attack and a propaganda disaster." He argued, "Israel will never convince the world of the justice of our war against terror as long as we are led by an extremist minority government with ministers who sanctify blood and death." Lapid emphasized that Israeli soldiers are fighting to return hostages and ensure Israel's security, not to wipe out civilians.

Eliyahu's comments reflect a growing trend of far-right rhetoric within Israeli politics, spearheaded by figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Smotrich recently participated in a conference at the Knesset titled "Riviera in Gaza  From Vision to Reality," where a plan was presented to establish a lasting Jewish presence in the Gaza Strip. Smotrich revealed that the Israeli military chief of staff had suggested annexing the northern border of Gaza for security reasons.

The conference's organizers claimed to have outlined "social, legal, security and logistical models" for the settlement proposal, but provided no further details. The event was attended by ministers, Knesset members, local council heads, security officials and representatives of hostage and bereaved families.

Warnings of consequences

Democratic MK Gilad Kariv warned that such rhetoric could have severe consequences. "Their positions are not aligned with any government or Knesset decisions, nor are they part of the war objectives set by the cabinet," Kariv stated. "In fact, the leaders of the defense establishment oppose them."

He cautioned that these words "endanger IDF soldiers and commanders, inflict strategic harm on Israel's global standing, erode social cohesion within the country and undermine the values of the IDF and the fundamental principles of Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state."

As the conflict in Gaza continues to unfold, the international community watches closely. The inflammatory remarks by Eliyahu and other far-right figures have raised concerns about the direction of Israeli policy and the potential for further escalation. The world waits to see how these tensions will play out and what impact they will have on the future of Gaza and the broader Middle East.

Follow WWIII.news for more news about Israel's ongoing war in Gaza.

Watch the video below about an Israeli far-right group attempting to block humanitarian aid going to Gaza.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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Health Ranger Report: Sam Anthony discusses the rise of NEW MEDIA and the future of news

The decline of corporate media has created opportunities for independent platforms like YourNews, which prioritize decentralization and community-driven reporting. The White House's inclusion of independent media in press conferences highlights this shift.

YourNews democratizes journalism by covering every U.S. ZIP code, allowing anyone to report news. Its revenue model targets local businesses with geo-targeted ads, avoiding paywalls and surveillance.

The platform's founder Sam Anthony predicts traditional media will fail due to outdated models and reliance on Big Pharma advertising, especially if pharmaceutical ads are restricted.

AI augments news production by handling writing tasks, freeing journalists to focus on investigation and perspective. Platforms like Brighteon.com and YourNews use AI tools without replacing human journalists.

Anthony envisions a global hyper-local news platform funded by crowdfunding, empowering communities and dismantling centralized media control. Decentralization is key to transparency and integrity in news.

Sam Anthony, the visionary behind the YourNews platform, joined the Health Ranger Mike Adams on the "Health Ranger Report" to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the rapidly evolving media landscape.

As traditional corporate media continues to crumble, independent media is stepping into the spotlight, reshaping how news is consumed and distributed. Adams began by highlighting a significant shift: The White House's recent decision to reserve front-row seats for independent media at press conferences.

This move underscores the growing influence of new media, which is filling the void left by the collapse of corporate giants. Anthony, whose platform is at the forefront of this movement, emphasized the antiquated nature of legacy media.

"We all know the legacy media is not going to survive. It's certainly not because they're lying," he noted. "However, that doesn't help the cause. It's really because it's an antiquated product."

Anthony's platform operates on a hyper-local model, covering every ZIP code in the United States. This approach democratizes news production, allowing anyone to become a reporter.

He pointed out that YouTube has over 100 million people who have their own channels and while most don't succeed, it gives everyone the chance to broadcast. This shift is a direct threat to traditional media, which is losing its monopoly on information dissemination.

The collapse of legacy media

The conversation delved into the ongoing collapse of legacy media. Anthony predicted that the situation would worsen if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were to eliminate direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising.

"It's over. Give it 12 months, and they'll be hemorrhaging," Anthony told Adams. This highlights the unsustainable business model of traditional media, heavily reliant on advertising revenue from Big Pharma.

Adams agreed, expressing his frustration with the current state of health news, often sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. "I'm tired of today's health news brought to you by Pfizer," he remarked. This dependence on corporate funding raises questions about the objectivity and integrity of mainstream media.

Anthony explained the unique revenue model of YourNews.com, which avoids registration and paywalls. Instead, it leverages a self-serve ad platform targeting local businesses.

He explained they can geo-target like Facebook, which allows local businesses to advertise directly to their communities. This model is more profitable than national advertising, as local ads command higher rates.

Adams likened this approach to the old Yellow Pages, where local businesses could reach residents. "You're offering a self-serve ad platform for local businesses to advertise to local people through local news," he said.

The power of AI in journalism

The discussion then shifted to the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism, with Anthony seeing AI as a powerful tool for enhancing news production. He explained that a journalist could use AI to create a news story. This allows journalists to focus on gathering information and providing perspective, while AI handles the writing.

The YourNews founder added that anybody could be in the news business as long as they have the passion and the drive. Adams echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of AI augmentation in his own company.

He mentioned that they didn't fire any writers, and they taught them how to use AI tools to enhance their work. This approach empowers journalists to become witnesses of reality, using AI to augment their observations and insights.

But Anthony's vision extends beyond technology. He aims to decentralize news production and put the power of the press back into the hands of the people. "We want to dismantle the whole thing," he stated, referring to the weaponization of media against the public.

His platform empowers local communities by allowing anyone to report news and share their views without censorship. Adams praised this approach, noting that it aligns with the principles of economic freedom and common-sense rationality.

Anthony also emphasized the importance of integrity and honesty. "If you start lying to your audience, you'll lose everything," he warned.

Anthony concluded by sharing his ambitious vision for the future: a global hyper-local news platform. He predicted that the most likely scenario would be a global media giant by ZIP code. This platform would be funded through an equity crowd-funding model, ensuring that it remains in the hands of the people rather than institutional investors. (Related: Independent media pioneer Sam Anthony joins Mike Adams to challenge legacy news with hyper-local platform.)

Adams expressed his support for this vision, highlighting the importance of decentralization in media, knowledge, medicine and food. The conversation ended with a call to action, encouraging viewers to visit YourNews.com to learn more about hyper-local news and explore opportunities for advertising, citizen journalism and investment.

Follow NewsCartels.com for more stories like this.

Watch the full interview between Sam Anthony of YourNews and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Next time you Venmo a pal for that dinner from the other night, consider tossing a few bucks to the federal government. The U.S. government operates a website that lets anyone donate toward paying down the national debt, apparently, and now it takes Venmo.

Most Read from Fast Company



Jack Corbett from NPRs Planet Money first spotted the change, which added the app into the mix as a payment option. If youve lost your Venmo password, never fear, you can still help reduce the public debt with a bank account, debit/credit card, or even a PayPal account.

Its not immediately clear who decided to add a payments app mostly used for settling rounds of drinks to the U.S. Treasury website, but Trump administration officials do have a preference for Venmo, which is infamous for making users transactions and friends lists public. Mike Waltz, former national security adviser, not known for his OPSEC (thats operational security for the uninitiated) was spotted with a public Venmo contact list prior to being ousted from the administration.

Its difficult to imagine any American actually tossing money at the federal government beyond what they pay in taxes, but those rare souls do existand theyve been giving the U.S. government cash for decades, sometimes doling out more than $1 million at once.

The U.S. currently operates $36.7 trillion in debt, which unfortunately renders the almost $70 million donated since 1996 totally insignificant. If youve got expendable income, almost anything seems like a better option.

Its been a particularly rough month. Not only did Trumps big beautiful bill slash hundreds of billions from Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but it will also tack another $3.4 trillion onto the national debt over the next 10 years.

This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com

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3 killed as gunmen fire at protesters in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Last Updated: July 28, 2025, 02:00 IST

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Peshawar, Jul 27 (PTI) Unknown gunmen fired at a gathering protesting against counter-terrorism operations in Pakistans northwestern province Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, leaving three dead and many injured, a top official said.

A day earlier, a mortar strike claimed the life of a girl in the Zakha Khel area of the Khyber District, sparking the Sunday demonstration, during which locals placed the girls body in front of the Momand Ghuz security checkpoint.

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Suhail Afridi, the special assistant to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, said three people died and eight were injured in the firing by terrorists on the demonstrators in the Tirah Valley.

Following the incident, the grieving families and residents of the area staged a protest by blocking the Tank-South Waziristan Road, and demanded immediate identification and action against those responsible for the killings.

Afridi said, Following the girls death on Saturday, locals staged a protest in front of the Frontier Corps compound today. They had gathered near he gates when shots were fired." I spoke to district officials who told me that terrorists belonging to Fitna-al-Khawarij fired at the protesters," he said, using the term designating members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Meanwhile Inspector General of Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North), Major General Rao Imran Sartaj, visited the injured at the Frontier Corps Teaching Hospital.

During the visit, the injured people provided Major General Sartaj with detailed accounts of the attack and expressed satisfaction with the medical treatment being provided.

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The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province expressed deep sorrow and regret over the Tirah incident.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced compensation of Rs 10 million for the kin of each deceased and Rs 2.5 million for each injured individual. PTI AYZ NSD NSD

First Published: July 28, 2025, 02:00 IST

News agency-feeds 3 killed as gunmen fire at protesters in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

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Farooq Abdullah condemns killing of Gujjar man in Jammu

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 23:00 IST

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Srinagar, Jul 27 (PTI) National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday expressed anguish over the recent killing of a Gujjar man in cross-firing with police in Jammu city.

Calling the killing of Parvez Ahmad deeply unfortunate and regrettable," Abdullah echoed Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs call for accountability and justice, emphasising that the use of force by law enforcement agencies must be responsible and proportionate.

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Parvez Ahmad (21), a Gujjar hailing from the Nikki Tawi area of Jammu, was killed in a crossfire when police were allegedly chasing drug peddlers in the Satwari area on Thursday. His killing has sparked protests by the community, with his family accusing the police of murdering an innocent" man in a staged" encounter.

This tragic loss of life cannot be brushed aside. It is imperative that a swift and impartial inquiry be initiated so that the truth comes to light and those responsible are held accountable," Abdullah said.

He extended his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul.

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My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Muhammad Parvez in this hour of immense grief. Justice must prevail," he said.

Abdullah also cautioned that such incidents have previously caused irreparable damage to public trust and societal harmony, and urged authorities to prevent their recurrence. PTI SSB HIG HIG

First Published: July 27, 2025, 23:00 IST

News agency-feeds Farooq Abdullah condemns killing of Gujjar man in Jammu

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Flood wreaks havoc in Odisha, over 11,000 people affected in six districts

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 21:15 IST

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Bhubaneswar/Bhadrak, Jul 27 (PTI) More than 11,000 people in six districts have been affected by the floods in Odisha, an official said on Sunday.

Over 1,000 people have been rescued from the affected areas in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Sundargarh, and Keonjhar districts to safer places, he said.

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Addressing a press conference, Special Relief Commissioner DK Singh said the flood was caused by the overflowing waters of the Subarnarekha, Baitarani and Jalka rivers following heavy rainfall.

The rescued people have been provided shelter at different cyclone centres and other buildings. The government is providing dry food items and cooked food to them," he said. Five teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), one team of NDRF, and 26 fire services teams have been deployed in Balasore district. One ODRAF and 23 fire service teams have been deployed in Mayurbhanj district, Singh said.

One ODRAF, one NDRF and 13 fire service teams have been sent to Bhadrak district, and one ODRAF team, a NDRF and 14 fire service teams have been sent to Jajpur district, he said.

He provided the details after attending a review meeting, chaired by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.

A total of 106 rescue boats have also been deployed in these districts to carry out rescue and relief operations.

Singh said the water levels of all major rivers, except the Subarnarekha, are declining.

Night patrolling has been tightened in the flood-affected areas. Arrangements have been made to provide safe drinking water to people, and sufficient anti-venom has been kept in stock," he said.

In its evening flood bulletin, the Water Resources Department said the Baitarani river was flowing at 36.24 metre at Anandapur in Keonjhar district as against the danger level of 38.36 metre.

The water level of the Jalaka river was 6.52 metre at Mathani, against the danger level of 6.50 metre. Subarnarekha was flowing at 48.86 metre at Jamsholaghat against the danger level of 49.16 metre.

However, the water level of Subarnarekha at Rajghat was 11.17 metre and against the danger level of 10.36 meter, the bulletin said.

Several villages in Bhandaripokhari and Dhamnagar blocks in Bhadrak district remain waterlogged, with farmlands, roads and houses submerged.

Rescue and relief operations are in full swing, with teams on the ground providing aid and assistance. The administration remains on high alert, continuously monitoring the flood situation and coordinating relief operations," said Bhadraks Collector Dillip Routray.

The Flood Cell of the Department of Water Resources is functioning around the clock to monitor the situation, officials said.

Two chief engineer-rank officers were deputed to the Subarnarekha and Baitarani river basins to monitor the situation, they said.

Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj inspected various sites of the Baitarani embankment in Bhadrak district.

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A breach on the right bank of the Jambhira river embankment at Bodhi in the Rasgovindpur block of Mayurbhanj district was detected. The breach was closed with sandbags, officials said.

A landslide was reported from Sundargarh district, blocking the Koida-Chunaghati stretch of NH-520. The debris were cleared from the road immediately, they said. PTI BBM COR BBM SOM

First Published: July 27, 2025, 21:15 IST

News agency-feeds Flood wreaks havoc in Odisha, over 11,000 people affected in six districts

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India-UK trade pact to help boost chemical exports, manufacturing: CHEMEXCIL

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 14:00 IST

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New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) The free trade agreement between India and the UK will help boost the countrys chemical exports and domestic manufacturing as a number of product categories from the segment will enjoy duty-free access in Britain, CHEMEXCIL said on Sunday.

Chemicals exporters body CHEMEXCIL (Basic Chemicals, Cosmetics and Dyes Export Promotion Council) said that under the trade agreement, more than 1,000 tariff lines (or product categories) from the chemicals sectors are granted zero-duty access to the UK market.

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This includes key product categories such as organic chemicals, agrochemicals, cosmetics toiletries, essential oil, speciality chemicals, and petrochemicals, CHEMEXCIL Chairman Satish Wagh said.

With a 12.4 per cent contribution to the total trade agreement tariff lines, the chemical sector is among the largest beneficiaries of this agreement, strengthening its position in trade policy and classification, he said.

Indias current chemical exports to the UK stand at USD 570.32 million, accounting for about 2 per cent of Indias global chemical exports.

However, the agreement sets the stage for exponential growth. A surge of 30-40 per cent in exports is expected, potentially reaching USD 650-750 million in 2025-26. This growth will be driven by tariff elimination, improved competitiveness, and easier market entry for Indian exporters," Wagh said.

While India exports close to USD 30 billion worth of chemicals globally, and the UK imports chemicals worth USD 35.11 billion, Indias current share in the UKs import basket is only USD 570 million.

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This highlights a significant untapped potential. The FTA will enable Indian exporters to penetrate deeper into the UK market, with reduced cost barriers and enhanced visibility," he said, adding it will promotes supply chain collaboration, enable technology transfer and joint ventures and enhance regulatory cooperation for smoother trade flows.

The pact will offer new opportunities to expand market reach, boost exports, and deepen bilateral trade relations with a high-potential market like the United Kingdom, Wagh said. PTI RR HVA

First Published: July 27, 2025, 14:00 IST

News agency-feeds India-UK trade pact to help boost chemical exports, manufacturing: CHEMEXCIL

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Kerala prison officer suspended over remarks on notorious convict

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 21:15 IST

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Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 27 (PTI) The Kerala Home Department on Sunday suspended a senior prison officer citing gross indiscipline over some of his revelations in connection with a notorious convict, who escaped from the Kannur central prison two days ago and was caught later.

Abdul Sathar I, who was serving as a Deputy Prison Officer at the special sub-jail in Kottarakara, was suspended from the service with immediate effect by the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, according to a government order.

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The copy of the order was issued to the media by the Chief Ministers Office (CMO).

In the order, it was mentioned that the officer, while talking to a Malayalam television channel recently, said that Govindachamy, alias Govindaswamy (41), who escaped from Kannur Central Jail on Friday, had declared much before that he would jump the prison.

The officer claimed that the notorious convict, serving a life term in the sensational 2011 Soumya murder case, had threatened to rape his family members if he escaped from the jail.

During the TV interview, the jail official further said that it was better that Govindachamy be killed and if there was no executioner, he himself was ready to become the hangman.

The order pointed out that at a time when negative reports galore against the department, the statements of the particular officer have put it in more trouble and amounted to demoralise other officials.

The statements were in violation of various provisions of the government officials service rules and a circular in connection with prison rules.

Stating that the official was already facing probe over some other issues, the order also made it clear that his actions were gross breach of discipline.

Govindachamy escaped from Kannur Central Jail on July 25 between 4.15 am and 6.30 am and was recaptured within city limits at around 9.30 am. He was shifted to Viyyur Central Jail in Thrissur on July 26 following the incident.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday ordered a comprehensive investigation into the jailbreak from Kannur Central Prison by Govindachamy.

A 23-year-old woman from Manjakkad near Shornur, was raped and murdered by Govindachamy while travelling on a passenger train from Ernakulam to Shornur on February 1, 2011. He was later convicted in the case. PTI LGK KH

First Published: July 27, 2025, 21:15 IST

News agency-feeds Kerala prison officer suspended over remarks on notorious convict

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Man stabbed to death in Delhis Nangal Thakran, accused held

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 18:45 IST

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New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) A 30-year-old man was stabbed to death at his residence in outernorth Delhis Nangal Thakran village, police said on Sunday.

Yash Lohchab (21) has been arrested in connection with the murder case, they added.

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On Saturday, Mohit alias Kala was found lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds on his chest and back at his house in Nangal Thakran, they said.

The police received a PCR call about this around 2.30 pm. The caller, Rajeev, a friend of Mohits brother, told police he found the victim dead on the bed with visible injuries, an officer said.

A team scanned hundreds of CCTV footage and zeroed in on the accused, Yash Lohchab, and apprehended him.

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During interrogation, Lohchab confessed to the crime and told police he had a heated argument with the victim while drinking on Friday.

The dispute escalated, leading to resentment. Later that night, Lohchab allegedly entered Mohits house and attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon, resulting in his death, the police said, adding that further investigation is underway. PTI BM NB NB

First Published: July 27, 2025, 18:45 IST

News agency-feeds Man stabbed to death in Delhis Nangal Thakran, accused held

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Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam official suspended for misbehaving with consumer

Last Updated: July 28, 2025, 00:45 IST

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Lucknow, Jul 27 (PTI) A superintendent engineer (SE) of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam has been suspended for allegedly misbehaving with a consumer, officials said on Sunday.

Sharing the suspension order of SE Prashant Singh on X, Uttar Pradesh Energy and Urban Development Minister A K Sharma said, Upbhogta Devo Bhav (consumer is god)!" The SE of Basti, Prashant Singh, has been suspended with immediate effect for his insensitivity and indecent behaviour towards the complaint of electricity consumers.

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All other electricity officers and employees have been directed for effective and quick solution of consumer problems. Everyone should be ready for public service," Sharma said.

The suspension order was issued on Saturday by Chief Engineer (administration) Arvind Nayak on behalf of the managing director of Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam (PVVN).

It said that Bharat Pandey, a resident of Mudaghat in Basti district, lodged a complaint with Singh over phone on July 18 about non-supply of electricity.

The suspension order said Singh behaved indecently" with the complainant despite being in a responsible position, which fell under the category of misconduct".

Singh will remain attached to the office of the MD, PVVN, Varanasi, during his suspension period, the order said.

Meanwhile, Sharma said in a statement, Any employee who behaves indecently with consumers or public representatives, or displays negligence or indifference in resolving complaints, will face strict disciplinary and punitive action. Excuses will not be tolerated." He also said that there will be no more tolerance for low voltage, frequent tripping, unnecessary shutdowns, and unjustified power cuts.

Accountability will be fixed from the top management of the power corporation to the field-level officials, he said.

Arbitrary behaviour of any staff member hindering development will be strongly dealt with, the minister said in the statement.

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Despite substantial investments in power infrastructure  over Rs 26,000 crore in the last three years  the image of the government and the department is being damaged by the carelessness of a few employees.

In view of the states development needs and the rights of the consumers, such irresponsibility will no longer be accepted," Sharma said. PTI CDN NAV ARI

First Published: July 28, 2025, 00:45 IST

News agency-feeds Purvanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam official suspended for misbehaving with consumer

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Sudans paramilitaries announces parallel government, deepening countrys crisis

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 18:45 IST

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Cairo, Jul 27 (AP) A notorious paramilitary group and its allies in Sudan said they formed a parallel government in areas under the groups control, which are located mainly in the western region of Darfur where allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity are being investigated.

The move, which was announced Saturday, was likely to deepen the crisis in Sudan, which plunged into chaos when tensions between the countrys military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, exploded into fighting in April 2023 in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country.

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The RSF-led Tasis Alliance appointed Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the paramilitary group, as head of the sovereign council in the new administration. The 15-member council serves as head of the state.

The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, mobilised two decades ago by then-president Omar al-Bashir against populations that identify as Central or East African in Darfur. The Janjaweed were accused of mass killings, rapes and other atrocities.

In the current war, the RSF has been accused of numerous atrocities. The Biden administration slapped Dagalo with sanctions, saying the RSF and its proxies were committing genocide. The RSF has denied committing genocide.

The alliance spokesman Alaa al-Din Naqd announced the new administration in a video statement from the Darfur city of Nyala, which is controlled by the RSF and its allied Janjaweed.

Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, a civilian politician who was a member of a military-civilian sovereign council that ruled Sudan following the 2019 overthrow of al-Bashir, was named as prime minister in the RSF-controlled government.

Rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu, who commands the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) which is active in the southern Kodrofan region, was appointed as Dagalos deputy in the council. The SPLM-N is a breakaway faction of the SPLM, the ruling party of neighbouring South Sudan.

The announcement came five months after the RSF and its allies signed a charter in February in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, with the aim of establishing a parallel government in RSF-controlled areas.

At the time, many countries, including the US, rejected the RSF efforts and condemned the signing by the paramilitary group and its allies of what they called transitional constitution" in the Kenya-hosted conference.

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The foreign ministry of the internationally recognised government in Khartoum condemned the announcement in a statement. It called it a fake government" and urged the international community to not engage with the RSF-led administration.

The RSF-led move was likely to deepen the division in Sudan. Yasir Arman, a rebel leader, said the move is likely to prolong the conflict and divide Sudan between two rival administrations  similar to neighbouring Libya. (AP) NPK NPK

First Published: July 27, 2025, 18:45 IST

News agency-feeds Sudans paramilitaries announces parallel government, deepening countrys crisis

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Woman dies in house fire in northeast Delhis New Usmanpur

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 13:00 IST

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New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI) A 40-year-old woman was killed in a house fire in northeast Delhis Bhagat Singh Colony Sunday morning, an officer said.

She was identified as Manju Jain, he said.

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According to police, a fire was reported at around 7 am from a house in Bhagat Singh Colony in New Usmanpur.

Four fire tenders were rushed in response to the call.

The fire had erupted on the ground floor of the house," an officer said.

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Manju Jain was rescued from the building and rushed to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead," he said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, police said. PTI BM VN VN

First Published: July 27, 2025, 13:00 IST

News agency-feeds Woman dies in house fire in northeast Delhis New Usmanpur

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Key Points

Camecos stock recently hit an all-time high.

Uraniums soaring commodity price is driving that rally.

But it still looks reasonably valued relative to its growth potential.

10 stocks we like better than Cameco 

Cameco (NYSE: CCJ), one of the world's top uranium miners, usually isn't a high-growth stock. But over the past three years, its price surged about 250% and now hovers near its all-time high. The S&P 500 only rose 60% during the same period.

Let's see why Cameco's stock crushed the market, and if it can keep climbing over the next three years.

A look back at Cameco's lost decade

Cameco, which is based in Canada, owns uranium mines and mills across Canada, the U.S., and Kazakhstan. It mined roughly 17% of the world's uranium in 2024, making it the second largest uranium miner after Kazatomprom (OTC: NATK.Y), Kazakhstan's national mining company.

Image source: Getty Images.

From 2011 to 2021, Cameco's annual revenue dropped from $2.41 billion to $1.18 billion (in U.S. dollars) without a single year of revenue growth. That decline started after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, which triggered a global collapse in uranium prices as many countries cautiously reined in their nuclear energy plans.

Uranium's spot price plunged from more than $70 per pound before the Fukushima disaster to less than $20 in 2017, and Cameco was forced to suspend work at its biggest mines and throttle back its production to conserve its cash. Before the uranium market could recover, the COVID pandemic disrupted the market again and forced the company to temporarily shut down more of its mines.

The weak Canadian dollar exacerbated that decline because the miner sold its uranium in U.S. dollars.

What happened over the past three years?

But from 2021 to 2024, Cameco's revenue had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29% in Canadian dollar terms. Its gross margins also expanded to the double digits over the past two years.

Metric 2022 2023 2024 Revenue growth 27% 39% 21% Gross margin 0.1% 21.7% 25%

Data source: Cameco (all figures in Canadian dollar terms).

That robust recovery was driven by uranium's spot prices, which soared from $29.63 in January 2021 to $78.50 this June. That rally prompted Cameco to restart its mining operations at McArthur River in Australia and Key Lake in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in 2022 after being suspended in 2018.

It also partnered with Brookfield Asset Management to acquire the nuclear power plant designer and builder Westinghouse Electric in late 2023. Its new 49% stake in Westinghouse should offset the volatility of its core mining business and make it the top uranium supplier for those plants.
Woman drives car into ditch while using Google Maps for directions; rescued

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 11:15 IST

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Mumbai, Jul 27 (PTI) A woman took a wrong turn and drove her high-end car into a ditch in Navi Mumbai while following directions on Google Maps and was later rescued, police said on Sunday.

The incident took place at around 1 am on Friday in Belapur area of Maharashtras Navi Mumbai township.

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The woman, who was the sole occupant of the Audi car, instead of taking the Bay bridge, took a wrong turn after being guided by Google Maps and reached Dhruvtara Jetty, and the vehicle fell into a ditch, a Belapur police official said.

After being alerted, police reached the spot.

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The police, with the help of a marine security team, their boat and local authorities, later rescued the woman, the official said.

The woman, who runs a salon business in Navi Mumbais Kharghar area, was heading home to Ulwe from Belapur in her car when the incident occurred, the official said. PTI ZA GK

First Published: July 27, 2025, 11:15 IST

News agency-feeds Woman drives car into ditch while using Google Maps for directions; rescued

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Tarot Card Reading Today July 27, 2025

Written By :

GaneshaGrace

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 07:15 IST

Daily Tarot Card Reading, July 27, 2025: Aries, Leo and Pisces face emotional tension. Virgo and Aquarius must avoid negativity. Read predictions for all signs by Chirag Daruwalla.

Tarot Card Predictions Today July 27 2025 Daily Tarot Card Reading for All Zodiac Signs. (AI generated image)

Tarot Card Reading Today, July 27 2025: Todays Tarot horoscope highlights emotional turmoil, important decisions, and growth opportunities across all zodiac signs. Aries, Leo, and Pisces natives face emotional turmoil and tensions in relationships, which require calm communication and introspection.

Taurus, Gemini, and Libra natives may see progress and positive change through humility, determination, and new ventures. Cancer, Scorpio, and Capricorn natives should handle career changes and interpersonal tensions carefully; seeking guidance and avoiding impulsive actions will be helpful.

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Virgo and Aquarius natives should be careful to stay away from toxic influences and deceptive people, learn from past mistakes, and avoid repeating them. Sagittarius natives should continue to rely on inner strength, as support may be limited, but flexibility will lead to stability.

Overall, staying grounded, avoiding conflict, and being mindful of decisions are the main themes for all zodiac signs.

Aries Tarot Reading (The Moon)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, you can get involved in social service activities with some new friends. Participating in these activities can reduce your restlessness and anxiety. Due to differences with a senior officer at the workplace, some colleagues may distance themselves from you.

You may face some allegations, which may upset you. Try to resolve the matter by talking to a higher officer; this may improve the situation. The increasing interference from your spouses family is spoiling your relationship. Despite not wanting it, both of you are stuck in your egos, and no one is ready to compromise.

You may be worried about your childs higher education. Control your speech and anger. If you have a dispute with an elder, go ahead and apologize. Try to maintain harmony in the relationship.

Taurus Tarot Reading (Judgement)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, some old deeds may soon yield results that will bring happiness or sadness. You may meet someone from your past. You may join a social service. There are some old mistakes due to which you still feel embarrassed.

To move on from these memories, you may try to bring significant changes in yourself. Your recent success at work has impressed everyone. However, you may lose a good opportunity due to the mistake of a colleague, which may upset you. Still, you will try to control your anger and forgive them. Your humility will impress the other person deeply.

The arrival of a new person in your life will bring happiness. You may work on improving yourself and also changing your behavior towards others. By adopting gratitude and humility, you can get respect and recognition everywhere. Forget what has passed and move on.

Gemini Tarot Reading (The Star)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, an unexpected opportunity to get your dream job may bring a lot of happiness. You had given up hope of getting this job some time ago. There may be concern about a young child in the family whose health has not been good for some time  you may visit a good doctor.

A wedding gift may be rejected, which may upset you. However, the other person may reveal his/her real intentions and reduce your anger. A friendly academic rivalry is now turning into jealousy, and you are beginning to feel betrayed by that friendship.

Your enemies may take advantage of this situation, so be careful of such people. Try to resolve misunderstandings with your loved ones directly. A promotion in the job, along with a desired salary hike, will bring happiness. You may celebrate your success with family and friends.

Cancer Tarot Reading (Three of Wands)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, while trying to start a new business, you should consider the experience you have gained from your previous work. Lack of experience can cause a lot of trouble in a new job. Seek guidance from an experienced person to complete your work effectively.

You may have to work harder in the beginning due to insufficient knowledge about the new work. You can partner with a friend in business and try to help them overcome their lack of experience in this field. Going to an ashram with an elder and doing service can bring peace and relaxation.

Your spouse is becoming irritable due to obstacles in his work, due to which he often quarrels with others. Increasing anxiety and worry for your child is creating tension between you and your spouse. Try to improve this situation.

Leo Tarot Reading (Five of Pentacles)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, due to choosing the wrong life partner, many people have turned away from you. You are also facing disappointment from your parents and close relatives. You may think of looking for a job away from home.

Property disputes with a senior person may increase, and they may use their position and influence to hamper your efforts. Trusting someone close may land you in trouble  their bad company has led to disputes with others, in which you have also been unwittingly involved.

You may seek advice from a senior member of the family to solve this problem. Due to this company, you have suffered a lot, including financial loss and a blow to your reputation. Complete your tasks with patience and self-control. Control your speech and avoid using harsh words when angry at others.

Virgo Tarot Reading (The Devil)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, you may have to suffer a lot and listen to harsh words due to someones bad behavior and negative influence. Even trying to explain to the person calmly does not have any effect. Due to the jealousy of a colleague at the workplace, a good opportunity for you was given to someone else by a senior officer.

This has increased both your anger and irritation. Now you have decided to teach that person a lesson. You have accepted the promotion as well as the transfer. Stay away from such so-called friends who plan to harm you behind your back. If your relationship with someone in the family is not going well, express your feelings openly and try to understand their point of view.

Do not lose your temper in anger or irritation. Avoid creating any situation that may lead to a dispute with someone. Maintain patience and self-control  your calm behavior will naturally calm the other person.

Libra Tarot Reading (The Chariot)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, your new job may require a lot of travelling, during which you will meet many new people. Some of these meetings may soon turn into meaningful friendships. However, your behaviour with some individuals may be a little impulsive  it is best to limit your interactions with them to avoid future complications.

You may have to decide right or wrong in a family matter. Think carefully before making any decision, as sometimes your decisions may affect someone elses life. You are trying to start a new business with new thinking  this venture may involve presenting traditional things in a modern way.

Good results are expected in competitive exams. Promotion at the workplace as well as a good salary hike, are also likely.

Scorpio Tarot Reading (Knight of Wands)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, a new venture may start, for which you may have to travel both domestically and abroad. If you are expecting a promotion, this is a favorable time. Someone close to you may arrive from abroad, which will bring excitement and happiness.

Meeting someone new will be quite pleasant, and your friendship with them may deepen soon. Instead of just dreaming, try to turn those dreams into reality. Try to eliminate jealousy from your nature, as it can give rise to feelings of hatred and arrogance. Bring positive changes in your behavior  It is better to work calmly and patiently instead of acting hastily or carelessly.

Avoid using harsh language while communicating with colleagues, and control your anger and speech. Something related to your spouse may upset you. Your mind has become disturbed by an outsiders comment about your spouse. It is best to talk to your partner directly.

Sagittarius Tarot Reading (Nine of Wands)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, you are embroiled in some complicated situations at the moment, mainly due to the wrong decisions and short-tempered behaviour of some family members. These situations are making you feel lonely; you are not getting any support, be it physical or emotional.

You have always faced challenges alone. After marriage, you may start a new life with your spouse in a new house, where some close friends will be present on the occasion. However, neither of the families has yet approved the marriage. Still, you believe that once the tempers cool down, everyone will accept your relationship.

At the workplace, you have continued your tasks with patience and perseverance despite political games and favoritism. Every success in your life has been earned by your determination; support from others has never really been available to you.

Capricorn Tarot Reading (Seven of Swords)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, you may wish to pursue some work in the wrong way, and you may have a dilemma in your mind about whether to pursue it or not. Circumstances are unfavorable at this time. It would be better to gather complete information about a new person before making friends with them.

Someone may try to make you a part of a conspiracy. There is a possibility that you may do something wrong by getting misled by someone. You need to be very careful and alert at this time. Your opponents may use unethical methods to get decisions in their favor. Think well before lending money to anyone. If the amount is large, avoid making transactions without any written agreement.

Use your intelligence and discretion to overcome any obstacles in your work. A colleague at your workplace may try to mislead the authorities against you. Be alert and try to understand the surrounding environment. Avoid sharing your plans with others and avoid giving unsolicited advice. There is a possibility of getting news of a promotion and transfer.

Aquarius Tarot Reading (Eight of Cups)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, you should learn from past experiences and be cautious. Bitter memories of an accident that has caused you a lot of financial, mental, and physical trouble may cause obstacles in your present life. Due to some wrong decisions in the workplace, many people may resign from their jobs, and you too can be one of them.

This sudden event can also bring some unexpected benefits. Meeting a new person can open new avenues of success for you. Some people may not be happy with this, but do not pay attention to their opinion. Also, avoid sharing your plans with too many people. Keep some things to yourself.

There is a possibility of getting a big opportunity soon. This opportunity can bring success for you. Some things said by some family members may bother you. Try to turn your thoughts in another direction.

Pisces Tarot Reading (Five of Wands)

Ganesha says that according to the Tarot card, there are many situations in life where nothing happens according to your expectations. You may find yourself stuck in a situation from which there is no way out. Someone may be happy in your difficulties.

Do not let yourself be affected by anyones teasing words at this time. Let this phase pass with patience and restraint. Your ability and success will be measured by how you deal with these situations without getting hurt or harming others. Do not react immediately to provocations.

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Take some time to understand the situation or statement, and then take your next step. You may feel that whatever you are doing is going wrong. At such times, instead of getting irritated or angry, use your accumulated patience and strength.

(The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla).

About the Author Chirag Daruwalla Chirag Daruwalla, a renowned Indian astrologer with 18+ years of experience, provides expert guidance in career, health, finance, business, and more. He combines Vedic and Western astrology, I-Ching, Tarot, Num... Read More Chirag Daruwalla, a renowned Indian astrologer with 18+ years of experience, provides expert guidance in career, health, finance, business, and more. He combines Vedic and Western astrology, I-Ching, Tarot, Num... Read More

First Published: July 27, 2025, 07:15 IST

News astrology Tarot Card Reading Today July 27, 2025

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ITR Filing: Who Is Mandated To Get Their Accounts Audited And Whats The Deadline?

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 08:00 IST

If the total sales, turnover, or gross receipts of a business exceed Rs 1 crore in a financial year, an audit is mandatory.

The due date to complete a tax audit is September 30.

Filing the Income Tax Return (ITR) is mandatory for individuals and businesses when their earnings from all sources in a financial year exceed a certain limit. However, some taxpayers also need to get their accounts audited under the Income Tax Act, 1961, before filing their ITRs.

Lets take a look at important details about ITR filing for taxpayers who need their accounts to be audited.

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Who Needs Tax Audit Before ITR Filing?

The audit requirement is based on income, turnover, or the nature of the business. Under Section 44AB of the Income Tax Act, 1961, businesses and professionals need their accounts to be audited under the following circumstances:

1. Businesses

 If the total sales, turnover, or gross receipts exceed Rs 1 crore in a financial year, an audit is mandatory.

 For businesses opting for the presumptive taxation scheme under Section 44AD, an audit is required if the declared income is lower than the presumptive rate (8% or 6% for digital receipts), and the total income exceeds the basic exemption limit.

2. Professionals

Professionals (like doctors, lawyers and architects) must get their accounts audited if their gross receipts exceed Rs 50 lakh in a financial year.

3. Charitable Trusts and NGOs

Trusts and NGOs with total income exceeding the basic exemption limit (before claiming exemption under sections like 11 or 12) also need an audit.

What Is the Audit Deadline?

For the financial year 202425 (assessment year 202526):

 The due date to complete a tax audit is September 30.

 The deadline for filing the ITR after audit is October 31.

Why Is the Audit Important?

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Tax audits ensure transparency, accuracy in financial reporting, and compliance with the Income Tax Act. Failing to get accounts audited when required can lead to penalties of 0.5 per cent of turnover, or up to Rs 1,50,000, whichever is lower.

If you run a high-turnover business, have professional receipts above the threshold, or opt out of presumptive schemes, check whether you need an audit. Meeting the audit deadline ensures smooth ITR filing. Missing the tax audit deadline may lead to an income tax notice and hefty penalties.

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

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 08:00 IST

News business ITR Filing: Who Is Mandated To Get Their Accounts Audited And Whats The Deadline?

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MEA Warning: 8 Countries Indian Nationals Should Avoid Travelling To

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 12:47 IST

With global tensions soaring, India flags 8 countries as unsafe for travellers due to conflict and instability.

MEA warns against travel to conflict-hit regions, citing safety risks for Indian citizens. (Representative image: Getty)

Violence broke out along the Thailand-Cambodia border on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of 33 people, 20 from Thailand and 13 from Cambodia. After three days of clashes, Thailand announced late Saturday that it had agreed to a ceasefire with Cambodia and was willing to engage in bilateral dialogue."

The Indian embassies in Thailand and Cambodia advised Indian citizens to avoid travelling to border areas.

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Amid rising global conflicts, political instability, and ongoing civil wars in several regions, India has issued a travel advisory for its citizens, urging caution when visiting countries facing such crises.

1. Yemen

Yemen has been in a long-running civil war involving Houthi rebels, government forces, and foreign allies. The country faces daily violence, airstrikes, and a severe humanitarian crisis. The situation is highly unstable, with terrorism, kidnappings, and armed clashes, especially in cities and coastal regions.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has banned Indian nationals from travelling to Yemen by air, land, or sea. The fragile security situation and active conflict make it highly unsafe.

Anyone violating this faces action under the Passports Act, 1967, which may include passport cancellation or denial for up to seven years.

2. Cambodia

Cambodia has recently seen border clashes with Thailand, especially near the Preah Vihear Temple and surrounding areas. These conflicts have raised security concerns, including possible violence and border shutdowns. While cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap remain stable, border areas are unpredictable.

The Indian embassy in Cambodia on Saturday issued an advisory asking citizens to avoid the Cambodia-Thailand border areas. In view of the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are advised to avoid travelling to the border areas," the embassy said in a statement posted on X.

The embassy also shared emergency contact information for Indian nationals. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may approach the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh at +855 92881676," it said.

While the government has not issued any advisory restricting travel to Thailand, the embassy in Thailand on Saturday advised the Indian citizens in the country to avoid seven Thai provinces  Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat.

In April 2024, the MEA warned that Indian nationals were being lured to Cambodia with false promises of high-paying jobs, only to fall victim to human trafficking.

The government issued an advisory urging citizens to travel for employment only through authorised agents. It also recommended thoroughly verifying the background of prospective employers in Cambodia before accepting any job offers.

3. Myanmar

Myanmar is caught in conflict between the ruling military and ethnic armed groups, especially in border states like Rakhine, Chin, and Shan. Airstrikes and clashes have displaced civilians and created a humanitarian crisis.

The MEA advises Indians to avoid non-essential travel to Myanmar due to the ongoing conflict. The government advised those already there to remain extremely cautious, steer clear of conflict zones, and stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Yangon or the Consulate General in Mandalay.

4. Iraq

Iraq continues to struggle with terrorism, sectarian violence, and political unrest. While areas like Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region are relatively safer, regions such as Anbar and Nineveh remain high-risk.

In the recent advisory, the MEA stated that Indian nationals may consider travelling to the country except for the five Provinces of Iraq, namely Nineveh(Capital Mosul); Salahuddin (Capital Tikrit); Diyala (Capital Baquba); Al-Anbar (Capital Ramadi) and Kirkuk as some parts of these regions remain unsafe.

5. Syria

Syria remains gripped by civil war involving government forces, opposition fighters, and terrorist groups like ISIS. Violence, airstrikes, kidnappings, and widespread destruction make the country extremely dangerous.

The MEA has strongly advised Indian nationals to avoid travel to Syria and urged those already there to leave immediately and contact the Indian Embassy in Damascus.

6. Libya

Libya is still dealing with political divisions, armed conflicts, and militia violence. Travelling within the country is risky due to kidnappings and terror threats, especially by road. The absence of stable governance makes it even more dangerous.

Though a complete travel ban was slightly modified on May 23, 2016, the MEA still advises Indians to avoid non-essential travel to Libya. Those already there should stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Tripoli and avoid inter-provincial travel.

7. Lebanon

Lebanon is facing a political and economic crisis, with added tension from cross-border conflicts involving Israel and Hezbollah. The risk of violence, including airstrikes, is highespecially in southern areas and near the Syrian border.

The MEA strongly advises against any non-essential travel to Lebanon for now due to potential threats. The government has urged Indians already in Lebanon to restrict movement and stay in close contact with the Indian Embassy in Beirut.

8. Bangladesh

Bangladesh is seeing rising political unrest with violent protests disrupting public life, especially in cities. These disturbances threaten public safety.

The MEA has strongly advised Indians against travel to Bangladesh until further notice. The government has urged those in the country to be very cautious, limit travel, and reach out to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka if needed.

Countries Where You Can Plan Budget Travel

If you are searching for safe and affordable international destinations to travel then you can consider Vietnam, Sri Lanka, or Nepal for rich cultural experiences, scenic attractions, without compromising safety or budget.

Vietnam

Known for its vibrant culture, historical sites like Hoi An and Ha Long Bay, and affordable accommodations, Vietnam is a budget-friendly destination. A round-trip flight from India can cost as low as Rs 15,00020,000, with daily expenses averaging Rs 2,000 Rs 3,000 for budget travellers.

Sri Lanka

Offering beaches, ancient temples, and tea plantations, Sri Lanka is a cost-effective destination with cultural similarities to India. Flights from India start at Rs 10,000 Rs 15,000, and daily costs for budget travellers range from Rs 1,500 Rs 2,500.

Nepal

With its Himalayan landscapes, cultural heritage, and proximity to India, Nepal is an economical choice. Travel by bus or train from India can cost as little as Rs 1,000 Rs 3,000 and daily expenses average Rs 1,500 Rs 2,000.

Georgia

This Eurasian country offers stunning Caucasus Mountains, historic sites, and a visa-free policy for Indian citizens. Flights from India cost around Rs 20,000 Rs 30,000, with daily expenses as low as Rs 2,000 Rs 3,000.

Tips For Travellers

Monitor MEA Advisories: Check the Ministry of External Affairs website (www.mea.gov.in) for the latest travel advisories.

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Register with Embassies: Register with the Indian Embassy or Consulate in your destination country for real-time updates and assistance.

Stay Informed: Follow local news and adhere to local authority guidance to ensure safety.

About the Author Surbhi Pathak Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11. Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11.

First Published: July 27, 2025, 11:06 IST

News explainers MEA Warning: 8 Countries Indian Nationals Should Avoid Travelling To

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After 300 Hearings Over 17 Years, UP Man Cleared Of Charges Caused By Police Blunder

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 19:19 IST

Raj Vir was wrongly named in a 2008 case after a Kotwali inspector entered his name instead of the actual accused, his brother Ram Vir

Though Raj Vir was granted bail shortly after his arrest, the legal ordeal continued. (Representational image)

A 62-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, Raj Vir, was finally cleared last week in a case wrongly filed against him under the Gangsters Act17 years after a police inspector mistakenly recorded his name instead of his brothers.

Raj Vir was wrongly named in a 2008 case after a Kotwali inspector entered his name instead of the actual accused, his brother Ram Vir. The clerical error went unnoticed for nearly two decades, forcing Raj Vir into a long legal battle that involved 300 court hearings, 22 days in jail, and deep personal and financial losses.

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Speaking to the press, his lawyer Vinod Kumar Yadav said, My client kept pleading that he had no criminal record. Nobody heard him. He was arrested, jailed for 22 days before getting a bail, and then left to fight the system alone."

The case was first filed on August 31, 2008, under the strict Gangsters Act, which carries serious legal consequences and a strong social stigma. Though Raj Vir was granted bail shortly after his arrest, the legal ordeal continued. In 2012, the case was moved from Agra to Mainpuri, where he had to travel repeatedly to attend hearings.

He could hardly focus on his family," said Yadav. His daughters, one of whom is specially-abled, are now married. But his son had to drop out of school to work as a farm labourer. Raj Vir had no money left. His savings were gone, and his reputation destroyed."

On 24 July 2024, Special Judge Swapna Deep Singhal finally exonerated Raj Vir. The court acknowledged that due to gross negligence by the police and authorities, an innocent person had to suffer 22 days in prison and had to contest a false case in court for 17 years."

Though the verdict clears his name, the damage caused by the prolonged trial cannot be undone. Raj Vir now lives quietly in Mainpuri, reflecting on the years lost to a mistake not of his own making.

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Justice has come," said his lawyer, but it should not have taken this long. No innocent man should have to beg the system for 17 years."

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Uttar Pradesh, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 19:01 IST

News india After 300 Hearings Over 17 Years, UP Man Cleared Of Charges Caused By Police Blunder

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Babbar Khalsa Terrorist Karanvir Singh, Accused In Punjab Grenade Attack, Arrested In Delhi

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 10:34 IST

BKI terrorist Karanvir Singh has been accused in the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the Qila Lal Singh Wala police station in Punjabs Batala district on April 7.

Babbar Khalsa Terrorist Karanvir Singh | File Image

A 41-year-old man associated with the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has been arrested in Delhi for carrying out a grenade attack on a police station in Punjab.

Karanvir Singh, a BKI terrorist originally from Kapurthala, Punjab, and previously suspected to have fled to Pakistan, has been accused in the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on the Qila Lal Singh Wala police station in Punjabs Batala district on April 7.

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In 2023, the Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Karanvir Singh, who was wanted by Indian authorities on multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, murder, violations of the Arms Act and Explosive Substances Act, fundraising for terrorist activities, and membership in a banned terror group, according to Interpols official portal.

The development comes just a couple of days after the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Akashdeep Singh alias Baaz, an alleged operative of the banned outfit BKI, in the same case.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), New Delhi Range, Amit Kaushik, confirmed the arrest on Wednesday. He said the police had been tracking the case since BKI claimed responsibility for the attack and issued threats of a similar strike in Delhi.

The accused is a resident of Amritsar, who was apprehended from Indore in Madhya Pradesh, on July 22 in connection to an Arms Act case," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said.

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A Punjab Police official identified Akashdeep as a resident of Chandanke village in Amritsar district. He is accused of facilitating logistics and accommodation for the attackers but is not known to have a prior criminal record.

The case was recently transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further probe.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 10:18 IST

News india Babbar Khalsa Terrorist Karanvir Singh, Accused In Punjab Grenade Attack, Arrested In Delhi

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BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi For Echoing Pak Narrative On Global Support After Pahalgam Attack

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 14:53 IST

BJP's Amit Malviya criticized Rahul Gandhi for saying no nation supported India in its conflict with Pakistan, highlighting backing from the US, France, Russia, and others.

Amit Malviya said the Congress MP continues to push forward Pakistans "tired narrative that India is isolated on the global stage." (File Image/ANI)

BJP leader Amit Malviya on Sunday tore into Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for echoing Pakistans narrative" and saying that no nation supported India during its recent conflict with the neighbouring country.

While addressing reporters, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had stated that the NDA-led government has ruined Indias foreign policies and that no country supported India during its conflict with Pakistan.

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Reacting strongly to Rahul Gandhi comments, Amit Malviya said the Congress MP continues to push forward Pakistans tired narrative that India is isolated on the global stage."

        :    ?"    -                                   pic.twitter.com/HXsTOsOkF7  Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 27, 2025

Malviya targetted the Raebareli MP for doubting Indias capabilities and strength even when the entire civilised world" stood with it.

Taking to X, the BJP leader wrote, Rahul Gandhi, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, asked: Kisne support kiya hume?" He continues to echo Pakistans tired narrative that India is isolated on the global stage. Lets dismantle that lie. After the Pahalgam attack, the entire civilised world stood with India. From Washington to Tokyo, from Paris to Canberra, countries condemned the cowardly act in one voice  and backed Indias fight against terror without hesitation."

Naming the nations that backed India in its fight against terrorism, he further wrote, The United States called it a heinous" attack and reaffirmed full counterterrorism cooperation. The Trump administration even designated The Resistance Front  a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy  as a terrorist organisation, a major diplomatic win for India. France offered unwavering support. President Macron condemned the attack strongly, just as he did during Pulwama. Russias President Putin personally called PM Modi to offer condolences and solidarity. Moscow continues to block anti-India proposals at the UNSC.

The UK, along with the G7, declared it an attack on peace and humanity." The message was unified and clear."

He mentioned that even China condemned the attack, calling it shocking. He further stated that not even a single country blamed India in response.

Even China, despite its usual tightrope walking, expressed shock" and strong condemnation. Though Beijing did try to balance with diplomatic doublespeak by mentioning Pakistans concerns," it didnt dare repeat Islamabads propaganda. Thats the UNSC P5  US, UK, France, Russia, and even China  either fully backing India or staying neutral. Not one nation blamed India or its right to respond. Not one said both sides," he tweeted.

Replying to Rahul Gandhis question of who supported India, he said everyone did except him. He accused the MP for maligning countrys image on foreign soil multiple times.

And yet, Rahul Gandhi  disconnected from the truth and loyal only to his echo chamber  asks Kisne support kiya?" The answer is simple: Everyone did. Everyone except him. This isnt new. Hes done it before. He called Indian democracy dead  in London. He echoed Chinas line during the Galwan clash. He questioned the Balakot strike from foreign soil."

The BJP leader added that todays India doesnt beg for sympathy but commands respect from several nations, including US and Russia.

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Today, India commands respect  from Washington D.C. to Moscow, from Beijing to Brasilia. We dont beg for sympathy. We lead the Global South, we anchor the Indo-Pacific, and we shape global conversations."

He asserted that India remains committed to crushing terror elements. We crushed Pakistan-backed terror once. Well do it again  anytime, anywhere, on our terms," he further added.

About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More

First Published: July 27, 2025, 14:45 IST

News india BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi For Echoing Pak Narrative On Global Support After Pahalgam Attack

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'Crowd Became Uncontrollable': Haridwar Mansa Devi Stampede Survivors Share Ordeal

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 13:20 IST

Haridwar's Mansa Devi temple stampede killed six and got several injured. Uttarakhand CM Dhami expressed sadness and assured rescue efforts.

Mansa Devi temple stampede (PTI)

A stampede broke out at Haridwars Mansa Devi temple on Sunday, killing six people and leaving many injured, police said.

Rumour of an electric current where the stairs to the temple begin sent the devotees into a panic, leading to the stampede, Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Singh Dobal told PTI Videos. About 35 people were rushed to hospital and six of them died, he said.

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The incident took place around 9.30 am.

One of the injured told ANI, Just 20-25 steps before the temple premises, the crowd became uncontrollable I fell down along with 10 to 12 others I found 3 of my family members, but 2 are still missing"

Another shared his ordeal and told his hand got fractured. Suddenly, a huge crowd gathered there and a stampede took place. During this, I fell and my hand got fractured"

#WATCH | 6 dead, several injured following stampede at Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, UttarakhandOne of the injured says, Suddenly, a huge crowd gathered there and a stampede took place. During this, I fell and my hand got fractured" pic.twitter.com/KtIVHaxqCZ  ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was saddened by the incident and asserted that the situation was being monitored.

Very sad news has been received about a stampede on the way to the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar. SDRF, local police and other rescue teams have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations," Dhami said in a post on Facebook.

Location : Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 13:20 IST

News india 'Crowd Became Uncontrollable': Haridwar Mansa Devi Stampede Survivors Share Ordeal

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'Diplomat', Arrested At Fake Embassy, Involved In Rs 300 Cr Scam; Held 162 Foreign Trips: Report

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 14:05 IST

Harsh Vardhan Jain was arrested for running fake embassy in Ghaziabad. Probe has revealed that he lured youths for jobs abroad and was involved in money laundering through Hawala.

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UP Special Task Force have arrested Harsh Vardhan Jain, the 'baron' representing 'Westarctica'.

Investigation into Harsh Vardhan Jain, who was arrested in Ghaziabad for allegedly running a fake embassy as a self-styled diplomat, has revealed shocking details.

He was arrested last week at the rented house in the city, which he claimed to be an embassy.

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The probe has revealed possible links of the man to a scam amounting to nearly Rs 300 crore, 162 foreign trips in 10 years, and various overseas bank accounts, according to a report.

Jain was allegedly involved in money laundering through the Hawala route, besides a job racket.

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force had raided his premises and seized four cars with fake diplomatic number plates and forged documents, NDTV reported.

The police said that Jain could be involved in a scam worth Rs 300 crore.

Outside the building, a nameplate read Grand Duchy of Westarctica" and H E HV Jain Honorary Consul." The building displayed the flags of India and Westarctica  a self-declared micronation in Antarctica that isnt recognised by any country in the world, the report said.

Jain lured people with jobs abroad by running the fake embassy since 2017, officials said. He would organise charity events, such as bhandaras (community feast), outside the embassy" to attract people, NDTV reported.

The officials said that during the raid on the building, the cops also found pictures of Jain with godman" Chandraswami and Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. Chandraswami, a self-proclaimed godman, gained significant influence in the 1980s and 1990s and was seen as the spiritual adviser to three Prime MinistersPV Narasimha Rao, Chandra Shekhar, and VP Singh. He faced investigations for financial irregularities and was arrested in 1996.

The STF has discovered that Chandraswami had introduced Jain to Khashoggi and Ahsan Ali Sayed  a conman who allegedly worked with the fake diplomat to float 25 shell companies that were used for money laundering. Sayed was born in Hyderabad but later took Turkish citizenship, the report said.

Sayed ran a company in Switzerland called Western Advisory Group, which worked with businesses and promised to help them get loans in return for a brokerage fee. The company allegedly collected 25 million (about Rs 300 crore) in brokerage before fleeing Switzerland. Ahsan was arrested in London in 2022. Police are now investigating how deeply Jain was involved in the large-scale scam. Earlier, they found that Jain used a fake embassy and claimed diplomatic status to build contacts and attract people by offering fake job opportunities, the report said.

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After Jains arrest, Westarctica, the micronation where he was an honorary consul, distanced itself, stating that Jains official title was Honorary Consul to India and was never granted the position of an ambassador.

During his recent arrest for fraud and other crimes, Jain was found to be in possession of diplomatic number plates, passports, and other items bearing the seal of Westarctica. As an Honorary Consul, he was not authorized to create these items. Westarctica, itself, does not utilize number plates or passports and we have never permitted or encouraged our representatives to do so themselves. By calling his home an embassy, Jain was in violation of Westarcticas protocol for our representatives," NDTV quoted the statement as saying.

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

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Location : Ghaziabad, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 14:03 IST

News india 'Diplomat', Arrested At Fake Embassy, Involved In Rs 300 Cr Scam; Held 162 Foreign Trips: Report

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Haridwar Stampede: False Electricity Leakage Alarm Kills 8; Ex-Gratia Announced, Probe Ordered

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 28, 2025, 09:37 IST

A stampede at Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar killed six and injured 28 after a rumour of an electric shock spread.

People gather at the site after a stampede broke out at Mansa Devi temple. (PTI)

Haridwar Stampede: In a tragic incident, at least eight people lost their lives and 28 others were injured after a stampede broke out during a rush of pilgrims along a stair route leading to the holy shrine of Mansa Devi temple in Uttarakhands Haridwar on Sunday.

The incident took place at around 9 am when a rumour of an electric shock on the stairs spread among the huge crowd of devotees, who were gathered to pay obeisance to the deity, Haridwars Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pramendra Singh Dobal told news agency PTI.

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Dobal further said that teams from the police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were rushed to the spot immediately, and the rescue efforts continued for hours.

Who Are The Victims?

According to the officials, those killed in the tragic incident include people from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Uttarakhand and aged between 12 and 60 years.

The officials identified the deceased as Arush (12), Shakal Dev (18), Vicky (18), Vipin (18), Vakil and Shanti  age of both have not been specified yet.

The priority as of now is the rapid recovery of those injured in the stampede," Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey told reporters as quoted by the news agency.

Visuals Of Tragedy

As the ambulances drove in with sirens blaring outside the temple, several injured persons were lying at the entrance unattended.

Chunris brought by the devotees to be offered to the goddess are strewn along the stairs that lead to the hilltop temple in Haridwar. Scores of footwear, too, lay abandoned at the entrance.

A video showed a policeman running towards an ambulance with an injured child in his arms. Later, an injured devotee writhing in pain inside an ambulance was enquiring about his relatives who had been separated in the chaos of the stampede.

One of the videos shows a massive crowd stranded between barricades at a point on the stairway, with many carrying children and gasping for breath, with no space to move at all. The devotees were seen frantically asking for help as the crowd swelled from all directions. While some managed to climb the wall along the stairway, others tried to do the same, running over others to make way for themselves.

Magisterial Probe Ordered

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that a magisterial probe has been ordered into the circumstances leading to the stampede.

Haridwars Additional District Magistrate has been assigned the task of conducting a probe into the incident and submit a report within 15 days making recommendations on how to prevent the recurrence of such happenings in future, District Magistrate Mayur Dikshit said.

A stampede broke out at the Mansa Devi temple in the morning because of a rumour. We have ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and those responsible for spreading the rumour will face strict action," Dhami said as quoted by the news agency.

Condolences Poured In

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders across the party lines condoled the loss of lives in the tragic incident.

The news of the death of many devotees in the stampede accident on the way to the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar is deeply painful. I express my heartfelt condolences to all the grieving families. I pray that all the injured devotees recover quickly," Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.

PM Modi also took to X to express condolences to the victims in the stampede. Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected," the PM said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also expressed grief over the incident.

The news of a stampede at Haridwars Mansa Devi temple is extremely saddening. SDRF, local police and other rescue teams are on-site and engaged in relief and rescue operations. I am in constant touch with the local administration and closely monitoring the situation. I pray to Mata Rani for the well-being of all devotees," Dhami wrote on X.

Dhami later visited the district hospital in Haridwar where most of the injured were admitted and went from bed to bed asking them about their well being.

Ex-Gratia Announced

Chief Minister Dhami announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.

Additionally, Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of the Mansa Devi Mandir Trust, announced that the temple trust will provide Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to those injured.

Further Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh financial aid for families of the deceased from Uttar Pradesh.

Four of the people killed in the incident are from Uttar Pradesh, according to officials.

In a post on X, CM Yogi said, The news of the tragic accident on the Shri Mansa Devi Temple road in Haridwar, resulting in the demise of devotees, is extremely painful and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the grief-stricken families. "

What Led To The Stampede?

Rumours of an electricity current where the stairs begin triggered panic among people, leading to the stampede, Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal said.

Mahendra Pratap Singh, an eyewitness who saw the stampede from a rooftop a little distance away, told the news agency that the excess crowd led to the tragic incident.

Excess crowd is the only factor," he said.

An injured devotee, Nirmala, admitted at the government hospital, told PTI that the stampede happened as the bulk of people going up and those hurrying downwards choked the narrow passage.

People coming back from the temple pushed those climbing upwards and then people began falling over each other. Nothing could be seen because of the crowd. I kept lying down," she said from her bed at the hospital.

Locals said if the administration had been a little cautious, considering the possibility of a huge crowd coming to the Mansa Devi temple, the accident could have been avoided.

Since it was only a few days after the Kanwar Yatra and it was a Sunday, lakhs of people were in Haridwar, which is a major pilgrimage place.

Most of these devotees had reached the Mansa Devi temple for darshan, locals said. The crowd in the temple was increasing continuously but the administration was unaware of it, they said.

Some eyewitnesses said a short circuit occurred near the electricity metre installed on the route and that there was a spark, and fear spread among people which led to the stampede.

One-Way System A Must

Following the incident, SSP Dobal announced that a one-way system will be implemented immediately to manage the crowd and prevent further incidents.

We have spoken with the temple administration and trust, and we have concluded that implementing a one-way system is absolutely essential. The one-way system will be implemented with immediate effect," he told news agency ANI.

He added that a nodal officer has been appointed to improve security, and a case has been registered in connection with the incident.

Mansa Devi Temple

The Mansa Devi temple is situated at 1770 feet above sea level, on Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas.

It can be reached through three routes. The first route is by road, which two-wheelers and cars use to go near the temple, while the second route is via a ropeway.

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The third route is a trek route from near Har ki Pauri, which is also called the staircase path. This path is very narrow and reaches the temple premises directly. There is a ditch and dense bushes on one side of this path.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

Location : Uttarakhand (Uttaranchal), India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 23:52 IST

News india Haridwar Stampede: False Electricity Leakage Alarm Kills 8; Ex-Gratia Announced, Probe Ordered

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Billy Joel's wife was "very unimpressed with the whole Billy Joel thing" when they first met.

Alexis and Billy Joel have been married since 2015

The 76-year-old star tried to woo Alexis, 43, with his musical talents during the early days of their romance, but she was completely unimpressed by his efforts.

In the new HBO documentary series Billy Joel: And So It Goes, he explains: "I remember the first time I met Alexis, we went to my house, and I wanted to play the piano for her. Its a form of communication for me."

Billy assumed that Alexis would be wowed by his award-winning talents. However, she was unmoved when he played the piano for her.

Billy - who married Alexis in 2015 - said: "Im playing that and shes completely unimpressed with it, totally. She couldnt care less what Im playing and Im thinking, Oh OK, this isnt working.'

"She was very unimpressed with the whole Billy Joel thing, which impressed me. Because I thought, OK, maybe shes just here because she likes me, not the Billy Joel guy."

The music star - who has daughters Della, nine, and Remy, seven, with Alexis - made a conscious effort to develop their relationship away from the spotlight.

He explained: "We had a couple years together before we had kids and he had completely stopped doing shows. We travelled everywhere. We did a motorcycle trip from Maine down to Long Island, we were on boats 24/7. We were in Europe. We had so much fun."

Meanwhile, Billy recently admitted that he was hesitant about committing to his HBO documentary.

The music icon revealed that he was reluctant to reflect on some of the "stupid stuff" he's done in the past.

He told People: "I've resisted this kind of thing for so long. I'm sick of talking about myself. Some of the stupid stuff I did, that's painful to talk about. (But) they asked me for some thematic guidance. I said, 'Just tell the truth.'"

Billy initially just wanted to get the documentary "over with" because he doesn't enjoy talking about himself.

The Uptown Girl hitmaker said: "My goal was to get it over with.

"When I do interviews, people just ask you about yourself and you get a little self-conscious about it eventually. It's almost embarrassing.

"When you're talking about your personal life detached from the material ... I suppose there's a little bit of wariness involved."
Key Points

A letter sent by a clutch of attorneys general to congressional leaders made a case for banking reform for the marijuana industry.

Lack of access to basic financial services has been quite a hindrance for the business.

10 stocks we like better than Curaleaf 

A new political push for marijuana law reform had an intoxicating effect on Curaleaf (OTC: CURLF) stock as the trading week came to an end. On Friday, the multi-state operator (MSO) was quite the buzzy title on the exchange, with investors boosting its share price by 13% on the day. That compared quite favorably to the minor (0.4%) gain of the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) at market close.

Banking on change

Late on Thursday, a group of 32 attorneys general from U.S. states and territories sent a letter to congressional leaders imploring them to pass a marijuana banking bill.

Image source: Getty Images.

The Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act would allow cannabis businesses to access basic financial services; as the drug is illegal at the federal (if not necessarily the state) level, they are currently barred from these. Many are consequently forced to operate on a cash-only basis, which increases the risks of crime.

In the letter, the attorneys general wrote, "As more states continue to consider and implement legalization efforts, the lack of access to America's financial system by cannabis businesses -- which is a direct result of federal banking law -- presents a considerable safety issue for the public."

Democrats and Republicans alike

Reflecting the broad support marijuana legalization enjoys among the general American public, the 32 attorneys general -- from locales such as Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Georgia -- are a bipartisan group.

While it remains to be seen what, if any, effect their letter has on the rather slow-moving Congressional pot reform efforts, it's good for the weed industry that there continues to be pressure for change.

Should you buy stock in Curaleaf right now?

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Indias Poorest Man: MP Farmer Listed With Rs 3 Annual Income, Administration Says Error Fixed

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 16:47 IST

A viral certificate showed Madhya Pradesh farmer Ramswaroop's annual income as Rs 3. Authorities clarified it was a clerical error; the corrected certificate reports Rs 30,000.

As the pictures of the document went viral, officials came into action and by July 25, a new certificate was issued. (X)

A clerical error in Madhya Pradeshs Satna district went viral this week after a local farmer was issued an income certificate showing an annual income of mere Rs 3. The document, bearing the tehsildars official stamp and signature has become the headline point among the netizens with the Internet dubbing him as the "poorest man in India".

As the certificate went viral, authorities quickly scrambled to clarify that it was a clerical error," and went on to issue a new certificate, increasing the original income, reported PTI news agency.

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A photograph of the income certificate issued to Ramswaroop (45), a resident of Nayagaon village under Kothi tehsil of Satna district, complete with the tehsildars signature, surfaced on social media this week. The document, issued with the signature of the tehsildar, Saurabh Dwivedi, implied that Ramswaroop earned 25 paise a month.

As the pictures of the document went viral, officials came into action and by July 25, a new certificate was issued, reporting that the farmers annual income is Rs 30,000, which is Rs 2,500 per month.

It was a clerical error, which has been corrected. A new income certificate has been issued," Dwivedi clarified as reported by the news agency.

Congress Takes A Jibe

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh Congress took to social media to slam the government for creating such a blunder. They shared a post along with the photo of the original certificate, saying that the government is on a mission to make people poor.

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In MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadavs rule, we discovered Indias poorest man! Annual income: just Rs 3!" the party claimed in its post.

Isnt it shocking? A mission to make people poor? Because now the chair itself eats the commission," it alleged.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

Location : Satna, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 16:47 IST

News india Indias Poorest Man: MP Farmer Listed With Rs 3 Annual Income, Administration Says Error Fixed

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Mumbai-Pune Expressway Vehicle Pile-Up Kills Woman, Damages Luxury Cars | What Caused It?

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 09:22 IST

A woman was killed while several other people were injured in the massive vehicle pile-up incident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday.

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Mumbai-Pune Expressway: Woman killed in accident (PTI Image)

A massive pile-up of over 20 vehicles on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to 18 other people.

The incident took place after a container trailers brakes failed near Adoshi tunnel under Khopoli police station limits in Khalapur taluka in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

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The trailers brakes failed while going down a steep road, causing it to crash into the vehicles in front, the police said. Luxury cars like BMW and Mercedes were among the vehicles that were damaged in the incident.

The accident happened because the brakes failed. The driver was not drunk. The damage was serious because the brakes gave out while he was driving downhill," the police said, adding that the 29-year-old trailer driver was arrested.

The cops have registered a case and are probing the mechanical failure that resulted in the loss of life and property.

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17 out of the 19 injured ones were rushed to MGM Hospital, Kamothe, while one was taken to a private hospital.

The driver of the container trailer truck lost control of the vehicle after brake failure. It hit at least 20 vehicles, including luxury cars like BMW and Mercedes, resulting in serious injuries to 19 people. Of these, a woman died while undergoing treatment," the official told news agency PTI.

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

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Location : Maharashtra, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 09:22 IST

News india Mumbai-Pune Expressway Vehicle Pile-Up Kills Woman, Damages Luxury Cars | What Caused 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
Online Ludo, Dark Web And Pakistan Link: Agra Conversion Racket Probe Reveals Shocking Details

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 08:15 IST

Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the case so far, said officials, adding that the group targeted young individuals, especially girls, using online games

Abdul Rehman, one of the key accused | Image: X

The religious conversion racket under investigation in Agra involved coordination with handlers based in Pakistan and used online platforms and gaming apps to influence youth, police said on Saturday.

Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the case so far, said officials, adding that the group targeted young individuals, especially girls, using online games like Ludo as initial contact points.

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According to Agra Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the suspects allegedly introduced Islamic teachings and created doubts about Hinduism through sustained communication.

The case came to light after two sisters, aged 33 and 18, were reported missing from Agra. One of them had posted a photo on social media holding an AK-47.

This led to the arrest of 10 people from six states, followed by four more as the investigation progressed.

Some of the girls were reportedly influenced by Kashmiri women who were part of the network and criticised Hinduism while promoting Islam, reported Hindustan Times.

We have interrogated 14 arrested individuals and spoken to the rescued girls. It was found that they were in contact with people in Pakistan, who spoke to them about Islam, and with some girls in Kashmir who reportedly influenced them to adopt the religion," Agra police commissioner Deepak Kumar said.

Police have identified Abdul Rehman, a Delhi resident who converted to Islam in 1990, and Ayesha from Goa as key figures in the operation.

The network allegedly targeted girls from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. The rescued individuals were reportedly added to WhatsApp groups where ideological indoctrination continued.

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Commissioner Kumar said the operation involved individuals with knowledge of the dark web and encrypted messaging platforms like Signal, which were used to evade detection.

He named two Pakistan-based individuals, Tanveer Ahmed and Sahil Adeem, as playing a key role in the ideological campaign. The case remains under investigation, with further leads being pursued.

Location : Agra, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 08:15 IST

News india Online Ludo, Dark Web And Pakistan Link: Agra Conversion Racket Probe Reveals Shocking Details

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PM Modi Attends Chola Emperors Birth Anniversary Event, Holds Massive Roadshow In Tamil Nadu

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 13:38 IST

Ahead of the event, PM Modi held a roadshow in Tiruchirappalli, where thousands of people gathered to catch a glimpse of him and welcomed him with a shower of flower petals.

Pm Modi in Tamil Nadu | Image: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday participated in the celebration of the birth anniversary of the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I and joined the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu.

Ahead of the event, PM Modi held a roadshow in Tiruchirappalli, where thousands of people gathered to catch a glimpse of him and welcomed him with a shower of flower petals.

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The event also marks 1,000 years since Rajendra Cholas famed maritime expedition to Southeast Asia and the beginning of construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram templean architectural landmark of the Chola dynasty.

#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: PM Narendra Modi participates in the celebration of the birth anniversary of the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I with the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple(Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/s2AF0oCYKi  ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

Rajendra Chola I (10141044 CE) is regarded as one of Indias most influential and strategic rulers. His reign saw the Chola Empire extend its reach across South and Southeast Asia.

After a series of military successes, he founded Gangaikonda Cholapuram as his new capital. The temple built there became a symbol of Shaivism, grand architecture, and administrative excellence, sustaining its prominence for over 250 years, according to reports.

The site is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, noted for its detailed sculptures, Chola-era bronze work, and historic inscriptions.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by the heads (adheenams) of Tamil Shaivite monasteries.

Nineteen adheenams had earlier participated in the installation ceremony of the Sengol at the inauguration of the new Parliament building in 2023.

The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival, which also honours the Tamil Shaiva Bhakti heritage upheld by the Cholas, coincided with the celebration. The festival began on July 23 and commemorates the birth star of Rajendra Chola, Thiruvathirai (Ardra).

Observers see the BJPs engagement with the adheenams as a political strategy to reach out to multiple communities across Tamil Nadu, given the broad social following of these religious institutions.

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A senior BJP leader, requesting anonymity, said, The participation of adheenams in PMs event in just two years shows that they are inclined towards the BJP."

Location : Tamil Nadu, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 13:33 IST

News india PM Modi Attends Chola Emperors Birth Anniversary Event, Holds Massive Roadshow In Tamil Nadu

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PM Modi Links Chola Diplomacy To Indias Strength, Calls Op Sindoor Warning To Terrorists

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 15:43 IST

PM Narendra Modi attended Aadi Thiruvathirai festival in Tamil Nadu, honoring Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I. During the event, he emphasized India's anti-terrorism stance.

PM Modi also acknowledged the historical significance of the Chola dynasty, noting their expansive diplomatic and trade ties across Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. (Image: X/ ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday participated in Aadi Thiruvathirai festival celebrations, honouring the legacy of the legendary Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I in Ariyalur district of Tamil Nadu.

Prime Minister Modi also addressed a gathering during the celebration of the birth anniversary of the Chola emperor, at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple. PM Modi said he prayed at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple today for the welfare of 140 crore Indians and for the continued progress of the country.

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#WATCH | Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu: PM Narendra Modi says, I am privileged to be present and worship at the feet of Lord Brihadeeswara. I have prayed at this historic temple for the welfare of 140 crore Indians and for the continued progress of India. I wish that everyone gets the pic.twitter.com/jTOJpQivwC ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

I am privileged to be present and worship at the feet of Lord Brihadeeswara. I have prayed at this historic temple for the welfare of 140 crore Indians and for the continued progress of India. I wish that everyone gets the blessings of Lord Shiva," the PM said.

The BJP leader said the names of Raja Raja Chola and Rajendra Chola are synonymous with Indias identity and pride.

Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola symbolise Indias identity and pride. The history and legacy of the Chola Empire reflect the strength and true potential of our great nation," he added.

PM Modi also acknowledged the historical significance of the Chola dynasty, noting their expansive diplomatic and trade ties across Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. He pointed out a personal coincidence, having returned just yesterday from the Maldives before attending the event.

The Chola kings expanded their diplomatic and trade relations to Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. It is also a coincidence that I returned from the Maldives only yesterday and today I am participating in this event in Tamil Nadu," the PM added.

This is the land of faith of Rajaraja and the way Ilaiyaraaja immersed us all in Shiva Bhakti in this land of faithI am an MP from Kashi. And when I hear Om Namah Shivaya, I get goosebumps. The way Ilaiyaraaja immersed all of us in Shiva devotion in this sacred land, in the month of Sawan, in this land of reverence for Rajaraja Chola, with the penance of Ilaiyaraaja, what a divine and extraordinary atmosphere. Truly remarkable," the PM said, highlighting the spiritual atmosphere created by Ilaiyaraajas music.

Speaking at the event, the PM reiterated Indias commitment in eradicating terrorism and protecting the country, saying, During Operation Sindoor, the world has seen that if anyone attacks India how we can respond."

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PM Modi said that India places its highest priority on its security, stressing the nations firm stance against terrorism. He emphasized that the operation sent a strong message: No place is safe for these terrorists and terrorism."

Operation Sindoor, launched by Indian defence forces, targeted terrorist networks and aimed to eliminate safe havens used by terrorists in Pakistan.

About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More

Location : Ariyalur, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 15:43 IST

News india PM Modi Links Chola Diplomacy To Indias Strength, Calls Op Sindoor Warning To Terrorists

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Pune Cops Detain NCP Leader Rohini Khadses Husband After Late-Night Rave Party Raid

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 11:54 IST

During late-night raid at an apartment, police recovered drugs, including cocaine, and detained seven people in connection with the matter, including Pranjal Khewalkar.

NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Rohini Khadse | File Image

The Pune City police raided a rave party in an apartment in the upmarket Kharadi area in the wee hours of Sunday and detained Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Rohini Khadse and son-in-law of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse.

During the search, police recovered drugs, including cocaine, and detained seven people in connection with the matter, including Pranjal Khewalkar.

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Apart from Khewalkar, the Crime Branch said two women and four men were also detained during the raid conducted around 3 am today.

The Indian Express quoted Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar as saying that Pranjal will be arrested soon. At the moment, he has been detained. The process for his arrest is underwayHe will be arrested," the officer said.

We had an input that something like a rave party was going on at a location in Kharadi. Our team raided a studio apartment in the early hours. Seven people, including two women and five men, have been detained. Among the five persons is a man identified as Pranjal Khewalkar. During the raid, we seized drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, along with liquor. Preliminary field kid tests have confirmed these drugs," an officer from the Crime Branch told TIE.

A thorough panchnama of the raid location is being done, and after all the formalities, an offence will be registered. No arrests have been made now, and seven people have been detained," said the officer.

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Officials confirmed that a deeper probe is underway to trace the suppliers and uncover the full scale of the illegal network, with sources indicating that more names may surface as the investigation advances.

First Published: July 27, 2025, 11:49 IST

News india Pune Cops Detain NCP Leader Rohini Khadses Husband After Late-Night Rave Party Raid

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Raj Thackeray Visits Matoshree On Uddhavs 65th Birthday, Days After Mumbai Rally

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 13:07 IST

The visit marks a significant moment in Maharashtras political landscape, as the two leaders, once estranged, were seen together again just days after 'victory' rally in Mumbai.

Raj Thackeray with Uddhav at Matoshree | Image: News18

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday visited Matoshree to wish his cousin, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, on his 65th birthday.

The visit marks a rare and significant moment in Maharashtras political landscape, as the two leaders, once estranged, were seen together again just days after appearing jointly at a victory rally in Mumbai.

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Raj Thackeray left his Dadar residence earlier in the day and arrived at Matoshree, Uddhav Thackerays residence in Bandra, amid a massive crowd in the area.

Both Thackeray cousins were then seen exchanging greetings and posing for a photograph, a moment that could reignite political heat in Maharashtra.

Previously, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and the MNS chief shared the stage at a joint rally in Worli on July 5, two decades after their split due to a power struggle.

The event, titled Awaj Marathicha (Voice of Marathi), was organised in response to the Mahayuti governments recent reversal of its decision to mandate Hindi as a third language in primary schools  a move strongly opposed by both leaders.

During the event, Uddhav said that the two have now come together to stay together.

We have come together to stay together We have united to protect Marathi," Uddhav Thackeray said while addressing the victory gathering.

I want to tell you all that us coming together is just a trailer. This is just the beginning" he added.

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Earlier, Raj Thackeray addressed the event and said, CM Fadnavis managed to do what Balasaheb Thackeray could not  bring myself and Uddhav together."

With the Mumbai civic polls coming near, the political realignment of Thackeray brothers have raised the political mercury in the state.

First Published: July 27, 2025, 12:58 IST

News india Raj Thackeray Visits Matoshree On Uddhavs 65th Birthday, Days After Mumbai Rally

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Two Minor Girls Raped In Separate Incidents In Odishas Malkangiri

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 18:42 IST

Two minor girls were allegedly raped in separate incidents in Malkangiri district. Police arrested two brothers for gang-raping a 15-year-old girl for over a year in Jagatsinghpur.

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The incidents took place between July 13, 2023 and July 23 this year at Sevalay. (Image: Representational)

Two minor girls were allegedly raped in separate incidents in Malkangiri district on Saturday. The first incident occurred in the Mudulipada area of Malkangiri district, police said on Sunday.

While speaking to the news agency IANS, one of the cases involved a minor victim from Mudulipada who filed a complaint, leading to the arrest of the accused.

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The second incident took place in the Orkel police station area of the district.

Reportedly, a youth raped a minor girl under the pretext of offering her a lift. The victims uncle filed a written complaint at the Orkel police station, and the police have initiated an investigation into the matter, Ommcom News reported.

In a separate incident, the Odisha Police arrested two brothers for allegedly gang-raping a 15-year-old girl for over a year and attempting to bury her alive after she became pregnant in Jagatsinghpur, an official said on Friday.

According to the complaint lodged by the survivors father at Kujang police station, the brothers identified as Bhagyadhar (60) and Panchanan Das (58) had subjected the minor to repeated physical assault for over a year, and she is now seven months pregnant.

The official added that the accused brothers work at a mutt (ashram) that the minor frequently visited.

A case has been registered against the two brothers and one more person under sections of the rape and POCSO Act.

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While the brothers were arrested on Thursday, the third accused is absconding, Tirtol SDPO Chinmay Raut said.

The incident came to light nearly four days after the gangrape of an 18-year-old woman in Jagatsinghpur district.

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Location : Odisha (Orissa), India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 18:42 IST

News india Two Minor Girls Raped In Separate Incidents In Odishas Malkangiri

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Two VIT Students Swept Away After Venturing Near Waterfall In Madhya Pradeshs Sehore

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 23:41 IST

Two VIT students went missing near Bherukho waterfall in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh. Separately, two VIMSAR students drowned at Deojharan waterfall in Odisha.

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Representative Image of Waterfall. (Pexels)

Two students of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Madhya Pradesh went missing after entering the water near a waterfall in Sehore district on Sunday evening, police said.

The incident took place near Bherukho waterfall around 5 pm, located in a forest in the vicinity of Daulatpur village under Ichhawar police station limits, news agency PTI quoted Sehore Superintendent of Police Deepak Shukla as saying.

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According to Shukla, two 20-year-old VIT students, Hemant Rao and Sinmuk, both from Hyderabad, were swept away by a stream near a waterfall while on a picnic to Kheoni Sanctuary with three friends in the Kothri area.

Their three other classmates  Narendra from Jamnagar, Gujarat, and Vamasi and Lalit from Hyderabad  did not venture into the water, police said.

Police arrived at the site after being alerted, but darkness hindered the rescue operation. The search for the missing students will resume on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, two final-year MBBS students of the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) drowned while bathing at the Deojharan waterfall in the Jujomura area of Odishas Sambalpur district on Sunday.

The incident occurred when a group of six students from VIMSAR had gone to the popular waterfall site for an outing. As per the local media reports, despite an official notice prohibiting visits to waterfalls during holidays, the students ventured to the top of the falls.

The deceased, identified as Monika Meena from Rajasthan and Sandeep Puri from Delhi, accidentally slipped into deep water while bathing. As per the local media, neither of them knew how to swim. Monika sustained a serious head injury while both were swept away by the strong current.

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Local tourists and the other students quickly informed the police and fire service, prompting rescue teams to arrive and retrieve the bodies from the water.

The bodies were taken to Jujumura Group Health Centre, where doctors confirmed them dead. An investigation into the incident has been initiated by local police.

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

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Location : Sehore, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 23:40 IST

News india Two VIT Students Swept Away After Venturing Near Waterfall In Madhya Pradeshs Sehore

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Will Discuss: Tejashwi Yadav Hints At Review Of Bihar Liquor Ban Ahead Of Polls

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 20:45 IST

Tejashwi Yadav suggested revisiting Bihar's liquor ban if his party wins the polls, criticising the NDA government for poor enforcement and increasing crime rates.

Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav speaks during the monsoon session, in Patna on July 23. (Image: @BiharVidhanSabhaTV on YT/PTI)

Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday dropped a broad hint that the liquor prohibition policy, imposed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in 2016, could be reviewed if his party comes to power in the upcoming assembly polls.

While speaking with reporters at an event in Patna today, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader said that the ban has raised multiple concerns and the question will be discussed with the people and government officials, and a decision will be taken afterwards.

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The liquor ban has led to a surge in questions and complications. There will be discussions with everyone, A thorough review will be conducted. Since the issue is being raised, it certainly deserves a discussion" he said as quoted by news agency IANS.

Patna, Bihar: When asked whether alcohol would be reintroduced in Bihar if the Mahagathbandhan comes to power, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, There will be discussions with everyone, A thorough review will be conducted. Since the issue is being raised, it certainly deserves a pic.twitter.com/CIoe6wMNBV IANS (@ians_india) July 27, 2025

Turning his criticism towards the incumbent NDA government, Yadav launched a scathing attack on the states law and order situation, accusing the administration of harbouring criminals. Referring to Bihars two deputy chief ministers, Vijay Sinha and Samrat Choudhary, he said, Criminals have become Vijay-Samrat in Nitish Kumars government."

There is no action against criminals. Gang rape is happening in ambulances. Shootouts are occurring in broad daylight. Over 100 murders have been reported in a single week," he alleged, painting a grim picture of public safety in the state.

Earlier, Tejashwi Yadav criticised Nitish Kumars government over the persistent sale and availability of alcohol, despite a statewide ban enacted in 2016. Yadav has accused the government of failing to enforce the prohibition effectively, pointing to tragedies as evidence that illicit liquor is easily accessible in many parts of Bihar.

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The prohibition law, introduced by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, aimed to address social issues stemming from alcohol consumption.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

First Published: July 27, 2025, 20:45 IST

News india Will Discuss: Tejashwi Yadav Hints At Review Of Bihar Liquor Ban Ahead Of Polls

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Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK.

Why Dividend Investors Count on Diageo (DEO) for Stability and Reliability

A close-up of bottles of whisky and other alcoholic beverages from a winery.

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is among the best FTSE dividend stocks. The company owns well-known brands such as Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Ketel One, Don Julio, and many other premium spirits. It is also the producer of Guinness, the famous Irish stout. With a portfolio of over 200 brands, Diageo sells its products in 180 countries worldwide.

Although Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO)s offerings cover a wide range of price points, the company has recently concentrated on acquiring and developing premium brands. This strategy allows the company to raise prices more easily, as it does not rely on competing through lower costs, and aligns with the growing consumer preference for higher-quality spirits.

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is a solid dividend payer, having raised its payouts for 25 consecutive years. The company pays an interim dividend of $1.62 per share for a dividend yield of 3.87%, as of July 25.

While we acknowledge the potential of DEO 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: 14 Stocks That Paid Special Dividends in 2025 and Dividend Champions vs Aristocrats: 12 Under-the-Radar Stocks to Buy

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Staring At Screens All Day? Ophthalmologist Shares How To Save Your Sight

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 17:55 IST

In a screen-dominated world, young professionals are staring at their screens for increased durations. This has led to a rise in cases of Digital Eye Strain.

Regular breaks help relax and refocus your eyes.

In todays hyperconnected lifestyle, screens are everywhere  from laptops and tablets to smartphones and smart TVs. While technology has made life more efficient and accessible, prolonged screen use has introduced a new health concern: digital eye strain. Also known as computer vision syndrome, this condition affects millions of people who spend long hours staring at digital devices.

Understanding Digital Eye Strain

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Digital eye strain is not a disease but a collection of eye and vision-related problems resulting from extended screen use. As we enter a new age of increased technology use, more attention is being focused on the emerging cases of Digital Eye Strain or Computer Vision Syndrome, especially among young professionals, college students and even school-age children," explains Dr Monesh Moolchandani, MS, Ophthalmic Surgeon at Inamdar Multispeciality Hospital, Pune.

Some of the symptoms of Digital Eye Strain include eye fatigue, temporary vision loss, dry eyes, and spasms of the eye. Some of the factors which bring this condition about are low blinking rates, excessive near-sighted focus, bad screen posture, and too much HEV blue light.

Poor posture, improper lighting, screen glare, and uncorrected vision problems can worsen these symptoms. With the average adult spending more than seven hours a day in front of screens, often longer for remote workers and students, the need to take preventive measures has never been greater," stresses Dr Moolchandani.

Simple Habits That Make A Difference

Fortunately, a few mindful habits can help prevent or reduce digital eye strain. Symptoms of eye strain can be managed with adequate measures.

To manage stress on the eyes caused by technology screens, the 20-20-20" rule permits one to take a break every twenty minutes to focus on an object located 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Each time the eyes are lubricated with preservative-free drops, the discomfort fades.

Filters which block blue lights or glasses which are treated with special coatings which are claimed to reduce HEV light may be able to lower possible risks of phototoxic damage. However, further research on this remains to be seen," said Dr. Moolchandani

Optimise Your Workspace

Ergonomics play a key role in preventing discomfort. Position your screen so that it is slightly below eye level and about an arms length away. Use chairs that support good posture and avoid sitting in dim lighting, which forces your eyes to work harder. Anti-glare screen protectors or blue light filters can also reduce strain.

Blink More, Blink Often

When concentrating on a screen, people tend to blink less frequently, sometimes up to 50% less. This leads to dry, irritated eyes. Making a conscious effort to blink more can help maintain natural eye moisture. Keeping a bottle of lubricating eye drops handy can also relieve dryness, especially in air-conditioned environments.

Adjust Screen Settings

Most devices allow customisation of brightness, contrast, and font size. Adjusting screen brightness to match your surroundings reduces strain. Enlarging text size makes reading easier, and switching to dark mode can be gentler on the eyes during prolonged reading.

Limit Unnecessary Screen Time

Being intentional with screen use is also crucial. Reducing unnecessary scrolling, especially before bedtime, can improve sleep quality and overall eye comfort. Set screen-free zones or time blocks in your day to allow your eyes regular breaks from digital exposure.

Annual Eye Checkups Matter

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Dr. Moolchandani further says, A thorough eye examination is needed when refractive errors, dry eye syndrome, or problems with eye teaming skills are suspected. While digital screens and other devices may be essential in todays society, they can be mitigated with preventive measures and proper eye care.

In a world where screens are unavoidable, taking steps to protect your vision is essential. Small, consistent changes in daily habits can help minimise digital eye strain and preserve long-term eye health.

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 27, 2025, 17:52 IST

News lifestyle  health-and-fitness Staring At Screens All Day? Ophthalmologist Shares How To Save Your Sight
From Sacred Trails To Scenic Tours: Understanding Amarnath Yatras Impact On Tourism

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 16:57 IST

The Amarnath Yatra is one of the most important pilgrimages for Hindu devotees. Every year, thousands of devotees undertake this pilgrimage to seek the blessings of Baba Barfani.

Pilgrims to Amarnath Yatra often extend tourism season in nearby destinations.

Every year, the Amarnath Yatra weaves together devotion, endurance, and an unmistakable economic upswing for Jammu & Kashmir. This sacred pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave, nestled deep within the Himalayas, doesnt just move pilgrims; it powers an entire regions tourism economy.

The annual Amarnath Yatra is not only a spiritual pilgrimage but the life-giving soul of the economy of Jammu & Kashmir," says Mr. Ravi Gosain, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO).

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Pilgrims Powering Local Prosperity

In the June-July window, more than three lakh pilgrims descended upon the valley, triggering a cascade of benefits across transport, hospitality, food services, and the local handicrafts market. Hotels, guesthouses, and homestays were overflowing, while local vendors and artisans had a hefty business," Mr. Gosain shares. The towns of Pahalgam and Baltal came alive with the energy of visitors, creating an unusually extended high season for surrounding tourist hotspots.

Beyond the Yatra: Exploring Kashmirs Scenic Circuit

One of the indirect but deeply positive impacts of the Yatra is its contribution to extending tourism into nearby destinations. Lots of pilgrims stay longer for sightseeing in scenic locations of Gulmarg, Sonmarg, and Srinagar, thus extending the tourist season," says Mr. Gosain.

This blend of spiritual travel and leisure tourism has led to tangible infrastructural gains: improved roads, enhanced healthcare access, and better mobile connectivity, which benefit both locals and tourists year-round.

Challenges on the Trail: Managing Security and Sustainability

Yet, the pilgrimage isnt without its hurdles. Environmental degradation, waste management, and safety remain key concerns. Security was the major concern, and therefore, to ensure safety, 50,000 security personnel were deployed after the terrifying recent events in Pahalgam," he notes.

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Its not just an annual recurrence, but an occasion of the local community coming together with new hope, offering visitors the best holiday experience," adds Mr. Gosain.

The Amarnath Yatra stands as a vivid example of how faith-fueled travel can shape a regions economy, cultural exchange, and community spirit.

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 27, 2025, 16:57 IST

News lifestyle  travel From Sacred Trails To Scenic Tours: Understanding Amarnath Yatras Impact On Tourism
Kriti Sanon Birthday: Actress Net Worth, Best Films And 5 Stunning Fashion Moments

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 07:20 IST

Happy Birthday Kriti Sanon: From National Award-winning roles to luxury brands and head-turning style, Kritis journey in Bollywood is a blend of talent, ambition and elegance.

Kriti Sanon turns 35 today, on July 27, 2025. (Image: kritisanon/Instagram)

Kriti Sanon Birthday: Kriti Sanon is one of the most versatile actresses in Bollywood. With her dedication and hard work over the years, she has carved a place for herself in the film industry. For over a decade, Kriti has been winning hearts with her captivating performances and charming screen presence. As the actress turns a year older on July 27, lets take a look at her journey and upcoming projects.

Kriti Sanons Net Worth

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As per CNBC TV 18 reports, Kriti Sanons net worth stands at around Rs 82 crore as of 2024.

While most of her net worth comes from her acting career, she also owns successful businesses and is involved in various brand endorsements and campaigns, including Fossil, Bata, Whirlpool, Vivel, Titan, Amul Ice Cream, and others.

She also owns multiple brands like Ms. Taken, The Tribe, Hyphen, and a production company named Blue Butterfly Films.

Among her assets, Kriti owns a luxurious three-bedroom house in Juhu and some of the best luxury cars, including an SUV Audi Q7, a Mercedes Benz E-class, and a BMW 3-Series.

Top Movies of Kriti Sanon

Mimi: Mimi is the remake of the 2011 Marathi film Mala Aai Vhhaychy! The story follows Kriti Sanons character, who opts to be a surrogate mother for a foreign couple. Kriti won the National Award for the Best Actress at the 69th National Film Festival for her portrayal of Mimi. Do Patti: Produced under Kriti Sanons Blue Butterfly Films, Do Patti stars Kriti in dual roles as twins. The film follows a police officers (played by Kajol) troubled ordeals with a couple where the wife, who has a jealous twin sister, accuses her husband of attempting murder, revealing the rivalry and bond between the twins. Crew: Crew follows three airhostesses as they become involved in a gold smuggling operation. The film stars Kareena Kapoor and Tabu alongside Kriti Sanon. Luka Chuppi: Set in Mathura, the story follows a television reporter who lives with his intern, but chaos follows when their traditional family assumes them to be married. The film stars Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon in the lead roles.

Kriti Sanons Upcoming Projects

Up next Kriti Sanon is set to appear in Anand L. Rais Tere Ishk Mein alongside Dhanush. The film is expected to delve into the themes of unrequited love, longing, and emotional conflict. Tere Ishk Mein is scheduled to release on November 28, 2025.

Kriti Sanons Top 5 Looks That Define Elegance

Kriti Sanon stuns in the deep rust-red outfit featuring a structured silhouette with broad shouldersgiving the outfit an edgy yet elegant charm.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Sanon  (@kritisanon)

Kriti Sanons IIFA look featuring an ivory ensemble exudes regal charm and traditional elegance. The buttoned jacket dress paired with heavily embellished jewellery takes the look to the next level.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Sanon  (@kritisanon)

Kriti showcases elegance in this lime green sheer saree. With defined makeup and statement earrings, she perfectly put together the whole look.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Sanon  (@kritisanon)

Kriti nails power dressing in this black full-sleeved sheer dress. The ensemble-styled gold accessories and leather boots exude utmost sophistication and edge.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Sanon  (@kritisanon)

Kriti channels traditional elegance in this red saree, paired with a same-coloured high-neck blouse. Her sleek black hair and minimal jewellery highlight the richness of her attire.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti Sanon  (@kritisanon)

Heres wishing Kriti Sanon a very Happy Birthday!

About the Author Nibandh Vinod Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More Nibandh Vinod is a seasoned journalist with 26 years of experience, specializing in covering events, festivals, and driving SEO content for News18.com. A tech-savvy person, Nibandh works closely with a young te... Read More

First Published: July 27, 2025, 07:20 IST

News movies Kriti Sanon Birthday: Actress Net Worth, Best Films And 5 Stunning Fashion Moments
Opinion: A Judge Who Awarded Himself The Death Penalty

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 15:27 IST

On the Kottayam-Pathanamthitta border in Kerala is a temple of Cheruvally Devi. There is a unique shrine dedicated in this temple, to a judge, called Judge Ammavan

Many seeking legal relief throng the shrine of Judge Ammavan, where the shrine opens only at 8 pm every day.

It was Sir Francis Bacon who remarked, Judges must beware of hard constructions and strained inferences, for there is no worse torture than that of laws."

However, this is what is happening in most judicial establishments. In addition, there are judges who fear to do justice! When hard constructions and strained inferences are relied upon to liberate terrorists, killers, rapists, and fundamentalists, it is an ominous sign that men with devious minds are infiltrating the hallowed portals of courts of law.

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Ridiculous judgments are only to be expected from a rogue judiciary, for there are no living icons to be emulated. But a peep into history brings out forgotten stalwarts, who were literally gods in the garb of human beings.

On the Kottayam-Pathanamthitta border in Kerala, about 8 km from Ponkunnam on the Chirakkandam-Manimala route, is a temple of Cheruvally Devi. There is a unique shrine dedicated in this temple, to a judge, called Judge Ammavan, meaning judge uncle! Judge Ammavan was indeed a judge in flesh and blood who lived in the 18th century.

Govinda Pillai was a judge at the royal court who belonged to Thalavady in Thiruvalla, in Kerala. A Sanskrit scholar, he gained eminence for delivering punctilious verdicts. Govinda Pillai was the apt person to head the Sadar kodathy, as the royal court was referred to.

By a sheer quirk of destiny, Judge Govinda Pillai had to decide a case pertaining to his own nephew, Padmanabha Pillai, who stood accused of raping and killing a girl. Present-day judges would have excused themselves, but not so the resolute Judge Govinda Pillai. The eminent judge weighed all the evidence presented before him and ruled that his nephew was guilty, and awarded him the death sentence, which was duly carried out. However, after a few days, new facts came to light, which indicated that Padmanabha Pillai was totally innocent!

Judge Govinda Pillai was overcome with remorse and guilt, explained to the king Karthika Thirunal Rama Varma, who was also known as Dharma Raja (the just king), about the incorrect verdict pronounced by him and the consequent execution of the innocent Padmanabha Pillai. Judge Govinda Pillai demanded that the king punish him suitably.

Although the king tried to reason with him, that it was a genuine lapse and excusable, Judge Govinda Pillai differed. He insisted on a ruthless punishment for having condemned an innocent man to the gallows. Ultimately, the king ordered the unthinkable: he directed Judge Govinda Pillai to decide for himself the quantum of punishment he deserved!

Such a directive goes against the Western view, which is drilled into the minds of our judges, lawyers, and quasi-judicial authorities. The Latin maxim Nemo Judex in Sua Causa emphasises that no one should be a judge in his own cause. It emphasises that a person cannot serve as both a party and a judge in the same matter. This is the first cardinal principle of the concept of natural justice. But, Hindus, enlightened and groomed constantly on the universal operating principles of Karma, needed no Latin maxims to guide them in their duties. Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains are aware that Karmic retaliation happens sooner or later, extracting compensation in the form of equivalent suffering.

Judge Govinda Pillai deliberated without any hesitation on the punishment he deserved. To an aghast king and the assembled nobles, Judge Govinda Pillai announced his verdict: chopping off both his feet and publicly hanging him. The judge also ruled that his body should remain hanging at the same spot where the innocent Padmanabha Pillai was hanged. The judge also ruled that his body should remain hanging at the same spot for three days, so that people could curse and spit on his body! Left with no option, the king had to carry out the harsh verdict and wish of Judge Govinda Pillai.

Contrast Judge Govinda Pillais rectitude with modern-day judges who churn out outlandish orders favoring terrorists, rapists, and murderers. The nation is watching with deep concern the obduracy of a judge, from whose house sacks of half-burnt cash were recovered. He is unabashedly quibbling on legal niceties to escape accountability.

The execution of Judge Govinda Pillai led to natural disasters in the area. When locals consulted reputed astrologers, they opined that the souls of the judge and his nephew were roaming around restlessly. Propitiatory rituals were performed under astrological guidance and the judges soul was entombed at his family house at Payyambally, and the nephews soul at Panayoor temple in Thiruvalla. Judge Govinda Pillai came to be known as Judge Ammavan or Judge Uncle.

The Cheruvally temple is located on land that was granted tax-free to Vanchipuzha Thampuran of Chengannur by Maharaja Marthanda Varma. With the permission of the Thampuran, a small shrine was dedicated in memory of Judge Ammavan in the compound of the Cheruvally Temple. Later, in 1978, the descendants of the judge built a small sanctum sanctorum for Judge Ammavans shrine.

The Cheruvally Devi Temple

Devotees throng the temple, especially the shrine of Judge Ammavan, as there is a strong belief that the judge intercedes on behalf of innocent litigants. We are living in times of extreme litigation and quick justice is a rare commodity. As Montesquieu puts it, There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice."

Think of how complicated and circuitous the legal system has been made; delays are perpetuated by design, legal arguments are made convoluted to prolong the slanging match between prosecution and defendant, and recalcitrant judges make seeking justice an egregious experience. Wisely it is said, May your Karma never lead you to courts in search of justice." People entrapped in the legal sewer have no other option but to seek divine intercession.

Many seeking legal relief throng the shrine of Judge Ammavan, where the shrine opens only at 8 pm every day. Devotees offer a black cloth, tender coconut, betel leaves, and areca nut, in addition to a sweet offering called ada which is made of rice paste and coconut-jaggery preparation.

Ernesto Che Guevara famously said, If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine."

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Hundreds of weary litigants who supplicate to Judge Ammavan believe that when he hears about their tales of injustice, he would take up cudgels on their behalf. Danish theologian, philosopher, poet, social critic, and religious author Soren Aabye Kierkegaard, who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher, writes about divine intervention: Human justice is very prolix, and yet at times quite mediocre; divine justice is more concise and needs no information from the prosecution, no legal papers, no interrogation of witnesses, but makes the guilty one his own informer and helps him with eternitys memory."

The writer is Former Director General, Multi-Disciplinary School of Economic Intelligence, and National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: July 27, 2025, 15:26 IST

News opinion Opinion: A Judge Who Awarded Himself The Death Penalty

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Bihars SIR Or Sindoor? Opposition Divided On Perfect Storm To Counter Centre This Monsoon Session

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 17:31 IST

Congress's Rahul Gandhi wants to corner the government on Operation Sindoor, but for the TMC and RJD, SIR is more important. The INDIA bloc will meet on Monday to decide

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other MPs from the INDIA bloc protest over the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI)

Is Bihars Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls more important than Operation Sindoor? Thats the dilemma of the Opposition this monsoon session, as the choice is between the devil and the deep sea.

Top Congress-led Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc sources have told News18: While Operation Sindoor is important, priority should be given to discussion on SIR as this hurts the rights of the people."

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Politically speaking and with an eye on polls in Bihar and Bengal later, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) feel that if the government is not cornered on the issue of SIR, it could hurt their core vote bank.

Over the last few days of the first week of the monsoon session, the INDIA bloc was united in the fight against SIR. Wearing black bands and carrying posters, it was a rare show of strength. The worry within the INDIA bloc is that SIR would not be limited to only Bihar and Bengal.

Oppositions Catch-22

Its a catch-22 situation. The Opposition would earn the label of being anti-national in case the Operation Sindoor discussion is boycotted or ruckus is created by the Opposition parties.

Rahul Gandhi, who will be one of the lead speakers, wants to corner the government on two issues  one, repeated claims by US President Donald Trump that he brokered the ceasefire between Pakistan and India. Two, where are the terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack? The Congress would not want to give up this chance. But for the TMC and RJD, SIR is clearly more important.

There is another worry. Sources told News18 that some like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were not keen to give a platform to the PM on Operation Sindoor. When the PM speaks on Operation sindoor, he is bound to make a huge impact and the Opposition may be caught on a backdoor. Why should we allow him to do so," they asked.

But it is too late for this as the business advisory council has already approved and allotted time for the debates in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Also, not allowing a discussion could be a tough one to explain to the voters as to why the Opposition running away from the debate on this issue which also has a potential of hurting the government if it can push the narrative that the government buckled under American pressure.

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The BJP, meanwhile, will legitimately ask: If the Opposition was stressing on a special session on Operation Sindoor, then why now not allow a debate on this topic?

The dilemma has left the Opposition divided. However, the INDIA bloc will meet early Monday morning to take a final call on this. The choice between Sindoor and SIR is tough.

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 27, 2025, 17:04 IST

News politics Bihars SIR Or Sindoor? Opposition Divided On Perfect Storm To Counter Centre This Monsoon Session

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Fresh Alliance Twist In Bihar? Pappu Yadav Says Chirag Paswan, Prashant Kishor Have Joined Hands

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 19:32 IST

Ahead of Bihar elections, Pappu Yadav claimed Chirag Paswan and Prashant Kishor have joined hands.

Yadav said that Kishor should declare Paswan as the Chief Ministerial candidate. (File)

Ahead of the Bihar state assembly elections, Independent MP from Purnia, Pappu Yadav on Sunday claimed that Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President Chirag Paswan and Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) chief Prashant Kishor have joined hands for the polls.

While speaking to the reporters, the Purnia MP said that Kishor should declare Paswan as the Chief Ministerial candidate.

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Pappu Yadav further said that if Paswan does not feel to stay with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), he would welcome him.

Chirag Paswan and Prashant Kishor have joined hands. Prashant Kishor should announce Chirag Paswan as the Chief Minister Everyone knows that if they win even a few seats, it will cause trouble for the JDU and trouble for Nitish ji. If Chirag ji doesnt like it there, we will welcome him," he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: Independent MP from Purnia, Pappu Yadav, says, Chirag Paswan and Prashant Kishor have joined hands. Prashant Kishor should announce Chirag Paswan as the Chief Minister Everyone knows that if they win even a few seats, it will cause trouble for JDU, pic.twitter.com/fVHQsqnaDc ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

The Purnia MPs remarks came a day after Paswan lashed out his ally Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state saying that he feels sad and ashamed to support" the government under the current situation.

With elections in Bihar looming later this year, Chirags blunt criticism has caused ripples within the ruling alliance.

While speaking to the reporters in Patna, the Union Minister expressed anguish and accused its ally government of failing to curtail the rising crime rate.

I feel sad that I am supporting such a government here. It is imperative to control it, or else the consequences will be very bad," he said as quoted by news agency ANI.

With assembly elections approaching, Paswan acknowledged the possibility of crimes being orchestrated to defame the government. However, he emphasised that it is still the administrations responsibility to maintain law and order.

I have heard claims that the recent spurt in violent crimes is linked to the upcoming assembly polls, and there are attempts to defame this government. Still, it is the responsibility of the administration to keep law and order under control," he added.

He further attacked the government and said, Either the administration is in collusion with it or the administration has become completely useless and now it is beyond their power to keep Bihar and Biharis safe."

Amid the criticism, Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi urged Chirag Paswan to remain with the NDA and work to strengthen it.

We are in NDA. We have to help NDA. We wish him all the best. He should strengthen the NDA," said Manjhi.

Referring to Paswans approach during the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, Manjhi said, If he does not adopt the 2020 policy, it will be a very good thing."

Earlier, Prashant Kishor had reiterated that Jan Suraaj would not field any baahubalis" or candidates with questionable backgrounds. "

There is no place for any Baahubali in Jan Suraaj, be it gun, money, liquor, sand or political Baahubali. The children of common people will contest in Jan Suraaj," Kishor told reporters.

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A high-stakes battle is expected in Bihar, where the NDA, which includes Janata Dal (United) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), will face the Mahagathbandhan. The opposition alliance includes Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Left parties.

(With inputs from ANI)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

First Published: July 27, 2025, 19:32 IST

News politics Fresh Alliance Twist In Bihar? Pappu Yadav Says Chirag Paswan, Prashant Kishor Have Joined Hands

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Kharge Looks Back On Missed CM Opportunity: 'Worked Hard For 5 Years, Efforts Went In Vain'

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Shobhit Gupta



Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 21:18 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge was disappointed about missing the Karnataka CM position in 1999 despite his efforts as Congress Legislative Party leader.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge | File Image/PTI

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday publicly expressed his disappointment over missing the Karnataka Chief Ministers position in 1999.

While speaking at an event in Bengalurus Vijayapura, he recounted his efforts as the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader to bring the party to power in 1999 only to see SM Krishna become the chief minister instead.

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I became Congress Legislature Party Leader and tried my best and our party came to power. However, SM Krishna, who joined us just four months ago, was made the Chief Minister," he said.

Kharge further lamented that all his efforts went in in vain. I had worked hard for 5 years. You should never have greed in your heart, if you do then you wont get what you want," he added, reflecting on the turn of events.

The service I rendered went in vain, Swamiji," Kharge expressed to head of the Belimatha Mahasamsthana (Beli Mutt), who was present at the event, reiterating that his hard work at that time felt wasted.

Kharge further highlighted his political journey from a block president to the AICC president, emphasising that he never pursued power but rather it came to him naturally.

Meanwhile, State Minister HK Patil refrained from commenting on Kharges remarks saying that he hasnt heard his speech. However, Patil mentioned his own experience as a leader of the opposition.

I was also a leader of the opposition. He was the leader of the opposition in the Assembly. I was the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council three times. We just do our service," he said.

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SM Krishna became the Chief Minister of Karnataka in October 1999 following a decisive victory for the grand-old-party in the elections. As Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, he spearheaded the partys campaign.

The 1999 assembly elections saw the Congress secure a significant majority, winning 132 out of 224 seats. This strong mandate allowed Krishna to assume the top post, a position he held until May 2004.

Location : Vijayapura, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 21:18 IST

News politics Kharge Looks Back On Missed CM Opportunity: 'Worked Hard For 5 Years, Efforts Went In Vain'

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'Confront Them: UK Woman's Tirade On Hindi-Speaking Staff At London Airport Sparks Outrage

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 17:19 IST

Lucy White, a British woman, faced backlash online for criticizing Marks & Spencer staff at Heathrow for speaking Hindi. Netizens called her rant discriminatory and unnecessary.

British Woman Criticises M&S Staff At Heathrow Airport For Speaking In Hindi. (X)

A British woman has come under fire on social media for criticising Marks & Spencer employees at Londons Heathrow Airport for speaking in Hindi. The netizens have slammed her rant on social media as discriminatory and unnecessary.

In a now viral post, the woman, identified as Lucy White- who describes herself as a Public Policy Specialist  said she had just landed at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3 and stopped by an M&S outlet where she overheard three staff members conversing in a different language".

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White asked the employees what language they were speaking in, and was told they were conversing in Hindi  the most widely spoken language in India.

White further claimed she recorded their speech and had plans to report them to Marks & Spencer.

I asked them What language are you speaking? They responded Hindi. I have a voice recording and their names to report to M&S. We must confront them every time," she said in a post on X.

Netizens React

However, Whites post didnt sit well with social media users. While several tried to understand her point, most of them questioned what rules the staff had broken and why she found it offensive.

I dont see the issue with this. If I go to France with my wife, Ill speak English with her  its our native tongue. What am I missing here?" one user asked.

Another questioned her outrage, saying, What arrogance. If theyre not dealing with customers, whats the problem? Did you speak fluent Spanish during your entire holiday in Spain?"

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Many argued that speaking in ones native language among colleagues shouldnt be an issue, So long as theyre not addressing you in Hindi, why is it your business? Staff are allowed to talk to each other in their own language while doing routine work. This is not racism  this is common sense."

Ive worked with three Polish colleagues for over 20 years. They speak to each other in Polish and to me in perfect English. I dont see why that should be a problem for anyone," commented another user.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

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 : London, United Kingdom (UK)

First Published: July 27, 2025, 17:19 IST

News viral 'Confront Them: UK Woman's Tirade On Hindi-Speaking Staff At London Airport Sparks Outrage

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This Miraculous Shiva Temple Is Where The Mysuru Dynasty Was Born

Curated By :

Local18

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 11:22 IST

His command: Defeat the tyrant Kargalli Maranayaka and rescue the noble princess, Cheluvarajammani.They did. And in return, Yaduraya was married to the rescued princess.

His command: Defeat the tyrant Kargalli Maranayaka and rescue the noble princess, Cheluvarajammani. They did. And in return, Yaduraya was married to the rescued princess, Kempachaluvarajammani a union that birthed the Mysuru Yadu dynasty.

No kingdom ever rose without the blessings of its gods. Just as Madhukeshwara guided the Kadambas and Virupaksha blessed Vijayanagara, the Yadu rulers of Mysore owed their very beginning to Kote Someshwara, the divine spark behind a royal legacy.

Tucked within Mysurus fort area, this ancient temple wasnt just a place of worship, it was the ground zero of a dynasty.

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Two Brothers, One Prophecy  The Birth of Yaduvamsha

Legend says that Yaduraya and Krishnaraya, the two warriors who would go on to establish the Mysore royal line, were on a pilgrimage to Melukote to worship Cheluvanarayana. But fate or rather, divinity had other plans.

Weary from travel, the brothers rested before Kote Someshwara. In their dreams, Lord Cheluvanarayana appeared disguised as a Dasayya (Sadhu asking alms) a wandering devotee.

His command: Defeat the tyrant Kargalli Maranayaka and rescue the noble princess, Cheluvarajammani.

They did. And in return, Yaduraya was married to the rescued princess, Kempachaluvarajammani a union that birthed the Mysuru Yadu dynasty.

Chola Roots, Lingas, and Dasara Rituals

Built during the Chola reign, the temple complex houses deities Someshwara, Parvati, and Somasundari. At its gates stands Kote Bhairaveshwara, the fearsome Kshetrapala, or guardian of the city.

Even today, the Mysore royal family visits the temple before any symbolic battle. During Dasara, the famed Ayudha Puja is held here- weapons sanctified, traditions renewed, and elephants tied in its courtyards as a nod to both military power and ancient reverence.

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With stone-carved Lingas, serpent stones (Nagara Kallu), and echoes of royal footsteps, Kote Someshwara isnt just another old temple. Its a living monument to the divine origins of Mysurus kingship.

This is why Mysuru is more than a cultural capital. Its a city where myths are etched in stone and dynasties are born at a gods doorstep.

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

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 : Mysore, India, India

First Published: July 27, 2025, 11:18 IST

News viral This Miraculous Shiva Temple Is Where The Mysuru Dynasty Was Born

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US Woman Charges Husband Rs 1,167 Daily For His Lunch, Sparks Debate On Social Media

Curated By :

Local18

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 12:43 IST

Charging for homemade lunch, a US woman reignites debate on valuing time, effort, and unpaid domestic work

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US wife charges husband for daily lunch prep, calls it fair pay for her time and effort. (Representative image: Getty)

A woman in the US. has sparked a social media debate after revealing that she charges her husband Rs 1,167 (about USD 14) every day to pack his lunch for work.

The woman, known as Ray, is a mother of two and a content creator on TikTok. In a now-viral video, she explains that while she enjoys cooking for her husband, she believes her time and effort deserve compensation, especially when he would otherwise spend the same amount buying food from places like McDonalds or Greggs.

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If he can pay a stranger for lunch outside, why not pay me, the one who puts in real effort and love into making it?" she says in the video.

Ray insists that this arrangement keeps both of them happy; he gets a fresh, homemade meal, and she gets fairly compensated for her work.

She adds that preparing lunch daily involves time, hard work, and creativity, especially when she tries to make it new and delicious every day. Being paid for it, she says, feels fair.

Ray shared a video of herself making a salad for her husband, which has now been viewed over 200,000 times on TikTok. While some users supported her approach, others questioned the idea of charging money within a marriage.

Isnt this turning a relationship into a business transaction?" one user asked, arguing that the idea of saving money by bringing lunch from home becomes meaningless if youre paying for it anyway.

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Still, many others praised Ray. Some even called the setup empowering, saying it acknowledges the unpaid labour women often do at home. One user commented, This isnt bad, shes valuing her time. I might start charging my husband, too!"

The video has reignited conversations around unpaid domestic work, especially in marriages, and whether it deserves financial recognition.

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

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First Published: July 27, 2025, 12:43 IST

News viral US Woman Charges Husband Rs 1,167 Daily For His Lunch, Sparks Debate On Social Media

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Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK.

Why Smith & Nephew (SNN) Deserves a Spot Among the UKs Safest Dividend Stocks

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Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN), a global medical technology company based in the UK, provides a broad selection of products and services in the medical equipment sector to meet the needs of its customers.

In its Q1 2025 earnings, Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN) reported a strong start to the year, attributing growth across its portfolio to progress made under its 12-Point Plan for operational improvements. Core platforms, including CORI, EVOS, REGENETEN, and the companys Negative Pressure Wound Therapy offerings, saw robust double-digit growth during the quarter. The company also continued its rapid pace of innovation, with additional product launches planned for the year. While challenges from the Chinese market persisted, management believes the worst of their impact has likely passed.

Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN) has a progressive dividend policy and has paid regular dividends to shareholders since 1937. The company currently offers a semi-annual dividend of $0.288 per share for a dividend yield of 2.37%, as of July 25. It is one of the best FTSE dividend stocks to invest in.

While we acknowledge the potential of SNN 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.

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Disclosure: None.
Australian MP Convicted Of Raping, Sexually Assaulting Two Men In 2-Year Gap

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 08:55 IST

The prosecution noted that the testimonies of the two men, who were strangers to each other, were strikingly alike.

Gareth Ward, Independent MP for Kiama in New South Wales (Photo: X/@melissahoyer)

An Australian state MP allegedly raped a man and sexually assaulted another in two separate incidents that happened two years apart.

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The 44-year-old independent MP for Kiama in New South Wales, Gareth Ward, was convicted by a jury on Friday at the Downing Centre District Court.

The court found him guilty of three counts of indecent assault against an 18-year-old man in 2013 and one count of sexual intercourse without consent involving a 24-year-old man in 2015, according to a report by The Independent.

The prosecution noted that the testimonies of the two men, who were strangers to each other, were strikingly alike. However, the defence maintained that the accusations were fabricated.

Similar behaviour, similar setting, same man, same conclusion. This is not a coincidence," stated Crown Prosecutor Monika Knowles, said the report.

According to the report, in February 2013, the MP allegedly invited the drunk teenager to his South Coast home and assaulted him thrice in one night, despite the victim protesting.

Two years later, in a similar incident, an intoxicated staffer was raped following an event at the NSW Parliament House.

Ward has denied that the alleged rape in 2015 occurred and contends that the second complainant is misremembering their 2013 encounter.

He has been released on conditional bail and allowed to reside at one of his two listed addresses.

As reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Crown intends to apply for his detention next Wednesday.

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Ward entered state parliament as a Liberal MP in 2011 and became a minister after the 2019 election. He resigned from the ministry and the Liberal Party in 2021 after revealing he was under police investigation, later serving as an independent. In 2023, he was re-elected as the independent MP for Kiama, narrowly beating Labors Katelin McInerney.

Location : Australia

First Published: July 27, 2025, 08:55 IST

News world Australian MP Convicted Of Raping, Sexually Assaulting Two Men In 2-Year Gap

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Border Conflict: Thai, Cambodian PMs To Meet In Malaysia For Peace Talks

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News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 17:33 IST

Thailand's acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's PM Hun Manet will meet in Malaysia for peace talks on their border conflict, mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet. (File Pic/AFP)

Thailands acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet will meet on Monday in Malaysia for peace talks over their border conflict, Bangkok said on Sunday.

The Thai premiers office said the talks would be hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN chair Anwar Ibrahim, with Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia, to personally travel for talks".

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Earlier on Sunday, Thailand and Cambodia signalled their readiness to negotiate an end to a deadly border dispute following mediation efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump. The fighting, now in its fourth day, has killed at least 34 people and displaced more than 168,000.

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, warning that he would scrap trade agreements if hostilities persisted. He later claimed that both parties agreed to meet for ceasefire negotiations.

Cambodian PM Manet said on Sunday that his country agreed to pursue an immediate and unconditional ceasefire." He said Trump told him that Thailand had also agreed to halt attacks following Trumps conversation with Acting Thai PM Phumtham.

This is positive news for the soldiers and people of both countries," Hun Manet said in a statement.

He said he tasked his deputy, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate next steps with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to engage directly with Thailands foreign minister to implement the ceasefire.

Thailand expressed cautious support. Phumtham thanked Trump and said that Thailand agreed in principle to a ceasefire but stressed the need for sincere intention" from Cambodia, the Thai Foreign Ministry said. It said that Phumtam had called for swift bilateral talks to discuss concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution.

Clashes erupted along the border between Thailand and Cambodia after a landmine explosion injured five Thai soldiers, prompting both sides to blame each other for the violence. The situation escalated further with both countries recalling their ambassadors and Thailand shutting down its border crossings with Cambodia.

Fighting continued Sunday along parts of the contested border, despite the diplomatic efforts, with both sides refusing to budge and trading blame over renewed shelling and troop movements.

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A Thai army deputy spokesperson, Col. Richa Suksowanont, said Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, including at civilian homes, early Sunday. He said Cambodia also launched rocket attacks targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, claimed by both countries, and other areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers.

The 800-kilometre border between Thailand and Cambodia has been a decades-long point of contention, with past clashes typically being short-lived and limited. Tensions recently escalated in May following a confrontation that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier, sparking a diplomatic divide and stirring up domestic politics in Thailand.

Location : Thailand

First Published: July 27, 2025, 17:33 IST

News world Border Conflict: Thai, Cambodian PMs To Meet In Malaysia For Peace Talks

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Came With Skills, Heart: Bangladesh's Yunus To Indian, Chinese Doctors Treating Crash Victims

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 21:19 IST

The international medical teams are currently in Dhaka to provide specialised care to those injured in the recent plane crash, many of whom are children

A delegation of 21 physicians and nurses from the three countries met Bangladeshs interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Sunday. (Image via X/@ChiefAdviserGoB)

Bangladeshs interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Sunday thanked doctors and nurses from India, China, and Singapore for their support in treating victims of the recent plane crash in Dhaka.

In a post on the social media platform X, Yunus said that a delegation of 21 doctors and nurses from the three countries met him at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

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The international medical teams are in the capital to provide specialised care to those injured in the crash at Milestone School and College, many of whom are children.

The crash took place on Monday when a Chinese-made F-7 BGI training fighter jet suffered a mechanical fault shortly after take-off and crashed into a two-storey school building, killing 32 people, including 26 children.

These teams have come not just with their skills, but with their hearts," Yunus said during the meeting. Their presence reaffirms our shared humanity and the value of global partnerships in times of tragedy."

Chief Adviser thanks foreign medical teams for treating plane crash victimsDhaka, July 27, 2025: A delegation of 21 physicians and nurses from Singapore, China, and India met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday at the State Guest House Jamuna. The pic.twitter.com/dtnBxN1alO  Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) July 27, 2025

The interim leader praised the teams quick response and dedication during a national crisis and assured the visiting medical professionals of the governments full support in helping them carry out their mission.

He also urged the doctors to build long-term ties with Bangladesh, including virtual cooperation in areas such as institutional collaboration, medical education exchange, and capacity building in the health sector.

He emphasised that such partnerships could lay the foundation for lasting cooperation in public health and emergency preparedness," the post added.

The delegation included ten members from Singapore, eight from China, and four from India. Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Yao Wen and the Head of Mission from Singapore also attended the meeting.

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Meanwhile, an Indian medical team had arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday to assist in treating the victims of the crash.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also expressed his condolences over the loss of life and offered support and assistance to Bangladesh following the tragedy.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Bangladesh

First Published: July 27, 2025, 21:09 IST

News world Came With Skills, Heart: Bangladesh's Yunus To Indian, Chinese Doctors Treating Crash Victims

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'Half Day Sleeping, Other Half High': Mossad-Linked Account Targets Iran's Supreme Leader

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 16:42 IST

Over the past month, the account has made repeated posts about Khameneis health and criticised Irans leadership

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Image: AP/File)

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been accused of spending his days sleeping and using drugs, according to a social media account claiming to be linked to Israels intelligence agency, Mossad.

The claim was made on X by a Farsi-language account created last month. The account, which has a premium subscription, has not been officially confirmed by Mossad but presents itself as the agencys spokesperson in Persian.

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In its first post on Friday, the account wrote, How can a leader lead when they sleep half the day and spend the other half high on substances? Water, electricity, life!"

                     ! Mossad Farsi (@MossadSpokesman) July 25, 2025

A second post added, Every explosion, fire, and destruction is not our doing. This failed and corrupt regime, with years of neglect and poor prioritization, causes more damage and harm itself. Water, electricity, life!"

       .                     .  ! Mossad Farsi (@MossadSpokesman) July 25, 2025

Over the past month, the account has made repeated posts about Khameneis health and criticised Irans leadership, pointing to ongoing issues with clean water, electricity, and education.

The accounts bio also advises Iranian users to protect their identity when interacting. To everyone contacting us through private messages, for your own security, please ensure you are using a VPN," it reads.

Allegations about Khameneis drug use are not new. In 2022, an Iranian academic, Nour Mohamed Omara, made similar claims during an appearance on a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated television channel based in Turkey, Fox News reported.

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Many viewers do not know this, but Khamenei himself uses drugs," Omara said. He also claimed the Iranian leader has a private village in Balochistan where the drugs are produced under the supervision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Omara, the area is tightly controlled and closed off to the public.

Khamenei has long denounced drug use, calling it un-Islamic" after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. In Iran, drug-related crimes can carry severe penalties, including the death sentence.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Iran

First Published: July 27, 2025, 16:41 IST

News world 'Half Day Sleeping, Other Half High': Mossad-Linked Account Targets Iran's Supreme Leader

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'Hand Hanging By A Thread': Indian-Origin Man Attacked With Machete By Teen Gang In Australia

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 08:35 IST

The man was identified as Saurabh Anand, who was brutally attacked with a machete by a group of teenagers outside a shopping centre in Melbourne.

Indian-origin man attacked in Australia (Image credit: The Age)

An Indian-origin man was brutally attacked with a machete by a group of teenagers outside a shopping centre in Melbourne, according to local media reports.

Saurabh Anand, 33, suffered grave injuries in the attack, after which he was recovering in a hospital, where surgeons reattached his nearly severed hand, The Australia Today reported.

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The incident took place at around 7.30 pm on July 19, when he was walking home after buying medicine from a pharmacy at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows. He was ambushed by five teenagers, who launched a brutal attack on him.

Man Recounts Horror

Anand told The Age that he was on a phone call with a friend when he saw some movement out of the corner of his eye. I didnt hear a sound. Within seconds, they had surrounded me," he said.

He said one of the boys searched his pockets while another kept punching him in the head until he fell to the ground. The third individual then pulled out a machete and put it around his throat.

They didnt stop there. My instinctive reaction was to bring my arm up to protect my face and wrist. While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack went through my hand. The third went through the bone," Anand said while speaking with The Age from his hospital bed.

He was also cut and stabbed in the shoulder and back. In the life-threatening attack, he suffered a fractured spine, broken bones in his arm, besides head injuries.

I was just trying to survive. All I remember is the pain, and my hand was hanging by a thread," he recalled.

As he found himself in a pool of blood, he somehow made it outside the centre and cried out to the passers-by for assistance. I saw someone and I just yelled out, Ive been attacked. Please help me," he recalled the moment.

Strangers helped him and called triple zero. He was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where doctors first thought they might have to cut off his left hand. But after hours of emergency surgery  including putting screws in his wrist and hand  surgeons managed to save and reattach it," The Australia Today reported.

The doctors say my injuries are so severe that theyre unsure how this is going to go. I cannot move my hand  All I feel in it is pain," Anand told The Age.

The cops have nabbed four teenage boys who allegedly carried out the attack and are yet to arrest the fifth suspect.

Accused Released On Bail

A 14-year-old boy from Wyndham was charged with intentionally causing serious injury and unlawful assault. He was asked to appear before a childrens court on August 15.

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Two boys, each 15, from the Hobsons Bay area were also charged with similar offences, but released on bail to appear in the court on August 11. The fourth individual was expected to be charged on summons.

Anand expressed his disappointment after the news of two of the accused getting released on bail came to the fore. Im seeking justice. I dont want anyone else in the community to be going through the same trauma I have," he said.

About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More

Location : Australia

First Published: July 27, 2025, 06:52 IST

News world 'Hand Hanging By A Thread': Indian-Origin Man Attacked With Machete By Teen Gang In Australia

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Israeli Military Announces Daily 10-Hour Humanitarian Pauses In Dense Areas Of Gaza Strip

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 11:25 IST

The IDF has announced a daily 10-hour 'tactical pause of military activities' in some areas of Gaza Strip for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Israel announces humanitarian pause in Gaza Strip (Reuters Image)

The Israeli Defence Forces announced a tactical pause of military activity" in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip to facilitate the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, Times of Israel reported on Sunday.

The pause will remain in effect daily from 10 am to 8 pm.

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The military clarified that the pause will come into effect in areas where the IDF is currently not operating with ground troops, including al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, every day until further notice".

The move is being carried out in accordance with directives from the political echelon, and as part of the IDFs ongoing effort, led by COGAT, to increase the scope of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip. This decision was coordinated with the UN and international organizations following discussions regarding the matter," the IDF said.

The military said that secure routes" will be designated starting 6 am to 11 pm to enable the safe passage of UN and humanitarian aid organization convoys delivering and distributing food and medicine to the population across the Gaza Strip".

The IDF will continue to support humanitarian efforts alongside ongoing maneuvering and offensive operations against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, in order to protect Israeli civilians. The IDF is prepared to expand the scale of this activity as required," the military said.

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On Saturday night, the Israeli Air Force carried out its first airdrop of aid, following orders from the countrys leaders. They dropped seven pallets of flour, sugar, and canned food supplied by international groups, Ynetnews reported.

While other countries had done airdrops before, this was Israels first. As part of the effort, the Israeli military also worked with COGAT to connect a power line to a desalination plant in southern Gaza. This boosted the plants water output from 2,000 to 20,000 cubic meters a day, helping about 900,000 people.

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 : Israel

First Published: July 27, 2025, 11:00 IST

News world Israeli Military Announces Daily 10-Hour Humanitarian Pauses In Dense Areas Of Gaza Strip

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Not A US Problem: Trump Assures Help For Gaza But Wants Others To Pitch In

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 23:14 IST

US President Donald Trump urged countries to aid Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, noting the US gave $60 million but received no thanks.

US President Donald Trump (Reuters Image)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday called out other countries to contribute to Gaza region, which is battling a catastrophic humanitarian situation and ongoing hostilities due to Israel-Hamas war.

The US President, who is on a visit to Scotland, was sitting next to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, when he was asked for his response to the images of starving children in Gaza.

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Trump said that Washington has done a lot for Gaza and would send more aid but he suggested other countries also to contribute saying that its an international problem.

Its not a US problem, its an international problem. If we werent there. I think people would have starved, frankly," he told the reporters as quoted by The Hill.

Trump further claimed that the US gave $60 million in aid for Gaza two weeks ago, but nobody even acknowledged it."

Nobody acknowledged it, nobody talks about it, and it makes you feel a little bad when you do that, and no other countries give anything," he said.

The US President further accused the Hamas militant group of stealing food that was meant for people in Gaza.

When I see the children and when I see, especially over the last couple of weeks people are stealing the food, theyre stealing the money, theyre stealing the money for the food. Theyre stealing weapons, theyre stealing everything," he added.

Meanwhile, Trump emphasised that Israel would have to make a decision on next steps in Gaza, adding that he did not know what would happen after moves by Israel to pull out of ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations with the militant group.

Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, saying they had suddenly hardened" up on the issue.

They dont want to give them back, and so Israel is going to have to make a decision," he said as quoted by news agency Reuters.

The Trump administration last week said it was leaving Gaza ceasefire talks, blaming Hamas for failing to engage in good faith. Steve Witkoff, Trumps special envoy for peace missions, said the administration is considering alternative plans to secure the freedom of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the future governance of the territory.

Previous talks over a ceasefire and hostage release scheme in Qatar came to a halt this week after the US and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams. Israel is facing mounting pressure from many of its allies, with aid agencies warning of mass starvation having previously criticised plans to drop supplies into Gaza by air.

Trumps Plan For Gaza

Earlier this year in February during Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahus visit to the US, Trump had suggested that the US could take over" and own" Gaza, resettling its population in the process.

He had also said that all Palestinians currently living in Gaza  around two million people  should leave and be placed in other countries in the Middle East.

The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too. Well own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings," Trump had said.

Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area, do a real job, do something different," he had added.

The proposal had drawn condemnation, including from across the Middle East, close US allies and the United Nations. Netanyahu, however, welcomed the revolutionary vision" for Gaza.

Gaza Crisis

At least 127 people in Gaza have died from malnutrition since the war began, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza at the start of March in an 11-week blockade. It resumed distributing aid on 27 May with the new and controversial US-Israeli backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed trying to retrieve food aid from GHF sites since it began, according to the UN. Israel claimed that the new distribution system stopped aid from reaching Hamas.

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.

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At least 59,676 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territorys Hamas-run health ministry.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: July 27, 2025, 23:14 IST

News world Not A US Problem: Trump Assures Help For Gaza But Wants Others To Pitch In

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Pakistan Shows Loyalty To US Amid FATF Concerns, Bestows Highest State Honour On CENTCOM Chief

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Ashesh Mallick



Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 08:20 IST

Pakistan has awarded US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla with Nishan-e-Imtiaz, in an attempt to show loyalty to the United States amid FATF grey listing concerns.

Pakistan awards US Central Command chief General Michael with state honour (CNN-News18)

In a move showing its loyalty towards the United States amid brewing FATF concerns, Pakistan awarded Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military), one of the countrys highest state honours, to US Central Command (USCENTCOM) chief General Michael Kurilla.

In a high-profile ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the award on Kurilla for his role in promoting regional peace and enhancing US-Pakistan military ties, a symbolic and strategic signal to Washington.

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General Kurilla held extended meetings with Pakistans top civil and military brass, including President Zardari and COAS Field Marshal Gen. Asim Munir, discussing regional peace, defence cooperation, and counterterrorism strategies.

According to diplomatic sources, by conferring the highest military honour, Pakistan is showing loyalty and alignment with the US defence establishment.

Pakistans gesture comes in the ongoing IMF dependency and FATF legacy concerns, where it was placed in the grey list in June 2018 and removed in October 2022.

The US is one of the original founding members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established in 1989. America plays a significant role in shaping FATFs policies, standards, and country reviews, especially on matters of terror financing and proliferation.

India has intensified its diplomatic efforts to pressure FATF to reverse Pakistans exit from the grey list, citing the neighbours ongoing failures in curbing terror financing after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistans gesture of awarding the USCENTCOM helps rebuild its image with Washington and will help financial goodwill via back channels, sources said.

Pakistan is playing a double side as on one side they are dependent on China, Islamabad is sending subtle signals that its not entirely dependent on China now," they added.

CENTCOM remains crucial for post-Afghan regional military strategy for the US after its exit from the country in 2021.

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Pakistan is reasserting its role as a logistics and intelligence partner for the US in the AfPakWest Asia corridor  which refers to a set of proposed and evolving transport and trade corridors connecting Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the broader West Asia region.

Pakistans military views CENTCOM ties as a key source of legitimacy, training, arms, and prestige and awarding Kurilla helps its purpose," sources said.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: July 27, 2025, 08:20 IST

News world Pakistan Shows Loyalty To US Amid FATF Concerns, Bestows Highest State Honour On CENTCOM Chief

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Pashtun Attire & Weapons: Why Karachi University Students Performance Sparked Outrage | Exclusive

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 20:06 IST

Top intelligence sources said: The use of traditional cultural symbols as props for a mock terrorist show highlights the state's view of an entire ethnic group."

Universities in Pakistan are becoming breeding grounds for radicalisation, with campaigns indirectly encouraging students to adopt extremist state-sponsored ideologies, said sources. (AP File)

A recent seminar at the University of Karachi, where participants dressed in traditional Pashtun attire and carried weapons in a stage performance, thus inaccurately portraying them as terrorists, has led to outrage across Pakistans academic and civil society circles.

The display, deemed culturally insensitive, reinforced long-standing state propaganda by associating Pashtun identity with extremism.

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Top intelligence sources criticised the University of Karachi for promoting dangerous views under the guise of national security narratives. The use of traditional cultural symbols as props for a mock terrorist show highlights the states view of an entire ethnic group, especially at a time when Pashtuns face ongoing discrimination and suspicion," they said.

This event has not only undermined the credibility of a major educational institution but also demonstrates how educational institutions in Pakistan are being utilised for ideological conflicts, they added.

Universities in Pakistan are becoming breeding grounds for radicalisation, with campaigns indirectly encouraging students to adopt extremist state-sponsored ideologies, said sources.

Pakistan & Pashtun

News18 had earlier reported how the historical resentment over the merger fuelled has political instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for decades. Today, several separatist and militant movements continue to challenge the Pakistani governments control over the region.

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) emerged as a significant non-violent movement advocating for the rights of Pashtuns. The PTM accused the Pakistani military and government of treating Pashtuns as second-class citizens and called for the formation of a Greater Pashtunistan by uniting Pashtun territories in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the largest Islamic militant group in Pakistan, remains highly active in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the adjoining tribal areas. The TTP seeks to overthrow the Pakistani government and establish Sharia law. The group intensified its attacks on military and government targets, especially after the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

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Baloch separatist groups have also found common ground with Pashtun rebels, forming alliances to resist Pakistani military operations. The longstanding grievances of both the Baloch and Pashtun communities reflect the broader discontent that stems from the political decisions made at the time of Partition.

With Agency Inputs

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: July 27, 2025, 20:02 IST

News world Pashtun Attire & Weapons: Why Karachi University Students Performance Sparked Outrage | Exclusive

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Russia Cancels Navy Parade, Cites Security As It Downs Nearly 300 Ukrainian Drones

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 16:06 IST

Russia's Defense Ministry reported downing 291 Ukrainian drones and striking drone production sites. The Navy Day parade was canceled for security reasons; Putin was absent.

Ukrainian law enforcement officers work at the site of an aerial attack in Kharkiv on July 24, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (File Pic/AFP)

Russian Air Defence units downed 291 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

Air defence systems downed two guided aircraft bombs, three projectiles of Czech-made Vampire multiple rocket launch systems and 291 fixed-wing drones," the ministry said on its Telegram channel.

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It added that Russian warplanes and drones struck drone production facilities and control centres within Ukraine.

Earlier, Russia said that a major annual navy parade had been cancelled for security reasons", without specifying the threat or concern.

It has to do with the general situation. Security reasons are of utmost importance," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies.

The parade was set to be the main event of Russias Navy Day celebrations, held annually on the last Sunday of July to pay tribute to the nations sailors.

However, local authorities in the coastal city of Saint Petersburg, where the warships and submarines were scheduled to pass, announced on Friday that the parade had been cancelled without providing a reason.

Vladimir Putin, who revived Navy Day in 2017 after a nearly four-decade hiatus since Soviet times, was notably absent from the celebrations this year, marking the first time he didnt attend in person.

Instead, he appeared in a video message hailing the bravery" and heroism" of Russias sailors participating in the offensive in Ukraine.

Russia, which launched its military operation on Ukraine in February 2022 with daily bombardments of its neighbour, has faced retaliatory Ukrainian drone strikes on its territory in recent months.

On Sunday, the Russian defence ministry said that 100 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight.

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The governor of the northwestern Leningrad region, Aleksandr Drozdenko, said on Telegram that at least 10 of them were intercepted not far from Saint Petersburg, and a woman was wounded.

That drone assault also disrupted operations at Saint Petersburgs Pulkovo airport, delaying dozens of flights, the facilitys authorities 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

Location : Russia

First Published: July 27, 2025, 16:05 IST

News world Russia Cancels Navy Parade, Cites Security As It Downs Nearly 300 Ukrainian Drones

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Key Points

The U.S. and Japan struck a trade deal, resulting in a 15% tariff.

The terms were much better than expected, so much so that U.S. carmakers complained.

U.S. carmakers will have to pay even higher rates on imported input costs and components.

10 stocks we like better than Toyota Motor 

Shares of Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) rallied 11.8% this week, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Toyota didn't have any major company-specific news this week, as it doesn't report Q2 earnings until Aug. 7. However, there was big news on the trade front, with the Trump administration and Japan inking a trade deal that would put milder-than-expected tariffs on Japanese imports, including Toyota cars.

Will recent tariffs actually give Toyota a leg up on U.S. automakers?

On Tuesday, the Trump administration struck a trade deal with Japan, which would lower the threatened "Liberation Day" tariff rate from 24% to 15%. While that might not seem like that much of a decrease, cars are high-ticket items, so the new tariff duties could make thousands of dollars' difference to the end price consumers may have to pay.

Even though it appears Toyota cars made abroad will face tariffs going forward, the stock went up anyway. Not only that, but U.S. carmakers complained to the administration that the lower rates now put them at a disadvantage. This is because even American automakers import some of their steel and aluminum, which will now be tariffed at 50%, while other components, even for U.S.-manufactured cars, are imported from overseas, and will also be tariffed.

And while part of the Japan deal involves removing restrictions on U.S. exports to Japan, U.S. automakers don't appear to believe the deal will result in any new market share gains there.

Image source: Getty Images.

Will U.S. automakers benefit from the trade negotiations?

Toyota is the second-largest carmaker in the world, both in terms of global and U.S. market share, so the all-important final tariff figure could have significant consequences for U.S. auto markets.

There are a lot of moving parts with regard to tariffs, however, as Toyota makes cars all over the world, with inputs and other sub-components also coming from various places. To further grasp the total consequences of the deal, investors in either Toyota stock or the "Big Three" U.S. carmakers should keep their ears out for more clarity when Toyota reports earnings in August.

Should you invest $1,000 in Toyota Motor right now?

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Sudan's Paramilitary Declares Parallel Govt In War-Hit Darfur, Deepening Crisis

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 19:57 IST

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with allied armed groups under the so-called Tasis Alliance, made the declaration

Sudanese soldiers from the Rapid Support Forces unit. (AP file photo)

The Sudanese paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), on Saturday announced the formation of a parallel government in areas under its control, mainly in the war-torn Darfur region, further deepening the countrys ongoing crisis.

The RSF, along with allied armed groups under the so-called Tasis Alliance, made the declaration. The move comes more than a year after fighting erupted between the RSF and Sudans military in April 2023, plunging the country into civil war.

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In a video statement from Nyala, the capital of South Darfur now under RSF control, alliance spokesman Alaa al-Din Naqd said RSF commander Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti," has been appointed head of a new sovereign council. The 15-member council will serve as the head of state for the RSF-held areas.

The RSF emerged from the Janjaweed militias, accused of committing widespread atrocities during the Darfur conflict two decades ago. Now, in the current war, the group stands accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Dagalo, accusing the RSF and its proxies of genocide, allegations the group denies.

The RSFs new administration also named Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, a former member of Sudans post-Bashir transitional government, as prime minister. Rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu, who heads the SPLM-N faction in southern Kordofan, was named deputy to Dagalo in the council.

The announcement follows the RSFs signing of a charter in Nairobi in February, outlining plans to form a government in the territories it controls. That move was widely condemned at the time by foreign governments, including the US, who rejected the legitimacy of any RSF-led authority.

In response to the latest declaration, Sudans internationally recognised government in Khartoum condemned what it called a fake government" and urged the international community not to engage with it.

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The creation of a parallel administration raises fears that Sudan could follow the path of Libya, which has been divided between rival governments for years. Rebel leader Yasir Arman warned that the RSFs action could prolong the conflict and push Sudan further into fragmentation.

(With inputs from AP)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Sudan

First Published: July 27, 2025, 19:52 IST

News world Sudan's Paramilitary Declares Parallel Govt In War-Hit Darfur, Deepening Crisis

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Thailand-Cambodia Border Clashes: Malaysia To Host Peace Talks, Death Toll Reaches 34

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 22:45 IST

Border clashes between the two countries entered their fourth day, leaving at least 34 people dead and displacing over 2,00,000

A Cambodian soldier stands on a truck carrying a Russian-made BM-21 rocket launcher travelling along a street in Oddar Meanchey province on July 25. (AFP photo)

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are set to meet in Malaysia on Monday, as border clashes between the two countries entered their fourth day, leaving at least 34 people dead and displacing over 2,00,000.

Thailands acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will attend talks in Kuala Lumpur, mediated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysia currently chairs the ASEAN regional bloc, of which both nations are members.

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Anwar confirmed that both sides had requested his help in negotiating a peace deal. Im discussing the parameters, the conditions, but what is important is (an) immediate ceasefire," he told the state-run Bernama news agency on Sunday.

Trumps Intervention Sparks Breakthrough

Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday said that his country had accepted an immediate and unconditional ceasefire," adding that Trump had confirmed Thailands agreement to halt attacks. This is positive news for the soldiers and people of both countries," he said.

Hun Manet directed his foreign minister, Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate next steps with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and engage directly with Thailand.

Additionally, Thailands Phumtham thanked Trump and confirmed Thailands agreement in principle to a ceasefire, but stressed the need for sincere intention" from Cambodia. He called for urgent bilateral talks to establish a peaceful resolution.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that he had spoken to both leaders and warned that the United States would not proceed with trade talks if the violence continued. He claimed both sides agreed to hold talks following his intervention.

Death Toll Rises

At least 34 people have died since fighting erupted on Thursday near disputed temples along the jungle-clad border. The violence began when a landmine explosion injured five Thai soldiers. Both sides accuse each other of triggering the conflict.

Thailand reports eight soldiers and 13 civilians dead, while Cambodia has confirmed five military and eight civilian deaths. More than 1,38,000 people have been evacuated from Thailands border areas, and 80,000 displaced in Cambodia.

The clashes, involving jets, tanks and ground troops, have escalated around ancient temple sites long claimed by both nations. Thailand has accused Cambodia of attacking hospitals, while Cambodia says Thai forces used cluster munitions.

Fresh Shelling Near Temples

Despite diplomatic efforts, fresh artillery fire was reported Sunday near two disputed temples in the frontier region. AFP journalists in the Cambodian town of Samraong, 20 kilometres from the front line, reported the sound of heavy shelling early in the day.

Thai army deputy spokesman Ritcha Suksuwanon said Cambodian forces began firing at around 4:00 am in a battle over key positions.

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Tensions are also rising at home. Thai authorities warned citizens against inciting violence towards Cambodian migrants, urging restraint amid growing nationalist sentiment.

(With inputs from agencies)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

Location : Thailand

First Published: July 27, 2025, 22:45 IST

News world Thailand-Cambodia Border Clashes: Malaysia To Host Peace Talks, Death Toll Reaches 34

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Trump Mocks Obama With Infamous Simpson White Ford Bronco Chase Meme, Vance Drops An Emoji

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 10:07 IST

Donald Trump shared another meme mocking Barack Obama, this time with OJ Simpson white Ford Bronco police chase.

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Trump mocks Obama in a meme (Photo: Truth Social/ Donald Trump)

US President Donald Trump has mocked former President Barack Obama using a meme of one of the most infamous police chases in American history  OJ Simpson white Ford Bronco chase.

Taking to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump shared an edited image, replacing original faces with those of himself, JD Vance and Obama.

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The doctored picture shows Obama as a runaway driving the white Bronco, with Trump right behind him in a police car.

The photo also shows young Vance having long hair, chasing Obama in a second police car.

The Vice President also reposted the image on X.

The infamous OJ Simpson white Ford Bronco chase refers to a dramatic and widely televised police pursuit that took place on June 17, 1994, in Los Angeles, California. Simpson was in the passenger seat of a white 1993 Ford Bronco, driven by his friend Al Cowlings. The chase was broadcast live on national television and watched by over 95 million people.

Trumps latest attack on Obama came days after he shared an AI-generated video showing the Democratic leader being arrested by the FBI in the Oval Office.

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The video showed Obama standing in jail in an orange prisoners uniform.

The doctored images are surfacing amid rising political tensions. Last week, U.S. intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard claimed to have strong evidence that ex-Obama officials fabricated the Trump-Russia collusion story and called for their trial.

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

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: July 27, 2025, 10:07 IST

News world Trump Mocks Obama With Infamous Simpson White Ford Bronco Chase Meme, Vance Drops An Emoji

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'Walmart Shopper Stabbed In Eye: Witnesses Recount Michigan Horror That Left 11 Injured

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 10:01 IST

According to witness accounts, the suspect reportedly stabbed multiple individuals, including one person in the eye.

Police said they have taken a suspect in custody | Image: AP

A stabbing incident at a Walmart in Michigans Traverse City left at least 11 people injured on Saturday, said officials, adding that a suspect has been taken into custody.

According to witness accounts, the suspect reportedly stabbed multiple individuals, including one person in the eye.

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The whole store started screaming and running," Walmart employee Tasha Nash told Channel2 Now. There was a guy with a knife  he stabbed six people. I saw someone stabbed in the eye."

Two shoppers reportedly intervened and helped detain the suspect before authorities arrived.

A witness at the scene shared on social media that law enforcement and emergency personnel responded in large numbers.

We were getting ready to go into Walmart as this was happening. Of course, we werent allowed to go in. I have never seen so many police cars, ambulances, fire trucks, rescue vehicles and crime scene vehicles! They sent the employees home and told all the customers to leave. Wow," the witness wrote on X.

Munson Healthcare confirmed in a Facebook post that 11 victims were being treated at Munson Medical Centre following the incident.

Munson Healthcare is aware of the tragic incident that occurred earlier today at the Walmart in Traverse City. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this event, and we are grateful to the first responders and law enforcement for their swift action," the statement read.

We can confirm that 11 victims are being treated at Munson Medical Center. As a result, our Emergency Department is currently experiencing a higher-than-usual volume of patients."

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Michigan State Police said the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office is leading the investigation.

Authorities have asked the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues. No further details about the victims conditions have been released.

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: July 27, 2025, 10:01 IST

News world 'Walmart Shopper Stabbed In Eye: Witnesses Recount Michigan Horror That Left 11 Injured

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In Silicon Valley, the ultra-rich get richer while many residents struggle just to survive. The Guardian reports that economic inequality in the California region that's home to the likes of Apple, Google, and Meta has reached staggering new levels. According to San Jose State University's 2025 "Silicon Valley Pain Index," just 0.1% of residents now control 71% of the region's wealth, and the nine richest billionaires alone hold $683.2 billion (a report out in March found that Mark Zuckerberg accounted for between $220 billion and $230 billion of that, notes the San Jose Mercury News), an increase of $136 billion since last year. Meanwhile, 110,000 households reported having little or no assets at all. The index, which has tracked inequality in the tech capital since 2020, defines "pain" as "both personal and community distress or suffering."
As evidenced by its busy diplomacy during the Iran-Israel-US dispute earlier this year, tiny Qatar has transformed itself "into the diplomatic capital of the world," writes Nesrine Malik at the Guardian. Malik's deep dive into the subject, based on interviews with more than two dozen diplomats and academics over the past year, seeks to explain how and why. The "why" part is straightforward. Qatar may be incredibly rich, but it's also small and sandwiched among giant powers. For the 54-year-old nation, then, diplomacy is "existential." The "how" part is more complicated, but it begins with the discovery of the world's largest natural gas field in the 1990s, a discovery that fueled the country's wealth. Then came a palace coup in 1995 that brought the reform-minded Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to power.
Most cat owners dread their pets bringing home mice or birds. But for the owners of one felonious feline in New Zealand, there's a worse shamebeing the unwitting accomplice to an unstoppable one-cat crime wave. His prolific laundry-pinching from clotheslines and bedrooms in the beachside neighborhood of Mairangi Bay has turned 15-month-old Leo into a local celebrity and earned him a new moniker: Leonardo da Pinchy. His frequent hauls include silk boxers, thick men's work socks, and, in one mortifying episode for his humans, a brand-new $181 cashmere sweater. "My daughter ... rang me at work saying, 'It's bad, it's bad, this is the worst thing he's brought in," Leo's owner, Helen North, tells the AP . "Because it was beautiful. I was like, 'Ooh, can I keep that?' But I couldn't."

Instead, North turns to a neighborhood WhatsApp group to return Leo's stolen goods to their owners. Her usual message: "Are these your undies?" On one record-setting day, Leo returned with nine items, enough for a full outfit if you didn't mind a mix of everything from baby clothes to menswear. "He brought in a jersey this morning at 10 past 8," North said. "The shops hadn't even opened." The ire that North expected over Leo's cat burgling antics didn't materializealthough one of his targets, who's allergic to cats, now dries her laundry indoors. "All of our neighbors think he's amazing," she said. "Some of them are quite put out that he hasn't actually stolen anything of theirs."

Still, North has tried everything to curb her cat's laundry obsession, from keeping him indoors to leaving out clothes at home for him to steal. No luck. "He only wants stuff that he shouldn't have," she said, adding that she was also unwilling to risk an online suggestion that Leo simply needed another playmate. "He might teach another cat to do this," North said. Leo's life of crime began when he was first allowed outdoors a year ago. His family, however, hopes it's just a juvenile phase. "I hope he grows out of it because I don't want to do this for, like, 15 years," North said. "This is a lot of admin." For now, on the streets of Mairangi Bay, Leonardo da Pinchy remains at large.
The archbishop of Warsaw, Poland, has asked the Vatican to defrock a priest charged with the killing of a 68-year-old homeless man who was beaten with an ax and set on fire. Prosecutors on Saturday charged the priest, only identified as Miroslaw M. in line with Polish privacy rules, with murder with particular cruelty. He is being detained ahead of a trial and faces 15 years to life behind bars, the AP reports. Investigators say the priest and the victim, Anatol Cz., were together in a car late Thursday when an argument broke out, according to Aneta Gozdz, a spokesperson for the Radom District Prosecutor's Office.

The fight stemmed from a donation agreement in which the priest had agreed to provide lifelong assistance and care for the man, Gozdz said in a statement. The argument escalated over the homeless man's future housing. The priest struck the victim on the head with an ax, doused him in flammable liquid and set him on fire, the spokesperson said. The priest then drove away when he saw a bicycle light approaching. The bicyclist found the victim engulfed in flames and called for first responders, Gozdz said. "An autopsy showed that the victim suffered burns covering 80% of his body and head injuries caused by a sharp-edged heavy object," Gozdz said.

Warsaw Archbishop Adrian Galbas on Saturday requested that the Holy See dismiss the priest from the priesthood, the highest penalty in canon law for a cleric. In a statement to the archdiocese on Friday, Galbas asked Catholics to pray for the victim and his loved ones. The archbishop said he was "devastated" by the crime and pledged to cooperate with investigators. The Vatican did not immediately comment.
Lottie Woad tapped in one final birdie, plucked the ball out of the cup, and gave a simple wave to the crowd at the Women's Scottish Open on Sunday as if she had done this before, the AP reports. But the English player was making her professional debut, a performance so dominant that the BBC described it as a "statement victory." Woad's approach remained low-key. "Links golf is really fun and it went fine," she said after winning. "My dad was here all week and my mum got the train up last night, so I was hoping I wouldn't mess it up."

The former Florida State star never flinched when Hyo Joo Kim made a charge on a windy day at Dundonald Links in Irvine, per the AP, closing with a 4-under 68 for a three-shot victory. She finished at a 21-under 267 and earned $300,000. Woad is the second player in three years to win on the LPGA Tour in her pro debut, following Rose Zhang in the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National in 2023. "I think it's quite hard to do that, but very special to win in my first event," Woad said. "Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots."

The LPGA Tour now has had a different winner in all 19 tournaments this year, the longest stretch without a multiple winner in its 75-year history. Next, the 21-year-old heads to Royal Porthcawl in Wales for the final major of the year, the Women's British Open, with the focus on her. "Even if I hadn't won this week, I would still be trying to win the Open next week," Woad said, per the BBC. "It's still a learning curve getting used to the attention."
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
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The Homestead Collective, launched by Altitude Hospitality Group, is closing three of its restaurant concepts, including Garden of the Gods Market & Cafe at Homestead, Till Kitchen and Campfire Pizza at the 9633 Prominent Point food hall, due to a lack of community support. The group also stated that the location was not lucrative enough, with the costs outrunning the benefits. Two other restaurants, Dad's Donuts and Red Leaf Organic Coffee, will remain open. Altitude Hospitality Group also includes several other businesses, including Vine and Wheel, The Pinery on the Hill and Altitude Baking Company.
A 14-year-old boy drowned in a state park lake Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The state Department of Environmental Protections State Park Police responded to a report of a suspected drowning of the boy in Ramapo State Forest, said Caryn Shinske, a department spokeswoman.

The victim, who was not identified, was found in Ramapo Lake at 1:02 p.m. and pronounced dead at the scene, she said.

The lake encompasses both Bergen County and Passaic County.

The body has been turned over to the Northeast Regional Medical Examiners Office, which will determine the official cause of death, officials said.

The victims family has been notified, Shinske said.

The New Jersey State Park Police led the search and rescue operation, and several local, county and state public safety agencies assisted with the operation.

No further details are available, Shinske said.

Jeff Angermeyer, a deputy chief of detectives in the Bergen County Prosecutors Office, confirmed the prosecutors office helped assist in the search.

While most of that activity is complete by now, it is possible there may still be detours, closures or the like, he said. If so, we ask the public to please avoid any access points to the area of concern while any remaining law enforcement officials manage this incident.

To the extent there are still first responder crews -- which, at the time, included area fire departments and dive teams from several agencies -- using their expertise to work this incident, we ask residents and motorists to give them space to work, he said.

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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
Three people were injured after two cars collided head on in Cape May County Saturday afternoon, officials said.

The Marmora Volunteer Fire Company and other neighboring emergency personnel were dispatched around 12:25 p.m. to the 800 block of South Shore Road in Upper Township for a reported motor vehicle accident with entrapment, the volunteer fire company said on Facebook.

Firefighters found one person who was trapped in one vehicle, one person on the ground from the second vehicle and a third person who had extracted themselves from the car, officials said.

Two Atlantic Care paramedic units and a medevac helicopter were requested. All three patients were transported to the hospital by ground or helicopter, officials said.

The victims status is unclear.

The New Jersey State Police are investigating the incident, officials said. The state police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com.
Tatiana Bailey is executive director of the nonprofit Data-Driven Economic Strategies. Other Gazette articles, TV segments, DDES monthly economic dashboards, and how to sponsor their work can be found at ddestrategies.org.
Animal Alliance selected Design Learned, Inc. of Norwich, Connecticut as the organizations shelter architect and engineer. Design Learned specializes in the design, engineering, and construction of world class animal care facilities across the United States. Here, an Anial Alliance new shelter rendering. Courtesy

Animal Alliance has merged with Hunterdon Humane Animal Shelter, creating one of the larger private animal welfare nonprofits in New Jersey.

The expanded organization will operate under the Animal Alliance name and serve the region from two locations in Lambertville and Milford. It is preparing to break ground on a modernized sheltering facility in Hunterdon County.

The merger between Animal Alliance and Hunterdon Humane represents an incredible opportunity for growth, innovation, and collaboration to save as many animals as possible and enrich their lives until they are in their forever homes, said Annie Trinkle, founder and executive director of Animal Alliance, who will lead the combined organization as executive director.

The organization will maintain all current programs, including animal rescue and sheltering, pet adoption, low-cost spay/neuter services, and community outreach pet retention services.

Animal Alliances Planned Pethood Clinic will continue offering low-cost spay/neuter and pet wellness services at its Lambertville location with plans for a satellite clinic in Milford.

Animal Alliance is launching a $5.5 million capital campaign to fund the renovation and expansion of the former Hunterdon Humane site in Milford.

Plans include a phased rebuild, starting with a complete modernization of the existing facility to create a safe and enriching environment for both cats and dogs.

I believe this partnership will empower us to leverage our strengths, enhance our capabilities, and create even greater value in Hunterdon County and the surrounding communities for the animals who need us, said Alison Abou-Daoud, president of the Animal Alliance Board of Trustees.

Tanya Nelesnik, president of Hunterdon Humane Animal Shelter, expressed excitement about the Milford shelter reopening.

We chose Animal Alliance as a partner because of its integrity, commitment to animal welfare in Hunterdon County, and proven track record of compassionate care and community engagement, she said.

Trinkle noted that the current shelter is at capacity amid nationwide challenges.

Nationwide, animal shelters have been overflowing for several years as a combination of economic and cultural factors have led to increased relinquishment of pets, and reduced pet adoptions, she said.

Since its founding in 2002, Animal Alliance has grown from a small foster-based group into an organization that rescues and places approximately 500 dogs and cats annually while spaying and neutering over 2,000 animals.

Trinkle, who served as president of the Animal Welfare Federation of New Jersey for six years, has led Animal Alliance for 23 years. The organization now has 20 employees and over 150 active volunteers.

* * *

Questions about this post may be directed to Linda OBrien at lobrien@njadvancemedia.com.



Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff.
The Cape May-Lewes Ferry departs the Cape May Terminal in New Jersey for Delaware in the summer of 2021. Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for

A version of this story was published in June 2024.

There was an even grander ambition behind the Cape May-Lewes Ferry when it debuted 61 years ago.

The ferry first took passengers across the Delaware Bay on July 1, 1964, three months after the Chesapeake Bay BridgeTunnel opened in Virginia.

Both routes involve water crossings of approximately 17 miles.

New Jerseys governor at the time predicted the Cape May ferry could eventually be replaced by a bridge and tunnel similar to the one spanning the Chesapeake.

It is possible, in my opinion, to foresee a time when the growth of South Jersey will have reached a point where this ferry will have to be replaced by a crossing complex, Gov. Richard Hughes said at the dedication ceremony.

Passengers arriving in June 1960 for a by-invitation-only preview of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, one day before it opened to the public. Photo courtesy of the Delaware River and Bay Authority

That hasnt happened.

The ferrys path between Cape May and Lewes, Delaware, has been designated part of Route 9 since the 1970s. Ambitions for an actual bridge or tunnel crossing the water satirized by Delawares official social media account in a 2022 April Fools Day joke  have long since faded.

The ferry is operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which oversees the Delaware Memorial Bridge, located approximately 80 miles away and linking Pennsville Township in Salem County with New Castle, Delaware.

The ferry supports several thousand jobs in the region, boosts property values in areas near the ferry, and aids tourism in both Cape May County and Sussex County, Delaware, which includes Lewes but also Rehoboth Beach, according to a 2020 report from the authority. The 85-minute ferry ride offers much more direct path between South Jersey and Southern Delaware than the nearby Delaware Memorial Bridge.

For many its a vital part of our transportation system. For others its a wonderful way to kick off their family vacation, Cape May City Mayor Zachary Mullock told NJ Advance Media in 2024.

However, the ferry has grappled in recent years with lower ridership levels, maintenance costs and other challenges. The ferry had a $6.8 million operating deficit in 2006 that had risen to approximately $10 million as of last year, according to a spokesperson.

In 2023, the ferry had 746,430 passengers and 276,436 vehicles, the most vehicles in 13 years. By comparison the ferry had 845,362 passengers and 295,256 vehicles in 2008.

It recorded its 50 millionth customer in 2023.

Operators recently announced plans to add a hybrid-powered vessel.

The ferry has profoundly enhanced tourism, said Jody Alessandrine, director and CEO of Cape May MAC (Museum + Arts + Culture).

The nonprofit organization was founded in 1970, six years after the ferrys debut, to promote the preservation and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region.

Cape May MAC welcomes a host of visitors who arrive via ferry each year, and we are gratified so many of their travelers choose a Cape May MAC tour at one of our three historic sites or take a trolley or walking tour during their stay, Alessandrine said in 2024.

The fare for most adults is $10 one-way, or $18 round-trip. For a car, SUV or pickup truck, a round-trip is $68, Monday through Thursday, and $82 on Fridays through Sundays.

In 1964, the first passenger bought a $3.25 ticket for a car and a 75-cent ferry ticket. The inaugural ride from Cape May had been scheduled for 3:20 a.m., but was cancelled due to last-minute welding and painting on the boarding ramps. When it departed at 6:40 a.m., it had 26 passengers and eight vehicles, The Star-Ledger reported.

While a lot has changed in the past six decades, the ferry has always provided a break from the ordinary  a fun, relaxing way to add family memories to your vacation experience, Heath Gehrke, director of operations for the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, said last year in announcing the 60th anniversary.

Passengers on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry are shown standing above a section of the vessel transporting vehicles. Photo courtesy of the Delaware River and Bay Authority

The ferrys three vessels each have room for about 8,000 passengers and 100 vehicles. Two other ferries in the fleet were sold off in 2013 and 2017.

The new hybrid-powered vessel is scheduled to join the fleet in the summer of 2027. It will replace the half-century-old ferry named for Delawares Cape Henlopen.

The terminal is located in the North Cape May section of Lower Township, about five miles from Cape May City, among New Jerseys most popular resort towns. A shuttle bus links the ferry terminal with the Cape May Welcome Center in Cape May City, for those not bringing a car.

Some people like to go over to Lewes to visit, and vice versa, Kacie Rattigan, director of tourism and recreation activities for Cape May City, said last year.

The 2020 report outlined multiple challenges. Two years earlier, the ferry system generated $19.8 million in revenue but had $40.6 million in operating costs, the report said.

Factoring in $9 million for depreciation, the ferry, at that time, had an operating deficit of $11.6 million, offset by tolls from the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The tolls proceeds also help underwrite five airports, a business park and multiple economic projects.

The ferry continues to be an integral part of the resort communities we serve. As we celebrate our past, we also look forward to our next generation of ferry vessels, which will improve onboard amenities while reducing operating costs and emissions well into the future, Gehrke said in 2024.

The ferrys finest hour may have been in 1990 when a vessel was used to rescue 885 passengers stranded aboard a disabled cruise ship off Downe Township in Cumberland County.

Dedication-week activities in 1964 included a fly-over by a squadron of jet fighter planes, 25 sky-divers, receptions and dinners, along with concerts by a bagpipe band, the Air Force Band and the U.S. Coast Guard Band, according to news accounts.

A simpler celebration was held on this years July Fourth  a fireworks cruise.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
A New Jersey man is facing charges in connection with a head-on crash in Lakewood on Saturday evening that killed two people, including an 11-year-old girl, and seriously injured another child, authorities said.

Raul Luna-Perez, 43, of Red Bank, has been charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and assault by auto, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced Sunday.

Police responded to the intersection of Cross Street and Hearthstone Drive at about 11:20 p.m. on July 26 after receiving a report of a motor vehicle crash with serious injuries, authorities said.

The female driver of a Nissan Sentra, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. The front seat passenger, an 11-year-old female, was pronounced dead after being transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood. Another 11-year-old female passenger was listed in serious but stable condition at Monmouth Medical Center, the prosecutors office said.

Luna-Perez, who was driving a Dodge Durango, collided head-on with the Nissan Sentra after crossing into the incoming lane of traffic while traveling eastbound on Cross Street, authorities said.

The two passengers in the Dodge Durango were treated and released from Jersey Shore University Medical Center with minor injuries.

Authorities ordered a blood draw for Luna-Perez after first responders detected signs of impairment at the scene. The results remain pending, the prosecutors office said.

He is currently held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The Lakewood Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriffs Office and Ocean County Medical Examiners Office are assisting the prosecutors office with the investigation, authorities said.

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Rebecca Heath may be reached at RHeath@njadvancemedia.com.
Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends. Here, they discuss the weeks political events with Star-Ledger editor Enrique Lavin.

Q: Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli named Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon as his running mate and possible lieutenant governor.

Julie: I dont know Sheriff Gannon, so I cant speak to his administrative skills, but I stand by my belief that the most useful lieutenant governor is a technocrat who can help run the government.

Mike: Sheriff Jimmy Gannon is a great pick by Jack. First, hes a proven vote-getter in Morris County, which will be a battleground as Sherrill has a base there as well. Republicans put up big numbers in Morris County when they win. Secondly, republicans have been making inroads with white working class democratic and independent voters for 15 years now, and that has accelerated under President Trump. Guess what White working-class Democrats and independents like  cops. Its smart that Jack did not feel the need to balance the ticket, ideologically or demographically just to please pundits and the media.

Q: Democrat Mikie Sherrill named Dale Caldwell, president of Centenary University in Warren County, as her lieutenant governor pick. He was the universitys first Black president, is a Methodist pastor, 25-year school board member in New Brunswick, and holds a doctorate in education.

Mike: Caldwell is a relative unknown to most New Jerseyans. I applaud thinking outside the Trenton Box, as it is smart to stay away from any Trenton Democratic politicians given some of the dissatisfaction with the direction of the state right now. Beyond that, we will find out. While Centenary College is not a household name in New Jersey, the Sherrill team will make the case that a college president is a different type of leadership outside of politics that qualifies someone for governor. Certainly, governors Corzine and Murphy came from business, not government.

On the flip side, I am certain the Ciattarelli campaign is researching all writings and policies of President Caldwell. Opposition research is always a key element of an LG pick. This is a break from the establishment, who has background in education both in an urban Democratic stronghold and in higher ed in conservative northwestern New Jersey.

Julie: Dale Caldwell is a great choice. I know him to be one of the kindest and most thoughtful people in politics. As Ive long said, an LG should, first and foremost, be a strong manager and Dale has the experience to be that.

Q: The Trump administrations workaround to keep Alina Habba in power as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey  after a panel of federal judges declined to extend her 120-day interim term  was to reappoint her as interim U.S. Attorney for another 200 days. Whats your reaction to her unprecedented reappointment?

Julie: This sets up a constitutional crisis. The federal judges in New Jersey have a choice: do they fight this or do they let the president just subvert their decision? Trump has ignored one in three major judicial rulings since re-entering the White House, so it cant be a surprise that he has flouted the judiciarys decision here too. At some point, the U.S. Supreme Court should make its views known here. This is just the most recent example of Trump sowing havoc and doubt in our law enforcement institutions

Mike: I believe presidents have the right to pick their U.S. Attorneys, but the U.S. Senate has a role to confirm and they are choosing not to. So, Im not surprised by Trumps move at all. He is not going to let courts dictate his choices for anything, certainly not the top prosecutor in one of his adopted home states.

Q: What do you make of the Republican National Committee suing the New Jersey Division of Elections over its reluctance to release records related to voter roll maintenance and voting machine audits?

Julie: Volume LVIX of MAGAs assault on our elections. This comes on the heels of the Trump administrations attempt to federalize elections in order to steal them because Republicans know they cant win them outright with Trumps numbers cratering by the day. With Trump, every accusation is an admission.

Mike: This is an unfortunate by the RNC falling right into the Trump 2020 playbook to sew doubt in election outcomes in New Jersey. Elections are not perfect here, but they are safe and securely run, county by county. That said, the state should also be transparent to give voters the confidence they deserve.

Q: The Jeffrey Epstein files continue to capture the publics imagination  especially the MAGA based that has asked for more transparency. President Trump cant seem to shake this scandal as more revelations come out, including a clearer picture of his friendship with the convicted child sex offender. Will this stick or fizzle out over the rest of the summer?

Julie: This scandal isnt going anywhere, unless Trump ups the ante by taking us to war or otherwise causing something that will so impact peoples daily lives that they will have no choice but to focus their attention elsewhere. The odds of him attempting to do that, once his other deflections fail, are pretty high, which is frightening.

Mike: The Epstein story will stick. There is an element of the MAGA base, the QAnon faction, that believes with a religious fervor and conviction that the government has covered up crimes like pedophilia. And they believe Trump was essentially heaven-sent to finally shed light on it and provide the transparency that was destined. But now hes doing the opposite. They are learning there is no Santa, no tooth fairy. In fact, the Chosen One might even be participating in the cover-up. This is not easy to accept but it is more important to them than many other issues.

Q: Trump has responded with deflection tactics, including social media rants and lawsuits against Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal. But the biggest public distraction this week is reviving conspiracy theories about former President Obama and 2016 presidential candidate Hilary Clinton. He called them traitors. MAGA is asking for arrests. Where will this go?

Julie: I wouldnt call his attempt to deflect a distraction. I am not distracted and neither are most people, the vast majority of whom want the Epstein files released and who are closely following this scandal. But as a larger matter, the fact that the media is not screaming from the rooftops every day about Trumps subversion of democracy as he attempts to weaponize his power against his enemies, is a massive fail. Heal thyself, journalism.

Mike: It will go nowhere because there is nothing to it. It is designed to be a distraction for today and another will come tomorrow. It reeks of desperation to change the story.

Q: Stephen Colberts late-night show was canceled by CBS, which is owned by Paramount. Were politics to blame?

Julie: You dont have to be a mathematician to connect these dots. Paramount owns CBS. Trumps FCC was very clear that it would not move forward on approving the Paramount-Skydance merger until Trump got his pound of flesh, both in terms of a multimillion-dollar settlement [See 60 minutes lawsuit] and in terms of content. Colbert, who has been a Trump antagonist for years, had to go. If you dont believe me, watch as Trump now does a victory lap and threatens The View and other shows he doesnt like. More relevantly, Trumps own FCC chair all but conceded on Fox this week that Colbert got canceled because of politics.

I have no doubt that late night shows may not be as profitable as they once were but its fascinating that Paramount chose this season, of all seasons, to kill the Late Show. Lets see whether they fire Jon Stewart from the Daily Show next or cancel South Park. Stephen Colbert is a generational talent and he will be just fine. Whether the rest of us will be fine, as once-great media institutions continue to bend the knee to a thug, is a different story.

Mike: Economics are to blame. He made $16 million per year but the show was losing money. Free markets speak and work. Blame whoever you want but he was losing viewership year after year.

A note to readers: Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week with this Friendly Fire conversation.

Mike and Julie are deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players discussed in this column. DuHaime, the founder of MAD Global Strategy, has worked for Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and George W. Bush. Roginsky, a principal of Comprehensive Communications Group and author of the Salty Politics column in Substack, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg, and Phil Murphy.

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A few months ago when President Trump appointed his former personal attorney Alina Habba as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, I drew Ms. Habba fully clad in blue overalls and protective eye gear as a minion.

For those unfamiliar, minions are the little yellow guys from the wildly popular Despicable Me franchise who proved so popular they eventually spun off into their own stand alone films. The little fellas have a penchant for screw ups, a love of bananas and an undying loyalty to their leader.

While I dont know Ms. Habbas fruit preferences, she pretty comfortably fits the other requirements.

The flying monkeys were not unavailable. Drew Sheneman

Alina Habbas tenure as New Jerseys top federal prosecutor has been much like the description of life from British philosopher and author Thomas Hobbes, Nasty, brutish and short.

Habba was appointed as Trumps muscle in Jersey from the jump. Habba came out swinging by establishing an Election Integrity Task Force, a unit custom designed for subverting democracy and intimidating voters.

In the ensuing 120 days, she has managed to involve herself in a number of controversial arrests, most notably Newark mayor and former gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka, for which she is being sued.

Alina Habba managed to accomplish all these dubious milestones as acting U.S. Attorney, partly because of Trumps stated preference for acting appointments  he likes using the lack of job security to extract a greater degree of fealty  and partly because Habbas permanent nomination is held up in the Senate. Both of New Jerseys senators are opposed to Habba becoming permanent and, what do you know, she isnt...or is she?

Habba was initially served her walking papers by a panel of U.S. District Court judges who invoked a rarely used rule that allows them to replace any acting U.S. Attorney if they have yet to receive U.S. Senate confirmation after their initial 120-day interim appointment expires.

Habbas appointment was up Friday at midnight and her former first deputy, a longtime prosecutor by the name of Desiree Grace, was set to take over on Saturday.

But, wait! Thursday evening there was an M. Night Shyamalan level twist.

Habba posted that shes back in the saddle thanks to some loophole wrangling at the DOJ. Im going to steal directly from my NJ.com colleagues Chris Sheldon and Colleen Murphy (read their much more thorough reporting here) and allow them to explain the mechanics of this cluster bomb:

CBS, citing a Justice Department official, reported that Trump withdrew the nomination of Habba, which clears the way for her to serve as the U.S. attorney in the state in an acting capacity.

Trumps action avoids a provision of federal law that restricts a person from serving as an acting officer if the president has submitted their nomination to the Senate, according to the report. That law limits her time as acting U.S. attorney to 210 days.

Full disclosure, Im writing this late Thursday evening for a Friday deadline.

By the time you read this on Sunday morning, there is bound to have been more wacky weekend hijinks. Federal judges dont typically like to have their ruling circumvented by a technicality, so maybe well get some more court orders or possibly an injunction or two, I have no idea. Its like Schrodingers U.S. Attorney, until we open the box, the appointment is both alive and dead.

Im contacting you from the past, you probably already know. No spoilers, please.

Regardless, the ability of Trumps DOJ to find a loophole doesnt change the fact that Habba is unfit for the job. Habba may get another 210 days, but what happens then? Can they renominate her and then re-withdraw the nomination generating new 210 day appointments in perpetuity thus creating an endless Groundhog Day time loop that eventually fractures the continuum of space and time and sucks us all into the singularity?

Gosh, I hope so. It sounds relaxing.

Drew Sheneman has drawn political cartoons for The Star-Ledger since 1998. His work is syndicated nationally through Tribune Content Agency. Find him at Drew Shenemans Cartoon Cavalcade.

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Severe thunderstorms are in the forecast for New Jersey on Sunday with damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph and flash flooding possible. Heat and humidity will continue through Wednesday. National Weather Service and AccuWeather

Severe thunderstorms are in the forecast for New Jersey today with the potential for localized flash flooding and wind gusts up to 60 mph.

Thunderstorms are likely to develop this afternoon, with rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour possible. The storms are expected between 2 and 8 p.m. on Sunday.
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Gov. Jared Polis gets much of the blame for the growing rural-urban divide in Colorado
"What is rare is wonderful!" This picture in the sunshine with a clear blue sky and a field full of small square bales of hay on a farm at Lumcloon, Cloghan during the recent heatwave was taken by Marty Guinan.

The square baler arrived in Ireland in the 1950s but this retro hay-making method has almost disappeared now having being replaced by the much larger round baler.

While round bales might be more practical, square bales were much more craic. Anyone else remember building forts and other structures from square bales? Ah the good old days.... but loading them wasn't easy!

We want your photos to feature on our website via our Camera Club. Do you have a great photo from life in the locality? Whether its a party, wedding, communion, landscape, a quirky shot from your archives, or a simple everyday moment, we want your snapshots.

We are inviting people to share photos that capture the spirit of the county. From special occasions to quieter moments, your pictures help tell the story of everyday life in our community.

To submit:

Go to the Camera Club page and follow the instructions to upload your photo. Include your name, where it was taken, and a short caption if you can.

Your photo could be featured on our website and newspaper and seen by readers across the county and beyond.

TAP HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES TODAY
The Weeknd has been awarded a key to the city of Toronto.

The Weeknd was born in the Canadian city

The 35-year-old music star was bestowed with the honour by Olivia Chow, the mayor of Toronto, during a ceremony at the Rogers Centre on Saturday (26.07.25).

The Weeknd - whose real name is Abel Tesfaye - said in a statement: "I'm deeply honoured to receive the key to the city. It feels good to be home.

"Toronto is where I found my voice, and I'm committed to helping the next generation find theirs. Thats why Im proud to support the Boys and Girls Club of West Scarborough and my former high school, Birchmount Park, providing youth with the means to unlock their full potential."

Mayor Chow has also heaped praise on the chart-topping star, explaining that he's "reshaped modern music".

She said: "Born in Toronto, Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye represents the best of our city.

"From Scarborough to the global stage, he has reshaped modern music while using his platform to support health and humanitarian causes at home and around the world. I am proud to honour one of our citys greatest artists with a key to the city to celebrate his contributions to music, society and our culture."

The Weeknd has enjoyed success as a musician and as an actor, and he previously explained how his upbringing in Toronto fuelled his passion for movies.

The award-winning star recalled visiting a video rental store during his teens and browsing through their movie collection, even though he couldn't actually afford to rent them at the time.

He told Interview magazine in 2023: "There was one in downtown Toronto called Queen Video. It was one of those video stores that just had all the indie stuff, all the arthouse stuff. Id go there and I wouldnt even buy or rent. Id just look through everything and obsess over films Id never seen.

"Because I didnt have money. Thats when I was homeless, around 17, 18. Id just walk in there and pretend I was going to rent something. The reality was I was just trying to learn about filmmakers and one-ups."
Passengers and crews evacuated an American Airlines flight after the aircraft blew its tires while taking off Saturday afternoon.

Just after 3:30 p.m., DIA officials reported that American Airlines flight 3023, en route to Miami, had evacuated due to an issue with the plane.

In a news release, American Airlines officials stated that the plane experienced a blown tire during takeoff. The planes deceleration caused a minor isolated brake fire, according to the airline.

In total, 173 passengers and six crew members evacuated the Boeing 737 MAX 8, airline officials said.

All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team, American Airlines officials said.

A video on social media shows passengers evacuating the plane on the emergency slides and being taken back to the terminal on a bus.

Featured Local Savings

One passenger was transported to the hospital with a minor injury, according to DIA and American Airlines.

About halfway to takeoff speed, we hear a big bang and a pop, Shaun Williams, a passenger traveling with his family, told Denver Gazette news partner 9News.

The pilot immediately started abort procedures for taking off. You could feel him start to hit the brakes, the passenger said.

Some passengers reported smelling burning rubber during takeoff, according to 9NEWS.

Later in the day, passengers departed for Miami on a different plane.

We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience, American Airlines officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration will further investigate the incident.
The community of Banagher has reached a major fundraising milestone, raising over 195,000 towards the creation of a state-of-the-art outdoor swimming facility at Shannon Bank Park.

Launched by the Shannon Bank Park Development Group at the Crank House in February of this year, the campaign has exceeded expectations in a town of just 1,907 residents. The money raised will support an 850,000 project  including the new pool and significant site development works  which also benefits from 616,000 in funding through the Failte Ireland EU Just Transition Fund.

The new Banagher Outdoor Swimming Pool will include wheelchair access, improved seating, wider pontoons, and a dedicated kayak and paddleboard launch  all situated in the River Shannon at Shannon Bank Park. Construction by Inland and Coastal Marina Systems is already underway, with pool sections currently being fabricated off-site in preparation for installation.

The fundraising efforts have been wide-ranging and imaginative: from the River Shannon Challenge (a 3.5km swim held on 28th June) and the Carrauntoohil Challenge (10th May), to nine-year-old Conor Horns 'May the Fourth Mountain March', a pony trek, the 'Last Ever 80s Nostalgia Night' at Melbas nightclub in Birr, a monster auction at Corrigans Corner House, a tractor run, and several school-led events. Significant supporters also include the local 'Beat on the Street' Festival and the 'Runners V Riders' fundraising group. Sponsored nameplates, an online iDonate page and a tap-to-donate machine in the park also played their part.

When the Just Transition funding came in, it made the project a possibility  but for us, the work only really started then, said Johnny Butler of the Shannon Bank Park Development Group. 172,000 is an awful lot of money, and people said we were mad. That this was just another pipe dream that looked good on paper.

But from the very start, we were met with nothing but positivity. Everywhere we turned for help or support, we didnt have to ask twice. I checked the platform we used for online donations recently  there are 2,658 individual contributions there alone. That doesnt include all the physical fundraising that went on.

It really shows the kind of community that exists here in Banagher  and not just here, but across West Offaly, East Galway, and North Tipperary too. Part of the appeal is that the project ticks so many boxes: its about health, its about access, its free, and its something that benefits both local people and visitors who already travel long distances to use the current pool. Hopefully it will inspire similar regeneration projects elsewhere  both locally and nationally.

The project will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 will see the removal of the existing pool and the installation of the new facility before the end of August. The pool will be closed for a maximum of two weeks during the transition. Groundworks and the construction of a new wheelchair ramp and improved access points will commence at the same time. Phase 2 will follow in 2026, focusing on landscaping and the completion of groundworks to integrate the new facility into the park.

Nameplate sponsorships remain available until the end of July for anyone wishing to contribute to this landmark community project - please email banagherpool@outlook.com.
Heroes of Conviction to be Honored at 2025 Whistleblower Summit

Senator Tom Tillis, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ukrainian-American Lev Parnas, and Journalists Wayne Madsen and Jerry Ashton to Receive Prestigious Pillar Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. The 13th Annual Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival will celebrate extraordinary courage in the face of adversity, honoring four remarkable individuals who chose truth over politics, public awareness over silence.

WHAT: The Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival

WHEN: July 30, 2025 | 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT

WHERE: The McCelland Room, National Press Club, Washington, D.C.

The 2025 Pillar Award Recipients

Political Courage Across the Aisle

Senator Tom Tillis (R-NC) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will receive the coveted Pillar Award for their unwavering commitment to putting their constituents' welfare above political gain, a rare display of bipartisan integrity in today's polarized climate.

Truth in the Face of Power

Lev Parnas, Russian-American businessman, will be honored for his pivotal role in exposing critical facts during the Trump-Ukraine scandal, demonstrating undiminished loyalty to his adopted homeland of Ukraine and the principles of democratic accountability.

Service Beyond the Uniform

Jerry Ashton, Navy veteran and former military journalist, receives recognition for his extraordinary post-service mission. As co-founder of Undue Medical Debt (2014), he raised national awareness about the cost of unpayable healthcare while also helping to forgive over $20 billion in medical debt for more than 10 million Americans. His latest charity venture, End Veteran Debt, extends this life-changing work by eliminating debt for military members who have left service.

A Legacy of Truth-Telling

The Pillar Award, established in 2012, is the highest honor bestowed upon the whistleblower community. Previous recipients include political leaders from both parties

Elizabeth Warren, Rand Paul, Cory Booker, Chuck Grassley, and Ron Wyden, ongside legendary truth-tellers Daniel Ellsberg, Bradley Birkenfeld, and Frank Serpico.

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Global Fast for Gaza Today. I urge all of you to share information, speakout, act in any way (even small ways help) as our people are dying daily in this Isreali/US/Western extermination campaign driven by greed and racism. Do not look away. All actions can help. Silence is not an option.Share/act please

Latest on the lack of food by civilians.

Doctors Against Genocide on what is happening.

After a strike on a house.

This disabled man lost his wife, who was his caretaker, and his child. Look at the levels of suffering these people endure.

From the Warsaw Ghetto to Gaza, Starvation as a Weapon of War

While starving Gaza and its 80% refugee population, Israel is expanding its war on Palestinian refugees-- and on their very 'refugee-ness'-- in the West Bank.

How one Israeli company controls - and cuts off - Palestinians' access to water in the West Bank.

Israel committing 'worst crime of the 21st century' in Gaza.

Moving message from Ziad in Gaza (french but you can see english google translate)

Freedom flotilla ship Handala was intercepted by the apartheid regimeforces (thugs) as it tried to deliver aid to starving Gaza Strip.

Columbia University attack on freedom: suspending about 80 students and they just made a "deal" to pay $221 million to the Trump regime that ensures further suppression

At the People's Inquiry into Campus Free Speech on Palestine

Who is behind the ban on Palestine Action in the UK? Excerpt: The British government's attempt to ban Palestine Action is fronted by Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary. As has been widely noted, she is a serial recipient of Zionist lobby largesse, being in receipt of over A A ? i ? ? i ? ?300,000 from Zionist connected individuals and groups in the last three years alone. She admits to taking A A ? i ? ? i ? ?210,000 from Gary Lubner, the South African Zionist whose family firm profited from the Apartheid regime there, and was involved in sanctions busting. She also received over A A ? i ? ? i ? ?100,000 from Labour Together, a vehicle for arch Zionist influencer Trevor Chinn, who has extraordinary access to the Labour government.

U.S. Nonprofits Funnel Millions to Israeli Army Volunteers.

Prof. Mearsheimer makes sense.

Stay Humane and keep hope alive,

Mazin Qumsiyeh

A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home

Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History

Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine

facebook pages Personal Institute

French
Nearly a decade and a half since the outbreak of the Syrian uprising, the country no longer occupies headlines, but that silence is deceiving. Syria remains one of the most critical arenas where regional and global powers intersect, maneuver, and negotiate-- often at the expense of the very people whose lives have been shattered by war, displacement, and tyrann.

Today, Syria is not a state in recovery, nor is it a country in transition. It is a fragmented terrain held together by a fragile web of foreign influence, local militias, and political expediency. The future of Syria is being shaped not in Damascus or Idlib or Raqqa, but in the corridors of Moscow, Tehran, Ankara, and Washington- places where the Syrian people are conspicuously absent from the table.

What began in 2011 as a popular, peaceful uprising demanding dignity and freedom has been methodically crushed-- first by a brutal regime, then by international apathy, and finally by the calculated interests of foreign actors. The Assad regime, backed by Russian airpower and Iranian militias, has recaptured most of the country's territory. Yet victory in territorial terms has not translated into legitimacy or reconstruction. Instead, Syria has become a marketplace for geopolitical bartering. The Astana process-- led by Russia, Iran, and Turkey-- effectively sidelined the UN-sponsored Geneva talks and introduced a new political framework, one that prioritized the interests of the trio over any meaningful political solution for Syrians. While the UN continues to talk about a "political transition", Assad consolidates power with impunity, embassies reopen in Damascus, and Arab states flirt with normalization.

For Russia, Syria has become a Mediterranean outpost and a leverage point in its broader confrontation with the West. Its military bases in Tartus and Hmeimim are now permanent fixtures, providing Moscow a foothold in the region and allowing it to project power far beyond Syria's borders. Russia's role in Syria is not humanitarian or stabilizing; it is strategic, transactional, and unapologetically self-serving. Iran, for its part, views Syria as an essential corridor in the so-called "axis of resistance", linking Tehran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iranian-backed militias have entrenched themselves across the country, altering demographics in some regions and reshaping Syria's social fabric to serve Tehran's interests. Meanwhile, Turkey maintains military zones in northern Syria under the guise of countering Kurdish militancy and managing refugee flows. Ankara's interventions, too, are dictated by national interests rather than any principled commitment to the Syrian cause. The United States, though rhetorically committed to a political solution and counterterrorism, has largely adopted a policy of containment. Its limited troop presence in the northeast serves both to secure energy fields and to prevent ISIS resurgence, but Washington has shown little appetite for meaningful engagement or reconstruction.

These overlapping spheres of influence have turned Syria into a patchwork of control zones, each governed by its own set of rules, allegiances, and currencies. From Assad-held territories to Kurdish-controlled areas and Turkish-backed enclaves, the reality is that Syria today is no longer a unified political entity-- it is a carcass being picked apart by vultures of competing agendas. And in all this, the Syrian people remain voiceless. Over 13 million have been displaced. Hundreds of thousands remain detained or missing. The economy has collapsed, basic services are nonexistent, and a generation has grown up knowing nothing but war, siege, and exile. Refugees are being pushed to return to a country where torture, arrest, and forced conscription await. International aid is dwindling, while calls for accountability are buried under geopolitical fatigue. The tragedy is not only the physical devastation of Syria, but the moral erosion surrounding its cause. What was once seen as a legitimate struggle for freedom has been reduced in the global narrative to a "complex conflict". But complexity has become a euphemism for paralysis. And paralysis has given way to indifference.

The normalization of Assad's regime by several Arab states in recent years represents the most dangerous shift in this trajectory. Cloaked in the language of "Arab unity" and "stability", this rapprochement rewards a government responsible for mass atrocities. Worse, it signals to other autocrats that crimes against humanity can be washed away with time and diplomacy. Yet stability built on silencing victims and legitimizing criminals is fragile by definition. No durable peace can emerge from deals that exclude the very people whose suffering necessitated change in the first place. Syrians have paid a catastrophic price for a revolution that failed not because its ideals were wrong, but because the world chose interests over justice.

i ? ? i ? ? If Syria is to have a future beyond authoritarianism and foreign mandates, the international community must go beyond humanitarian gestures. It must re-center the voices of Syrians-- especially the displaced, the victims of violence, and civil society actors still working against the odds. It must support meaningful accountability, not just reconstruction that empowers perpetrators. Ending Syria's tragedy is not only about defeating ISIS or rebuilding destroyed cities. It is about restoring the agency of a people who dared to imagine a different future. That future cannot and must not be brokered without them. Until then, every "deal" struck over Syria without Syrians is not diplomacy-- it is betrayal.
Construction and manufacturing industry workers were among the top professions to file for ongoing unemployment benefits last month. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

More Oregonians are filing for longer periods of unemployment benefits this year compared to the last.

The state has seen a 17% increase in continued unemployment claims, data from the Oregon Employment Department shows, meaning more jobless Oregonians who have already filed for unemployment claims are still out of work a week later or beyond.

This year, the weekly average for continued unemployment claims is 33,400, compared to last years weekly average of 28,500 Oregonians filing for longer benefits. The rise suggests its getting harder for Oregonians who lose their jobs to find their next one.

Thats helping push the states jobless rate higher. Oregons unemployment rate rose to 4.9% in June  still low by historic standards but higher than the nationwide rate of 4.1%.

The jobs slump is a change from recent years, when Oregon saw vigorous job growth and recovery from a spike in unemployment during the pandemic. The states workforce grew last year by more than 20,000, with the health care sector expanding alongside an aging population in Oregon.

But recent layoffs in July, while not reflected in unemployment data yet, could increase Oregons unemployment rate in the upcoming months. Intel laid off 2,400 Oregon employees this month.

Nike also laid off some of its Oregon tech employees this June and has hinted at more cuts, though the numbers remain unclear.

Obviously, the issue that Intels having and Nike has been having takes away some of the big employment generators in the region, Jerry Johnson, principal of Johnson Economics said. Beyond that, weve got a real shortage of industrial land supply and quality industrial land supply.

Johnson said that the shortage in land supply has led to some developers around the state having trouble finding sites to work at, which points to the construction and manufacturing industries struggle with job growth and unemployment rises.

This June, those two industries were among the largest in ongoing unemployment claims, according to Gail Krumenauer, an Oregon Employment Department economist. The construction industry lost 400 jobs last month, and the manufacturing industry lost 1,200.

A decline in homebuilding may also weigh on the construction industry. Permits for new homes across Oregon declined from around 1,800 building permits each month in 2022 to an average of 1,107 monthly permits this year as of May.

Unemployment claims bubble seasonally every summer. Krumenauer said thats in part due to school being out for the summer and some non-salaried staff, such as bus drivers or cafeteria workers, left without a job.

Some industries are growing.

Health care and social assistance jobs are on the rise in Oregon and across the nation, data shows. In Oregon, the industrys employment increased by 5.3% compared to last year. Nationally, that sector increased in employment by 3.7%.

Johnson said that hes expecting Oregons economy and job market to catch up to the national rate of expansion later in the year, particularly once the states largest companies complete their layoffs and begin to resolve the business problems that have hurt their sales.

I still think weve got some structural things to work through for the large employers, but were trying to stay somewhat optimistic that we can pull out of this thing, he said. But its been sluggish. The unemployment rate is still historically quite low. Its fighting up, but its fighting up from very low numbers.
A person fleeing from police in a stolen car hit two pedestrians in Old Town on Sunday afternoon, the Portland Police Bureau said.

Officers spotted a car that was reported stolen near Northwest 9th Avenue and West Burnside Street just after 1 p.m. on Sunday, the bureau said in a news release. When police tried to stop the car, they said, the driver fled north through the Pearl District and turned east on Northwest Glisan Street.

Officers did not chase the driver, the news release said, but later found the car at the intersection of Northwest 6th Avenue and Northwest Glisan Streets, where the driver had hit two pedestrians. The pedestrians were taken to the hospital with significant injuries, the news release said, and the driver was taken into police custody.

Officers have blocked Northwest 6th Avenue between Northwest Flanders Street and Northwest Hoyt Street while they investigate the crash. Northwest Glisan Street is also closed between Northwest 5th Avenue and Northwest Broadway.

TriMet cautioned riders on the FX2-Division and Max Green, Orange and Yellow lines that transit would be disrupted in the area. TriMet is offering shuttle buses between Portland State University and the Rose Quarter as an alternative.
- The text of the First Amendment is displayed on the walls of The Oregonian/OregonLive newsroom. Dave Killen/The Oregonian/OregonLive Dave Killen/The Oregonian/OregonLive

I was on a family vacation in Washington, D.C., last month, when The Oregonian/OregonLives publisher called to offer me the top editor job.

In fact, at that very moment, Id been leaning over the Declaration of Independence -- mere steps from the U.S. Constitution and its vital First Amendment.

The circumstances felt fitting, considering that media organizations nationwide face extremely tough times and an equally trying future.

Across Oregon, weve seen local news organizations shutter and recently reported how the Portland Tribune and EO Media Groups new owners laid off dozens of Oregon journalists. At the same time, the Trump administration has drastically cut funding to Voice of America and NPR.

News outlets big and small also must learn how to work with tech platforms that increasingly profit from our journalism, usually without paying for it.

Born and raised in Portland, I care deeply about this city, this state and The Oregonian/OregonLive and I take these challenges seriously. Our independent, rational and fact-based local reporting is needed more than ever, and we must strive for innovative ways to deliver this important journalism to readers.

Well attend the public meetings, fight for public records and lead with dogged reporting that keeps powerful institutions and their leaders honest. Well anticipate readers questions today, tomorrow and beyond, and provide answers where they look for news, whether thats in print, online, social media, podcasts, videos or newsletters. And well aim to delight readers with Oregon stories that only we can deliver, tales youll want to share with your partner, your friends, your kids and your neighbors. (Please do! And, encourage them to subscribe).

Our journalists are real people reporting real news about the place they also call home  a necessary and valuable service for our readers, our state and our democracy.

Heres a sampling of that journalism, all of which took first place in their categories in the recent Oregon Newspaper Publishers Associations Pacific Northwest News Contest:

An absolutely gutting expose of a young girl, Grace, who was taken advantage of by the foster care system, a contest judge wrote about the investigation. A true indictment of the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Indeed.

I was honored to receive that call from our publisher and look forward each day to working with some of Oregons finest journalists. Ive worked in many roles here over the past 32 years: reporter, columnist, editorial editor and, in 2018, managing editor for news. In that last position, I was lucky to work closely and learn from the master, Therese Bottomly, as she steered our newsroom through some of the more stressful periods weve faced.

In each of these roles, I enjoyed interacting with readers and forging relationships with various community groups and local business and civic leaders.

I hope to deepen that work and will be accessible and responsive to our readers  though it may be hard to beat Therese on that front!
A rancher in Wyoming has argued that elk hunters trespassed when they stepped over his property on their way to hunt public lands. Millions of public acres in the West are locked in by private parcels. Getty Images

The ultimate legality of corner-crossing may be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A Wyoming rancher has petitioned the court to review and reverse a recent decision by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that affirmed the right of people to cross over the air space of private property as they step from one piece of public land to another.

Known as corner-crossing, the practice refers to stepping from one corner of public land to another when the land is interspersed with private parcels in a checkerboard fashion. It gives people access to public land that is otherwise surrounded by private property.

In 2020 and 2021, four Missouri elk hunters traveled to Wyoming to hunt isolated public land surrounded by the private Iron Bar Ranch. In doing so, they ever-so-briefly crossed through the airspace of the private land when stepping from one public parcel to another.

The ranch owners and managers sought to have the men prosecuted for criminal trespass but the case was dismissed. The ranchers then pursued a civil case against the men, claiming they diminished the ranchs value by $9 million.

A district court rejected the case in 2023 and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision in March.

More than 8 million acres of state and federal public land in the West is surrounded by private parcels in a checkerboard fashion. The pattern is a legacy of the federal governments practice in the mid-1800s of granting large tracts of land to railroad companies to incentivize the construction of rail lines.

The case hinged on the federal Unlawful Inclosure Act of 1885. Owners of private property are allowed to control at least some of the airspace above their land. For example, the eaves of your neighbors home cant extend over your property.

But almost as soon as the grants of federal lands to railroad companies happened, the checkerboard pattern led to disputes between ranchers and homesteaders and precipitated range wars.

Congress sought to reduce the conflict with the Unlawful Inclosure Act that prohibits the inclosure and exclusive use of federal land without a claim or title and forbids the inclosure of public land.

In short, the two sections together provide that any inclosure of public land is prohibited, and no one may completely prevent or obstruct another from peacefully entering or freely passing over or through public lands, the appellate court ruled.

Earlier this month, Iron Bar Ranch owner Fred Eshelman asked the Supreme Court to consider the case, arguing that the decision by the 10th Circuit runs counter to Supreme Court precedent, wrongly allows federal law to trump state trespass law and grants an easement over millions of acres of private property.

In 1979, the Supreme Court overturned a ruling from the 10th Circuit involving public access to a reservoir. The government had constructed a road through private parcels owned by the Leo Sheep Company to access a public reservoir that was otherwise landlocked. The livestock company sued and the district court ruled in favor of Leo Sheep. The government appealed and the 10th Circuit found that Congress reserved an implicit easement over parcels it granted to the Union Pacific Railroad in 1862. The Supreme Court rejected that decision and said there is no implicit easement.

The Tenth Circuits transformation of an 1885 anti-fence statute into a broad preemption provision directly contravenes Leo Sheep (1979), flouts the presumption against preemption, and unveils that Congress 140 years ago unwittingly effected an uncompensated taking of unprecedented scale, wrote lawyers representing Iron Bar Ranch in their petition known as a writ of certiorari.

The Supreme Court may or may not choose to review the decision by the 10th Circuit. Hunting, fishing and conservation groups are closely monitoring the case.

This case represents a make-or-break moment for access to millions of acres of public lands across the West, Devin ODea, Western policy and conservation manager for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, said in a news release. But whats at stake isnt just access  its the very notion that public lands belong to the people.
At the center of the Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association main room in Old Town, a collection of objects was carefully arranged on the floor. Encircled by a rope laid down on ground, the clay items were accompanied by physical mementos, including picture frames, vases and cups, to inspire participants in the Saturday morning clay workshop.

Members of Portlands Chinese community were invited to sculpt clay objects that reflect connections to their ancestors or serve as offerings for an altar that will become part of a memorial in the historic Chinese section of Lone Fir Cemetery, known as Block 14.

Clay offerings  including dumplings, fruits and cups  are displayed inside the Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations main room during a community workshop to design a memorial at Lone Fir Cemetery. Chiara Profenna

Artists Qi You and Sophia Xiao-fan Austrins led the workshop and are developing a section of the memorial to incorporate these community-made contributions. The memorial is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The project is funded by a 2019 parks and nature bond, with more than $4 million dedicated to restoring and honoring the historical site.

We want to actually cast directly the objects into bronze that will show up on the altar, Xiao-fan Austrins said. Part of it was also to keep peoples fingerprints as part of the art. If you can touch them on the site, then its sort of like connecting people across time.

Saturday marked the third workshop of its kind. Previous events at Lone Fir Cemetery resulted in a collection of clay items that have already hardened. The creations included a variety of food offerings  oranges, bao buns and dumplings  as well as plates, cups, tokens with Chinese inscriptions and art materials.

Many food items were sculpted as offerings during previous clay workshops. Chiara Profenna

The idea for a memorial at the historic Chinese section of Lone Fir Cemetery has been around since the early 2000s, said Hannah Erickson, a communications specialist with Metro Parks and Nature. For the memorial project, we didnt get funding until the voters approved the 2019 parks and nature bond.

Block 14s history spans more than a century. From 1881 to 1948, it served as a cemetery specifically for Chinese immigrants. Beyond a burial site, the site was a vital cultural space for honoring ancestors through ritual, offerings and community connection.

Its not just a burial site, Xiao-fan Austrins said. Honoring our ancestors is such a huge part of our tradition, of our culture. To care for our ancestors, to bring them food, bring them nourishment, to receive their blessings, for us, its a part of the community.

In the 1950s, during a period when Chinese people faced widespread exclusion in the U.S., the county paved over many of the graves in the cemetery to make room for a parking lot and maintenance building.

Many of the graves were removed with a bulldozer, Xiao-fan Austrins said. It was pretty disrespectful.

For decades, the sites significance remained hidden  until protests and excavations in the early 2000s confirmed what the Chinese community long suspected. In June 2025, county commissioners unanimously issued a long-awaited apology, acknowledging the trauma and disrespect.

The current memorial project is focused on reclaiming and restoring the sites cultural and historical significance. During a December engagement session with Chinese community members, You and Xiao-fan Austrins heard a clear desire for four elements to guide the design of the memorial.

The first one was the return of ritual, a way to be present with our ancestors, Xiao-fan Austrins said. The second was a strong desire for sensory engagement and physical interaction. The third was a longing for familiarity rooted in culture, and the fourth was a desire for a site that can teach across cultures and generations.

Around 20 community members gathered in Old Town Portland to contribute sculpted offerings for a cultural heritage memorial at Lone Fir Cemetery. Chiara Profenna

Around 20 people participated in Saturdays workshop, shaping items such as spoons, apples, butterflies, bowls, paintbrushes and beaded bracelets. Christiana Hedlund and her daughter, Iris, collaborated on a clay dog and incense spiral.

Ive been in Portland now for over 10 years, but havent really connected with the Chinese community here, said Hedlund, whose family has a long history in Seattles Chinatown. So when I heard about this, it was like a nice way of being able to connect with the community. Hearing about what happened at Lone Fir is devastating to hear about. So making art as part of this bigger community piece is a really nice thing to do.

Marissa Leung-Shin Seiler, another participant, described the experience as a humbling and a meaningful opportunity to be in community, connect through shared history and honor ancestry.

I think for me, coming here today felt spontaneous, Leung-Shin Seiler said. Being here with everyone feels really sweet and nourishing. So I hadnt really thought about it in terms of longevity, but my heart feels encouraged.

Participant shape modeling clay into offerings during a workshop led by artists Qi You and Sophia Xiao-fan Austrins in Portlands Old Town. Chiara Profenna

Following the workshop, You and Xiao-fan Austrins will reconnect with the Chinese community members to choose which objects will be selected for the memorial and cast in bronze.

Our work invites the community to be part of that remembering, imagining and to shape the space for ongoing cultural practice and care, You said. Its a way for us to reach back to the traditions of the past, and at the same time, extend our hands forward to future visitors and future generations.

 Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiaraprofenna.

The Oregonian/OregonLive receives support from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to bring readers stories on religion, faith and cultural connections in Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive is solely responsible for all content.
Instead of using emergency funds to support ODOT until the next legislative session, Gov. Tina Kotek is forcing Oregonians to accept higher taxes or layoffs that will impact wildfire road repair and other critical needs, writes House Republican Leader Christine Drazan. AP

This is one of two op-eds published today on the upcoming special session. To read the other op-ed, authored by Joint Committee on Transportation Co-Chair Susan McLain, click here.

Christine Drazan

For The Oregonian/OregonLive

Drazan represents District 51-Canby and is the House Republican leader.

Oregonians have made one thing clear: They cannot afford higher costs. Yet, the governor has called for a special session to raise taxes to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation  despite the fact that taxes are not the only option.

There were alternatives to raising taxes during the regular session and there are alternatives today. Instead of accepting a solution that doesnt cost Oregonians more, the governor is willing to fire nearly 500 ODOT employees by the end of this summer.

House Republicans care about family budgets, jobs and safe roads. During the legislative session, we proposed legislation that would have saved jobs by trimming spending and redirecting funding  not by raising taxes.

The governor and her Democratic colleagues in Salem rejected our proposal and instead pushed for the highest tax increase in Oregons history. Not surprisingly, it failed in the final weeks of session.

Our leadership priorities havent shifted: keep our roads safe, save jobs, dont raise taxes.

To continue to fight for Oregonians, we have offered another alternative to the governor and her Democratic colleagues: use some of the hundreds of millions of dollars allocated to the Legislative Emergency Board to protect maintenance and preserve jobs that impact road safety. The money to do this is already sitting in an account under the authority of the Emergency Board.

The legislators on this committee could meet and take action tomorrowwithout the expense or uncertainty of a special sessionand they should. According to the Legislatures nonpartisan fiscal office, ODOT needs $5 million a month to avoid layoffs. House Republicans plan to allocate $35 million, plus additional maintenance costs as identified by the agency, would sustain ODOTs critical operations until the short legislative session next year. It would also protect the agency from paying additional expenses associated with layoffs, including paying out unused vacation time, severance pay and unemployment fees.

Instead, when we proposed this approach, the governor again rejected any plan to protect essential workers and keep roads safe that didnt raise taxes.

At the same time, the governor is actively making ODOTs budget crisis worse. She recently issued an executive order that will likely increase costs of major road projects by as much as 20% and is offering raises for public employees when the agency cant cover existing costs.

The governor isnt using reserves or managing cash flow to limit cuts. She isnt looking to refocus work back to essential services. Instead, she is risking family stability and safe roads by cutting boots on the ground instead of the administration.

Her stubborn rejection of compromise will either make Oregonians less safe in wildfire season and winter storms or make Oregon even less affordable as a state. Her willingness to cut maintenance workers is dangerous and wrong. Her push to raise costs at the pump is extreme and out of touch  Oregon already has one of the highest gas taxes in the country.

In fact, the governors proposed tax package appears to be bigger than the bipartisan transportation package that passed in 2017without any new roads or replaced bridges.

We havent seen any legislative language, but the overview shared with us included:

Increase gas taxes by $0.06;

Increase registration fees by $42;

Increase title fees by $139;

Double the states payroll tax;

Create a new $30 supplemental fee for electric vehicle and fuel-efficient vehicles;

Develop a new mandatory per/mile Road Usage Charge for EVs and hybrids.

The proposal also appears to give ODOT the power to adjust fuel tax rates  without legislative action  to balance the cost burden between trucks and passenger cars. Fairly sharing costs between these groups is not just important, its a constitutional requirement. As such, the power to change tax rates must be left to the Legislature, not unelected bureaucrats.

These are big changes and the tax package itself goes beyond stopgap funding for an agency shortfall. It is a progressive wish list of new taxes with no new roads. Her tax package takes from family savings accounts to create one for ODOT in a shockingly tone-deaf cash grab. She doesnt just hold onto maintenance jobs, she doubles bus and transit funding and continues to dump money into the status quo, no matter how badly ODOT performs.

The governor should reverse course and not call a special session which simply makes Oregon less affordable. Instead, she should use Emergency Board reserves to address the shortfall and then take the time to work across the aisle, listen to Oregonians and pursue a measured approach to the transportation needs of the state without implementing tax increases of this magnitude.

Oregonians deserve better. They are demanding to be heard. Its time for politicians to listen.
Oregons lone Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz spent little time discussing the potential impacts of the recent GOP tax and spending cut law to energy, the environment, Medicaid or to the lives of his eastern Oregon constituents at his first public appearance since the bill became law July 4.

Bentz, who represents Oregons 2nd Congressional District, was scheduled to speak on Friday about resilience and the environment at the 2025 Eastern Oregon Economic Summit at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino in Pendeleton. The nonprofit Eastern Oregon Womens Coalition hosts the event annually to promote the region and discuss regional issues.

Instead, Bentz spent much of his 17-minute speech discussing what he sees as the benefits of consolidated Republican power across Congress and the White House, and frustrations with being in the minority party in the Oregon Legislature and in Washington, D.C. before Republicans gained complete control in 2025.

We can talk all day long about how weve all got to get along, and how bipartisanship is great, and all of that. But when it comes down to it, its all about power, he said, and its about watching how that power is utilized, how its wielded, and then see if people who are in charge are big enough to take the blame.

Analysis of Medicaid cuts incorrect

Bentz did not talk about the environment at all. The GOPs One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes provisions that phase out tax credits for clean energy development on wind and solar projects, as well as credits for electric vehicles, and make it cheaper and easier to mine, log and drill for fossil fuels on federal lands.

Bentz briefly touched on the laws nearly $1 trillion in cuts to federal funding to the program over the next decade. The Oregon Health Authority warns it could leave up to 200,000 Oregonians without health insurance over that time.

I want to suggest that much of what has been said about the Medicaid portion of that bill is incorrect, he said. I do want to mention I want to see how this bill, this great, big, beautiful bill as its called, plays out.

Bentz represents more than 705,000 Oregonians  about 16% of the states population  who disproportionately rely on Medicaid for health insurance.

Bentz acknowledged that it will be a challenge to protect rural hospitals from Medicaid cuts, but he said he has been talking to Mehmet Oz, a former television personality who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania before Trump appointed him to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Oz told the Senate Finance Committee in March he would visit Malheur County within 60 days if allowed. Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the ranking Democrat on the committee, has urged him to visit, and a Wyden spokesman confirmed Friday that Oz has yet to accept his invitation.

More than half of Malheur Countys population is enrolled in Medicaid, the highest percentage of any county in Oregon. The county is entirely in Bentzs district, as are seven of the other nine Oregon counties with 40% or more of their populations enrolled in Medicaid, according to Oregon Health Authority data.

Hes (Oz) promised me that if we have issues with our rural hospitals, hell help out, Bentz said.

Power and the press

Bentz also used his time to discuss party dynamics and figures, share anecdotes about his visit to the Pendleton Roundup in 2023 and to criticize media.

Earlier this year, Bentz said he was able to get administration officials to override the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department to have a gray wolf killed in part of his district where he said it was preying on livestock, something that would not have happened before, he explained. Gray wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Bentz said Republicans who might cast a dissenting vote on a bill that Trump or the administration want passed are rare, and that Trump is persuasive and offers lawmakers deals to get votes.

What happens when we get down to it, which we have oftentimes since January, is that the people who decide they dont want to go along for the ride in our caucus will get a call from the White House, he said.

Bentz said he had become impatient with the press, as everyone does in this job, and characterized reporters as deliberately making villains out of him and other political figures.

Thats what, sadly, the press has to do, I think, because thats how they have to sell papers. Or theres not papers anymore, clicks or whatever, he said. I would just say that Im doing my very, very best to reach out to the press.

Local Democrats protest Bentz

Before Bentzs scheduled speech in the afternoon, about a dozen members of the Umatilla County Democrats protested the Congressman on a road outside of the Wildhorse Resort & Casino. Organizers said they only found out that Bentz would attend the event on Thursday, and quickly tried to gather people to protest.

Among them were two Pendleton nurses, Katrina Dielman and Janelle Miller, concerned with Bentzs vote to cut funding to Medicaid and the impact it could have on rural hospitals.

We see, we understand, the impact on the local hospitals thats coming down the pike, said Dielman, a nurse teacher at the Oregon Health & Science University campus in La Grande.

Last week, the two attended a town hall hosted by state Sen. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, along with other Umatilla Democrats. They said Nash took all of their questions, and while they didnt agree with his stance on many issues, they were heartened that he responded to their questions, and that he shared with them support for a pathway to citizenship for immigrants working in the U.S. without permanent legal status.

I thought: Theres our point of similarity. I dont know that I have anything like that with Bentz, Dielman said.

-- Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle

The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy.
By Amanda Hernandez, Stateline.org (TNS)

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.

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.

The proposed cuts have alarmed forensic experts and crime lab directors who say some labs rely heavily on these federal grants to keep up with mounting caseloads.

That would have dire consequences on a lot of crime laboratories who depend on those funds for maintaining operations, said Scott Hummel, the president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, a national nonprofit professional organization.

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 has also risen sharply.

Crime laboratory officers remove items as they search the home of Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann in Massapequa Park, New York, on July 18, 2023. Heuermann, a New York architect, was charged on July 14 in connection with the long-unsolved murders of three women whose bodies were found near a beach on Long Island more than a decade ago. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) TNS

As technology gets better, theres an expectation, I think, that labs can do more than they have the capacity for, Hummel said.

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.

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.

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.

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.

ALSO READ: Split Cumberland commissioners authorize county funds to finish gun crimes lab

Like Oregon, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is also 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.

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.

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.

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.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news organization focused on state policy.

2025 States Newsroom. Visit at stateline.org. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
An office of Pa. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly was vandalized with painted, obscene graffiti sometime overnight from Friday to Saturday, Kelly said in a social media post. Photos courtesy of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly's office. U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly's office

A district office of northwestern Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly was vandalized overnight with vulgar graffiti.

Based on photos posted online by Kellys office, vandals used red paint to scrawl ass kisser liar, child rape, as well as GOP = racism, rape, child rape, cover up on the glass front of Kellys month-old office in Hermitage, Mercer County.

Kellys a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, who is reportedly named in the Jeffrey Epstein files that Trump now claims is a hoax about sex parties involving girls and young women.

In a statement posted on X/Twitter and Facebook, Kelly said the incident is being investigated by local police and U.S. Capitol Police.

Our staff members are safe and were not in the office at the time of the crime, Kelly wrote. Lets be clear: political violence and vandalism are never acceptable.

Kellys 16th Congressional District covers Butler, Erie, Crawford, Lawrence and Mercer counties and parts of Venango County.

In July 2024, Kelly, a Butler County native, was with Trump during the attempted assassination at fairgrounds outside of Butler.

Pa. GOP U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, who represents the 16th Congressional District in northwestern Pa., had an office vandalized with vulgar language. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) AP

A spokesman for Kelly did not immediately respond to an email from PennLive on Saturday.

PennLive did not find any public comments about the vandalism from Republican House members or Gov. Josh Shapiro.

The vandalism comes a day after Kelly was reprimanded by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee for stock purchases his wife made in a Ohio-based steel company using non-public information, reported Politico.

Kellys wife was not fully cooperative with the committees investigation but the panel did not find evidence that (the lawmaker) knowingly or intentionally caused his spouse to trade based on insider information.

Politico reported that Kelly and his wife were urged to divest the familys holdings in the steel manufacturer.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Author: Cassandra Burke Robertson, Case Western Reserve University

(THE CONVERSATION) Something unusual is happening in U.S. immigration courts. Government lawyers are refusing to give their names during public hearings.

In June 2025, Immigration Judge ShaSha Xu in New York City reportedly told lawyers in her courtroom: Were not really doing names publicly. Only the government lawyers names were hidden  the immigrants attorneys had to give their names as usual. Xu cited privacy concerns, saying, Things lately have changed.

When one immigration lawyer objected that the court record would be incomplete without the government attorneys name, Xu reportedly refused to provide it. In another case, New York immigration Judge James McCarthy in July referred to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, attorney as merely Department throughout the hearing.

New York immigration Judge Shirley Lazare-Raphael told The Intercept that some ICE attorneys believe it is dangerous to state their names publicly. This follows a broader pattern of ICE agents wearing masks during arrests to hide their identities.

This secrecy violates a fundamental principle that has protected Americans for centuries: open courts. Heres how those courts operate and why the principle governing them matters.

Hiding of ICE attorneys names in court fits a broader pattern seen here outside a New York immigration courtroom of ICE agents wearing masks. AP Photo/Olga Fedorova

Presumption of openness

The U.S. legal system is built on openness, with multiple layers of legal protection that guarantee public access to court proceedings.

This tradition of open courts developed as a direct rejection of secret judicial proceedings that had been used to abuse power in England. The notorious Star Chamber operated in secret from the 15th to 17th centuries, initially trying people too powerful to be brought before ordinary common-law courts.

But the Star Chamber eventually became a tool of oppression, using torture to obtain confessions and punishing jurors who ruled against the Crown. Parliament abolished it in 1641 after widespread abuses.

By the time American colonial courts were established, the reaction against the Star Chamber had already shaped English legal thinking toward openness. American courts adopted this principle of transparency from the beginning, rejecting the secretive proceedings that had enabled abuse.

Today, the term star chamber refers to any secret court proceeding that seems grossly unfair or is used to persecute individuals.

In the U.S., courts have repeatedly emphasized that justice faces its gravest threat when courts dispense it secretly. The First Amendment gives the public a right to observe judicial proceedings. The Supreme Court has ruled that a presumption of openness inheres in the very nature of a criminal trial under our system of justice.

Every federal appeals court has recognized that this constitutional right extends to civil cases too, with some exceptions such as protecting the parties privacy, confidential business information, or trade secrets. Federal court rules require that trials be conducted in open court and that witness testimony be taken in open court unless otherwise provided.

Many state constitutions also guarantee open courts  such as Oregons mandate that no court shall be secret.

While theres no explicit law requiring attorneys to be publicly named, theres also no policy allowing their names to be kept secret. The presumption is always toward openness.

In response to these recent developments, law professor Elissa Steglich said that shed never heard of someone in open court not being identified, and that failing to identify an attorney could impair accountability if there are unethical or professional concerns.

Rules for anonymity

Courts sometimes allow anonymity, but only in specific circumstances.

Juries can be anonymous when theres substantial danger of harm or undue influence, as legal expert Michael Crowell writes  like in high-profile organized crime cases or when defendants have tried to intimidate witnesses before. Even then, the lawyers still know the jurors names.

Similarly, parties to a lawsuit can sometimes use pseudonyms like Jane Doe when the case involves highly sensitive matters such as sexual abuse, or when theres a real risk of physical retaliation.

But these rare exceptions require careful court review.

Whats happening with ICE attorneys is different. Theres no formal court ruling allowing it, no specific safety findings and no established legal process.

Immigration courts have fewer protections

Immigration courts operate differently from regular federal courts. They are so-called administrative courts that are part of the executive branch, not the judicial branch.

These courts decide claims involving an individuals right to stay in the U.S., either when the government seeks to remove someone from the country for violating immigration law or when an individual seeks to stay in the country through the asylum process.

Immigration judges lack the lifetime job protections that regular federal judges have. As executive branch government employees, they can be hired and fired, just like other Department of Justice employees.

People in immigration court also have fewer procedural protections than criminal defendants. They have no right to court-appointed counsel and must represent themselves unless they can afford to hire an attorney. The majority of immigrants appear without an attorney. Outcomes are better for those who can afford to hire counsel.

Immigration court records are also less accessible to the public than other federal court proceedings.

For years, the Board of Immigration Appeals, the nations highest immigration court, made less than 1% of its opinions publicly available. A federal court ruled that public disclosure was required; the Board of Immigration Appeals now posts its decisions online.

However, lower immigration court decisions are rarely made public.

Because immigration courts operate with less oversight than regular federal courts, public observation becomes more critical.

Open courts arent just about legal procedure  theyre about democracy itself. When the public can observe how justice is administered, it builds confidence that the system is fair.

Federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on July 21, 2025, in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Court watching protects transparency

Court watching has become an important way for citizens to ensure due process is honored, especially in immigration cases.

Observers can monitor whether proper legal procedures are being followed. They can watch for signs that attorneys are prepared, treating people respectfully and following court rules  regardless of whether those attorneys identify themselves.

Observers help track trends such as lack of legal representation, language barriers or procedural unfairness that can inform advocacy for reforms. This kind of public oversight is especially important in immigration court, where people often dont have lawyers and may not understand their rights.

When community members bear witness to these proceedings, it helps ensure the system operates fairly and transparently.

Professional ethics and accountability

As a law professor who runs a law schools Center for Professional Ethics, I can say that while theres no specific law forcing ICE attorneys to identify themselves, they are still bound by rules of professional conduct that require accountability and transparency.

State bar associations have clear standards about attorney conduct in court proceedings. The American Bar Associations Model Rules of Professional Conduct emphasize that lawyers are officers of the legal system with duties to uphold its integrity.

Immigration judges, despite being government employees rather than lifetime-tenured federal judges, are also bound by judicial conduct codes that require them to uphold public confidence in the justice system. When judges allow or encourage anonymity without formal procedures or safety findings, they risk violating these ethical obligations.

Bar associations can investigate professional conduct violations and impose sanctions ranging from reprimands to suspension or disbarment. While enforcement against federal government lawyers has historically been uncommon, sustained documentation by court observers can provide the evidence needed for formal complaints.

While government attorneys, judges and other court personnel may face real safety concerns, hiding their identities in open court is unprecedented and breaks with centuries of legal tradition that requires accountability and transparency in our justice system.

As pressure mounts to process immigration cases quickly, courts are ethically and legally bound to ensure that speed doesnt come at the expense of fundamental fairness and transparency.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/immigration-courts-hiding-the-names-of-ice-lawyers-goes-against-centuries-of-precedent-and-legal-ethics-requiring-transparency-in-courts-261452.
State Sen. Doug Mastriano, seen in a file photo from 2023, is weighing another try for the governor's office in 2026. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Sen. Doug Mastriano might run for governor. He also might not.

However, two things are certain for Mastriano  hes not going to stop teasing an entrance into the gubernatorial race on his social media accounts, and hes not going to listen to Republican magnates telling him not to run.
USOP Osaka Series Set for October 28 with 220 Million Guaranteed

PokerNews Staff Copy link

The U Series of Poker (USOP) is heading back to Japan, with Osaka confirmed as the first stop of the 2025 season.

Running from October 28 at the Dojima River Forum, the seven-day festival will feature over 50 events and a combined 220,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, cementing its status as one of the largest poker series in the region. It will also be supported by the USOP partner "Japan Gold Dragon".

Main Event Offers Huge Guarantee

At the heart of the schedule is the USOP Osaka Main Event. Tournament officials have told players to expect deep structures and extended late registration, with this event the pinnacle of the rest of the USOP Osaka festival.

There will be something for everyone, both casual players and high-volume grinders, once the full schedule is released.

Event Follows Record-Breaking 2024 Season

This marks another major milestone for USOP, which enjoyed a record-breaking 2024 season. Over $26.2 million USD in prize money was awarded across just four stops, drawing players from more than 70 countries and regions.

Organizers anticipate the Osaka stop to be one of the most diverse and competitive fields in the tours history.

Osaka also marks the kickoff of the 2026 USOP Player of the Year (POTY) race, with leaderboard points from this series counting toward the year-long contest. With the title decided at the end of 2026, players will have ample opportunity to showcase consistency and chase one of the most prestigious honors on the tour.

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"This Wasn't DEA Marijuana Regulation - It Was a DEA Illegal Ambush." ALL EYES ON TERRY COLE! MMJ BioPharma Cultivation CEO Duane Boise is calling out the DEA's desperate attempt to defend a marijuana Administrative Law Judge decision that never got a hearing, blocked marijuana scientific evidence, and defied Supreme Court precedent."They're defending a hearing that never actually happened," said Duane Boise."We followed every rule. They followed none." WASHINGTON, D.C. / ACCESS Newswire / July 27, 2025 / Friday, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) filed a last-minute response in an escalating legal battle with MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, a Rhode Island-based pharmaceutical company seeking to grow federally compliant cannabis for FDA-approved clinical trials targeting Huntington's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.The agency's filing comes in response to MMJ's official legal "exceptions" challenging a controversial ruling by DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge John Mulrooney II (aka Mclooney) - a ruling that denied MMJ's bulk manufacturing registration without a hearing, without cross-examination, and without admitting material evidence into the record."We were stonewalled at every step," said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ BioPharma. "The DEA ignored Supreme Court precedent, blocked our science, and manipulated the process to produce a predetermined outcome. Now they're trying to defend that decision in a system the Department of Justice itself has declared unconstitutional." Constitutional CrisisMMJ's case hasbecome a flashpointin the broader collapse of the DEA's internal court system. In Axon v. FTC (2023) and Jarkesy v. SEC (2024), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that agency administrative law judges (ALJs) violate the separation of powers because they are insulated from presidential removal - a direct hit to the DEA's current process.Even the Department of Justice has abandoned its defense of the ALJ structure, and Attorney General Pam Bondi notified the courts in February 2025 that DEA hearings like the one against MMJ BioPharma Cultivation are legally void.DEA's Desperate DefenseDespite this, the DEA has now used its one allotted legal filing to respond to MMJ's exceptions - an effort seen by legal experts as a last-ditch attempt to salvage a crumbling decision and maintain bureaucratic control over cannabis based drug development."This is the DEA doubling down on injustice," said Boise. "They're defending a hearing that never actually happened because they're afraid of what the truth will show." A Legitimate Researcher, BlockedMMJ BioPharma Cultivation is not a dispensary. It is a federally compliant manufacturer that has:FDA Orphan Drug DesignationTwo accepted Investigational New Drug (IND) applicationsA pharmaceutical grade cannabis facility built to DEA standardsBinding supply agreements with Schedule I licenseesYet after more than 2,400 days of delays, the DEA still refuses to approve its registration - while unlicensed tribal and cartel-linked marijuana networks operate with impunity across state lines, and recreational cannabis companies receive preferential treatment.Path Forward: Will Administrator Terrance Cole Act?All eyes now turn to Terrance Cole, President Trump's newly confirmed DEA Administrator, who holds the final authority to approve or deny MMJ's license."Administrator Cole has a choice," said Boise. "He can defend a broken system riddled with bias and constitutional violations-or he can restore integrity by granting our lawful, science backed registration and ending seven years of obstruction." MMJ BioPharma has vowed to take its case as far as necessary, including seeking federal injunctions and legislative reform if the DEA continues to block research.About MMJ BioPharma CultivationMMJ BioPharma is a federally compliant biopharmaceutical company focused on producing cannabis derived medicines for neurodegenerative diseases. It operates under FDA regulatory frameworks and maintains partnerships with international GMP manufacturers and licensed U.S. laboratories.MMJ is represented byattorney Megan Sheehan .CONTACT: Madison Hisey MHisey@ mmjih.com 203-231-8583SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings
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SHANGHAI, July 25, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - Everest Medicines (HKEX 1952.HK, Everest or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, clinical development, manufacturing, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics, today announced that it has entered into a placing and subscription agreement with the placing agents and its controlling shareholder, CBC Group (the Sellers), for a top-up placement of 22,561,000 shares to raise approximately HK$1,572.50 million, representing approximately 6.87% of the total number of Shares in issue as at the date of this announcement, and approximately 6.45% of the total number of Shares in issue.Everest Medicines, together with its controlling shareholder CBC Group and the placing agents, entered into a placing and subscription agreement for the sale of 22,561,000 shares at a purchase price of HK$69.70 per share, representing:- a discount of approximately 10.12% to the closing price of HK$77.55 per share on July 24, 2025.- a discount of approximately 4.98% to the average closing price of HK$73.35 per Share as quoted on the Stock Exchange for the five consecutive trading days immediately prior to and including the Last Trading Date.- a premium of 16.15% to the volume weighted average price of HK$60.01 per Share as quoted on the Stock Exchange for the thirty consecutive trading days immediately prior to the Last Trading Date and including the Last Trading Date.The gross proceeds from the Placing and Subscription are expected to be approximately HK$1,572.50 million, and the net proceeds (after deducting all related expenses, including commission and levies) will be approximately HK$1,553.39 million.Everest Medicines intends to use approximately 50% of the net proceeds (approximately HK$776.69 million) to support global research and development of pipeline products, approximately 40% (approximately HK$621.36 million) to commercialization efforts including the launch of new products, and 10% (approximately HK$155.34 million) to working capital and general corporate purposes.This placement was well-received by several leading international long-only funds and was significantly oversubscribed, reflecting strong capital market confidence in Everests commercial execution capabilities and innovative R&D strengths, said Rogers Yongqing Luo, Chief Executive Officer of Everest Medicines. It also underscores investors endorsement of our long-term strategic vision. We will use the proceeds to accelerate the development of innovative pipelines and our proprietary AI+mRNA platform, while advancing the commercialization of our existing portfolio. With a strengthened capital base, we are poised to drive both commercialization and innovation, delivering greater value to patients and shareholders. Everest has built an industry-leading, fully integrated, and localized AI+mRNA platform, enabling the development of multiple oncology and autoimmune disease programs, including EVM14, an off-the-shelf therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccine; EVM16, a personalized mRNA cancer vaccine; and an in vivo CAR-T program aimed at building a differentiated portfolio of precision immunotherapies.- The first patient has been dosed with Everests internally developed personalized mRNA cancer vaccine (PCV) EVM16 at Peking University Cancer Hospital in the investigator-initiated clinical trial (IIT). Early results showed strong immunogenicity and specific T-cell responses even at a low starting dose in advanced cancer patients.- The Investigational New Drug (IND) application for EVM14, a Tumor-Associated Antigen (TAA) vaccine, has been accepted by both the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it Everest's first mRNA cancer therapeutic vaccine to achieve dual IND submissions in both China and the United States. The first clinical batch of EVM14 was successfully released from Everests Jiashan manufacturing site on June 9, and is anticipated to be delivered to U.S. clinical centers by mid-August. This batch will support the clinical trials of EVM14 in both China and the United States (US).- Everests in vivo CAR-T program is founded upon its proprietary targeted LNP (tLNP) delivery system and has shown promising results in both humanized mouse models and non-human primates. It offers key advantages including off-the-shelf availability, lymphodepletion-free administration, and dose controllability.EVER001, a next-generation covalent reversible BTK inhibitor with global rights, is advancing through global multi-center clinical studies for glomerular diseases such as primary membranous nephropathy (pMN). Positive results from its Phase 1b/2a clinical trial demonstrated rapid onset, durable response, good tolerability, and oral convenience, offering strong potential to address unmet needs in renal disease treatment worldwide.NEFECON, the first and only etiological treatment for IgA nephropathy (IgAN) full approved in China, the U.S., and Europe, continues to gain strong commercial traction in China following its inclusion in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), benefiting over 20,000 patients to date. Everest is also accelerating the development of its proprietary diagnostic test for Gd-IgA1 to build an integrated disease management ecosystem encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care.The New Drug Application (NDA) for Etrasimod (VELSIPITY) has been accepted in Mainland China, with approval anticipated between late 2025 and early 2026. The NDA has also been accepted in South Korea. VELSIPITY has been commercially launched in Macao SAR, Singapore and Hong Kong SAR in 2024. As Everests third commercialized product, VELSIPITY has been officially approved by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration for adult patients with moderately to severely active UC. It is now available at medical institutions designated under the Connect Policy in the Greater Bay Area. In March 2025, Everest has launched the construction project at its Jiashan manufacturing site to support the local production for VELSIPITY.Everest Medicines is accelerating the strategic advancement of its core pipeline and AI+mRNA technology platforms to further solidify its position as a leading innovative biopharmaceutical company in Asia.Read more: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/101323/
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 27, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of Encompass Health Corporation ("Encompass Health Corporation") (NYSE:EHC) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.On July 15, 2025, the New York Times published an article, entitled "Even Grave Errors at Rehab Hospitals Go Unpenalized and Undisclosed," discussing the state of the private rehabilitation hospital industry. In the article, the Times specifically identified Encompass as one of the for-profit rehab corporations that "have had rare but serious incident of patient harm and perform below average on two key safety measure tracked by Medicare." The article went on to note specific examples highlighting significant patient safety concerns, medication errors, and an overall lack of oversight at Encompass' hospitals. Following this news, Encompass' stock price fell by $12.39 per share to close at $ 107.28 per share. 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
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 26, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., July 26, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of shares of the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund f/k/a Principal Street High Income Municipal Fund (the "Fund") (tickers:RMJAX, RMHVX, RMHIX), between May 5, 2023 and June 12, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The Fund is a mutual fund within defendant James Alpha Funds Trust's series of mutual funds (which does business as Easterly Funds Trust). 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 22, 2025.SO WHAT: If you purchased Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund mutual funds during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=42371 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 22, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Fund had marked tens of millions of dollars' worth of its portfolio assets at artificially inflated prices that did not reasonably reflect the fair value of those assets; (2) the Fund had implemented a fundamentally flawed pricing and valuation methodology which had systematically inflated the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") and individual asset valuations; (3) the Fund was more heavily invested in illiquid assets than disclosed in its offering materials; (4) the Fund's assets were more closely correlated and less diversified than disclosed in its offering materials; (5) as a result, the Fund's stated NAV, NAV per share, individual asset valuations, and historical performance were materially overstated; and (6) consequently, the Fund was subject to a material undisclosed risk of a sudden collapse in the price of Fund shares.To join the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=42371 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / July 27, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., July 27, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the "Western Asset US Core Bond Fund" mutual fund classes - Class I (ticker: "WATFX"), Class A (ticker: "WABAX"), Class C (ticker: "WABCX"), Class FI (ticker: "WAPIX"), Class IS (ticker: "WACSX"), and Class R (ticker: "WABRX") - and the "Western Asset Core Plus Bond Fund" mutual fund classes - Class A (ticker: "WAPAX"), Class C (ticker: "WAPCX"), Class C1 (ticker: "LWCPX"), Class FI (ticker: "WACIX"), Class R (ticker: "WAPRX"), Class I (ticker: "WACPX"), Class IS (ticker: "WAPSX") between January 1, 2021 and October 31, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important September 5, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased WAMCO mutual funds during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the WAMCO class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31956 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 5, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. 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, throughout the Class Period, defendants failed to warn investors that: (1) defendants favored certain WAMCO strategies, like Macro Opps, over other WAMCO strategies, like Core and Core Plus; (2) defendants disfavored certain WAMCO strategies, like Core and Core Plus; (3) any "compliance policies and procedures" that WAMCO maintained "to result in fair allocations of investment opportunities to clients" were either insufficient to ensure that Leech and his WAMCO Team fairly allocated trades among the strategies they managed or were expressly disregarded by defendants in order to allow the favoring of certain WAMCO strategies at the expense of other WAMCO strategies; (3) any "oversight mechanisms" that WAMCO maintained were either insufficient to monitor Leech and his WAMCO Team or were expressly disregarded by defendants in order to allow the favoring of certain WAMCO strategies at the expense of other WAMCO strategies. As a result, defendants' actions operated as a fraud or deceit on the Class, artificially reducing the price of the "Western Asset US Core strategy" mutual fund classes during the Class Period, damaging Class members.To join the WAMCO class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=31956 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for more information.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
Toks Aruoture, founder and senior interior designer at The Baby Cot Shop, has built a luxury brand rooted in creativity, resilience, and purpose. From career setbacks to international recognition, she has remained committed to designing not just beautiful spaces, but a new kind of leadership led by authenticity and impact.

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Aruoture reflects on her journey from rejection to reinvention, how women can lead without losing themselves, and why true power lies in owning your story.

PT: Can you tell us about your professional journey and how you became a CEO?

Mrs Aruoture: My journey to becoming a CEO wasnt linear; it started out by accident, and I became intentional along the way. My path, like most, has been shaped by real-life experiences, setbacks, and the determination to keep moving forward.

I actually started out in the pharmaceutical industry as a medical representative. After having my third child, I requested flexible working hours, which were denied. That was a turning point. Around that time, I came across the idea that your gift is something you do so naturally, you dont realise how valuable it is. For me, that was interior design. I had always created beautiful spaces at home, and friends would comment on it, but I never saw it as anything special. That small moment of clarity changed everything; I enrolled in a design course, and soon after, I started my first business designing residential interiors.

A few years later, we relocated from the United Kingdom to the United States, where I acquired a baby furniture boutique. That was my introduction to luxury childrens interiors, and I fell in love with the world of luxury furniture and craftsmanship. I merged my design skills with a carefully curated selection of high-end furniture, creating magical spaces for little ones. Business was thriving until the 2008 recession. We lost everything.

We returned to the UK with nothing, and I was pregnant with my fourth child. Starting over wasnt a choice; it was the only option. While exploring the market here, I realised that the kind of bespoke, luxury nursery furniture Id worked with in the States didnt exist in the UK. That gap became my opportunity. I launched an online store after teaching myself how to build the website because I couldnt afford a developer at the time.

As the business grew, I faced more challenges. One of the biggest was the loss of several suppliers overnight, all due to a competitors backdoor tactics. It was a painful moment, but it forced me to make a bold decision: to create my own furniture line so Id never again be dependent on others to sell. Thats how The Baby Cot Shop Collection was born. It took six years of research and development, but we launched in 2021, and it has since become the heart of our brand.

We opened our first physical location on the Kings Road in Chelsea in 2017, and in April 2025, well be expanding into Harrods, following their invitation to open a concession- a milestone Im incredibly proud of. I also went on to found The Revealry, a bespoke furniture company for luxury homes, born out of my passion for craftsmanship and refined design.

Today, I run multiple businesses, speak on entrepreneurship and resilience, and host a podcast. In 2024, I gave my first TED talk, The Superpower of Authentic Storytelling, where I shared more of this journey, not just to inspire, but to let others know that its okay, and even incredibly powerful to tell the story youre ashamed of. Telling my story continues to open doors for me.

If theres one thing Ive learnt, its that success isnt just about strategy or timing, its about resilience, clarity, and refusing to be defined by the low points.

PT: In your opinion, how do women leaders inspire and empower others around them, especially other women?

Mrs Aruoture: Women leaders inspire and empower others not just by what they achieve but by how they lead. They do that by showing whats possible through the way they live, lead, and speak. Having a title or a successful business is admirable, but being able to lead with empathy, strength, and authenticity is even more valuable.

When a woman owns her story, especially the parts she once wanted to hide, it gives others permission to do the same. We all face obstacles, and those challenges shape us. Knowing that setbacks are a normal part of the journey helps others to stop fearing theirs and start seeing them as part of the process.

Ive found that the most powerful leadership doesnt come from perfection; it comes from being real. That combination of vulnerability and vision can unlock something in another woman whos been playing small or questioning her ability.

Women leaders also empower by creating space, whether thats through mentorship, conversations, or simply being generous with what theyve learned. I believe our role isnt to climb to the top and stay there, but to reach back and say, Heres how I did it, and you can too. That ripple effect is how movements start.

PT: What do you think is unique about women in leadership roles compared to men?

Mrs Aruoture: Its the way we lead from multiple layers: head, heart, and instinct. Many of us have spent years juggling different roles- professional, career, partner, friend- and that perspective naturally shows up in how we make decisions and build teams.

Theres a high level of emotional intelligence that women bring into the room. We tend to be attuned not just to the outcome but to the people involved. That ability to see beyond the numbers, to consider how decisions affect culture, wellbeing, and connection, is a powerful leadership trait that cant be easily taught.

Women also lead with a long view. Were not just thinking about quick wins; we think legacy, Impact, whats being built, and who were building it for. We have a different approach, one that adds depth and richness to leadership spaces that for too long were one-dimensional.

PT: What challenges did you face as a woman in your industry, and how did you overcome them?

Mrs Aruoture: Ill be honest, I havent always been conscious of the challenges specific to being a woman in business. I grew up as the only girl sandwiched between boys and was fortunate to have parents who never treated me any differently because of my gender. So, I didnt enter the business world with the idea that Id have to fight harder because Im a woman.

That said, running a furniture business has shown me that bias still exists. Id often receive emails addressed to Mr Aruoture, because theres still an assumption that a person leading a business in this space must be a man.

But Ive chosen not to give energy to those assumptions. I treat people as people. And if Im being treated differently because of my gender, I put that in the same category as being treated rudely, and I dont do business with rude people.

When it comes down to it, people are far more interested in the quality of what you offer than in whos selling it. I believe that while bias exists, and can be deeply limiting for many, one way Ive chosen to respond to it is by focusing on creating something incomparable. When your product or service is so distinct, so thoughtful, and so difficult to replicate, people dont have a choice but to do business with you.

Thats where I place my energy, and so far, its never failed me.

PT: Can you share one of the most rewarding moments in your career that solidified your passion for leadership?

Mrs Aruoture: One of the most rewarding moments in my career came disguised as a major setback. I remember receiving a string of emails in one evening from multiple suppliers, all informing me they would no longer work with me. No warning, no explanation. One of them accidentally looped me into an email chain, where I discovered that a competitor had asked them to drop me, promising to do better in sales. It was a gut punch.

That evening, I went for a run- so my kids wouldnt see me cry. I cried out to God for an answer, and it came; I was to create my own line of furniture and accessories, and no one would be able to call the shots. That decision changed everything. It marked the start of The Baby Cot Shop Collection, which took six years to bring to life. And it taught me that true leadership is sometimes quiet; it happens when no ones clapping, you dont feel like a leader or success, and the only sign of progress is an increase in your ability to navigate challenges.

PT: What advice would you give to young Nigerian women aspiring to become leaders in their fields?

Mrs Aruoture: Practice being yourself. Theres a misleading narrative that competition is too fierce, especially in Nigeria, and our population is often used as proof. But the truth is, no one can compete with you. Theres only one version of you, and that makes your gift one of a kind.

Thats why self-awareness is so important. Know who you are. Honour your personality, your values, your voice, and lead from that place. When you hone your gift and truly excel in your craft, youll naturally stand out. And people follow authenticity.

Dont get caught up in trying to blend in or become who you think the world wants. Theres a space with your name on it, and your job is to grow into it fully.

PT: How do you balance the demands of being a CEO with other aspects of your personal life?

Mrs Aruoture: I seem to be a permanent student in this classroom, as Im constantly having to learn new ways to find balance.

Balance starts with defining what that actually means for you. Work-life balance gets thrown around a lot, but its not one-size-fits-all. I had to examine my own beliefs around it and create a version that fits both my values and my reality as a mother, a businesswoman, and someone who wears many hats.

Being a mum and a wife means theres always something or someone needing your attention. Thats why Ive had to learn to put myself at the top of the list. I recognise this is not a popular view, especially for women, but its necessary. When I prioritise my own wellbeing, Im far better equipped to pour into my family, my team, and my work. You cant pour from an empty cup.

I also build buffers into my day. As women, we often cram our schedules because weve mastered the art of multitasking, but just because we can doesnt mean we should. Those moments of breathing space help me step back, notice patterns, and respond more thoughtfully instead of just reacting.

Ive learnt to schedule rest, proper rest, not just collapsing at the end of the day. I put it in my calendar. If its not scheduled, it doesnt happen. I take solo breaks.

And Ive had to stop entertaining guilt. Mum guilt, business guilt, all of it. Its draining and not productive.

I am currently learning to draw boundaries around my mind so that yesterdays emotions dont take over today.

PT: This years theme for International Womens Day is Accelerate Action. What does this theme mean to you and how does it reflect your leadership approach?

Mrs Aruoture: To me, Accelerate Action means looking beyond the surface-level steps and addressing the quiet things that hold us back; the little foxes. Most of us know what to do. We have the ideas, the resources, even the plan. But its not always a lack of information that stops us; its the silent things that slow us down: fear, comparison, self-doubt, the need for validation. You cant run while your feet are fettered with negative thoughts.

One of the most powerful lessons Ive learnt in leadership is that some actions, especially those driven by fear or insecurity, can feel like progress but actually limit you.

Accelerating action, for me, looks like stripping away distractions and choosing to move forward based on clarity, not comparison. It means we make decisions from a place of vision, not fear, or comparison or ego.

This interview was conducted in partnership with Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a Nigerian non-profit organisation committed to advancing and empowering women in leadership. Mrs Aruoture is also a member of WIMBIZ.
The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, has again been thrown into mourning following the gruesome murder of a female student, Joy Adeyemi, of the Department of Human Kinetics.

She was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, whose identity has yet to be revealed.

The incident occurred a few weeks after two undergraduate students of the university, Andrel Okah and John Abbah, were abducted and murdered by hoodlums allegedly led by a popular Akungba landlord, Femi Oladele. Mr Oladele later controversially died in police custody.

The lifeless body of Ms Okah has since been recovered, but the police say they are still searching for the body of Mr Abba.

New incident

Ms Adeyemis decaying body was discovered after a pungent odor aroused the concerns of neighbours in the residential area.

Her boyfriend allegedly killed her and locked her inside his room since Tuesday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident.

He said the victims body has been deposited at the morgue.

He said the police have made some arrests in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, three suspects have been arrested in connection with the said murder and efforts are on to arrest the fleeing suspect.

The Ondo state Police Command urged all law-abiding citizens of the state, especially the student community, to remain calm and cooperate with us as we ensure that justice is served, Mr Ayanlade wrote in a statement.

The students of AAUA are not taking the development lightly, as they conducted a peaceful protest on Saturday to denounce the killing.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as, At Akungba Akoko, say no to students killing, and Stop killing us, AAUA students. They also chanted various solidarity songs

The President of the AAUA Student Union Government, Salami Akeem, in a statement, lamented the killing of students of the institution allegedly by persons known to be indigenes of the Akungba community.

READ ALSO: Students panic as hostel collapses near Ebonyi university

He said the institution had yet to recover from the shocks of the killing of the two students when the killing of Ms Adeyemi occurred.

Mr Akeem said the union would commence a major protest if the killer of Ms Adeyemi was not found.

The Joint Campus Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also condemned the dastardly act and called on the security agencies to bring the perpetrator to book.
Olukemi Olomola-Sijuwade, managing director and chief executive officer of Greenland Concepts Nigeria Ltd, has built a career rooted in service, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade shares her journey from estate intern to CEO, the unique challenges women face in male-dominated industries, and how she is using her platform to empower others and accelerate meaningful change.

PT: Can you tell us about your professional journey and how you became a CEO?

Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade: My professional journey has been shaped by vision, resilience, and an intentional drive for growth. Having studied Estate Management, I began in 1995 as an estate intern with Jide Taiwo & Co. in Abuja  a formative experience that introduced me to the world of real estate and its immense potential for societal transformation. That early exposure ignited a deep passion for development and laid the foundation for what would later become Greenland Concepts Nigeria Ltd., which I proudly founded in 2000.

At that time, my ambition was clear: to build an indigenous real estate development company that not only delivered housing, but also addressed broader issues of access, equity, and inclusion  particularly for women, youth, and underserved communities.

Recognising the need to continually grow and expand my capacity, I pursued a Law degree and was subsequently called to the Nigerian Bar. This legal grounding added another layer to my leadership toolkit, equipping me to expertly navigate property law, contracts, and regulatory frameworks in a way that strengthened both my company and the clients we serve.

To further sharpen my business and leadership acumen, I earned an MBA from Lagos Business School  a transformational experience that reshaped my approach to growth, governance, and innovation. Ive also made it a personal priority to embrace continuous learning, seizing every opportunity for executive education, training, and global exposure. I believe strongly that great leadership is rooted in lifelong learning.

Over the years, Ive worked across both the private and public sectors, gaining critical insights into governance, policy development, and strategic partnerships. These diverse experiences helped me mature as a leader and strengthened my ability to bridge the gap between vision and execution.

Becoming a CEO wasnt about chasing a title  it was the natural outcome of years of building, learning, leading, and taking bold, purpose-driven steps. Its a role I grew into by staying curious, embracing challenges, surrounding myself with capable people, and staying anchored in service. Im still evolving, but my core remains the same: to use leadership as a platform to create opportunities, transform communities, and leave a lasting legacy.

PT: In your opinion, how do women leaders inspire and empower others around them, especially other women?

Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade: Women leaders inspire and empower others not just by what they do, but by how they lead. We bring authenticity, empathy, and strength to the table  often balancing ambition with compassion in a way that resonates deeply with those around us. For many women, seeing another woman lead with confidence and integrity creates a powerful ripple effect: it gives them permission to rise.

I believe women leaders empower others in three fundamental ways:

By being visible and vocal. When women occupy leadership roles, it challenges outdated stereotypes and shifts societal expectations. We show other women  especially the younger generation  that it is possible to lead, to excel, and to do so on your own terms.

By creating space and lifting others. True leadership is about opening doors for others. Women leaders tend to build communities, mentor intentionally, and create platforms for other women to grow. We understand the value of collective progress and the importance of bringing others along.

By leading with emotional intelligence. Women often bring a high level of empathy, communication, and emotional awareness into leadership spaces. This helps cultivate inclusive, collaborative environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued  which is key to empowerment.

Personally, Im intentional about mentoring younger women, sharing my experiences  both the wins and the lessons  and advocating for policies and structures that enable women to thrive. Empowerment is not just about inspiration; its about access, opportunity, and support.

When women lead with purpose, courage, and community in mind, we dont just lead  we transform.

PT: What do you think is unique about women in leadership roles compared to men?

Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade: While great leadership is not exclusive to any gender, women often bring a unique blend of emotional intelligence, resilience, and collaborative strength to leadership roles. One of the most distinctive traits Ive observed in women leaders is the ability to lead with both heart and strategy  balancing empathy with effectiveness.

Women tend to be deeply attuned to the dynamics of their teams, often excelling at inclusive decision-making, active listening, and conflict resolution. This emotional intelligence fosters trust, boosts morale, and creates workplaces where people feel genuinely valued.

Another unique trait is adaptive resilience. Many women have had to navigate layers of expectations, bias, and structural barriers just to get a seat at the table. That lived experience often makes us more resourceful, intuitive, and solution-oriented in complex situations.

Women also tend to lead with a strong sense of purpose  not just chasing metrics but striving for impact. Whether its championing diversity, mentoring others, or leading with social responsibility in mind, women leaders often expand the definition of success beyond personal gain.

That said, I believe the real power lies in complementarity. Men and women bring different but equally valuable strengths to leadership. The most successful organisations are those that embrace this diversity, because inclusive leadership is not just good ethics  its smart business.

PT: What challenges did you face as a woman in your industry, and how did you overcome them?

Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade: As a woman operating at the intersection of real estate and law  two traditionally male-dominated industries  Ive faced my fair share of challenges. Early on, there was the subtle but persistent pressure to prove myself  to be twice as competent, twice as prepared, and often twice as patient to earn the same level of respect.

One of the biggest hurdles was being underestimated. In boardrooms or project sites, people would often assume I was the assistant or support staff rather than the founder or lead consultant. Rather than take offence, I chose to let my work speak  and consistently demonstrated excellence, professionalism, and results.

Access to funding and high-level networks has been one of the most persistent challenges in my journey. Many of the systems and structures that facilitate capital and opportunity were not originally designed with women  especially African women  in mind. Informal gatekeeping, lack of visibility, and systemic bias often exclude women from the rooms where critical decisions and deals are made.

While Ive worked hard to overcome this  by building credibility, staying visible, and creating my own networks  I must be honest: its still an ongoing struggle. Ive had to learn to advocate for myself, position my value clearly, and find alternative pathways to capital and influence. Sometimes that means forming strategic partnerships; other times, it means simply staying on the course and allowing consistency to speak louder than connections.

But I also believe that our collective power lies in building ecosystems that support one another. This is why Im passionate about mentoring women, investing in women-led initiatives, and using my platform to help others navigate these same barriers.

The struggle is real  but so is the progress. And every step forward we take as women in leadership makes the path a little clearer for those coming behind us.

Balancing leadership with family responsibilities has also been real  particularly in a society where women are often expected to do it all. Ive had to learn to set boundaries, prioritise, and embrace support systems  both at home and in the workplace  so that I could thrive in both spheres without burning out.

But perhaps the most powerful tool Ive used to overcome these challenges is community. Ive leaned on mentors, built alliances with other women, and remained committed to mentoring others coming behind me. I believe in turning obstacles into steppingstones  not just for myself, but for the many women who will walk similar paths.

PT: Can you share one of the most rewarding moments in your career that solidified your passion for leadership?

Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade: For me, the most rewarding moments havent come from the big milestones or accolades  theyve come from watching the people Ive trained grow, evolve, and excel. Nothing gives me more fulfilment than seeing my staff or subordinates take initiative, speak with confidence, and handle complex issues with maturity and sound judgment.

Sometimes I just sit back and listen  whether in a meeting or during a project review  and I hear their thought process, their professionalism, and their ability to carry the vision forward. In those moments, I knew the investment was worth it. Thats when Im reminded that true leadership is not about control  its about cultivation.

To me, legacy isnt what I achieve alone  its what I help others become. And every time someone Ive mentored steps into their own power, thats leadership in action. Thats the reward.

PT: What advice would you give to young Nigerian women aspiring to become leaders in their fields?

Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade: First, understand this: leadership is service. Its not about titles or recognition  its about responsibility, humility, and impact. If you truly want to lead, be prepared to pay the price by serving  consistently, excellently, and often without applause.

Start small. Serve where you are. Take on the tough tasks, show up with integrity, and treat every opportunity as preparation. Many of the most valuable lessons Ive learned came from seasons of quiet service  when no one was watching, but I was being built.

Also, invest in yourself. Learn relentlessly. Grow your skills. Develop your confidence. And surround yourself with people who stretch your thinking and support your journey.

Dont be discouraged by slow progress or setbacks  they are part of your becoming. And when success comes, use it not to elevate yourself alone, but to lift others. True leadership is legacy minded.

To every young Nigerian woman reading this: You are powerful. You are needed. And the world is waiting for your voice, your solutions, and your leadership.

PT: How do you balance the demands of being a CEO with other aspects of your personal life?

Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade: Balance is not about perfection  its about intentionality, priorities, and grace. As a CEO, my days are often packed with decisions, meetings, and responsibilities that can easily consume every hour. But Ive learned that if you dont create space for what matters, leadership will cost you more than it should.

For me, balance starts with clarity  knowing whats important in each season. There are times when the business needs more of me, and other times when family, faith, or personal well-being takes centre stage. Ive had to embrace the truth that you can do many things, just not all at once.

I also rely heavily on structure and support  a trusted team at work, boundaries around my time, and the ability to delegate. Im not afraid to say no when needed, or to unplug and rest. Self-care isnt selfish  its what sustains you for the long journey.

READ ALSO: Nigerian women in politics highlight daunting challenges in new documentary

Most importantly, I ground myself in purpose. Knowing why I do what I do keeps me aligned, even when the pace is fast. Leadership is a calling, but so is motherhood, wellness, friendship, and faith. I honour each role, not by dividing myself, but by being fully present where I am.

Its not always easy, but Im learning that balance is a rhythm  not a rigid formula. And with grace, support, and a clear sense of purpose, its possible to thrive both professionally and personally.

PT: This years theme for International Womens Day is Accelerate Action. What does this theme mean to you, and how does it reflect your leadership approach?

Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade: The theme Accelerate Action speaks directly to the urgent need for speed, intention, and execution. For decades, weve had powerful conversations about gender equality, inclusion, and womens leadership. Weve written policies, hosted conferences, and raised awareness  but now, its time to move beyond rhetoric and focus on implementation.

To me, Accelerate Action is a call to stop waiting for the perfect moment or system. Its about acting now  pushing past the delays, breaking down systemic barriers, and holding institutions accountable for real change. Its about moving from talk to traction.

As a leader, it challenges me to ensure that the platforms Ive built  in business, real estate, and law  are used to create tangible opportunities for women: to hire, mentor, empower, and advocate in ways that produce measurable impact.

Its also a personal reminder that progress cannot wait. We owe it to the next generation of women to act faster, build stronger, and lead with boldness. Im committed to doing my part  not just in words, but in results.

This interview was conducted in partnership with Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a Nigerian non-profit organisation committed to advancing and empowering women in leadership. Mrs Olomola-Sijuwade is also a member of WIMBIZ.
At least 25 people, including 10 members of a family, have been confirmed dead in a boat mishap in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The tragic incident occurred around 2 p.m. on Saturday when a boat carrying passengers from Guni in the Munya Local Government Area to a weekly market capsized after hitting a submerged tree log on the river.

The Sarkin Ruwa of Zumba, Umar Isah, who confirmed the development, said the victims were mostly traders heading to the popular market in Zumba.

He said a family lost 10 members to the accident, while another family reported five of its members missing.

Although the boat operator could not state the exact number of passengers, we estimate that about 25 people lost their lives in the mishap. Many others are still missing and unaccounted for, Mr Isah said.

According to him, the overcrowded wooden boat capsized midstream after it struck a tree trunk beneath the waters surface.

The absence of life jackets and the lack of regulation for inland water transport have been blamed for the frequent loss of lives in the area.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) confirmed the incident.

The agencys Director of Information and Special Duties, Ibrahim Hussaini, said rescue operations were ongoing.

We are in touch with local authorities and emergency volunteers who are involved in the rescue and recovery efforts. At the moment, the casualty figure stands at 25, but the number may increase as search operations continue, Mr Hussaini said.

Recurring Water Transport Disasters in Niger

This latest tragedy adds to the long list of deadly boat accidents recorded in Niger State in recent years.

In May 2021, over 70 passengers, mostly women and children, died in Warrah when an overloaded boat capsized in the River Niger.

In December 2022, another incident claimed more than 100 lives in the Mokwa area, when a boat ferrying wedding guests broke apart mid-journey.

These recurring accidents have been linked to poor enforcement of safety regulations, the absence of proper river transport infrastructure, and disregard for weather conditions and passenger limits.

READ ALSO: Many feared dead as boat capsizes in Niger

Residents and local leaders have repeatedly called on the government to intervene by providing safer boats, enforcing the use of life jackets, and establishing clear water transport guidelines to prevent future tragedies.

As of Saturday evening, local divers and volunteers were still searching for more bodies, while bereaved families mourned their losses.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Super Falcons of Nigeria on their victory at the 2024 Womens Africa Cup of Nations, securing their record 10th continental title.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that the Super Falcons defeated the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco 3-2 in the final match played on Sunday.

President Tinubu was quoted by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, as saying, The Super Falcons spectacular performance tonight in Rabat, coming from behind to beat a spirited Moroccan side playing in front of a passionate home crowd, exemplifies the determination that defines the Nigerian spirit.

With hard work, dedication, and tenacity, you have achieved the mission the nation dreamed of and prayed for. The nation looks forward to welcoming our champions. Congratulations! Nigeria celebrates you.

Bayo Onanuga

Special Adviser to the President,

Information and Strategy

July 26, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the passing of Leon Usigbe, a journalist with The Tribune Newspapers and a member of the State House Press Corps.

Mr Usigbe, a doctorate degree holder, died on Friday in an Abuja hospital.

In a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday, President Tinubu described Mr Usigbe as a veteran State House correspondent and professional whose dedication to truth, balance, and ethical journalism earned him the respect of colleagues, public officials, and readers nationwide.

The president noted that Mr Usigbes insightful reporting and calm demeanour contributed immensely to strengthening democratic governance and keeping the public well-informed about the workings of the presidency and government at large.

The president remarked: I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues at The Tribune, and the entire State House Press Corps. May Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn this great loss.

He was an outstanding journalist  Information minister

Also, in a statement on Saturday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, expressed shock and sadness over Mr Usigbes death.

Mr Idris described the deceased as an outstanding journalist, a highly cerebral professional, and a shining light within the Nigerian media landscape.

It is with profound shock and deep sadness that I received the heartbreaking news of the sudden demise of Dr. Leon Habby Usigbe, the Abuja Bureau Chief of Tribune Newspaper.

Dr. Usigbe was an outstanding journalist, a highly cerebral professional, and a shining light within the Nigerian media landscape. His work was defined by integrity, depth, and an unflinching determination to the public good. As a pen-wielding advocate for democracy and national development, he brought intellectual rigour, insight, and balance to his reporting. In him, the Fourth Estate had a true patriot who used his craft to foster accountability and nation-building, he said.

The minister recalled the late journalists eloquent and thought-provoking contributions during the regular Ministerial Press Briefing Sessions convened by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja, as well as at the press briefings in the Presidential Villa.

ALSO READ: State House top official urges staff to imbibe highest ethical standards

His interventions consistently elevated the quality of discourse and helped bridge the gap between government and the media  all in service of a more informed and engaged society, he stated.

Mr Idris said Mr Usigbes death is a monumental loss, not only to Tribune Newspaper and the journalism profession but also to the entire nation, adding that Nigeria has lost one of its finest media minds  a man whose intellect, courage, and clarity of purpose earned him the respect of colleagues, government officials, and the public alike.

He added, On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, as well as personally, I extend heartfelt condolences to the management and staff of Tribune Newspaper, the government and people of Edo State, where he hailed from, as well as to his family, friends, and professional associates. May God Almighty comfort all those he has left behind and grant them the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Osose Ivy Usigbe, daughter of the late Abuja Bureau Chief of Nigerian Tribune, Leon Usigbe, has penned a deeply emotional tribute to her father, describing him as her greatest mentor, a prolific writer, and a man whose pen was his most powerful weapon.

Mr Usigbe, a veteran State House Correspondent widely respected for his dedication to journalism, passed away on Friday.

In a heartfelt post shared on her Facebook page, Osose, a lawyer, poured out her grief, expressing shock and heartbreak at her fathers sudden death. My father, my greatest mentor, my friend, my man, my provider You held yourself so high, full of wisdom and valor, she wrote.

She recalled his deep love for their mother, the tough love he gave to his children, and the inspiring work ethic that shaped her life. I prayed for you Dad We all did I wish you stayed a little longer This was not part of the plan, Dad, she lamented. Rest well, my Dr. Daddy Heaven gained an angel and I did too.

The tribute came as tributes continued to pour in from across the country, including from President Bola Tinubu, who expressed sadness over the veteran journalists passing.

In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Dr Usigbe as a consummate professional whose calm demeanour and insightful reporting strengthened democratic governance in Nigeria.

Dr. Usigbes dedication to truth, balance, and ethical journalism earned him the respect of colleagues, public officials, and readers nationwide, the President said. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues at The Tribune, and the entire State House Press Corps. May Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn this great loss.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says he has mobilised support from his network of friends to help fund the construction of a befitting Senate Building for the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

Mr Wike disclosed this in Port Harcourt on Saturday during the universitys 35th Combined Convocation and 50th Anniversary celebration.

The minister, who was among four recipients of honourary doctorate degrees, also announced plans to endow a Chair in Family and Childs Law, in the Faculty of Law, in honour of his wife.

He also pledged to endow another Chair in Leadership and Public Administration in the Department of Political Science in his own honour.

Mr Wike disclosed that the university recently approached him, as FCT Minister, to request a land in Abuja to establish a Centre for Leadership and Democratic Studies.

I took up the request with Mr President, who immediately granted approval.

As I speak to you now, the Certificate of Occupancy for the land is ready for presentation to the university authorities, he said.

Reflecting on his time at UNIPORT, Mr Wike said that the university had instilled a strong academic foundation in him and had continued to promote values rooted in research, truth, and outspokenness.

He urged fellow alumni and Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubus efforts to improve the socio-economic well-being of the country, noting the presidents commitment to education through initiatives like the Nigeria Education Loan Fund.

In no distant time, no willing child will be denied access to quality education due to economic hardship, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university officially named its new Convocation Arena during the event.

It was inaugurated by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas.

Mr Wike was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Science degree in Political Science (D.Sc. Honoris Causa), for his contributions to the universitys development.

Other honorary degree recipients included First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, and Aminu Masari, chairman of the Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

(NAN)
The time for half-measures and empty promises has passed. African governments must take immediate, decisive action to combat the proliferation of substandard and falsified medical products that are killing our children and bleeding our economies dry.

Every year, 122,000 children under the age of five in sub-Saharan Africa die needlessly from substandard or falsified anti-malaria medication. Let that number sink in. These are not statistics  they are our children, our future, lost to a preventable crisis that demands urgent action.

The World Health Organization has directly linked 300 deaths in The Gambia, Indonesia and Uzbekistan to contaminated batches of pediatric syrup. Meanwhile, low and middle-income countries lose an estimated $30-billion annually to substandard and falsified medicines through wasted treatment and lost productivity.

These figures should shock every African leader into action. Yet we continue to witness the same patterns of negligence, weak governance, and misplaced priorities that allow this deadly trade to flourish.

The Hard Truth About Our Failures

Having spent decades studying this crisis, I can tell you that substandard and falsified medical products persist across Africa because of a toxic combination of factors: weak political will from governments, limited accountability, corruption in regulatory and law enforcement systems, and fragmented coordination between agencies.

The market conditions make matters worse. High demand for cheaper medicines creates opportunity for criminals, while complex cross-border supply chain regulations and low barriers of entry for illicit operations provide the perfect environment for this trade to thrive.

The regulatory landscape is particularly damning. Only eight out of 54 African countries operate stable and well-functioning regulatory systems at WHOs recommended maturity level: Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. This means 46 countries are failing to protect their citizens from potentially deadly medications.

Even more concerning, fewer than a dozen African Union member states have completed or formally initiated the domestication of the AU Model Law. The sanctions for those responsible remain laughably weak. In my own country, Tanzania, the legal maximum fine for falsified medicine offenses is just five million Tanzanian shillings  roughly $2,000  or three years in jail. This is hardly a deterrent for criminals making millions from this trade.

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities Are Killing Us

The weaknesses in our supply chain environment are equally alarming. There are massive leakages between legal and illicit distribution channels. In the Sahel region, 40 percent of detected substandard and falsified medical products were found inside regulated supply chains. This means our own systems are being compromised.

Border control remains woefully inadequate. Customs officials at major ports inspect fewer than 10 percent of containers, relying primarily on risk-based X-ray screening. Meanwhile, 37 percent of vaccines in low and middle-income country supply chains show freezing exposure during storage, potentially destroying their effectiveness.

The Path Forward: Six Critical Actions

To secure Africas medicine supply by 2030, we must address six fundamental areas:

First, regulatory gaps must be closed immediately. We need properly financed national regulatory bodies and swift ratification of the African Medicines Agency treaty. Every African country must achieve WHO maturity level 3 status.

Second, supply chain weaknesses require urgent attention. We must eliminate leakages between legal and illicit channels and strengthen border controls with enhanced inspection protocols.

Third, manufacturing quality assurance deficits cannot be tolerated. Industry must implement good manufacturing practices and serialisation technologies while sharing supply chain information transparently.

Fourth, market surveillance systems must be strengthened. Regulators must adopt risk-based post-market surveillance and publish transparent data on medicine quality.

Fifth, governance and resource allocation need fundamental reform. The criminalisation of the substandard and falsified medicine trade with stiffer penalties is non-negotiable. Current fines that amount to pocket change for criminals must be replaced with sentences that reflect the gravity of these crimes.

Sixth, public awareness campaigns are essential. Citizens must understand the dangers and know how to identify legitimate medicines.

Universal Health Coverage Depends on This

We cannot achieve universal health coverage while substandard and falsified medicines undermine patient treatment, fuel drug resistance, and kill our people. These products dont just harm individual patients  they destroy confidence in our entire healthcare system.

The economic argument is equally compelling. At $30-billion in annual losses, were talking about resources that could fund hospitals, train healthcare workers, and expand access to quality medicines across the continent.

The Time for Action is Now

African leaders must understand that this is not just a health issue  its a security threat, an economic crisis, and a moral emergency rolled into one. Every day we delay action, more children die, more families are destroyed, and more resources are wasted.

We have the knowledge, the frameworks, and the examples of success from countries that have made progress. What we need now is the political will to act decisively.

The choice is clear: we can continue with business as usual and watch thousands more children die, or we can take the bold steps necessary to protect our people and secure our future.

History will judge us by the choice we make.

Eliangiringa Kaale is a leading expert on pharmaceutical regulation and quality assurance at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania.

This is the text of an address to the AUDA-NEPAD Working Group on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products in Addis Abbaba.
Two senior officials of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Abdulmalik Halilu, Director, Corporate Services, and Obinna Ezeobi, General Manager, Corporate Communications, on Saturday bagged Doctorate degrees at the 35th combined convocation of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The event was attended by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, the newly appointed Director of Finance and Personnel Management (DFPM), Mr Uchenna Ossaowa Andrew, and the immediate past chairman of Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) and member of NCDMB Governing Council, Mazi Sam Azoka Onyechi.

Other industry colleagues, friends, and family members were present to celebrate the two scholars, who later held reception events at different locations.

Dr Abdulmalik Halilus doctorate is in Energy, Economics, Management and Policy. It crowns his years of intellectual interventions and leadership at the industry and NCDMB where he has held several roles, including Manager Strategy, General Manager Research and Statistics, Director Planning, Research and Statistics, Director Monitoring and Evaluation and currently as Director Corporate Services.

Dr Obinna Ezeobi bagged his degree in Energy Communications and his convocations reception was uniquely marked by the public presentation of his book titled Local Content: A Journey of Strategic Communication and Economic Transformation.

The book was released in April 2025, and coincided with the 15th Anniversary of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act. The book was endorsed by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri and his Gas counterpart Ekperikpe Ekpo and the current and past Executive Secretaries of NCDMB.

His doctorate reception featured goodwill messages and high profile reviews. The chairman of the occasion, Nathan Egba, a former Commissioner for Information, Bayelsa State, in his remark described the book as a powerful chronicle of NCDMBs influence on Nigerias oil and gas sector and an essential contribution to policy discourse.

Mr Teddy Bai, Supervisor in NCDMBs Corporate Communications Division, celebrated Dr Ezeobis commitment and influence, describing his achievement as a milestone in strategic nation building.

Further insights came from Mr Hector Igbikiowubo, Media Adviser to the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Government, and Bashir Ahmed, Supervisor at the NCDMB, who both emphasized the books detailed account of communication strategies and stakeholder engagement. Mr Igbikiowubo encouraged regional governments to adopt the NCDMB model to boost local participation and regional development.

In his detailed review of the book, Mr Mayor Ikoroha, Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State, called the book a masterclass in strategic communication that helped gave detailed account of Nigerias local content retention to 56 percent.

The celebration concluded with a book signing and photo session, marking not only the academic success of Dr Ezeobi but also his growing impact as a strategic communicator in the energy industry, thought leader, and advocate for sustainable national development
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed five persons dead and 55 others injured as a result of flooding in parts of Yola town in Adamawa State.

Ladan Ayuba, NEMAs head of operations in Yola, said the 55 injured were receiving treatment at the Modibbo Adama Teaching Hospital in Yola.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the early morning flooding on Sunday, after a downpour in Yola and environs, submerged houses in some wards of the state capital.

Boats are currently being used to rescue people in areas such as Tashan Sani, Shagari phase II, Sabon Pegi, Anguwan Tabo, Modire, Ummare, Yolde-Pate, Sanda Fadama II, and Ibnu Abbas.

Personnel of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Red Cross, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC) are collaborating with NEMA in an ongoing rescue mission.

Ali Adam, a resident of Yolde-Pate, thanked the officials for coming to their aid.

Mr Adam said they had never experienced such a situation in the area, as he appealed to the state government for support.

He urged the government to take action against a company he claimed was mining in the area.

According to him, the flooding was not only caused by the rain but also by a dam constructed by the company.

Yakubu Musa, a resident of Modire, urged the state government to upgrade a major culvert in the area into a bridge to accommodate a large flow of water.

Theres also the need to open some waterways blocked by some people engaged in rice farming in the area, Musa said.

Meanwhile, many displaced persons are currently taking refuge in emergency camps and primary schools. (NAN)
The authorities have shut down a hotel where a man suspected of murdering a local photojournalist reportedly took his own life.

The Abidan 115 Hotel in Lokoja was sealed on Friday to preserve critical evidence as investigations continue into the high-profile case.

The suspect, identified as Jacob Pelumi, a staff member of the Nigerian Correctional Services, was found dead in a room at the hotel on Thursday.

His death occurred just hours after a police manhunt was launched following the murder of the photojournalist, Ayobami Aiyepeku, on Tuesday.

The Lokoja Local Government Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, confirmed the closure in a statement, acknowledging its importance for ongoing investigations.

Mr Adamu, who visited the scene, extended his condolences to Mr Aiyepekus family and colleagues, assuring the public of full cooperation with law enforcement to uncover the full circumstances surrounding both deaths.

Mr Aiyepeku was allegedly murdered at an office near the Government House/GRA area of Lokoja.

Despite extensive search efforts, it was learnt that his body had not yet been recovered as of Friday evening.

READ ALSO: Suspect in Kogi photojournalist murder found dead

The family of the deceased photojournalist has called for justice. Specifically, James Aiyepeku, his father, appealed to Governor Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to recover his sons remains and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

The council chairperson has urged residents to remain calm and allow investigators to complete their work.
Thirteen bodies have been recovered from a river where a boat capsized on Saturday, while several other passengers remain missing.

The tragedy occurred in Kwata, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, as the boat took traders to a local market.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Arah, confirmed the incident in a statement issued by the Director of Information and Special Duties of the agency, Ibrahim Hussaini.

According to the report, the boat conveying passengers and goods to the weekly Zumba market capsized at about 11:45 a.m.

The vessel was reportedly overloaded and heading toward the market across the volatile waters of the river in Shiroro.

Rescue operations commenced immediately, involving NSEMA officers, local divers, and volunteers. While some of the victims, including the boat operator and a few passengers, were rescued alive, one of the rescued individuals who was admitted to the General Hospital in Kuta has since been discharged.

The exact number of casualties is yet to be determined as search and recovery operations are ongoing, Dr. Hussaini stated, adding that the agency is working closely with community members to locate those still unaccounted for.

Boat accidents are unfortunately frequent in the riverine communities of Niger State. Despite repeated government interventions, including the distribution of life jackets by the Niger State Government in collaboration with the National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), enforcement remains weak.

Similar incidents have claimed dozens of lives in recent years, mostly due to overloading, poor enforcement of safety protocols, and inadequate supervision of river transport activities.

Despite regular sensitisation campaigns, residents have continually lamented the governments failure to enforce safety regulations.

The authorities have reiterated calls for strict adherence to safety measures, warning that continued negligence will only result in more deaths.

NSEMA urged boat operators and passengers alike to use life jackets and avoid overloading, particularly during market days when water transport is busiest.

As of the time of filing this report was filed, search operations remained active, and local authorities were expected to provide an update on the casualty figures and recovery efforts in the coming days.
In a major step toward the take-off of the newly established Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani has donated official vehicles to key institution officials and pledged to support its infrastructural development.

The development followed the approval of 18 programmes for the university, which is scheduled to begin operation in September.

The vehicles, including official cars for the pro-chancellor and the vice-chancellor and a 32-seater bus for the students and staff, were presented during a strategic progress review meeting held in Kaduna.

The meeting was attended by members of the universitys council and other stakeholders, led by the Pro-Chancellor, Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Archbishop of the Sokoto Diocese.

The Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia, will commence academic activities in September.

Mr Sani has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure the institution begins on a strong footing, having played a central role in securing federal approval for its establishment.

During the meeting, the pro-chancellor and the vice-chancellor praised the governors leadership and commitment to higher education, citing his proactive interventions in securing temporary facilities, mobilising community support, and facilitating start-up logistics.

The governor said his administration was ready to provide essential infrastructure, including access roads, electricity, and water, while also assuring the university of security collaboration with law enforcement agencies.

He also promised to work closely with federal authorities to expedite the universitys full operationalisation.

18 programmes approved

The vice-chancellor of the university, William Qurix, announced in April that the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) approved 18 programmes for the university.

Mr Qurix said the programmes, beginning from the 2025/2026 academic session, are in key areas of basic medicine sciences, allied health sciences and computing.

Mr Quinix identified the approved programmes as Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Software Engineering, Doctor of Pharmacy, B.Sc. Information Technology, B.Sc. Computer Science and B.Sc. Cyber Security.

Others are B.Sc. Environmental Resource Management, B.Sc. Microbiology, B.Sc. Biotechnology, B.Sc. Anatomy, B.Sc. Physiology, B. Medical Laboratory Science, and B. Radiography.

B. Health Information Management, BNSc. Nursing Sciences, B.Sc. Architecture, B.Sc. Quantity Surveying, and B.Sc. Industrial Chemistry are also approved.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that five people died in a road accident in Anambra State, Nigerias South-east.

The spokesperson of the FRSC in Anambra State, Margaret Onabe, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday night.

The accident

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that several people were killed on Friday night when a speeding truck rammed into them.

The incident happened at about 9:33 p.m. along the Chisco Park Junction in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state.

A CCTV footage of the incident showed that some of the victims were engaging in night businesses while others were waiting to board a vehicle when the truck crashed into them.

The footage showed some of the victims lying lifeless and in a pool of their blood after the accident.

Five killed, five injured

In the Saturday night statement, Ms Onabe, a route commander, said a total of five people were killed while five others were injured in the accident.

She said the deceased victims were two adult males, a male child, and two female children.

The FRSC spokesperson said the injured victims were two adult males, one adult female, and two male children.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash was caused by brake failure. The truck, travelling at high speed, failed to brake and collided with other vehicles and pedestrians, she said.

She added that the vehicles involved in the crash included a Mercedes-Benz truck, a Honda motorcycle and a Qlink motorcycle.

Visit to hospitals

After receiving information about the crash, Ms Onabe said the FRSC team got to the scene immediately, managed traffic control and searched hospitals where the victims were taken.

She said authorities of the Anglican Diocesan Hospital in Amechi reported that three of the six people brought to the facility were confirmed dead on arrival, while the fourth died later.

The remaining two victims are currently responding to treatment, she stated.

The FRSC spokesperson said another hospital, Pat Angelina Hospital in Amechi, reported that only one male adult died at the facility out of four victims admitted with bruises and bone injuries.

Sector Commanders visit

Ms Onabe said the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Anambra State, Joyce N. Alexander, flew in from Abuja to visit the scene and injured victims.

There (at the crash scene), she met with the FRSC towing team, which was working to remove the vehicles involved in the incident, she said.

She said the Chairperson of Nnewi South Local Government Area, George Ezeogidi, received the sector commander during the visit.

READ ALSO: Many killed as speeding truck rams into residents in Anambra

The FRSC spokesperson said the Sector Commander also met a member of the House of Representatives in Nnewi South Constituency, Nomso Atuchukwu and the Vice President of the Amichi Community, Emmanuel Nzubechukwu, alongside other community leaders.

After supervising the towing operation, she visited several hospitals in the company of the president-general, to meet with the victims of the crash and check on their recovery progress, she said.

Ms Onabe said the sector Commander discussed future collaborations with Mr Ezeogidi during which she advised the chairperson and the community leaders to work with the FRSC to organise a town hall meeting to educate the motoring public in their jurisdiction.

Ms Alexander, according to the statement, expressed her condolences to the victims families and emphasised the importance of road safety.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the necessity to obey traffic rules and regulations.

Vehicles should be well-maintained to prevent malfunctioning that invariably leads to crashes, she said.

We urge all road users to exercise caution and patience while driving to prevent such incidents in the future.
NEW YORK, July 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of National Grid plc ("National Grid" or the "Company") (NYSE: NGG). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether National Grid and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On July 1, 2025, the United Kingdom's energy system operator, National Energy System Operator ("NESO"), published a report 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.

On this news, National Grid's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $3.77 per ADR, or 5.07%, to close at $70.61 per ADR on July 2, 2025.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

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CONTACT:

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Pomerantz LLP

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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
TORONTO, July 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association will present 10 scientific awards at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2025 (AAIC), recognizing researchers for their expertise, noteworthy achievements and innovative contributions to the field of Alzheimer's disease and dementia science.

"The Alzheimer's Association envisions a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia, and these leaders awarded today are helping us make that vision a reality," said Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Alzheimer's Association chief science officer and medical affairs lead. "The scientific leaders and innovators we recognize at AAIC 2025 are exploring new frontiers in research, medicine and care. We thank them for their impressive accomplishments and insights, and their dedication to the cause."

AAIC Lifetime Achievement Awards

The AAIC Lifetime Achievement Awards are named in honor of Henry Wisniewski, M.D., Ph.D.; Khalid Iqbal, Ph.D.; and Bengt Winblad, M.D., Ph.D.  co-founders of the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, now known as the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. These awards honor significant contributions to Alzheimer's and dementia research, either through a single scientific discovery or a body of work.

Bart de Strooper, M.D., Ph.D., is the recipient of the Khalid Iqbal Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a professor in dementia research at KU Leuven in Belgium, and the founding director of the UK Dementia Research Institute. De Strooper is internationally recognized for his pioneering research into the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease. De Strooper's more recent research has focused on how amyloid plaques provoke a pathological multicellular neuroinflammatory response, with microglia and astrocytes as key drivers.

Bart de Strooper earned his medical degree in 1985 and earned a Ph.D. in 1992 at KU Leuven. After postdoctoral work at EMBL with Carlos Dotti, he launched his own lab in Leuven in 1998 and became full professor in 2002. He was director of the VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research from 2007-2017, founding it as a world-leading research center. From 2017 to 2023, he was the founding director of the UK Dementia Research Institute. Since 2023, he has split his time between London's Francis Crick Institute and his lab in Leuven.

De Strooper has received numerous honors, including the Zenith Fellows award from the Alzheimer's Association in 2017 and the Brain Prize in 2018. He holds more than 20 patents, founded two biotech companies and is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of Alzheimer's researchers.

Clifford R. Jack Jr., M.D., is the recipient of the Henry Wisniewski Lifetime Achievement Award. Jack is professor of radiology, specializing in neuroradiology, and the Alexander Family Professor of Alzheimer's Disease Research at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in the United States. As a global expert in this space, his Aging and Dementia Imaging Research lab is engaged in brain imaging research in cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The lab's goals are to understand how various imaging measures relate to neuropathology; fluid biomarkers; genetics; psychometric; and cognitive and behavioral phenotypes. The group also serves as the Magnetic Resonance Imaging center for large multi-site observational and interventional studies.

He is world renowned for influential criteria and frameworks that are fundamental to our current understanding of neurodegenerative disease. His work, alongside experts in the field, has integrated objective hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease biology and clinical disease staging.

Mary Sano, Ph.D., is the recipient of the Bengt Winblad Lifetime Achievement Award. Sano is a professor of psychiatry and the director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Sano is a neuropsychologist by training and an award-winning clinical trialist, focusing on cognitive impairment in aging, Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Her work has focused on understanding the cognitive consequences of disease and on discovery of interventions to improve cognition.

She has also made major contributions to the understanding of the behavioral and psychiatric conditions that co-occur with cognitive impairment and dementia, and designing trials to improve these conditions. She has pioneered in-home assessment using technologies which permit large-scale prevention trials to occur remotely, increasing the opportunity for research participation across populations. With colleagues at Mount Sinai, she contributed to the establishment of the first memory clinic in a public hospital in Mumbai, India.

Sano has authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and mentored more than 100 young scientists and clinicians. She was an inaugural member of the Alzheimer's Association Medical and Scientific Advisory Group, and has held leadership roles in national and international organizations committed to the care of older persons with dementia.

Bill Thies Award

The Bill Thies Award for Distinguished Service to ISTAART (the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment) recognizes a Society member who has provided continued and outstanding service and mentorship to the ISTAART community. The award honors William (Bill) Thies, Ph.D., who passed away in August 2020. During his tenure from 1998 to 2020 as the Alzheimer's Association chief medical and scientific officer, and then as senior medical science advisor, Thies was instrumental in bringing AAIC under the Association's management. He launched the peer-reviewed journal Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Association Research Roundtable.

Donna M. Wilcock, Ph.D., is the recipient of the 2025 Bill Thies Award for Distinguished Service to ISTAART. She is professor of neurology and director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders at Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine and IU Health. She is also the Barbara and Larry Sharp Professor in Alzheimer's Disease Research, a member of Stark Neurosciences Research Institute and leads the Biomarker Core for the Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Wilcock's research focuses on the intersection of Alzheimer's disease, vascular cognitive impairment, and dementia. Using mouse models and patient samples, Wilcock is exploring the role of neuroinflammation and dysregulated angiogenesis in VCID. More recently, she has focused efforts on understanding ARIA and identifying potential mechanisms for amelioration of ARIA. She is committed to the mentoring and advancement of junior scientists in the field. Her work is funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Alzheimer's Association and Brightfocus Foundation.

Wilcock served on the ISTAART Advisory Council (IAC) from 2016  a committee of international experts who drive ISTAART's scientific vision  and subsequently chaired the IAC from 2020-2022. During her tenure, she championed the support and development of the next generation of dementia scientists through ISTAART's initiatives. Her steadfast dedication to mentoring and advancing junior scientists has continued into her current role as the editor-in-chief of Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Inge-Grundke-Iqbal Award

Katrin Andreasson, M.D., is this year's recipient of the Inge Grundke-Iqbal Award for Alzheimer's Research. This award is presented to the senior author of the most impactful study published in Alzheimer's research during the two calendar years preceding AAIC. Her paper, "Restoring hippocampal glucose metabolism rescues cognition across Alzheimer's disease pathologies," was published in Science in August 2024.

Andreasson is a physician-scientist and the Edward F. and Irene Thiele Pimley Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Andreasson received her M.D. degree from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and completed her residency in neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She then carried out postdoctoral training in the Johns Hopkins Department of Neuroscience with Dr. Paul Worley, where she began her research on mechanisms of immune-mediated brain injury. From initial work on the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inflammatory prostaglandin pathways, her lab has identified immune pathways that promote neurotoxic responses and neurodegeneration in models of aging, Alzheimer's disease and stroke. Immune effector pathways currently under investigation as potential disease modifiers include the PGE2 EP2 receptor, the kynurenine pathway and the TREM1 pathway. Recent studies demonstrate a critical role of these pathways in cellular metabolism and in regulating neuronal function in aging and neurodegeneration.

Zaven Khachaturian Award

Named in honor of noted scientist, administrator, consultant, lecturer and author, Zaven Khachaturian, Ph.D., this award recognizes an individual whose compelling vision, selfless dedication and extraordinary achievement has significantly advanced the field of Alzheimer's science. Khachaturian is universally recognized as the chief architect of Alzheimer's research in the United States. Prior to leaving federal service, he served as the director of the Office of Alzheimer's Disease Research and coordinated all Alzheimer's disease-related activities at the National Institutes of Health.

Bruce Lamb, Ph.D., is the 2025 recipient of the Zaven Khachaturian Award. He is an Indiana University Distinguished Professor, Roberts Family Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Research, executive director of the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and co-director of the Neuroscience Institute at Indiana University Health. Lamb obtained his bachelor degree from Swarthmore College and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. After a post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, Lamb started his academic career at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic. In 2016, Lamb moved to Indianapolis to lead neuroscience research at Indiana University School of Medicine. Lamb is a basic and translational scientist with a focus on animal models of Alzheimer's disease and preclinical therapeutic testing, including his leadership roles on the NIA-funded Indiana University/Jackson Laboratory/University of Pittsburgh Model Organism Development and Evaluation for Late-onset Alzheimer's Disease (MODEL-AD) Center and the IUSM/Purdue Target Enablement to Accelerate Therapy Development for Alzheimer's Disease (TREAT-AD) Center.

In particular, Lamb's laboratory has focused on: 1) genetic modifiers identified from both mouse and human studies, 2) microglia and neuronal-microglial communication in the development and progression of AD pathologies, and 3) identification and characterization of novel microglial targets for therapeutic development. Lamb is a fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is a past recipient of the Alzheimer's Association Zenith Fellows Award. In addition, in 2023 Lamb received the Augustus M. Watanabe Life Science Champion of the Year award for his leadership role in Alzheimer's research within the state of Indiana.

Dr. Lamb is a member of the Alzheimer's Association Board of Directors, immediate-past chair of the Association's Medical and Scientific Advisory Group and life-long volunteer and advocate for Alzheimer's and dementia research.

De Leon Prizes in Neuroimaging

The de Leon Prizes in Neuroimaging recognize scientists from ISTAART's community of researchers and clinicians judged to have published "best papers" in the field of neuroimaging of neurodegenerative processes. The awards are named after Mony J. de Leon, Ed.D., professor of psychiatry and director, Center for Brain Health at NYU Langone Health, and one of the founders of the Alzheimer's Imaging Consortium. The 2025 de Leon Prize honorees are:

Senior Scientist: Christos Davatzikos, Ph.D . , University of Pennsylvania , United States

Junior Scientists: Hironobu Endonzmeier, M.D., Ph.D., National Institutes For Quantum Science and Technology, Japan Maiko Ono , Ph.D., National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan

Trainee: Karly Cody , Ph.D., Stanford University , United States



About the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC)

The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world's largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community.

AAIC 2025 home page: www.alz.org/aaic/

AAIC 2025 newsroom: www.alz.org/aaic/pressroom.asp

AAIC 2025 hashtag: #AAIC25

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia  by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
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Gangaikonda Cholapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, July 27, 2025.. Image Source: IANS/PMO

New Delhi, July 27 : On the second and final day of his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in major cultural and historical events commemorating the legacy of Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I on Sunday.

Around noon, the Prime Minister will arrive at the renowned Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tiruchirappalli district to attend the grand millennium celebration of the emperoras maritime expedition, which coincides with the observance of the Aadi Tiruvathirai Festival.

As part of the ceremony, PM Modi will release a commemorative coin in honour of Rajendra Chola I, paying tribute to one of Indiaas greatest emperors and his far-reaching naval conquests that extended the Chola empire's influence across Southeast Asia.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to participate in a series of other events in Gangaikonda Cholapuram later in the day, marking the millennium of Rajendra Cholaas maritime achievements and reaffirming the Centreas commitment to preserving and promoting ancient Indian heritage.

PM Modi arrived in Tamil Nadu on Saturday evening, after concluding his foreign visits to the United Kingdom and the Maldives.

He landed at Tuticorin Airport at 7:50 p.m., where he was received by Governor R.N. Ravi, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, and Union Ministers L. Murugan and Ram Mohan Naidu.

Soon after his arrival, the Prime Minister inaugurated the newly constructed terminal building of Tuticorin Airport, built for Rs 452 crore. He also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated a range of development projects worth over Rs 4,900 crore. These projects span crucial sectors such as transport, energy, and logistics, reflecting a strong push for infrastructure growth in the state.

Among the major initiatives unveiled were infrastructure projects worth Rs 550 crore in Tuticorin, power transmission works related to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and electrification of the Maduraia"Bodinayakkanur railway line.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Addis Ababa, July 27 : The African Union (AU) welcomed France's announcement to officially recognise the State of Palestine, describing it as a "significant step" that aligns with the AU's longstanding position.

In a statement issued Saturday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron, expressing his intention to recognise the State of Palestine, "aligns with the longstanding position of the African Union."

Youssouf said the bloc's position was recently reaffirmed during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU, Xinhua news agency reported.

He said the summit, which brought together African heads of state and government at the headquarters of the AU in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa in February this year, reiterated "Africa's collective commitment to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and statehood."

The chairperson of the 55-member continental bloc described France's announcement as "a significant step toward a just, lasting, and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, grounded in international law and relevant United Nations resolutions."

Youssouf also reiterated the AU's "unwavering support" for the two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security. He further encouraged other countries to follow suit in supporting "the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people."

On Thursday, Macron announced that France will officially recognise the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September.
Gaza, July 27 : A senior Hamas official said that recent remarks by US President Donald Trump were "inconsistent" with the process of the indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel over Gaza ceasefire and hostage release.

"We are surprised by the statements issued by President Trump, which contradict the mediators' assessment of the movement's position and are inconsistent with the negotiations process," Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, said in a press statement.

Al-Rishq said the negotiations, held in the Qatari capital Doha, have witnessed "real progress" in recent days, claiming that Qatar and Egypt, as mediators, had expressed appreciation for Hamas' "serious and constructive position" in the talks.

However, the US administration's stance overlooks the key obstacle to progress: the Israeli government, said Al-Rishq.

The Hamas official reiterated that the movement is seeking a comprehensive agreement that would end hostilities and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We call on the US administration to stop exonerating the occupation and providing it with cover to continue its war of extermination and starvation against more than two million people in the Gaza Strip," he said.

Israel and Hamas had held weeks of indirect negotiations in Doha, but no breakthrough has been announced.

Israel on Thursday recalled its negotiating team from Doha for consultations after receiving Hamas's response to a new ceasefire proposal delivered by the mediators.

Trump on Friday made public comments holding Hamas responsible for stalling the negotiations. "Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die," Trump told reporters.
Cairo, July 27 : Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi discussed mediation efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during a phone call with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

The two leaders, on Saturday, stressed the importance of ensuring the delivery of adequate and appropriate humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.

They also emphasised the necessity of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.

Sisi welcomed Macron's recent announcement of France's intention to officially recognise the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, saying that the decision is part of France's ongoing efforts "to implement the two-state solution."

On Thursday, Macron announced that France will officially recognise the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September.

Sisi also reaffirmed Egypt's support for a French-Saudi initiative aimed at organising a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, scheduled to be held in New York later this month.

Macron, for his part, expressed his country's full support for Egypt's mediation efforts, according to the statement.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza since October 2023 have left more than 59,000 Palestinians killed and over 143,000 injured, according to Gaza's health authorities.
Khartoum, July 27 : A political coalition led by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced the formation of a parallel government in Sudan, raising concerns about further division of a country already torn by more than two years of civil conflict.

"The leadership body of the Sudan Founding Alliance has agreed to appoint Mohamed Hassan Al-Taishi as Prime Minister of the Peace Government," Alaa El Din Nugud, the alliance's spokesperson, said in a televised statement broadcast via Telegram.

According to the statement, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo was selected as President of the Presidential Council, the highest sovereign authority in the new government, while leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Abdelaziz Adam Al-Hilu was appointed as Vice President of the Presidential Council, Xinhua news agency reported.

An anonymous source within the alliance told Xinhua that the RSF secured 42 per cent of the positions in the parallel government, while the SPLM-N received 33 per cent. The remaining 25 per cent was shared among the other groups in the alliance.

Political analyst Abdul-Khaliq Mahjoub said the announcement of a parallel government would further complicate Sudan's political crisis.

"There are serious concerns that Sudan may face the specter of division, given the existence of two governments. This reality worsens the political situation in the country," Mahjoub said.

"Having two governments entrenches geographic division ... This could eventually lead to permanent partition, as seen in certain other countries," he added.

The RSF signed a founding charter with various political and armed groups in February, setting the groundwork for the parallel government.

The RSF currently controls most of the Darfur region in western Sudan and parts of the Kordofan region.

Sudan remains gripped by a conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, both internally and across borders.
New Delhi, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt greetings to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on its 87th Raising Day, being celebrated on Sunday, praising the force for its significant contributions to the nation's security.

Acknowledging the CRPF's unwavering role in safeguarding the country, PM Modi took to X and wrote, "Raising Day wishes to all CRPF personnel. This force has played a vital role in our security apparatus, especially in challenging aspects relating to internal security."

The Prime Minister further lauded the dedication and valour of the force, stating, "CRPF personnel have made a mark for their duty, courage and steadfast commitment in the most testing of situations. Their contribution in overcoming humanitarian challenges is also commendable."

The CRPF, which began its journey on July 27, 1939, as the Crown Representative Police, officially became the Central Reserve Police Force on December 28, 1949, following the enactment of the Central Reserve Police Force Act.

The transformation marked the beginning of its new identity and established it as a central armed force under the jurisdiction of the Government of India.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his greetings to CRPF personnel on the occasion.

In a post on X, he said, "Heartfelt greetings to all CRPF personnel on their Raising Day. Your selfless sacrifice have been the backbone of our nation's security, and your unwavering courage to end Naxalism is truly commendable."

"Time and again, you've stood fearlessly on the frontlines, standing tall against every adversity with fearless resolve. A proud salute to the martyrs of CRPF, your legacy of valour continues to inspire the nation," HM Shah added.

The CRPF, in its own message, paid tribute to its personnel and their families.

"On 27th July, we celebrate 86 glorious years of bold courage, supreme sacrifice, and resolute commitment -- deeply inscribed in the legacy of the nation's security and service," the force said in a post on X.

The inception of the CRPF was significantly influenced by the Madras resolution passed by the All India Congress Committee in 1936, which highlighted the necessity of a strong internal security framework.

This vision was brought to life when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the then Home Minister, emphasised the need for a robust and adaptable force to meet the evolving security needs of an independent India.

Notably, the CRPF remains the only paramilitary force in India with six women's battalions. The first of these, the 88 (M) Battalion, was established in 1986 and is headquartered in Delhi. These battalions exemplify the force's commitment to inclusivity and the evolving role of women in India's security forces.
New Delhi, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to APJ Abdul Kalam, saying his thoughts motivate the youths to contribute towards building a developed and strong India.

Kalam served as the 11th President of India between 2002 and 2007.

Known as the 'Missile Man of India', Kalam earned the respect and admiration of people and political parties across the spectrum for his simple living and non-partisan conduct.

Paying rich tributes to Kalam, PM Modi said that he is remembered as an inspiring visionary, outstanding scientist and a great patriot.

"On his death anniversary, paying homage to our beloved former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He is remembered as an inspiring visionary, outstanding scientist, mentor and a great patriot. His dedication to our nation was exemplary. His thoughts motivate the youth of India to contribute towards building a developed and strong India," PM Modi wrote on his X handle.

PM Modi has held Kalam in high esteem. Last year, while remembering him on his birth anniversary, the PM remarked on his unique achievements, noting how rare it was for someone to become a "Rashtra Ratna (Jewel of the Nation)" before assuming the role of President of the Nation.

Dr Kalam was one of India's most respected scientists and leaders and is remembered for his extraordinary, simple life and high work. He played a key role in developing India's missile and defence systems. His major contribution came through the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which led to successful missiles like Agni and Prithvi.

Kalam played a key role in giving India nuclear capabilities. In 1998, he was one of the chief coordinators of the Pokhran-II series of nuclear tests, in which five bombs were detonated at a test range in the town of Pokhran, Rajasthan.

Kalam was called a 'people's president, and he loved inspiring and encouraging the youth and children. On July 27, 2015, Kalam collapsed while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong and was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest soon afterwards.

BJP national chief and Union Minister J.P. Nadda, while paying his tribute to Kalam, said his life is a remarkable saga of struggle and success and his unparalleled contribution to making India a nuclear-powered nation is unforgettable.

"I pay my heartfelt respects to the former President of India, great scientist, Bharat Ratna, 'Missile Man' Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary. Dr. Kalam's life is a remarkable saga of struggle and success. He faced numerous obstacles in his life, but with his unwavering determination and diligence, not only overcame them but also reached the highest office of the country. His unparalleled contribution to making India a nuclear-powered nation is unforgettable. His thoughts and actions for national upliftment will always continue to inspire us all for service to the nation," wrote Nadda on X.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid homage to Kalam and said his life was about simplicity, dedication, and patriotism, which is a divine inspiration for the entire nation.

"Humble tribute to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, 'Missile Man', and Bharat Ratna, on his death anniversary. His life, full of simplicity, dedication, and patriotism, is a divine inspiration for the entire nation. His illuminating thoughts in the fields of science, education, and innovation will continue to enlighten us all," CM Yogi wrote on X.
Bangkok, July 27 : Thailand on Sunday responded to US President Donald Trump's call for a ceasefire on the Thai-Cambodian border, saying that the country agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place but would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.

In a statement released early Sunday, the Thai Foreign Ministry confirmed that "Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had a conversation with President Trump who requested that Thailand and Cambodia agree to a ceasefire immediately."

Phumtham told Trump that "Thailand agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place. However, Thailand would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side," said the statement.

Phumtham asked Trump to convey to the Cambodian side that "Thailand wants to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to bring forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceful resolution of the conflict," it added.

Clashes in the border areas between Cambodia and Thailand began on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday reiterated Cambodia's willingness for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" between the armed forces of Cambodia and Thailand.

In a social media post, Hun Manet said he had a phone discussion on Saturday night with US President Donald Trump over the issue of armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

During the conversation, Trump expressed his desire not to see war or fighting that would lead to many deaths and injuries on both sides, including soldiers and civilians, and wished to see an immediate ceasefire and peace between the two countries, said Hun Manet.

"In response, I made it clear to Honorable President Donald Trump that Cambodia agreed with the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces," he said.

Hun Manet said he had assigned Prak Sokhonn, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, to discuss with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the ceasefire proposal.
Chennai, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, will on Sunday attend the grand 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' celebrations at the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple to mark 1,000 years of Emperor Rajendra Chola's maritime expedition.

Chennai, July 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, will on Sunday attend the grand 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' celebrations at the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple to mark 1,000 years of Emperor Rajendra Cholaas maritime expedition.

He will also release a commemorative coin honouring Emperor Rajendra Chola I during the ceremony, celebrating the legacy of the Chola kingas Southeast Asian naval expedition and the templeas millennial anniversary.

His visit follows a high-profile day in the state, which included the inauguration of major development projects worth Rs 4,900 crore and a significant political meeting with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

On Saturday evening, after arriving in Tuticorin from the Maldives, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the newly developed terminal building at Tuticorin Airport, built for Rs 452 crore. He also laid foundation stones and dedicated several infrastructure projects, including power transmission works related to the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, doubling of key railway lines, electrification of the Madurai-Bodinayakkanur railway section, and logistics enhancements at the V.O. Chidambaranar Port.

Following these engagements, PM Modi reached Tiruchirappalli and checked into a private star hotel for the night. Later that night, he held a closed-door meeting with AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami at Trichy Airport. This marks their first formal interaction since the AIADMK renewed its alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The meeting is seen as politically significant amid ongoing deliberations over power-sharing and seat allocation within the NDA in Tamil Nadu.

This morning, at 11 a.m., the Prime Minister, while on his way to the Trichy Airport, will greet the public, particularly at key points like the Cantonment and Bharathidasan Road, where iron barricades have been erected to facilitate a brief roadshow.

From the airport, PM Modi will travel by helicopter to Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Upon arrival, he will be welcomed with a poorna kumbham by the seer of the Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam. A maha abhishekam using holy Ganga water brought from Varanasi will be performed to Lord Brihadeeswarar.

The Prime Minister is expected to spend three minutes in silent meditation at the sanctum sanctorum and then visit an archaeological photo exhibition arranged by the stateas Department of Archaeology.

The cultural segment of the event will feature a special symphony concert by music maestro Ilaiyaraaja, which the Prime Minister is expected to attend briefly. At 1.45 p.m., he will depart by helicopter from Gangaikonda Cholapuram and land at Trichy Airport by 2.25 p.m. PM Modi is scheduled to return to Delhi at 2.30 p.m.
Seoul, July 27 : A prominent opposition lawmaker appeared for questioning by a special counsel Sunday over his alleged involvement in the party's candidate nominations for key elections in 2022 and 2024, reportedly at the behest of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife.

Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) arrived at the special counsel's office in central Seoul at around 9:30 a.m.

"I will seriously, sincerely and faithfully cooperate with the investigation," Yoon told a swarm of reporters before entering.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team is investigating allegations that the former president and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, exerted influence to have former lawmaker Kim Young-sun win the then ruling party's nomination in the 2022 parliamentary by-elections, Yonhap news agency reported.

In a previously disclosed phone call, allegedly recorded in May 2022, Yoon suggested to self-proclaimed power broker Myung Tae-kyun that he would instruct Rep. Yoon to make sure Kim wins the party nomination.

Rep. Yoon was the head of the PPP nomination committee at the time.

The special counsel raided Rep. Yoon's office at the National Assembly and his residence earlier this month to secure materials as evidence.
Srinagar, July 27 : More Yatris are arriving directly in Kashmir to undertake the ongoing Amarnath Yatra as compared to the number of devotees starting their journey in escorted convoys from Jammu.

Officials said more than twice the number of Yatris arriving in escorted convoys from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu are arriving directly for on-the-spot registration at the two base camps and the transit camps in Kashmir.

"In fact, the Yatris arriving directly and opting for on-the-spot registration mostly undertake air travel. This largely augments the number preferring to travel by road from Jammu to the two base camps. Today, another batch of 2,197 Yatris left Jammu in two escorted convoys for the Valley. The first convoy of 39 vehicles carrying 573 Yatris left at 3.31 a.m. for the Baltal base camp. Second escorted convoy of 62 vehicles carrying 1,624 Yatris left at 4.01 a.m. for Pahalgam bare camp," officials said.

Lord Shiva's holy mace, the 'Chhari Mubarak', is traditionally housed inside the Amareshwar Temple at the Dashnami Akhara Building in the Budshah Chowk area of Srinagar city. It is the journey of the Chhari Mubarak that determines the landmarks of the Amarnath Yatra.

Bhumi Pujan of Chhari Mubarak 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 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 the Amareshwar temple in Srinagar on August 4 and will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the Yatra.

During its journey from its seat to the holy cave shrine, traditional Puja will be held en route at Pampore, Bijbehara, Mattan and Pahalgam before the Chhari Mubarak arrives at its final destination, the holy cave shrine.

Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this year's 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.

An 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.
Chennai, July 27 : Owing to intense rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas under the influence of the southwest monsoon, inflows into key Karnataka reservoirs -- Kabini and Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) -- have seen a sharp rise, pushing them to full capacity, and the excess water is now filling areas in Tamil Nadu also.

In response, authorities have opened the floodgates of both dams to maintain structural safety, releasing substantial quantities of water into the Cauvery River.

According to official figures, 21,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water have been released from the Kabini dam, and 23,000 cusecs from the KRS dam, resulting in a total discharge of 44,000 cusecs into the Cauvery.

This heavy discharge is now making its way into Tamil Nadu through the inter-state border point at Biligundlu, leading to a surge in water flow downstream at Hogenakkal in Dharmapuri district.

On Friday, the inflow at Hogenakkal stood at 18,000 cusecs, which steadily increased over the next 24 hours. By 6 p.m. on Saturday, the flow had surged to 32,000 cusecs. As of Sunday morning, it further intensified, touching 57,000 cusecs.

This significant increase in the riveras volume has caused the Hogenakkal Main Falls, Sinipalls, and Aintharvu streams to roar to life, with water gushing over rocks dramatically, drawing onlookers from afar.

However, in the interest of public safety, the district administration has prohibited tourists from bathing in the waterfalls for the second consecutive day.

The ban comes amid fears that the water levels could rise further in the coming hours as Karnataka continues to release excess water from its dams.

Officials of the Central Water Resources Department are closely monitoring the river flow at Biligundlu, the key gauging point on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.

With upstream inflows showing no sign of abating due to continuous monsoon showers, authorities remain on high alert for possible flood-related contingencies in low-lying areas. District officials have urged local residents and tourists to stay away from the riverbanks and avoid venturing into water bodies until the situation stabilises.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 27 : A yellow alert has been issued in nine districts of Kerala -- Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod -- as the state continues to face intense rainfall and strong surface winds.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the heavy downpour is likely to continue until July 30 due to a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal.

The IMD alert also predicts strong surface winds reaching 50-60 kmph over Kerala and Lakshadweep on July 27, and 40a"50 kmph between July 28 and 29.

Very heavy rainfall (12-20 cm in 24 hours) is expected at isolated places, while heavy rainfall (7a"11 cm) is likely in parts of the state through July 30. High alert has been sounded for hilly and coastal regions. The relentless rain has triggered damage at several places in the state. Trees have been uprooted, houses have collapsed in several areas, vehicles have been damaged, and roads have been affected. At many places, this has led to power outages and traffic disruptions.

Mudslides were reported in several highland areas, including Makkimala and Arala.

Speaking to the media, state Revenue Minister K. Rajan said the rainfall is expected to ease from Monday as the low-pressure system weakens. He confirmed that 163 houses have been fully destroyed in the recent spell of rain and assured that compensation will be provided to all affected families.

With rivers overflowing, many dams, including Sholayar and Kakkayam, have been opened. An orange alert has been issued for major rivers such as Manimala and Pampa in Pathanamthitta, Vamanapuram in Thiruvananthapuram, Pallikkal in Kollam, Achankovil in Alappuzha, Thodupuzha in Idukki, Chalakudy in Thrissur, Valapattanam in Kannur, and the Kabani in Wayanad.

Residents living along riverbanks have been urged to stay alert and shift to safer locations if necessary.

In Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts, several homes have been flooded due to the continuous rainfall. Two relief camps have been opened in Ernakulam to accommodate those displaced by the floods.
Melbourne, July 27 : An Indian-origin man, Saurabh Anand, was left severely injured after being brutally attacked with a machete by a group of teenagers in Australia's Melbourne, local media reported.

The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on July 19 while the 33-year-old was walking home from a pharmacy at the Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows.

The horrifying assault left him with multiple injuries, including a nearly severed hand, which was later reattached during surgery.

According to The Australian Today, Anand was speaking to a friend on the phone when five teenagers suddenly surrounded him. One of the assailants rummaged through his pockets, while another repeatedly punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground. A third attacker pulled out a machete and reportedly held it to his throat.

"While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack went through my hand. The third went through the bone," Saurabh recounted to The Age.

He also suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and back, resulting in a fractured spine and several broken bones. "All I remember is the pain, and my hand was hanging by a thread," he added.

Despite the severe injuries, Saurabh managed to walk out of the area and call for help. He was quickly taken to a hospital, where doctors initially considered amputation.

However, after a complex medical procedure, they were able to reattach his hand.

Australian media reported that four out of the five teenage attackers have been arrested in connection with the assault. Police investigations are ongoing.

This brutal incident comes close on the heels of another disturbing case in Australia involving an Indian student.

Charanpreet Singh was allegedly racially abused and assaulted by a group of unidentified men following a car parking dispute near Kintore Avenue. The incident occurred last week when Singh and his wife were out to view the city's light displays.
Amaravati, July 27 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said the Telugu community is playing a vital role in strengthening India-Singapore relations.

Leading a delegation of ministers and officials, he arrived in Singapore on Sunday on a five-day visit to attract investments to the state.

CM Naidu posted on the social media platform X that he was delighted by the warm reception from the vibrant Telugu community. "Their presence and contributions play a vital role in strengthening the bond between our nations. I thank them for their gracious welcome and affection," he wrote.

In an X post before leaving for Singapore, he described the country as a most valued partner in growth and home to a vibrant Telugu community. He said that he was looking forward to meeting Ministers, industry leaders, and members of the Telugu diaspora.

"Singapore has been a key partner in Andhra Pradesh's development journey. As one of Asia's most advanced and forward-looking economies, it offers valuable opportunities for deeper collaboration. This visit is an opportunity to renew our trusted partnership, promote Brand Andhra Pradesh on the global stage, showcase our new progressive policies, and build lasting collaborations for inclusive growth," said Naidu.

According to the Chief Minister's Office, the Chief Minister received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the local Telugu community, industrialists, NRIs, and APNRT representatives.

As the CM and his ministerial delegation travelled from the airport to their hotel, Telugu families residing in Singapore gathered along the route to greet them. Women dressed in traditional attire offered ceremonial harathi, while children performed Kuchipudi dances to honour the Chief Minister's arrival.

The atmosphere around the CM's hotel turned festive, filled with the vibrant presence of Telugu families who came to extend their heartfelt welcome.

During his Singapore visit, the Chief Minister is scheduled to participate in a total of 29 engagements.

Later in the day, he, along with Ministers Nara Lokesh, P. Narayana, and T.G. Bharat, will attend the Telugu Diaspora meeting.
New Jersey, July 27 : Manchester United made a winning start to the Premier League Summer Series, beating West Ham United 2-1 at the MetLife Stadium.

Bruno Fernandes scored both goals, a penalty early on and a second-half shot, to secure three points in the competition. Jarrod Bowen pulled one back for the Hammers, with a clinical finish, and was only denied an equaliser by a smart save from Altay Bayindir in the dying seconds.

United made a blistering start, coming out of the blocks, almost scoring in the opening minute. Fernandes's through ball was perfectly placed for Rasmus Hojlund to race on to and the striker advanced towards goal and fired a left-footed shot that hit the outside of a post.

Three minutes later, Alphonse Areola fumbled a high ball against El Hadji Malick Diouf's back and it fell to Ayden Heaven. The defender was going away from goal but was brought down by the Hammers keeper to concede an obvious penalty, Manchester United reports.

Amorim's men continued to push forwards, with the Hojlund lashing over a decent chance, when the ball rebounded to him after his pass was cut out. On the half-hour mark, Fernandes struck a dipping shot over the bar from outside the box, following an Amad pass, with West Ham offering little, bar an acrobatic attempt by James Ward-Prowse that came to nothing, after ex-Red Wan Bissaka's deep cross was nodded back by Tomas Soucek.

United did find the net again, in the 38th minute, when the excellent Manuel Ugarte burst through to set up Amad but the Ivory Coast international's assured finish counted for nothing as he was frustratingly flagged offside in a marginal call.

Amorim's side maintained the pressure after the interval and, within four minutes of the restart, Kilman was hassled out of possession by Hojlund, with Fernandes bursting clear to face Areola in a one-on-one situation. Unfortunately, the skipper failed to provide a clean strike and it was too close to the keeper, who saved, with Kobbie Mainoo then having an effort deflect for a corner.

From the set-piece, Matthijs de Ligt's header was clawed away well by Areola, from Fernandes's hooked ball into the box. A couple of minutes later, with 52 on the clock, Mainoo pounced on a stray pass out by Areola. Fernandes collected a pass and floated a quite beautiful finish, taking advantage of Areola being a little out of position with unerring accuracy and precision.

The east Londoners pulled one back, on 63 minutes, thanks to a thumping drive by Bowen. Jean-Clair Todibo fed Soucek, who picked out the England international and it was a clinical move that reduced the arrears.

Amorim changed every outfield player in the 66th minute and, as the Hammers also made a number of substitutions, it all became a little disjointed. However, with six minutes of normal time remaining, Luis Guilherme let rip with a ferocious drive that, thankfully, cleared Bayindir's bar.

There was one other big chance, in injury time, when Bowen again fired goalwards, only for Bayindir to pull off a tremendous save to preserve the lead and three points, ahead of our next outing against Bournemouth, who beat Everton 3-0 earlier.
Seoul, July 27 : South Korea has the second-highest share of manufacturing in its gross domestic product (GDP) among major economies, data showed on Sunday, underscoring its vulnerability to the aggressive tariff measures by the United States.

The manufacturing sector accounted for 27.6 percent of South Korea's GDP in 2023, far higher than the average 15.8 percent of the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the National Assembly Budget Office (NABO).

It ranked second among OECD member countries, following Ireland at 31 percent. By comparison, Germany recorded 20.1 percent and Japan 20.7 percent, reports Yonhap news agency.

"While most advanced economies are seeing an increasing share of the service sector, South Korea continues to maintain a relatively high level of manufacturing output," the office said. "Given the size of its economy, South Korea is still regarded as a country with a relatively high dependence on manufacturing."

The manufacturing sector remains the backbone of the Korean economy, with key industries, including semiconductors, rechargeable batteries, shipbuilding and automobiles, maintaining global competitiveness.

Driven by its manufacturing-based economy, South Korea remains highly dependent on exports as a key growth engine.

As of 2024, exports accounted for 44.4 percent of the nation's GDP, compared with the OECD average of 30 percent.

Among the Group of Seven (G7) nations, Germany posted the highest export-to-GDP ratio at 41.8 percent, followed by France with 33.9 percent, Italy with 32.7 percent and Canada with 32.4 percent. The U.S. recorded 10.9 percent.

South Korea's export dependence on the U.S. stood at 18.8 percent in 2024.

Given the country's high manufacturing ratio and export reliance on the U.S., the envisioned reciprocal tariffs are feared to deliver a major economic blow.

Last-minute negotiations are under way between Seoul and Washington, as the Donald Trump administration has warned that South Korea will face a 25 percent reciprocal tariff unless a deal is reached before Aug. 1.

"If the proposed reciprocal tariffs take effect, the Korean economy could suffer a significant impact," said Yang Joon-seok, an economics professor at the Catholic University of Korea.

"We should leverage our strengths in key sectors, such as shipbuilding and semiconductors, during the negotiations," he added.

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Istanbul, July 27 : Two major wildfires in northwestern and northern Turkey triggered mass evacuations, with strong winds pushing flames toward residential areas and trapping vehicles on engulfed roads, local authorities said.

In Bursa province, an uncontrolled blaze between Kestel and Gursu districts spread rapidly toward villages, forcing evacuations. Online videos showed residents fleeing on foot as fire engulfed a main roadway, briefly stranding vehicles including civilian aid cars.

Meanwhile, a blaze that began on Thursday in Karabuk province remained uncontained, prompting precautionary evacuation of nearly 20 villages. Authorities closed the Ankara-Karabuk highway as residents attempted to relocate livestock from danger zones, Xinhua news agency reported.

Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli confirmed on Saturday 76 active fires nationwide -- 28 forested and 48 rural, citing extreme heat and "very high risk" conditions.

He said firefighting teams will continue night operations.

Temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius in Bursa and 37 degrees Celsius in Karabuk on Saturday, with forecasts predicting even higher temperatures over the next two days.

On July 23, ten firefighters died and 14 others were injured when trying to extinguish a forest fire in Turkeyas central province of Eskisehir.

"We lost 10 lives, five forest workers and five Search and Rescue Association volunteers," Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on social media platform X.

Yerlikaya said the 14 injured are currently in hospital for treatment.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed sorrow over the loss and promised compensation for their families.

Firefighting teams were working to extinguish flames in the western and central provinces of Sakarya, Antalya, Eskisehir, Bilecik and Denizli, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported earlier in the day.

Turkey's Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters that the total number of fires since the beginning of the year has exceeded 4,000, with 1,728 occurring in forested areas. He warned of the growing threat of these fires as temperatures soar across the country.
New Delhi, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed pride over the recent achievements by Indians in space, science, sports, and culture.

Addressing the 124th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi made a special mention of Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, whose recent space mission created waves of joy and national pride across the country.

"In the past few weeks, a lot has happened that has made every Indian proud -- be it sports, science or culture. Recently, Shubhanshu Shukla's return from space was discussed a lot in the country. The moment Shubhanshu landed safely back on Earth, people jumped with joy. A wave of happiness spread across every heart. The whole country was filled with pride," said PM Modi.

Recalling the excitement and curiosity generated after Chandrayaan-3's successful moon landing in August 2023, he noted how the mission had sparked a deep interest in science and space among children. "I still remember when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the moon... Even young kids now say, "We will also go to space, we will also land on the moon and become space scientists."

The Prime Minister highlighted the growing reach of the Inspire-Manak campaign, an initiative to promote innovation among school children.

"Five children are selected from every school who bring new ideas. So far, lakhs of children have become part of this initiative, and after Chandrayaan-3, the number has doubled," he said.

PM Modi also spoke about the rapid rise of space-related startups in the country, stating that their numbers have jumped from fewer than 50 five years ago to over 200 today.

In this context, he announced that August 23 will be celebrated as 'National Space Day' and invited citizens to share their suggestions on how they plan to mark the occasion.

Stressing the new energy with which Indian science is progressing in the 21st century, he proudly spoke of Indian students winning medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad.

"Devesh Pankaj, Sandeep Kuchi, Debadatta Priyadarshi and Ujjawal Kesari - these four made India proud," he said.

He also acknowledged India's achievements in mathematics, noting the students' performance at the International Mathematical Olympiad, where they brought home three gold, two silver and one bronze medal.

Looking ahead, PM Modi said India will host the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad in Mumbai next month, with participants from 60 countries.

He noted that this will be the largest such Olympiad held so far and added, "In a way, India is now moving forward in both Olympic and Olympiad."
Mumbai, July 27 : Veteran actor Chetan Hansraj has expressed hope that the return of the iconic show "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" will help revive the golden era of Indian television.

Mumbai, July 27 (IANS) Veteran actor Chetan Hansraj has expressed hope that the return of the iconic show "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" will help revive the golden era of Indian television.

He believes the show's comeback could reconnect audiences with the kind of storytelling that once defined the small screen. In an interview with IANS, Chetan reflected on the evolution of Indian television and shared that while the medium has undergone many changes, the shift hasn't necessarily been in terms of content. He noted that the golden age of televisionmarked by fresh concepts and powerful storytellingseems to have passed, leaving the current landscape feeling stagnant.

The 'Brahmarakshas' actor expressed, "Television has changed a lot, but not necessarily in terms of content. The golden age of television has passed. There was a time when TV was booming with fresh concepts and strong storytelling. Now, things feel stagnant. I hope with the return of shows like Kyunki, especially under Ekta ji and Smriti ji, the golden era can be revived."

On a related note, Ekta Kapoor's show 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2' is all set to premiere on July 29 on Star Plus. The highly anticipated new chapter of the reboot will see the iconic duo Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay reprise their beloved roles as Tulsi and Mihir Virani. The show also features Hiten Tejwani, Gauri Pradhan, Shakti Anand, Kamalika Guha Thakurta, Shagun Sharma, Rohit Suchanti, Aman Gandhi, Ankit Bhatia, and Tanisha Mehta.

Meanwhile, Chetan Hansraj, best known for his villainous roles in shows like "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii," "Kkusum," and "Kya Hua Tera Vaada," also shared his thoughts on the topic of typecasting in the television industry.

When asked if actors tend to get typecast in the industry, Chetan explained that being typecast can actually be beneficial, as it means an actor has made a lasting impact. He stated, "Honestly, getting typecast can be a good thing. It means people remember you for something. If a producer thinks of a villain and your name comes to mind, that's a win. In today's time, being memorable is rare, so having a strong imageeven if it's typecastis actually valuable."
The wildlife overpass under construction on Interstate 25 between Larkspur and Monument will be the "worlds largest bridge structure built for wildlife," officials said in a release Friday as they marked the project's halfway point.

Measuring 200 feet wide and 209 feet long, the massive I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass will cover nearly an acre once completed. It will span six lanes of traffic, on a stretch of the interstate traveled by more than 100,000 vehicles each day, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

While significantly shorter than the half-mile-long Zanderij Crailoo Nature Bridge in the Netherlands, Colorados overpass is wider. It's also wider than Californias Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, which is currently under construction and will span 10 lanes of traffic.

With the stretch of the interstate between Castle Rock and Monument averaging "one wild-life vehicle crash a day in the spring and fall seasons," officials say the bridge is expected to reduce wildlife collisions by 90%.

There are already five nearby underpasses in the area, this bridge, however, will benefit elk and pronghorn in particular. Officials say both species prefer to cross "open structures that provide clear and open sight lines" instead of tunnels. Moose, bear, mountain lions, mule deer and smaller animals are expected to use the structure as well.

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During the next phase of the project, a bridge superstructure will be constructed over the girders, officials said. The work will include "pouring the concrete bridge deck and tying into abutments, building walls, grading slopes, preparing the soil and wildlife landscaping, and installing wildlife fencing," according to the release.

According to CDOT, signs will be posted to alert motorists of traffic impacts during instruction, including:

Daytime and nighttime lane closures in both directions of I-25

Periodic nighttime Express Lanes closures on I-25

Temporary lane realignments, narrowed lanes and reduced shoulders on I-25

Reduced speeds through the work zone

The $15 million overpass is expected to be completed in December 2025.
Chennai, July 27 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has urged the Central government to immediately release the state's pending share of over Rs 2,100 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and reaffirmed the state's commitment to the two-language formula of Tamil and English.

In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Saturday, CM Stalin highlighted that the state continues to oppose the three-language formula prescribed under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

"Tamil Nadu has consistently expressed its contrarian views on the three-language policy and will adhere to its long-standing two-language formula," the memorandum said, according to an official statement issued on Sunday.

CM Stalin, who is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai after experiencing dizziness on July 21, had approved the memorandum before it was formally handed over to the Prime Minister during his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu.

The memorandum urged the Prime Minister to clear the Centre's share of Rs 2,151.59 crore for the year 2024a"25 under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme and release the first instalment for 2025-26.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the Centre not to make this fund release conditional upon Tamil Nadu signing the PM SHRI agreement, which the state has reservations about.

"The non-sanctioning of the required funds affects the future of lakhs of students," the Chief Minister noted, emphasising the importance of timely disbursal for the state's education sector. The memorandum also raised other key demands, including the Centre's approval for the proposed metro rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai, to be implemented under a 50:50 cost-sharing model between the state and the Centre.

He further called for the expedited implementation of pending railway infrastructure projects and an increase in suburban rail services in Chennai to ease commuter pressure.

Raising concern over the repeated arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, the Chief Minister sought a lasting diplomatic resolution to the issue and requested immediate steps for the release of Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats currently in Sri Lankan custody.

Prime Minister Modi is in Tamil Nadu on a two-day visit to inaugurate key development projects and participate in cultural events.
United Nations, July 27 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Cambodia and Thailand to reach an agreement for a ceasefire.

Guterres urges both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the dispute, said Farhan Haq, the UN chief's deputy spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday.

Guterres "is deeply concerned about the continuation of armed clashes at the border between Cambodia and Thailand since 24 July," he said.

"The Secretary-General condemns the tragic and unnecessary loss of lives, injuries to civilians and the damage to homes and infrastructure on both sides," Haq said. The UN chief "remains available to assist in any efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the dispute."

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also posted on his social media platform Truth Social, that he has spoken to the Prime Minister of Cambodia and the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand to request a ceasefire between the two countries, Xinhua news agency reported.

Thailand and Cambodia both want to have an immediate ceasefire and peace, according to Trump.

Trump also said the United States is currently dealing with trade with both countries, but he doesn't want to make any deal with either country if they are fighting.

"After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be natural. We will soon see," he noted.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday reiterated Cambodia's willingness for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" between the armed forces of Cambodia and Thailand after the phone discussion with Trump.

Thailand on Sunday responded to Trump's call for a ceasefire, saying that the country agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place but would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.

Gunfire continued to be heard along the Thailand-Cambodia border in the early hours of Sunday, the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand reported, citing Thai army sources.
Kolkata, July 27 : Amid the rising political heat in West Bengal over the issues of 'Bengali Pride' and 'Bengalis in Danger' with both Trinamool Congress and BJP weaponising their narratives and counter-narratives, the other two political forces in the state, namely CPI(M)-led Left Front and Congress, are gasping for their alternative storylines.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that her war cry on the issues of "Bengali Pride" and "Bengalis in Danger" will be her party Trinamool Congress' principal campaign line against the BJP for the crucial West Bengal Assembly elections next year. The BJP, also, has pronounced its strategy to counter Mamata Banerjee's "Bengali victim card" by the counter-narrative that this sudden popping up of Bengali Pride is nothing but the Chief Minister's ploy to protect the illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators in West Bengal since the latter constitute the dedicated vote bank of her party.

Now in the midst of this narrative war between Trinamool Congress and BJP, both the CPI(M)-led Left Front as well as the West Bengal unit of Congress are trying hard to form their alternative storylines, which are neutral and different from the fervours of the BJP and Trinamool Congress narratives.

Political observers feel that creating these alternative narratives is quite a herculean task for both the Left Front and the Bengal unit of Congress. "The narratives coined by both BJP and Trinamool Congress on the issues of Bengali Pride and Bengalis in Danger have straitjacket patterns. However, neither the Left Front nor the Bengal unit of Congress can adopt such a narrative. They have to coin such narratives that neither appear to be tilted towards the BJP's pattern nor appear to be toeing the line of the Trinamool Congress. That is exactly where the process of producing alternative storylines is difficult in this matter, for both Congress and the Left Front," a city-based political analyst said.

That is why the leaders of both these forces are currently floating politically convenient statements, which appear to be countering the lines of both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress at the same time.

Both the CPI(M) and the state Congress leaders, on one hand, are describing the alleged events of harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states as attacks on the Indian democratic system, and on the other hand, are accusing Mamata Banerjee of exploiting the Bengali sentiment to suit her political convenience.

Another point where both CPI(M) and Left Front are attacking the Chief Minister is on describing her party's movement on this issue of Bengali harassment as the 2nd "Bhasha Andolon (Language Movement". Historically, "Bhasha Andolan" was a political movement in what was then East Pakistan, advocating for the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language of the country, which ultimately led to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation after erstwhile East Pakistan was liberated from Pakistan in 1971.

At the same time, both CPI(M) and Congress leaders are also holding Mamata Banerjee responsible for the reported plight of the Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states, considering that her flawed economic and industrial polices had left West Bengal dry of employment opportunities, which forced lakhs of Bengalis to migrate to other states in search of livelihood.

According to CPI(M) Central Committee member Minakshi Mukherjee, Mamata Banerjee herself is responsible for the harassment of Bengali-speaking people in the country, as a large number of people left the state as migrant workers during her tenure as Chief Minister.

"Has the TMC government done anything to protect the sanctity of the Bengali language and Bengali-speaking people? Migrant labourers from Bengal are being targeted in Assam and other states. Who is responsible for this situation? Why can't her government provide them with jobs? She cannot make people forget her government's failure to ensure a proper livelihood to Bengali-speaking people," said Mukherjee.

Senior state Congress leader and the party spokesman in the state, Soumya Aich Roy, said that Mamata Banerjee should first stop the exodus of Bengali people from West Bengal due to a lack of jobs and industries, before using Bengali sentiment to mislead the people.

"Mamata Banerjee is trying to tap into the Bengali sentiment by bringing reference to Bhasa Andolan. Instead of doing this, she must provide jobs to the people so that this migration stops," he added.
New Delhi, July 27 : Addressing his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to revolutionary Khudiram Bose for the patriotism he displayed in the fight for the nation's freedom.

Khudiram Bose was sentenced to death during the British rule in India for his role in the Muzaffarpur Conspiracy Case for the attempted assassination of a British judge.

During the 124th episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said, "Imagine, early morning, Muzaffarpur city of Bihar, the date -- August 11, 1908... every street, every square, every movement seemed to have come to a halt at that time. There were tears in the eyes of the people, but there was fire in their hearts. People had surrounded the jail, where an 18-year-old youth was paying the price for expressing his patriotism against the British."

At the time of his hanging, Khudiram was 18 years, 8 months, and 8 days old, making him the second-youngest revolutionary in India to be executed.

"Inside the jail, British officers were preparing to hang a young man. There was no fear on the face of that youth; rather, it was full of pride. The very pride that those who die for their country feel. That brave, courageous youth was Khudiram Bose," PM Modi said.

"At the age of just 18, he showed such courage that it shook the whole country. Even the newspapers reported then -- "When Khudiram Bose walked towards the gallows, there was a smile on his face." After such countless sacrifices, after centuries of penance, we got independence," he said.

"The country's diehard patriots nurtured the freedom movement with their blood," the Prime Minister added.

Recalling the revolutions that took place in India during August, PM Modi highlighted, "The month of August is therefore the month of revolution. August 1 is the death anniversary of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. During the same month, on August 8, the 'Quit India Movement' began under the leadership of Gandhiji."

"Then comes August 15, our Independence Day... we remember our freedom fighters, get inspired by thema but friends, the pain of the Partition of the country is also associated with our Independence. That is why we observe August 14 as 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day'," the Prime Minister said, mentioning that the Swadeshi Movement was also started in August.
New Delhi, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the Mansa Devi stampede in Uttarakhand's Haridwar that claimed six lives.

PM Modi extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished for a speedy recovery of the injured.

He said that the local administration is assisting those affected, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a post on the social media platform X.

"Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected: PM @narendramodi," the post read.

Expressing grief over the incident, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami earlier in the day said that extremely distressing news was received about the stampede.

He said rescue and relief operations were underway, and he was closely monitoring the situation.

"Extremely distressing news has been received about a stampede breaking out at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar. Uttarakhand SDRF, local police, and other rescue teams have reached the spot and are engaged in relief and rescue operations, CM Dhami said in his post on X.

"The death of six people in the heart-wrenching stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar is deeply saddening. I pray to God that the souls of the departed find a place at His divine feet and that the grieving families are granted the strength to bear this immense sorrow," the CM further said.

CM Dhami announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

He also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Authorities confirmed that relief work is still underway, and the situation is being closely monitored. Further details regarding the Haridwar incident are still awaited as authorities continue to assess the situation.

Every year, Haridwar sees a massive influx of pilgrims during the month of Shravan, especially at the revered Har Ki Pauri and Mansa Devi Temple.
Raipur, July 27 : In a decisive preemptive strike ahead of the 'Naxalite Martyr Week', security forces in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district dismantled three Maoist memorials in a joint operation aimed at countering insurgent propaganda and morale-building efforts, police officials said.

Acting under the coordinated command of senior officers from the Bastar and Dantewada police ranges as well as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the operation was launched in the early hours of July 26 as part of a broader area domination and search initiative.

The tactical sweep through the villages of Malewahi, Puspal, and Kahchenar led to the identification and destruction of three memorial structures constructed to mark the memory of slain Maoist cadres - CCM Anand alias Sudarshan Kartam, Deputy Commander Ramsu Korram, Jaiman, and Sanita.

Two of the memorials were made of wood and one of cement and stone. Security personnel, equipped with axes and crowbars, razed these installations, which are often used by CPI (Maoist) to consolidate local influence and commemorate their casualties during their annual Martyr's Week observance from July 28 to August 3, the official said.

The operation was led by Commandant Rajiv Kumar of CRPFas 195th Battalion and Inspector Naresh Salam, with direction from senior IPS officers including IG Sundarraj P., DIG Kamalochan Kashyap, DIG Rakesh Chaudhary, SP Gaurav Rai, ASP Udit Pushkar, and ASP Ramkumar Barman. Their coordinated effort forms part of a larger Naxal eradication drive focused on disrupting Maoist visibility and psychological influence across Dantewadaas sensitive zones.

Security forces also established contact with villagers in Kahchenar, where residents affirmed their support for law enforcement and appealed for accelerated development. The interaction underscored a critical strategic pivot; alongside tactical operations, the state's emphasis on civilian trust and development is gaining traction.

Having returned safely to their base, the forces remain on high alert as the banned Maoist outfit prepares for its annual commemorative activities.

Through heightened patrolling, structural demolitions, and robust intelligence-gathering, authorities aim to neutralise subversive efforts and reaffirm administrative presence in remote and vulnerable territories.
Beijing, July 27 : Torrential rains in China have resulted in the evacuation of more than 3,000 residents in Beijing's suburban district of Miyun.

The meteorological observatory in Miyun issued an upgraded red alert for torrential rains at 9:06 p.m. on Saturday, the highest level in China's four-tier colour-coded weather warning system.

Between 12 p.m. on Saturday and 2 a.m. on Sunday, the district recorded an average rainfall of 73.5 millimetres, with the heaviest precipitation reaching 315.3 millimetres at Huangtuliang Station. This intense and localised downpour triggered flash floods -- disrupting access to roads, power supplies and communication networks in several villages.

The extreme weather forced the closure of 12 major roads in Miyun, seven of which have since reopened. Contact has been established with all the affected villages, with a total of 3,065 residents across 149 villages having been safely relocated as of 5 a.m. on Sunday. No fatalities have been reported -- while evacuation and rescue operations are still underway.

Weather forecasts indicate continued rainfall in Miyun on Sunday. These conditions are expected to ease slightly on Monday, with lingering risks of downpours in mountainous areas of this district.

Meanwhile, the Miyun flood control and drought relief headquarters has activated a Level-I flood control emergency response to carry out relevant rescue operations.

Torrential rainfall has continued to lash China in the past few weeks.

Last week, the Beijing municipal government upgraded its rainstorm warning to yellow, the third highest, and activated a citywide flood-control emergency response.

The alert also warned of potential mountain torrents, mudslides, landslides, and waterlogging in low-lying areas.

Hydrological and meteorological authorities jointly issued waterlogging and mountain flood warnings for specific areas, advising the public to avoid waterlogged areas and stay clear of mountainous regions.
Mumbai, July 27 : Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is receiving a lot of positive response to his recently released streaming movie 'Sarzameen', feels that the bad phase of Hindi cinema will not last forever.

The actor recently spoke with IANS during the film's promotional leg in Mumbai, and shared that while Malayalam cinema is doing great, of late, he is well aware that the great phase of Malayalam cinema will not last forever. So is the case with the lull in Hindi cinema.

Prithviraj told IANS, "So firstly, it's not that we have never had a time or phase where we've also struggled for content. There have been times. I'm experienced enough to know that nothing is permanent. Right now, we are going through a great phase in Malayalam cinema in terms of content creation. And I hope that it's a phase that will last forever. But I've done this long enough to know it won't. There will be phases".

The actor shared that the Malayalam cinema has learnt one thing the hard way, "you will have to respect and trust the audience".

He further mentioned, "The audience is probably way more intelligent than you give credit to them for. So if you actually choose a story, whatever story it might be, and you make it honestly, and you make it purely for what the story demands, the audience will most likely end up liking it and appreciating it".

The actor said that problem starts when makers start setting up projects and not make cinema, and this mistake is not exclusive to Hindi films, Malayalam cinema too had its share of such things.

"I think we go wrong more often when we try to design projects rather than make cinema. We've all made that mistake. I've also made that mistake. And we'll again repeat those mistakes. That's what cinema is. So I'm sure it will keep happening. And also, it's not that every film made in Malayalam is great. We also have our off days. We also have our off-colour films. That will keep happening", he added.
Washington, July 27 : Leylah Fernandez battled all the way back to pull off a gruelling, three-tiebreak victory and reach her first final in over a year, beating No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) in a 3-hour and 12-minute contest at Washington Open.

Rybakina had not lost serve through 7-6(2), 5-4, where she served for the match. Naturally, Fernandez had her exactly where she wanted her. Staring down a match game at 5-4 in the second set, Fernandez's cracking returns helped the Canadian earn her first service break of the day when she needed it most.

Once the third set hit, Fernandez was the sturdier player in rallies down the stretch. Bolstered by her never-say-die attitude, these returns and rally groundstrokes could lead Fernandez to her fourth career title, and her first since 2023 Hong Kong. All of her three career WTA singles titles have come on hard court, WTA reports.

Fernandez will next face Anna Kalinskaya, who eased past 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-3 in the day's second semifinal.

DC Open is arguably Kalinskaya's best stop on tour. She holds a 9-2 main-draw win-loss record at the event and has never lost before the quarterfinals here, including a semifinal showing in 2019 as a qualifier ranked No. 160.

Kalinskaya went one further this year and is into her second career WTA singles final, following WTA 1000 Dubai and WTA 500 Berlin, both last year. After narrow losses in both of those finals, she has another opportunity to join the club of WTA singles titlists, according to WTA stats.

The summit clash is a huge chance for World No. 36 Fernandez and World No. 48 Kalinskaya, both of whom have previously been ranked inside the Top 20. This WTA 500 trophy would be the biggest career title for either of them -- in fact, Kalinskaya has yet to win a WTA singles title at all.

Fernandez narrowly defeated Kalinskaya in their only previous meeting, which was over four years ago. On the hard courts of Guadalajara in 2021, Fernandez squeaked past Kalinskaya 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.
New Delhi, July 27 : Government-owned NTPC Green Energy Ltd has inked an MoU with Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited (BSPGCL) to set up renewable energy and battery energy storage projects (BESS) in the state as part of the Centre's policy to reduce the carbon footprint in the country.

The agreement was signed between Sarit Maheswari, CEO (NGEL), and Abdesh Kumar Singh, Director Technical (BSPGCL), in the presence of Minister of Energy, Planning and Development, Bihar, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and other senior officials from the state government.

The MoU comes close on the heels of NTPC Green Energy Ltd winning a 1,000 MW capacity solar PV power project auction of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited last month. The company signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) at a discovered tariff of Rs 2.56 per kWh.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, earlier this month, enhanced the financial powers of NTPC Limited from Rs 7,500 crore to Rs 20,000 crore for Renewable Energy capacity addition.

As India's leading power utility, NTPC aims to add 60 GW of Renewable Energy Capacity by 2032, which will help the country move towards its larger aim of having 'Net Zero' emissions by 2070.

The enhanced financial powers given to NTPC and NGEL will facilitate the accelerated development of renewable projects in the country. This move will also play a vital role in strengthening power infrastructure and ensuring investment in providing reliable, round-the-clock electricity access across the nation, according to an official statement.

Renewable Energy projects will also generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local people at the construction stage, as well as during the Operations and Maintenance Stage. This shall provide a boost to local suppliers, local enterprises/ MSMEs and shall encourage the entrepreneurship opportunities within the country, besides promoting employment and socio-economic development of the country, the statement said.

India has achieved a landmark in its energy transition journey by reaching 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources - five years ahead of the target set under its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement. The country is aiming to reach 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
British car and van production has slumped to its lowest level for the first half of a year since 1953, in a grim sign of the turmoil battering the nation's once-proud motor industry.

Falling production!

Fresh figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) paint a bleak picture, with bosses blaming stalled factory lines on uncertainty over tariffs in the US - Britains second biggest market for motors.

The chaos, triggered by months of confusion over trade terms, led several manufacturers to slow or even stop output in early 2025. Though a new UK-US tariff deal has since come into effect, industry leaders warn the damage has already been done.

SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes also raised concerns over the new Government electric vehicle (EV) grant scheme, which has sparked 'chaos' for car firms and buyers.

Ministers announced last week that drivers could bag up to 3,750 to switch to a greener ride, as part of a push to meet tough net zero targets. The cash will only apply to motors with a list price under 37,000, and even then, the level of support is tiered depending on how environmentally sustainable the car is.

Chinese and Korean EV models are expected to be excluded from the new discounts, but no formal list has been published, leaving consumers and carmakers scratching their heads.

He said: "The difficulty is, we do not know. Nobody knows, but nobody, not even the government really knows yet, which models and which brands will qualify.

"Right now your dealer cannot tell you whether the model you are considering is eligible."

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told BBC Breakfast he was "very concerned" about the sector, calling it the "jewel in the crown" of British manufacturing.

He stated: "I am very concerned about automotive, the pressures on the system which come from the US trade agenda, but also an incredible increase in capacity from China. It is why as a government we have adopted so many measures specifically around the automotive sector."

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


LETTERS:Where do we want the unhoused to go?; two-tiered justice system
New Delhi, July 27 : The National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) decision to include 'Operation Sindoor' in school textbooks has sparked widespread appreciation among retired military officers, who hailed the move as a milestone in instilling patriotism and awareness about national security in the younger generation.

Colonel Rajiv Khakera (Retd.), from the Army's Core of Air Defence, expressed immense pride over the inclusion. "We all saw how the Army, through precision gunfire and missile systems, carried out a tremendous job during Operation Sindoor. It is a matter of great happiness that every child in the country will now learn about this heroic chapter. It will serve as a strong motivational factor for joining the Army," he told IANS on Sunday.

Lt. Colonel Kapil Dutt (Retd.) echoed similar sentiments, terming the NCERT's decision "very good". He added, "Young students will be highly encouraged. Learning about Operation Sindoor in detail will ignite a sense of service and inspire many to take up careers in the armed forces."

Operation Sindoor, widely regarded as a decisive counter-terrorism operation, has emerged as a defining moment in India's internal security strategy. Its inclusion in school curricula, veterans believe, will ensure that the legacy of those who served with courage is preserved for future generations.

General P.S. Malhotra (Retd.) welcomed the move while also appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's outreach initiatives like 'Mann Ki Baat'. "I hope 'Mann Ki Baat' continues well beyond 200 episodes. The Prime Minister is truly connected with the people. As for Operation Sindoor, its addition to NCERT books is a great decision that strengthens our national identity."

Wing Commander Praful Bakshi (Retd.) highlighted the symbolic importance of the operation. "It is essential for school children, college students, and the public to understand the impact of Operation Sindoor. It has now become a symbol -- one that marks the beginning of the end of terrorism in India."

The move by NCERT is expected to be implemented in the upcoming academic cycle and is being seen as part of a broader push to integrate military history and national pride into India's education system.
New Delhi, July 27 : The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has strongly rejected the allegations made by an opposition leader regarding irregularities in organic cotton certification under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), a Ministry of Commerce and Industry statement said on Sunday.

In the statement, the APEDA clarified that the claims made during a recent press briefing were "unfounded, unsubstantiated and misleading", and only serve to weaken the credibility of Indiaas robust regulatory system.

The NPOP, launched in 2001 by the Department of Commerce, is Indiaas official organic certification programme for exports.

It is implemented by the APEDA and follows a strict third-party certification process. The system has been recognised as equivalent to the standards of the European Union, Switzerland, and accepted by the UK, with a mutual recognition arrangement in place with Taiwan as well.

Addressing the allegations that organic cotton production is concentrated only in Madhya Pradesh and involves a limited number of farmer groups, the APEDA said this is entirely incorrect.

As of July 19, the NPOP covers 4,712 active organic grower groups across 31 states and Union Territories -- representing nearly 19.3 lakh certified farmers producing a variety of crops including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, tea, coffee, spices, and cotton.

The APEDA also clarified that cotton is covered under NPOP only till the production stage.

Post-production processes like ginning and processing are handled under separate private certifications, not under NPOP.

The claims that farmers receive Rs 50,000 per hectare as a subsidy under NPOP were also dismissed by the APEDA, stating that neither the Department of Commerce nor the APEDA provides any such financial support under the programme.

To ensure credibility, the NPOP has a multi-layered system of checks. Certification Bodies, both government and private, carry out annual audits and inspections of farms.

These are further monitored by the National Accreditation Body (NAB) through unannounced audits coordinated by the APEDA.

Any case of non-compliance or malpractice is thoroughly investigated, and strict action is taken against defaulting certification bodies or grower groups.
New Delhi, July 27 : The 14th edition of the India-Singapore joint military drill, 'Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025', commenced on Sunday at Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Scheduled to run until August 4, the exercise aims to deepen defence cooperation and enhance operational synergy between the armies of the two countries.

New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) The 14th edition of the India-Singapore joint military drill, aExercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025a, commenced on Sunday at Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Scheduled to run until August 4, the exercise aims to deepen defence cooperation and enhance operational synergy between the armies of the two countries.

The joint drill will see the participation of Indiaas Mechanised Infantry Regiment and the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment of the 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade.

This year's exercise is structured as a Table Top Exercise and Computer-Based Wargame, focused on validating mechanised warfare strategies under a United Nations mandate. Colonel Arjun Ganapathi, Commanding Officer of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, is leading the Indian contingent, while Lieutenant Colonel Khiew Zhi Yoong, Battalion Commander of the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment, heads the Singaporean side.

The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of senior military officers, including Brigadier Pritam, Commander of 340 (I) Mechanised Brigade, and Colonel Wong Zeng Yu, Commander of the 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade, as chief guests.

A symbolic handing over of the Regimental Flag from the Singaporean to the Indian contingent marked the formal transfer of operational responsibility, showcasing the spirit of collaboration and mutual trust between the two nations.

The culmination of the exercise will include an impressive equipment display by the Indian Army, aimed at sharing capabilities and fostering greater tactical understanding. The drill is designed to improve interoperability, facilitate the exchange of best practices, and promote joint mission readiness.

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 stands as a testament to the growing strategic alignment between India and Singapore, contributing to peacekeeping capabilities and regional stability. The ongoing cooperation highlights the commitment of both nations to maintaining a robust and responsive defence partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.

It is worth noting here that in the past few years, India and Singapore have strengthened their defence ties. Last year, at the sixth India-Singapore Defence Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Singapore counterpart, and both agreed to step up defence cooperation and enhance industry cooperation, including in automation and artificial intelligence.
New Delhi, July 27 : The ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) has created a vacuum, and multiple terror groups are trying to occupy that space. While the PFI has not been able to revive itself since most of its top leaders are behind bars, one old-time group, the Al Ummah, has been making inroads in the southern states.

The blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru was an eye-opener for the agencies, since it had the Al Ummah signature. Further investigations have found that the entire responsibility of reviving the Al Ummah has been handed over to Farhatullah Ghauri, an operative based out of Pakistan.

The Al Ummah is not an unknown outfit in south India. It was the same group that attempted to assassinate senior BJP leader L.K. Advani in Coimbatore in 1998. Founded by Syed Ahmed Basha in the early 1990s, the same outfit was responsible for the 1993 bombings outside the RSS office in Chennai, which claimed 11 lives. While carrying out terror attacks, the group, since its inception, has been actively urging the Indian Muslim youth to undertake terror attacks against pro-Hindu leaders and activists.

The agencies say that the revival attempts being made by these groups cannot be taken one bit lightly. Al Ummah has had leaders who have been popular with the local Muslim population. An example of this was the funeral of Basha.

There was a huge controversy around the funeral, with many questioning the need for a procession. In fact, there were also condolences that poured in from some political leaders, indicating the clout he enjoyed. Finally, the funeral took place on December 17, 2024, with 2,000 Tamil Nadu Police and Rapid Action Force personnel being deployed for security reasons.

The Al-Ummah at the time of its formation had said that it was being founded to avenge the Babri Masjid demolition. However, later on, it operated as small groups such as the Base Movement and took on the system. Members of the outfit were unhappy with the conviction of Basha and the manner in which the system handled the Abdul Nasar Madani case. When it operated as the Base Movement, it attempted to target the judiciary and police officers.

The Base Movement, however, failed to take off, and this set off the revival plans. The outfit decided that it would be called the Al Ummah itself, as the name resonates with many in south India.

On encrypted messaging channels, the Al Ummah, led by the Pakistan-based Ghauri, 59, circulated messages indicating that it was time to revive. The message was titled: "Let us pledge to rebuild the Babri Masjid".

Further, the cadres have also created a group called Sawt al Haq on the secure messaging platform, Signal. Created in December 2024, following the death of Basha, the messaging groups today have over 150 members, thus suggesting the rapid rate at which it has been growing.

The first message to be posted on the group read: "The Sawt ul Haq team is proud to bring the story and history of Al Ummah to you. This is a humble attempt by Ustad Farhatullah Ghori and the team of Sawt ul Haq to share the profound efforts, sacrifices, and valour of the Mujahideen of Al Ummah. We aim to educate and inspire by honouring the luminous path they forged and the legacy they left behind. Through this platform, we seek to offer an informative experience that highlights the significance of their journey and the values they fought for. By exploring their history, we can better appreciate the sacrifices made and the lessons learned, ensuring their enduring legacy continues to inspire generations to come. We hope this effort serves as a reflection and connection with the remarkable individuals who laid the foundation for the battle of Ghazwa e Hind."

In addition to messages, Ghauri has also posted several videos. He has posted a long video praising Basha and calling him a true warrior who never begged for mercy or concessions from the enemies. He also heaped praises on the Rameshwaram Cafe bomber.

For the Al Ummah, Ghauri is their best bet. He is radical, an extremist, and knows the southern states well as he originally hails from Hyderabad. His first stint was when he joined the Darsgah Jihad-o-Shahadat or the Centre for Jihad and Martyrdom. In 1995, he left for Saudi Arabia and from there he began raising funds to finance the terror activities of the Al Ummah. Apart from the Al Ummah, he has helped in other terror missions such as the Akshardham attack in 2002 and the 2005 suicide bombing at the Task Force office in Hyderabad.

These suggest clearly that Ghauri is a major threat, and hence the agencies are on his trail. The Intelligence agencies have warned the state police to keep a close watch on the gatherings, possibly by Al Ummah recruits. The agency also says that Jihadi groups are desperate for a strong terror group in the south, and in Al Ummah, they find their answer.
Seoul, July 27 : South Korea has the second-highest share of manufacturing in its gross domestic product (GDP) among major economies, data showed on Sunday, underscoring its vulnerability to the aggressive tariff measures by the United States.

The manufacturing sector accounted for 27.6 per cent of South Korea's GDP in 2023, far higher than the average 15.8 per cent of the member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), according to the National Assembly Budget Office (NABO).

It ranked second among OECD member countries, following Ireland at 31 per cent. By comparison, Germany recorded 20.1 per cent and Japan 20.7 per cent.

"While most advanced economies are seeing an increasing share of the service sector, South Korea continues to maintain a relatively high level of manufacturing output," the office said. "Given the size of its economy, South Korea is still regarded as a country with a relatively high dependence on manufacturing."

The manufacturing sector remains the backbone of the Korean economy, with key industries, including semiconductors, rechargeable batteries, shipbuilding and automobiles, maintaining global competitiveness.

Driven by its manufacturing-based economy, South Korea remains highly dependent on exports as a key growth engine.

As of 2024, exports accounted for 44.4 per cent of the nation's GDP, compared with the OECD average of 30 per cent.

Among the Group of Seven (G7) nations, Germany posted the highest export-to-GDP ratio at 41.8 per cent, followed by France with 33.9 per cent, Italy with 32.7 per cent and Canada with 32.4 per cent. The US recorded 10.9 per cent.

South Korea's export dependence on the US stood at 18.8 per cent in 2024, Yonhap news agency reported.

Given the country's high manufacturing ratio and export reliance on the US, the envisioned reciprocal tariffs are feared to deliver a major economic blow.

Last-minute negotiations are under way between Seoul and Washington, as the Donald Trump administration has warned that South Korea will face a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff unless a deal is reached before August 1.

"If the proposed reciprocal tariffs take effect, the Korean economy could suffer a significant impact," said Yang Joon-seok, an economics professor at the Catholic University of Korea.

"We should leverage our strengths in key sectors, such as shipbuilding and semiconductors, during the negotiations," he added.
Kolkata, July 27 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will on Monday kick off her "weekly protest movement" against the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states.

Kolkata, July 27 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will on Monday kick off her "weekly protest movement" against the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states.

She will lead a protest rally there in Birbhum district. The reason for choosing Birbhum as the starting venue of the protest, which Mamata Banerjee describes as another "Bhasha Andolan (Language Movement)", is the district's rich association with Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and the Gurudev-founded Visva Bharati University at Bolpur-Santiniketan in the district.

Political observers feel that Mamata Banerjee has deliberately chosen the district as the starting venue to exploit Bengali nostalgia associated with Gurudev.

The Chief Minister has started facing criticisms about labelling the protest as "Bhasha Andolan", since, historically, Bhasha Andolan was a political movement in what was then East Pakistan. It was a campaign advocating for the recognition of the Bengali language as an official language, which ultimately led to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation after erstwhile East Pakistan was liberated from Pakistan in 1971

At the event, Mamata Banerjee is likely to air her reservations on the special intensive revision (SIR) of West Bengal's electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. The SIR exercise is ongoing in neighbouring Bihar, where Assembly elections will be held before the end of this year.

As per the Chief Minister's office, Banerjee will reach Birbhum district on Sunday night. On Monday, she will attend an administrative meeting in Bolpur, where she will do online inauguration of several government projects.

Later in the day, CM Banerjee will launch the Bhasha Andolan march in Bolpur-Santiniketan.

"The Chief Minister will hold an administrative meeting at Gitanjali Theatre in the afternoon tomorrow. Following that, she will join the language movement procession. The procession of about three kilometres will commence from the Tourist Lodge crossing in Bolpur to Jamboni bus stand," said a state government official.

The CM will also garland the statue of Rabindranath Tagore at Jamboni and address the gathering from a makeshift stage. From there, the Trinamool Congress chief is likely to give a clarion call to her party leaders and workers to fight against the alleged high-handedness of the BJP and put an end to the alleged discrimination against Bengalis in the country.

"We are expecting direction from Banerjee at tomorrow's protest rally on how to counter the BJP. This attack on migrant workers from Bengal has to stop. We are ready to start the movement," said Trinamool Congress's Birbhum district committee chairperson, Asish Banerjee.

The Chief Minister is scheduled to return to Kolkata from Birbhum on Tuesday. Before that, she will attend a government programme in Ilambazar of Birbhum district.

The Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, slammed CM Banerjee for her protest against the BJP.

"She is doing this to stop the Election Commission of India from conducting SIR in West Bengal. She wants to support Rohingya and Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators, as they are her dedicated vote bank. If SIR takes place, then these false voters and infiltrators will be removed from the voter's list. Scared by this, Mamata Banerjee is fighting tooth and nail to stop SIR in Bengal. But let me make it very clear that those who have entered the state illegally will be pushed back," said Adhikari.
Chennai, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Operation Sindoor has sent a clear message to the world that India will respond strongly to any threat against its security and sovereignty.

Speaking at the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur district, he said, "Today's India prioritises its security. During Operation Sindoor, the world witnessed that if anyone threatens India's sovereignty, the country will respond in their own language. This operation has instilled a new sense of confidence and ignited a spirit of unity across the nation. There is no haven for India's enemies and terrorists anywhere in the world."

The Prime Minister was addressing a special function marking the valedictory celebrations of the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival and the 1000th anniversary of Rajendra Chola's maritime expedition to Southeast Asia.

The event was held at the Gangaikonda Cholisvaram temple, a UNESCO-recognised marvel built by Rajendra Chola I.

Offering prayers at the feet of Lord Brihadeeswara, PM Modi said, "I prayed for the well-being of 140 crore Indians and the continued progress of the nation. I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity."

PM Modi announced that grand statues of Chola emperors Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola will be erected in Tamil Nadu to commemorate their contributions to Indian history and culture.

He said the Chola Empire represented a golden era of India, with achievements in architecture, governance, diplomacy, trade, and cultural integration.

"The Cholas established strong political and trade ties with Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. It is a coincidence that I returned from the Maldives yesterday, and today I stand here in the land once ruled by these visionary kings," he remarked.

Reflecting on India's civilizational values, the Prime Minister said, "The Cholas pioneered democratic principles even before Britain. Their kudavolai system is considered one of the earliest forms of participatory democracy. They were also leaders in water management and temple architecture."

He praised Tamil Nadu's deep Shaivite traditions and noted that more than 30 stolen antiquities retrieved by the Union government from across the globe belonged to Tamil Nadu.

"Saivite poet Thirumoolar said, 'Anbe Sivam' -- Love is God. If the world adopts this idea, many of today's crises, such as instability, violence, and environmental destruction, can be resolved. India is taking this message to the world through 'One World, One Family, One Future'," he added.

Visibly moved by the spiritual ambience and musical tribute by Ilaiyaraaja, PM Modi greeted the people with a "Vanakkam Chola Mandalam!"

He said, "The darshan of Lord Shiva and the divine music of Ilaiyaraaja have filled my soul with bliss. The exhibition here on the Cholas was awe-inspiring."

Governor R.N. Ravi, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu (representing Chief Minister M.K. Stalin), Union Minister of State L. Murugan, and VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan were among the dignitaries present at the event.
New Delhi, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, praised the efforts of Mani Maran, the Tamilian pundit of Saraswathi Mahal Library, who has been doing commendable work in preserving ancient manuscripts.

The library has published as many as 20 books, penned by him.

Addressing the monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, PM Modi said that Maran's initiative reflects how individuals can contribute to protecting India's intellectual and cultural heritage.

Mani Maran, Tamil pundit of Saraswathi Mahal Library, spoke to IANS after PM Modi's appreciation and called it a "fulfilling experience".

"I'm not sure how the Prime Minister came to know about me, but it's fulfilling to be recognised. I've always believed that my hard work would one day be acknowledged. I'm grateful to the Prime Minister for the appreciation," he said.

Sharing his first reaction on being named by PM Modi in his 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, the Tamilian scholar said that he was thrilled about the development and also elaborated on his extensive research and training sessions for students on manuscripts.

"I'm thrilled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned me in today's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, which I never expected. For years, I've been working on research in archaeology, history, and manuscriptology, bringing out related information, and training students. Our library has been instrumental in this endeavour. Currently, I'm conducting evening classes where I teach students about Tamil manuscripts.

He further said that the information in manuscripts is a treasure trove of Tamil heritage, containing medical notes, historical facts, and technological information.

"We have over 2.5 million manuscripts, and there's still much to be uncovered. As a single individual, it's impossible for me to study and publish all of it. That's why I'm training students to read manuscripts, so they can contribute to this field," he informed.

He also underlined the need for bringing a level playing field in the sector.

"The number of students interested in learning this is limited due to limited job opportunities. If we offer better pay and job prospects, more students would be interested. Over 30 students trained by me are working in various places, but their pay is not comparable to what's offered in the IT sector. If the remuneration were better, more students would be willing to learn," he stated.

PM Modi, taking note of his sincere endeavour, in the radio address, highlighted how his students have not only become proficient in reading the texts but have also begun research into traditional medicine based on them.

PM Modi underlined the importance of preserving such texts, calling them "chapters of the soul of India" that must be passed on to future generations.
Taipei, July 27 : Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that four Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels were tracked operating around the island until 6 a.m. (local time) on Sunday.

According to Taiwan's MND, four People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response to China's military action, Taiwan's armed forces monitored the situation and deployed aircraft, naval vessels, and coastal-based systems.

"4 sorties of PLA aircraft and 10 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 4 out of 4 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwanas southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly," Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence posted on X.

This latest incursion follows a recent pattern of Chinese military activity around Taiwan. Earlier on Saturday, Taiwan's MND reported that 17 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels were detected near its territory by 6 a.m. (local time) on Saturday. Taiwan's armed forces monitored the situation and responded to Chinese military activity.

In a statement shared on Saturday on X, the MND said: "17 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 out of 17 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwanas southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

The MND also reported Chinese military activity near Taiwan's territory on Friday. In a statement, the ministry said that 26 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and one official ship were detected operating until 6 a.m. (local time) on Friday.

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), governed independently since 1949, continues to face threats from China, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory under the "One China" principle and insists on its reunification with Beijing. Despite China's efforts, Taiwan, backed by strong public support, continues to assert its sovereignty.

Taiwanese armed forces have remained on high alert, tracking the incursions and responding to them as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard the island's sovereignty and maintain regional stability.
Quetta, July 27 : Paank, the Human Rights Department of Baloch National Movement (BNM), said on Sunday that the Pakistan military establishment has crossed the red line in the resource-rich province of Balochistan with the abduction of various women activists.

"In recent years, Pakistan has crossed the red line of human rights violations, religious, and humanitarian in Balochistan. The Pakistani military establishment is torturing, detaining and abducting young Baloch women, which is a grave concern for human rights defenders. They are even violating their laws in the province," said the human rights body in a statement.

Paank further emphasised that despite being a region rich in natural resources and coastal trade benefits and a feeder to the Pakistani state, Balochistan is suffering inhumane behaviour and human rights violations at the hands of the Pakistani military establishment.

The human rights body pointed out that Balochistan is facing extreme military violence, like resource extraction, deprivation of basic facilities, military operations, enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, criminalisation and collective punishment.

"The Pakistani military establishment is torturing, detaining and abducting young Baloch women.

Paank said that the torturing, detaining and abducting of the young Baloch women is a grave concern for human rights defenders.

"This new trend started in 2006. Zarina Marri, a Baloch schoolteacher, has been incommunicado. She was picked up by the Pakistani military. Reports from whistleblowers and human rights observers indicate that she has suffered physical, psychological, and sexual torture in custody, used as a tool of

repression, humiliation, and control," the body said.

It added that Zarina Marri's case is not isolated but part of a sustained, deliberate campaign of state terror waged by the Pakistani military establishment against Baloch women and activists.

Paank said that the arbitrary arrests and harassment of Mahrang Baloch, Bebow Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, and Mahjabeen Baloch for peacefully demanding justice and human rights expose a system built on the brutal suppression of dissent.

"We (Baloch) have knocked every door of justice but only received condemnation from you, not practical action against the barbaric practice of the Pakistani state against the Baloch people. And yet, despite years of escalating abuse, where is your outrage? Where is your intervention? Where are the investigations, the condemnations, the demands for accountability?" the body said.

Paank said that human rights and feminist groups have never hesitated to condemn state violence in Palestine, Iran, India, Myanmar, and elsewhere.

"But when it comes to Balochistan, your silence is loud, and your inaction is complicity," Paank added.
New Delhi, July 27 : Commenting on the National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) decision to include 'Operation Sindoor' in school textbooks, the Chairman of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board, Maulana Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, on Sunday lauded the move, asserting that this would apprise the youth of the valour of the Indian armed forces.

Talking to IANS in New Delhi, he said that the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board has already taken a proactive step in this direction.

"We have made it mandatory for all madrasas in the state to include Operation Sindoor in their curriculum. Our children must know how the Indian Army bravely carried out a counterattack inside Pakistan, which is a country without a proper constitution and a known promoter of terrorism," he said.

Calling the NCERT's move a "great step," Qasmi emphasised the importance of instilling national pride and moral values among students.

He also backed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's proposal to include the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayan in school syllabi.

"If the life of Lord Ram is brought before students, it will inspire change in their behaviour. When youngsters read about the life of Lord Ram, the number of old-age homes will also reduce, because Lord Ram is the 'Maryada Purushottam'an ideal figure of dignity and duty. The teachings of the Gita also promote self-discipline and righteousness," he said.

Underscoring his message, Qasmi also said, "Religion must serve the nation, but the nation is above even religion. That is the highest principle."

The endorsement from a prominent Islamic education leader is being seen as a gesture of cross-community support for military valour and cultural integration in education.

Notably, the decision to include Operation Sindoor in school textbooks has brought in a wave of enthusiasm amongst military veterans who have hailed the move as a milestone in instilling patriotism and awareness about national security in the younger generation.
New Delhi, July 27 : Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged district-level officials to expedite the implementation of the PM Awas Yojna and Lakhpati Didi schemes.

During a visit to his parliamentary constituency, Vidisha, he held a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) in Raisen. The meeting involved in-depth discussions on public welfare issues such as steps to check black marketing in fertilisers and crackdown on the sale of counterfeit fertilisers, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Lakhpati Didis under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and water infrastructure.

While reviewing the work of the PM Awas Yojana (Gramin) a" Awas Plus, Chouhan instructed that the scheme should be implemented in such a way that beneficiaries receive their instalments on time. He stressed on ensuring zero negligence in construction works and called for rigorous monitoring at the district level to ensure timely completion. In the fiscal year 2024-25, as many as 27,981 houses have been approved across all Gram Panchayats of the district a" 4,825 are complete, and 23,156 are under progress.

Chouhan reviewed the progress under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and asked for a detailed count of Lakhpati Didis. He weighed on the fact that more and more women should be empowered to become Lakhpati Didis through a concrete action plan. It has been said that the district currently has 43,613 Lakhpati Didis.

The Union Minister obtained scheme-wise information during the review of the agriculture departmentas work in the district. He directed that strictest action be taken against people who are engaged in black marketing or selling counterfeit fertilisers, as it amounts to a grave injustice against farmers.

The minister also inquired about the procurement of amoonga (green gram) and instructed officials to inspect procurement centres.

During a review of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the Minister directed that every village be connected to main roads, ensuring seamless rural connectivity and improved access to services. It was reported that under the 2024-25 plan, 30 roads covering 276.236 km have been sanctioned, of which 28 roads have been completed. Similarly, of 13 sanctioned bridges, nine have been completed. The meeting also reviewed the work of the National Highways Authority of India.

The Minister directed agriculture officers to visit fields regularly and advise farmers about appropriate pesticides in case of crop diseases. He emphasised using Krishi Vigyan Kendras to disseminate the latest agricultural techniques and also instructed on getting on with early preparations for the rabi (winter) crops. Upon being informed that Basmati rice from the district had been rejected in international markets, he told officials to educate farmers against using internationally banned pesticides.

Chouhan asked for details about reservoirs and pond water storage conditions during the review of the Water Resources Department. He reiterated that under the Jal Jeevan Mission, every household must have tap water access and that all incomplete projects must be finished at the earliest. He also reviewed the Energy Departmentas progress, particularly under-construction electricity substations, and instructed that they too be completed without any further delay.
New Delhi, July 27 : Indian courts are burdened with a massive load of 5.29 crore pending cases, official data up to July 21 available on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) showed on Sunday.

The maximum number of 4.65 crore cases are pending in district and subordinate courts, followed by 63.30 lakh cases in High Courts and 86,742 cases in the Supreme Court, the data showed.

Apart from the burgeoning case backlog, the district and subordinate courts appear to have struggled to work at full strength.

According to the Department of Justice, as against a sanctioned strength of 25,843 judicial officers as on July 21, 2015, the lower courts are working with a strength of 21,122.

"Filling up of vacancies in District and Subordinate judiciary falls within the domain of the State/UT governments and High Courts concerned," according to a statement by the Law and Justice Ministry.

As a measure to reduce backlog, arrears committees have been set up in all 25 High Courts to clear cases pending for more than five years, and similar arrears committees have now been set up under District Courts as well, the Ministry said.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, in a recent reply in Parliament, shared details of government measures taken to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court and the High Courts.

"From May 1, 2014, to July 21, 2025, 70 Judges have been appointed in the Supreme Court. Apart from this, 1,058 new judges were appointed, and 794 Additional Judges were made permanent in the High Courts during the same period. The sanctioned strength of judges of the High Courts has increased from 906 in May 2014 to 1,122 till date," said Meghwal.

He also informed that Fast Track Courts have been established for dealing with cases of heinous crimes, cases involving senior citizens, women and children. As of June 30, 2025, 865 Fast Track Courts are functional across the country.
New Delhi, July 27 : A day before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission's decision to undertake a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, ECI On Sunday said that it has successfully concluded the enumeration phase of the Special Summary Revision (SIR) in Bihar, held from June 24 to July 25, 2025.

In what is being hailed as one of the most comprehensive electoral exercises in the state, more than 7.24 crore electors - out of a total of 7.89 crore - submitted their enumeration forms, reflecting a massive outreach and high voter engagement.

According to a detailed press release shared by the election commission, as many as 65 lakh voters will not figure in the state's new draft electoral rolls, which are to be published on August 1. This includes 22 lakh deceased electors (2.83 per cent), 36 lakh (4.59 per cent) who have permanently shifted or not found and seven lakh (0.89 per cent) who have enrolled at more than one place.

This large-scale campaign, which began just a few months before the high-stakes Bihar assembly elections, was aimed at ensuring "No Elector Left Behind", with a focus on first-time voters, urban populations, migrants, and vulnerable groups such as the elderly and persons with disabilities.

All 12 major political parties actively took part in the exercise. The number of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) appointed by political outfits increased by over 16 per cent during the campaign.

Notably, CPI(M) and Congress recorded over 100% increase in BLA nominations, with CPI(M) showing a remarkable 1083% jump. BJP led the tally with over 53,000 BLAs, followed closely by RJD and JD(U). To ensure maximum inclusion, more than 5.7 crore SMS alerts were sent to registered voters, while the CEO of Bihar collaborated with counterparts across States/UTs to reach temporary migrants from Bihar.

Around 29 lakh forms were submitted digitally, either through the ECI website or mobile app, signifying an increasing shift towards tech-savvy voter engagement.

Similarly, "electors whose Enumeration Forms were received were sent repeat SMSs, as an acknowledgement of submission of their form. A total of 10.2 crore SMSs have been sent since the beginning of the exercise," the poll panel said.

Young citizens turning 18 by October 1, 2025, are being encouraged to register from August 1 to September 1.

"ECI will conduct special campaigns across Bihar from August 1 to September 1 2025, to enrol such young electors, so that all eligible electors can be enrolled and no one is left out," the ECI said.

Volunteers and officials are assisting senior citizens and PwD voters in completing documentation. The draft roll will be made available both digitally and in print on August 1.

Any inclusions, deletions, or corrections must be submitted during the one-month window. No name will be removed without a formal speaking order, and appeals can be made under Section 24 of the RP Act, 1950.

With meticulous planning and mass involvement, the ECI's enumeration push in Bihar is being seen as a model for voter inclusion and electoral transparency.
Chennai, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur district on Sunday and offered prayers, on the occasion of the Chola emperor's birth anniversary, Rajendra Chola I - one of the greatest rulers of the Chola empire, known for expanding its reach as far as Southeast Asia.

PM Modi's visit to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple saw an outpouring of emotion among the locals as they gave him a grand welcome and also thanked him for restoring the glory of the Chola empire. The streets of Gangaikonda Cholapuram also reverberated with 'Modi Modi' chants, during his visit.

A woman who attended the event at the temple said, "We came here to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has brought big development in our district. We are proud to see him participate in the Aadi Thiruvadirai event and to see him in person."

A BJP worker said, "We came from Thiruvidaimaruthur to see the Prime Minister. We're thrilled to have had the opportunity to see the country's Prime Minister, so close to us. We're delighted to see him. It's clear that there will be a change in government in Tamil Nadu this time."

Another party worker from Vandavasi said, "PM Modi's visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram has energised the people. Seeing the way the public welcomed him gives us goosebumps. PM Modi came here to showcase the greatness of Rajendra Chola to the world. He made this rural area a special place globally, and everyone is looking at it with pride."

Another person, Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, said, "PM Modi is the Vishwaguru of the world. He lives for the people. He has done a lot for every section of society, including the minorities. Some negative forces in Tamil Nadu try to tarnish his name, but he continues to live for the people."

A person who brought a portrait of PM Modi said, "I have brought a photo of Prime Minister Modi being blessed by his mother. It's truly her blessings that have enabled him to serve the nation so tirelessly. There's a lot we can learn from him. He works tirelessly from 4 a.m. every day. The country won't progress solely due to his efforts; we also need to support his endeavours."

PM Modi also offered prayers at the temple, amid chants of Vedic and Saivite Thirumurai, and took a tour of the complex, which is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the 'Great Living Chola Temples'.
Hyderabad, July 27 : Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, on Sunday demanded that BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao respond to the allegation of BJP MP C. M. Ramesh that he had once approached him with a proposal to merge his party with the BJP.

Stating that the claim made by Ramesh is true, Bandi Sanjay asked K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) to respond.

The MoS was speaking to media persons in Karimnagar on Sunday.

Ramesh, a member of Lok Sabha from Anakapalli in Andhra Pradesh, had claimed on Saturday that a few months ago, KTR had come to his house in Delhi and put forth the merger proposal, and that he had video evidence of it.

Ramesh said KTR had offered to have an alliance or to merge the BRS with the BJP on the condition that ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI probes against his sister, K. Kavitha, and others would be halted.

The BJP MP had dared the BRS leader to swear by God and tell whether he had approached him with such a proposal or not.

Ramesh made the claim while responding to KTRas allegation that Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy awarded contracts to a company owned by the BJP MP.

When Bandi Sanjayas attention was drawn to a challenge thrown by KTR for a debate on his allegation, the MoS said he was ready to facilitate the debate and asked the BRS leader to fix the date, time and venue.

The MoS also cited Prime Minister Narendra Modias claim made at a public meeting in Nizamabad in 2023 that K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) had approached him with a request to include BRS in the NDA and also sought support to make his son KTR the chief minister. PM Modi had said he rejected his request on the ground that BRS is a family-centric party.

The Minister of State claimed that BRS leaders were unable to run the party and alleged that the party is neck-deep in corruption.

He also claimed that KTR had approached C.M. Ramesh in 2009 when KCR had refused to give him a ticket for the Assembly election for the first time. Ramesh not only convinced KCR to field KTR but also provided him financial support to contest the election, he said.

The BJP leader accused KTR of using some social media accounts and YouTube channels to make derogatory comments against the BJP and its leaders. He warned the BRS leader that there would be aattacksa in response to such comments.
Canberra, July 27 : Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit held a meeting with US Indo-Pacific Command's Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Joshua Rudd on the sidelines of Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia and discussed various avenues for strengthening defence cooperation and future operational operations, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff said on Sunday.

In a statement shared on X, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff stated, "Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff #CISC #HQ_IDS held bilateral discussions with Lt Gen Joshua Rudd, Deputy Commander US Indo-Pacific Command on the sidelines of Exercise #TalismanSabre2025. Various avenues for strengthening #DefenceCooperation and collaboration, as well as future operational opportunities, were discussed. #India - #USA Defence engagements underscore mutual resolve towards #RegionalSecurity and stability in the #IndoPacific."

Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit also held bilateral discussions with Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, Australian Defence Forces, on the sidelines of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025. The two military leaders discussed growing defence cooperation between the two nations with the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

"Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff #CISC #HQ_IDS_India, held bilateral discussions with Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, Australian Defence Forces, on the sidelines of Exercise #TalismanSabre2025. The military leaders discussed the growing #DefenceCooperation, with the elevation of bilateral relations between both nations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Future avenues for operational interaction and cooperation were also discussed," Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff posted on X.

On Saturday, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit participated in the Australian Defence Forces Chiefs of Joint Operations Conclave, being held as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia's Darwin. According to the statement, Air Marshal Dixit attended panel discussions on contemporary issues spanning across the full spectrum of warfare on the first day of the conclave.

In a statement shared on X, Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff stated, "Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, #India is participating in the Australian Defence Forces Chiefs of Joint Operations Conclave, being held as part of Exercise #TalismanSabre2025 at Darwin, Australia. During the first day of the Conclave, #CISC attended panel discussions on contemporary issues spanning across the full spectrum of warfare."

"The conclave brings together senior military leaders from 19 participating nations, fostering dialogue on #MultiDomainOperations, interoperability and #RegionalSecurity cooperation. India's participation underscores the nation's resolve to strengthen defence partnerships & contribute to a free, open & inclusive #IndoPacific through collaborative security initiatives," it added.

Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit is on a visit to Australia from July 26-28 to witness the 11th edition of the ongoing Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 (TS25).

Six officers from the Indian Armed Forces are participating in the ongoing TS25 as Staff Planners at various levels of Joint Operations Planning, Control, Safety and Logistics. Indian officers have earlier participated in 2021 and 2023 as Observers.

The exercise will showcase extensive interoperability and joint warfare capabilities across air, land, maritime, space and cyber domains, according to the press release.
Kolkata, July 27 : The Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Sunday, alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government appointed undeserving candidates as booth-level officers (BLOs).

Speaking to media persons on Sunday, Adhikari claimed that despite having permanent government employees, the state government had appointed its temporary employees as BLOs. He also alleged that a section of block development officers (BDOs) in the state was too involved in this conspiracy.

"These BDOs are those who got jobs by paying money to the West Bengal Public Service Commission with fake other backward class (OBC) certificates and submitting blank papers in examinations. In a bid to secure their jobs and keep Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in good humour, these BDOs have appointed temporary employees as BLOs despite having permanent employees at their disposal," said Adkhikari.

The BJP leader further claimed that he has about 50 names of such BLOs. "The number might increase. They should be arrested. The Trinamool Congress wants to win the election by any means," he said.

Meanwhile, Adkhikari alleged that Baguihati and New Town areas, on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, have become a camp of illegal Bangladeshis, Muslims, and Rohingyas.

In a social media post, the BJP leader said that it was difficult to find people living in these areas who are not aware of the fact that the Baguiati area and New Town-Rajarhat areas of Kolkata have become a camp for illegal Bangladeshi Muslims.

aThe local leadership of the Trinamool Congress, with the help of the administration, is arranging fake Indian identity documents and documents for these illegal infiltrators whose names have already been registered in the voter list," the Leader of the Opposition added.

Sharing a video footage of the area, Adhikari said these people are the ones who participated in Trinamool Congress's July 21 Martyrs' Day rally and other meetings and processions.

"So when the crackdown starts in other provinces of the country, Mamata Banerjee gets all fired up because she has worked so hard to build her vote bank. If they are 'pushed back' in Bangladesh, not only will her government, but the party itself will be in crisis," he added.

Adhikari also said that the Chief Minister had started to carry out various political programmes till the 2026 Assembly elections, in the interest of all these illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslim infiltrators.
Agartala, July 27 : At least nine Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionaries were injured on Sunday after the workers of Tipra Motha Party (TMP) allegedly attacked the BJP members who assembled at Taksapara village in Khowai district to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' Programme, officials said.

A police officer said that around 30 BJP functionaries, members and supporters were assembled at a house at Taksapara village under Asharambari Assembly Constituency to listen to the Prime Minister's monthly Mann Ki Baat Programme.

"When the Mann Ki Baat Programme was going on, a large number of TMP workers attacked the gathering injuring nine BJP functionaries with two of them seriously. Local people took the injured to the Khowai district hospital," the official said.

The TMP attackers also damaged eight bikes and two cars belonging to the BJP functionaries. A huge contingent of security forces led by senior police officials deployed in the tension ridden areas.

BJP Mandal President Jayanta Debbarma said that when the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme was underway around 100 unruly youths of the TMP attacked the party gathering.

"The attackers vandalised my vehicle too and also attacked the owner of the house where the Mann-Ki-Baat programme was organised. They also vandalised many bikes and several other vehicles," Jayanta Debbarma told the media.

BJP leaders Papiya Datta, Pinaki Das Chowdhury and Bipin Debbarma separately condemned the incident and demanded severe action against the attackers.

Bipin Debbarma, state BJP's General Secretary, said that a delegation of BJP leaders from Agartala rushed to Khowai district.

"Chief Minister Manik Saha and state BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee talked with the TMP leaders and discussed the unexpected incident," Bipin Debabrma told the media.

Asharambari Assembly Constituency is represented by senior TMP leader and Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma.

According to Bipin Debbarma, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, spoke with Minister Animesh Debbarma over the incident.

The attackers used lathi, 'dao' (a sharp-edged weapon) and other locally made sticks to attack the BJP functionaries and members, Bipin Debbarma said, and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the attackers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his thoughts with the people of the country and abroad in the Mann Ki Baat programme on Akashvani on Sunday, and it was the 124th episode of the monthly radio programme on Sunday.

The Tripura Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues, many other leaders and thousands of workers and party members from across the state like previous episodes also listen to the programme on Sunday.

--IANS

sc/pgh
Phnom Penh/Bangkok, July 27 : Leaders from both Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to meet for ceasefire talks after US President Donald Trump issued warnings to both their Prime Ministers.

Both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart, Phumtham Wechayachai, issued statements agreeing to meet for ceasefire talks.

These statements came after Trump issued warnings to the countries, threatening not to make any trade deals with them if the "deadly" clashes due to border conflicts continued.

On one hand, the Cambodian PM, thanking Trump, mentioned that Cambodia agrees with the "proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces", further adding that he had called for a ceasefire to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, before this.

On the other hand, a statement released from Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was more subtle and measured, seeking "sincere intention from the Cambodian side" and mentioning the fact that Thailand is interested in convening a bilateral dialogue to bring forward measures needed for the ceasefire, leading to the eventual resolution of the conflict.

Trump allegedly had spoken to both Prime Ministers to go through with his attempts to restore peace.

Trump, taking to X, via a few posts on Saturday, wrote that both countries have agreed to meet. "They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!" he said, mentioning his 'diplomatic' efforts to bring peace.

Trump also added: "They are also looking to get back to the "Trading Table" with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS".

According to CNN, Trump wrote letters to both countries' leaders, warning them of a 36 per cent increase on most of their exports to the US, which will start from August 1.

Officials reported that Thailand and Cambodia provided significant benefits to the US in an attempt to move forward with a trade agreement.

Both countries have been involved in disputes ever since colonial France "drew" a border between them over a century ago.

The clashes between Thailand and Cambodia began on Thursday, reportedly killing more than 12 people, injuring almost a dozen, and causing more than 150,000 civilians to be evacuated, according to officials from both sides.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the dispute, said Farhan Haq, the UN chief's deputy spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday.
Hyderabad, July 27 : A rave party was busted by the Telangana Prohibition and Excise Department in Hyderabad, with nine people arrested and drugs seized, officials said.

The Task Force of the department raided a service apartment in Kondapur in the IT hub on Saturday night and nabbed nine people who were allegedly found consuming drugs.

Police seized 2.08 kg of cannabis (Ganja), 50 grams of OG Kush, a variety of cannabis, 11.57 grams of psychedelic mushrooms (magic mushrooms), 1.91 grams of charas, and 4 LSD blots.

The organisers of the rave party hailed from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, and they allegedly used fake IDs to organise the party discreetly at S.V. Nilayam, a service apartment at Kondapur, police said.

The accused who have been arrested are Rahul, Unnati Emmanuela alias Praveen, Ashok Naidu, Sammela Sai Krishna, Nagella Leela Manikantha, Hilton Joseph, Yashwanth Sridutta, Thota Kumaraswamy and Nandam Sumanth Teja. They are all natives of Andhra Pradesh. Two others, Shrinivas Choudhary and Akhil, were absconding.

Excise police said Rahul was procuring the drugs through the dark web and was supplying them to others through his associate Praveen.

According to officials, the rave party was organised by Vasu and Shivam Rayudu, both residents of Vijayawada. They are suspected of having organised other rave parties in the past, too.

The police also seized six luxury cars from the accused.

The Excise Police registered a case against the accused and launched a hunt for the two absconding suspects. The accused were handed over to the Serlingampally Excise Police for further investigation.

The police were investigating suspected links of the arrested men with rave parties held in the past. The investigators were also looking into the financial transactions of the accused.

This is the latest in a series of drug rackets busted in and around Hyderabad. On July 9, the newly created Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) busted a drug supply network operating from a restaurant in Kompally and arrested six accused.

Restaurant owner, Surya Annamaneni, was arrested for drug peddling along with five businessmen involved in running restaurants, hotels, or pubs in the city.

Two senior police officials were also later arrested on charges of drug peddling and consuming drugs. Nineteen accused, including techies, doctors, upscale pub-owners and businessmen, were found linked to the network.
Kabul, July 27 : The Afghan security forces have discovered a mass weapon and ammunition cache in southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, seizing various types of arms along with a large quantity of ammunition, a statement from the Ministry of Interior said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the security personnel launched an operation based on intelligence reports in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, and discovered weapons, including six AK-47 rifles, a heavy machine gun, PK machine guns, rocket launchers, and hundreds of hand grenades, said the statement.

Additionally, a substantial amount of ammunition and military equipment has been seized during the operations, it added.

Two individuals were arrested in connection with the case, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Afghan interim government has rounded up thousands of arms and a huge quantity of ammunition as part of efforts to stabilise the security situation across the war-ravaged country over the past three and a half years.

On July 24, police discovered some 200 pieces of light and heavy firearms in the eastern Afghanistan Paktia province, reported the state-run Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA).

The weaponry, according to the state-owned media outlet, includes 97 pieces of Kalashnikovs, seven pieces of the M16-type assault rifles, 86 stock pistols, seven rocket launchers, and many more types of arms and ammunition.

Without providing more details, the official media outlet citing police added that no one has the right to keep or carry arms illegally.

In similar operations, police reported the discovery of arms and ammunition, including an anti-aircraft gun, in Afghanistan's northern Samangan province.

On July 17, Afghanistan's security forces discovered a large amount of weapons and military equipment, including 885 hand grenades, in the past four months in eastern Ghazni province, a local official reported.

The contraband, which included 52 various types of arms, 21 AK-27 Kalashnikovs, 21 pistols, two PK machine guns, 885 hand grenades, 15 rocket launchers, 8 mortar shells, and a quantity of war equipment, such as cartridges and bullets, was seized during a series of operations, said Ezatullah Saeedi, provincial government spokesman.

Police have also taken into custody 58 individuals on charges of involvement in criminal activities such as theft, armed robbery, and murder, the official said, adding police won't allow anyone to create law and order problems in the province.
New Delhi, July 27 : There are 10 Special Courts in nine States and Union Territories to fast-track criminal cases involving elected representatives like Members of Parliament and legislators, shows Ministry of Law and Justice data.

These courts were set up following a direction by the Supreme Court in 2017 to the Union government to establish Special Courts exclusively for criminal cases against MPs/MLAs, on the lines of Fast Track Courts (FTCs).

Initially, 12 such Special Courts were constituted in 11 States/UTs. Currently, 10 are functional in 9 States/UTs -- Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi (NCT).

On the front of improving judicial infrastructure for speedy trials, data shared by the Ministry shows that under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for judicial infrastructure the government allocated Rs 1,123.40 crores in 2024-25 and 1,051 in 2023-24.

In 2025-26, Rs 998 crore have been allocated out which Rs 50.48 crore have been utilised till June 30, 2025.

Earlier in 2023, unhappy with the slow pace of trials in Special Courts for criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs, the Supreme Court issued detailed guidelines to High Courts to expedite criminal cases against lawmakers.

The apex court directed High Courts to register a suo-motu case to monitor the progress of these cases.

The top court directed that a Special Bench of the High Court, headed by the Chief Justice or a bench assigned by them, will hear the suo-motu case and pass necessary orders for early disposal.

The Special Courts empowered to hear cases involving elected representatives have been mandated to prioritise cases based of the severity of the offence.

According to the priority, criminal cases punishable with death or life imprisonment are supposed to be on top of the list, followed by criminal cases punishable with five yearsa imprisonment or more and other cases.

The 10 Special Courts for hearing criminal cases against MPs and MLAs are part of a proposal of the Fourteenth Finance Commission to establish fast track courts for dealing with cases of heinous crimes, cases involving senior citizens, women and children.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal told the Lok Sabha recently that as on June 30, 2025, a total of 865 Fast Track Courts are functional across the country.

The 865 FTCs functioning across 21 State/UTs have a combined pendency of 14.38 lakh cases as on June 30, 2025.

The Minister of State said that the Central government had approved a Centrally-Sponsored Scheme for setting up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) across the country, for the expeditious disposal of pending cases of rape and POCSO Act.

As on June 30, 2025, 725 FTSCs including 392 exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) Courts are functional in 29 States/UTs, which have disposed of more than 3,34,000 cases since their inception.
Islamabad, July 27 : As the sit-in in Islamabad continues for the 12th day on Sunday, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) accused Pakistani authorities of making systematic efforts to suppress and intimidate Baloch people, adding that the police on Sunday started checking the identity cards of protesting people, further escalating the harassment.

In the statement shared on X, BYC accused law enforcement personnel and intelligence officials of taking pictures of protesting women and the buildings they are residing in, calling it a move to "mark them for intimidation." It stated that the road to the Islamabad Press Club remains sealed and people were not being allowed to set up a protest camp despite the scorching heat.

The ongoing protest calls for the release of BYC leaders and putting an end to enforced disappearances in Balochistan. The BYC has urged journalists, human rights defenders, democratic forces, and people to support the Baloch people.

"Day 12 - Islamabad Sit-In: Pakistani Authorities continue their systematic attempts to suppress and intimidate Baloch families. Today, Islamabad Police have begun checking the CNICs (identity cards) of protest participants, further escalating the harassment. This is in addition to repeated profiling, video surveillance, and threatening behaviour targeting those present at the sit-in. Last night, personnel from law enforcement and intelligence agencies began tailing protestors, following elderly mothers and women back to their temporary residence. They took photographs of them and the building they were residing in - clearly marking them for intimidation. These threatening tactics are taking place with the full backing and coordination of the Islamabad Police. Inside the protest space itself, LEA officials are regularly entering and capturing videos of studentsa faces to instil fear," BYC posted on X.

"Meanwhile, the road to the Islamabad Press Club remains sealed, and families are still not allowed to set up a protest camp, not during the heavy rains of previous days, and not now in this searing heat. Every day, multiple elderly women and children faint from heat exhaustion. These families have come to Islamabad for one reason: to demand the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and to put an end to enforced disappearances in Balochistan. We call on journalists, human rights defenders, democratic forces, and every citizen of conscience: Raise your voice. Stand with these families. Refuse to be complicit in this silence," it added.

Meanwhile, Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, said on Sunday that Balochistan in Pakistan witnessed 84 cases of enforced disappearances and 33 cases of extrajudicial killings in the month of June.

In its recent report titled aBalochistan Human Rights Report a" June 2025a, Paank has documented cases of particularly enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Paank noted that the data mentioned in the report is based on verified reports from June 2025 and demonstrates the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan.

According to the report, numerous cases of enforced disappearances and illegal detentions were reported across 14 districts of Balochistan in June, including incidents from Karachi and Islamabad.

The districts of Kech and Mastung in Balochistan recorded the highest number of disappearances. A total of 84 people were forcibly disappeared in June, as per the report. Among them, many were held without any legal process, and 32 individuals were later released after suffering both mental and physical torture while in custody.

In the report, the Paank accused Pakistani forces of carrying out extrajudicial killings without a pause. According to the report, the Pakistani military is reportedly detaining and killing individuals without any legal process, often for unknown reasons. Paank said that 33 cases of extrajudicial killings were reported in Balochistan in June. It said, "These actions reflect a disturbing trend of unchecked violence by state authorities."
New Delhi, July 27 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in its infrastructure and logistics sectors, which is laying a strong foundation for the country's economic development.

In a virtual address at the third convocation of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya held in Vadodara, Singh said, "the stronger the logistics services, the stronger our borders remain. When we deliver defence products manufactured in one part of the country or food supplies for soldiers to the border on time, the morale of the border guards becomes strong."

Describing the logistics sector as a game changer for 21st century India, the Defence Minister said that it has immense opportunities for the youth who will play a key role in building a developed India. He urged the youth to take responsibility in building a developed India.

Highlighting the government's initiatives, Rajnath Singh said that initiatives like creating multimodal transport hubs and implementing mission mode schemes have significantly reduced logistics costs and encouraged data-based decision-making.

Addressing the event, Union Minister for Railways and Chancellor of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, Ashwini Vaishnaw, highlighted the transformational changes that have taken place in Indian Railways in the last 11 years. He informed that in the last one year alone, the rail network has expanded by 5,300 km, with tunnel construction reaching a total of 368 km.

He stressed on making India a top economy by building human resources focused on every sector through educational institutions like Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya. Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya has signed MoUs with about 40 different industrial and educational institutions. The minister also suggested preparing research papers focusing on marine engineering in the future and entering into MoUs with marine industries.

Vaishnaw described Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya as the "engine of development" and urged the students to support the vision of a developed India by 2047

A total of 194 students received degrees in various subjects at the convocation. One student from each course was awarded the Academic Excellence Award, while Outstanding Project and Best Student Awards were also given.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya Vice Chancellor Professor Manoj Choudhary gave a welcome address and gave information about the institution's performance in the last three years. The programme was attended by Vadodara MP Dr. Hemang Joshi, Rajmata Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad, senior officers of the Indian Army and Railways, students and their parents.

Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, a vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is India's first university focused on transport-related education, multidisciplinary research and training. It is deeply linked with the broader objectives of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan  a plan aimed at revolutionising India's infrastructure and logistics sector.

The Prime Minister's vision for PM Gati Shakti is to create a holistic, integrated, and efficient infrastructure ecosystem for India, addressing past inefficiencies and propelling the nation towards economic growth and global competitiveness. Core principle of PM Gati Shakti is Integrated planning and coordinated execution, bringing together 16 Ministries on a single digital platform to ensure unified planning and synchronized implementation of infrastructure projects across sectors like railways, roadways, ports, and waterways.
Seoul, July 27 : Finance Minister of South Korea, Koo Yun-cheol is likely to meet with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this Thursday to reach a tariff deal just before the hefty reciprocal duties take effect on August 1, according to sources Sunday.

The negotiations, set for Thursday (US time), come as Seoul seeks to reach a trade deal with the United States to lower the 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and sectoral duties set by the Donald Trump administration on South Korean goods.

The meeting is likely to take place at the US Department of the Treasury headquarters in Washington, DC, though the exact time and location of the meeting have yet to be confirmed, the sources said.

The presidential office earlier announced that Koo and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun are scheduled to meet with Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, respectively, next week, as it vowed to make an all-out effort in trade negotiations with Washington, Yonhap news agency reported.

Concerns have grown over whether the two sides will be able to make a breakthrough before the deadline following Washington's abrupt cancellation of high-level trade talks last week.

The announcement followed an emergency meeting earlier on July 26, which was co-chaired by Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac.

The meeting was convened to review the progress of ongoing talks and coordinate Seoul's response as the August 1 deadline for new US tariffs neared.

Key Cabinet members in attendance included Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol; Foreign Minister Cho Hyun; Yoon Chang-ryeol, chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination; and First Vice Industry Minister Moon Shin-hak. They were joined via video conference by Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, who are currently leading negotiations in the United States.

According to the presidential office, the US showed a "high level of interest" in the shipbuilding sector, and the two countries agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the sector.
New York, July 27 : An international team of researchers has found that obesity prevalence would shift significantly under proposed new criteria that could hinder the prevention and early detection of serious health conditions.

The study, published in Plos Global Public Health, analysed data from 56 countries to compare the prevalence of pre-clinical and clinical obesity using the existing BMI criteria with what the prevalence would be under the proposed criteria that requires at least one health condition to already be present before a person is considered clinically obese, such as diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol.

"Obesity is a serious problem and the definitions we use have implications for clinical treatment, health expenditures, disease surveillance, and for peoples' awareness of their own health risks. So, it is important to understand how much any new definition would impact the prevalence of obesity," said lead author Rodrigo Carrillo-Larco, assistant professor of global health at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

The study was authored by researchers from Emory University and Johns Hopkins University in the US, University of Queensland in Australia, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China, and Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and Universidad Cientifica del Sur in Peru.

When the additional health issues were included into the criteria for obesity, the prevalence dropped significantly among the 142,250 adults surveyedwith some nations seeing a drop of more than 50 per centbut the results varied by nation and gender.

For example, the East African nation of Malawi had among the highest decreases in obesity prevalence under the proposed definition, but the decline was uneven among men (68 per cent) and women (53 per cent).

While the new definition could be more aligned with current disease risk, the researchers urged caution before considering a shift in obesity surveillance to the proposed standard because doing so would create substantial challenges in terms of measurement, equity, and implementation. And for individuals who would no longer be considered obese, it could provide a dangerous false sense of security.

"At the population level we would expect the prevalence of obesity to drop, but we should be mindful that it's an artificial drop because the new definition is more strict or complexthat reduction in obesity is not real," Carrillo-Larco said.

IANS

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Chandigarh, July 27 : Expressing concern over growing incidents of disrespect and discrimination against the sacred symbols of the Sikh religion, Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Badal on Sunday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention to put an end to these painful events.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Badal specifically drew his attention to the incident in which a devout and baptized Sikh girl, Gurpreet Kaur, from Tarn Taran district in Punjab was stopped from entering the examination centre in Poornima University in Jaipur as a candidate for the Rajasthan Judicial Services on the plea that she was wearing her sacred articles of faith  'kara' and 'kirpan'.

"This is a gross violation of her constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 25 of the statute and it denied her fundamental right to practice her religion. Article 25 of the Constitution specifically mentions 'kirpan' among other symbols of Sikh religion which are exempt from any bar even in flights," wrote Badal.

"It is shocking that rules, if any, are framed by lower authorities flouting the sacred Constitution. The government of India should issue, or, if necessary, re-issue clear-cut guidelines to all states and Union Territories about the exemption to the inseparable articles of faith," said Badal in his letter missive to the Prime Minister.

The Akali chief said this was not a one off incident but part of the ever increasing number of examples of religious intolerance towards the uniqueness of Sikh identity.

In a similar incident last year, two Sikh girls were stopped from appearing for Rajasthan Judicial Services in an exam centre in Jodhpur.

"Sikhs and their identity are inseparable and this was duly acknowledged and constitutionally mandated for compliance for all purposes in the country by the founding fathers. But some officials at lower rungs deem themselves even above the Constitution. This must stop as this vitiates communal harmony in the country," wrote Badal, adding: "You (the PM) are personally aware of the profound spiritual and emotional significance of the Sikh religious symbols and what these mean to our devoutly religious and fiercely patriotic community. I request you to issue immediate directions for compliance to ensure full respect to these symbols at all levels across the country."

Badal also urged the Rajasthan High Court to provide the victimised Sikh girl Gurpreet Kaur a special opportunity to appear for the examination, ensuring her right to uphold her faith is respected.
Shimla, July 27 : In less than four months after recognising mountainous Pangi in Chamba district as Himachal Pradesh's first natural farming subdivision, 2,244 families have been practising chemical-free farming in the valley.

The state government on Sunday said it is now planning to transition all 2,920 hectares of cultivated land, covering agriculture, horticulture, and other farming areas, to 100 per cent natural farming in the landlocked Pangi Valley.

Locals, largely farmers and shepherds, have welcomed the government to formally declare their area as the first natural farming subdivision. They view the decision as a crucial step towards preserving their traditional farming practices, enhancing food security, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in the remote areas bordering Jammu and Kashmir.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu made an announcement in this regard on Himachal Day, April 15.

Raj Kumar, a resident of Dhanvas village in the valley, said, "This decision was long overdue, but it's encouraging that the state government has finally taken a step to ensure the welfare of the people in this region. We have seen families who leased out their land for cultivation while living outside Pangi now regretting it. The use of chemical-based farming has rendered their land barren."

Farmers say natural farming has already shown promising results in improving soil health, reducing costs, and restoring ecological balance. They believe the official recognition will bring greater visibility, institutional support, and market opportunities for their unique and naturally grown produce.

Other growers, Sheela Devi and Sunita Kumari from Punto village, said, "We are not in a position to venture into entrepreneurship because we are not very well-off and own only small landholdings. But if we adopt chemical-free farming practices today, we will have something valuable to pass on to the next generations."

Acting on the Chief Minister's directive, the Agriculture Department has prepared a detailed roadmap focused on providing handholding support, training, and capacity building for the farmers. The initiative is being rolled out in a phased and decentralised manner. In the first phase, village-level planning, assessments, and mobilisation efforts will be carried out, followed by extensive training programmes and on-ground demonstrations, an official statement said.

To ensure timely access to natural farming inputs, panchayat-level bio-input resource centres (BRCs) will be established, which will supply natural formulations such as 'beejamrit', 'jeevamrit', 'dashparni ark', and 'agniastra', etc. They will also function as community hubs for training and knowledge exchange, particularly supporting farmers who do not own cows, which are essential for preparing many of these inputs.

In the later phases, the initiative will focus on infrastructure development, including the construction of poly-houses, cold storage units, and other essential facilities. Additionally, the formation of self-help groups (SHGs), farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and farmer producer companies (FPCs) will be promoted to strengthen farmer institutions and collective bargaining power.

Deepak Kumar, village head of Suraal gram panchayat, said, "This is a major step towards the economic growth of our area, as natural farming produce will fetch fair and remunerative prices for the hard work of our farmers. We are grateful to the state government, especially Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, for taking a personal interest in uplifting the region's economy by promoting natural farming in the Pangi Valley."
Bhopal, July 27 : In a decisive move following public outrage over the police cane-charge at the Rajput student hostel in Harda district, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered the immediate removal of several senior administrative and police officials.

The action comes in response to the July 13 incident, where police forces allegedly used excessive force during a protest led by the Karni Sena.

According to the Chief Minister's statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), and Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) have been relieved of their duties in Harda. Also, the in-charges of Kotwali and Traffic Police Stations have been attached to the Narmadapuram Inspector General's office.

Dr. Yadav cited "improper use of force" and "negligence in resolving the situation sensitively" as grounds for the administrative overhaul.

The unrest began when Karni Sena activists staged a 16-hour sit-in at the Khandwa bypass, protesting alleged police protection of an Indore-based businessman accused of defrauding Rs 18 lakh in a diamond deal.

Tensions escalated as police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and ultimately resorted to lathicharge to disperse the demonstrators. Eyewitness accounts and viral videos suggest that police entered the Rajput hostel and used force against students, sparking widespread condemnation across the state.

Among those arrested were nearly 60 individuals, including Karni Sena's national president Jeevan Singh Sherpur.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, with Congress figures such as Digvijaya Singh and Jitu Patwari demanding a judicial probe and accusing the government of suppressing dissent.

Singh personally visited the hostel and shared video testimonies from affected students, describing the police action as "barbaric" and "undemocratic".

The Human Rights Commission has also been approached by community representatives, who allege caste-based targeting and demand an independent investigation into the conduct of law enforcement personnel.

As protests ripple across Madhya Pradesh, including coordinated demonstrations in Ratlam, Indore, and Shajapur, the Chief Minister's swift administrative response signals an attempt to contain the political fallout and restore public confidence in the state's governance mechanism.
Srinagar, July 27 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor (L-G), Manoj Sinha, said on Sunday that the students of the University of Kashmir (KU) must be employed to build a greater future for J&K and the entire country.

The L-G said that KU alumni can become catalysts of progress and development in India, including J&K.

"They can highlight what changes have taken place or what changes are still needed to ensure the bright future of J&K. Not only the alumni, but the present-day students of the University form part of the great human potential that can be and must be employed to build a greater future for J&K and the entire country," he said while addressing the Mega Alumni Meet 2025 at the campus.

The L-G said that all those who excelled in various fields after passing out from the KU are the true brand ambassadors of this university.

He further called upon the distinguished alumni of the KU to facilitate internship and career placement of the students, as they have reached a stage in life where they have the influence to help such career placements in various fields.

"The entire alumni of this university is an extended family. I must refer to Karan Singh, who is an alumnus of this institution, but is not present here today and also Ghulam Nabi Azad and Justice Magray, who are present here today.

"I am sure whenever the name of their Alma Mater is mentioned to them by any student, there must be a specific glow and shine in their eyes," he said.

After addressing the alumni meet, the L-G said on X posted, "Happy to have addressed the alumni meet of the University of Kashmir. Called upon distinguished Alumni to come forward to strengthen the higher educational institutions of J&K, and with their expertise and network in various sectors, they should contribute to the peace & progress of J&K."
New Delhi, July 27 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday accused AAP leaders of spreading rumours on slum demolitions, reiterating the government's commitment to rehabilitate eligible slum residents in case their dwellings are razed for development projects.

The Chief Minister made the announcement at the slum camp (Faatak wali jhuggi) near the railway crossing in Shalimar Bagh on Sunday, where the Railways have issued a notice for demolition as part of a project to expand the Azadpur railway station.

CM Gupta assured residents of the slum that her government has allocated Rs 700 crore in the Budget for the development of slum settlements.

She stated that whenever slums need to be removed for any reason, arrangements are being made to provide houses to the eligible residents.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the slum dwellers not to be misled by the "broom-wielding" (AAP) leaders, as during their government, they merely treated slum residents as vote banks and encouraged the supply of alcohol to these areas.

Now that the current government is working on developmental schemes for the slum communities, these leaders are trying to incite unrest and mislead the residents, she said.

CM Gupta pointed out that a survey of the Faatak wali jhuggi area was conducted in 2020, but the then Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government neither took any decisions nor held talks with the Railways. "But we have now begun working on a plan for you, so that you do not face any hardship," she said.

She made it clear that if slums have to be removed for the sake of development projects or any other legitimate reasons, the government will ensure proper rehabilitation for the eligible residents so that they too can become part of Delhi's growth story.

CM Gupta assured that she would speak to the Ministry of Railways and make arrangements for housing for the residents of this area. "You will get complete justice. The Delhi government is fully committed to this," she said, adding that there is no need to panic.

The Chief Minister also criticised the Congress and AAP governments, stating that in the past 40 years, no development has taken place in Delhi's slums.

"These parties have only seen slum dwellers as vote banks and have constantly tried to exploit them, while also damaging the city's geographical character," she said.

CM Gupta said that AAP leaders are making baseless allegations that the Delhi government is focused on removing slum dwellers.
Itanagar, July 27 : Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd.) said that providing a secure and nurturing space would help remove the barriers that often prevent young tribal girls from continuing their education.

Inaugurating the 72-room Krishna Kumari Tribal Girls' Hostel of Arunachal University of Studies (AUS) in Namsai, the Governor said that by providing a secure and nurturing space, the hostel facility would help remove the barriers that often prevent young tribal girls from continuing their education, be it distance, safety, or economic hardship.

He said that the inclusive infrastructure, like a hostel for tribal girls, fulfills the need and also opens doors to their dreams.

The Governor also distributed laptops to 55 students from various courses, who had demonstrated exceptional academic performance.

While congratulating the students who received laptops, Lt. General Parnaik said that it is a method of empowerment.

He said that a laptop is a key to knowledge and advised the students to treat it as a genuine friend, guide, and philosopher, as it would enrich their knowledge and improve their articulation. Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein also attended the inaugural ceremony.

He said that the laptops, provided to the students, are more than just devices, they are tools of empowerment that would open doors to learning, opportunity, and a brighter future for our students.

"In today's world, digital access is essential to growth, and I'm proud to support initiatives that prepare our youth for success. Deeply appreciate the Arunachal University of Studies for creating such thoughtful initiatives that empower students not just academically, but holistically," the Deputy CM said.

The Krishna Kumari Tribal Girls' Hostel has been built at a cost of Rs 6 crore. It comprises 68 twin-sharing rooms and 4 single-occupancy rooms, offering safe, hygienic, and fully-equipped boarding facilities.

The hostel provides nutritious meals, uninterrupted Wi-Fi, 24-hour power backup, and a secure environment, ensuring that students from the tribal communities of the Northeast can pursue their education with focus and peace of mind.

The laptop distribution was part of the University's 'Students and Alumni Upgrade Programme', aimed at supporting academic excellence and digital empowerment.

--IANS

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Dhaka, July 27 : Three more people have died of dengue in Bangladesh on Sunday, bringing the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease in 2025 to 76.

The latest fatalities from dengue were reported in the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Rajshahi Division.

As many as 74 dengue cases were reported in Barishal Division, 72 in Chattogram Division, 67 in Dhaka Division, 54 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 51 in Rajshahi, 32 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 28 in Khulna Division), 16 in Rangpur division, 11 in Mymensingh, and four in Sylhet division, United News of Bangladesh reported, citing Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

During this period, 409 more patients were hospitalised due to viral fever, raising the total number of cases in 2025 to 19,529. As of now, 1230 patients were undergoing treatment in hospitals in Bangladesh.

A total of 575 people died of dengue in Bangladesh in 2024. As many as 101,214 dengue cases were reported, and 100,040 people recovered from dengue in 2024.

Earlier on July 9, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Abu Jafor spoke about the changing nature of dengue, which has made it more challenging to conduct treatment of patients.

While addressing a meeting at the DGHS conference room in Mohakhali, he said, "The current strain of dengue is no longer manageable the way it used to be. Many patients are quickly becoming critically ill."

Jafor stated, "More patients are now coming with severe symptoms that require close monitoring and intensive care. In this context, portable ultrasound and bedside hematocrit machines are crucial for quick diagnosis and effective treatment decisions."

He noted that these tools help to carry out clinical procedures faster and reduce complications by enabling faster diagnosis. He advised people to remain vigilant and seek medical attention without delay in case they suffer from fever.

WHO Bangladesh handed over 1,600 units of dengue management-related medical supplies, 21 bedside hematocrit machines and eight portable ultrasound machines to the DGHS. WHO representatives reiterated their commitment to supporting Bangladesh in its fight against dengue.
Hyderabad, July 27 : Hyderabad Police have busted illegal surrogacy and baby selling racket with the arrest of a doctor and owner of a fertility centre and nine others.

Dr. Athaluri Namratha alias Pachipala Namratha, owner of Universal Shristhi Fertility Centre in Secunderabad, was arrested on allegations of conducting a large-scale illegal surrogacy and fertility scam.

S. Rashmi Perumal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone) told mediapersons on Sunday that the racket came to light after a couple complained lodged a complaint with the police after DNA tests revealed that the child born through a surrogate arranged by the fertility centre was not biologically related to them.

Gopalapuram Police, with the support of the Medical and Health Department, busted the racket and arrested the prime accused and several of her associates.

Dr. Athaluri Namratha, aged 64, operates fertility centres under the name Universal Srushti Fertility Centres in Vijayawada, Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Kondapur.

The other accused are Pachipala Jayanth Krishna; C. Kalyani Atchayyamma, manager at Universal Srushti Fertility Centre; Gollamandala Chenna Rao, lab technician and embryologist; Nargula Sadanandam, anaesthesia Specialist and working doctor at Gandhi Hospital; Dhanasri Santoshi, Mohammed Ali Adik and Nasreen Begum.

According to the police, the complainant couple, who hails from Rajasthan, had approached Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, Secunderabad in August 2024 for fertility and IVF consultation.

The couple was directed to another branch of the clinic at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh for collection of specimens and were told that the surrogate will be arranged by the clinic and the embryo would be transplanted to the surrogate.

Over the course of nine months, the couple made several payments to the clinic and update as to the babyas health were given by the clinic.

In June 2025, the complainant was informed that the surrogate had delivered a baby boy via C-section in Visakhapatnam and that they should pay extra amount for the delivery charges and collect the baby from Visakhapatnam.

The complainant reached Visakhapatnam and the baby boy was handed over to her along with documentation which showed registration of the child as having been born to the couple themselves creating a false birth certificate document. Overall, the clinic took over 35 lakh from the couple as consultation charges for the procedures.

Later, the couple went in for DNA test which revealed that the childas DNA did not match theirs at all. They tried to get in touch with the clinic but they were refused any documentation and were threatened which prompted them to approach the police.

The DCP said Dr Namratha began medical practice in 1995 and transitioned into fertility and IVF services from 1998. Over the years, she expanded into unethical and illegal practices, collecting Rs 20 a" Rs 30 lakh from each client under false promises.

She, along with associates and agents targeted vulnerable women particularly those seeking abortions and lured them into continuing pregnancies in exchange for money.

These newborns were then passed off as children conceived through surrogacy, misleading clients into believing the babies were biologically theirs.

Those arrested include biological parents of the baby. Native of Assam, they were living in Hyderabad and the delivery was planned at Visakhapatnam. After taking the baby, a paltry sum was handed over to them and the couple was sent back to Hyderabad.

Police conducted simultaneous raids at Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam clinics.

The clinic at Gopalapuram was seized and large-scale equipment was found at the area which substantiated the facts that the accused was conducting IVF treatments, creating live embryos, doing real medical procedures without any proper license.

Any clients who protested were intimidated and threatened by her son (advocate by profession) who ran an office from the same premises and managed financial transactions of his mother.

The investigations revealed that more than 10 cases have been registered against them in the past in Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Guntur.

The Medical and Health Department had cancelled the registration of the involved fertility clinic previously but the accused continued to operate the place from the building and putting the name of another certified doctor Suri Shrimati on the official letter pads of the clinic.

Police seized medical equipment and medicines being used at the clinic, mobile phones and digital devices used in the commission of the crime, case records and surrogacy documents.

The investigation is ongoing, and further legal action is being pursued, added the DCP.
New Delhi, July 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on Sunday, showered praise on the handloom weaver Naveen Kumar, following which a wave of happiness has gripped the entire village as well as the weavers community.

Naveen Kumar, a resident of Nepura village in Silav block of Nalanda has become the talk of village after PM Modi mentioned his name and noted his landmark contribution in taking forward the handloom business in his village, by adopting new technology.

This has inspired many others in his village to break the stereotype and come forward to take up similar businesses.

Naveen Kumar thanked PM Modi for his words of appreciation and said: "Till date no one has spoken to weavers directly like this. We hope that now our problems will be paid attention to. We have been associated with this ancestral work since childhood."

"We make silk shirts, kurtas, saris and dress material on handloom. Earlier we used to work on 'pit loom' which was made by digging a pit in the ground, but now we have got a new frame loom under a project of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, which can be installed on the rooftop and used," he said.

He further said that the weavers' quota has facilitated children to study in institutions like NIFT, which is a good sign for the future for the art.

"We are working for the upliftment of the weaver community by joining this. 70-80 people are associated with us, which also includes children and women. We are happy that PM Modi talked about the issues of weavers. We hope that whatever beneficial scheme will be there for weavers, we will get the benefit of it," he remarked.

He said that he was exhilarated to hear his name in PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat and said that people of his villager were very happy.

Speaking about challenges of the business, he stated: "Our clothing goes to the malls of Delhi and Patna through the Upendra Maharathi Craft Research Institute of the Bihar government. But, the condition there is that payment comes only after the cloth is sold. In such a situation, how can we weavers buy thread for the next time and run our household?"

Weaver Kaluram said that he is grateful to the PM Modi for paying attention to the rural weavers and called for starting a pension scheme to secure their future.
Kabul, July 27 : Afghan counter-narcotics police have discovered 57 kg of opium and arrested a suspected drug smuggler in Badakhshan province, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.

The contraband was discovered during a series of operations conducted on the outskirts of the Argo district of the province, said the statement, adding that one individual was arrested in connection with the case.

On July 24, Afghan security forces seized 1,000 kg of illicit drugs and arrested two alleged drug smugglers in southern Afghanistan's Zabul province, the Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement.

The opium was concealed inside a truck and discovered during a counter-narcotic operation in Shahjoy district, the ministry said, Xinhua news agency reported.

Two individuals were arrested in connection with the drug trafficking, and their dossiers were referred to the judiciary for further investigation, the statement said.

The Afghan national army thwarted attempts to smuggle drugs and detained three alleged drug smugglers in the southern Afghanistan's 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 also discovered two assault rifles and two satellite phones in the possession of the arrested and handed them to the bodies concerned for further investigation, the official said.

Police set on fire more than half a tonne of illegal drugs in the southern Afghanistan Kandahar province on July 20.

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.
New Delhi, July 27 : An inter-state drug racket involved in manufacture of synthetic drugs was busted in Rajasthan's Barmer district and two accused detained in a joint operation conducted by Rajasthan Police, Maharashtra Police and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), an official said on Sunday.

The clandestine facility, operating from a buffalo barn in the secluded area in Dholakia village, was detected on July 22-23, the official said.

The Barmer district police found several precursor chemicals like Chloroform, Ammonium Chloride, Propylene Chloride, Toluene, Bromine along with lab equipment to manufacture the synthetic drug Mephedrone at the facility, said an NCB statement.

Two members of the drug syndicate were detained by the police, and NCB Jodhpur collaborated with the district police in the investigation of the case.

Questioning of the accused revealed the involvement of other members of the syndicate including one who was a resident of district Raigad, Maharashtra, and involved in bringing chemicals and lab equipment to set up the clandestine facility, the statement said.

The information about the Maharashtra-based suspect was immediately shared with the Raigad Police by the NCB, following which he was detained by Raigad Police and during questioning, it was revealed that he used to work in a factory of Rohan Chemicals at Mahad, Raigad, which is now closed.

Search of the premises of Rohan Chemicals by NCB, Mumbai and Raigad district police led to a recovery of about 34 kg of Ketamine in powdered form and 12 litre Ketamine in liquid form.

Several precursor chemicals like Chloroform, Ammonium Chloride, Propylene Chloride, Toluene, Bromine and Cyclohexanone were found along with lab equipment.

The shut premises was being used to run the lab clandestinely to manufacture Ketamine.

Investigation has further revealed involvement of a mastermind who has been involved in earlier drug trafficking cases of DRI and NCB, said the statement.

Earlier, a clandestine lab manufacturing Mephedrone was busted by NCB Jodhpur at Sri Ganganagar in which 5 kg Mephedrone drug with precursor chemicals were recovered and accused, including physics and chemistry teachers, were arrested.

To arrest the trend of manufacturing of synthetic drugs in clandestine facilities, NCB has shared the "red flag indicators" for identification of such facilities with state police chiefs, said the statement.
New Delhi, July 27 : The US administration on Sunday said the August 1 deadline for imposing reciprocal tariffs remains unchanged and there will be no extension this time.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick ruled out any possibility of an extension on the Fox News Sunday TV programme.

"No extensions, no more grace periods. August 1, the tariffs are set. They'll go into place. Customs will start collecting the money, and off we go," Lutnick was quoted as saying on the show.

He also said that the European Union (EU) needed to open its markets for more US exports to convince US President Donald Trump to reduce a 30 per cent tariff rate that is due to kick in on August 1.

"The question is, do they offer President Trump a good enough deal that is worth it for him to step off the 30 per cent tariffs that he set," Lutnick said.

"You know they're hoping they make a deal, and it's up to President Trump, who's the leader of this negotiating table. We set the table," he added.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was set to meet Trump to clinch a trade deal for Europe that would likely see a 15 per cent baseline tariff on most EU goods.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Lutnick flew to Scotland this weekend to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

As of now, five countries have signed trade deals with the Trump administration ahead of next week's deadline. These are Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan.

Meanwhile, as India continues to sign trade deals at a blistering pace - the latest one with the UK, the much-awaited pact with the US is yet to see the light of day amid hectic negotiations between both sides.
Kolkata, July 27 : The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to launch a fresh drive to free Kolkata's roads, passenger waiting areas, and footpaths of vagrants.

A source at the KMC said on Sunday that the drive will be held in three phases in August. A letter in this regard has been sent to the Kolkata Police for its cooperation.

It has been learnt that the drive will be held on August 3, August 13, and August 23, and preparations for that have already begun.

"In this campaign, vagrants and footpath dwellers will be identified and sent to night shelters for rehabilitation purposes. Arrangements in this regard are being made," said the KMC source.

The move is aimed at maintaining the beautification of the city. The civic body is trying to speed up the work, given the Durga Puja festival, which will be in the last week of September this year.

"The presence of vagrants in various passenger waiting areas of the city has become a source of inconvenience for the public. This time, a drive will be conducted all over the city to clean such places," said a senior KMC official.

It has been noticed that beggars and vagrants have made a living by setting up tents and arranging their belongings under bus shelters, footpaths, or bridges in important places such as Ultadanga, Moulali, Mallik Bazar, and other places.

"In an attempt to address all such issues, a three-phase drive has been planned throughout August," said the official.

Earlier, such a drive was held in four places in the city, from Mallik Bazar to Ballygunge Outpost, from Gariahat to Hazra crossing, Gopalnagar, Park Circus, and Beck Bagan. Although the drive achieved some success, it failed to remove vagrants from the city's sidewalks.
Kochi, July 27 : RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday called for India to become a strong and economically self-reliant nation, asserting that the world recognises and respects power.

Speaking at the 'Gyan Sabha', a national education conference organised by the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas  an RSS-affiliated body  Bhagwat said that India must move beyond the symbolism of being the "golden bird" and instead become a "lion".

"The world understands power. Therefore, Bharat must become strong. It must also grow rich in economic terms," Bhagwat said, stressing that strength and prosperity are essential for India to find its rightful place in the global order.

Touching on the theme of national identity, Bhagwat made a strong case for preserving the name 'Bharat' without translation. "Bharat is a proper noun. It should not be translated. 'India is Bharat'  that's true. But Bharat is Bharat. In every context  whether personal or public, while speaking or writing  we should say Bharat," he emphasised.

He added that Bharat's identity must be upheld and respected for what it stands for. "If you lose your identity, then regardless of your other merits, the world will neither respect nor protect you. That's the fundamental rule," Bhagwat noted.

The RSS chief also spoke at length about the purpose and values of education, stating that true education empowers an individual to live independently while inculcating a spirit of sacrifice and selflessness. "Education that teaches selfishness is not real education," he declared.

He further said that education is not confined to schools alone but extends to the home and society. "The environment in which children grow up plays a crucial role. Society must reflect on what kind of atmosphere is needed to raise a confident and responsible generation," Bhagwat said.

The conference was attended by Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, along with several senior academicians and vice-chancellors from across India. President of Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, Dr Pankaj Mittal, Secretary Dr Atul Kothari, Coordinator A Vinod, Chairman of Cochin Shipyard Madhu Nair were also present.

The event focused on reshaping the country's educational framework in alignment with Indian cultural values and preparing the youth to face future challenges with clarity and confidence.
Lilongwe, July 27 : Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the country's recently dissolved Parliament to reconvene on August 5 to amend the voting law to ensure that all eligible citizens, including those assigned to duty on election day, can cast their votes.

Malawi's 2019-2025 Parliament was dissolved on Wednesday by National Assembly Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara, in line with constitutional provisions for an election year. However, the Constitution empowers the president to recall Parliament before a general election if a constitutional crisis is deemed to have arisen, Xinhua News Agency reported.

A supplement to the government Gazette dated Friday and signed by Chakwera confirmed the decision to reconvene Parliament to consider amending the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Elections Act.

A follow-up statement from the State House on Saturday provided further clarification.

"President Chakwera... has ordered that Parliament be reconvened for an emergency session on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, to amend the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Elections Act in order to allow Malawians who will be posted on duty for various electoral services in various parts of the country on election day to cast their vote where they are posted, instead of where they registered," the statement read.

It added that the proposed amendment seeks to safeguard every Malawian's constitutional right to vote.

Malawi is scheduled to hold its general election on September 16 to elect the president, members of Parliament, and local government councillors.

More than 20 presidential aspirants, including incumbent President Chakwera and two former presidents, Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda, have declared their intention to contest the presidency.

Malawi's President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera was sworn into office on June 28, 2020. Before joining frontline politics, Chakwera was President of the Malawi Assemblies of God from 1989 until he resigned on May 14, 2013 to contest in the 2014 General Elections as a presidential candidate for the Malawi Congress Party.
New Delhi, July 27 : The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has arrested a 22-year-old man linked to the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) and wanted in connection with a grenade attack in Punjab.

The accused was identified as Karanbir alias Karan, said Amit Kaushik, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell/New Delhi Range.

Karanbir was arrested in connection with the grenade attack at Police Station Quila Lal Singh, in Punjab's Gurdaspur district in April, the police said in a statement on Sunday.

The accused was arrested in Gurdaspur, Punjab, under the Arms Act on Saturday.

Confessing to his involvement in the grenade attack, Karanbir said that he was in contact with a person from Punjab, but based abroad and handling operations for BKI.

The accused also shared that he facilitated the stay of two persons at his home before the attack, who had executed the task of launching the grenade at Police Station Qila Lal Singh.

The accused revealed that his handler used to instruct him through social media applications to commit criminal and terror activities.

Karanbir revealed that he also visited a West Asian country in 2024. Karanbir told the police that he received money from his handler for executing the said grenade attack.

Karanbir's brother, Gursewak, who was also involved in the attack, has already been arrested in the case. Karanbir was arrested based on the leads provided by Akashdeep alias Bazz of Amritsar, an accused in a case registered under the Arms Act.

Akashdeep, who was arrested in Indore on Tuesday, was also found involved in the grenade attack case at the Police Station Quila Lal Singh.

Notably, soon after the attack, a social media post by Happy Passia, Mannu Agwan and Gopi Nawanshahria, affiliated with BKI, claimed responsibility for the attack and also extended a threat to Delhi.

The National Investigation Agency is probing the case.

Further investigation is underway.
Chennai, July 27 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was discharged from Apollo Hospital in Chennai on Sunday evening, six days after being admitted following a sudden spell of dizziness.

The 72 -year-old DMK leader had experienced the episode on the morning of July 21 while out on his routine walk.

He was immediately taken to Apollo Hospital in the Thousand Lights area for medical evaluation.

During his hospital stay, the Chief Minister remained in touch with senior officials and continued to oversee government affairs from his hospital bed, highlighting his commitment to public service even while undergoing treatment.

According to the medical team, preliminary tests revealed minor irregularities in his heartbeat, prompting them to perform an angiogram to assess his cardiac health in detail.

In a medical bulletin issued by Apollo Hospital, the doctors stated that Stalin responded well to the treatment and had recovered fully.

"Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has completed his treatment under the supervision of Dr Senguttuvelu and a team of specialists at Apollo Hospitals. He is now completely healthy and will be discharged today evening," the statement read.

The hospital has advised a short period of rest.

"Following medical advice, the Chief Minister will take a break from his routine for three more days before resuming regular administrative responsibilities," the statement added.

Around 6 p.m., Chief Minister Stalin left the hospital.

His return has brought relief to DMK workers and well-wishers across the state, many of whom had been anxiously following updates about his health. The Chief Ministeras ability to govern even from the confines of a hospital room has drawn praise from party colleagues and opposition leaders alike. His scheduled engagements are expected to resume later this week after a brief recuperation period at home.
Hyderabad, July 27 : Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Sunday alleged that a temple was demolished in Hyderabad to get votes of 30 per cent Muslim voters in the upcoming by-election to the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency.

He told media persons in Karimnagar that the Congress government in Telangana demolished the Peddamma temple in Banjara Hills for vote bank politics.

He demanded that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy tender an apology and immediately suspend officials responsible for the demolition of the temple.

"How many Temples, Masjids and Churches are on roads? But what was the need to demolish the Banjara Hills Peddamma temple? The Congress government should immediately suspend the officials responsible. Is the government trying to appease a community who are 30 per cent in Jubilee Hills for votes in by-elections?" he asked.

The BJP leader asked if the government has the courage to demolish places of worship of other communities. He stated that the Hindu community was ready to teach a lesson to the Congress government for demolishing the temple.

The Minister of State alleged that the Congress betrayed Hindus and Backward Classes (BCs).

Bandi Sanjay said that the 'BC declaration' released by the Congress at Kamareddy in the 2023 Assembly elections was in reality a 'Muslim declaration'.

He alleged that the Congress wants to give 10 per cent reservation to Muslims and increase the reservation for BCs by only 5 per cent.

The MoS also alleged that Hindus in Telangana were being projected as a 'minority' as part of a conspiracy of the Congress party. "By giving reservations to 100 per cent Muslims, attempts are being made to show Hindus as a minority," he said.

He reiterated that the BJP would not allow 42 per cent reservation for BCs if Muslims are included in BCs. "We have to stop this here as the Congress plans to implement this Muslim declaration across the country," he said.

Bandi Sanjay alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wants to weaken the Hindu community by breaching the 50 per cent reservation cap. He remarked that Rahul Gandhi would fail just like his great-grandfather, grandmother, and father failed in their attempts.

On Congress leaders calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "converted BC," Bandi Sanjay questioned Gandhi's own caste and religion. He pointed out that PM Modi's BC status was recognised by a previous Congress government.

"Rahul Gandhi's grandfather was a Parsi, and his mother is an Italian Christian. Is Rahul Gandhi a converted Christian, a converted Muslim or a converted Hindu?" he asked.
Kolkata, July 27 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Sunday, launched a fresh attack against the BJP, accusing a state administration run by it of harassing and torturing a Bengali-speaking migrant family there.

Her fresh target is the BJP-run Delhi government and the Delhi Police, whose administrative control comes under the Union government.

The Chief Minister, on Sunday evening, shared a video on her social media handle, claiming that a child and his mother, who belong to a migrant family from West Bengal's Malda district, were allegedly beaten up by the police in New Delhi.

"Atrocious!! Terrible!! See how Delhi Police brutally beat up a kid and his mother, members of a migrant family from Malda's Chanchal. See how even a child is not spared from the cruelty of violence in the regime of linguistic terror unleashed by the BJP in the country against the Bengalis! Where are they taking our country now?" Banerjee said in the post.

The IANS could not independently verify the contents of the video.

The Trinamool Congress supremo had been consistently raising the issue of harassment of Bengalis in BJP-ruled states and also accused the BJP of carrying out atrocities on migrant workers from Bengal.

Incidentally, Banerjee will kick off her language movement campaign against the BJP from Birbhum on Monday. She has also claimed that the Election Commission is planning to conduct a Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.

According to her, this is being done to terrorise the Bengalis and create a sense of fear among them. The BJP, on the other hand, slammed Banerjee for her statements and alleged her movement was aimed at protecting Rohingyas and Bangladeshi Muslims who have entered the country illegally due to vote-bank politics.
Gandhinagar, July 27 : Gujarat continues to receive widespread monsoon showers, with heavy rainfall reported across multiple regions of the state. The highest rainfall in the last 12 hours was recorded in Daskroi taluka of Ahmedabad district, which received 10 inches of rain between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM on Sunday.

According to data released by the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), Gandhinagar, several other regions also witnessed intense downpours.

Nadiad and Mehmedabad talukas in Kheda district received over 8 inches of rain, while Matar taluka recorded more than 7 inches. Talukas like Vaso, Mahemdha, and Kathlal also received rainfall exceeding 5 inches.

Further, Umreth in Anand and parts of Kheda taluka recorded approximately 4 inches of rainfall. Rainfall between 3 to 4 inches was observed in 8 talukas, while 18 talukas received more than 2 inches, and 30 talukas recorded rainfall exceeding 1 inch.

A total of 112 talukas recorded less than 1 inch of rainfall during this period. As of 6:00 AM today, the state has received 58 per cent of its seasonal average rainfall, with Kutch registering the highest at 64 per cent, followed by Central Gujarat, and Saurashtra reporting the lowest at 54 per cent.

With the monsoon picking up pace, local authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, especially in low-lying areas vulnerable to waterlogging and flash floods.

The state government has urged citizens to stay updated through official weather advisories. With monsoon showers intensifying across the state, the Gujarat government has ramped up its preparedness and response mechanisms to mitigate any adverse impact.

The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) is actively monitoring rainfall data and ground reports from all districts. Disaster Response Teams, NDRF units, and local administration have been kept on alert, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone areas.

Control rooms have been activated across districts for real-time coordination, while drainage systems and water-logging hotspots are being closely monitored. The government has also ensured the availability of emergency shelters, food packets, medical teams, and round-the-clock helplines.
Aizawl, July 27 : The Assam Rifles have seized highly addictive methamphetamine tablets and heroin valued at around Rs 40.05 crore in Mizoram, officials said on Sunday.

A Defence spokesman said that after getting intelligence inputs, the Assam Rifles troops have launched an operation at Melbuk areas in border town Zokhawthar in eastern Mizoram's Champhai district on Saturday night.

"On conducting a thorough search, the para-military personnel recovered 1.041 kg heroin and 9.381 kg methamphetamine tablets valued approximately 40.05 crores from an abandoned place," he said.

The seized contrabands have been handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Officials suspect that the Methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba or party tablets, and heroin were smuggled from Myanmar.

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.

Myanmar's 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.

Meanwhile, Assam Rifles have been conducting awareness campaigns like seminars and group discussions highlighting the bad effects of the drugs and drugs trafficking are a punishable offence under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985.

The Defence spokesman said that the aim of these awareness campaigns is to educate the local population, especially the youth, about the harmful effects of drug abuse and the serious legal consequences associated with drug trafficking and peddling.

The speakers in this campaign highlighted the rising threat of narcotics in society and especially in border areas of Mizoram and urged the participants to stay vigilant and not to get entrapped.

--IANS

sc/pgh
Mumbai, July 27 : Bollywood actor Sidharth Malhotra, who recently embraced fatherhood, visited Siddhivinayak Temple in the Dadar area of Mumbai with his mother to seek blessings from Ganpati Bappa for his newborn daughter and family on Sunday.

The actor's spiritual stop was a touching gesture of gratitude and hope for his growing family.

Sid welcomed a baby girl with his wife, Kiara Advani on July 15. The actress was taken to H. N. Reliance Hospital in the Girgaon area of Mumbai for her delivery.

The couple announced their pregnancy in February this year, and the actress was due in August. Announcing thor pregnancy, the two had shared a picture on the social media platform of themselves holding baby socks, and captioned it, "The greatest gift of our lives... Coming soon".

Later, in May, the actress debuted her blossoming baby bump in a stunning ensemble by ace couturier Gaurav Gupta at the 2025 MET Gala at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

The actress took to Instagram, and shared a string of pictures dressed in Gaurav Gupta Couture titled 'Bravehearts'. She wore a gold sculpted breastplate with two hearts with a dramatic white cape. The actress wrote, "Mama's first Monday in May." Her actor husband Sidharth Malhotra couldn't take his eyes off his wife as he shared the pictures on his Instagram stories and wrote: "Heart emoji both brave hearts".

Sid and Kiara tied the knot in a dreamy ceremony in February 2023 after dating for several years. While the two prefer to keep their personal lives lowkey, they make sure to surprise their fans with their occasional PDA on social media. Prior to this, the actress had shared a heartwarming moment on social media as she played with adorable puppies, radiating joy and excitement.

The actress will be next seen in 'War 2'.
Berlin, July 27 : German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, expressing concern over the "catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza."

According to a statement from the German government, during the phone conversation, Merz urged an immediate ceasefire and called for urgently needed humanitarian aid to reach the starving civilians in Gaza swiftly, safely and at the required scale, Xinhua news agency reported.

Germany will decide on its efforts to improve the situation in the coming days, in consultation with its E3 partners (France and Britain), as well as the United States and Arab nations, the statement said.

On Thursday, French President Macron announced that France will move to recognise the state of Palestine in September, as the"urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population".

"We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East," he wrote on social media.

While France would be the most significant European power to recognise a Palestinian state, several countries have announced plans to recognise statehood for the Palestinians since Israel launched a bombardment of Gaza nearly two years ago in response to the Hamas attacks.

Senior Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh welcomed the move, saying it "reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state".

Hamas hailed Macron's pledge as a "positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palestinian people and supporting their legitimate right to self-determination".

"We call on all countries of the world a" especially European nations and those that have not yet recognised the State of Palestine -- to follow France's lead," it added.
Mumbai, July 27 : Amit Jani, the producer of the upcoming film 'Udaipur Files', has been granted Y category security in light of the controversy around the film, and threats issued to him.

However, the security doesn't cover the entirety of the country, and is limited to north India. As per the Y-category security protocol, the producer will be accompanied by a total of 11 personnel of CRPF. The security cover will be provided to him for movement within Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

He took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared the update as he wrote, "Heartfelt thanks to Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji for providing Y category security to the Centre @narendramodi @AmitShah @HMOIndia @PMOIndia".

'Udaipur Files' is based on the murder of Udaipur tailor Kanhaiya Kumar. Kanhaiya Kumar was killed for allegedly sharing a social media post in support of Indian politician and Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma, whose comments led to the 2022 Muhammad remarks controversy.

The assailants had also released a video claiming that the murder was in reaction to the tailor allegedly sharing a social media post in support of former BJP member Nupur Sharma. Javed, who is one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, had moved to the Supreme Court against the release of the film.

Earlier, The Central Board of Film Certification had ordered 150 cuts in the film. 'Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder' got the go-ahead for a release in theatres on August 8, 2025.

The film stars Vijay Raaz in the lead role. The film was initially slated for release on July 11, 2025. However, the film faced many delays due to censorship and legal troubles.
Amaravati, July 27 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has invited global urban infrastructure company Surbana Jurong to invest in large-scale housing construction projects in the state and encouraged them to be a part of the 'Housing for All' initiative of the state government.

Amaravati, July 27 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has invited global urban infrastructure company Surbana Jurong to invest in large-scale housing construction projects in the state and encouraged them to be a part of the aHousing for Alla initiative of the state government.

Representatives from the company met the Chief Minister on Sunday, the first day of his five-day visit to Singapore.

According to the Chief Ministeras Office (CMO), Surbana Jurong expressed keen interest in investing in Andhra Pradesh.

The Chief Minister explained that the state is focusing on infrastructure development projects and highlighted the development of 20 ports and 15 airports, positioning itself as a logistics hub. He shared the governmentas vision of transforming these regions into industrial townships and urged the company to explore the investment opportunities in the state.

Tan Sri Datoa A. K. Nathan, Chairman and Managing Director of Eversendai Engineering, a leading construction company based in Malaysia, met Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

The discussions centred around setting up a state-of-the-art manufacturing factory and an integrated training centre in Andhra Pradesh.

The Eversendai Chairman mentioned that they are looking at Visakhapatnam or Krishnapatnam as a potential location for setting up the facility and enabling nationwide distribution of products. The proposed manufacturing unit would span approximately 2 lakh square meters.

This proposed investment is expected to significantly contribute to industrial growth and generate large-scale employment in the state.

Eversendai also expressed interest in investing in infrastructure projects related to the development of Amaravati, the state capital. Further, the Chairman discussed the establishment of a Structural Engineering Training Centre in collaboration with premier institutions like IIT Tirupati and IIIT Sri City, the CMO said.

Eversendai also highlighted that the company has previously contributed to landmark projects such as the Burj Khalifa, Petronas Towers, DLF Downtown Taramani in Chennai, and the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.
The management committee of the Thakur Shree Banke Bihari Ji Maharaj temple in Mathura has moved the Supreme Court against an Uttar Pradesh government ordinance that vests the control of the shrine's administration with the state.

IMAGE: Devotees throng Shree Bankey Bihari temple to celebrate Holi Festival, at Vrindavan in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, March 15, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a plea filed through advocate Tanvi Dubey, the temple management committee, comprising 350 members and "sewayat" Rajat Goswami, said the state's conduct is visibly mala fide as an issue concerning the use of temple funds to acquire five acres of land was already decided by the high court on November 8, 2023 and it has denied the state the permission to use the temple funds for acquiring the land.

The committee said the Uttar Pradesh government did not file appeals against the high court's November 8, 2023 order and instead, an impleadment application was filed in the pending plea before the top court.

"The said SLP was concerning a completely different issue concerning elections in Giriraj Seva Samiti which is totally a separate issue from Banke Bihari ji Maharaj temple. A direction was passed in order dated May 15, 2025 by the Supreme Court, inter alia, granting permission to the state of Uttar Pradesh to utilise temple funds to acquire five acres of land," the plea says.

The petition is listed for hearing before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi on Monday.

Subsequently, an application was filed against the May 15 order of the top court, primarily on the ground that neither the temple nor the "sewayats" were ever made a party to the present dispute.

The management committee said the impugned ordinance unlawfully preempts and frustrates the outcome of a PIL pending before the Allahabad High Court concerning the administration of the Banke Bihari temple.

"The State, by taking over the subject-matter of a live judicial proceeding, has violated the doctrine of separation of powers, interfered with judicial independence, and misused the ordinance-making power under Article 213 of the Constitution," the plea says.

It adds that the passing of an ordinance that directly touches upon the issues pending adjudication before the high court is sheer abuse of power and unconstitutional.

"Thus, the governor was exercising a colourable exercise of power enacting the ordinance under the pretext of an emergency when the matter was sub-judice and pending before the high court, thereby tainting the ordinance with a mala-fide intent. The nexus between the timing of the ordinance and the circumstances surrounding it points towards the mala fide nature of the order," the management committee said.

On May 15, the top court allowed an impleadment application filed by the state and paved the way for a Uttar Pradesh government scheme to develop the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Corridor in Mathura for the benefit of scores of devotees.

It had allowed the state's plea to utilise the funds of the Banke Bihari temple only for the purchase of a five-acre land around the temple to create a holding area.

The top court, however, said the land to be acquired for the purposes of development of the temple and the corridor should be in the name of the deity or the trust.

In the process, it modified the November 8, 2023 order of the Allahabad high court on a public interest litigation plea filed by the state government, accepting the government's ambitious scheme but refusing to allow it to utilise the temple funds.

The apex court observed that as the court was in seisin of the cause qua -- the administration and safety of temples in the Braj region -- it was in public interest to decide the issue raised by the Uttar Pradesh government expeditiously.

Under the proposed scheme placed on record by the state for the development for the temple, the top court had said a five-acre land around the temple had to be acquired and developed by constructing parking lots, accommodation facilities for the devotees, toilets, security checkposts and other amenities.

The high court observed in its November 8, 2023 order that the acquisition of the land around the temple and the consequent development project was crucial to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

The top court had observed that the state government would incur costs of more than Rs 500 crore to develop the corridor and proposed that the temple funds be utilised for purchasing the land in question, which was denied by the high court.

During the hearing, the Uttar Pradesh government had pointed out the dire situation of the Banke Bihari temple in Mathura and the lack of proper administration and amenities.

The temple, spread over a limited area of only 1,200 square feet, has a daily footfall of around 50,000 devotees, going up to between 1.5 lakh and two lakh on weekends and more than five lakh during festivals, it had said.

The government had said the Uttar Pradesh Braj Planning and Development Board Act, 2015 was enacted for the development, preservation and maintenance of the Braj Heritage in Mathura district.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that 'Bharat' should not be translated as otherwise it would lose its identity and along with it the respect it enjoys in the world.

IMAGE: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Photograph: ANI Photo

Bhagwat said that while India is 'Bharat', it should be kept as such when we talk, write or speak about it, whether in public or personal spaces.

He said that the identity of Bharat is respected "because it is Bharat".

"Bharat is a proper noun. It should not be translated. 'India is Bharat'. That is true. But Bharat is Bharat. That is why, while talking, writing and speaking, be it personal or public, we should keep Bharat as Bharat.

"Bharat must remain Bharat. The identity of Bharat is respected because it is Bharat. If you lose your identity, whatever other meritorious qualities you may have, you will never be respected or secure in this world. That is the thumb rule," he said, while speaking at the national education conference, 'Gyan Sabha', organised by the RSS-linked Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas in Kochi.

During his speech he also said that the world understands power and therefore, India has to become strong and also wealthy from an economic point of view.

Bhagwat said that India no longer has to be the "golden bird" and it was time for it to become "a lion".

"It is necessary because the world understands power. So Bharat should become strong. It also has to become wealthy from an economic perspective," he said.

He made it clear that the country should not become strong to rule over others, but to help the world.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief further said that education should be able to help a person survive anywhere on his own.

According to Bharat's legacy, education is needed for the development of a person's internal characteristics.

Bhagwat further said that 'Bharatiya' education teaches sacrifice and living for others.

If something teaches a person to be selfish, it is not education, he added.

He said that education was not just schooling, but the environment at home and society.

So, society also needs to think about what kind of atmosphere should be created to make the next generation more responsible and confident, Bhagwat said, addressing a gathering which included Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, various academicians and Vice Chancellors of some universities in the state.
A 33-year-old Indian-origin man was brutally attacked with a machete by a group of teenagers in Australia, leaving him with multiple injuries, including a nearly severed hand.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Seven Network/Handout via Reuters

Saurabh Anand was approached by teenage boys from behind when he was walking home on July 19 after picking up medicines at a pharmacy at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows, Melbourne, according to media reports and the police.

They shoved him to the ground before viciously attacking him, The Age newspaper reported.

One of the teenagers had his hands in Anand's pockets, rummaging for valuables.

He said another boy punched him in the head repeatedly until he fell to the ground. A third teen pulled out a machete and held it to his throat.

"They didn't stop there," the newspaper quoted Anand as saying from his hospital bed, days after enduring several surgeries to reattach his severed left hand.

"My instinctive reaction was to bring my arm up to protect my face and wrist. While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack, the machete went through my hand ... the third went through my bone."

Anand alleged he was then slashed and stabbed with the machete on his shoulder and back.

"I was just trying to survive," he said.

"All I remember is the pain, and my hand was -- hanging by a thread. There were bone ruptures on my arm as well."

"I was just tumbling around, half-concussed, half-conscious," he said.

Anand was rushed to the hospital after he cried out for help to strangers passing by.

They found him bloodied outside the shopping centre and called triple zero, the paper reported.

The teenagers fled with his phone.

Anand said doctors initially thought they would have to amputate his left hand. But surgeons were able to reattach it following hours of gruelling emergency surgery, which included inserting screws into his wrist and hand.

He also suffered head injuries, broken bones in his left arm and a fracture in his spine.

The attack occurred on the same day an Indian student sustained injuries in an alleged racist attack in Australia's Adelaide.

Several teenagers have been arrested over Anand's attack.

A 14-year-old appeared at a Children's Court this week, charged with a spate of offences including intentionally causing serious injury, recklessly causing injury, robbery and unlawful assault.

He was remanded in custody until August 15.

Two 15-year-olds were also charged with intentionally causing serious injury, robbery and unlawful assault.

Police said the two were bailed and will face the Children's Court on August 11.

A 14-year-old boy from the Hobsons Bay area was also arrested and is expected to be charged on summons.

Anand says he was distressed after learning the two 15-year-olds were still out in the community after the attack.

"I'm seeking justice," Anand said.

"I don't want anyone else in the community to be going through the same trauma I have."

Anand is one of the latest victims of a surge in knife violence across Melbourne.

A 17-year-old boy was stabbed about 30 kilometres away at Broadmeadows Central Shopping Centre in the city's north about 6.30 pm the following evening.

Victoria is grappling with its highest youth crime rate since electronic records began, prompting the state government to pass new laws in March, toughening bail laws.

Premier Jacinta Allan vowed the reforms would create the 'toughest bail test in the country' for repeat offenders.
A stampede at Haridwar's hilltop Mansa Devi temple, where hundreds of devotees had gathered on Sunday, left at least six people dead and several injured.

IMAGE: The remnants of the stampede lay strewn around the vicinity of the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, June 4, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

This is not the first time that a large number of people have died in stampedes at temples and other religious gatherings over the years in India.

More than 70 people have died in stampedes occurring during temple celebrations, at railway stations and at the Maha Kumbh so far this year, including Sunday's incident.

Here is a list of some of the major stampedes that occurred in the country over the last two decades:

June 4, 2025: An RCB parade in celebration of the maiden IPL win after 18 years became a horrific sight, leaving at least 11 people dead and several injured in a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

May 3, 2025: Six people died and around 100 people were injured in the stampede in the early hours during an annual festival of Sri Lairai Devi temple at Shirgao village in Goa.

February 15, 2025: Eighteen people, including women and children, died in a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station. They were waiting to board the train to Prayagraj for Maha Kumbh.

January 29, 2025: Thirty people were killed and 60 were injured at a stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh as millions of pilgrims jostled for space to participate in amrit snan.

January 8, 2025: Six devotees were killed and dozens were injured in a stampede as hundreds of them jostled for tickets for Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam at Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala Hills.

December 4, 2024: A 35-year-old woman died and a boy was injured at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad in a stampede where Allu Arjun's blockbuster ushpa 2' was screened.

July 2, 2024: Between 100 and 120 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede broke out at a atsang' (prayer meeting) organised by a self-styled godman, Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari, in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras.

March 31, 2023: Thirty-six people died when the slab constructed on top of an ancient well collapsed during a havan programme held on the occasion of Ram Navami at a temple in Indore city.

January 1, 2022: Twelve people died and over a dozen were injured in a stampede at the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir triggered by a heavy rush of devotees.

September 29, 2017: Twenty-three people lost their lives and 36 were injured in the stampede on the narrow bridge connecting the Elphinstone Road station of the Western Railway with Parel station of the Central Railway in Mumbai.

July 14, 2015: Twenty-seven pilgrims died and 20 others were injured in a stampede at a major bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river where a huge crowd of devotees had gathered on the opening day of the pushkaram festival in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh

October 3, 2014: Thirty-two people were killed and 26 others injured in a stampede at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, shortly after the Dussehra celebrations ended.

October 13, 2013: 115 people were killed and over 100 injured in a stampede during the Navratri festivities near Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district. The stampede was triggered by rumours that a river bridge the devotees were crossing was about to collapse.

November 19, 2012: Eighteen people were killed and many others injured as a makeshift bridge caved in, triggering a stampede during the Chhath Puja at Adalat Ghat on one of the banks of the Ganga River in Patna.

November 8, 2011: Twenty people were killed in a stampede in Haridwar at Har-ki-Pauri ghat on the banks of the Ganga river.

January 14, 2011: A stampede caused by a jeep crashing into pilgrims at Pulmedu in Kerala's Idukki district left 104 Sabarimala devotees dead and over 40 injured.

March 4, 2010: Sixty-three people were killed in a stampede at Ram Janki Temple of Kripalu Maharaj in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh district as people gathered to collect free clothes and food from the self-styled godman.

September 30, 2008: Between 220 and 250 devotees were killed and over 60 injured in a stampede triggered by rumours of a bomb going off at Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city.

August 3, 2008: A stampede triggered by rumours of rockslides at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district left 162 dead and 47 injured.

January 25, 2005: Around 340 devotees were trampled to death and hundreds injured during an annual pilgrimage at Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra's Satara district. The accident occurred when some people fell down the steps made slippery by the devotees breaking coconuts.
After a controversy triggered by the use of Kolhapuri chappals in a collection, Italian luxury fashion brand Prada has acknowledged the connection, saying the design is inspired by the Indian handcrafted footwear.

IMAGE: Prada showcases Kolhapuri chappals during the Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy, June 22, 2025. Photograph: Courtesy Prada on Instagram

The Italian house, however, said that sandals featured in the men's 2026 fashion show are still at the design stage and none of the pieces worn by models on the ramp are confirmed to be commercialised.

We acknowledge that the sandals featured in the recent Prada Men's 2026 Fashion Show are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. We deeply recognize the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship, a representative from Prada said in a reply to Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA).

Prada has left the internet in a state of shock with the launch of their latest Kolhapuri flats that are reportedly priced at Rs 1.2 lakhs.

MACCIA president Lalit Gandhi said the chamber wrote to the fashion house after seeing the visuals, in the interest of the local artisans and the industry.

The Kolhapuri chappal is very distinct and we want our footwear to go to newer markets. But it has to get the rightful recognition, Gandhi told PTI on Saturday.

In the letter to Prada, MACCIA also sought exploration collaborations and fair compensation to the artisans and also an adherence to ethical fashion practices that respect traditional knowledge and cultural rights.

Prada is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 in Milan by Mario Prada.

We are committed to responsible design practices, fostering cultural engagement, and opening a dialogue for a meaningful exchange with local Indian artisan communities as we have done in the past in other collections to ensure the rightful recognition of their craft, Prada's group head for corporate social responsibility, Lorenzo Bertelli, said in his reply.

Prada welcomes the opportunity of further discussions, and the relevant teams will engage in the matter, Bertelli said.

MACCIA also reminded Prada about the traditional handcrafted leather sandal being awarded Geographical Indication (GI) status by the Government of India in 2019.

Bertelli's letter was in response to the one by Gandhi after outrage over Prada's footwear featured as part of its Spring-Summer 2026 collection this week.

In its show notes, Prada had described the footwear as leather sandals, with no reference to an Indian connection, evoking outrage from many in India's fashion community as well as traditional makers of Kolhapuri chappals in western Maharashtra.

Kolhapuri Chappals represent centuries-old craftsmanship rooted in the cultural fabric of Maharashtra, India. These products are not only symbolic of regional identity, but they also support the livelihoods of thousands of artisans and families in the Kolhapur region and surrounding districts, Gandhi's letter said.

While we appreciate global fashion houses drawing inspiration from diverse cultures, we are concerned that this particular design appears to have been commercialized without due acknowledgment, credit, or collaboration with the artisan communities who have preserved this heritage through generations.

We kindly urge Prada to acknowledge the inspiration behind the design publicly, explore possibilities for collaboration or fair compensation that could benefit the artisan communities involved and consider supporting ethical fashion practices that respect traditional knowledge and cultural rights, Gandhi wrote.

Such a gesture would not only uphold ethical standards in global fashion, but also foster a meaningful exchange between heritage craftsmanship and contemporary design. We trust that a brand of Prada's stature and influence will take this concern in the right spirit and initiate a thoughtful response, Gandhi's letter to Prada said.

In his response, Bertelli wrote, Please note that, for now, the entire collection is currently at an early stage of design. development and none of the pieces are confirmed to be produced or commercialized.

We are committed to responsible design practices, fostering cultural engagement, and opening a dialogue for a meaningful exchange with local Indian artisan communities as we have done in the past in other collections to ensure the rightful recognition of their craft, he said.

Prada strives to pay homage and recognize the value of such specialized craftspeople that represent an unrivalled standard of excellence and heritage. We would welcome the opportunity for further discussion and will set a follow up with the relevant Prada teams, Bertelli's letter to Gandi said.

Artisans from Maharashtra have cried foul after footwear similar to the famous Kolhapuri chappals featured in Prada's show. They alleged violation of geographical identification (GI) rights.

BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik on Thursday led a delegation of artisans who make this traditional footwear to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. They presented a letter urging him to look into the violation and preserve the product, which is a symbol of the state's cultural heritage.
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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday met cousin and Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Uddhav Thackeray to wish him on the latter's 65th birthday.

Raj drove from his residence Shivteerth in Dadar to Matoshree, Uddhav's residence in Bandra.

IMAGE: MNS chief Raj Thackeray greets cousin and Shiv Sena-UBT president Uddhav Thackeray on the latter's birthday, at Matoshri, in Mumbai, July 27, 2025. Photograph: Courtesy Shiv Sena-UBT on X

Flanked by his party MP Sanjay Raut, Uddhav received his cousin at the entrance of the Matoshree bungalow, one of the most recognised landmarks in Mumbai.

Raj presented a bouquet of red roses to his cousin.

Photograph: Courtesy Shiv Sena-UBT on X

On the occasion of my elder brother, Shiv Sena chief Mr. Uddhav Thackeray's birthday, I visited Matoshri, the residence of the late Honorable Mr. Balasaheb Thackeray, to extend my best wishes, Raj posted on X.

He also tagged a photo of the meeting, taken with a portrait of Bal Thackeray, his uncle and Uddhav's father, in the backdrop.

Uddhav also expressed happiness over meeting his cousin.

Photograph: Courtesy Shiv Sena-UBT on X

At his joint rally with Raj in Mumbai on July 5, Uddhav Thackeray had said he and the MNS chief have come together to stay together.

At the "victory" rally, held to celebrate the rollback of the Hindi language GRs (resolutions) by the BJP-led government, the cousins shared a political stage for the first time in almost two decades, on the issue of Marathi identity and "imposition" of the Hindi language.

Photograph: Courtesy Shiv Sena-UBT on X

In July 2012, Raj Thackeray drove Uddhav to Matoshree from Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, where the latter underwent an angiography.

In January 2019, Raj went to Matoshree and handed over to Uddhav the wedding invitation of his son Amit, who got married later that month.

Raj quit the Shiv Sena in December 2005, claiming that he "sought respect from Matoshree but received humiliation". He formed the MNS the next year.
United States President Donald Trump Saturday said he spoke to the leaders of Cambodia and Thailand amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours, as he recalled, yet again, the conflict between India and Pakistan that was "brought to a successful halt."

IMAGE: United States President Donald Trump. Photograph: @WhiteHouse/X

On Saturday, in a post on social media, Trump said he had spoken with Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Manet "relative to stopping the War with Thailand."

Trump said he also spoke with Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai to "likewise request a Ceasefire, and END to the War, which is currently raging."

Trump described the conversation with Wechayachai as "very good" and said, "Thailand, like Cambodia, wants to have an immediate ceasefire, and peace."

"After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!"

Thailand and Cambodia have for the third consecutive day witnessed clashes at the border that left over 30 dead and more than 1,50,000 displaced.

I am trying to simplify a complex situation! Many people are being killed in this war, but it very much reminds me of the conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt," Trump said.

"We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting -- And I have told them so!" Trump posted on social media.

He said that after talking to the Thai leadership, a call could be made again to Cambodia "regarding War stoppage and Ceasefire based on what Thailand has to say."

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.

India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that he stopped the conflict between India and Pakistan.

However, India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two militaries.
Russia held subdued ceremonies honoring its navy on July 27 in St. Petersburg, citing security concerns, and authorities in the surrounding region reported that air defense forces shot down several drones they said were fired by Ukraine.



Meanwhile, Russia kept up its assault on Ukraine, where officials said the military shot down 78 of the 83 attack drones or decoys fired overnight and into the morning, including several whose fragments damaged buildings in the Poltava region, which lies between Kyiv and the front lines in the east.



Russian President Vladimir Putin revived a Navy Day parade of ships on the Neva River in his hometown of St. Petersburg in 2017, part of continuing efforts to celebrate the military and whip up patriotic sentiment.



But the naval parade was canceled this year, a decision announced by local authorities late last week. On July 27, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that "it's linked to the overall situation, security reasons, which are above all else.



Russian officials said more than 10 drones were shot down in the morning in the Leningrad region, which surrounds St. Petersburg, and the governor said one woman was slightly injured by falling debris. Dozens of flights were suspended at St. Petersburgs Pulkovo airport.



Almost 100 drones were shot down in various Russian regions overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said.



Putin was in St. Petersburg and received reports on a four-day naval exercise that ended on July 27 and involved vessels from the Baltic Sea, off St. Petersburg, to the Pacific. He pledged to build more warships and step up naval training, saying that the navy's strike power and combat capability will rise to a qualitatively new level.

Since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyivs forces have sunk or damaged several Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea, hampering its operations there and chasing it from the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula to a base in Russia, Novorossiisk.



While nothing like the large, unrelenting air strikes that Russia has been unleashing on Ukrainian cities nationwide and stepped up in recent months, Kyiv has harried Russia with drone attacks.



In a social media post on July 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian strikes on cities, towns, and infrastructure certainly cannot be left without response, and Ukrainian long-range drones ensure one.



"Russian military enterprises, Russian logistics, and Russian airfields must see that Russia's own war is now hitting them back with real consequences, he wrote. The precision of our drones, the daily nature of Ukraines responses  are some of the arguments that will surely bring peace closer.



Russian and Ukrainian negotiators made no visible progress toward peace at a brief third round of direct negotiations in Istanbul on July 23. Russia has rejected calls by the United States, European countries, and Ukraine for a cease-fire, and Kyiv and Moscow remain miles apart on key issues such as territory and security.

Among other things, Russia says Ukraine must cede four mainland regions that it baselessly claims are now Russian, including the portions that its forces do not hold, and accept strict limits on the size of its armed forces and foreign military support.



US President Donald Trump, who has been seeking to broker a peace deal since he took office in January, threatened on July 14 to impose new sanctions on Moscow  and secondary sanctions punishing countries that buy Russian petroleum products -- if Russia and Ukraine do not reach a deal by early September.



In an interview with Fox News broadcast on July 26, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump is becoming "increasingly frustrated" that despite having good interactions with Putin during phone calls, "it never leads anywhere."



Trump is "losing his patience. He's losing his willingness to continue to wait for the Russian side to do something here, to bring an end to this war," Rubio said, adding that there was "no way that Putin could have sustained this war without Chinese support, particularly buying his oil."
The head of an anti-corruption agency at the heart of turmoil that has shaken Ukraine and threatened to undermine wartime unity has called for the swift passage of a bill meant to restore the independence of his office and another organization that fights graft.

In an interview with RFE/RL, National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) director Semen Kryvonos also said the agencies are bracing for further pressure from evil forces he did not identify but suggested were out to undermine the countrys crucial anti-corruption efforts.

On July 22, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law that critics said robs NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Office (SAPO) of their autonomy by handing the Prosecutor-Generals Office control over the agencies.

Zelenskyys move sparked the biggest protests over a political issue since the start of Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, and prompted vocal criticism from Western countries whose support for Kyiv is vital to its defense against the onslaught and its path toward the European Union.

In a stunning reversal, Zelenskyy submitted new legislation on July 24 in an attempt to undo the damage. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraines parliament, is set to discuss the new bill on July 31.

Its important to pass this law as soon as possible, to restore the independence of NABU and SAPO, to restore the normal operations of these institutions, Kryvonos said in the interview on July 25.

NABU and SAPO are seen as symbols and examples of progress toward justice and the rule of law in Ukraine since independence in 1991 and, in particular, since the Maidan protests in 2014 pushed a Moscow-friendly president whose rule was marred by corruption from power.

For many Ukrainians, anti-corruption efforts are an important part of progress in putting as much distance as possible between Ukraine and its Soviet legacy as it fights against Russias effort to once again bring the country under Moscows thumb. They are also crucial to maintaining Western military, financial, and diplomatic support.

After a phone call with Zelenskyy on July 27, French President Emmanuel Macron said the two had "shared the conviction that what also sets Ukraine apart from Russia today is that, despite the war, it remains a vibrant democracy  and that it is determined to continue moving forward on its European path.

In this context, we reaffirmed the importance of the fight against corruption, led by independent and fully effective institutions, Macron wrote on X.

While their role is seen by many as crucial, NABU and SAPO have faced public criticism and questions about their effectiveness. In defending the bill he signed into law on July 22, Zelenskyy said it was meant to remove what he described as Russian influence from anti-graft efforts and improve the work of the agencies.

Passage of the law on July 22 came a day after 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.

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.

In the interview with RFE/RL, Kryvonos said that deep reforms are needed to tackle the underlying causes of corruption. He also vowed to improve NABUs work, suggesting that it needs to ensure it has broad public support because it is sure to face further pressure from opponents in the near futures.

We are aware of our mistakes. We are aware of our weaknesses, and we will definitely work, because we will not have much time to prove to Ukrainian society that we are able to overcome corruption, because evil will recover and evil will try to attack again, he said, without naming any particular public figures or political forces.

Kryvonos said he hopes the Rada will pass the new bill with two required votes in a single session and not stretch it for two weeks.

On July 25, the Financial Times cited unnamed sources as saying some 70 lawmakers from Zelenskyys Servant of the People party, might balk at backing the new bill. Meanwhile, Servant of the People lawmaker Fedir Venislavskiy told RFE/RL he believes it will receive the 226 votes needed to pass in the 450-seat chamber.

In addition to Macron, Zelenskyy spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 27.

Ukraine has already achieved a lot on its European path and it must build on these solid foundations and preserve independent anti-corruption bodies, which are cornerstones of Ukraines rule of law, von der Leyen wrote on X after the call.

Zelenskyy said on Xthat he and von der Leyen talked about the bill that guarantees the independence and effectiveness of Ukraines anti-corruption bodies and he thanked the European Commission for the provided expertise.

"We share the same vision: it is important that the bill is adopted without delay, as early as next week," he said.

Written by Steve Gutterman based on reporting by RFE/RL Ukrainian Service correspondent Vlasta Lazur
A Mardi Gras parade took place through the streets of Castlerea this evening Saturday as the town's Rose Festival got underway.

The opening parade of large inflatable figures included lots of familiar characters like Spiderman, Batman, Buzz Lightyear and plenty of dinosaurs.

Colour on the streets of Castlerea as the town's Rose Festival got underway with the opening parade. Pic: Liam Reynolds

A whole host of events will take place during the nine days, with something for all the family, including a family movie night.

The festival is open to everyone. You dont have to be from Castlerea - wherever you live in Roscommon, you are welcome to come along, said chairman Paschal Fitzmaurice.

Irish dancers played their part at the opening parade of Castlerea Rose Festival. Pic: Liam Reynolds

The events for Sunday get underway with a Run With The Roses on Sunday morning.

For full festival schedule, go to: www.castlerearosefestival.com

Castlerea Crusaders were represented at the opening parade of Castlerea Rose Festival. Pic: Liam Reynolds

Click on the link below to get a flavour of the atmosphere at the opening parade.
Even after 75 years of independence, Bihar could not become a developed state like other states: Chirag Paswan

Regarding the youth, Chirag said that I will not let the young friends go out for education and employment.

Chirag Paswan: Even after 75 years of independence, Bihar remains underdeveloped compared to other states

Bihar News today: Union Minister Chirag Paswan said that even after 75 years of independence, our Bihar could not become a developed state like other states. Now the time has come to fix the accountability of those people due to whom Bihar lagged behind. I am moving forward with the thinking of Bihar First and Bihari First, so that with the support of all of you, I want to establish such a system in Bihar where the youth get the opportunity of better education and employment. I will neither be afraid nor bow down to those who conspire to finish me. As long as I am alive, there is no threat to the Constitution. If I get the opportunity, I will build a developed Bihar where the state of safety of women and better law and order is established.

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The above things were said by Union Minister and National President of Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas Chirag Paswan while addressing a huge public meeting at Gandhi Maidan in Gayaji under Nav Sankalp Mahasabha. Chirag Paswan said that under the Bihar First, Bihari First priority, there should be such a system in Bihar where students do not have to go out of Bihar for education, people here do not have to migrate due to lack of employment, instead of migrating, the people who have migrated should return to Bihar. For this, the cooperation of all of you is needed.

Attacking the opposition on the issue of migration, National President Chirag Paswan attacked RJD and the opposition in his address and said that ask these people, if they got so much time, then what did they do for Bihar? Who is responsible for migration? He is called a migrant in his own state, my priority is that Bihar becomes a developed state, and until Bihar becomes a developed state, we will not sit in peace.

He said that the opposition is creating confusion about Chirag Paswan, but Chirag Paswan is not going to be afraid of anyone. We will work to take Bihar to new heights, for this we need the support of all of you. The Union Minister attacked the opponents fiercely and said that this is the election year because the elections are to be held after a few months, which is important for every family of Bihar, the coming 5 years will decide our future. Even after 75 years of independence, our Bihar could not become a developed state like other states. Despite all the states of the country becoming free together after the independence of the country, Bihar lagged behind. This election is the year to decide that responsibility. The time has come to answer those people due to whom Bihar has lagged behind. Attacking Rajat, Shri Chirag said that for 15 years the people of Bihar gave us a chance, he worked to earn his bread by telling us in the caste party, which is known as M-Y equation. Our party also has a MY equation, but not of caste but an equation of women and youth, which I am moving forward with the thinking of the equation of Bihar First and Bihari First.

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Regarding the youth, Chirag said that I will not let the young friends go out for education and employment. I will try to ensure that they get education and employment opportunities in their own state, their own district and their own panchayat. Our party has only one objective, we have come with the dream of Bihar under Bihar First Bihari First, to fulfill this goal we need the support of all of you. The Union Minister said that all of you need to become Chirag Paswan and take a pledge with Bihar First Bihari First, only then our objective and the transformation of Bihar will happen.

On this, State President Raju Tiwari, party's Bihar State Incharge cum Jamui MP Arun Bharti, Khagaria MP Rajesh Verma, Vaishali MP Samastipur MP Shambhavi Chaudhary, Hulas Pandey, Rajesh Bhatt, Dr. Shahnawaz Ahmed Kaifi, Ved Prakash Pandey, Dr. Shashi Bhushan Prasad, Sonam Paswan were present.

(For more news apart from Chirag Paswan: Even after 75 years of independence, Bihar remains underdeveloped compared to other states, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
While the Leader of the Opposition insults journalists, the NDA is working to honor them: Nitin Nabin

He appealed to all media professionals to avail the benefits of this welfare scheme and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister

Patna, Bihar Minister for Road Construction and BJP MLA from Bankipur, Shri Nitin Nabin Latest news:

Patna, Bihars Minister for Road Construction and BJP MLA from Bankipur, Shri Nitin Nabin, stated that the respect and welfare of journalists the fourth pillar of democracy have always been among the top priorities of the NDA government. Under the leadership of Honble Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar, the Bihar government has taken a historic decision to increase the pension amount under the Bihar Journalist Honor Pension Scheme from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000 per month. Additionally, the pension amount for the spouse of a deceased journalist has been increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 per month, to be provided for life. This is not just a policy announcement, but a concrete and sensitive step toward ensuring the dignity, social security, and quality of life for journalists.

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Shri Nitin Nabin added that while the NDA government continues to take progressive and welfare-oriented steps in the interest of journalists, the attitude of the Leader of the Opposition and his party, the RJD, has consistently been insulting, oppressive, and undemocratic towards the media. On several occasions, journalists have been publicly labeled with derogatory terms such as paid stooges and contract reporters. In 2022, during a press conference, the Leader of the Opposition displayed visible anger and threatened journalists on camera a clear violation of democratic decorum. Furthermore, in July 2017, he was accused of instructing his security personnel to physically assault a journalist. Prior to that, his father Lalu Prasad Yadav had also publicly used offensive language against members of the press. These incidents clearly demonstrate that whenever RJD has been in power, the freedom, safety, and dignity of journalists have been most at risk.

While the Leader of the Opposition continues to openly use abusive language against media professionals, the NDA government stands firm in honoring and protecting the rights and dignity of journalists. Shri Nitin Nabin emphasized that the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar is clear journalists should not only enjoy complete freedom in their profession but also be entitled to a dignified life after retirement. He appealed to all media professionals to avail the benefits of this welfare scheme and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister for this visionary and sensitive decision.

(For more news apart from While the Leader of the Opposition insults journalists, NDA is working to honor them: Nitin Nabin, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
CRPF 84 Battalion Celebrates 87th Raising Day in Chanderkote, Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir

We pay homage to the martyrs, then conduct a guard of honour and hold a Sainik Sammelan. Plantation activities are underway"

CRPF 84 Battalion Celebrates 87th Raising Day in Chanderkote, Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir

CRPF 84 Battalion Celebrates 87th Raising Day Latest News: The CRPF 84 Battalion celebrated its 87th Raising Day at its Tactical Headquarters in Chanderkote, Ramban, on Sunday.

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The CRPF Raising Day, observed on July 27 each year, commemorates the establishment of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)  a key central armed police force in India responsible for internal security.

Commandant Ranbir Singh on Sunday paid tribute to the martyrs, with other officials in attendance. A plantation drive was also conducted as part of the celebration.

Speaking to ANI, Commandant Ranbir Singh said, Today, the CRPF celebrates its 87th Raising Day across the nation. We pay homage to the martyrs, then conduct a guard of honour and hold a Sainik Sammelan. Plantation activities are underway, and sweets are being distributed.

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He further emphasized the CRPFs vital role in the Amarnath Yatra, adding, CRPF plays a crucial role in the Amarnath Yatra. Travellers go to their registration points and camps, such as Bhagwati Nagar, which also works in coordination with the CRPF. The CRPF escorts the convoy of travellers. Wherever they begin, the CRPF provides security for the final stretch, which is a major part of ensuring the safety of the journey to Amarnath.

The CRPF was originally founded as the Crown Representatives Police on July 27, 1939, by the British. Following Indias independence in 1947, the force was renamed the Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament in 1949.

(For more news apart from CRPF 84 Battalion Celebrates 87th Raising Day in Chanderkote, Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
PM Modi Participates in Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival, Honors Chola Legacy at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple

"I have prayed at this historic temple for the welfare of 140 crore Indians"

PM Modi Participates in Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival, Honors Chola Legacy at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple

PM Modi Latest News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday participated in the celebration of the birth anniversary of the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I during the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu.

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Dressed in traditional attire, the Prime Minister offered prayers at the temple and addressed a large gathering on the occasion.

According to ANI, PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu. On Sunday, he held a roadshow in Tiruchirappalli district. He had arrived in Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) on the evening of July 26 to begin his visit.

PM Modis Address at Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Speaking at the festival, PM Modi said, "I am privileged to be present and worship at the feet of Lord Brihadeeswara. I have prayed at this historic temple for the welfare of 140 crore Indians and for the continued progress of India. I wish that everyone receives the blessings of Lord Shiva."

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He also praised the Chola dynasty for their visionary diplomatic and trade relations, "The Chola kings significantly enhanced their diplomatic and trade relations with regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. It is just a coincidence that I returned from the Maldives yesterday, and today I am fortunate to participate in this programme."

The Prime Minister, who also serves as the MP from Kashi (Varanasi), mentioned the symbolic presence of Gangajal brought from Kashi to the temple.

"I am happy that Gangajal has been brought here from Kashi once again. I am the people's representative from Kashi, and I have a connection with Maa Ganga. These works of the Chola kings, and these events related to them, give new energy, new power, and new momentum to the 'Mahayagya' of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'."

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Highlighting the spiritual and philosophical relevance of Shaivism, PM Modi said, "Today, when the world is struggling with problems like instability, violence, and environmental crises, Shaiva principles show us the path to solutions. Love is Shiva, and if the world adopts this idea today, most crises can be resolved. India is taking this idea forward in the form of One World, One Family, One Future."

Calling the Chola Empire an ancient roadmap for a developed India, PM Modi remarked, "The economic and military heights India reached during the Chola era continue to inspire us today. Rajaraja Chola built a powerful navy, which Rajendra Chola further strengthened. The Chola Empire is like an ancient roadmap for a Viksit Bharat. It tells us that to build a developed India, we must strengthen our navy, defense forces, and explore new opportunities."

The Prime Minister also referenced Operation Sindoor, highlighting Indias defense capabilities, "Today's India considers its security paramount. During Operation Sindoor, the world witnessed that if anyone attacks India's security and sovereignty, India knows how to respond."

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He also released a commemorative coin honoring Rajendra Chola I at the event.

Operation Sindoor to Be Discussed in Parliament

In the ongoing Monsoon Session, the Lok Sabha is set to hold a 16-hour discussion on Operation Sindoor on Monday, a long-standing demand of the Opposition. PM Modi is expected to intervene in the debate.

The Opposition has been questioning the sudden ceasefire announcement following the conflict between India and Pakistan, and the repeated claims of foreign mediation by the US, which India has officially refuted.

The Monsoon Session was last adjourned on Friday due to persistent protests by the Opposition, who were also demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll in Bihar, ahead of the state elections later this year.

(For more news apart from PM Modi Participates in Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival, Honors Chola Legacy at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar: What Caused the Uttarakhand Stampede?

A large crowd had reportedly gathered at the temple due to the holy Shraavana season

Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar: What Caused the Uttarakhand Stampede?

What Caused the Uttarakhand Stampede?: In a tragic incident on Sunday morning (around 9am), six people lost their lives in a stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, officials confirmed.

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The incident also left 35 others injured, according to SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal, who told ANI that the injured are currently undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. An investigation into the incident is underway.

As per preliminary reports, the stampede was triggered by a rumour of an electric shock on the stairs leading up to the temple.

Prima facie, the stampede was triggered by a rumour of an electric shock on the stairs, about 100 metres down the temple route. We are investigating further, said SSP Dobal.

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District Magistrate Mayur Dixit also confirmed the death toll and announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident to determine who spread the rumour that led to the chaos. He added that there was no indication of any electric wire breakage at the site.

We found through photos and videos that someone spread the rumour of electric wire breaking, while looking at the injured or the dead, we did not get any such indication... We will investigate who spread the rumour that caused the stampede and a magisterial inquiry will be set up investigating cameras and other means... The death of 6 people has been confirmed...", said DM Dixit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.

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Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected, the Prime Ministers Office posted on X.

Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also posted on X, It is extremely distressing to receive news of a stampede on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar. The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management team, local police, and other rescue teams have reached the site and are engaged in relief and rescue operations.

I am in constant contact with the local administration regarding this matter, and the situation is being closely monitored. I pray to the Mother Goddess for the safety and well-being of all devotees, he added.

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According to a report by Hindustan Times, a large crowd had reportedly gathered at the temple due to the holy Shraavana season.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami following the incident ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He also visited the district hospital in Haridwar and met those injured.

Chief Minister speaaking to media said that some of the injured have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh.

(For more news apart from Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar: What Caused the Uttarakhand Stampede?, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Thai and Cambodian Leaders to Meet in Malaysia for Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict

Evacuees from affected areas expressed hope for a swift and lasting end to the fighting.

Thai and Cambodian Leaders to Meet in Malaysia for Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict

Thai and Cambodian Conflict Latest news; AP, news agency, reported on Sunday that the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will meet in Malaysia for talks aimed at ending the ongoing hostilities between the two nations. The development follows mediation efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has urged both sides to agree to an immediate ceasefire.

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The conflict, now in its fourth day, has claimed at least 34 lives and displaced around 168,000 people.

According to the report, Jirayu Huangsap, a spokesperson for the Thai Prime Ministers Office, said that Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will attend the peace talks on Monday in response to an invitation from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss regional peace efforts. The spokesperson also indicated that the Prime Minister of Cambodia would attend the talks, although this has not been officially confirmed by Cambodian authorities.

Late on Saturday night, Donald Trump posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had spoken with both parties and that both sides are for an immediate ceasefire and peace.

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I just had a very good call with the Prime Minister of Cambodia and informed him of my discussions with Thailand and its Acting Prime Minister. Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace. They are also looking to get back to the Trading Table with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS. They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE! It was an honor to deal with both countries. They have a long and storied history and culture. They will hopefully get along for many years to come. When all is done, and peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our trading agreements with both, Trump posted.

According to an AP report, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed on Sunday that his country had agreed to pursue an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. He also said Trump informed him that Thailand had also agreed to halt hostilities following the conversation with Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

This is positive news for the soldiers and people of both countries, Hun Manet said in a statement.

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Hun Manet added that he has assigned his deputy, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate the next steps with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to engage directly with Thailands foreign minister to implement the ceasefire.

Thai expressed cautious support for the ceasefire, stating that Thailand agreed in principle but emphasized the need for sincere intention from Cambodia, the thai foreign ministry said. The Ministry added that Phumtham thanked Trump for his intervention and called for swift bilateral talks to work out concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution.

The conflict began on Thursday when a landmine explosion along the disputed border injured five Thai soldiers. Both countries have since blamed each other for initiating the clashes.

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Meanwhile, evacuees from affected areas expressed hope for a swift and lasting end to the fighting.

(For more news apart from Thai and Cambodian Leaders to Meet in Malaysia for Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
July 27, 2025 Update 1

The latest news from RRI

Newsflash

Newsroom, 27.07.2025, 18:40

Corruption  The Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Dragos Anastasiu announced his resignation from office on Sunday afternoon. At this moment, in this climate, it is very clear to me that I can no longer help, that no matter what I say, no matter what I do, the process of denigration will continue, based on some facts, but taken to the extreme. This is the reason why it is time for me to take a step back and resign, he said. Reports have emerged in the press that Anastasiu, as a businessman, was a witness in the corruption case of a former inspector of the National Agency of Fiscal Administration (ANAF) and admitted to signing a fictitious contract through which he made payments to that official for eight years. Anastasiu claims that he was only a witness in that case, but the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) announced on Saturday that the businessman officially had the status of a whistleblower witness in the case, even though he did not actually sign a complaint. His resignation is the first from the pro-Western government in Bucharest, made up of the PSD, PNL, USR and UDMR, installed on June 23 and led by the liberal Ilie Bolojan.

Protests  Teachers in Romania have announced that they will launch a series of protests starting next week, accusing several provisions of the fiscal measures package promoted by the government and promulgated by President Nicusor Dan. The increase in the teaching norm from 18 to 20 hours per week may lead to the disappearance of some departments, union leaders say. They say that the merger of educational institutions will also create administrative problems, especially in rural areas, due to the long distances between schools. (LS)
Hong Kong police announced bounties Friday for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas activists, accusing them of national security crimes.

Political dissent in Hong Kong has been quashed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 after huge, sometimes violent pro-democracy protests the year before.

Many opposition figures have fled abroad, while others have been arrested and sentenced to years in jail.

Police said the 19 activists were involved in what they called a "subversive organisation", Hong Kong Parliament -- a pro-democracy NGO established in Canada.

On July 1, Hong Kong Parliament said on social media that it was holding an unofficial poll online to form a "legislature", aimed at "opposing one-party dictatorship and tyranny and pursuing Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong".

In a statement on Friday, police accused the group of seeking to "unlawfully overthrow and undermine the fundamental system" of the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.

The investigation into the organisation is ongoing, the police said, warning that they "will offer bounties to hunt down more suspects in the case if necessary".

They also called on the accused to "return to Hong Kong and turn themselves in, rather than make further mistakes".

A reward of HK$200,000 ($25,500) each was offered for 15 of the activists, while the four others were already wanted for HK$1 million, the statement said.

The bounties are seen as largely symbolic given that they affect people living abroad in nations unlikely to extradite political activists to Hong Kong or China.

Friday's announcement is the fourth time the financial hub's authorities have offered rewards for help capturing those alleged to have violated the city's national security laws.

"The Hong Kong government is deepening repression in Hong Kong, extending its long arm abroad and seeking to silence the diasporas," Human Rights Watch's Maya Wang said in a statement to AFP.

According to the Hong Kong police's website, as of Friday there are now 34 people wanted for national security offences, including secession, subversion, or foreign collusion.

Previous rounds of bounties were met with intense criticism from Western countries, with Hong Kong and China in turn railing against foreign "interference".

Hong Kong has also previously cancelled the passports of other pro-democracy activists on its wanted list, under its second homegrown national security law enacted in 2024.

As of July 1, authorities had arrested 333 people for alleged national security crimes, with 165 convicted in Hong Kong.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong police arrested four people, including a 15-year-old, who were allegedly part of a group in Taiwan that called for the overthrow of the Chinese Communist Party.

This week police said they had arrested an 18-year-old for writing "seditious words" on a toilet wall in a commercial building.
2024: Father Rhey Garcia addresses parishioners at the recent Communion breakfast. (Courtesy Mary Blaich) Rev. Rhey Garcia

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  His Eminence, Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, has appointed Rev. Rizalino Rhey Garcia as Chaplain to the Filipino Catholic community within the Archdiocese of New York.

Rev. Rhey, a native of the Philippines, will continue to serve as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in West Brighton while expanding his ministry to Filipino faithful throughout the archdioceses nine deaneries.

He also serves as chaplain at Moore Catholic High School in Graniteville through a pilot program designed to strengthen the connection between parishes and Catholic schools.

Ordained in 1999, Rev. Rhey has served in several Staten Island parishes and was officially named the 11th pastor of Sacred Heart Church on July 1, 2023, after having served as administrator since October 2022.

In his new archdiocesan role, he will work closely with Filipino-American Catholics to coordinate spiritual, pastoral, and emotional support, while unifying the many ministries already active throughout New York.

As I offer at every Mass, you are always in my prayers. Please pray for me as well, Rev. Rhey said.

2024: Deputy Consul General of the Philippine Consul General and Mrs. Adrian Elmer Soriano Cruz, left, Rev. Rhey Garcia, Eder Miranda, and District Attorney Michael McMahon, and Borough President Vito Fossella, enjoy the Philippine Independence Celebration of Staten Island (PICOSI) on June 8, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Rev. Rhey Garcia

PERIOD OF RENEWAL AT SACRED HEART

Since arriving at Sacred Heart, Rev. Rhey has ushered in a period of renewal.

Sunday Mass attendance has increased dramatically, and he has launched several inclusive parish initiatives, such as the Golden Heart Club and a revitalized Holy Name Society. The number of altar servers has grown by the dozens.

In June 2023, he introduced Sacred Hearts first-ever Philippine Independence Day celebration, drawing more than 1,000 people.

The event has continued to grow in size and popularity each year, strengthening cultural and spiritual ties within the parish.

Looking ahead, Rev. Rhey is preparing to lead Sacred Hearts milestone 150th anniversary celebration on October 18, 2025.

The upcoming 150th anniversary of Sacred Heart is not just about festivities and remembrance, but an opportunity for renewal and recommitment to mission as disciples of Christ, he said.

Together, let us strive to deepen our relationship with God, grow in holiness, and be ambassadors of His love in our families, workplaces, and community, he added.

2024: Father Rhey Garcia performs the invocation at Moore Catholic's 2024 Commencement Ceremony held inside the Monsignor Thomas J. Bergin Gymnasium in Graniteville on Saturday, June 1, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon) Rev. Rhey Garcia

CELEBRATION AT ST. PATRICKS CATHEDRAL

As part of his new appointment, Rev. Rhey is also organizing a major archdiocesan celebration honoring San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint, at St. Patricks Cathedral in Manhattan on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.

Titled From Manila to Manhattan: A Saints Celebration, the event will bring together Filipino Catholics from across the region in a powerful expression of faith, unity, and heritage.

1:30 p.m.  Arrival of participants

2:00 p.m.  Fiesta Mass

Celebrant: Most Rev. Peter Byrne, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York

All are welcome to attend this joyful and moving celebration of faith, culture, and devotion.

2024: Themed Embracing God Love and Mercy, parishioners and guests gathered for the joyous Mass, officiated by Bishop Peter Byrne, joined by Bishop John OHara, Rev. Rhey Garcia, pastor of Sacred Heart, center. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Rev. Rhey Garcia

For volunteer opportunities and more information, contact:

Rev. Rhey Garcia, Chaplain for the Filipino Catholic Apostolate  filcc.ny25@gmail.com

Marilyn Abalos  maeclipse@aol.com | 917-609-2587

Susan Gasis  svillagas52@gmail.com | 347-606-3804

Event Coordinator: San Lorenzo Ruiz Global Ministry

As Rev. Rhey takes on these new responsibilities, parishioners and members of the wider community are encouraged to pray for and support his continued ministry.
Westerleigh native and author Susan Fiorentino will serve as a guest speaker at the upcoming 9/11 Day of Service hosted by Projekt NYC on Saturday, Sept. 6 in New York City. Courtesy Susan Fiorentino

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Islander and author Susan Fiorentino will serve as a guest speaker at the upcoming 9/11 Day of Service hosted by Projekt NYC on Saturday, Sept. 6 in New York City.

Fiorentino, a founding member of the Tunnel to Towers Foundations Young Professionals Network (YPN), will share her personal story as the daughter and niece of 9/11 first responders.

Fiorentino is the daughter of Pete Fiorentino, a first responder in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. She was 10 years old at the time.

My father is a retired NYPD Second Grade Detective from 1 Police Plaza and Im turning 30 later this year, she said. I still strongly identify with first responder families and I live every day as someone who was raised by a 9/11 first responder.

Working with these high school students from specialized high schools across New York City is an honor, and being asked to speak at such a meaningful event is a privilege, Fiorentino said. My gift for writing and storytelling allowed me to turn tragedy into a way to remember those we lost and those who are still suffering.

In addition to her father, Fiorentinos uncle, current FDNY firefighter Billy Fitzpatrick, responded to the terrorist attacks.

At a young age, I saw what this day did to my family and how it spilled over into other aspects of my life, she said. Even if I couldnt fully understand or process it all, I had the self-awareness to know our lives had changed forever.

Fiorentino credits writing as her way of coping and processing those experiences.

In 2020, she fulfilled a longtime goal of becoming a published author, self-publishing her book and donating 100% of the proceeds to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Making that donation was one of the proudest moments of my life, she said. As someone whose loved ones survived, I felt it was my duty to use the talents God gave me to do some good.

As a founding member of the Foundations Young Professionals Network, Fiorentino works alongside others dedicated to keeping the memory and legacy of 9/11 heroes alive.

Im so proud to be part of YPN and doing my part to continue to do good, she said. Especially growing up, living, and working in Staten Island, I feel more connected to my community than ever.

We may share a common background shaped by tragedy, but the work we do now makes a lasting impact in our loved ones names.

Fiorentino encourages all Staten Islanders to find their own way to honor the memory of 9/11 each yearwhether by giving back, volunteering, or simply taking a moment of reflection.

I am grateful to the Staten Island community for its continued support and am currently in the early stages of my next project, she added.

To stay updated on the 9/11 Day of Service event on Sept. 6, follow @911dayofservice on Instagram.

To learn more or apply to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation Young Professionals Network, visit: Young Professionals Network  Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Susan credits her membership in the Tunnel to Towers Young Professionals Network for helping her find motivation when she felt overwhelmed or saddened by the process, stories, and her own self-reflection.

The process of getting to know all the contributors was an experience I will never forget, Susan said in a previous interview with the Advance/SILive.com. So many of the contributors either had a connection to myself, my family, or ended up connecting with one another.

It was amazing to see that something positive came out of these negative feelings.

Susan and her dad at St. Anns Father/Daughter Dance. Courtesy Susan Fiorentino

Susan Fiorentino with her brother Peter and family friend Steve Diaz at the annual Tunnel to Towers 5K. Courtesy Susan Fiorentino

Susan Fiorentino with her brother Peter and cousins William and Ashley at their Uncle Billys FDNY graduation. Courtesy Susan Fiorentino

Susan with her book, "We Will Never Forget: The Stories of the Children of 9/11 First Responders." Courtesy Susan Fiorentino
Dale Hull (left) and Dean Hull (right) died Wednesday, July 16, while boating on Oneida Lake. The brothers were visiting their family cottage on Wellesley Island in the early 1990s. Lisa Hull

Syracuse, N.Y.  Dean and Dale Hull felt most at home on the water as kids and later as adults.

Growing up, they spent summers swimming, fishing and boating on the St. Lawrence River. As they got older, the brothers worked on boats of their own and often restoring older ones with sanding, polishing and fresh paint. They were often together on the water somewhere.

The brothers - Dale, 64, and Dean, 65 - died July 16 while doing what they love - boating, this time on Oneida Lake.

An off-duty deputy found the brothers in water in Three Mile Bay in the town of West Monroe shortly before 2 p.m. that day, according to Andrew Bucher, a spokesperson for the Oswego County Sheriffs Office. Their boat was not far away.

Family members said they dont know how the brothers drowned. The brothers werent wearing life jackets, but they were strong swimmers with a lifetime of experience on the water and around boats.

Deputies told the family the boat was found floating in the bay before Dean and Dale were discovered together in shallow water, said Kathy Saumier, Dales girlfriend of 18 years. The boat wasnt damaged or capsized.

Family members said they may never know what happened.

The men, who both retired at about 62 years old, boated so often that sometimes going onto the water would just be a spur-of-the-moment thing, like it was Wednesday.

Family members sat down recently with syracuse.com | The Post-Standard to talk about their brothers and their love of family and being on the water.

Theyve been attached at the hip since they were kids, said Lisa Hull, Deans wife. They were two peas in a pod.

Dean and Dale Hull grew up in Nedrow but the familys cottage, called Harbor Lights, was in the Thousand Island Parks on Wellesley Island. It was a second home, where days were filled with sunshine and time together on the water. That continued for decades.

Dean always seemed to get boats that were on their last leg, and he would fix it up so they could use it for a year or two, and then wed have to get rid of it and get a new one, Lisa said.

Dale owned a 1988 Sea Ray sleeper, which he and Saumier took out on the water nearly every summer weekend. Theyd dock the boat on the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, and drive up each Friday, spending the night in the cabin, Saumier said.

Along with fishing and swimming, the brothers had an interest in minerals and rocks. Lisa said Dean often collected and studied them in his spare time.

Lisa said Dean loved science and science fiction, and had a passion for collecting rocks, minerals and even meteorites.

One of Deans favorite pastimes was watching Star Wars, especially The Clone Wars and anything connected to the saga. It was a passion he shared with his son, Ian.

Dale fell in love with nature photography, often capturing sunsets, lakes and lighthouses, Saumier said. Several of his photos were selected for publication in the Thousand Islands Sun, a weekly newspaper in Alexandria Bay.

Saumier said the two brothers were also very sentimental, enjoyed antique pieces and often had a hard time letting older items go.

Lisa Hull said she and Dean saw Jurassic Park last week, and as she sifted through his dresser after he died, she found he kept the ticket stubs.

Sarah Hull, Deans daughter, said her father was always affectionate. They kissed each other hello and goodbye, and he always told his kids how loved they were and how proud he was of them, she said.

Dean was a father of two, a son and a daughter, and Dale was a girl dad  he had three daughters.

Dale was a grandfather of four who spent his retirement with his grandchildren, Saumier said. He was especially excited to take the little ones out on the water in a boat for the first time.

Dean had been a line cook at multiple restaurants throughout his life. Hed met his wife, Lisa, at The Poseidon  a Greek restaurant he worked in on James Street in Syracuse.

Dale worked as a machinist for multiple companies in the DeWitt and Liverpool area, according to Saumier.

Dean Hull (left) and Dale Hull (right) died July 16 while boating on Oneida Lake. Debbie Hull (bottom) is pictured with her brothers on Easter at Loretto Health & Rehabilitation. Lisa Hull

In retirement, the two often were out on the water. Saumier said she didnt know they were going out on the water last week.

On Wednesday afternoon, Oswego County Sheriffs Office deputies came to Saumier and Dales Syracuse home after Dales boat was found drifting. The boat, a 1988 Searay Weekender, was registered to their address.

Saumier told deputies through her Ring camera that she would call him and ask him why the boat was drifting and to retrieve it, but he didnt answer. She was busy at work and didnt think much of it at the time.

When she got off work around 4 p.m., she expected to find Dale waiting for her, he always dropped her off and picked her up from work, but he wasnt there today.

My nephew was working downstairs, and he said I talked to him at 9:30 a.m.  he was on the boat, and I just got sick to my stomach because I knew something was wrong," Saumier said.

Thats when deputies called her again. When she got home from work, they told Saumier that Dean and Dale had died.

Lisa Hull said she tried to call Dean when he hadnt made it home yet. She said they would usually be back around 3 p.m. after a day of boating.

I called him to see, you know, whats going on; how come youre late? Lisa said. It went straight to voicemail, and then an hour later, deputies were at my door.

Lisa joked that she asked the deputies at her door, Okay, what did they do? I thought in my heart they got arrested.

Instead, thats when she learned they were both dead.

Lisa said the Onondaga County Medical Examiners Office told their family that the brothers cause of death was an accidental drowning.

She said the family was in shock and disbelief.

Still, the family said they find comfort in knowing Dean and Dale were together in their final moments. Lisa said each brother would have been devastated if one had survived without the other.

Kathy said Dale often joked about wanting a Viking funeral  laid to rest in a boat set ablaze on the river. She laughed, saying she loved him, but she wasnt about to go to jail to make it happen.

But, she said she will uphold his wishes and spread his ashes on the water.

Lisa said the family is still planning the funeral, but it will be a joint service. Calling hours for both brothers were Friday at the Butler-Badman Funeral Home.

They were great guys who lived a great life, Lisa said.

***

Dale Alan Hull obituary

Dean Maxson Hull obituary
Emergency Management warns sensitive groups to limit outdoor exposure as smoke reduces visibility to 4-6 miles across the city.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City is warning residents of wildfire smoke that has made the air unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to a tweet from the New York City Emergency Management on Sunday.

Wildfire smoke is drifting into the New York City area today, bringing hazy skies, reduced visibility of 4 to 6 miles, and a faint smell of smoke.

An air quality health advisory is in place until midnight due to elevated levels of fine particulate matter, the tweet said.

Older adults, children, and people with heart or lung conditions are especially at risk of experiencing health issues due to the low-quality air.

It is recommended that New Yorkers limit time spent outdoors, keep windows closed, use air purifiers, and consider wearing a high-quality mask if they are in a sensitive group and must go outside, the office advised.

NYC Emergency Management is monitoring the situation closely with state and federal partners. Stay informed and take steps to protect your health.
Looking for a summer getaway that wont disappoint? The Queen of Spas is calling your name!

Saratoga Springs recently made USA Todays 10 best summer travel destinations across the US list for 2025, coming in at No. 4. The list was compiled based on reader votes after an expert panel nominated their top picks. Other winning destinations included Cody, Wyoming; Catalina Island, California; Block Island, Rhode Island; and Mackinac Island, Michigan, which was crowned No. 1.

Offering a rich blend of cultural events, outdoor activities, and historic charm, Saratoga Springs, New York, is a vibrant summer destination, wrote USA Today of the charming Upstate NY city.

The outlet continued to highlight some of Saratoga Springs most popular attractions like the renowned Saratoga Race Course, where visitors can experience the thrill of thoroughbred horse racing during race season, which runs through mid-July to Labor Day.

FILE  Horses are spread across the track shortly during a horse race at the Saratoga Race Course, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Reid Burchell) AP

The course offers free general admission as well as reserved seating options in the grandstand or clubhouse for those wanting a closer view. Additionally, every Sunday during race season, the Saratoga Race Course hosts Family Sundays, featuring a dedicated family zone near Gate A filled with free, family-friendly games, activities, and attractions.

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) also got a shout-out by the outlet for its stacked event lineup. This summer, visitors can catch concerts from big-name acts like Phish or the Goo Goo Dolls. They can also sign up for enriching workshops, such as adult ballet or a childrens music program led by The Philadelphia Orchestra.

For the outdoorsy type, Saratoga Lake and the Sacandaga River offer no shortage of water activities like boating, whitewater rafting, and kayaking. For something unique, large groups can book a Tiki Tour on Saratoga Lake.

Although not mentioned, first-time visitors may want to check out Saratoga Springs National Historical Park for a history lesson on the Battles of Saratoga, or Saratoga Spa State Park to bask in the famous mineral springs like the Geyser Spring.

Saratoga Springs has been recognized multiple times by USA Todays 10 best lists over the years. Earlier this year, it made the outlets lists for 10 best small college towns and 10 best small town art scenes.
This photo from March 31, 2025, shows Mayor Eric Adams addressing community leaders, members of the clergy and faith-based organizations during an Evening of Faith at the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

Mayor Eric Adams touted his administrations work in getting firearms off the streets in a press conference on Sunday.

Going back to the start of 2025, more than 3,000 illegal firearms have been seized by the New York Police Department, Adams announced during the conference, which was hosted at the NYPDs 42nd Precinct in the Bronx.

From January 2022 to today, Adams said that the city has taken over 22,700 illegal firearms in the course of his administration.

While the majority of firearms touted at the press conference were handguns, a number of seized shotguns were also up on display.

Nothing makes me prouder than the records we are setting in the fight against gun violence that are making our city safer, said Adams. With six straight quarters of crime reductions and over 22,700 illegal firearms seized since 2022, were making real progress  one gun at a time. Each gun seized represents a life saved, a family protected, and a community made safer."

The public officials in attendance also celebrated six straight quarters of crime reduction and a record low of both shootings and shooting victims in 2025.

In the first six months of the year, New York City saw the lowest number of shooting victims ever recorded in a half-year span.

June 2025 in particular saw a 30% decrease of shooting incidents when compared to June 2024. This translated to 125 fewer shooting victims, according to the Mayors press release.

The first quarter of 2025 also represented the lowest number of shootings for any quarter in New York City history, the press release says.

This pattern built upon similar success in 2024, which was the fourth-lowest year for shootings in the citys recorded history according to the Mayors office.

During the first half of 2025, New York City had the lowest number of shooting victims in recorded history and tied the all-time low for shooting incidents, Its the NYPDs strategic plan in full effect: relentlessly following the data, taking down violent gangs, and deploying resources to our summer zones, said NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch in a statement.

Of the roughly 22,700 guns seized under the Adams administration, the Mayors press release says that over 1,500 were ghost guns unregistered and untraceable firearms that can be bought as a kit, in pieces, or put together using 3D printed materials.

Simply put, the preponderance of illegal firearms, ghost guns, and assault weapons make New York City less safe, said Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon in a statement.

Although Staten Island is witnessing record lows in shootings and shooting victims, more must be done to prevent these senselessly violent acts and to ensure the safety of our neighbors, McMahon continued.
Garret Mosley, of New Brighton, took home the top prize at the recent New York City Department of Environmental Protections Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations Interborough Catch Basin Mania Cleaning Competition. He is pictured here with his award. (Courtesy of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Garret Mosley, 61, of New Brighton, took home the top prize at the recent city Department of Environmental Protections Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations fourth annual InterBorough Catch Basin Mania Cleaning Competition.

This years competition featured workers from each borough, judged on both speed and safety of their cleaning at the Queens Repair Training Center on June 20.

Mosley, who has worked at the DEP for 37 years, competed for the first time. For the past 12 years, he has dedicated his work to cleaning thousands of catch basins across the boroughs.

Regular cleaning of the catch basins, also known as storm drains, is a crucial step to ensuring the New York City sewer system functions, since those that become clogged with debris can cause flooding. Functioning and cleaned basins drain water into underground sewer pipes that carry it to wastewater resource recovery facilities or into local waterways.

Youre out there on your own each day cleaning catch basins, Mosley described. You get assigned a certain amount of catch basins a day, and you just go do your work. Some take hours. Some could take 10 minutes.

Youre out there on your own each day cleaning catch basins, Mosley said. You get assigned a certain amount of catch basins a day, and you just go do your work. Some take hours. Some could take 10 minutes. (Courtesy of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection)

This event not only celebrated the hard work and talent of the workers, but also highlighted how important their role is to the city.

Its a day off and day out, just to celebrate the job, Mosley said. " You get see a lot of guys you started with and a lot of old timers. A lot of them have been around for 30 or 40 years. Its like a meet and greet."

Mosley is not only celebrating his champion award, but his future retirement.

This is a nice achievement, something I can have and show my kids, he stated, " Im about to retire. So I said, let me just do this. Give it my all one last time."
Exposure Dance Studio parents, pictured here, recently won first place at the Journey Dance National Competition held at Harrahs in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Courtesy of Mayya Benfeld

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Parents of the students at Staten Islands Exposure Dance Studio won first place with their Jersey Shore-themed dance at the Journey Dance National Competition held at Harrahs Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, last month.

The performance, titled Its a Shore Thing, was an unforgettable tribute to early 2000s Staten Island and MTVs Jersey Shore. Studio staff, parents and grandparents competed against six other dance companies on the national competition stage with high-energy throwback music and classic cheetah print that had the crowd cheering and judges laughing.

It was such a vibe, said Katie Rousiamanis, director and owner of Exposure Dance Studio. In the theater, we had schools from all over, that werent even our own kids and parents, cheering us on.

Exposure Dance Studio, located on Richmond Road in Dongan Hills, is celebrating its 20th season this year.

Its become such a strong family atmosphere, besides just from dance itself. We do have bonds with each other, and that performance just brought us even closer, Rousiamanis said, referring to the parents performance.

It builds stronger bonds with all the kids, because they were practicing, the kids were teaching them too. So it was very cute, she added.

Erin Sullivan, the studios assistant director, said she was particularly impressed by the parents commitment to the routine.

Our parents just got super into it. They were excited to get their costumes, she recalled. They were texting me, I have practice at five oclock to work on my cartwheel. Their kids were really practicing with them, and they came to our practices.

Just participating in the dance was an amazing experience, but the [first place win] was just perfection," said Bridget Reale, a parent of a student at Exposure Dance Studio, which is located in Dongan Hills. Courtesy of Alysa Cirelli

This commitment stemmed from years of building a community with the families who are part of the dance studio.

Exposure Dance Studio feels like home, said Susan Triscritti, a parent of a company dancer. The teachers put their whole heart into everything, the kids lift each other up, and the atmosphere is always positive. Winning for both our Company Production and Parent Dance showed exactly what Exposure is all about.

While the parents had fun performing, it also gave them the opportunity to see the world of dance competitions from their childrens shoes.

When we got to the side of the stage, they were like, how do my kids do this? This is scary, said Rousiamanis, " It made them realize what their kids actually do, and the amount of courage that it takes their kids to get up there and do it."

The parents win invigorated the team, and the students subsequent award-winning performances made the celebration even sweeter. The companys production number, Rock Revived, took first overall and first in the Grand Finale.

Just participating in the dance was an amazing experience, but the [first place win] was just perfection. I can definitely see why my daughter loves it, said parent Bridget Reale, who had never danced prior to this summers competition.

Sullivan said the parents express a desire to take to the stage again.

They want to do a class every week, she said. Theyre into it now. They got a taste of what its like to be up on stage.
The National Weather Service warns that vulnerable populations are at significant risk as heat index values soar between 105-110 degrees through Wednesday evening. Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. With heat index values expected to reach up to 105 degrees, New York City Emergency Management and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are urging New Yorkers to be cautious Monday through Wednesday.

Both city departments announced that cooling centers will be open citywide to provide safe, air-conditioned spaces for relief from the heat.

New Yorkers can find their closest location by calling 311 or using the Cool Options Map.

Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the citys full activation of its heat emergency plan, including outreach to vulnerable populations, coordination with utility providers, and public education to prevent heat-related health issues.

Staying safe takes all of us, Adams said. Look out for one another and take this seriously.

The city offered the following five tips to stay safe in the extreme heat:

Stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activity during the peak heat hours of 11 a.m through 4 p.m. Check on older adults and those with health conditions. Never leave children or pets in vehicles. Use air-conditioned public spaces like libraries, malls, or cooling centers. Conserve energy by setting ACs to the highest comfortable temperature and turning off or unplugging unused appliances.

The National Weather Service issuing a Heat Advisory ahead of the dangerous heat wave is set to grip Staten Island through Tuesday that will bring potentially life-threatening temperatures and humidity.

According to the National Weather Service, the heat index will range from between 95 and 105 degrees, creating hazardous conditions for Islanders.

The heat advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with temperatures and humidity levels posing significant health risks.

The National Weather Service warns that heat indices could climb to 100-105 degrees in northeastern New Jersey and 95-100 degrees in the New York City area.

Before the intense heat arrives, Staten Island can expect a chance of showers and thunderstorms on Sunday, with some potential for localized flash flooding.

Precipitation rates could reach up to 2 inches per hour in the afternoon. Staten Island may experience cloudy conditions with thunderstorms although any severe weather is expected to weaken as it moves east.

The heat wave will continue through Wednesday, with a cold front approaching that may bring additional precipitation chances.

By Thursday, high pressure is expected to bring cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis recently hosted what she called a  tele-town hall  to discuss the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, now law. Lets be honest: This was not a genuine forum for public accountability. It was a controlled message delivery system designed to avoid real, unscripted questions from constituents who might dare to challenge the truth-deficient sales pitch surrounding this legislation. Cowardice disguised as outreach.

Rep. Malliotakis insisted that nothing changes for Medicaid recipients. This is demonstrably false. The law mandates $700 billion in Medicaid cuts, nearly 80% of the programs total annual budget. While she claims these are mere anti-fraud measures, the reality is a sweeping set of new eligibility requirements that will purge potentially millions from the program, not because theyre ineligible, but because of red tape. The shift to semiannual eligibility checks alone is a proven bureaucratic barrier that states like Arkansas have used to quietly drop vulnerable populations, including children and the disabled.

She also touted so-called community engagement requirements, a euphemism for work requirements that punish the working poor. These rules would force people to log 80 hours per month of work, school, or volunteering to maintain access to health care. But heres the kicker: 93% of non-disabled Medicaid recipients are already working, caregiving, or studying. This is a solution in search of a problem, designed not to improve lives, but to reduce enrollment through attrition.

The deception doesnt stop there. Malliotakis crowed about quadrupling the SALT deduction cap, a cap originally imposed by the Trump-GOP tax law she supported in 2017. That law penalized high-tax states like New York, shifting more of the federal tax burden onto middle-class families here while cutting rates for corporations and the wealthy. Now she wants credit for partially reversing the damage her own party caused, with no mention of how this bills temporary tax relief is more than offset by permanent service cuts and exploding debt.

Speaking of debt, this beautiful law adds at minimum $4.1 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, or $5.5 trillion if its provisions are extended, as Republicans admit they intend to do. This isnt fiscal responsibility. Its economic vandalism dressed in populist rhetoric.

Meanwhile, she peddled false claims about border crossings dropping to zero an assertion directly contradicted by Customs and Border Protection data showing thousands of encounters in the last 60 days alone.

So, forgive the skepticism when Rep. Malliotakis boasts about helping her constituents. When you dodge public town halls, spin deep cuts as reforms, and sell a bill that robs the future to fund a talking point, the truth becomes painfully obvious: This law isnt about serving Staten Island or South Brooklyn. Its about political theater, plain and simple.

(Dr. Joseph Frusci is a Great Kills resident.)
The 2028 presidential election is three years away.

But gamblers have already decided who the major party candidates will be.

And who is going to come out on top in the general election.

By a huge margin, bettors on the Polymarket site are wagering that Vice President JD Vance will be the GOP nominee for president in 2028.

The site shows that 56% of those wagering on the question think that Vance will lead the Republican White House ticket.

Coming in a distant second is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with just 7% of gamblers wagering that he will be the GOP nominee.

Even though President Donald Trump is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term in the White House, 5% of gamblers think that Trump will be the 2028 Republican Party candidate for president.

Things are closer on the other side of the aisle, with 21% of gamblers wagering that California Gov. Gavin Newsom will be the Democratic Party nominee for president in 2028.

Newsom is followed by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with 16% of gamblers betting that she will be the Democratic White House standard bearer.

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg gets support from 12% of gamblers on the Polymarket site.

As for the big November 2028 matchup, 28% of bettors are wagering that Vance will win the presidential election.

Newsom comes in second place among Polymarket wagerers, with 14%.

In third place is Ocasio-Cortez, who gets support from 11% of those who are gambling on the question.

Buttigieg and Rubio round out the top five presidential election finishers on the Polymarket site.

However, a separate betting market on the Polymarket site shows 55% of gamblers wagering that the Democratic Party will win the 2028 presidential election, with 46% betting that it will be the GOP.
The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un rebuffed overtures by South Koreas new liberal government, saying on Monday that its blind trust in the countrys alliance with the US and hostility towards North Korea make it no different from its conservative predecessor.

Kim Yo Jongs comments imply that North Korea  now preoccupied with its expanding co-operation with Russia  sees no need to resume diplomacy with South Korea and the US anytime soon.

We clarify once again the official stand that no matter what policy is adopted and whatever proposal is made in Seoul, we have no interest in it and there is neither a reason to meet nor an issue to be discussed, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by state media.

Its North Koreas first official statement on the government of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, which took office in early June with a promise to improve badly frayed ties with North Korea.

North Korea has shunned talks with South Korea and the US since Kim Jong Uns high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with US President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019 due to wrangling over international sanctions.

AP
The architect of Australias current research integrity system says it is no longer fit for purpose and has called for the establishment of an independent scientific watchdog.

The revelations in this masthead of widespread concerns going back more than 10 years about the research practices of top cancer researcher Professor Mark Smyth have sparked calls for reform.

Former science minister Kim Carr.

In Australia, universities and research institutes are responsible for investigating allegations of research misconduct against their own staff. Smyth was cleared by multiple investigations before eventually being found by research institute QIMR Berghofer to have committed serious research misconduct.

On Sunday the government said it was undertaking a review of Australias research integrity system to ensure it remains effective and fit for purpose.
Rebbeck came to the attention of police in April 2023 when they identified a Zoom meeting he was logged into. Search warrants were sought and Rebbeck was arrested several months later. In his initial police interview, he admitted to possessing child abuse material, gave police his pin codes and passwords and told them they would find it on his phone under the Telegram account named SydFk. Rebbeck pleaded guilty to four child abuse material charges and was called to give evidence during sentencing submissions before Judge Robert Newlinds SC. He agreed with a psychologists assessment that he appeared to be in a disinhibited drug-fuelled state during the period of offending due to heavy stimulant usage which affected his cognitive functioning and lowered his behavioural inhibition. Rebbeck denied having a sexual interest in children. Credit: Instagram Asked if he believed he had an underlying sexual interest in children, Rebbeck said he did not and that the offending stemmed from the heavy drug use he turned to while depressed.

His barrister, Jeremy Etkind, told the court Rebbeck accepted and was horrified about the things he said, but didnt remember them. The Crown prosecutor asked Rebbeck if he accepted there is a risk you have a sexual interest in children? to which he replied: I guess, if drugs are involved. No one pretends from time to time they dont have impulses that are bad, but many people dont act on that, Newlinds said, adding that if Rebbeck did not have an interest in children, there would be nothing to control. Its very easy for people to think Im just looking at photos but all the images are horrible and theyre all real children, the judge said. During sentencing submissions, Etkind tendered a previous Herald article, which named Rebbeck as the ninth person in NSW arrested by NSW Police under the child exploitation internet units Strike Force Packer, formed in March 2023 to investigate a child abuse ring whose members were allegedly hosting and joining video conferences to share child abuse videos.

Etkind told Newlinds he did not suggest the media exposure equalled extra-curial punishment but said it was simply just embarrassment. You cant hide from it. Its going to be known by everyone [and] noticed whenever anybody plugs that into the internet, he said. Newlinds said that media reporting on child-abuse-related offending served as important general deterrence because it was becoming more and more prevalent. Rebbeck was sentenced to three years jail with his sentence partially suspended after 20 months on the condition he enter a recognisance of $100 without security. Other conditions include undergoing mental health, alcohol and drug treatment.

Strike Force Packer detectives said the paedophile syndicate they discovered spread across Australia and the world, with hundreds of users in Europe, Asia and the US. Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty earlier told this masthead the investigation found hundreds of people with a common motive who viewed the sessions and even exposed themselves during the events. They have cameras open  so they can see each other getting pleasure from it. In the general persons world, this is unthinkable, but for these guys its the norm, the states top anti-child abuse detective said. Doherty said the alleged perpetrators used multiple platforms, many of which had gained popularity through the pandemic, and it was unclear how long the sessions had been running. She described the alleged syndicate as very fluid, without clear hierarchy  but one Queensland man had been allegedly identified as a host who shared files.
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It was very re-traumatising, she said. Kate is among more than 70,000 people strip-searched by NSW Police officers in the past decade who did not have illicit drugs on them, according to new data published in a Redfern Legal Centre and Harm Reduction Australia report that analysed 10 years of the policing practice. It was just one clothing piece after another. I was just full-blown naked. Kate, who was strip-searched when she was 18 According to the data  which had to be obtained by Greens MP Cate Faehrmann after NSW Police rejected Redfern Legal Centres requests under freedom-of-information laws  82,471 people were strip-searched between January 2014 and December 2023. Of those searches, illicit drugs were found on 11,136 occasions  or 13.5 per cent of the time  according to the data, which takes in all strip-searches in NSW, including in-custody searches. The data does not show where the strip-searches were conducted, or what percentage were in-custody searches conducted at police stations or prisons. From all searches, drug possession charges were laid 10.45 per cent of the time, while 2.45 per cent of people allegedly found with drugs on them were charged with supply offences. Of all searches conducted over the decade, 6503 convictions for drug possession or supply were recorded.

In 2016 alone, less than 1 per cent of the 14,279 people strip searched were convicted of drug supply offences, while 11.78 per cent  or 627 people  received a conviction for drug possession offences, according to the data. Those numbers point to the unnecessary and unlawful use of strip-searches in NSW, says Samantha Lee, Redfern Legal Centres police powers and administrative law supervising solicitor. The punishment doesnt meet the crime because in the majority of cases, there is no crime, Lee says. The police have subjected young people to, really, a lifetime of trauma on the basis of suspicion, which in the vast majority of cases, is unfounded. In May, the NSW Supreme Court heard Raya Meredith, the lead plaintiff in a class action against NSW Police, was also forced to undress, bend over and remove her tampon during a strip-search at Splendour in the Grass in 2018.

During the search, conducted by a female officer, a male officer walked unannounced into the makeshift cubicle in which Meredith was being searched. Like Kate, Meredith did not have drugs on her. Loading More than 3000 members joined the class action, brought in 2022 by legal firm Slater and Gordon and Redfern Legal Centre, which argues strip-searches conducted at music festivals between 2016 and 2022 were illegal. The lawsuit is the biggest class action ever brought against NSW Police, with damages of up to $150 million being sought. On the eve of the first hearing date, NSW Police admitted in an amended defence that the search of Meredith was unlawful, throwing into doubt the legality of the searches of other group members. Justice Dina Yehia is expected to hand down her judgment in the coming months. By admitting fault, it symbolises to us that most likely, the majority of strip-searches that have been undertaken by police have been unlawful, Lee said.

If successful, Lee said, the class action would send a clear message to police that they cant continue to subject young people and children to this invasive, humiliating practice. NSW Polices use of drug detection dogs has also drawn criticism, with new data in the report showing 60 per cent of the time, dogs provided incorrect indications that individuals  who were later strip-searched  were in possession of illicit drugs. Of the 6716 people strip-searched after an indication from a drug detection dog, 2713 were allegedly found with illicit drugs on them. Of the 2241 charged, 658  or 9.8 per cent  were convicted of drug possession or supply. Both Kate and Meredith were told they were being searched because a drug detection dog had indicated they were carrying illicit drugs. However, both said the dog did not sit beside them  a typical indication someone may have drugs on them  and instead walked away after sniffing them. In some cases reported to Redfern Legal Centre, individuals who were strip-searched claimed handlers had instructed a drug detection dog to sit beside them to justify a search. Among the reports seven recommendations is that police immediately abolish the use of strip-searching based on suspicion of minor drug possession; the strip-searching of children under 18; and the use of drug detection dogs at music festivals. It also recommends publicly releasing annual data on the number and outcome of strip-searches conducted each year, as well as the annual cost of deploying drug detection dogs.

Redfern Legal Centres Samantha Lee said strip-searching was causing the community a lot of trauma. Credit: Janie Barrett I dont think, based on the statistics, that police or the government could continue to justify the use of strip-searches, Lee said. These statistics speak for themselves and tell us that this practice is causing a lot of trauma, and in most cases, is potentially unlawful. Lee says rather than combating drug supply, strip-searches based on suspicion of minor drug possession have left vulnerable people with lifelong trauma. Police have treated young people with a level of disdain, really, Lee said. Theyve known for a long time that the outcome of strip-searches is not justifiable in terms of its success rate to tackle supply, yet theyve continued this practice over many years. Harm Reduction Australia president Gino Vumbaca said the ends do not justify the means and called for an immediate end to strip-searching.

A hell of a lot of people have been put through this traumatic process for nothing, Vumbaca said. What are we doing in our community that were subjecting people to this process for this extraordinarily low figure? If there was a health program that operated [with] these stats, youd close it down. New data shows drug detection dogs incorrectly indicated that individuals were carrying illicit drugs 60 per cent of the time over a decade. Credit: Dean Sewell In a statement, NSW Police said it deploys various proactive strategies as part of an ongoing commitment to reducing crime in the community. Drug supply remains a serious offence and carries a significant risk of harm to the community, it said.

Police are required to suspect on reasonable grounds that the circumstances are serious and urgent when determining whether a strip-search is necessary. Officers are trained to deal with the public in a respectful and empathetic manner, and to be aware of potential cultural sensitivities. NSW Police said legislation under which strip-searches are conducted had safeguards to preserve the privacy and dignity of members of the public and that there were additional safeguards for children ... and vulnerable people with which police must comply. In the years since she was strip-searched, Kate has struggled with the trauma of the incident. In the months after, she used illicit drugs to cope. I was taking a lot of substances, I was trying to numb [myself]. I was putting myself in more unsafe environments as well with people and the substances I used, she said. Just to get out of that space and disassociate from my body. When she hears sirens now, Kate dons noise-cancelling headphones to block out the sound. When a team of police officers and drug detection dogs searches a train station, she averts her eyes and walks the other way. Every few months, shell wake from a nightmare where she is back in the tent again.

Its made me kind of lose faith in terms of the police, and what their job is supposed to do  protect the community and uphold social justice, she said. Loading But it wasnt social justice. As an 18-year-old, the incident left Kate with a sense of sadness. Over the years, that feeling has morphed into a sense of injustice. Now I can come to terms with what happened to me, and Im actually angry [at] the injustice. I have so much rage, she said.
Brisbane punched above its weight in the 100 Australian songs of all time this weekend, but several classic bands and tracks inexplicably missed out.

The Saints  whose 1976 track (Im) Stranded predated the Sex Pistols and arguably set the template for punk  was excluded, as were Custard, the solo work of the Saints Ed Kuepper, and Pangaea.

Ode to Queensland Cattle and Cane by The Go-Betweens also didnt make the cut. Nor did any tracks from Kate Miller-Heidke.

The Bee Gees had no inclusions, though its unclear if they were eligible as an Australian act.

The River City was still well represented in the Triple J poll, with two tracks  Untouched by the Veronicas and My Happiness by Powderfinger  breaking into the top 10.

Covered In Chrome by Violent Soho, Wish You Well by Bernard Fanning, ! (The Song Formerly Known As) by Regurgitator, Streets of Your Town by The Go-Betweens, I Want You by Savage Garden, Its Nice To Be Alive by Ball Park Music and a handful of other Powderfinger and Veronicas songs also made the top 100.
It said the doctor issued more than 700 scripts per week on average, but noted that the actual number of scripts dispensed was far lower. When cancellations, repeats not filled, medicine strength variations and different forms are factored in, the actual number of scripts dispensed to patients is significantly lower. Another leaked document shows the companys consultations were scheduled to last no longer than 10 minutes, despite a spokeswoman previously claiming they could last up to 30 minutes. They encouraged us to have a few more patients every hour, said one doctor who quit Montu after a year and requested anonymity to speak openly about internal processes. Like, 10-minute sessions are already horrendously short, but then when youre starting to do five-minute sessions, youre literally not even talking to the patient. Youre just giving them cannabis.

The doctor said while the prescription numbers seemed astronomical, not all of those scripts would have been filled. One of the frustrations in the industry is just supply chain, and so youll often give patients a back-up option for when, inevitably, the product you prescribe is out of stock, they said. Loading The number of patients seen by each doctor on the list was still ridiculous, the doctor said. Former employees also allege non-clinical staff were re-scripting Montu patients  replacing prescribed medications with higher-margin alternatives, sometimes after falsely declaring a product out of stock. Former operations manager Tom Farmery, who resigned in early 2024, said this since-abandoned practice was handled without medical oversight. If something was out of stock, or sometimes it was a fabricated out of stock because the business saw an opportunity to transition patients to a Montu home brand that had a higher margin, the patient was redirected to that stock, Farmery said.

He said that even when replacement products had similar properties  similar THC levels and flower type, for instance  if a choice existed between one that was marginally more appropriate for the patient, and one that was more profitable, the more profitable product would be chosen. Montus Circle brand of cannabis. Credit: Reddit The result, he said, was that doctors did not know what the medication would be replaced with ... It was handled operationally, not medically. After Farmery raised the issue with legal and compliance teams, Montu eventually ceased the practice after a long and drawn-out process. He said it was emblematic of what drove the company: Montu is a business entirely consumed by greed. Its a commercial business that is not interested in patient outcomes  its interested in profit margin. Thats not what healthcare should be.

This masthead is not suggesting that allegations about Montus culture are verified only that they have been made. A Montu spokesman denied non-medical staff were currently re-scripting patients but did not respond when asked if the practice had occurred in the past. Health Minister Mark Butler has already tasked his department with lifting standards for telehealth prescribing of medicinal cannabis, with federal and state ministers set to discuss regulations at a meeting later this year. I am deeply concerned about unscrupulous and possibly unsafe behaviour by some telehealth medicinal cannabis providers. It is dangerous behaviour that puts profits over patient welfare, Butler said in response to the Montu data obtained by this masthead. Telehealth business models have emerged that use aggressive and sometimes misleading advertising that targets vulnerable people.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is already pursuing Montu over illegal advertising by Alternaleaf, in a case before the Federal Court. Federal opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said Butler could not simply delegate this issue away to his department. He must be transparent about the steps being taken to protect against any potentially unsafe prescribing practices in our country, and if those steps are producing any real outcomes. Montus rise has been meteoric, with revenue soaring from $103,000 in 2020, its first full year, to $263 million by 2024. On LinkedIn, one current employee boasts Montu has grown from 40 to 900 employees in just two years. But numerous former employees described a brutal work culture at the firm.

As scrutiny has increased on Montus high-volume prescribing, and on the TGAs court case against it over its advertising, the company has also moved to reassure regulators. In May, it backed the appointment of former health minister Greg Hunt to chair a telehealth sector working group, which is fully funded by Montu. Greg Hunt, in 2019 when he was federal health minister, at the opening of a Sunshine Coast cannabis farm. Credit: AAP Hunt said he was engaged as the independent chair of the group one day a month, with administrative support for the telehealth group being provided by Montu. The company has also shifted its business focus away from its competitive Alternaleaf brand towards its Leafio distribution platform, which supplies more than 3000 pharmacies around Australia with cannabis.

The move follows redundancies in April that led to 40 employees in its patient experience division leaving, a decision a spokesman said was to improve the patient experience. The company is also now defending at least 11 unfair dismissal claims at the Fair Work Commission. Montus spokesman said it was defending these cases because the claims are without merit. Farmery, the former operations manager who left of his own volition, said the profit-first mindset was reflected in a brutal hiring and firing culture. He recalled how in group online interviews for new staff the company started doing just before he left, if anyone appeared an unsuitable candidate theyd literally be removed from the interview at that point  just cut off mid-call.
Business owners in Melbournes most-frequented shopping strips are fighting back against the reckless behaviour of e-bike delivery riders, citing high speeds, illegal footpath riding and collisions with pedestrians.

Sam Aldemir, owner of De Barcelona cafe in Hawthorn, is one of the traders taking matters into their own hands, filming and reporting incidents to the police, while his local community has been handing out flyers to shops and riders outlining the rules.

Sam Aldemir, owner of De Barcelona cafe in Hawthorn, is encouraging delivery riders to stay on the road. Credit: Eddie Jim

He said he witnessed several distressing collisions outside his business.

Ive witnessed three incidents where theyve careered into pedestrians. Ive witnessed one where it was a senior citizen, where they actually hit this particular gentleman from behind, and theyre on their bikes, said Aldemir, who is also president of the Glenferrie Traders Association. Its just become a lawless sort of environment.
Shortly after Hamas brutally murdered over a thousand Israelis  and took others hostage  Australias Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, tweeted: Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas, including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities & civilians. We call for these attacks to stop & recognise Israels right to defend itself. Australia urges the exercise of restraint & protection of civilian lives.

Immediately, a storm of criticism met Wong. How dare she call for Israel to show restraint in the face of such horrific violence? Wong was clearly sufficiently concerned about this that, when asked, she seemed determined to make clear those words had not been directed at Israel specifically. Had she said Israel should exercise restraint? No, Wong said, her tweet had called for restraint and the protection of civilian lives. And I think thats an unremarkable point, frankly.

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, on Saturday, July 26. Credit: AP

Within a month, as the extent of Israels attacks became clearer, Wong had become comfortable explicitly saying to Israel that it should exercise restraint, pointing to the 3500 children killed that month.

You can understand, in the immediate aftermath of Hamas violence, the strong reaction to Wongs words, the frustration some might have felt at the idea of being told Israel should restrain itself after such an atrocity. I heard that frustration expressed at the time. The emotion behind it was not cynical but deeply felt.
On Wednesdays, we wear pink. As the Liberal Partys first female leader Sussan Ley strode the corridors of Parliament House this week, dressed in a pink pantsuit and accompanied by women from her party, the intended girl power optics were clear.

But optics only serve to highlight reality when the latter falls short. The Labor optics of dynamism and the Coalition optics of renewal only emphasise the ways in which both parties are falling short.

Leys phalanx of femininity cant mask the fact that shes not just in a political minority in this parliament, but in a gender minority within her own political party. And that the gender skew has policy consequences.

Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley in question time this week.

The most obvious one this week was the failure to seize on the emotive issue of the day to align the Coalition with the everyday concerns of a large portion of the electorate. On the female  I say family  issue of childcare, the Coalition is meekly going along with Labors more regulation will solve everything approach to answering the abuse scandal. Senator Maria Kovacic mentioned in the Senate that parents might like alternatives, and Ley said some sad words about the awful situation. But the distinct impression remained that there are just not enough Liberal ladies to effectively prosecute the party room case for a different approach in this area.
Google has been warned threats to sue wont sway the potential late inclusion of YouTube in Australias world-first social media ban for children.

The tech giant wrote to Communications Minister Anika Wells declaring it was considering its legal position if its video-sharing platform was included in the ban for children aged 16 and under.

The letter flagged the ban could be challenged because it restricted the implied constitutional right to freedom of political communication.

A world-leading social media ban for children is due to come into effect in December. Credit: Supplied

YouTube is a video-sharing platform, not a social media service, that offers benefit and value to younger Australians, a YouTube spokesperson said.
When UNSW social science student Amali Bridgen attended her first class on campus, she was excited to find her people. But she soon realised not everyone showed up to lectures and, if they did, they werent focused on making friends.

When youre in class, people are there just to learn, she said. We have such short terms as well, they only last 10 weeks  so we dont get that much time to form long-term connections.

University of NSW student Sienna Eswaran (centre) with uni friends Amali Bridgen (right) and Chloe. Credit: Janie Barrett.

Half of undergraduates in some degrees report struggling with social connection, according to a Herald analysis of data from the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching 2023 survey.

Students say the convenience of course content being available online has come at the cost of connecting with their peers.
A psychologist worked with children for six months while Victorian authorities believed he was a violent domestic abuser accused of strangling, headbutting and being in a relationship with a minor.

The man was innocent  the victim of a police bungle over someone else with the same name  but says the case is an indictment of the system meant to protect the states most vulnerable.

Working with children checks are under the spotlight. Credit: Michael Howard

The psychologist, whom The Age has chosen not to name for legal reasons, came forward over fears the system failure exposed an unacceptable safety risk while Victoria reels from the case of alleged childcare paedophile Joshua Brown.

I was still able to work with children for up to six months while they thought I was a person that clearly may have posed a risk to children, the psychologist said.
RACINE  Since she was a kid playing school during summers with her three younger sisters, Karina Lee knew she wanted to teach.

Now, preparing to start the sixth year of her education career, which has involved challenges and moments of doubt, Lee appears to have found her place as a Knapp Elementary fourth grade teacher.

I couldnt imagine being anywhere else, she said. This is my spot.

That sense of comfort was illustrated recently when Lee was selected a PDK International Emerging Leader Fellow, a year-long program that offers professional development and networking.

Through the Educators Rising program, Lee, who was one of three fellows chosen nationwide, also will work with a student who is about to start college and plans to pursue a teaching career.

Road to Knapp

Lees route to Knapp, 2701 17th St., involved hurdles.

She taught fifth grade in Kenosha during her first year as a teacher.

Lee then taught fourth grade in Greenfield, but resigned after a few months because she said the school was not a welcoming environment for her.

She questioned whether an education career was still right for her, but after several months without teaching, wanted to be in a classroom again.

Lee returned to education by teaching summer school at the Racine Unified School District, which reignited her passion.

Soon after, she began working at Knapp in fall 2022.

Lee appreciates that the building is a supportive community school with an incredible culture that prioritizes students and families.

You can tell our staff really cares about the success of our students, the lengths that we go to ensure that students are not only learning but theyre enjoying it and they love coming to school, Lee said. Its not like any place Ive ever worked.

One of the best parts of her job is watching students evolve.

Being able to see kids grow up is the coolest thing ever, and seeing everything that they are accomplishing, Lee said.

She is committed to the job but said it can be hard to disconnect from work because she cares about students lives outside the classroom.

I can never just leave and then not ever worry about a child again, Lee said. I live in this community, so I see the kids everywhere, and I feel compelled to interact with them. Its hard for me to be Karina sometimes. Its always Ms. Lee everywhere I go.

She also has had difficult conversations with students who have experienced gun violence and the death of a parent.

My job is not only to teach math and reading and writing, Lee said. Ive gone through a lot of challenging traumas with my students.

Bridging gaps

Lee is working on her Ph.D. in teacher perception and implementation of equity training in urban schools.

She hopes to eventually do professional development work for teachers in urban settings.

Lee grew up in Kenosha and is a product of urban education.

In college, she spent a few weeks working at a school in South Africa, which was eye-opening.

Lee similarly aims to help broaden students horizons and cultivate positive classroom communities.

I want the students that I serve to also have the opportunities to see how much there really is out in the world, she said. I just have a passion for working in the communities like the one that I came from and showing students that theres so much more to life. Through being an educator, Im able to bridge those gaps of understanding.

In good hands

PDK, also known as Phi Delta Kappa International, is a professional organization for educators with chapters throughout the country.

Jody Bloyer, RUSD deputy superintendent and PDK International Board of Directors member, hopes to restart a PDK chapter in Racine.

This school year will entail figuring out details like funding and what organizations will be in the chapter.

The goal is to have teachers connect with peers and develop future instructors as a complement to existing education pathways at RUSD high schools.

Lee looks forward to eventually being part of the PDK chapter.

Her PDK fellowship included an all expenses-paid trip in June to the Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando.

There, Lee met peers from around the country and a few thousand high schoolers interested in teaching, which she said was the coolest thing ever.

Lee initially felt like an imposter at the conference but told herself she belonged in conversations with accomplished educators.

I deserve to be at these tables, so I just need to be more confident with that, she said.

Bloyer also attended the conference and said it was great to see Lees pride when talking about the role of Knapp and RUSD in the community.

Lee is amazing, and shes such an advocate for this district, Bloyer said. It just really reinforced my feeling that its really important to support, know and encourage your staff, because theyre the ones with our children of this community every day.  I know our young people and their families are in good hands with her.

Six photos of Karina Lee teaching Knapp summer school Karina Lee Karina Lee works with students during summer school at Knapp Elementary. I couldnt imagine being anywhere else, Lee said about Knapp. This Karina Lee Karina Lee began working at Knapp Elementary in fall 2022. She appreciates that the building is a supportive community school with an incredi Karina Lee Karina Lee teaches first grade summer school Tuesday at Knapp Elementary, 2701 17th St. Lee recently was selected as a PDK International Emerg Karina Lee at Knapp Karina Lee Karina Lee works with students during summer school Tuesday at Knapp Elementary. Karina Lee In college, Karina Lee spent a few weeks working at a school in South Africa, which was eye-opening. She similarly aims to help broaden studen Karina Lee Karina Lee works with students during summer school Tuesday at Knapp Elementary.
Britain has vowed to fight together with Australia if needed in flashpoints such as the Taiwan Strait, as it steps up its warnings about threats from China, including repression, espionage and hybrid attacks.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain and Australia would deter enemies together by being more ready to fight, in some of his most assertive remarks about the risks to global security.

Britains HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier docked at Darwin on Thursday. Credit: Glenn Campbell

The declaration to the British media came days after Healey signed a $41 billion defence treaty with Australia to accelerate the construction of the AUKUS nuclear submarines, seen as essential to countering future trade and military threats.

If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together, Healey told The Telegraph of London.
Investigators believe a landslide, brought on by heavy rainfall, probably caused a regional train to derail in southern Germany, killing three people and injuring 41 more.

More than 100 people were aboard the Deutsche Bahn train when at least two carriages derailed on Sunday evening, local time, in a forested area near Riedlingen, about 158 kilometres west of Munich.

Rescue workers search for injured passengers in the wreckage. Credit: AP

The trains driver, another employee and a passenger were killed, police said on Monday. Some of the 41 injured were seriously hurt.

Police said the downpours in the area had caused a sewage shaft to overflow, probably triggering the landslide of an embankment where the derailment occurred.
Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys anti-corruption policies have provoked Ukraines first anti-government protests since the Russian invasion in 2022. Now, it seems, they may cost the country a portion of its foreign aid from the European Union, in a clear rebuke from the bloc, once a staunch ally.

The European Union said on Friday that it would withhold 1.5 billion (about $2.7 billion) from an overall fund of 4.5 billion whose disbursement is dependent on achieving good governance standards and that cant be used for military purchases. The decision is not final, however, and the funding can be restored if Ukraine meets certain benchmarks.

Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the media in Italy earlier this month. Credit: Getty Images

Zelensky had no public comment on the aid cut, which nevertheless was a setback for Ukraines leader, who is depending on European financial support to fill gaps left by the Trump administrations refusal to underwrite Ukraines war effort.

While holding back Western aid to spur reform was common before Russias invasion, Fridays decision seemed to signal a new willingness by the bloc to admonish Zelenskys government on domestic policy during the war. It also raised questions about whether the glow around Zelensky might be beginning to dim among Ukraines Western allies.
PHILIPSBURG:---The Government of Country St. Maarten, through the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications, is issuing an official statement regarding the alarming and persistent issue of fraudulent seafarer credentials and vessel registration documents being falsely issued under the guise of St. Maartens authority.

Since September 22, 2020, the Ministry was first alerted by a concerned seafarer from India who questioned the authenticity of his certification after experiencing difficulties verifying its legitimacy. This prompted an immediate internal investigation by our Maritime Affairs office. Within 24 hours, a formal notification was sent to the Government of the Netherlands. As advised, we promptly contacted both the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding (CMOU) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The CMOU, along with the IMOs regional representatives in the Caribbean, played an instrumental role in disseminating critical information to MOU member states and flag states around the world regarding the fraudulent documentation.

The investigation identified that fraudulent certificates and documents were being issued through entities operating under domain names such as:

These organizations falsely claim authorization from or association with Country St. Maarten.

With the collaborative support of the Kingdom Maritime Administrationan entity established within the Kingdom of the Netherlands to coordinate maritime regulatory matters between Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, the Netherlands, and the BES islandsa formal statement was drafted and submitted to the IMO. This statement was published on the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) platform, emphasizing that Country St. Maarten does not operate an international flag registry, nor does it issue STCW Certificates of Competency, Seafarer Books, Ship Certificates, or any related documents for conventional vessels (vessels exceeding 500 Gross Tons).

Following these actions, the Netherlands escalated the matter by initiating contact with U.S. intelligence authorities. A virtual meeting was swiftly convened, after which U.S. authorities confirmed that the MSTA Registry had fraudulent links to St. Maarten, Belize, and California (USA).

Most recently, the Netherlands, in coordination with St. Maartens Maritime Affairs office, submitted an official notification on fraudulent activities to the IMO, reaffirming the following:

Country St. Maarten is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands .

. St. Maarten does not authorize or recognize any private individual, company, Classification Society, country, or third party to issue maritime documents or credentials on its behalf.

to issue maritime documents or credentials on its behalf. Any documentation purporting to originate from or be authorized by Country St. Maarten is fraudulent unless issued directly by our competent authority.

The Ministry deeply regrets the losses incurred by innocent seafarers who, through no fault of their own, have been misled and financially harmed by these deceptive operations. We are committed to pursuing every legal avenue and collaborating with international partners to eradicate these fraudulent activities and seek justice against those responsible.

We reiterate that Country St. Maarten maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward maritime fraud. Our government will continue to take decisive actionboth nationally and internationallyto uphold the integrity of our maritime sector and that of the broader Kingdom of the Netherlands.

We urge all seafarers, employers, and maritime stakeholders to verify credentials through official channels and contact our Maritime Affairs Office with any doubts or queries.

Our integrity is not for sale, and our flag will not be misused.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) responded to multiple noise complaints in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 26, 2025, resulting in the arrest of three individuals after officers were forced to defend themselves against aggressive and non-compliant behavior.

At approximately 2:00 AM, the Central Police Dispatch received several calls from residents in the Fort Willem area reporting a group of men playing extremely loud music from vehicles parked in the neighborhood. Patrol officers responded and encountered a group of approximately six men. The individuals were advised that the music was disturbing residents and were instructed to turn it down due to the early morning hour. The men complied and left the area.

Shortly after, police were again dispatchedthis time to the Carrefour parking lot near the Churchill Roundaboutfollowing additional noise complaints from residents in the Cul-de-Sac area. At the scene, officers encountered the same group of men once again playing loud music from their vehicles. They were issued a clear warning that if the behavior continued, stronger legal actions would be taken.

Despite the warning, just before 4:00 AM, patrol officers observed the group still at the Carrefour parking lot, with loud music continuing. Officers approached one of the vehicle owners and informed him that he was under arrest for failing to comply with a lawful order and disturbing the peace.

During the arrest, several individuals from the group became aggressive, threatened the officers, and attempted to prevent the arrest. Backup was requested, and officers were able to bring the situation under control. Three suspectsinitials N.D., A.R., and L.J.were arrested for public disturbance, resisting arrest, and failure to comply with police orders.

All three individuals were transported to the Philipsburg Police Station, where they were processed. Each suspect was later issued a fine and released pending further review. Additionally, one of the suspects vehicles was confiscated as part of the investigation.

KPSM emphasizes that this type of antisocial and unlawful behavior will not be tolerated. Law enforcement will continue to strictly enforce regulations related to noise nuisance, public order, and community safety, particularly during late-night hours.

The public is reminded to cooperate with law enforcement and be mindful of the rights of others to peace and quiet in residential areas.

To report disturbances or suspicious activity, contact the Sint Maarten Police Force at +1 721 542 2222, or reach out anonymously via the tip line at 9300.

Together for a safer Sint Maarten.

KPSM Press Release.
Urgent need for 'global approach' on AI regulation: UN tech chief



Geneva, July 27 (AFP) Jul 27, 2025



The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top tech chief said this week, warning that fragmentation could deepen risks and inequalities.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) agency, told AFP she hoped that AI "can actually benefit humanity".

But as concerns mount over the risks posed by the fast-moving technology -- including fears of mass job losses, the spread of deepfakes and disinformation, and society's fabric fraying -- she insisted that regulation was key.

"There's an urgency to try to get... the right framework in place," she said, stressing the need for "a global approach".

Her comments came after US President Donald Trump this week unveiled an aggressive, low-regulation strategy aimed at ensuring the United States stays ahead of China on AI.

Among more than 90 proposals, Trump's plan calls for sweeping deregulation, with the administration promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinder private sector AI development.

Asked if she had concerns about an approach that urges less, not more, regulation of AI technologies, Bogdan-Martin refrained from commenting, saying she was "still trying to digest" the US plan.



- 'Critical' -



"I think there are different approaches," she said.

"We have the EU approach. We have the Chinese approach. Now we're seeing the US approach. I think what's needed is for those approaches to dialogue," she said.

At the same time, she highlighted that "85 percent of countries don't yet have AI policies or strategies".

A consistent theme among those strategies that do exist is the focus on innovation, capacity building and infrastructure investments, Bogdan-Martin said.

"But where I think the debate still needs to happen at a global level is trying to figure out how much regulation, how little regulation, is needed," she said.

Bogdan-Martin, who grew up in New Jersey and has spent most of her more than three-decade career at the ITU, insisted the Geneva-based telecoms agency that sets standards for new technologies was well-placed to help facilitate much-needed dialogue on the issue.

"The need for a global approach I think is critical," she said, cautioning that "fragmented approaches will not help serve and reach all".

As countries and companies sprint to cement their dominance in the booming sector, there are concerns that precautions could be thrown to the wind -- and that those who lose the race or do not have the capacity to participate will be left behind.



- 'Huge gap' -



The ITU chief hailed "mind-blowing" advances within artificial intelligence, with the potential to improve everything from education to agriculture to health care -- but insisted the benefits must be shared.

Without a concerted effort, there is a risk that AI will end up standing for "advancing inequalities", she warned, cautioning against deepening an already dire digital divide worldwide.

"We have 2.6 billion people that have no access to the internet, which means they have no access to artificial intelligence", Bogdan-Martin pointed out.

"We have to tackle those divides if we're actually going to have something that is beneficial to all of humanity."

Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to serve as ITU secretary-general in the organisation's nearly 160-year history, also stressed the need to get more women into the digital space.

"We have a huge gap," she said.

"We definitely don't have enough women... in artificial intelligence."

The 59-year-old mother of four said it was "a big honour" to be the first woman in her position, to be "breaking the glass ceiling (and) paving the path for future generations".

But she acknowledged there was a lot of pressure, "not just to achieve, but to almost overachieve".

Bogdan-Martin, who is being backed by the Trump administration to stand for re-election when her four-year mandate ends next year, said she was eager to stay on for a second term.

"There is a lot to do."
Sudan's RSF names PM, presidential council in rival govt



Port Sudan, Sudan, July 26 (AFP) Jul 26, 2025



A coalition led by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Saturday named a civilian prime minister and unveiled a presidential council to lead a rival government, challenging the military-backed administration and risking a further push toward the war-torn country's division.

The announcement, made during a press conference broadcast from the RSF-controlled city of Nyala in South Darfur, comes more than two years into the war between the RSF and the army.

The RSF appointed Mohamed Hassan al-Ta'ayshi -- a former member of Sudan's transitional sovereign council from 2019 until the 2021 military coup -- as prime minister of what it calls the "government of peace and unity".

Sudan is split, with the army controlling the north, east and centre, having recently retaken the capital Khartoum, while the RSF holds most of Darfur and parts of Kordofan, where recent attacks have killed hundreds, according to local rights groups.

The internationally-recognised army-aligned government, formed in May and headed by former UN official Kamil Idris, remains incomplete, with three cabinet positions still unfilled.

United Nations officials have warned the RSF's formation of a parallel government -- now with both a prime minister and a presidential council -- could deepen Sudan's fragmentation and complicate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that began in April 2023.

An RSF member told AFP on condition of anonymity that al-Ta'ayshi will now begin forming a cabinet.

On Saturday, the RSF-led coalition also unveiled a 15-member presidential council, with RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo as president and rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu -- who controls parts of southern Sudan -- as vice president.

The council also includes political figures, ex-officials and newly appointed regional governors.

Among the appointees is El-Hadi Idris, named governor of Darfur -- a region that now has two rival governors, one appointed by the RSF and the other, Minni Arko Minawi, aligned with the army.

Minawi dismissed the RSF's move, saying it "appears to be sharing responsibility for the crimes and violations they committed equally with their allies."

Saturday's appointments follow a political charter signed in February between the RSF and its allied armed and civilian groups during talks in Nairobi.

There was no immediate response from the army on the RSF's announcement.

The war began after a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Dagalo -- once allies who ousted Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

Two years later, the pair led a coup that derailed Sudan's transition to civilian rule.

The United Nations repeatedly said that Sudan now faces one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

In addition to the tens of thousands killed, millions have fled their homes and basic services -- from healthcare to water -- have collapsed across much of the country.
Three drones detected in Japan nuclear plant



Tokyo, July 27 (AFP) Jul 27, 2025



Three drones were detected in a Japanese nuclear power plant where two reactors are being decommissioned, the country's nuclear watchdog said Sunday.

The unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted Saturday night by the operator of Genkai Nuclear Power Station in the southwestern Kyushu region, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) said.

Unauthorised drone flights over and near nuclear power plants are prohibited in Japan, the NRA and police said.

"No abnormalities were detected after the incident was reported, while drones have not been found inside the premises of the power plant," a spokesman for the NRA told AFP.

Police spokesman Masahiro Kosho said they have not located the drones and do not know who flew them or for what purpose.

Kyushu Electric Power Co operates the Genkai plant in Saga prefecture where two of its four reactors are being decommissioned.

The plant's other reactors resumed operation after strict safety standards were introduced following the 2011 Fukushima disaster, which was triggered by a devastating earthquake and tsunami in northeast Japan.

A law allowing nuclear reactors to operate beyond 60 years took effect in Japan last month, as the government turns back to atomic energy 14 years after the Fukushima catastrophe.
Russian navy parade cancelled for 'security reasons'



Moscow, July 27 (AFP) Jul 27, 2025



Russia said on Sunday a major annual navy parade had been cancelled for "security reasons", without specifying the threat or concern.

"It has to do with the general situation. Security reasons are of utmost importance," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by Russian news agencies.

The parade was meant to be the highlight of Russia's Navy Day, which falls on the last Sunday of July each year and honours the country's sailors.

But local authorities in the coastal city of Saint Petersburg, where the warships and submarines were scheduled to pass, said on Friday the parade had been cancelled without giving a reason.

Russian President Vladimir Putin -- who re-established Navy Day in 2017, nearly four decades after it was cancelled in Soviet times -- appeared in a video message hailing the "bravery" and "heroism" of Russia's sailors participating in the offensive in Ukraine.

"We are celebrating the holiday in a working atmosphere," Putin said later on Sunday, in a video address to Russian forces involved in large-scale naval manoeuvres called "July Storm".

The drills, launched earlier this week in the Baltic and Caspian seas as well as in the Arctic and Pacific oceans, involved more than 150 ships and over 15,000 troops, Putin said.

"Our main task is to ensure Russia's security and firmly protect the sovereignty and national interests," Putin said in Saint Petersburg, where he was travelling on Sunday, according to the Kremlin.

Russia, which launched its military operation on Ukraine in February 2022 with daily bombardments of its neighbour, has faced retaliatory Ukrainian drone strikes on its territory in recent months.

The Russian defence ministry said on Sunday that 100 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight.

At least 10 of them were intercepted not far from Saint Petersburg and a woman was wounded, the governor for the northwestern Leningrad region, Aleksandr Drozdenko, said on Telegram.

That drone assault also disrupted operations at Saint Petersburg's Pulkovo airport, delaying dozens of flights, the facility's authorities said.
3 killed in Iraq clashes between armed group, security forces



Baghdad, July 27 (AFP) Jul 27, 2025



Three people, including a policeman, were killed Sunday during clashes in Baghdad between security forces and pro-Iran gunmen, according to authorities and a member of a local armed group.

The violence erupted when armed men stormed a local office of the agriculture ministry in the city's south, the interior ministry said.

Police forces responding to the scene "came under fire", resulting in several injuries among security personnel, the ministry added.

Iraq's Joint Operations Command, which coordinates between security forces and the military, said 14 suspects were detained who belonged to the Hashed al-Shaabi, a network of former paramilitary units that have been integrated into the regular security forces.

Several other security sources, however, told AFP that the armed men were affiliated with the powerful pro-Iran group Kataeb Hezbollah, a faction within the Hashed al-Shaabi that sometimes acts on its own.

Kataeb Hezbollah had opposed a recent appointment at the agriculture office, which is located in an area where the group holds influence, the sources said on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak to the media.

"One policeman was killed" and others were wounded, said one official.

Another security source said one policeman and one civilian were killed.

A member of Kataeb Hezbollah said that a fighter from the group was also killed and six others wounded.

He added that the group "does not want to escalate", and would allow the judiciary to take its course.

After decades of war and turmoil, gun battles -- sometimes sparked by minor feuds -- are not uncommon in Iraq, where many armed groups operate.

Iraq is led by an Iran-aligned coalition called the Coordination Framework, which brings together Shiite Islamist parties and factions of the Hashed al-Shaabi.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has ordered a probe into the incident at the agriculture office.

The interior ministry said "it would not tolerate any party attempting to impose its will by force and threaten state institutions".
Boeing workers threaten strikes at fighter jet factories



San Francisco, United States, July 27 (AFP) Jul 27, 2025



Members of a union representing workers who assemble fighter jets in two Boeing factories rejected the US aircraft manufacturer's proposed new contract Sunday, paving the way for possible strikes.

"IAM Union members delivered a clear message: the proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled... workforce," the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said in a statement.

More than 3,200 members of the union employed at Boeing facilities in the midwestern states of Missouri and Illinois rejected the company's contract offer.

According to the union, their contract expires at the end of the day Sunday. The workers part of IAM branch 837 will go on strike if no deal is reached with the aerospace giant in the next seven days.

The move could deal a serious blow to the company, after a seven-week long walkout by Seattle-based workers last year crippled two of Boeing's major assembly plants.

"We're disappointed our employees voted down the richest contract offer we've ever presented to IAM 837 which addressed all their stated priorities," said Dan Gillian, vice-president of Boeing Air Dominance and general manager of the site in St. Louis, Missouri.

In a statement sent to AFP, Gillian said no talks were scheduled with the union and the company was "preparing for a strike."

Boeing's proposal included a 20 percent pay increase over four years and more vacation days.

But members working at sites in St. Louis and Mascoutah, Illinois felt it did not meet their needs and did not guarantee a "secure future," according to the union.

In March, President Donald Trump announced that Boeing had been awarded a major contract for the US Air Force's next-generation F-47 fighter planes, the replacement for the F-22 which has been in operation for some two decades.

That announcement came as a boon for Boeing after a difficult year in which it struggled with safety problems and a lengthy labor strike.

IAM is one of North America's largest unions, representing members in aerospace, defense, transport manufacturing and other industries.

juj-aks/mlm
The UK and the US struck a trade deal recently, with discussions between the two men expected to focus on this, with reports suggesting Sir Keir will be looking for the US to cut the tariffs for British steel.
What we are not going to lose sight of is the importance of lifting restrictions on aid getting in so that it can get in at the quantity that is needed to make sure that we can move things forward.
The war in Ukraine will also be up for discussion with both politicians set to talk about their shared desire to bring an end to the barbaric war according to Number 10, and expected to reflect on progress in their 50-day drive to arm Ukraine and force Putin to the negotiating table.
Referring to the Jalsa Salana convention, she added: There are 20,000 women here who would have a different journey towards wearing their hijab, but I think every single one of them would tell you how this is not a coercive practice.
One man, who arrived before the fall of Kabul, is believed to have applied for his Taliban-connected relatives to follow him. The MoD confirmed he is now in Britain but did not disclose the whereabouts of his Taliban sympathiser family.
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Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - Sudan has commended France's intention to recognise the State of Palestine during the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly
Jamie Gurney, 31, required hospital treatment ahead of appearing in Coleraine Magistrates Court.

A barber accused of raping a woman twice in a day last week was attacked in a bar before the police arrested him, we can reveal.

On Monday Antrim man Jamie Gurney appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court charged with rape and other sex offences.

Pictured here for the first time, the 31-year-old is accused of two counts of rape, alleging that he had unlawful sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent, and was also charged with sexual assault by penetrating the alleged victim with a finger.

Jamie Gurney.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th

Appearing in the dock of Coleraine Magistrates Court, Gurney, from The Meadow in Antrim, confirmed that he understood the three charges against him, all alleged to have been committed on July 18 this year.

It has since emerged Gurney was the victim of a violent assault which left him requiring hospital treatment.

The Sunday World can reveal he was set upon inside licensed premises in Antrim town shortly before he was arrested by police on suspicion of rape.

He got a bad doing before the police arrested him, said a source. He was attacked by a number of people and left in a bad way.

After being treated in hospital, Gurney was arrested and charged with the serious sex offences.

Asked about the attack, a police spokesperson told the Sunday World: Police received a report of an assault on a man in the Fountain Street area of Antrim in the early hours of Saturday 19th July.

Officers attended and a man aged in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

Giving evidence to the court, Detective Constable Blair said on Monday he believed he could connect Gurney to each of the alleged sex offences.

Defence counsel Jonathan Browne indicated that subject to the court, the police had agreed that Gurney could be granted bail on condition that he has a suitable bail address.

DC Blair agreed that is the position so Deputy District Judge Noel Dunlop granted bail in the sum of 500 but ordered that Gurney will not be freed until the police have agreed a suitable address.

Adjourning the case to August 12, the judge barred Gurney from entering Antrim, barred him from contacting the alleged victim and also imposed a prohibition on alcohol.
Cab target Richard Treacy was undone by quantity surveyors 315,713 estimate

Richard Treacy is involved in the day-today running of the gang

A nephew of Limerick crime boss Christy Keane, described as a pivotal player in the notorious crime clan after pleading guilty to money laundering, was the chief suspect in a gun attack on hitman Nathan Killeens brother.

Richard Treacy admitted 100,000 from unknown sources had been spent on the house where he lives in Garryowen, Limerick.

But a quantity surveyor who accompanied gardai when a search warrant was executed at the house estimated the cost of the renovations was three times higher.

The higher figure from the surveyors report was referred to in High Court evidence last month in a case against his cousin Kieran Keane Jnr.

Crime boss Christy Keane

The Special Criminal Court heard this week that Treacy pleaded guilty on the basis that 100,000 had been spent on the house ,which was accepted by the State.

Richard Treacy is a nephew of gang boss Christy Keane and a younger brother of Owen Treacy Snr.

Owen Treacy Snr survived being abducted and stabbed multiple times by members of the Dundon-McCarthy gang in one of the most infamous incidents in Limericks gangland feud.

Kieran Keane Snr died in the same incident in 2003 for which five men were jailed for life.

Richard Treacy is involved in the day-today running of the gang

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th

Last month his first cousin Kieran Keane Jnr lost a case brought by the Criminal Assets Bureau to have properties and cash in Limerick declared the proceeds of crime.

As part of that case there was evidence given to the High Court which gave an account of Richard Treacys alleged criminal activity.

An officer stated: He currently operates at the highest level within the Keane OCG and is a pivotal player in the day-to-day running of the criminal organisation.

The house in Garryowen

He is very close with his cousin Kieran Keane and both are regularly observed in each others company.

The same witness also stated how a surveyor carried out a detailed review of Treacys home which included refurbishment, extension and redecoration.

The final estimate from the review carried out in 2021 came to 315,713.

It was also stated that in the early stages of the feud with the McCarthy-Dundon gang that Richard was an active participant.

He was a target of an attack by Frank Fat Frankie Ryan (deceased) and Christopher McCarthy in June 2006 where he was attacked with weapons. He fled uninjured.

It also mentioned the killing of Daren Coughlan in November 2005 for which Treacy along with his cousin Joe Keane and Shane Kelly were convicted of manslaughter.

It was stated this was a feud related attacked as the victim had been a relation of David Frog Eyes Stanners.

Stanners, who has since died in prison, was serving a life sentence for the murder of Kieran Keane Snr and the attempted murder of Owen Treacy, Richards brother.

His brother Daniel Treacy, who was not involved in organised crime, was shot dead in 2010 by John Coughlan, Darrens brother.

Treacy was also stated as being the principal suspect in the shooting of Gavin Killeen at OMalley Park, Southill Limerick on 20 July 2006.

Gavin Killeen was a brother of McCarthy-Dundon gunman Nathan Killeen who is currently serving a life sentence for his role in the murder of businessman Roy Collins.

Their sister Ciara was in a long-term relationship with gang boss John Dundon.

Also cited were two incidents of violent disorder in in 2006 and 2015 in which Treacy was involved when members of the rival factions clashed in public.

During this weeks Special Criminal Court hearing, counsel for Treacy objected to garda evidence at the hearing that his manslaughter conviction was feud-related.

Counsel said it was an attempt to colour the minds of the three-judge panel and made an application they recuse themselves.

The application was denied.

The case has now been adjourned for sentencing on October 20.
Niall Daly says his life went off the rails in the wake of horrific ordeal at hands of ex-Sinn Fein councillor.

Niall Daly aka Alex Hurley told our reporter how he ended up committing money laundering and forgery

A man who was waterboarded by ex-Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall has told the Sunday World he is deeply sorry  after he pleaded guilty to money laundering and forgery charges at Castlebar Circuit Court earlier this week.

Niall Daly (28) of Meadow Park, Westport Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, formerly known as Alexander Hurley, was warned by a judge he now faces jail time after he pleaded guilty to 20 counts of money laundering, deception and forgery.

Speaking to this newspaper, Daly  whose offences related to bouncing cheques and obtaining a fraudulent 20,000 loan in his fathers name  also said he will endeavour to pay back every cent of the money involved.

I would like first to apologise to all parties involved and in particular to my father for his name being dragged into this, he said.

Id also like to explain, if I can, why I did this.

Daly said his life has never fully recovered from the waterboarding and torture ordeal that he was subjected to at the hands of Jonathan Dowdall and his father in 2015.

He said he had allowed his life to be derailed by a combination of stress and continued cyber abuse which he claimed had escalated to threats to kill which were made known to gardai.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th

I suppose over a period of time, he said, these things can force people to make unacceptable choices.

And I now have to full responsibility for what I did.

I will now endeavour to pay back all the money and take steps to prevent myself from ever doing anything like this again.

It has now been more than nine years since Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, falsely imprisoned and threatened to kill Daly at the former Sinn Fein councillors home on the Navan Road in Dublin.

Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall

He was 18 when he was falsely imprisoned by the Dowdalls after they invited him to dinner at their Navan Road home in Dublin.

Daly was seeking to buy a motorbike from Jonathan Dowdall, who believed he was being duped after researching various scamming allegations against Daly.

During the three-hour ordeal, the Dowdalls tied him to a chair, waterboarded him, threatened to chop him up and feed him to dogs and to remove his fingernails with a pliers.

The father and son were jailed in 2022 for facilitating the murder of Kinahan gang member David Byrne during the 2016 Regency Hotel shooting.

Castlebar Circuit Court heard on Tuesday that Hurley was born in Romania. He was adopted by an Irish family in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, where he lived from the age of three.

Daly, who has 14 previous convictions  11 for theft, two for road traffic offences and one for failing to appear in court  has lived in Mayo in recent times.

Tuesdays sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court was told that Daly had engaged in foolish and unsophisticated offending, which involved bouncing cheques written in his own name from accounts that detailed his name and correct address.

Investigating garda Ronan McIntyre told the court that KBC reported on August 25, 2020, that Daly tried to open a financial account using a fraudulent mobile phone bill. The bank would have been at a loss of 3,500.

Following inquiries, an Ulster Bank account was identified where Daly attempted to cash 12 cheques that bounced due to insufficient funds. The cheques were later lodged when Mr Daly opened an overdraft.

There were six parties injured by these activities, into which two complaints were lodged.

The court also heard that 29 cheques were written and bounced due to insufficient funds in a PTSB account registered to Daly.

On July 14, 2022, 20,000 of a loan was transferred to Mr Dalys An Post account from an account belonging to his father, Dermot Hurley. When contacted by Advanced Finance, Mr Hurley said he knew nothing about the loan.

The Regency Hotel gun attack

Daly used the money to buy three motorbikes.

He was deemed to be at low risk of re-offending by the probation services.

Judge Eoin Garavan did not accept that Daly was at low risk of re-offending, citing past incidents where he had stolen from his father, his neighbour and former employers.

This man is absolutely fundamentally dishonest, said Judge Garavan, and his history shows that he doesnt really care who he cons.

Based on his reading of Dalys probation report, Judge Garavan formed the view that Daly believed he did not have to do anything to address his behaviour.

He indicated a two-year custodial sentence and two one-year sentences to run concurrently, but he adjourned imposing a sentence until next year. He also requested restitution and ordered that Daly undertake counselling.
But judge denies bail to 56-year-old with more than 100 previous convictions

A man with more than 100 convictions charged over rioting in Ballymena was egged into it by a gang of masked youths, a court has been told.

Robert McDowell was arrested on June 12 after violence in the town the previous night.

Belfast High Court was told police had come under attack with masonry, bottles and petrol bombs during racially motivated public disorder involving hundreds of people.

According to the prosecution, 56-year-old McDowell threw bottles at police lines.

The defendant, from Patrick Place in the town, was charged with rioting after his arrest.

He was allegedly seen wearing a green camouflage jacket with masked youths throwing fireworks and masonry at police.

Footage is said to show McDowell, from Patrick Place in the town, putting on a balaclava beforehand.

According to the defendant, a gang of youths handed him this balaclava.

The court was told that after he was arrested the following day, he admitted throwing bottles, saying he had acted out of stupidity.

A prosecuting lawyer called on the judge to refuse McDowell bail.

There are still peaceful protests ongoing, and the concern is that, if released on bail, this man will be tempted into the same situation, they said.

Defence counsel Stephen Law accepted that with his client having amassed 114 convictions over 40 years, its a difficult application for bail, adding only that McDowell wished to get back to his vulnerable daughter.

Mr Justice Humphries denied bail. McDowell will appear before court again on a date yet to be fixed.

Robert McDowell

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th
Simon Sherry (44) had developed a severe urinary tract infection and subsequent heart infection.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda breached its duty of care to a 44-year-old man who died two weeks after he was allegedly wrongly discharged, the High Court has heard.

Simon Sherry (44), late of Edenburt, Virginia, died at Cavan General Hospital in August 2019 after developing a severe urinary tract infection and subsequent heart infection, about two weeks after he was allegedly wrongly discharged from Our Lady of Lourdes without a doctors certification.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey was told on Friday that Fiona Sherry, Mr Sherrys widow, had settled her case against the HSE over his death for a substantial sum.

Outlining Ms Sherrys case, her senior counsel Dr John OMahony, instructed by Hussey Fraser solicitors, said a breach of duty of care to Mr Sherry occurred at Our Lady of Lourdes, resulting in his death.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th

Court documents show that a letter was sent to Mr Sherrys family on behalf of the Our Lady of Lourdes, acknowledging deficiencies in care that led to his death, and apologising.

Dr OMahony said Mr Sherry was admitted to Our Lady of Lourdes on August 4th, 2019 suffering with significant back pain and fever. Mr Sherry was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, and antibiotics were proscribed.

Counsel said Mr Sherry was discharged after two days in hospital, and added that his discharge was allegedly not certified by a doctor.

Dr OMahony said the flagrant breach of duty of care was Mr Sherrys discharge from Our Lady of Lourdes when he was still unwell.

It was Ms Sherrys case that it was clear her husband should not have been discharged when he was.

Following this discharge, Ms Sherrys case contended that Mr Sherry developed urosepsis, a severe urinary tract infection, which gave rise to an abscess developing on his kidney. He ultimately developed endocarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart, which led to his death at Cavan General Hospital on August 23rd, 2019, the case contended.

Mr Justice Paul Coffey approved the division of 35,000 in statutory mental distress payment between members of Mr Sherrys family, and extended his sympathies to them.
Family of youngster injured by the former All-Stae believe a dangerous precedent set by not-guilty verdict

Photographs show the extent of the boys injuries following the dispute at the disused hotel

Photographs show the extent of the boys injuries following the dispute at the disused hotel

Niall Gilligan faced charges after causing injuries to a 12-year-old boy at a disused hotel he owns

The family of a 12-year-old boy who was hit with a stick and kicked by All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan have released shocking images of the youngsters injuries  days after the former All Star was acquitted of assault.

The boys father yesterday told the Sunday World his son (now 14) had told him I want people to see my injuries because he feels he has been unfairly vilified as a result of the outcome of the case.

The images, which were shown in court, show how the boy suffered bruising to his right shoulder, a fractured bone in his left hand, a 2cm wound to his right forearm and a 2cm wound to his left shin  as a result of the blows and kicks he sustained.

The incident occurred after Gilligan found him trespassing at a property he owned.

The boys father said yesterday he believes the jurys decision to find Gilligan not guilty, after being shown these images during the trial, sets a dangerous precedent in what can now be considered proportionate force in cases where self-defence is used.

Niall Gilligan faced charges after causing injuries to a 12-year-old boy at a disused hotel he owns

We feel the verdict was the wrong one, the boys father said.

This was very much a legal decision where a deep understanding of the law was required and I dont know if that should be left up to 12 random people.

This man was accused, he admitted being there and he admitted applying the force that caused these injuries and yet he walked free.

And, ultimately, I think that sets a dangerous precedent for what self-defence can be, especially when it involves a minor.

This wasnt his home house; it was a premises that had been derelict for about a decade.

For me, thats what stung here, that 12 people made a legal decision after seeing these pictures of my sons injuries, that this was a justified use of force.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th

Just because stitches can be removed in a week, doesnt mean these werent serious injuries.

The broken bone in his hand healed in a month, but it doesnt mean its not a broken bone.

And were not talking about the psychological damage  were talking about the physical injuries.

It leaves a bitter taste in our mouth.

Mr Gilligan, a former Clare hurler, stood trial before Ennis Circuit Court charged with assault causing harm to the boy at the Jamaica Inn Hostel in Sixmilebridge, which he owned, on October 5, 2023.

The ex-sportsman, who is a farmer and auctioneer, was also charged with producing a wooden stick capable of inflicting serious injury during the course of a dispute.

Both charges were denied by the 48-year-old, who claimed he had acted in self-defence.

It was the prosecutions case that two boys had exited the building and were outside when Mr Gilligan encountered them while checking on the property that night.

In his evidence, the boy claimed Mr Gilligan hit him full force with the stick and that there were repeated blows.

The boy said he tried to defend himself by putting up his hand and that his wrist ended up as big as a sliotar.

He said he could not feel anything because he was just terrified.

He was so tall and I was so small. It just scared me, he said.

Photographs show the extent of the boys injuries following the dispute at the disused hotel

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.

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The boy admitted during cross-examination that it had been his third time going into the Jamaica Inn Hostel, and that he had stolen keys to the property and let off fire extinguishers there with a friend.

A majority verdict acquitting Mr Gilligan was returned after five hours of deliberations.

Speaking yesterday, the boys father said the impact this incident has had on his son and his family are immeasurable.

We can only protect him to the best of our ability, he said.

We sent him for counselling and well probably have to send him for counselling again.

Hes going to run into this guy again at some stage and I dont know how he will react.

Hes a 14-year-old boy now and hes seen the comments, hes reading what being said in the articles, and hes seen the smears against him.

The building had been abandoned and was a popular place for teenagers to go and yet every bit of damage that was ever done there is being blamed on him.

My son and his friend admitted what they did, they entered the premises a few times and messed with fire extinguishers and hid keys they found so they could get back in.

But their fear now is this will follow them for the rest of their lives.

So for us, and for my son, the pictures show the extent of what happened here.

And weve promised him well get his word out there.

At the start he didnt want the photos out there but after reading the comments he came to me and said: I want people to see the injuries  these people need to see the injuries.

Thats a 14-year-old boy saying that.

Hes willing to do this to clear his name. Hes the victim here and yet feels hes being made out to be some kind of a criminal.

Contacted by the Sunday World yesterday, Mr Gilligan said he was busy and not in a position to discuss the case but might do so at a later stage.

The court heard how in a prepared statement to gardai, Mr Gilligan said he came into contact with the boy in a corridor inside the building, not outside, and that he acted in a reasonable manner to protect his property from destruction by fire and further damage.

He claimed the boy and others had broken into the building and caused extensive damage, including lighting a fire, releasing fire extinguishers, breaking windows and writing graffiti.

I acted in a reasonable manner to protect myself from injury and assault from a person or persons unknown to me.

The statement went on to say Mr Gilligan heard footsteps behind him and did not know who or what was coming at him.

He said he felt he was going to be attacked and, to protect himself, drew out with the stick on two occasions and then kicked out twice.

Mr Gilligans counsel argued the former hurling star did not know he was dealing with a child and was in the dark and believed he was under siege.

He was at the end of his tether due to the vandalism of a vacant property he was trying to sell.

The force used was reasonable in the circumstances as Mr Gilligan believed them to be, it was argued.

Judge Francis Comerford told jurors they had to decide if the incident was an assault or not an assault due to lawful excuse.

They were told lawful use of force could not be considered as a defence if the first encounter with the boy was outside the building rather than in the corridor.

The judge said that if it was in the corridor, jurors would then have to consider whether the force used was reasonable and necessary in the circumstances as Mr Gilligan saw them.
Table and stares: armed masked men pose in front of starry plough flag associated with socialist republican groups

The three masked men posing with weapons

An armed republican group are allegedly warning far-right gangsters and drug dealers they will be taking direct action against them.

A statement posted and circulated on social media includes a photo of three masked men posing with what appear to be automatic weapons fitted with silencers.

A table in front of the armed men is draped with the starry plough flag usually associated with socialist republican groups.

The statement suggests the group has already taken action against criminals in the Crumlin area of Dublin.

A social media account supportive of the Irish Republican Party and slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan posted the statement from the group reported to be the Dublin brigade of the INLA.

Our organisation has taken action in the Crumlin area, dealing with the antisocial behaviour that has plagued our community.

As seen, we have taken direct action with housebreakers and other people attacking our community. We have the names of the individuals involved in these crimes against our people. We say to them: be warned, youre next.

The statement on Instagram

The statement then turns to drug dealers in the area:

The working-class communities have been hit hard with the rise of heroin, tablets, crack cocaine dealing, and drug intimidation.

We reject these vermin; we ask the community to reject them.

Action

We will be taking direct action with these parasites at the time of our choosing.

Our movement has continued to grow in numbers, with our community initiatives, rising numbers of youth coming into our ranks due to our sincere commitment to tackling community issues.

It is also suggested that the group are targeting members of the political far-right, accusing them of recruiting young people to carry out hate-crimes.

Until now, we have been investigating and gathering intelligence on far-right gangsters trying to drag our youth to jail carrying out hate crimes.

Our targets are far-right criminals hiking up hate within normal concerned Irish citizen protests.

We say to the working class: beware of your surroundings.

Our volunteers are ready to deliver our response to all anti-community parasites.

These perpetrators are a blight on our communities, and we ask those within the communities to be vigilant.

We owe our allegiance to the working class. Saoirse go deo.

A spokesperson for Irish Republican Socialist Party said they were aware of the statement but as a legally registered political party said they had no role to speak on behalf of an armed group.

Earlier this year another organisation calling itself the Republican Defence Army warned drugs dealers to leave the north-west of the country.

The three masked men posing with weapons

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th
This is my pet hate and Im blaming the landlords

Living with pets can be a nuisance  take it from me.

Daily, there is enough hair to keep Donald Trump thatched for the rest of his life.

The carpet has more pee stains than a Superman suit without a trapdoor.

And not even an inferno of scented candles could ever truly neutralise the vague waft of a damp Jack Russell about the house.

Yet I wouldnt have it any other way.

So my heart breaks for the families across the country who have been forced to give up their best friend in order to keep a roof over their heads.

xx

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th

Dublins Dog Trust this week called for an end to blanket bans on dogs in rented homes after witnessing a 112 per cent increase in surrenders over the past five years due to the house crisis.

Almost 20,000 people  myself included  signed the charitys online petition calling on the government to clamp down on landlords banning pets in rental homes, leaving many pet owners with an impossible decision to make.

It should be far closer to 200,000 if the animal lovers bankrolling a booming pet industry involving everything from doggy day spas to cat cremation services put their computer mouse where their money is.

Ordinarily, it should be said, I have a minus-sympathy for anyone who offloads four-legged members of the family on rescue centres already creaking at the seams, from the rash of lockdown puppies abandoned by bored work-from-homers after the world reopened to the faithful pitbulls forsaken by their fur mams or dads after a change in the law earlier this year placed a ban on XL Bully breeds without a certificate of exemption.

In this case, however, Im laying the blame firmly at the rented door of inflexible landlords, many of whom probably already have human tenants who are less hygienic than a cockapoo whos just spent all day licking their crusty toe beans, among other bits.

As someone who, for now at least, doesnt have to panic about finding a new place to live, itd be very easy to glibly say that Id die before giving my two up, although given that one of them is 126 in human years (or 18 in canine ones) and the other 91 (13), it may be a moot point anyway.

Animal welfare has long since been upside-down in this country  why are we punishing those who adore their animals, while letting others, like the Carlow woman last week handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to eight charges of animal cruelty, away with what often feels like a slap on the wrist?

At least were starting to see custodial sentences in these stomach-churning cases, with a Meath couple elsewhere on Friday jailed for two months each, as well as being given a lifetime ban on keeping animals, after one of their dogs starved to death in their back yard, and a second was rescued from the same fate.

If the Department of Health, meanwhile, is as serious as it claims to be about tackling Irelands epidemic of loneliness, the Dogs Trusts admirable campaign presents lots of paws for thought.

Constant fight against fur aside, nothing makes you feel more loved than the sight of a waggly tail or two when you walk in the door.
That was just me being silly, says drag star

Panti will not be running for the presidency

Drag queen Panti Bliss has poured water on a mischievous hint she might join the race to become the next President.

Panti, whose alter ego is publican Rory ONeill, had a sold-out audience at a show in Dublin last weekend whooping in delight at her initial announcement.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Vicar Street. And welcome to Riot.

My name is Panti Bliss, the next President of Ireland.

Her prediction was met with deafening roars of approval and whoops from the cheering crowd.

President Michael D Higgins

But last night Panti played down any move by her at throwing her hat in the ring to replace Michael D. Higgins in Aras an Uachtarain.

That was just me being silly, Rory told us.

The Mayo man, who co-owns Panti Bar and Penny Lane gay pubs in Dublin city centre, was at the centre of the gay marriage referendum 10 years ago.

Pantis Noble Call speech in Dublins Abbey Theatre in February 2014, in response to a freedom of speech row about an appearance she made on RTE , has been viewed over one million times and was seen as a galvanising call for gay rights.

The 56-year-old self-styled Queen of Ireland has since won several awards for his activism, including an honorary doctorate from Trinity College for his contribution to LGBT rights and marriage equality.

If Panti/Rory had genuinely decided to run for the Presidency it would have been the most high profile openly gay candidate since David Norriss failed bid in the 2011 campaign.

Mairead McGuinness

Catherine Connolly

President Michael D Higgins 14-year term ends on November 11, with a date in late October mooted for polling day.

Initial favourite to succeed him is former MEP Mairead McGuinness. The 66-year-old from Ardee Co Louth is almost certain to be Fine Gaels candidate in the upcoming election.

Independent TD Catherine Connolly has also launched her bid for the Aras.

The 68-year-old has been garnering support from left-leaning parties, including the Social Democrats and People Before Profit, and a number of independents.

But the Galway woman recently landed in hot water when it emerged she gave backing to former journalist turned right-wing conspiracy theorist Gemma ODohertys candidacy in the last Presidential election.

Panti will not be running for the presidency

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th
Big Brother and Love Island pals relax in spa hotel after spending their holidays attending vigils during pilgrimage to French town

Celebrity best friends Shannen Reilly McGrath and Hughie Maughan gave up the chance of a sun holiday to party island Ibiza in order to go on a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Love Island star Shannen had initially planned to go to the famous French holy town with her boyfriend Luke, having had fond memories going there as a child with her granny.

But when Luke could not get time off work she knew that her Big Brother pal Hughie would be up for going with her.

He too visited Lourdes as a child, and the pair decided to book into a spa hotel in the town where they could relax after spending the day praying and attending vigils.

Hughie and Shannen

I think people would think me and Hughie would be in Ibiza but I said I know its your birthday coming up, Luke cant come with me, would you love you to go? and he said he was there as a child as well and religion is very close to his heart, explains Shannen (31).

Its just a sense of healing and spiritual. If you lose someone and you kind of go and you see a lot of people who are sick. Like my nana died from cancer, I have friends with sick family members, my granddad has dementia.

I felt like going would be a sense of healing and praying for others. Like I would have a belief in that anyway. So it was kind of to go and get a sense of belief and a bit of luck, thats my kind of thing. I think the way the world is going we want some calmness and something to believe in.

Important

I know in this day and age people want to be in Ibiza and they want to be on social media. But family should be important to people as well.

Shannen, who grew up in Tallaght and now lives in Lusk, visited Lourdes as an 11-year-old with her granny Tess.

Hughie all smiles in Lourdes

I remember it was the most uncoolest thing ever. I didnt even want to tell people in school but I had such a nice time with her, but I was embarrassed with her at the time. The two of us went with her local parish, Mount Argus next to Harolds Cross, she recalls.

She explains her granny passed away recently and her granddad in now in a home with dementia, so its been a tough time for her family.

I would never pass a church without going in and lighting a candle, she stresses.  And like any trip id be on with my partner or even with mam or whatever and Id see a nice church and light a candle.

We wouldnt be really holy, in that sense, but Id always go into a church and light a candle or say a prayer. Ive a big thing for St Anthony, like my mammy was always saying if you lose something pray to St Anthony. I had him in my purse going around.

Our family would be religious, but not to the point of going to Mass every week. I would have a strong belief in it though, the likes of christenings, communions, weddings, my family would do.

She admits both friends and family were taken aback by her decision to go to Lourdes.

Theyd say in disbelieve, youre going to Lourdes? and kind of a bit shocked by it, she smiles. But I just feel like people dont really appreciate it and they kind of think theres something wrong with it.

She booked a package trip and flew over with Hughie on a Ryanair flight.

We were over there we met a pilgrimage from Donegal, they actually asked us to carry their flag. There was a Malahide group there and there was young people there and I think they were with their mothers and grandmothers, she explains.

Shannen and Hughies snaps from Lourdes

.

.

The pair made themselves useful.

We volunteered at the vigils to help. So that was lovely to be involved, she said.  We had to carry the flag, and also to go up on the alter at the end of it and look down at all the sick being blessed and say the prayers.

We had our times for masses, times for vigils. We went to the holy baths and We went to different towns, Bernadettes house. We did get a bit of sun walking around and I did go to the pool a few times in the evenings.

You see people in their wheelchairs and theyre looking for hope and to be blessed. Theres also a lot of sick kids.

Wheeled

On one of the nights we went four times, and theres a lot of sick children being wheeled in and laid out on hospital type beds, so its kind of surreal when youre there.

She stresses that people worry about stupid things when there are others with serious illnesses and praying for a miracle.

Like Ive suffered from trolling and I didnt want to get out of bed over something someone said about me, but when youre over there and you see people who are basically crippled and they cant walk, some people dont have arms, she reflects.

She and Hughie, who is gay, shared a bed for five days.

One of the nights we went out and went partying a bit she adds. There are a lot of students out there volunteering. The town is busy. The sun is shining.

We actually went to a karaoke bar and there were loads of people out there in their volunteer outfits. There were older women from Ireland out singing in the bars. Its nice to see, as you see them having a good time and theyre making memories.

Hughie, (31) was in Lourdes twice before, in 2004 and 2005.

He is a Traveller, a community known to have a deep connection with the Catholic faith.

Shannen and Hughies snaps from Lourdes

.

.

When I was young me and my mam and dad and family went on a road trip in a campervan around France. We started in the north of France and drove all the way down to Lourdes.

Then we made our way to various pilgrimage sites. We actually went to where St Bernadettes actual body is, where her grave is.

Climbing

We went to home of St Therese. We went to Paris and visited the big churches like Notre Dame. Of course as kids we went to Disneyland there too.

Hes also been to Fatima, Medjugorje, Knock, and other religious sites in Poland, as well as climbing Croagh Patrick and going on retreat to Lough Derg.

I have my own relationship with God. Every single night I pray. I have holy little shrines in my home, and holy water. Id go to mass on special occasions. I wouldnt go every day or every Sunday, he maintains.

It is probably surprising as a gay man Im like this, but I dont look at religious or God being anti-gay, I think its just people and propaganda.

He admits he was surprised when Shannen suggested they go to Lourdes together.

I was surprised, but at the same time weve had many conversations in the past about her going with her nanny and her having her beliefs, he notes.

A lot of people have prejudices about the church because of the Magdalene laundries. But Im very religious and Shannen is too.

He says the couple got recognised a lot on the trip from Irish people whod seen them on TV.

Wed tell people we were just friends if people asked us. Id never keep it secret me being gay, he insists.

Shannen and Hughie are all smiles in Lourdes

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 27th
A once-modest 1950s church hall beside Holy Trinity Tauranga has been transformed into a state-of-the-art conference and events facility, complete with a sacred new chapel honouring a century of parish history.

Now known as the Jordan Centre, the refurbished space on Devonport Rd brings together legacy, faith, and modern function  more than 20 years after a devastating fire reshaped the heart of the parish.



The refurbished hall in the Jordan Centre can be divided into two separate meeting rooms. Photo / Supplied.

Originally serving as a temporary place of worship after the iconic Holy Trinity Church burned down in an arson attack in 1999, the old hall was long overdue for an upgrade, said Parish Pastor Donald Carter.

We got to the point where I said to the vestry: If the roof comes off this old hall and kills somebody, youre liable. We better do something was the response.

Bold decision

Plans to demolish and rebuild it hadnt materialised due to financial constraints.

However, in 2020 the bold decision was made: to preserve the hall and transform it into a modern facility serving the church and the wider Tauranga community.



Holy Trinity Tauranga Parish Pastor Donald Carter in the Jordan Centre hall. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Designed by Chris Moore of Jigsaw Architects and built by Arrowsmith Builders, the Jordan Centre now features a range of flexible spaces, including meeting rooms, breakout spaces, a professional kitchen, and high-capacity Wi-Fi.

The centre can host everything from business conferences to community gatherings, and is equipped with advanced audio-visual systems, air conditioning, and accessible amenities.



One of the smaller breakout rooms in the Jordan Centre. Photo / Supplied

We basically gutted the place, keeping the floor, and rebuilt, with breakout rooms and a mechanical door that divides the space into two. Essentially, creating five breakout spaces. We can seat 800 people in the auditorium, and 160 in the Jordan Centre.

The chapel

A key feature of the redevelopment is the Phyllis Carmichael Chapel, a quiet, reflective space at the western end of the building, named after a long-time parishioner whose generous legacy helped fund the project, said Carter.

The chapel seats 70 and hosts smaller worship gatherings, weddings, funerals and weekly services.



The three stained glass windows from the old chapel were restored after the fire and placed in the new Phyllis Carmichael Chapel in the Jordan Centre. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Its most striking features are three restored stained-glass windows salvaged from the original 1875 church, serving as a significant memorial to soldiers lost in World War I, Carter said.

They were commissioned by the widow of a soldier who died at Gallipoli and made in England in 1923.



The panels from the original pulpit were damaged in the fire, but David Moorhouse took them and rebuilt them as the basis for the altar in the chapel. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Originally thought destroyed in the fire, the windows were rediscovered in 2020 and painstakingly restored by local craftsman Steve Sinclair from Leadlight Expressions during the Covid lockdowns.

They depict the crucifixion of Christ flanked by Mary and John, with Carter saying it was a phenomenal moment when they realised the windows would miraculously fit the exact space the architect had allowed.

We found them after the chapel had been designed, if wed known about them before, we probably would have built the chapel around them. But then they would have become the centre of worship and not Christ.

Theyre part of the beauty, the taonga, theyre a part of the story but theyre not it. Christ is still the reason why we come in here.



The restored Mary window in the Phyllis Carmichael Chapel in the Jordan Centre. Photo / Brydie Thompson.

Centre namesake

The Jordan Centre is named in honour of Rev Canon Charles Jordan, the churchs first vicar and a five-time Mayor of Tauranga, reflecting both the ecclesiastical and civic roots of the church in the city.

The transformation includes a large multi-use hall that can seat up to 190 people and divide into two soundproofed sections for versatility, said Carter.

The original kitchen and stage were removed to make way for modern amenities and natural light now floods in through new street-facing windows  a conscious design choice to connect the space with the community, Carter said. We wanted the community to be able to see in, and for us to see out.



Holy Trinity Tauranga facility manager Jackie Kim and Parish Pastor Donald Carter in the foyer of the Jordan Centre. Photo / Brydie Thompson

Already in high demand, the Jordan Centre has been used by Tauranga City Council, Priority One, and other local organisations for meetings, conferences, and events.

Facility manager Jackie Kim oversees bookings and catering. Carter said venue hire is going crackerjacks.

Incredibly meaningful

Beyond its physical upgrades, the Jordan Centre serves as a living memory of the churchs resilience. The new chapel also houses refurbished original furnishings, including a restored bishops chair and altar made from scorched kauri salvaged from the fire.

The space continues to honour the churchs military heritage as well, including its connection to the Hauraki Regiment. Their regimental colours are laid up at the church, and annual parades are held, spilling over from the chapel into the centres foyer.

Theres an old hymn that we sang with the Haurakis: Oh God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast (our fire) and our eternal home. And it was like God said: I was there when the old place burned down, and I will be there when the chapels been built. I havent left. Its incredibly meaningful for us, Carter said.

Venue Details:

For more information or to book the venue, visit www.httvenues.nz
Police can now release the name of the man who died in a crash in the Bay of Plenty last month.

Mapu Titoko, 54, of Whakatane, died after single-vehicle crash on June 8.

The crash happened on Station Rd near Butler Rd, Poroporo, in the Eastern Bay of Plenty around 10pm.

Three other people were taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Two people were taken to Tauranga Hospital by helicopter and one was airlifted to Waikato Hospital.

In a statement, police said enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
Almudena Nogues Malaga Sunday, 27 July 2025, 09:14 Share

After many people enjoyed the slighly milder temperatures on Saturday, with temperatures 'only' reaching 27C in most of Malaga province, the break from the sweltering heat has gone. According to the forecast from Spain's state meteorological agency (Aemet) a new rise in the mercury will begin to be felt from today (Sunday), when the thermometers will climb to 30C in the case of the Malaga city. This will be just an appetiser of the new sweltering heat episode that already has a date set on the calendar: tomorrow, Monday 28 July. On that day, the state body has already activated yellow warnings in Malaga province for peaks of between 36 and 38C.

The warning will be in force between 11am and 6pm in Malaga city, the western Costa del Sol and Valle del Guadalhorce zones. In the latter area, the most torrid heat will be experienced, with maximum temperatures of up to 43C in municipalities such as Pizarra. Cartama, Coin, Alora and Alhaurin el Grande will also pass the 40 degree barrier. At 1pm on Monday the Antequera area will also see a yellow 'risk' weather alert activated until 9pm with temperatures forecast to reach 38C.

There will be no relief at night either. Aemet forecasts very high minimum temperatures in these same localities, which will be between 22 and 23 degrees, making it difficult to sleep.

The good news is that for now Aemet is limiting this hot spell to Monday. In fact, in many of the municipalities where the temperature will exceed 40C, on Tuesday the thermometers could drop by more than ten degrees (from 43C to 33C, for example in the case of Pizarra) according to the state agency.
LaFayette, N.Y. - A motorcyclist who crashed into a guardrail on Interstate 81 North Saturday morning in LaFayette has died, troopers said Sunday.

Austin Leonard, 28, of LaFayette died Saturday, troopers said.

Leonard, who had passed between two tractor-trailers at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday, was thrown from his motorcycle when he hit the guardrail, Trooper Jennifer Jiron, a State Police spokesperson, said in a news release.

A tractor-trailer was traveling in the driving lane when a tire blew out and the driver tried to slow down to pull over, Jiron said.

At the same time, another tractor-trailer was in the passing lane and attempting to pass the truck.

While the tractor-trailers were side-by-side, Leonard approached from behind and tried to pass between the two trucks, Jiron said.

As the motorcyclist made it past the two trucks, he lost control and hit the guardrail along the left lane and was ejected from his motorcycle, she said.

Leonard was transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he later died.

Sean Ayers, 42, of Dundee, was operating the tractor-trailer whose tire blew out. Barbara Armstrong, 66, of Creston, Iowa, was operating the tractor-trailer in the passing lane.

Troopers shut the northbound lanes of the highway for almost six hours following the crash. The highway reopened at 1:25 p.m., troopers said.
Liverpool, N.Y.  On a sunny, warm Saturday afternoon, Los Pleneros de la 100x35 brought a vibrant plena to Sharkeys Bar and Grill, echoing stories of Puerto Rico with their instruments.

Diego Rivera, one of the youngest pleneros in the band, struck the pandero rippling through the hearts of attendees at the 5th annual Puerto Rican Festival.

Children twirled to the plena rhythm, couples tapped their feet on the floor dancing salsa, and families gathered around the dance floor, wearing hats with Puerto Rican flags.

Puerto Rican families gather at Sharkeys Event Center

Piragua is a refreshing drink from the island, usually served by a piraguero, a person who shaves ice and serves it in a fruit-flavored ice cone.

Eddie Matos, a native Puerto Rican who moved to Rochester 38 years ago, considers himself the only Piraguero in Central New York. He recalls how many Puerto Ricans travel from Syracuse, Ithaca, Pennsylvania, and other states to enjoy an authentic piragua.

Its not about selling a piragua and making money, its about connecting with new friends and a new family, Matos said.

Matos and his wife, Lucila Matos, built their life around a shared devotion to Puerto Rican heritage, blending ice and craft into a single heartbeat of culture.

Its about remembering our island, maintaining our culture and passion for it, because its being lost (cultural heritage), Lucila said.

A gathering for all Syracuse residents

Puerto Ricans represent the second-largest Hispanic population in the United States, growing an average rate of 71% since 2000, according to the Pew Research Center. However, the festival brought people from all races and backgrounds.

Lisa Aboff describes herself as someone who grew up in a very sheltered white community.

Aboff remembered how embraced she felt from the start when she moved to Syracuse 12 years ago.

They brought me in like I was one of their own, Aboff said. And it just got me through life.

Aboff invited everyone to spend more time with the diverse Syracuse community.

Latino community is just so welcoming in their culture, she said. Theyre so thick in love with their culture that you just cant help being inspired.

Paquita Claudio received an award at the Puerto Rican Festival on July 25, 2025. She and her late husband, Margaro DeJesus, opened the first Hispanic-owned grocery store on the Syracuses West Side. Wesley J. Perez Vidal

Hall of Latino Celebrities of Central New York

The festivals committee awards recognition each year to a Puerto Rican community member who paved the way for a new generation of Latinos and Hispanics in Syracuse.

A big round of applause and cheers welcomed Paquita Claudio to the stage, who became a 2025 Hall of Latino Celebrities of Central New York inductee.

Happiness wouldnt let me speak, Claudio said.

Claudio made Syracuse her home in 1983 and alongside her late husband, Margaro DeJesus, opened the first Hispanic-owned grocery store on the citys West Side called La Familia, festival organizers said. Together, they became pioneers in organizing cultural activities for the local Puerto Rican population.

She remembered the hundreds of Puerto Ricans who moved to Syracuse and today considered her a mother, grandmother, and family member.

I tell my children and grandchildren that I have a familion (large family) in Syracuse, we all know each other here, Claudio said.

A new tradition at the Puerto Rican Festival

For the first time, the festival crowned a king, Jonuel Quinones, adding a new tradition to its long-standing recognitions of naming only queens.

Jesus M. Rolon said Quinones impressed the festivals committee after a round of interviews and an essay evaluation. He will join an undergraduate program at Louisiana State University, aspiring to become a mechanical engineer and business owner.

He described Puerto Rican culture as people-oriented, with a strong emphasis on community, embracing and helping one another.

If youve never interacted with Latinos in Syracuse, I think you should, Quinones said.

Right to left: Jonuel Quinones, Puerto Rican Festival's king 2025; Jesus M. Rolon, festival organizer; and Jenny Matos, festival queen 2024. Wesley J. Perez Vidal

Salt City Salseras joined the celebration

A group of eight Salsa dancers set the stage with an energetic opening, capturing the attention of many festival attendees.

Emily Tibero founded the Salt City Salseras group last year to foster deeper connections within the dance community, particularly with other women, as social dancing often pairs people with male leads and limits opportunities to engage with fellow female dancers, she said.

Tibero visited Puerto Rico once, but her Puerto Rican best friend taught her about the culture and traditions related to the Island.

Whats really special in Syracuse is we have this amazing Latin dance culture, and it really brings together people from all different communities, Tibero said. Thats how I got into salsa dancing through meeting this wonderful Latin dancing community.

Emily Tibero founded the Salt City Salseras group last year to foster deeper connections within the dance community. Wesley J. Perez Vidal

Latino Day at Spirit of Jubilee Park

The celebration will conclude at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Spirit of Jubilee Park with a Latino-themed showcase featuring local food vendors, live music, including a second round of Pleneros performance, and community engagement activities to enjoy with the family. Admission is free.

Festival organizer Jesus M. Rolon said the reason for celebrating the festival in different locations of the city was to foster a sense of community.

Were diverse, but were also one, said Rolon. I strongly believe in collaboration and bringing communities together.
The Syracuse police union leader went too far when he urged his members patrolling the citys Armory Square bar district to, in effect, disregard the departments use of force policy.

De-escalation is out the window for this weekend, and I will back you to the hilts! wrote Joseph Moran, president of the Police Benevolent Association, in a July 18 Facebook post.

This followed a July 13 post calling Armory Square chaotic and claiming perpetrators and gangbangers have infiltrated the bar scene on Friday and Saturday nights.

Moran has the First Amendment right to speak his mind  but he isnt the police chief, he doesnt set department policy and he ought to get his facts straight.

The facts are this:

The department is assigning more patrols to Armory Square to quell after-hours partying, open consumption of alcohol and nuisance behavior outside of the districts bars and restaurants after closing time. It is not in response to violence or threats to public safety.

Police Chief Joe Cecile acknowledged that gang members could be found in the crowd  as they could be just about anywhere where large numbers of people congregate.

Two syracuse.com reporters spent last Friday night watching what happened in Armory Square. They saw plenty of drunk people and dumb behavior, but nothing violent or dangerous. Idiotic? Yes. Chaotic? No.

A crowd of drunk people and transients can be a handful. Our reporters night in the square shows that well-trained cops mindful of sensible policy can handle it. They shook off some provocations and dealt with lawbreakers firmly.

Moran proclaims a problem that doesnt exist and claims victory for solving it. His message plays well with people who already think the city is a dangerous place and wouldnt go to Armory Square anyway. Weve been around long enough to know there is nothing new about that. The same goes for overserved people who dont know when its time to go home.

It isnt just that Morans social media posts might discourage people from patronizing bars and restaurants in Armory Square. The cops arent the chamber of commerce, after all. Its that he fosters an us vs. them attitude between police and the public that leads to overzealous policing, instead of a mindset of true community safety. Recall that a year ago, the city paid $390,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a couple who were roughed up by police in Armory Square in 2016. The man was acquitted of resisting arrest at trial. Moran called the officers use of force acceptable and reasonable.

Inflammatory words can have inflammatory consequences.

Cecile, the police chief, said it best: I think as leaders we have to be very intentional in our words and actions; otherwise, we risk worsening our reputation in the community, and by default making things more difficult for the cops on the street, who already have  in my opinion  the most difficult job on the planet.

Morans irresponsible words only make it harder. He should cool his rhetoric.

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If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion lead, at mmorelli@syracuse.com
New Zealand farmers battle pine forests to 'save our sheep'



Wellington, July 27 (AFP) Jul 27, 2025



New Zealand sheep farmers are fighting to stop the loss of pasture to fast-spreading pine plantations, which earn government subsidies to soak up carbon emissions.

Concern over the scale of the farm-to-forest switch led the government to impose a moratorium in December on any new conversions not already in the pipeline.

But farmers say forestry companies are flouting the clampdown.

Last month, farmers launched a "Save our Sheep" campaign to reverse the loss of productive farmland.

Sheep numbers have plummeted to around 23 million, down from a peak of around 70 million in the 1980s, according to official figures.

Falling wool prices and rising milk and beef costs initially drove the decline, but the emissions trading since 2008 has added to the strain.

The government is now investigating potential breaches of its moratorium by forestry companies, which have been buying up farmland as recently as June.

Federated Farmers -- a lobby group for rural communities -- submitted to the government "a list of properties we believe have been sold for carbon forestry" since the halt, a spokesman said.

The federation is concerned about the sale of more than 15,200 hectares (37,600 acres) of farmland, he told AFP.

Dean Rabbidge, who runs a farm outside the Southland town of Wyndham, said some of the newly purchased farms had already been planted with pine trees.



- 'Criminal' -



"They're just ploughing on ahead, effectively giving the middle finger to the government announcement," Rabbidge told AFP.

The moratorium had created a "gold rush", he said.

"It's criminal what's happening."

Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay said the government would change the law by October because it had become more profitable to plant pine forests than to farm sheep.

"The law will include clarity on what qualifies as legitimate evidence of a pre-December investment and enable any specific cases to be properly assessed," McClay said.

"Anyone who has bought land since December 4, 2024, irrespective of whether they also had trees or not, will not be able to register this land into the emissions trading scheme."

Rural New Zealand once abounded with rolling pastures, rickety wire fences hemming in millions of sheep chewing on the green grass.

But Rabbidge said those days were gone.

"You won't see anything now," he said. "You're just driving through long pine tree tunnels -- shaded, wet, and damp."

New Zealand is one of the rare countries to allow 100 percent of carbon emissions to be offset by forestry.

"We're not anti planting trees," sheep farmer Ben Fraser told AFP.

"There are areas of land that should be retired, that aren't necessarily productive."

But the trading scheme had driven an excessive loss of sheep pastures to forestry, he said.

"That's the issue here."



- 'So short-sighted' -



Fraser, who farms near the North Island town of Ohakune, said he had seen an exodus of people from the district in recent years.

"Since 2018, there've been 17 farms converted to forestry," he said.

"That's about 18,000 hectares gone. So you're looking at about 180,000 sheep gone out of the district, plus lambs."

The loss of sheep impacted the region.

"If the farms thrive, then the towns thrive because people come in and spend their money," he said.

"You've got farm suppliers, your fertiliser guys, your supermarkets, your butchers, all of that stuff struggling.

"The local schools now have less kids in them. The people who stayed are now isolated, surrounded by pine trees."

Rabbidge said the same was happening in Southland.

"This whole thing is just so short-sighted," Rabbidge said.

"Businesses here are forecasting anywhere between a 10 and 15 percent revenue reduction for the next financial year, and that's all on the back of properties that have sold or have been planted out in pine trees," he said.



- 'Lamb on a plate' -



"Think of all the shearers, the contractors, the transporters, the farm supply stores, the workers, the community centres, the schools, rugby clubs. Everything is affected by this."

Government figures from 2023 show agriculture accounted for more than half of New Zealand's total greenhouse gas emissions.

But farmers argue they have been working hard to reduce emissions, down more than 30 percent since the 1990s.

"I could put a leg of lamb on a plate in London with a lower emissions profile, transport included, than a British farmer," Rabbidge said.

"We just use our natural resources. We're not housing animals indoors and carting feed in and manure out.

"Everything's done outside and done at low cost, low and moderate intensity."
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Tom Cruise was among the celebrities spotted enjoying a night out at Oasis Wembley Stadium comeback gig on Friday (25 July), the first of their five nights at the venue.

The Mission: Impossible star, 63, turned up to watch Liam and Noel Gallagher reunite on the London stage in front of 90,000 fans for the first time in 16 years. Other famous faces spotted in the crowd included presenter Fearne Cotton, DJ Goldie, pop star Dua Lipa and her fiance, actor Callum Turner.

Cruise kept things low-key in the seated section, where he was seen with rapper Goldie, real name Clifford Joseph Price, who shared a selfie with the actor during the set.

Lipa and Turner were spotted hanging out with Noels daughter Anais Gallagher in the VIP section during Saturday nights show. Anais shared a video of the pair with their arms wrapped around each other, singing along to the 1996 hit Dont Look Back in Anger.

Also in attendance on Friday night were Cotton, presenter Rylan Clark, Davina McCall, comedian Rob Beckett and TV presenter Jeremy Kyle.

Cotton posted about her experience on Instagram, saying it was magic to see the band perform together. Liam was a wonderful tosser throughout. Exactly what you want, she said. Brash, swearing, and in the best jacket and hat. Noel was magnificent on his solo songs and created the most gorgeous atmosphere. A night I wont forget.

When tickets for the Oasis reunion shows went on sale last summer, many were left outraged after some standard tickets in the UK and Ireland jumped from 148 to 355 due to dynamic pricing. The controversy prompted the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) watchdog to pledge to look at the use of the practice.

Friday marked the first time the brothers had appeared together onstage at Wembley since 12 July, 2009, when they performed during their Dig Out Your Soul tour.

open image in gallery ( Instagram via @mrgoldie )

As with previous gigs, Liam and Noel walked onstage hand in hand, opened with Hello and proceeded to belt out many of their classics, including Some Might Say and Morning Glory.

Fridays show  the eighth of the tour  followed a five-night run of homecoming gigs in Manchesters Heaton Park and the two opening shows in Cardiff earlier this month.

open image in gallery Dua Lipa and her fiance Callum Turner enjoyed Oasis at Wembley on Saturday night ( Instagram via @gallagher_anais )

The band have consistently finished their gigs with an encore of The Masterplan, Dont Look Back in Anger, Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova.

Following the first part of their Wembley stint, the band will head up north to Edinburghs Murrayfield Stadium followed by Dublins Croke Park. They will return to Wembley Stadium for another two nights on 27 and 28 September.

The group will head to Japan, South Korea, South America, Australia and North America later in the year.

Oasis announced their reunion tour in August of last year, 16 years after their dramatic split in 2009, which saw Noel quit following a backstage brawl at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris.
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Strictly Come Dancing has revealed that two brand-new professional dancers have joined the cast of the BBC dancing competition for 2025.

Alexis Warr, former winner of the US series So You Think You Can Dance in 2022, and Julian Caillon, a ballroom TV star from Australia, will arrive on the Strictly dancefloor when the show returns this autumn.

The pairs casting comes over a year after the professional troupes numbers depleted by two, following the departures of Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima after they separately faced allegations of misconduct.

Warr, from the American state Utah, is no stranger to dancing competitions  she has competed on the US version of Strictly, Dancing with the Stars, as well as performing on America's Got Talent, World of Dance and several national tours of the US. During her time on So You Think You Can Dance, she was crowned as Americas Favourite Dancer, becoming the first female ballroom and Latin dancer to claim the title.

Caillon, who has been dancing since he was 10, appeared as a professional dancer on three seasons of Australias Dancing with the Stars, has toured the world with the hit dance company Burn the Floor, and also competed on So You Think You Can Dance in Australia.

Warr said in a statement that it was an honour to join the cast after years of admiring the show. I cant wait to step into the ballroom, pour my heart into every moment, and share my love of dance with the UK, she said.

Caillon called the new role a dream come true, saying: Ive watched it for years, especially cheering on all the amazing dancers I know and work with who've been part of it, he said. I cant wait to get stuck in, have some fun, and be part of something special! "

They will be joining returning professionals Dianne Buswell  who won the BBC dance competition with Chris McCausland in 2024  alongside Nadiya Bychkova, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk and Jowita Przystal.

open image in gallery New additions to the Strictly professionals cast, Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon ( BBC )

Amy Dowden, who pulled out of last years competition following a foot injury, will also return to the show. She will be joined by Carlos Gu, Kai Widdrington, Johannes Radebe, Aljaz Skorjanec Nancy Xu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola who will all take to the floor once more.

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Karen Hauer, 42, also secured a space on the line up, despite previous reports claiming the shows longest-serving dancer was set to be axed by bosses.

The professionals cast lost two members when Pernice was dropped from the 2024 series after actor Amanda Abbington made a series of allegations about his behaviour, when they were partnered together on the programme in 2023. Di Prima, was also axed from the series over allegations regarding his treatment of his celebrity partner Zara McDermott.

Pernice denied allegations of threatening and abusive behaviour, while Di Prima said he deeply regrets the events that led to his departure.

open image in gallery Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon will arrive on the ballroom floor this autumn ( BBC )

Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas all return to the glittery panel for the 2025 series, with recent MBE recipients Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman back on hosting duties.

Sarah James, Executive Producer, BBC Studios, said in a statement: Weve been big fans of Alexis and Julian for some time so its with great excitement that we now welcome them both to the Strictly family. Theyre two incredible dancers with bright futures ahead of them, and we know viewers are going to love getting to know them both.

The celebrity contestants for the 2025 series are yet to be revealed, but rumoured names include Sort Your Life Out presenter Stacey Solomon, Neighbours star Stefan Dennis, EastEnders actor Bovinder Sopal, Geordie Shore s Vicky Pattison, Olympic athlete Mo Farah and Love Island star Dani Dyer, the daughter of actor Danny Dyer.

Tom Parker-Bowles, the MasterChef judge who is the son of Queen Camilla, is also rumoured. Find out more here.
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Everyone has sex; just some of us film it, is the phrase Bonnie Blue chooses to introduce her Channel 4 documentary. Its a suitably glib start to the hour-long film, 1,000 Men and Me: The Bonnie Blue Story, which charts the controversial OnlyFans stars rise to global infamy. Aged 26, Blue, whose real name is Tia Billinger, is best known for staging extreme sex stunts; in January, she claimed to have slept with 1,057 men in 12 hours, filming it all for her OnlyFans account, which has since been disabled after the platform banned her.

Its hard to know where to begin with Blue, who earns upwards of 1.5m per month from her videos, which she now shares on Fansly, another subscription-based social platform. Perhaps with the sheer impossibility of her so-called 1,000-men challenge, which would amount to 41 seconds per man, without accounting for the time it takes to change between them. Then theres the footage itself, much of which features in the film, showing a fully naked Blue surrounded by penises penetrating her mouth and vagina. Or theres her litany of rage-bait TikTok videos, in which she urges barely legal or barely breathing men to have sex with her, often at the expense of their wives and girlfriends, who Blue happily lambasts as sexually inferior.

Born and raised in the Derbyshire village of Draycott, Blue, according to the film, had a loving, normal childhood complete with dance competitions, a sister she performed with, and parents who were together. All of them are on her payroll. We meet her mother, Sarah, who gushes about how proud she is of her daughter: If you could earn 1m a month, youd get your bits out, she deadpans. Signs of any deep-rooted trauma that many speculate is Blues driving force in all this are noticeably absent here. Despite her attempts, filmmaker Victoria Silver (who has a small handful of credits to her name including naturism doc The Great British Skinny Dip) fails to get behind Blues ironically impenetrable public image.

Questions about feminism are brushed off as an inconvenience (but this is what I enjoy), and Blue refuses to consider the implications her content might have on other women: Theyre not my target audience. Humour is used as a distraction tool, which provokes a few uncomfortable laughs in the press screening. For example, when Silver, who has a 15-year-old daughter, asks about the potential dangers of a TikTok video of Blue passing a barely legal girl around a group of men in balaclavas, Blue simply points out that everyone is clothed, adding: That couldve just been a birthday party.

We never learn why Blue split from her husband, Ollie, whom she met aged 15 and claims to have officially separated from in November 2023; he features briefly in the first part of the documentary (presumably when they were still an item), which was filmed over the course of six months. Nor do we really learn why she actually does any of this: sure, theres the financial incentive. And as Blue will reiterate to anyone who asks, she really loves having sex. But beyond that, there truly seems to be no real angle.

We do get a behind-the-scenes look at the 1,000-men challenge  1,600 condoms and 50 balaclavas were purchased, and she eats a doughnut midway through  and there are a few strangely sad scenes of Blue telling us how few friends she has while playing puzzles with her live-in videographer and creative director, Josh, who used to work with children in care.

Born and raised in a Derbyshire village, Bonnie Blue, whose real name is Tia Billinger, earns upwards of 1.5m per month from her videos ( Channel 4 )

With little new information gleaned and far too much time taken up by TikTok and Instagram clips of Blues that already exist online, the documentary feels like little more than a prurient exercise to capitalise on one womans infamy. Although, maybe its simply impossible to ever truly know who Blue is.

Her facade is maintained in person; I attended a Q&A between Blue and Silver that took place after the documentary was screened to journalists. She bats away serious questions with flippant jokes, disparagingly refers to her critics as fat women who stay at home while denying her own brazen misogyny, and blaming much of the outrage around her on the media. Theyre the ones who came up with the term barely legal, she claims.

Perhaps one of the only moments of verisimilitude comes when we see Blue filming one of her TikTok clips before her 1,000-men challenge. She issues a sultry, doe-eyed invitation to her smartphone, but as soon as she removes the camera, her face falls, almost accidentally slipping into an expression thats somewhere between exasperation and boredom. Even Silver, who couldnt quite answer when pressed as to whether she found Blue to be a role model or part of the problem of our pornified culture, seems to have come away from making the film with little insights into who this woman really is. I suspect thats just how Blue likes it.

1,000 Men and Me: The Bonnie Blue Story airs on Channel 4 at 10pm on Tuesday 29 July
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Mom-of-three Michelle Taylor made a big move to a small rural town in Georgia fresh on the heels of her divorce. In the process, she said goodbye to her 1,800-square-foot house and hello to her new home: A two-story shed from Home Depot that measured only 256 square feet.

Seeking a fresh start, Taylor bought 10 acres of land in Georgia, with a semi-furnished, 16x16 shed already on the property. With just one bathroom, a living room, a kitchen, and no bedrooms, the challenges of making that space work for a family of four were abundantly clear. So Taylor and her dad got busy renovating.

Taylor is one of many to take a leap of fate into a tiny home, a movement that continues to gain momentum. Many big-name retailers are aware of the trend and have begun selling small houses, complete with bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Amazon has a two-story portable Prefab (meaning premade) house for $40,000, and a one-story Luxury Tiny Home for $9,280. Home Depot, too, sells tiny homes for anywhere between $20,000 and $100,00, with costs varying based on the size you get.

Sure, it may sound enticing since the cost of a tiny home is often less than the mortgage on a house, depending on location. But whats actually the big appeal about these small spaces?

For starters, Taylor says its much easier and cheaper to maintain than her nearly 2,000-square-foot house.

open image in gallery From L to R, the outside of Michelle Taylor's shed when she moved next to the renovated version, now a tiny home ( Courtesy of Michelle Taylor )

 After only an hour, I can have the entire house clean, top to bottom, she tells The Independent. Living here also kind of minimizes the amount of stuff that you own, which, in the long run, is a benefit because you're not spending as much time, energy, or money maintaining and keeping everything.

Still, after renovations, the home is significantly larger than when Taylor purchased the property. When Taylor moved into the Home Depot shed in 2021, it sat like a treehouse, with a deep deck underneath. So she converted that deck into the bottom floor of the two-story shed, making it a three-story tiny home. She also added more square footage to the top floors of the house.

open image in gallery Michelle Taylor's kitchen when she moved into her Amazon shed ( Courtesy of Michelle Taylor )

We wanted to give enough room for the boys to have individual bedrooms, she explains. The kitchen and the living room are one room combined on the second floor. And the bedrooms are all on the first and third floors.

With time, patience, and hard work, Taylors shed became a four-bedroom, two bathroom home, with the top two floors measuring at 384 square feet and the first floor at 256 square feet. It wasnt an easy transformation for Taylor, especially with her children, who are teenagers now, living in the home during the renovations.

open image in gallery Michelle Taylors kitchen during tiny home renovations ( Courtesy of Michelle Taylor )

And while it's not picture-perfect yet  Taylor still plans to paint her childrens bedroom walls and put up the trim  the space has everything her family needs.

Meanwhile, father of three Jeremy Collins, based in Murphysboro, Illinois, took a similar approach to fulfilling his dream of building a tiny home. Following his divorce last year, Collins began transforming a high-cube shipping container, measuring 320 square feet, into a one-bedroom home. The small space is equipped with a stackable washer-dryer, 60-inch windows, a full bathroom, a kitchen, and a living area.

Currently, hes living a few miles away from the yet-to-be-completed home, which will be finished with the help of his teenage twin sons, who stepped in to do some of the manual labor earlier this year.

open image in gallery Michelle Taylor transformed this room into a bedroom for her child ( Courtesy of Michelle Taylor )

Collins has never been attracted to the idea of buying a tiny home online, since essentials like installing gas, plumbing, and electricity are not included in the purchase. The house may also be trickier to assemble and have much smaller rooms than usual. So, the Illinois native argues that hes getting more bang for his buck by building the space himself.

When you get those homes online, there are no appliances. Its missing this and that, he says. Its not something that could keep you for 20 to 30 years. And when you add up what you actually need to make it a living home, that number supersedes what it would cost to build one. My home is built on sustainability, low maintenance, and low overall cost.

This way of living and thinking is only expanding, with the global tiny home market valued at $21.93 billion in 2024, according to Business Research Insights. The market is expected to grow to $29.9 billion by 2033.

The cost of building a regular home in the U.S. in April 2025 was $503,800, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. And thats a huge investment that many tiny home builders have never had to consider.

open image in gallery Michelle Taylor's current living room on the second floor of her tiny home ( Courtesy of Michelle Taylor )

Collins says he spent an average of about $36,700 to build his tiny house throughout the last year, with plans to sell it for anywhere between $59,000 and $69,000  and he already has an interested buyer. However, he still absolutely sees value in building another home to live in one day, or multiple houses for more people to reside in.

 I used to live in an almost 5,000 square foot house with 10 acres. When I got divorced, I had to put all that stuff in storage, and I moved to a place that was a small apartment, he explains. Now I realize that in a tiny home, in a rural town, I spend more time with my kids. Ill hit the kayak more because I dont have all the distractions and stuff.

open image in gallery Kitchen created by Jeremy Collins in his one-bedroom tiny home ( Courtesy of Jeremy Collins )

Taylor, too, sees the financial benefits of having a tiny home, since it was cheaper to renovate the Home Depot shed on her plot of land than to buy a small home online. With utilities and Wifi included, Taylor pays only $600 to $800 a month to maintain her tiny home. She knows that this price is a steal, despite her $25,000 investment in renovations.

I spend less a month on everything like utilities, or updating my curtains, than I would on a two-bedroom apartment, she said. As a result, Taylor is now financially able to go on hiking and camping trips throughout the year with her children, without having to worry about working 80 hours a week to pay the bills.

Add that to the fact that her skills as a handywoman are also paying off in the business of tiny homes. On her property, shes renting out a second tiny house that she built from scratch; a perfect space for one person. Outfitted with a couch, utilities, kitchen appliances, and internet included, she charges renters between $600 and $800 a month.

Inside her former Home Depot shed-turned-home, Taylors found both financial and personal benefits that she didnt have in a bigger space.

My kids have their own room and privacy, but if they want to do any physical play, they have to come downstairs or go outside," she said. "So I feel like I see my kids more than my friends, who have 2,000 square foot homes, see theirs.
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Some women have been single so long they dont date any more. So opens a TikTok video posted earlier this year, which several friends shared with me independently (along with laughing-crying emojis). The piece-to-camera video features a Frenchman describing, with hilarious accuracy, why many heterosexual women have become too self-sufficient to truly enjoy a relationship.

They grant you access to their peaceful little empire like a reluctant queen handing you a visitors badge, he goes on. You text her good morning and shes already annoyed, like, why are you disturbing the sacred silence of my personal growth journey?

And, the piece de resistance: You plan a cute date and shes thinking, That sounds nice, but also, I could stay home, deep clean my apartment, do a 12-step skincare routine, order sushi and not have to listen to a man breathe.

The monologue struck a chord, swiftly totting up 1.2 million likes. It has echoes of Miley Cyruss 2023 break-up anthem, Flowers, which prompted millions of women to belt out the message that, yes, they could buy their own damn flowers, take themselves dancing and, ultimately, love themselves better than some guy ever could.

open image in gallery 'I could be doing a 12-step skincare routine right now...' ( Getty/iStock )

Like much of the best comedy, the TikTok video was funny because it was, well kind of true. Many of the single women I know have carefully curated every element of their lives alongside forging successful careers, creating routines that incorporate self-care, exercise, hobbies and cosy nights in, all while engaged in some strand of personal development (and somehow managing to drink two litres of water a day). They also have active social lives and vast networks of friends that they rigorously nurture and draw from for emotional support.

Although, for the most part, these women would love a committed relationship, the most common sentiment I hear is along the lines of: My lifes already great. A man would just be the cherry on top  theyd have to really add something. Which is, looking at their already full-to-bursting schedules, quite a tall order.

So, have women become too eligible to go out with? Or does there need to be a collective lowering of expectations when it comes to what a man can and should offer?

Were currently at a unique moment in history when it comes to heterosexual dating and relationships. Its been well-documented in many countries, including the UK, that adults are putting off the big life milestones, such as marrying and having children, later and later  if theyre doing these things at all. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 33.7 per cent of men aged 20-34 lived with their parents in 2024, compared to less than a quarter (22.1 per cent) of women.

Simultaneously, for the first time ever, women are outstripping men when it comes to education. The reversal of the gender gap in higher education has been a major social transformation, according to one study; women now outnumber men in higher education in nearly all OECD countries.

Although womens achievements are cause for celebration, they have also led to big potential issues in the realm of romance. Jon Birger, an American writer, started noticing the repercussions of this imbalance around 10 years ago.

The question I wanted to answer was why I seemed to have so many hetero, single, female friends with everything going for them and yet so few single male friends I could set them up with, he says. The question led him to write the 2015 bestseller Date-onomics: How Dating Became a Lopsided Numbers Game. Digging into US Census data, he found that 33 per cent more women than men were graduating from college.

I seemed to have so many female friends with everything going for them and so few male friends I could set them up with Jon Birger

The numbers havent changed much in the following decade. Here in the UK, theres also a pronounced education gap: 13 per cent more women than men go on to higher education and 4 per cent more men drop out in their first year.

Alongside this disparity, there has been a rise in assortative mating  people tending to want to only date others who have a similar education level to themselves, particularly when it comes to holding a degree.

Its little wonder, then, that educated women have expressed dissatisfaction with their romantic options. A 2023 piece of research from the USs Institute for Family Studies (IFS) found that 45 per cent of college-educated single women said their relationship status was due to an inability to find someone who met their expectations. Of six different reasons single women gave for why they were not dating or in a relationship, the inability to find partners who measured up was cited most often.

Women were also much more discerning than men when it came to dating  far more likely to say a partners political views, personal habits and current financial situation were important considerations.

open image in gallery Women are frequently ready to settle down first in heterosexual relationships ( Getty/iStock )

However, its not just about women being too picky. Daniel A Cox, director and founder of the Survey Center on American Life, surveyed more than 5,000 people as part of the research. He reported that his interviews with male participants were dispiriting; he found that the men were limited in their ability and willingness to be fully emotionally present and available.

The dating issues caused by the gender education gap might have more to do with how this disparity affects mens behaviour. This imbalance had trickled down into the post-college dating market, and had given men the upper hand, Birger says of his findings in Date-onomics. Scholarly research on sex ratios showed that when men are in undersupply (or women in oversupply, depending upon your perspective), the dating culture becomes less monogamous and women are more likely to be treated as sex objects. And that was exactly what was happening.

Date-onomics theorised that the imbalanced sex ratios among college graduates were largely to blame for the rise of hookup culture. Because the man deficit gets worse for women and better for men with age, a single 40-year-old guy who has a good job, whos decent looking, and whos able to carry on a normal conversation will have a lot of romantic options, adds Birger. And those options are, unfortunately, incentivising him to behave badly.

This was echoed in Yale professor and medical anthropologist Marcia Inhorns 2023 book, Motherhood on Ice: The Mating Gap and Why Women Freeze Their Eggs. Inhorn conducted in-depth interviews with 150 college-educated women, 114 of whom were opting to do elective egg freezing. She hypothesised beforehand  reflecting the widespread thinking at the time  that their motivations would be largely career-focused. Surely these women were undergoing this invasive and costly procedure to put off babies while they climbed the ladder at work? Her hypothesis turned out to be wrong.

I called it the lack of three Es: eligible, educated, equal male partners Marcia Inhorn, medical anthropologist

I started doing these long interviews with women, and by about the 10th interview, it was such a different story, Inhorn says. Overwhelmingly, the women were freezing their eggs because they were single and unable to find a suitable partner. Of the 18 per cent who were coupled up, around half reported that they had no idea if the relationship would work out, or that cracks were starting to show. The half whose relationships were stable reported that they were resorting to egg freezing because their partners were unready for parenthood.

I spent a lot of time listening to what I ended up calling womens gender laments, says Inhorn. The scarcity of suitable men was a common theme. I called it the lack of three Es: eligible, educated, equal male partners, she says. They wanted to meet a guy who was like them, who appreciated them, who was going to be an equal partner in their plans to have children. And they were having trouble finding these kinds of equal male partners.

It seems to create a chicken-and-egg situation. Research from Kristina Durante, a professor of psychology and marketing at Rutgers University, found that when men are scarce, women are then more likely to focus on career and earnings because they know they may wind up having to go it alone as a parent.

Back to Inhorns study, and while there was an issue with women not wanting to settle, there was concurrently an issue with men not wanting to settle down. Many of the women Inhorn interviewed had previously been with partners for long periods, but the men were incredibly reluctant to get serious. Men dont feel this compulsion that they have to marry and have kids and to do it early in their lives, she explains. And so these women were hanging on and hoping that it was going to convert into a marriage and a family, and it didnt.

open image in gallery Have woman got too good at being single? ( Getty/iStock )

One solution is for societies to become more open-minded about disassortative mating (pairing up with people unlike ourselves). For centuries, the social norm has been whats called hypergamy the term for women marrying up, ie, partnering with men of higher education, career, wealth and/or age. But with men more frequently falling out of higher education and labour markets, that structure no longer works, creating a dynamic where the pool of suitable men is far too small to cater for the number of accomplished women.

Already, the numbers show that this trend is shifting. Now, for the first time in history, hypogamy is on the rise, and women are more likely to marry a less-educated man than men are to marry a less-educated woman than themselves.

Inhorn herself was hypogamous; when she met her now-husband, he was a college dropout while she had a PhD and was pursuing a career in academia. I took a chance on somebody who didnt have the educational background, but I felt like hes a kind person and hes smart and I like him.

Still, there remains a lot of classism in dating right now, argues Birger, which is only exacerbated further by dating apps. The disposable swipe culture encourages users to be prejudiced about more superficial elements, such as someones education level, job, or looks, regardless of their character.

The whole experience is too much like online shopping, he says. People have a certain set of criteria theyre looking for, and college-educated people tend to look for people like themselves, which often results in screening out people who didnt attend college but might be a good match.

Disposable swipe culture encourages users to be prejudiced about more superficial elements

One study found that, while online dating led to more dates than meeting someone IRL, it led to fewer marriages. Meanwhile, breakup rates for both married and non-married couples were higher for those who met online rather than offline.

Match Group and Bumble do not make money off happily-ever-afters, as Birger puts it. They are media companies that make money from subscriptions and advertising. His top suggestion is to get off the apps and ask someone out whom you already know and like in real life.

The other big change to balance the dating scales would be for men and women to regain an education equilibrium, and this means improving academic success rates for boys. Neuroscience has suggested that girls brains mature at a faster rate than boys, which helps to explain why they tend to do better in school. One long-term but radical solution, first proposed by Dr Leonard Sax, author of Boys Adrift, is to delay boys from starting school for a year; studies have shown that boys who are held back or start school later are more likely to attend college.

In the meantime, if youre a woman whos fed up with the scarcity of eligible men, it might be worth taking a raincheck on the 12-step skincare routine and sushi ordering, shaking off some of your biases and intentionally dating outside your usual parameters.

I do not believe a university degree makes someone a better husband or wife or life partner, says Birger. There are plenty of great blue-collar guys out there  and they may be a hell of a lot more loyal than those doctors and lawyers whose behaviour has been warped by the man deficit.
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Four adults are accused of holding nine children captive inside their Florida home, locking them in cages and spraying them with vinegar as part of a sick punishment, authorities said.

Husband and wife Brian and Jill Griffeth, as well as 21-year-old Dallin and 19-year-old Liberty Griffeth, were arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse, the Columbia County Sheriffs Office said Friday.

The four adults are accused of locking the children inside cages in their bedrooms, giving them non-prescribed medication and not providing them adequate schooling  all while instructing them to lie about what happens in their Fort White, Florida, home.

The children were also forced to lie on the floor by the mother, Jill, and having her place a sheet of plywood on top of the childs body and press down on them, resulting in splinters and pain, according to the sheriffs office.

When punishing the children  five of whom are biological to the couple, while four were adopted  the adults would spray them in the face with vinegar, authorities said.

Husband and wife Brian (center) and Jill Griffeth (left), as well as 21-year-old Dallin (bottom right) and 19-year-old Liberty Griffeth (top right), were arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse, authorities said. ( Columbia County Sheriff's Department )

An investigation into the alleged child abuse happening to the nine children, aged between seven and 16, stemmed from concerns from a mandatory reporter at their local church of church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the days before their arrests, one of the children was caught at a church camp with a functioning electronic stun gun, authorities said.

Additional concerns were raised about the adopted children being treated unfairly compared to the Griffeth biological children, in addition to the children not knowing their full name or their own birthdays, the sheriffs office said.

When authorities went to the home, they saw the adopted children working on chores while the biological children were playing and watching television.

Authorities then discovered the couple shared a 10th foster child, who was not present but with their biological parent in Arizona. A well-being check concluded that child was safe and healthy.

When authorities began investigating, the adopted children made additional accusations against the adults, including that they were being beaten with a cane and locked in their bedrooms by Brian and the other adults.

All nine of the children have been court-ordered to be removed from the home, authorities said.

All four adults were arrested on July 22 for aggravated child abuse. They are all being held in the Columbia County Detention Facility on $500,000 bonds.
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An Illinois landlord who brutally stabbed a six-year-old boy to death in a hate crime has died in prison.

Three months ago, Joseph Czuba was sentenced to 53 years behind bars for the attack. He was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of the boys mother, Hanan Shaheen.

The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which started days earlier.

Czuba died Thursday in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, citing the Will County Sheriffs Office. The law enforcement agency did not return a call seeking comment on the death.

Joseph Czuba, the landlord convicted of killing a Muslim boy, has died in prison. ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations Chicago office, said in a statement on Saturday that this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.

Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.

The family had been renting rooms in Czubas home in Plainfield, about 40 miles from Chicago when the attack happened.

Central to prosecutors case was harrowing testimony from the boys mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim. Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czubas wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the childs body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadees relatives.

The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadees funeral drew large crowds, and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.
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A 42-year-old man faces terrorism charges in connection with a mass stabbing at a Michigan Walmart that left 11 people hurt.

Bradford James Gilley was identified as the suspect by authorities a day after the random attack at the center in Traverse City. Munson Healthcare, which was treating the victims, said one patient was treated and released, two were in serious condition and the rest were in fair condition.

One of the victims was identified as a Walmart employee. The victims were both men and women, and ranged in age from 21 to 84.

Weve have seen encouraging signs of recovery among our patients, hospital spokesperson Megan Brown said, according to the Associated Press.

Gilley faces 11 counts of assault with intent to murder and one terrorism charge. He is being held at Grand Traverse County Jail, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Mike Shea said during a Sunday press conference.

open image in gallery A 42-year-old man is accused of stabbing 11 people at a Michigan Walmart. ( AP )

Michigan State Police said the sheriffs office was investigating, though current details on the suspects motivation remained limited. Authorities said Gilley entered the store Saturday afternoon and began to randomly stab shoppers.

Gilley was quickly subdued by some brave shoppers, including one who was armed, before authorities took him into custody. Walmart employees told Channel 2 NOW that no shots were fired during the exchange.

Shea, the sheriff, said the quick actions of bystanders likely saved lives.

I cannot command everyone that was involved enough. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute, Shea said. That is remarkable. When you look at it in that mitigated Lord knows how many additional victims.

Steven Carter was loading his truck outside Walmart when he saw a man cut a womans throat with a knife.

open image in gallery Bradford James Gilley faces 11 counts of assault with intent to murder and one terrorism charge, authorities said. ( AP )

Carter told the Associated Press that within five minutes, the suspect was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group continually yelled at the man to drop the knife, Carter said, as the man reportedly replied, I dont care, I dont care.

Eventually, the man was tackled and subdued by one of the bystanders, Carter said.

At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack, said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.

Another witness, Tiffany DeFell, 36, described the chaotic scene as being like something you see out of the movies.

It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out, she said. This is something you see out of the movies. Its not what you expect to see where youre living.

The weapon used in the attacks appeared to be a folding-style knife, Shea said, noting the stabbings started near the stores checkout counter and the victims were not predetermined.

open image in gallery Authorities said the man used a folding-style knife in the random attack ( AP )

open image in gallery A statement from Walmart said violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders ( AP )

Im in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on social media. Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also announced that FBI agents were on the scene to assist local law enforcement.

Walmart corporate spokesperson Joe Pennington said that the company was working with police and defer questions to them right now.

A later statement from the company read: Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders.
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A Virginia man is accused of killing his wife over her alleged infidelity  and then killing another man because he knew he was going to jail, according to police.

Authorities arrived at a home in Ridgeway, Virginia after receiving a report just before 1 p.m. Tuesday that a man had been shot in the road. The man, later identified as 68-year-old William Leroy Morey, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Henry County Sheriffs Office.

Morey was reportedly checking on 22-year-old Mandy Coleman, who lived at the home with her two small children. Police found Coleman dead from a gunshot wound.

Her husband, 30-year-old Joshua Corbett Coleman, quickly emerged as a suspect.

Police arrested him around 2:40 p.m. during a traffic stop and found the children inside the vehicle. They were safe and unharmed, the sheriffs office said. Coleman was armed with a handgun and an AR-15 rifle, according to police.

Joshua Corbett Coleman faces murder charges after confronting his wife about her infidelity and then killing another man because he 'knew he was going to jail,' police say ( Henry County Sheriff's Office )

Coleman admitted to the killings following his arrest, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WDBJ7.

He told police that he accused her of cheating on him during a tense argument before heading to his room, grabbing a gun, and shooting her in the head, the complaint states.

Coleman then took his two children with him in the car.

He knew he was going to jail and decided to search for Morey to kill him, too, the complaint says.

After he couldnt man the 68-year-old man at his home, Coleman returned to the Ridgeway home to find Morey in the street and shot him to death, according to the filing.

The relationship between Morey and the Colemans is not immediately clear. An investigation is ongoing.

Coleman is now being held in the Henry County Adult Detention Center without bond.

He faces two counts of first degree murder, two counts of use of firearm in the commission of a felony, one count of shooting from an occupied vehicle, and two counts of child abuse.

Authorities are offering a reward of up to $2,500 in exchange for information related to the crime.

This is a heartbreaking and tragic situation that has deeply affected two families and our entire community, Sheriff Wayne Davis said. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the victims during this incredibly difficult time.
DNM Cast is a fast-growing podcast you probably havent heard of focused on relationships, culture and mental health.

Its put together by three male friends in their early 20s and its initials stand for deep and meaningful. So far, so Zoomer.

DNM Cast podcast presenters (from left), Luke Bailey, Diezel Brousse and Tom Rowland. Credit: Benjamin Gregory

We pride ourselves on being unfiltered, raw and honest. There is no conversation that is off limits for us, says Tom Rowland, 22, who hosts the podcast with Luke Bailey, 21, and Diezel Brousse, 20.

Early on, we copped a fair bit of hate. Mainly from blokes, Rowland told CBD, adding the listener demographic was 70/30 in favour of women.
Plans to more than triple the size of a marina on Sydney Harbour for dozens of luxury vessels are facing vociferous opposition from lower north shore residents worried the multimillion-dollar redevelopment will block views of heritage-listed sites and privatise the public waterway.

At stake, local opponents say, is the effective alienation of the harbour, the safety of sailors who frequent the water, and prized vistas to and from heritage-listed Kellys Bush and Cockatoo Island.

Save Our Shores spokeswoman Beverley Bennett, far left, is among residents fighting the proposal. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Save Our Shores spokeswoman Beverley Bennett said more than 700 people had signed a petition condemning the plan to expand Woolwich Marina from 45 to 79 berths for private vessels up to 25 metres long  a more than three-fold increase in its footprint she said would create a wall of boats.

We want to preserve this area for the Sydney community and beyond, Bennett said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Israel of breaking international law by restricting the entry of aid into Gaza, while rebuffing calls within the party to quickly recognise Palestinian statehood.

The Israeli military has announced that airdrops of aid will begin in Gaza and humanitarian corridors will be established for United Nations convoys to deliver food after growing international condemnation over starvation in the beleaguered strip.

Albanese told the ABCs Insiders program on Sunday morning that quite clearly, it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered, which was a decision that Israel made in March.

Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity distribution point in the city of Gaza. Credit: Bloomberg

Albanese added that, while he is not a lawyer, he considers Israeli restrictions on food and other supplies entering Gaza as a breach of decency, humanity and morality.
Illegal tobacco sellers could face prison terms of up to seven years and forced shop closures under new laws to be introduced by the NSW government as it seeks to address Sydneys booming illicit cigarette trade.

The government flagged an overhaul of penalties for the sale of illegal tobacco last week, including new powers to evict retailers caught selling illegal tobacco or vapes. The bill will give NSW Health the power to issue short-term closure orders for businesses for 90 days and 12 months with a court order.

Health Minister Ryan Park has announced the Minns government will move tougher laws on illegal tobacco when parliament resumes next month. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The changes, which Health Minister Ryan Park described as the toughest in the country, include new maximum penalties of $1.5 million and seven years imprisonment for the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes. It will introduce similar penalties for possession of commercial quantities of the substances.

Landlords will be given powers to terminate leases when closure orders are in place and, on Sunday, Park said the government will begin consulting on possible laws to make it an offence for landlords to knowingly lease to illegal tobacco and vape suppliers.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli faces the most consequential report card of his 10-month rule this week when he receives the victims of crime statistics for the first six months since the passage of his governments signature Making Queensland Safer laws.

Crisafulli, who staked his premiership on reducing crime victim numbers in a pre-election leaders debate against then-premier Steven Miles last October, said he would meet with Queensland Police Commissioner Shane Chelepy on Monday morning to receive figures.

Youll see victim numbers, and then the year after, therell be less. And the year after, therell be less, he said on Sunday morning in the Lockyer Valley, at an announcement of an early intervention program for the region.

During an election debate last year, then-opposition leader David Crisafulli pledged to resign as premier if he could not reduce victim-of-crime numbers. Credit: Dan Peled / Brisbane Times

Thats my, my strong commitment to Queensland.
It was once Australias second-largest airline, ferrying more than 10 million passengers around the country every year before it collapsed into administration in 2001.

More than 20 years after its final flight, Ansett is making a comeback.

Melbourne-based technology entrepreneur Constantine Frantzeskos has revived the Ansett brand for consumers, bringing back the iconic Australian airline as an AI-powered travel agency.

Ansett had operated for 65 years before going into administration in 2001 and closing in 2002. Credit: Dallas Kilponen

The Ansett Travel platform, which is now live, is designed as a hyper-personalised travel concierge that will offer predictive trip recommendations and itineraries based on a customers preference, budget and calendar events.
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InspirationTrain journeys Like flying business, with better views: On board NZs thrilling scenic train Kerry van der Jagt July 28, 2025  5:00am Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

This article is part of Travellers Holiday Guide to train journeys. See all stories .

If you come aboard weighing 40 kilograms, youll step off looking like me, says our host Tiatoa Tia Kaitai, who could hold his own in an All Blacks lineup. We are going to feed you, and feed you, and feed you some more. Threat or promise, Im here for it. Launched in 2024 by Great Journeys New Zealand, the Scenic Plus experience is available on the Northern Explorers 10 hour and 40 minute journey from Auckland to Wellington (also operates in reverse, and on the TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific trains). The Northern Explorer on track between Auckland and Wellington. Featuring paddock-to-plate regionally-inspired cuisine, a curated selection of local wines and beers, and exclusive access to a dedicated carriage this is a fully-immersive, premium service. A bit like business class on a plane, but with better views and no chance of turbulence.

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With its Maori-inspired coiling bird design details, the signature carriage is more than just a fancy ride  its a work of art, as recognised by winning gold in the Spatial Design category of the 2024 Best Design Awards. Storytelling, flax weaving activities (on occasion), plus a commentary you can tune into through your own device add to a strong sense of place. Designed to accommodate just 56 passengers (theres also a dedicated, custom-built kitchen carriage tootling behind) the comfortable seating is arranged in intimate groups of four. Like the grand train journeys of old, its an opportunity to dress up a little, indulge a lot and mostly, to slow down. Business class food in the scenic car. Eighteen months earlier Id travelled solo on a similar route through the North Island, but now, in the lead up to a significant wedding anniversary, Ive returned in summer to share with my husband what I consider to be one of the most thrilling alpine landscapes on Earth. Like many, I had long assumed the South Island was New Zealands adventure hub, but the norths Ruapehu region  with its two major ski resorts  is a worthy, under-the-tourism-radar rival.

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We pull out of Aucklands Strand Station at 7.45am, the occasion marked with a selection of hot drinks (barista quality) and glazed pastries  a prelude to the feast ahead. A light breakfast of vanilla chia pudding topped with blueberries, kiwi fruit and coconut arrives as we cross the extinct volcanic cone of the Orakei Basin. The view from the train. Passing the fertile plains of Waikato  forever Hobbiton to Lord of the Rings fans  breakfast number two makes a surprise appearance  a wedge of fluffy frittata, plump beans in fresh tomato sauce and a rolled rasher of bacon, all paired with a generous top-up of Oyster Bay sparkling cuvee. I had naively assumed we had to choose between the two breakfast options, turns out we get both. Challenge accepted. While passengers have the option of adding a pre- or post- holiday package through Great Journeys New Zealand, were embracing the spirit of slow travel by stepping off in Taumarunui, taking the time to experience the volcanic heart of the Ruapehu region. A week later well get back on the train to complete the Scenic Plus service to Wellington. But will we have time for lunch before getting off? Its my husbands only concern.

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Tia makes sure we do, starting with a pre-lunch Church Road chardonnay, followed by rosemary and garlic sliced lamb served with quinoa salad and tzatziki. We even squeeze in a dessert of Whittakers dark chocolate and Wellington coffee mouse just before pulling into Taumarunui. After collecting our hire car, its a short drive to the Morero marae (meeting house), where Fiona Kahukura Hadley-Chase receives us with a Powhiri welcome. With my husband walking behind me we enter the marae as Hadley-Chase calls her first karanga, her voice as powerful as the volcanic forces that have shaped the land. Ancient Maori earthworks near Turangi. Alamy I dont understand the words, but I know she is paying respects to her ancestors, sharing her family lineage and speaking of her connection to the land. Finally, we press noses and foreheads together in a traditional hongi, exchanging breath as a symbol of unity. Hadley-Chase, who is also a Ruapehu District councillor, has just started Hinemaia Tours, offering visitors a way to engage with Maori culture in a personal and authentic way.

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Later, we paddle a section of the Whanganui River before hiking to the historical fortification of Te Porere Redoubt where Hadley-Chase shares hard truths about the 1869 battle that took place between government troops and Maori leader Te Kooti. A switchback on the Whanganui River. iStock Driving south to Ohakune, our stop for the next two nights, the landscape delivers a one-two-three punch. First, the craggy slopes of Mount Tongariro, then the perfect conical peak of Mount Ngauruhoe (stand-in for Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings) and finally, the towering presence of Mount Ruapehu, its broad shoulders still trimmed with snow. Forming the backbone of the dual Heritage-listed Tongariro National Park these mountains would be rockstars on any world stage, knowing they are active volcanoes adds an extra spark. In Ohakune I discover, in addition to their strong legs and hardy nature (a result of all that toiling up and down volcanoes) the people here also have a quirky side. Its the least youd expect from a town known as New Zealands carrot capital.

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From an afternoon stroll halted by a 7.5 metre carrot (all vegetables lead to Carrot Adventure Park) to our nights in a sustainable straw bale tiny house (Pumice Tiny), to a giant chocolate-eclair from Johnny Nations pastry shop (rumoured to sell 1100 eclairs daily), this is a community that hikes, bikes and skis to its own drum. Ohakune and its big carrot. Its here on the slopes of Mount Ruapehu that the iconic 232-kilometre, Mountains to Sea Nga Ara Tuhona Great Ride begins. Right on time (and sporting highly questionable fitness levels) we set out to hike a 12.8-kilometre section of the newly-opened Te Ara Mangawhero loop trail, which follows old tramping trails and parts of historic tramways. While new and expanded trails have the hikers and bikers cheering, snow enthusiasts are also smiling with the recent announcement of Pure Turoa as the new owners of the Turoa Ski Field. After a few marginal seasons (thanks COVID-19) sent the previous owners into voluntary administration, Pure Turoa has stepped in with the money and vision to reimagine Turoa as a versatile, year-round destination. We round out our days at Whakapapa Village on the northern slopes of Mount Ruapehu, a convenient base for accessing the Whakapapa Ski Field and the hiking trails of the Tongariro National Park. The 17.6 kilometre Tama Lakes track skirts lakes so startling they could be filled with sapphires, while the Sky Waka gondola delivers us to a high tea at 2020-metres.

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Hiking the Tongariro National Park. Back on the Northern Explorer the treats continue  a glass of bubbles to farewell Mount Ruapehu, an afternoon cheese platter while traversing a series of soaring viaducts and a nana nap through who-knows-where. We head to the open-air viewing carriage to enjoy the tight curves, short tunnels and horse-shoe bend of the Raurimu spiral. This remarkable feat of engineering, envisioned in 1898 by Robert West Holmes and completed a decade later, was designed so the North Island Main Trunk could navigate the dramatic height difference as it descends from the Central Plateau. Back in our seats the tinkle of the drinks trolley announces dinner. Roast chicken breast with cranberry pistachio stuffing served with rosemary rock salt potatoes is the perfect accompaniment to the vistas of the Rangitikei River (the Anduin River of Middle Earth). Finally, the Kapiti Coast, where the Northern Explorer traces the cliffs of what must be one of the most spectacular stretches of coastal railway anywhere in the world. The approach into Wellington delivers sumptuous views of Kapiti Island, a New Zealand berry cheesecake and a rousing farewell haka from Tia.

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If anyone needs help getting off  err, rolling off  Im here, he says, staying committed until the final whistle blows. THE DETAILS TRAIN

The Northern Explorer Scenic Plus from Auckland to Wellington (one way, one adult) costs $NZ569 ($515), including drinks and dining service, table service and luggage check-in and drop off. See greatjourneysnz.com STAY

The River Lodge is an ideal base for exploring the Turora Ski Field and Whanganui River. Mountain View chalets start from $NZ350 ($317) for two. See theriverlodge.co.nz TOUR

Hinemaia Tours offers bespoke Maori tours and packages. Look for Taumarunui i-site Visitor Information Centre at isite.nz

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FLY

Air New Zealand has daily flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Auckland. See airnewzealand.co.nz MORE

visitruapehu.com

greatjourneysnz.com The writer was a guest of Visit Ruapehu and Great Journeys New Zealand.

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We havent heard this much talk about the presidential anatomy since the other guy in the Jeffrey Epstein files was in the Oval Office.

President Donald Trump, a master at minimising others, is now being literally minimised on South Park by the crass and fearless creators of the cartoon.

South Park skewers Donald Trump and its own company shortly after signing a new deal with Paramount.

I could have told Trump that its best not to provoke brilliant satirists. I learned that lesson the hard way 20 years ago.

When I wrote Bushworld: Enter at Your Own Risk, about the tangled father and son saga that led to the invasion of Iraq, I wanted Pat Oliphant, a lacerating political cartoonist, to do the books cover.
BEIJING, July 25, 2025 -- With Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to hold economic and trade talks with the United States in Sweden later this month, the strength and resilience of the Chinese economy is in the limelight once again. This round of talks, mutually agreed upon by both nations, is not only a diplomatic engagement but also a testament to China's enduring economic vitality in a complex international environment.

Recent statistics underscore the robustness of China's economy. In the first half of 2025, the GDP grew by an impressive 5.3 percent year on year, surpassing market expectations despite global headwinds. This number reflects more than temporary growth; it exhibits the structural resilience and adaptability of an economy that continues to evolve and upgrade.

Domestic demand emerged as the cornerstone of growth, contributing 68.8 percent to GDP expansion in this period. Initiatives such as large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs have effectively stimulated spending, cushioning China's economy from external shocks.

In the first five months of 2025 alone, China's consumer goods trade-in program generated 1.1 trillion yuan ($153.1 billion) in sales, surpassing the figure for entire 2024. Boosted by the program, China's retail sales of consumer goods grew 5 percent year on year in the past six months  0.4 percentage point faster than the growth recorded in the first quarter.

While external uncertainties have introduced some pressure, China's trade diversification and the steady output of high-tech manufacturing and service industries have provided strong support to the economy.

Though China's trade with some Western countries declined, its trade with Belt and Road partners, ASEAN countries, the European Union, and African nations saw respective increases of 4.7 percent, 9.6 percent, 3.5 percent, and 14.4 percent in the first half of 2025. This expansion of trade relationships has helped China reduce its reliance on any one market, lessening the impact of some Western economies' protectionist policies.

China's resilience reverberates beyond its borders. As a crucial driver of global growth, China's steady economic performance boosts international market confidence and provides a stabilizing influence amid global uncertainties. Through continued focus on quality growth and opening up, China offers the international community a reliable engine for shared prosperity.

A recent report from the U.S.-China Business Council indicates that 82 percent of American companies operating in China turned a profit in 2024. Though many cited the uncertainties in China-U.S. relations and tariffs as their main worry, the Chinese market continues to be crucial for them.

Trade tensions pose obstacles, yet they have not crippled the resilience in the Chinese economy. The upcoming Beijing-Washington talks in Sweden demonstrate China's willingness to tackle differences via negotiations. While obstacles remain, China's ability to sustain growth, adapt to changing global landscapes, and engage constructively with international partners signals a future of shared opportunities and mutual advancement.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-07-25/How-China-s-economy-remains-vibrant-despite-U-S-tariff-war-1FikeNwhlo4/p.html

SOURCE CGTN
DNLU signs MoU with Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University Lucknow





Legal Correspondent :

The Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur, signs MoU with Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University Lucknow. DNLU, Jabalpur, renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and holistic legal education, has strengthened its institutional ties through a strategic collaboration. Adding to its series of partnerships with esteemed institutions, DNLU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University Lucknow.

This agreement aims to foster exchange programs for students and faculty, facilitate collaborative research and publications, and establish joint training and academic initiatives. Established in 2018 under the Madhya Pradesh Dharmashastra National Law University Act, 2018, DNLU is dedicated to advancing legal education and upholding constitutional values. The university is guided by an eminent leadership team, including Justice J.K. Maheshwari, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, as its Visitor; Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, as its Chancellor; Prof. (Dr) Manoj Kumar Sinha as its Vice-Chancellor; and Dr Praveen Tripathi as Registrar. DNLU offers diverse programs, including B.A. LL.B.

(Hons.), LL.M., and Ph.D. Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, was established by an Act of Govt. of Uttar Pradesh in 2005, U.P. Act No.28 of 2005 and came into being on 4th of January 2006 to meet up the new challenges in legal field and to strengthen the vision that was given by the establishment of first National Law School of the country. The University is run under the leadership of Prof. (Dr) Amar Pal Singh, its Vice-Chancellor, and Mr. Girijesh Kumar Tyagi, IAS as its Registrar. Prof. (Dr) Amar Pal Singh is a distinguished academician and administrator with nearly four decades of experience in legal education. Before joining as Vice Chancellor of Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), he served as Dean at the University School of Law and Legal Studies, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi. His professional journey spans 11 years in industry and 28 years in teaching and research.

He has taught at esteemed institutions such as Government Dungar College (Bikaner), National Law University (Jodhpur), RMLNLU (Lucknow), and GGSIP University (New Delhi). Prof. Singh has authored four books and published 62 papers in reputed national and international journals. He has also delivered over 200 invited lectures and presentations at academic and governmental institutions in India and abroad. The MoU was formally signed on July 23, 2025, by Prof. (Dr) Manoj Kumar Sinha and Prof. (Dr) Amar Pal Singh at signing ceremony held at the DNLU Jabalpur campus. This collaboration seeks to leverage the strengths of both institutions in capacity building, education, and research in the legal field. The agreement envisions exchange programs for students and faculty, collaborative research projects, and joint academic events such as seminars, conferences, and moot court competitions.
Dynast in Delhi, Bittu in Cgarh

Dynast in Delhi, Bittu in Cgarh

In a blistering political salvo ahead of Sachin Pilots Chhattisgarh visit, BJP legislator Purandar Misra tore into the Congress party, branding its state-wide protest against the ED as a family-centric gimmick shielding the former Chief Ministers son, not the people of Chhattisgarh.

A dynast in Delhi, and Bittu in Chhattisgarh-is this the future Congress wants to show the nation? Misra asked, questioning the core political values of Indias grand old party. Referring to the liquor scam probe, Misra said the Congresss so-called economic blockade was less about public interest and more about rescuing Bhupesh Baghels son, who has been arrested by the ED for allegedly laundering Rs 16.70 crore into real estate from a Rs 1,000 crore corruption trail. Shockingly, this protest wasnt about any ideology or public welfare-it was a desperate PR exercise for a leaders family member who doesnt even hold any post in the party, Misra remarked. Accusing the Congress of eroding its own legacy, the BJP MLA quipped,

A 140-year-old party now reduces itself to family protectionism-nothing could be more tragic. He also took a direct swipe at Pilot, saying his presence in Chhattisgarh was only to validate this very family-centric politics. Is this how you serve Bharat? he asked rhetorically. Misra further alleged that Congress hired labourers on daily wages to create a crowd for its blockade but failed to pay them. Some of them later created a ruckus over unpaid dues. At the very least, Sachin Pilot should ensure theyre paid, he said. He called the entire spectacle a political farce, asserting that the Congresss loyalty now lies with individuals, not the public.
HC notice to DIG Admin, SP Janjgir





Staff Reporter :

Raipur :

Bilaspur :

, July 26 The Chhattisgarh High Court has issued notices to Deputy Inspector General of Police (Administration) Parul Mathur and Superintendent of Police, Janjgir, Vijay Pandey in a contempt petition over non-compliance with its order on compassionate appointment. The petition, filed by Vikki Bharti of Ward No. 16, Pamgarh, through Advocate Abhishek Pandey, draws the courts attention to the State

Home Departments earlier reversal of a compulsory retirement order issued to Bhartis deceased father. The High Court had ruled that the petitioner was entitled to a compassionate job. However, despite the lapse of the 90-day compliance period, the appointment was not made. Advocates Abhishek Pandey and Priya Agrawal submitted that such delays by senior police officers are contributing to a growing number of contempt petitions. As per records, 1,149 contempt matters are pending before the Bilaspur Bench, resulting in significant judicial time being diverted to enforcement rather than adjudication.
ICAI Nagpur hosts seminar on AI





Business Reporter :

The Nagpur Branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (WIRC) hosted a seminar on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the CA Profession recently at Vanamati on VIP Road. The event received an overwhelming response from the CA fraternity, with more than 500 members in attendance - underscoring the growing interest in integrating AI into professional practice. At the outset, CA Dinesh Rathi, Chairman of ICAI Nagpur Branch,

emphasized the pivotal role of emerging technologies. The inaugural session was conducted by CA Swaroopa Wazalwar, Vice Chairperson of the branch. CA Jitendra Saglani, in his brief remarks emphasized that AI is a companion of Chartered Accountants and not the threat. Gracing the occasion as

chief guest, CA Ketan Saiya, Chairman of WIRC, lauded the branch for proactively engaging with futuristic subjects and urged members to embrace AI tools as vital allies in enhancing quality, efficiency, and client service. The guests of honour, CA Piyush Chandak, Vice Chairman  WIRC, CA Jeenal Savla, Secretary  WIRC, and CA (Dr.) Fenil Shah, Treasurer  WIRC), also addressed the gathering.
MPs MBBS in Hindi initiative faces lukewarm response from students!





Staff Reporter :

Despite repeated praise from Madhya Pradesh Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla over the States push to make MBBS education more accessible through Hindi, the ground reality tells a more complex story. While the initiative was launched with the intention of easing the learning curve for medical students from Hindi-medium backgrounds, students and experts alike are expressing growing concerns about its practicality, especially in a profession where English remains the global standard. Launched in 2022, Madhya Pradesh became the first state in India to introduce MBBS textbooks in Hindi.

The move was hailed as historic by the State Government, aiming to democratise medical education and bridge linguistic barriers for students from rural and non-English backgrounds. Nearly three years after its launch, the Hindi-medium MBBS program has seen limited acceptance among students, with most continuing to study and write exams in English. At Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal, one of the premier government medical colleges in the State, faculty members and students report that the majority still choose to study and write exams in English. Dr Rakesh Malviye, President of the Madhya Pradesh Medical Teachers Association, and a senior faculty member at GMC Bhopal, shared, We have more than 700 MBBS students at GMC,

but I have not come across a single exam copy written in Hindi. While the university claims 1015% of students are writing answers in Hindi, there is no formal system to track language preference until answer sheets are evaluated. In my experience, I havent received any such paper in Hindi. The Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, the affiliating body for medical colleges in the State, maintains that some students are indeed studying in Hindi. However, students themselves remain sceptical. Speaking anonymously, several medical students pointed out that medical terminology in English is more precise and easier to grasp than its Hindi translations, which often feel forced or overly complex. One student remarked,

Terms like myocardial infarction are universally understood. Its Hindi translation not only sounds alien but also makes it harder to connect with international literature or even standard national textbooks. Another concern is about career progression. While MBBS in Hindi may be feasible at the undergraduate level, students worry about postgraduate medical education (MD/MS), which is conducted entirely in English. NEET-PG is a national exam. We may get a seat in South India, Maharashtra, or West Bengal, places where Hindi isnt used at all in academics or clinical practice, a student said. If our foundation in English is weak, well lag behind in PG studies. Experts also point out the sheer volume and complexity of postgraduate medical education make translation into Hindi extremely difficult, if not impractical. Unlike MBBS, which has limited core subjects,

PG courses involve niche specialisations with vast international literature, frequent updates, and research papers, almost all in English. Interestingly, some students credit Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT and translation apps for helping bridge the language gap. With AI, we can translate any concept instantly and clarify doubts. Thats why sticking to English makes more sense, its already the global standard, and now its easier to understand than ever, said a second-year student from GMC. While the Government continues to push Hindi in medical education as a symbol of regional pride and accessibility, on the ground, students are making decisions based on long-term career viability and global relevance.
Sagar: Four of a family in Tehar village commit suicide by consuming sulphas





Our Correspondent :

SAGAR : A case of four people committing suicide has come to light at a house on a farm in Tehar village under Rural Police Station of Khurai Tehsil of Sagar district. The incident is said to have taken place on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. The reason for the suicide is not yet clear, the police has started investigating the case. It was revealed that the family members had consumed sulphas. According to the information, Manohar Lodhi (45) was living at a farm house near Tehar village with his mother Phoolrani (70), daughter Shivani (18) and son Aniket (16). His wife had gone to her parents house a few days ago. On Friday night, Manohar's brother, who also lives on the upper floor, rushed down after hearing the sound of vomiting.

He saw the whole family vomiting and informed other family members. The police was immediately called and with the help of the villagers, everyone were taken to the hospital. During this, Phoolrani and Aniket died on the spot. Shivani passed away at Khurai hospital, while Manohar died on the way to the district hospital. Manohar's brother Nandram told that his brother lives on the second floor of the house built in the field.

At night, after hearing the sound of loud coughing from downstairs, he went and saw the whole family was vomiting. He immediately informed the people around. Manohar and Shivani were taken to hospital, while mother Phoolrani and Aniket had died on the spot. Later Shivani died in the civil hospital and brother Manohar died on the way while being taken to the district hospital. Deceased Manohar has three more brothers. One brother who is intellectually disabled lives with Manohar in the house built on the field. At the same time, two brothers live in the village. Govind, Jagdish and Nandram were three brothers and Manohar was the youngest among them. Intellectually disabled Jagdish lived with his brother Manohar in the house built in the field, he is not married.

Son Aniket was a student of 9th standard while his daughter Shivani was studying in the first year of college. Manohar was a prosperous farmer of the village, he had 3 acres of land in which he had planted soybean crop. In such a situation, why did he committed suicide. Khurai Urban Police Station In-charge, Yogendra Singh Dangi said that four members of a family have committed suicide by consuming poisonous substance. In the primary investigation, the poisonous substance seems to be sulphas. The reason for suicide can be family related. Postmortem of the bodies is being done and after this, statements of the family will be taken.
Staff Reporter :

Raipur :

Amid mounting concerns over unchecked urban encroachment, the Chhattisgarh State Wetland Authority (CSWA) has ordered an investigation into suspected violations at the Narhaeswar Wetland locally known as Narhaiya Talab-in Tikrapara, Raipur. The Authority has directed the District Collector, who also heads the District Wetland Conservation Committee, to initiate an immediate probe and report whether the proposed developments breach the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules,

The Hitavada, the CSWA reiterated that any breach may attract action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, including five years of imprisonment or a fine up to Rs 1 lakh-or both. The action comes in response to a detailed complaint filed by ENT specialist and social activist Dr Rakesh Gupta on May 15, 2025. In his letter, Dr Gupta raised alarm over the Raipur Municipal Corporations plan to construct a toy train track along the banks of the Narhaeswar Wetland. Even before official approval, the Corporation has begun removing previously laid paver blocks to make way for a permanent rail track-clearly violating wetland regulations, he wrote.

Citing Rule 4 of the 2017 Wetlands Rules, which prohibits any permanent construction within 50 metres of the highest recorded flood level since December 2000, Dr Gupta underscored that even the existing pavers-laid inside the buffer zone-were themselves illegal. Such permanent activities severely degrade the wetlands ecological character, he warned. Crucially, the Narhaeswar Wetland spans over 2.25 hectares, thus falling under the purview of the Supreme Courts 2017 directive for strict conservation enforcement. Dr Gupta also accused the district administration of persistent inaction. He pointed out that despite a statewide directive issued on May 8, 2023, asking the Collector to survey all waterbodies in Raipur district, only one-Karbala Talab-has been surveyed so far. The delay is deliberate. The administration is either shielding those responsible or showing utter disregard for

environmental compliance, he told this newspaper reporter. He further cited the case of Sendh and Jhanjh wetlands in Naya Raipur, where violations eventually led to a CSWA directive to file a formal court complaint under the Environment Protection Act. Had the Collector acted swiftly on Narhaeswar too, irreversible ecological damage could have been prevented, Dr Gupta asserted. Environmental experts say wetlands play a crucial role in

groundwater recharge, flood control, and biodiversity support. Construction within their buffer zones not only violates statutory protections but also endangers urban resilience. Activists argue that the proposed toy train track, if laid, would fragment the natural habitat, affect migratory birds, and permanently alter the floodplains hydrological profile. The CSWA has now asked the Collector to verify on-ground conditions in accordance with Rule 4 and keep the Authority informed. The Supreme Court is currently monitoring wetland conservation enforcement across India under suo motu proceedings, adding gravity to the dire
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ reduced its position in Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) by 0.2% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 110,265 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 234 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Aflac were worth $12,260,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Private Management Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac in the first quarter valued at approximately $202,000. Caliber Wealth Management LLC KS acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac during the first quarter worth $242,000. Elefante Mark B acquired a new stake in shares of Aflac during the first quarter worth $200,000. Nicholas Wealth LLC. lifted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 0.5% during the first quarter. Nicholas Wealth LLC. now owns 73,320 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,152,000 after purchasing an additional 342 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 1.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 252,363 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $28,060,000 after purchasing an additional 2,475 shares during the period. 67.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group increased 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. Piper Sandler increased 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. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Aflac from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Aflac from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Raymond James Financial cut their price objective on Aflac from $115.00 to $110.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Three equities research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $108.15.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.79, for a total value of $106,790.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 26,096 shares in the company, valued at $2,786,791.84. This trade represents a 3.69% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 37,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the transaction, the director owned 70,992 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,496,045.28. This represents a 34.26% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 40,750 shares of company stock worth $4,304,295 over the last 90 days. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Aflac Trading Up 0.9%

Shares of AFL stock opened at $103.40 on Friday. Aflac Incorporated has a fifty-two week low of $94.03 and a fifty-two week high of $115.50. The stock has a market cap of $55.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.16, a P/E/G ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.81. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $103.04 and a 200-day simple moving average of $105.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.09, a current ratio of 0.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.67 by ($0.01). Aflac had a net margin of 21.27% and a return on equity of 15.55%. The firm had revenue of $3.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.53 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.66 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 37.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Aflac Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 21st were given a $0.58 dividend. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 21st. Aflacs dividend payout ratio is currently 36.25%.

Aflac Profile

(Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

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Shares of American Integrity Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:AII  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $21.50.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on AII shares. Piper Sandler started coverage on shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. They set an overweight rating and a $20.00 target price for the company. Wall Street Zen raised shares of American Integrity Insurance Group to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Raymond James Financial began coverage on shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in a report on Monday, June 2nd. They issued an outperform rating and a $20.00 price target for the company. William Blair began coverage on shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in a research report on Friday, June 6th. They set an outperform rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on shares of American Integrity Insurance Group in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. They set an outperform rating for the company.

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American Integrity Insurance Group Stock Down 1.1%

AII stock opened at $17.32 on Tuesday. American Integrity Insurance Group has a 52-week low of $15.77 and a 52-week high of $19.45. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $17.15.

American Integrity Insurance Group (NYSE:AII  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, June 9th. The company reported $292.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.92 by $290.13. The firm had revenue of $71.87 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $71.89 million.

About American Integrity Insurance Group

(Get Free Report

We are a profitable and growing insurance group headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Through our insurance carrier subsidiary, American Integrity Insurance Company of Florida, Inc (AIICFL), we provide personal residential property insurance for single-family homeowners and condominium owners as well as coverage for vacant dwellings and investment properties, predominantly in Florida.

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BankUnited, Inc. (NYSE:BKU  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the eleven brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $41.18.

A number of brokerages have weighed in on BKU. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on BankUnited in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. They issued a hold rating and a $39.00 target price on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on BankUnited from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Wall Street Zen upgraded BankUnited from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on BankUnited from $40.00 to $38.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on BankUnited from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday.

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Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other news, CFO Leslie Lunak sold 22,776 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.56, for a total value of $764,362.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 59,899 shares in the company, valued at $2,010,210.44. This trade represents a 27.55% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, Director John N. Digiacomo sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.43, for a total value of $34,430.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 14,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $499,785.88. The trade was a 6.44% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Company insiders own 1.15% of the companys stock.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Yousif Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of BankUnited by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 27,917 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $994,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares during the period. CWM LLC lifted its stake in shares of BankUnited by 24.3% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 9,278 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $330,000 after purchasing an additional 1,814 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of BankUnited by 7.9% in the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 16,262 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $579,000 after purchasing an additional 1,184 shares during the period. Inspire Investing LLC increased its position in BankUnited by 11.3% during the 2nd quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 11,158 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $397,000 after buying an additional 1,136 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Maryland State Retirement & Pension System increased its position in BankUnited by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 22,104 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $787,000 after buying an additional 304 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.70% of the companys stock.

BankUnited Stock Performance

Shares of BKU opened at $38.47 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $35.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $35.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.28 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84. BankUnited has a 52-week low of $28.21 and a 52-week high of $44.45.

BankUnited (NYSE:BKU  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The financial services provider reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.79 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $273.93 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $267.17 million. BankUnited had a return on equity of 9.00% and a net margin of 13.19%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.72 EPS. Research analysts forecast that BankUnited will post 3.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

BankUnited Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 11th will be paid a $0.31 dividend. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 11th. BankUniteds payout ratio is presently 38.51%.

About BankUnited

(Get Free Report

BankUnited, Inc operates as the bank holding company for BankUnited, a national banking association that provides a range of banking services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, such as checking, money market deposit, and savings accounts; certificates of deposit; and treasury, commercial payment, and cash management services.

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Angeles Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Free Report) by 10.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,124 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. were worth $388,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AJG. HWG Holdings LP purchased a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 81.7% in the 4th quarter. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 109 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 205.4% in the 4th quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. now owns 113 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Parvin Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Centennial Bank AR bought a new stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the first quarter valued at approximately $38,000. 85.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Price Performance

NYSE:AJG opened at $315.15 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $80.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.61 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.44. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $322.82 and a 200-day simple moving average of $322.73. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 1 year low of $267.00 and a 1 year high of $351.23.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Dividend Announcement

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. ( NYSE:AJG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The financial services provider reported $3.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.57 by $0.10. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 14.83% and a net margin of 14.39%. The company had revenue of $3.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.85 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.45 earnings per share. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 20th. Investors of record on Friday, June 6th were issued a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 6th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s payout ratio is 37.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on AJG. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $346.00 to $327.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $266.00 to $265.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $372.00 to $371.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $326.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Wednesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $322.31.

View Our Latest Stock Report on AJG

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. news, insider Susan E. Pietrucha sold 13,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $344.13, for a total transaction of $4,645,755.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 11,941 shares in the company, valued at $4,109,256.33. The trade was a 53.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Scott R. Hudson sold 10,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $337.17, for a total value of $3,540,285.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 91,175 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,741,474.75. The trade was a 10.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 25,000 shares of company stock valued at $8,528,080 in the last ninety days. 1.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

(Free Report)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations.

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What it means to be a woman in medicine today

At first glance, medical school can be simplified to drinking from a fire hose. Endless Anki cards, color-coded notes, iPads filled with diagrams.

Cramming and regurgitation, funny acronyms and mnemonics. Obscure conditions. Buzzwords.

It feels like memorizing a ton of conditions and running through the routine steps of diagnosis, treatment, management, clinical investigations, and so on  until you can recite them in your sleep.

Youre buried in biochemical pathways, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, later replaced by best-practice guidelines and clinical decision flowcharts.

Our self-worth often hinges on exam scores, or how well we manage to stand out to whoever is teaching us  or how quickly we can build our CV for the next step in this never-ending journey.

We romanticize our way through the process, convincing ourselves that if we can just get to the next step, well finally be a woman in medicine.

Most of us entered medicine with a spark  a desire to serve, to heal, to make meaning out of suffering. As individuals we have made great sacrifice for this path while also holding in our hands the privilege it is to take care of others in this way. Our families too have sacrificed for this dream we have held so tightly for most of our lives.

Then you get into real medicine  and its nothing like textbook learning. Its art, intuition, and logic.

Its evidence-based science, but also experience-based instinct.

Its failure, some days.

We imagined helping others, not racing against broken systems.

There are so many different types of physicians.

Some are teachers.

Some are quiet cheerleaders.

Some are good listeners.

Some are not.

How can we feel like we are ever so different, yet ever so the same?

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Theres space for many kinds of strengths  and room for weakness. That, I am still learning.

I find myself drawn to so many women doctors  not just for their clinical skills, but for the way they carry themselves through life: with grace, simplicity, fire, intelligence, command, and softness.

I look for mentorship from women who have it all, and hope to become that kind of mentor someday.

But the myth of having it all often feels like the root of anxiety and sleepless nights in this life weve chosen.

Can I free myself from that?

We as women are hard on ourselves.

The world often is, too.

Some environments still make it harder for women to be fully seen and heard. We are still asked first if were the nurse in the room.

If a male doctor is in the room, hes more likely to be addressed first.

And yet  we keep showing up.

We show up while pregnant.

We show up after being up all night with a newborn.

We show up even when our own personal lives feel like theyre unraveling  the loss of a parent, or a struggling friend.

Some of us are mothers.

Some of us are not.

But all of us  at some point  face the loneliness of this path.

The moments no one sees. The quiet ache of carrying so much and still feeling like its never quite enough.

We carry the weight of taking care of others  while also trying to take care of ourselves. We hold what sometimes feels like an endless reserve of empathy  but we are human, too.

We cry and we laugh late at night on call.

We feel deeply and sometimes not at all for survival. We hit our limits  and we push our limits.

Sometimes, we dont love the culture we work in.

Sometimes egos and narcissism dominate spaces that should be about healing.

Some chase titles.

Some choose prestige.

Some do it because they are the best people I know  the kind of people I want taking care of my loved ones.

Who are we really to judge?

And sometimes, we are simply unsure  wondering if we are enough.

When we see injustice in the world, we can grow jaded. But somehow, we always return to our softness.

To the core of why we chose this path.

There are days when the documenting, the politics, the insurance barriers, the endless clicking of orders makes us question it all.

And then there are days when the hours disappear  because the only thing that matters is the patient in front of us, or the problem waiting to be solved.

We are wells of knowledge.

And yet, many of us constantly feel like we dont know enough.

We keep learning. We stay aware of the limits of our knowledge  and of our field. We are drawn to a profession shaped by uncertainty, always evolving.

Some of us may be perfectionists.

We may be difficult partners at times.

We may feel empty on certain days  like what we give our lives to doesnt always give back.

Our to-do lists are never-ending.

And we know, too, that not all women experience medicine the same way.

Race, culture, identity  and the intersections we carry  shape how we are seen, heard, and treated, and how we survive this work.

But we come back  not because were unbreakable.

Not because we must.

We come back because we love fiercely.

And that love is its own kind of power.

It changes the room.

It changes the culture.

And one day, it will change what it means to be a woman in medicine  for those who come next.

Annie M. Trumbull is a medical student in Australia.
Angeles Wealth Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 34.8% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 2,118 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,131 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $236,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in NVS. Castlekeep Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Novartis in the 4th quarter worth about $109,739,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Novartis by 14,376.4% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 727,296 shares of the companys stock valued at $81,079,000 after buying an additional 722,272 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in Novartis by 23.1% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,132,591 shares of the companys stock valued at $207,522,000 after buying an additional 399,862 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in shares of Novartis by 16.0% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,668,849 shares of the companys stock worth $259,706,000 after purchasing an additional 368,171 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Coleford Investment Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Novartis during the 4th quarter worth approximately $13,824,000. Institutional investors own 13.12% of the companys stock.

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Novartis Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:NVS opened at $117.62 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $117.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $111.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.62. Novartis AG has a one year low of $96.06 and a one year high of $124.83. The company has a market cap of $248.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.12, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.59.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The company reported $2.42 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.38 by $0.04. Novartis had a net margin of 25.64% and a return on equity of 41.08%. The firm had revenue of $14.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.94 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.97 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 8.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Separately, BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Novartis to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Novartis has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $123.67.

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About Novartis

(Free Report)

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report).

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Motco lessened its stake in Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC) by 57.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,584 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 4,917 shares during the period. Motcos holdings in Bank of America were worth $150,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gradient Investments LLC increased its position in Bank of America by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 696,416 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,061,000 after acquiring an additional 50,296 shares during the period. Employees Retirement System of Texas increased its position 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 valued at $69,640,000 after acquiring an additional 17,880 shares during the period. Prosperity Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Bank of America in the 1st quarter valued at about $998,000. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC increased its position in Bank of America by 37.2% in the 1st quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC now owns 65,038 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,714,000 after acquiring an additional 17,619 shares during the period. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its position in Bank of America by 170.5% in the 1st quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 238,473 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $9,951,000 after acquiring an additional 150,299 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.71% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on BAC shares. Argus dropped their target price on 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. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Bank of America from $46.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 10th. HSBC cut Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $47.00 to $51.00 in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Phillip Securities upgraded Bank of America from a moderate buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Baird R W cut Bank of America from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, June 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $50.03.

Bank of America Price Performance

BAC stock opened at $48.47 on Friday. Bank of America Corporation has a 1 year low of $33.06 and a 1 year high of $49.31. The firm has a market cap of $365.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.17, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 1.30. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $45.91 and its 200 day moving average price is $43.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.80.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $0.89 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.86 by $0.03. Bank of America had a return on equity of 10.25% and a net margin of 14.81%. The company had revenue of ($22,273.00) million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $26.79 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.83 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Bank of America Corporation will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Wednesday, July 23rd that allows the company to buyback $40.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 11.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Bank of America Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 5th will be paid a dividend of $0.28 per share. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.31%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 5th. This is a positive change from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 30.41%.

About Bank of America

(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.

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Bedel Financial Consulting Inc. bought a new stake in Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:VO  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $456,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VO. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF by 175.9% during the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,338 shares of the companys stock worth $349,000 after purchasing an additional 853 shares in the last quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF by 59.2% during the 4th quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 14,095 shares of the companys stock worth $3,723,000 after purchasing an additional 5,241 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF by 459.2% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,787 shares of the companys stock worth $1,238,000 after purchasing an additional 3,931 shares in the last quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Woodmont Investment Counsel LLC now owns 90,115 shares of the companys stock worth $23,306,000 after purchasing an additional 1,416 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Beirne Wealth Consulting Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Beirne Wealth Consulting Services LLC now owns 28,243 shares of the companys stock worth $7,305,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares in the last quarter.

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Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF Price Performance

Shares of VO stock opened at $289.77 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $276.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is $267.51. The firm has a market cap of $87.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.50 and a beta of 1.08. Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF has a one year low of $223.65 and a one year high of $289.84.

Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF Company Profile

Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF is an exchange-traded fund. Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund seeks to track the performance of the MSCI US Mid Cap 450 Index representing medium-size United States firms. The portfolio holds all stocks in the same capitalization weighting as the index. The Vanguard Group, Inc, through its Quantitative Equity Group, serves as the investment advisor of the Fund.

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Bedel Financial Consulting Inc. increased its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 6.4% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 397 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the period. Bedel Financial Consulting Inc.s holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $218,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,584,202 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $3,761,576,000 after buying an additional 161,500 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 63,864.7% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,976,684 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $2,172,423,000 after purchasing an additional 3,970,467 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 23.7% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,586,348 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $2,053,614,000 after purchasing an additional 687,711 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 15.0% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,292,679 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $1,885,454,000 after purchasing an additional 428,502 shares during the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the first quarter worth about $1,766,238,000. 71.21% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at The Goldman Sachs Group

In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, EVP John F.W. Rogers sold 6,008 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $717.39, for a total transaction of $4,310,079.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 65,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,176,283.79. This represents a 8.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 7,463 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $724.40, for a total value of $5,406,197.20. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 18,594 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,469,493.60. The trade was a 28.64% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 20,079 shares of company stock valued at $14,423,221 over the last quarter. 0.55% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

Shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock opened at $728.63 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $657.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $605.76. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $437.37 and a 12 month high of $729.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $223.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.06, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The investment management company reported $10.91 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.82 by $1.09. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 13.84% and a net margin of 12.37%. The business had revenue of $14.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.53 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $8.62 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be issued a dividend of $4.00 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This represents a $16.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.20%. This is a boost from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $3.00. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 26.44%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Daiwa America lowered The Goldman Sachs Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, April 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $625.00 to $614.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Barclays dropped their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $760.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wall Street Zen raised The Goldman Sachs Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, July 12th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Thursday, July 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $660.00.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on GS

About The Goldman Sachs Group

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.

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ServiceNow, Super Micro Computer, Salesforce, Accenture, C3.ai, Tempus AI, and BigBear.ai are the seven Artificial Intelligence stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Artificial intelligence stocks are shares of publicly traded companies that develop, implement, or provide products and services driven by AI technologiessuch as machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. By buying these stocks, investors gain exposure to firms expected to benefit from the rapid expansion of AI applications across sectors like software, hardware, cloud computing, and robotics. While AI stocks offer the potential for strong growth, they also carry risks tied to technological shifts, competition, and regulatory changes. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Artificial Intelligence stocks within the last several days.

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ServiceNow (NOW)

ServiceNow, Inc. provides end to-end intelligent workflow automation platform solutions for digital businesses in the North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Now platform for end-to-end digital transformation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, process mining, performance analytics, and collaboration and development tools.

Shares of NYSE:NOW traded up $35.87 during trading on Thursday, hitting $992.30. The stock had a trading volume of 2,203,474 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,681,475. ServiceNow has a 12 month low of $678.66 and a 12 month high of $1,198.09. The company has a quick ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The company has a market capitalization of $205.39 billion, a PE ratio of 134.88, a PEG ratio of 4.41 and a beta of 0.94. The firms fifty day moving average is $1,002.51 and its 200 day moving average is $954.31.

Read Our Latest Research Report on NOW

Super Micro Computer (SMCI)

Super Micro Computer, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops and manufactures high performance server and storage solutions based on modular and open architecture in the United States, Europe, Asia, and internationally. Its solutions range from complete server, storage systems, modular blade servers, blades, workstations, full racks, networking devices, server sub-systems, server management software, and security software.

SMCI traded up $0.37 on Thursday, hitting $52.07. The company had a trading volume of 17,242,489 shares, compared to its average volume of 57,291,520. Super Micro Computer has a 12-month low of $17.25 and a 12-month high of $73.00. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $45.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $39.66. The company has a market cap of $31.08 billion, a PE ratio of 27.39, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a quick ratio of 3.95, a current ratio of 6.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

Read Our Latest Research Report on SMCI

Salesforce (CRM)

Salesforce, Inc. provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and artificial intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer support at scale.

Shares of NYSE CRM traded down $1.25 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $265.97. The stock had a trading volume of 1,733,917 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,144,094. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The firm has a market cap of $254.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.36. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $268.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $285.09. Salesforce has a 52-week low of $230.00 and a 52-week high of $369.00.

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Accenture (ACN)

Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

Shares of ACN stock traded down $4.56 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $281.48. 1,166,617 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,349,774. The stocks 50 day moving average is $304.11 and its 200-day moving average is $323.36. The company has a market cap of $176.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.41, a P/E/G ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. Accenture has a fifty-two week low of $273.19 and a fifty-two week high of $398.35.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ACN

C3.ai (AI)

C3.ai, Inc. operates as an enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) software company in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company provides C3 AI platform, an application development and runtime environment that enables customers to design, develop, and deploy enterprise AI applications; C3 AI Ex Machina for analysis-ready data; C3 AI CRM, an industry specific customer relationship management solution; and C3 Generative AI Product Suite that enables to locate, retrieve, and present information.

NYSE:AI traded down $2.81 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $26.35. The companys stock had a trading volume of 11,177,092 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,272,008. The businesss fifty day moving average is $25.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $25.58. C3.ai has a 1 year low of $17.03 and a 1 year high of $45.08. The stock has a market cap of $3.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.72 and a beta of 1.99.

Read Our Latest Research Report on AI

Tempus AI (TEM)

Tempus AI Inc. is a technology company advancing precision medicine through the practical application of artificial intelligence principally in healthcare. The company provides AI-enabled precision medicine solutions to physicians to deliver personalized patient care and in parallel facilitates discovery, development and delivery of optimal therapeutics.

TEM stock traded down $1.68 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $63.18. The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,424,325 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,729,942. The companys 50 day moving average is $62.81 and its two-hundred day moving average is $56.18. The stock has a market cap of $10.94 billion and a PE ratio of -8.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.45. Tempus AI has a fifty-two week low of $31.36 and a fifty-two week high of $91.45.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TEM

BigBear.ai (BBAI)

BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. provides artificial intelligence-powered decision intelligence solutions. It offers national security, supply chain management, and digital identity and biometrics solutions. The company also provides data ingestion, data enrichment, data processing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, predictive analytics, and predictive visualization solutions and services.

BigBear.ai stock traded down $0.07 during trading on Thursday, hitting $7.86. The company had a trading volume of 35,139,667 shares, compared to its average volume of 89,094,305. The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. BigBear.ai has a 1-year low of $1.16 and a 1-year high of $10.36. The stock has a market cap of $2.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.06 and a beta of 3.46. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $5.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $4.52.

Read Our Latest Research Report on BBAI

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Quanta Services, Southern, Bank of New York Mellon, Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras, TMC the metals, Rockwell Automation, and Equinor ASA are the seven Renewable Energy stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Renewable energy stocks are shares of companies involved in producing power from sustainable sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and biomass. Investors buy these equities to participate in the growth of the clean-energy sector, which is driven by environmental policies, technological innovation and rising global demand for low-carbon power. These stocks can include manufacturers of renewable technologies, project developers and operators of renewable power facilities. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Renewable Energy stocks within the last several days.

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Quanta Services (PWR)

Quanta Services, Inc. provides infrastructure solutions for the electric and gas utility, renewable energy, communications, and pipeline and energy industries in the United States, Canada, Australia, and internationally. The companys Electric Power Infrastructure Solutions segment engages in the design, procurement, construction, upgrade, repair, and maintenance of electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure and substation facilities; installation, maintenance, and upgrade of electric power infrastructure projects; installation of smart grid technologies on electric power networks; and design, installation, maintenance, and repair of commercial and industrial wirings.

Shares of PWR stock traded up $4.42 on Thursday, hitting $409.53. 409,396 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,426,477. The firm has a market cap of $60.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 66.05, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.08. Quanta Services has a 52 week low of $227.08 and a 52 week high of $410.79. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $365.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $314.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.31 and a quick ratio of 1.26.

Read Our Latest Research Report on PWR

Southern (SO)

The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations.

Shares of SO stock traded up $0.09 on Thursday, hitting $95.22. 1,639,986 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,117,893. The firm has a market cap of $104.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.71, a PEG ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.38. Southern has a 52 week low of $80.46 and a 52 week high of $96.44. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $90.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $88.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.65.

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Bank of New York Mellon (BK)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

Shares of BK stock traded up $1.16 on Thursday, hitting $100.79. 1,496,199 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,314,638. The firm has a market cap of $72.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.38, a PEG ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.07. Bank of New York Mellon has a 52 week low of $60.93 and a 52 week high of $101.03. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $91.53 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $85.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.69.

Read Our Latest Research Report on BK

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras (PBR)

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras explores, produces, and sells oil and gas in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Exploration and Production; Refining, Transportation and Marketing; and Gas and Power. The Exploration and Production segment explores, develops, and produces crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas primarily for supplies to the domestic refineries.

Shares of NYSE:PBR traded down $0.06 on Thursday, reaching $12.60. The companys stock had a trading volume of 11,563,420 shares, compared to its average volume of 20,688,650. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras has a 52-week low of $11.03 and a 52-week high of $15.73. The company has a market cap of $81.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.39 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $12.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of $12.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.72.

Read Our Latest Research Report on PBR

TMC the metals (TMC)

TMC the metals company Inc., a deep-sea minerals exploration company, focuses on the collection, processing, and refining of polymetallic nodules found on the seafloor in California. It primarily explores for nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese products. The company holds exploration and commercial rights in three polymetallic nodule contract areas in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean.

Shares of TMC stock traded up $0.54 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $8.17. 12,916,569 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,035,940. TMC the metals has a 12-month low of $0.72 and a 12-month high of $8.63. The companys 50-day moving average price is $5.73 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -35.49 and a beta of 1.57.

Read Our Latest Research Report on TMC

Rockwell Automation (ROK)

Rockwell Automation, Inc. provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The company operates through three segments, Intelligent Devices, Software & Control, and Lifecycle Services. Its solutions include hardware and software products and services.

Shares of ROK stock traded up $1.74 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $359.73. 272,217 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 922,289. Rockwell Automation has a 12-month low of $215.00 and a 12-month high of $360.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The companys 50-day moving average price is $327.76 and its 200-day moving average price is $288.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 1.38.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ROK

Equinor ASA (EQNR)

Equinor ASA, an energy company, engages in the exploration, production, transportation, refining, and marketing of petroleum and other forms of energy in Norway and internationally. It operates through Exploration & Production Norway; Exploration & Production International; Exploration & Production USA; Marketing, Midstream & Processing; Renewables; and Other segments.

Shares of EQNR stock traded down $0.33 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $25.63. 3,457,213 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,165,024. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Equinor ASA has a 12-month low of $21.41 and a 12-month high of $28.29. The companys 50-day moving average price is $25.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $24.40.

Read Our Latest Research Report on EQNR

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Nemes Rush Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (NYSEARCA:XFIV  Free Report) by 39.9% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 112,021 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 31,942 shares during the period. Nemes Rush Group LLCs holdings in BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF were worth $5,498,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of XFIV. AE Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 56.3% during the first quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 162,539 shares of the companys stock worth $7,977,000 after buying an additional 58,561 shares during the period. CWM LLC increased its position in BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 8,225 shares of the companys stock valued at $404,000 after acquiring an additional 559 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC purchased a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,988,000. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC raised its stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF by 22.9% during the 1st quarter. Wealthcare Advisory Partners LLC now owns 34,129 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,675,000 after acquiring an additional 6,357 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Tounjian Advisory Partners LLC acquired a new stake in BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $558,000.

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BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Stock Performance

BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF stock opened at $48.98 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $48.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of $48.66. BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF has a 12 month low of $47.43 and a 12 month high of $50.33.

BondBloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF Company Profile

The Bondbloxx Bloomberg Five Year Target Duration US Treasury ETF (XFIV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund is passively managed to invest in a portfolio of US Treasury securities with a target duration of five years. XFIV was launched on Sep 13, 2022 and is managed by BondBloxx.

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Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, July 25th, RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 14th will be given a dividend of 0.55 per share by the business services provider on Friday, August 29th. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.94%.

Booz Allen Hamilton has a payout ratio of 29.5% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Booz Allen Hamilton to earn $6.94 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.20 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 31.7%.

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Booz Allen Hamilton Trading Down 1.7%

Shares of BAH stock opened at $113.13 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.90, a quick ratio of 1.79 and a current ratio of 1.79. Booz Allen Hamilton has a 52-week low of $98.95 and a 52-week high of $190.59. The company has a market capitalization of $14.05 billion, a PE ratio of 13.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.48. The businesss fifty day moving average is $107.54 and its 200 day moving average is $114.73.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Booz Allen Hamilton ( NYSE:BAH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 25th. The business services provider reported $1.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.03. Booz Allen Hamilton had a return on equity of 72.35% and a net margin of 7.81%. The business had revenue of $2.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.96 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.38 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Booz Allen Hamilton will post 6.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several research firms have weighed in on BAH. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Booz Allen Hamilton from a neutral rating to a sell rating and cut their price objective for the company from $108.00 to $94.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Stifel Nicolaus started coverage on Booz Allen Hamilton in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. They set a hold rating and a $112.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Booz Allen Hamilton from $140.00 to $120.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wall Street Zen lowered Booz Allen Hamilton from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, May 24th. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated a market perform rating on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Booz Allen Hamilton has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $134.64.

View Our Latest Analysis on BAH

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Booz Allen Hamilton stock. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its position in Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH  Free Report) by 22.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 26,167 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 4,870 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd.s holdings in Booz Allen Hamilton were worth $2,737,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. 91.82% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Booz Allen Hamilton

(Get Free Report)

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation provides management and technology consulting, analytics, engineering, digital solutions, mission operations, and cyber services to governments, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations in the United States and internationally. It focuses on artificial intelligence services comprising of machine learning, predictive modeling, automation and decision analytics, and quantum computing.

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Brookwood Investment Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Sibanye Gold Limited (NYSE:SBSW  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm purchased 11,908 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $55,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cadence Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Sibanye Gold by 10.0% in the first quarter. Cadence Wealth Management LLC now owns 107,183 shares of the companys stock valued at $491,000 after purchasing an additional 9,717 shares during the period. Aire Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Sibanye Gold by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. Aire Advisors LLC now owns 70,060 shares of the companys stock valued at $321,000 after buying an additional 9,000 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its stake in Sibanye Gold by 13.4% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 76,455 shares of the companys stock valued at $350,000 after acquiring an additional 9,042 shares during the period. Sigma Planning Corp increased its holdings in Sibanye Gold by 31.0% in the 1st quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 112,996 shares of the companys stock worth $518,000 after acquiring an additional 26,747 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund acquired a new position in Sibanye Gold during the first quarter worth $1,506,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 34.93% of the companys stock.

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Sibanye Gold Trading Down 3.7%

Shares of Sibanye Gold stock opened at $9.25 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $7.26 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $5.17. Sibanye Gold Limited has a 12 month low of $3.05 and a 12 month high of $9.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 2.32 and a quick ratio of 1.10.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Sibanye Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $4.73.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on SBSW

About Sibanye Gold

(Free Report)

Sibanye Stillwater Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a precious metals mining company in South Africa, the United States, Europe, and Australia. The company produces gold; platinum group metals (PGMs), including palladium, platinum, rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium; chrome; nickel; and silver, cobalt, and copper.

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Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 4.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 661,731 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 27,622 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $40,359,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pinney & Scofield Inc. purchased a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Park Square Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates increased its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 137.5% in the 1st quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates now owns 475 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 275 shares in the last quarter. Transce3nd LLC purchased a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. purchased a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb in the 1st quarter worth $31,000. 76.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of NYSE BMY opened at $48.44 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.65, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The company has a market cap of $98.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.14, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.36. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 1 year low of $44.00 and a 1 year high of $63.33. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $47.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.62.

Bristol Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

Bristol Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.30. The business had revenue of $11.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.77 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a net margin of 11.38% and a return on equity of 87.62%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($4.40) earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be paid a $0.62 dividend. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.12%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 3rd. Bristol Myers Squibbs payout ratio is currently 92.88%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on BMY. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a neutral rating and set a $55.00 price objective on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set an overweight rating and a $65.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $54.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Argus raised shares of Bristol Myers Squibb to a hold rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from $36.00 to $34.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bristol Myers Squibb presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $58.53.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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An 18-year-old United States citizen captured the violent arrest of him and other people he was with, which showed immigration agents saying, "You've got no rights here. You're a migo, brother."

The teenager, identified as Kenny Laynez-Ambrosio, was driving to his landscaping job in North Palm Beach on May 2 with his mother and two male friends. However, they were then pulled over by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Video Shows Violent Arrest Made by Immigration Officers

A highway patrol officer asked all of the people in the teenager's car to identify themselves before calling for backup, which prompted the arrival of officers with U.S. Border Patrol. A video recording showed a group of officers wearing tactical gear violently detaining the three men, two of whom are undocumented.

The officers appeared to use a stun gun on one of the men while putting another in a chokehold. After detaining the men, the officers could be heard bragging about the incident, saying the use of the stun gun was "funny" and "You can smell that ... $ 30,000 bonus," according to The Guardian.

The recording has drawn fresh criticism about the brutal tactics enforced by U.S. law enforcement officials in trying to achieve the Trump administration's ambitious targets of detaining thousands of immigrants every day.

An attorney who is advocating on behalf of the teenager, Jack Scarola, said the federal government imposed quotas for the arrest of immigrants. Scarola, who works with the non-profit organization Guatemalan-Maya Center, added that whenever law enforcement is compelled to work towards a quota, it "poses a significant risk to other rights."

The footage also showed the initial interaction between the 18-year-old and the agents at the scene. When one officer tried to open their car door, Laynez-Ambrosio said, "Wait, hold up. You guys have no rights to do that," the New Republic reported.

The Trump Administration's Immigration Crackdown

After the detention of the people in the vehicle, the officers could be heard claiming that more individuals started to resist their arrests. This prompted the agents to anticipate more extreme uses of force in the future.

One agent said that they could end up shooting someone, referencing Laynez-Ambrosio's attempts to assert his rights. The officer continued to say, "This kid goes like ... 'No, you can't do that'; I'm not doing shit. We told you already to get out, you either get out or I'm going to pull you out."

After the incident, Laynez-Ambrosion was held in a cell at a Customs and Border Protection station for six hours before being charged with obstruction without violence. He was also sentenced to 10 hours of community service and a four-hour anger management course.

The teen claims that the men he was with did not try to resist the officers, but only spoke in Spanish and were not able to understand the agents' request. He added that his friends have been released on bail and are now waiting for their court hearings, as per Mediaite.
Chain Bridge Bancorp (NYSE:CBNA  Get Free Report) is anticipated to announce its earnings results before the market opens on Monday, July 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $0.44 per share and revenue of $11.99 million for the quarter.

Chain Bridge Bancorp (NYSE:CBNA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The company reported $0.85 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.54 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $14.54 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.27 million. On average, analysts expect Chain Bridge Bancorp to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Chain Bridge Bancorp Stock Down 0.6%

NYSE CBNA opened at $26.77 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $26.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.82. Chain Bridge Bancorp has a 1-year low of $20.01 and a 1-year high of $27.97.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Piper Sandler downgraded Chain Bridge Bancorp from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $29.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Thursday, May 29th.

Get Our Latest Report on CBNA

Insider Activity at Chain Bridge Bancorp

In other news, major shareholder Martin S. Friedman sold 32,158 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.01, for a total value of $868,587.58. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 306,078 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,267,166.78. The trade was a 9.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 25.85% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Chain Bridge Bancorp stock. Acadian Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Chain Bridge Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:CBNA  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 5,580 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $131,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.09% of Chain Bridge Bancorp at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Chain Bridge Bancorp Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Chain Bridge Bancorp, Inc operates as a Delaware-chartered bank holding company for Chain Bridge Bank, National Association that provides commercial and personal banking, and trust services in the United States. Its deposit products include non-interest-bearing and interest-bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, and money market accounts.

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Nemes Rush Group LLC lowered its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Free Report) by 9.7% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 34,144 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 3,682 shares during the period. Nemes Rush Group LLCs holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $1,714,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in CMG. Cloud Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the first quarter valued at $25,000. HighMark Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 173.4% during the 1st quarter. HighMark Wealth Management LLC now owns 585 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 371 shares in the last quarter. North Capital Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 1st quarter worth $30,000. ORG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the first quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Mechanics Financial Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the first quarter valued at $38,000. 91.31% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance

Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $46.75 on Friday. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a one year low of $44.46 and a one year high of $66.74. The companys fifty day moving average price is $52.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $52.58. The company has a market capitalization of $62.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 41.74, a PEG ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 1.08.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The restaurant operator reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.01. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a return on equity of 43.50% and a net margin of 13.32%. The company had revenue of $3.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.34 EPS. The firms revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 1.29 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on CMG shares. Argus cut Chipotle Mexican Grill from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $64.00 to $60.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $65.00 to $60.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. KeyCorp reduced their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $60.00 to $58.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Guggenheim lowered their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $47.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.71.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Chipotle Mexican Grill

Insider Transactions at Chipotle Mexican Grill

In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 113,875 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.70, for a total transaction of $5,659,587.50. Following the transaction, the insider owned 109,815 shares in the company, valued at $5,457,805.50. This trade represents a 50.91% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.81% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Company Profile

(Free Report)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It sells food and beverages through offering burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company also provides delivery and related services its app and website. It has operations in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

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Core Laboratories Inc. (NYSE:CLB  Get Free Report)s stock price traded down 6.5% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $12.54 and last traded at $12.49. 155,323 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 66% from the average session volume of 450,902 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.36.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Core Laboratories from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Core Laboratories from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Core Laboratories from $16.00 to $13.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on Core Laboratories

Core Laboratories Stock Down 12.2%

The company has a current ratio of 2.27, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $11.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $13.87. The firm has a market cap of $549.71 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.91, a PEG ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 1.41.

Core Laboratories (NYSE:CLB  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The oil and gas company reported $0.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.18 by $0.01. Core Laboratories had a net margin of 5.73% and a return on equity of 14.15%. The business had revenue of $130.16 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $129.19 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.22 EPS. The businesss revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Core Laboratories Inc. will post 0.96 EPS for the current year.

Core Laboratories Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 25th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 4th will be given a $0.01 dividend. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 4th. Core Laboratoriess payout ratio is presently 6.78%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Core Laboratories

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ariel Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Core Laboratories by 7.4% in the 1st quarter. Ariel Investments LLC now owns 10,342,025 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $155,027,000 after buying an additional 709,455 shares in the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Core Laboratories by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,158,702 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $20,058,000 after buying an additional 46,941 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Core Laboratories by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,058,620 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $18,329,000 after buying an additional 5,416 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Core Laboratories by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 847,983 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $14,678,000 after buying an additional 28,393 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC raised its position in shares of Core Laboratories by 32.4% in the 1st quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 736,853 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $11,045,000 after buying an additional 180,344 shares in the last quarter. 97.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Core Laboratories Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Core Laboratories Inc provides reservoir description and production enhancement services and products to the oil and gas industry in the United States, and internationally. It operates through Reservoir Description and Production Enhancement segments. The Reservoir Description segment includes the characterization of petroleum reservoir rock and reservoir fluid samples to enhance production and improve recovery of crude oil and gas from its clients' reservoirs.

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Cornerstone Advisory LLC increased its position in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 1.5% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 13,137 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 196 shares during the period. Cornerstone Advisory LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $795,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Sierra Ocean LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 226.3% in the 1st quarter. Sierra Ocean LLC now owns 509 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 353 shares during the last quarter. Inlight Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, TruNorth Capital Management LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 51.8% in the 1st quarter. TruNorth Capital Management LLC now owns 636 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently issued reports on MO. Wall Street Zen cut Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. UBS Group upgraded Altria Group from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price target for the company from $47.00 to $59.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Needham & Company LLC upgraded Altria Group to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays boosted their price target on Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued an underperform rating and a $50.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $56.75.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.4%

NYSE MO opened at $59.82 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $59.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $57.10. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $47.57 and a 12-month high of $61.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $100.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.02, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 0.59.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.04. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 295.44% and a net margin of 43.09%. The company had revenue of $4.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.15 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were issued a $1.02 dividend. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.82%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 68.34%.

About Altria Group

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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Dudley Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB  Free Report) by 4.4% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 43,628 shares of the pipeline companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,853 shares during the quarter. Williams Companies accounts for approximately 1.4% of Dudley Capital Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Dudley Capital Management LLCs holdings in Williams Companies were worth $2,607,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WMB. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its position in Williams Companies by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 574,196 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $34,314,000 after purchasing an additional 6,433 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC boosted its position in shares of Williams Companies by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 27,654 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $1,653,000 after purchasing an additional 811 shares in the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 50.8% in the first quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 66,401 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $3,968,000 after purchasing an additional 22,356 shares during the period. Bell & Brown Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in Williams Companies by 6.1% during the first quarter. Bell & Brown Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 51,356 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $3,069,000 after buying an additional 2,957 shares during the period. Finally, Phoenix Financial Ltd. acquired a new position in Williams Companies during the first quarter worth about $2,737,000. 86.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WMB has been the subject of several research analyst reports. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Williams Companies in a research note on Monday, July 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $67.00 price objective for the company. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Williams Companies from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, June 13th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Williams Companies from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price objective on shares of Williams Companies in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price objective on Williams Companies from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Williams Companies has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $61.77.

Williams Companies Trading Down 1.5%

Shares of Williams Companies stock opened at $57.85 on Friday. Williams Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $40.41 and a fifty-two week high of $63.45. The businesss fifty day moving average is $59.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $58.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. The firm has a market cap of $70.53 billion, a PE ratio of 30.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.65.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The pipeline company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.55 by $0.05. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 15.95% and a net margin of 21.18%. The firm had revenue of $3.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.90 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.59 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Williams Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 13th. Williams Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 106.95%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.70, for a total transaction of $125,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 315,645 shares in the company, valued at $19,790,941.50. This represents a 0.63% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.44% of the stock is currently owned by corporate 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.

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Equitable Trust Co. lowered its stake in shares of Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR  Free Report) by 59.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,227 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 7,559 shares during the quarter. Equitable Trust Co.s holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $573,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of EMR. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main increased its holdings in Emerson Electric by 3,866.2% in the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 3,022,517 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $374,581,000 after buying an additional 2,946,310 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Emerson Electric by 4,583.7% in the 1st quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,185,049 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $239,569,000 after buying an additional 2,138,397 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in Emerson Electric by 210.8% in the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,966,453 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $215,602,000 after buying an additional 1,333,839 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in Emerson Electric by 12,707.7% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,126,441 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $123,503,000 after buying an additional 1,117,646 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Emerson Electric by 230,061.8% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 819,376 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $101,545,000 after buying an additional 819,020 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.30% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Emerson Electric news, CEO Surendralal Lanca Karsanbhai sold 16,698 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.33, for a total value of $1,892,384.34. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 164,957 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,694,576.81. This trade represents a 9.19% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on EMR. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Emerson Electric from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Emerson Electric from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Stephens upped their price objective on Emerson Electric from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. TD Cowen upgraded Emerson Electric to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price objective on Emerson Electric from $146.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $142.28.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Emerson Electric

Emerson Electric Stock Up 1.9%

NYSE EMR opened at $149.68 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $130.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $120.38. Emerson Electric Co. has a one year low of $90.06 and a one year high of $149.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of $84.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.29.

Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 7th. The industrial products company reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.07. Emerson Electric had a return on equity of 13.22% and a net margin of 13.60%. The firm had revenue of $4.43 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.42 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.36 EPS. The firms revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Emerson Electric Co. will post 5.96 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Emerson Electric Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Friday, May 16th were paid a $0.5275 dividend. This represents a $2.11 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 16th. Emerson Electrics dividend payout ratio is currently 50.48%.

Emerson Electric Company Profile

(Free Report)

Emerson Electric Co, a technology and software company, provides various solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. It operates in six segments: Final Control, Control Systems & Software, Measurement & Analytical, AspenTech, Discrete Automation, and Safety & Productivity.

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Empirical Finance LLC grew its holdings in Molina Healthcare, Inc (NYSE:MOH  Free Report) by 2.1% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,728 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLCs holdings in Molina Healthcare were worth $1,557,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MOH. Amalgamated Bank boosted its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 0.3% in the first quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 11,580 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,814,000 after purchasing an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators raised its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 60.7% during the first quarter. Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators now owns 90 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. JLB & Associates Inc. lifted its position in shares of Molina Healthcare by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. JLB & Associates Inc. now owns 10,626 shares of the companys stock worth $3,500,000 after buying an additional 36 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 2.1% in the 4th quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,346 shares of the companys stock valued at $683,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rothschild Investment LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 126.3% in the 1st quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 86 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.50% of the companys stock.

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Molina Healthcare Stock Up 4.3%

Molina Healthcare stock opened at $164.97 on Friday. Molina Healthcare, Inc has a twelve month low of $156.36 and a twelve month high of $365.23. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $267.38 and a two-hundred day moving average of $296.17. The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.13, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.55.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Molina Healthcare ( NYSE:MOH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The company reported $5.48 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $5.50 by ($0.02). Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 27.72% and a net margin of 2.60%. The company had revenue of $11.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.94 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $5.86 EPS. Molina Healthcares revenue for the quarter was up 15.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Molina Healthcare, Inc will post 24.4 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Molina Healthcare from $270.00 to $186.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Mizuho cut their target price on Molina Healthcare from $400.00 to $330.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Molina Healthcare from $373.00 to $179.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Guggenheim began coverage on Molina Healthcare in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They set a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, UBS Group cut their price target on Molina Healthcare from $260.00 to $180.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday. Twelve investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $267.42.

Read Our Latest Report on Molina Healthcare

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Joseph M. Zubretsky sold 87,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.06, for a total transaction of $28,005,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 257,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at $82,484,262.90. This represents a 25.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 669 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $320.50, for a total value of $214,414.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 11,244 shares in the company, valued at $3,603,702. This represents a 5.62% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Molina Healthcare Profile

(Free Report)

Molina Healthcare, Inc provides managed healthcare services to low-income families and individuals under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. It operates in four segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Marketplace, and Other. The company served in across 19 states. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California.

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Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX  Get Free Report) is expected to release its Q2 2025 earnings data before the market opens on Monday, July 28th. Analysts expect Fomento Economico Mexicano to post earnings of $1.07 per share and revenue of $216.71 billion for the quarter.

Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.52 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $9.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $194.75 billion. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a net margin of 3.98% and a return on equity of 7.86%. On average, analysts expect Fomento Economico Mexicano to post $5 EPS for the current fiscal year and $5 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Fomento Economico Mexicano Stock Up 0.6%

Fomento Economico Mexicano stock opened at $98.48 on Friday. Fomento Economico Mexicano has a twelve month low of $81.07 and a twelve month high of $114.33. The firms 50 day moving average price is $103.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.64. The firm has a market cap of $35.23 billion, a PE ratio of 22.03, a P/E/G ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 0.65.

Fomento Economico Mexicano Increases Dividend

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

The firm also recently declared a  dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 17th will be given a dividend of $1.3625 per share. This is a boost from Fomento Economico Mexicanos previous  dividend of $0.73. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 17th. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. Fomento Economico Mexicanos payout ratio is currently 49.22%.

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Fomento Economico Mexicano stock. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:FMX  Free Report) by 19.0% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,072 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 969 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLCs holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano were worth $593,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Institutional investors own 61.00% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on FMX shares. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $112.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from $102.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Itau BBA Securities upgraded shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $107.45.

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About Fomento Economico Mexicano

(Get Free Report)

Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

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FourThought Financial Partners LLC trimmed its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 4.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,074 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 258 shares during the period. FourThought Financial Partners LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $364,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Secured Retirement Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $408,000. RKL Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 166.4% in the 1st quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,185 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $588,000 after buying an additional 5,113 shares in the last quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp now owns 651,808 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $45,783,000 after buying an additional 70,104 shares in the last quarter. Silver Oak Securities Incorporated purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $215,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 30.5% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 4,926,423 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $353,668,000 after buying an additional 1,152,181 shares in the last quarter. 75.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance

NYSE WFC opened at $84.25 on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52-week low of $50.15 and a 52-week high of $84.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.84. The company has a market capitalization of $274.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.16. The company has a fifty day moving average of $77.86 and a 200-day moving average of $74.61.

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.41 by $0.13. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.82% and a return on equity of 12.29%. The business had revenue of $20.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.33 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wells Fargo & Company announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, April 29th that allows the company to buyback $40.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to repurchase up to 17.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.90%. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is 27.40%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Dbs Bank upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a hold rating to a moderate buy rating in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $83.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. They set a hold rating and a $83.00 price target for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $80.39.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on WFC

About Wells Fargo & Company

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

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GLOBALT Investments LLC GA trimmed its holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:VGK  Free Report) by 10.0% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 2,880 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 320 shares during the quarter. GLOBALT Investments LLC GAs holdings in Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF were worth $202,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Angeles Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 6.6% during the first quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 444,409 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $31,202,000 after acquiring an additional 27,502 shares during the last quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 23,090 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,620,000 after purchasing an additional 328 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 19.8% during the first quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 22,397 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,572,000 after purchasing an additional 3,698 shares in the last quarter. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 9.7% in the first quarter. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 238,460 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $17,713,000 after purchasing an additional 21,073 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF by 32.2% in the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 72,585 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $5,096,000 after buying an additional 17,696 shares in the last quarter.

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Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF stock opened at $78.87 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $26.79 billion, a PE ratio of 16.04 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $77.22 and a 200 day moving average of $72.33. Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF has a 12 month low of $62.02 and a 12 month high of $79.57.

Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF Profile

Vanguard European Stock Index Fund is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of stocks issued by Companies located in the markets of Europe. The Fund on focuses indexing investment approach by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the common stocks included in the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index.

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GLOBALT Investments LLC GA acquired a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,032 shares of the investment management companys stock, valued at approximately $564,000.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 135.8% in the 1st quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 24,508 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $13,388,000 after purchasing an additional 14,114 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 20.4% during the first quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ now owns 76,532 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $41,809,000 after buying an additional 12,959 shares during the last quarter. Stevens Capital Management LP bought a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $4,551,000. AM Investment Strategies LLC raised its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 1.8% in the first quarter. AM Investment Strategies LLC now owns 15,580 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $8,511,000 after buying an additional 276 shares during the period. Finally, Equitable Trust Co. lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 2.7% in the first quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 13,214 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $7,219,000 after buying an additional 345 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.21% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on GS shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $771.00 to $790.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $760.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $650.00 to $785.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. HSBC reaffirmed a reduce rating and set a $627.00 target price (up previously from $558.00) on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets downgraded shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $560.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Friday, April 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $660.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 7,463 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $724.40, for a total value of $5,406,197.20. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 18,594 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,469,493.60. This trade represents a 28.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP John F.W. Rogers sold 6,008 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $717.39, for a total transaction of $4,310,079.12. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 65,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $47,176,283.79. This represents a 8.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 20,079 shares of company stock worth $14,423,221 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock.

The Goldman Sachs Group Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of GS stock opened at $728.63 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $223.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.35. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $437.37 and a 1 year high of $729.89. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $657.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $605.76.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The investment management company reported $10.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.82 by $1.09. The firm had revenue of $14.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.53 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 13.84% and a net margin of 12.37%. The companys revenue was up 14.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $8.62 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a dividend of $4.00 per share. This represents a $16.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.20%. This is an increase from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $3.00. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 26.44%.

The Goldman Sachs Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.

Further Reading

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HB Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) by 27.8% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,204 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 1,787 shares during the quarter. HB Wealth Management LLCs holdings in BlackRock were worth $7,766,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Securian Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in BlackRock in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $7,331,000. Prudent Man Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock in the 1st quarter valued at $2,018,000. Arizona State Retirement System bought a new stake in BlackRock during the first quarter worth about $40,868,000. Polar Capital Holdings Plc acquired a new stake in BlackRock during the 4th quarter valued at $15,307,000. Finally, Community Financial Services Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock by 17.2% in the first quarter. Community Financial Services Group LLC now owns 5,702 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $5,397,000 after buying an additional 836 shares during the last quarter. 80.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have issued reports on BLK. Argus reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of BlackRock in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of BlackRock from $1,018.00 to $1,093.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Bank of America lifted their price objective on BlackRock from $1,214.00 to $1,224.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating and set a $1,115.00 target price on shares of BlackRock in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price objective on shares of BlackRock from $1,200.00 to $1,100.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, BlackRock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,151.21.

BlackRock Stock Performance

BLK opened at $1,123.48 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average of $1,027.64 and a 200-day moving average of $976.73. BlackRock has a 12-month low of $773.74 and a 12-month high of $1,130.66. The stock has a market cap of $174.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.16, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a quick ratio of 4.34, a current ratio of 4.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 15th. The asset manager reported $12.05 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $10.41 by $1.64. The company had revenue of $5.42 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.40 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 15.83% and a net margin of 29.68%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $10.36 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that BlackRock will post 47.41 earnings per share for the current year.

BlackRock Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 23rd. Investors of record on Friday, September 5th will be given a $5.21 dividend. This represents a $20.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 5th. BlackRocks payout ratio is currently 50.39%.

Insider Activity

In other BlackRock news, Director Fabrizio Freda sold 4,434 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,122.81, for a total transaction of $4,978,539.54. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 3,506 shares in the company, valued at $3,936,571.86. This represents a 55.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Laurence Fink sold 14,828 shares of BlackRock stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,122.28, for a total value of $16,641,167.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 263,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $296,002,472.28. This represents a 5.32% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 49,352 shares of company stock worth $55,486,962. 1.98% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

BlackRock Company 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.

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AMREP (NYSE:AXR  Get Free Report) and Great Portland Estates (OTCMKTS:GPEAF  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership and dividends.

Volatility and Risk

AMREP has a beta of 1.08, suggesting that its stock price is 8% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Great Portland Estates has a beta of 0.37, suggesting that its stock price is 63% less volatile than the S&P 500.

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Valuation and Earnings

This table compares AMREP and Great Portland Estatess top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio AMREP $51.37 million 2.44 $6.69 million $2.41 9.85 Great Portland Estates N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

AMREP has higher revenue and earnings than Great Portland Estates.

Profitability

This table compares AMREP and Great Portland Estates net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets AMREP 22.34% 10.56% 10.21% Great Portland Estates N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for AMREP and Great Portland Estates, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score AMREP 0 0 0 0 0.00 Great Portland Estates 0 1 0 1 3.00

Institutional & Insider Ownership

59.9% of AMREP shares are owned by institutional investors. 37.6% of AMREP shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

AMREP beats Great Portland Estates on 7 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About AMREP

(Get Free Report)

AMREP Corporation, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the real estate business. The company operates through two segments, Land Development and Homebuilding. It sells developed and undeveloped lots to homebuilders, commercial and industrial property developers, and others. In addition, the company owns mineral interests covering an area of approximately 55,000 surface acres of land in Sandoval County, New Mexico; and owns oil, gas, and minerals and mineral interests covering an area of approximately 147 surface acres of land in Brighton, Colorado. Further, the company focuses on selling single-family detached homes and attached homes. As of April 30, 2023, it owned approximately 17,000 acres in Sandoval County, New Mexico. The company owns an approximately 160-acre property in Brighton, Colorado. AMREP Corporation was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

About Great Portland Estates

(Get Free Report)

We are a FTSE 250 property investment and development company owning 2.5 billion of real estate in central London. We proactively manage our portfolio, flexing our activities in tune with Londons property cycle to deliver long-term out-performance. We create in-demand spaces that people want to be part of; helping our occupiers, local communities and the city to thrive.

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Integrated Investment Consultants LLC boosted its position in shares of Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Free Report) by 166.3% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 1,169 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after purchasing an additional 730 shares during the period. Integrated Investment Consultants LLCs holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $512,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. TD Asset Management Inc boosted its position in Motorola Solutions by 0.5% during the first quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 967,163 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $423,434,000 after purchasing an additional 4,857 shares during the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Motorola Solutions by 70.1% during the first quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,843 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $4,747,000 after purchasing an additional 4,469 shares during the last quarter. Marietta Investment Partners LLC boosted its position in Motorola Solutions by 1.7% during the first quarter. Marietta Investment Partners LLC now owns 2,577 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $1,128,000 after purchasing an additional 42 shares during the last quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Motorola Solutions by 3.9% during the first quarter. Applied Finance Capital Management LLC now owns 2,008 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $879,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mediolanum International Funds Ltd raised its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 23.2% during the first quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 45,651 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $19,766,000 after buying an additional 8,592 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.17% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Motorola Solutions

In related news, CAO Katherine A. Maher sold 1,073 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $418.68, for a total transaction of $449,243.64. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 804 shares in the company, valued at $336,618.72. The trade was a 57.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 1.44% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Motorola Solutions Trading Up 0.7%

Motorola Solutions stock opened at $428.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.20. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $417.50 and its 200-day simple moving average is $429.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.44 billion, a PE ratio of 35.73, a PEG ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.95. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 52 week low of $385.60 and a 52 week high of $507.82.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The communications equipment provider reported $3.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.01 by $0.17. Motorola Solutions had a return on equity of 160.93% and a net margin of 18.67%. The firm had revenue of $2.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.52 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.81 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 13.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Motorola Solutions Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th were paid a dividend of $1.09 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $4.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.02%. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio is 36.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Motorola Solutions from $570.00 to $515.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Wall Street Zen lowered Motorola Solutions from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays cut their target price on Motorola Solutions from $527.00 to $511.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 5th. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on Motorola Solutions in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. They set a buy rating and a $490.00 target price on the stock. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Motorola Solutions has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $510.67.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on MSI

Motorola Solutions Profile

(Free Report)

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.

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Kinetik (NYSE:KNTK  Get Free Report) is one of 42 public companies in the OIL  FIELD SVCS industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Kinetik to similar businesses based on the strength of its earnings, valuation, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and risk.

Profitability

This table compares Kinetik and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Kinetik 10.74% -8.05% 2.47% Kinetik Competitors -0.42% -35.28% 0.60%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

21.1% of Kinetik shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 60.1% of shares of all OIL  FIELD SVCS companies are owned by institutional investors. 3.8% of Kinetik shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 9.5% of shares of all OIL  FIELD SVCS companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

Dividends

Kinetik has a beta of 3, suggesting that its share price is 200% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Kinetiks rivals have a beta of 2.30, suggesting that their average share price is 130% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Kinetik pays an annual dividend of $3.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.6%. Kinetik pays out 328.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, OIL  FIELD SVCS companies pay a dividend yield of 3.1% and pay out 45.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Kinetik has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for Kinetik and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Kinetik 0 3 6 0 2.67 Kinetik Competitors 241 1709 2955 98 2.58

Kinetik currently has a consensus target price of $55.56, suggesting a potential upside of 34.84%. As a group, OIL  FIELD SVCS companies have a potential upside of 29.49%. Given Kinetiks stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Kinetik is more favorable than its rivals.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Kinetik and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Kinetik $1.48 billion $244.23 million 43.37 Kinetik Competitors $4.68 billion $411.58 million 5.72

Kinetiks rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Kinetik. Kinetik is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Kinetik beats its rivals on 9 of the 15 factors compared.

About Kinetik

(Get Free Report)

Kinetik Holdings Inc. operates as a midstream company in the Texas Delaware Basin. It provides gathering, transportation, compression, processing, and treating services for companies that produce natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, and water. The company is headquartered in Midland, Texas.

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Kovack Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 1,297 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $228,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Dover by 707.3% during the first quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,986 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $349,000 after buying an additional 1,740 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of Dover by 10.1% during the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 12,622 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,227,000 after buying an additional 1,160 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Dover by 45.4% during the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 599 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $106,000 after buying an additional 187 shares during the period. Heartland Bank & Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Dover during the first quarter worth $739,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Dover by 104.5% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,205 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $563,000 after buying an additional 1,638 shares during the period. 84.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

DOV has been the subject of several research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Dover from $203.00 to $206.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Dover in a research report on Monday, April 14th. They set an equal weight rating and a $185.00 target price for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Dover from $190.00 to $211.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Dover from $185.00 to $193.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Dover from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $213.42.

Dover Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of Dover stock opened at $186.55 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $182.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $183.16. The company has a market cap of $25.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.26. Dover Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $143.04 and a fifty-two week high of $222.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a current ratio of 2.13.

Dover (NYSE:DOV  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The industrial products company reported $2.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.39 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $2.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.03 billion. Dover had a net margin of 29.29% and a return on equity of 18.77%. The companys revenue was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.36 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Dover Corporation will post 9.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Dover Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th were paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.10%. Dovers dividend payout ratio is currently 12.41%.

Dover Company Profile

(Free Report)

Dover Corporation provides equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services worldwide. The company's Engineered Products segment provides various equipment, component, software, solution, and services that are used in vehicle aftermarket, waste handling, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, industrial winch and hoist, and fluid dispensing end-market.

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Mediolanum International Funds Ltd trimmed its position in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) by 16.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 181,501 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 34,880 shares during the period. Mediolanum International Funds Ltds holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $7,957,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of DAL. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 5.9% during the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 161,395 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $7,037,000 after acquiring an additional 9,034 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its position in Delta Air Lines by 152.3% in the first quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 12,567 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $548,000 after purchasing an additional 7,586 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Delta Air Lines by 8.2% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 39,374 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,670,000 after purchasing an additional 2,973 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Delta Air Lines by 21.2% in the 1st quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 145,240 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $6,332,000 after buying an additional 25,406 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in Delta Air Lines by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 9,585 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $418,000 after buying an additional 344 shares in the last quarter. 69.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at Delta Air Lines

In related news, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 35,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.28, for a total value of $1,969,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 632,823 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,615,278.44. This represents a 5.24% 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, EVP Alain Bellemare sold 45,423 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 131,731 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,318,974.36. This represents a 25.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 133,973 shares of company stock worth $7,511,746 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $65.00 to $56.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Bernstein Bank raised their price target on Delta Air Lines from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on Delta Air Lines from $53.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Susquehanna Bancshares increased their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $51.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a report on Friday, July 11th. Finally, UBS Group set a $72.00 target price on shares of Delta Air Lines in a report on Friday, July 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $66.21.

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Delta Air Lines Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of DAL opened at $54.84 on Friday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $50.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $52.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.38. The firm has a market cap of $35.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 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 posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 10th. The transportation company reported $2.10 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $15,507,000 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.16 billion. Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 24.86% and a net margin of 7.24%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.36 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 7.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Delta Air Lines Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 21st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 31st will be given a dividend of $0.1875 per share. This is a boost from Delta Air Liness previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $0.75 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.37%. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 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.

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Motco grew its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 397.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 408 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the period. Motcos holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $29,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of WFC. Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 10.7% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 34,339,295 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,411,992,000 after acquiring an additional 3,307,855 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 20,369,222 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,430,742,000 after acquiring an additional 238,131 shares during the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 932.0% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 15,734,874 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,105,218,000 after acquiring an additional 14,210,193 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 13,914,098 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $977,338,000 after acquiring an additional 62,099 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 277.4% during the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,740,934 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $771,092,000 after acquiring an additional 7,894,919 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.90% of the companys stock.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.4%

WFC stock opened at $84.25 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $77.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is $74.61. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $50.15 and a fifty-two week high of $84.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.84. The company has a market cap of $274.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.16.

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.54 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.13. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.29% and a net margin of 16.82%. The business had revenue of $20.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.33 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wells Fargo & Company declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Tuesday, April 29th that permits the company to buyback $40.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 17.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th were paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.90%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 9th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.40%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on WFC shares. Piper Sandler restated an overweight rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. TD Cowen started coverage on Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. They set a hold rating and a $83.00 price objective on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered Wells Fargo & Company from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday. Raymond James Financial lowered Wells Fargo & Company from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $77.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.39.

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About Wells Fargo & Company

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Motco raised its position in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) by 11.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,692 shares of the payment services companys stock after buying an additional 167 shares during the period. Motcos holdings in American Express were worth $455,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Investment Management Corp VA ADV bought a new position in American Express in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. MorganRosel Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express in the first quarter valued at $29,000. Nexus Investment Management ULC bought a new position in shares of American Express in the first quarter valued at about $34,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in American Express during the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, IAG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in American Express during the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. Institutional investors own 84.33% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. DZ Bank downgraded shares of American Express from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of American Express from $249.00 to $297.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on American Express from $250.00 to $311.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Citigroup restated a neutral rating and set a $327.00 target price (up previously from $300.00) on shares of American Express in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $327.00 price target on American Express in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, American Express presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $311.05.

Insider Activity at American Express

In related news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 9,450 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $275.50, for a total value of $2,603,475.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 9,402 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,590,251. The trade was a 50.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Glenda G. Mcneal sold 3,019 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.66, for a total value of $799,008.54. Following the transaction, the insider owned 10,919 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,889,822.54. This trade represents a 21.66% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock.

American Express Price Performance

AXP opened at $311.60 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $216.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.25. American Express Company has a 12 month low of $220.43 and a 12 month high of $329.14. The company has a quick ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 1.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $304.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $291.28.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The payment services company reported $4.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.86 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $17.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.70 billion. American Express had a return on equity of 32.87% and a net margin of 14.78%. The companys revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.49 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current year.

American Express Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 3rd. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.05%. American Expresss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.02%.

About American Express

(Free Report)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services.

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Navellier & Associates Inc. lessened its position in shares of Genworth Financial, Inc. (NYSE:GNW  Free Report) by 7.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 25,344 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,128 shares during the quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc.s holdings in Genworth Financial were worth $175,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Genworth Financial by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 17,590 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $123,000 after purchasing an additional 2,154 shares during the last quarter. Xponance Inc. increased its holdings in Genworth Financial by 9.5% during the 4th quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 31,032 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $217,000 after purchasing an additional 2,693 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in Genworth Financial during the 4th quarter worth $248,000. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in shares of Genworth Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $628,000. Finally, LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Genworth Financial by 44.0% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 33,163 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $232,000 after acquiring an additional 10,135 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.85% of the companys stock.

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Genworth Financial Price Performance

NYSE:GNW opened at $8.03 on Friday. Genworth Financial, Inc. has a 12 month low of $5.99 and a 12 month high of $8.08. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $7.34 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The firm has a market cap of $3.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.05 and a beta of 1.06.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Genworth Financial ( NYSE:GNW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The financial services provider reported $0.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.21 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $1.76 billion during the quarter. Genworth Financial had a net margin of 2.97% and a return on equity of 2.53%.

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Genworth Financial from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on Genworth Financial from $9.00 to $9.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th.

View Our Latest Analysis on Genworth Financial

About Genworth Financial

(Free Report)

Genworth Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides mortgage and long-term care insurance products in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Enact, Long-Term Care Insurance, and Life and Annuities. The Enact segment offers private mortgage insurance products primarily insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans; and pool mortgage insurance products.

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Pacer Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Scorpio Tankers Inc. (NYSE:STNG  Free Report) in the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 518,134 shares of the shipping companys stock, valued at approximately $19,471,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of STNG. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 266.2% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,613,611 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $129,870,000 after acquiring an additional 1,899,981 shares during the period. Cooper Creek Partners Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 380.0% in the 4th quarter. Cooper Creek Partners Management LLC now owns 2,195,563 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $109,098,000 after acquiring an additional 1,738,190 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Scorpio Tankers in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,374,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Scorpio Tankers by 22.3% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,511,285 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $124,786,000 after acquiring an additional 458,120 shares during the period. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Scorpio Tankers in the 4th quarter worth approximately $14,426,000. Institutional investors own 54.64% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $65.00 price objective on shares of Scorpio Tankers in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Evercore ISI cut their target price on Scorpio Tankers from $60.00 to $57.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Fearnley Fonds upgraded Scorpio Tankers from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $60.50.

Scorpio Tankers Price Performance

Scorpio Tankers stock opened at $44.12 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $41.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $41.77. Scorpio Tankers Inc. has a one year low of $30.63 and a one year high of $77.83. The company has a market capitalization of $2.25 billion, a PE ratio of 4.35 and a beta of -0.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 4.20 and a quick ratio of 4.12.

Scorpio Tankers (NYSE:STNG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The shipping company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.32. Scorpio Tankers had a return on equity of 12.30% and a net margin of 48.08%. The firm had revenue of $204.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $205.89 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.97 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 45.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Scorpio Tankers Inc. will post 5.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Scorpio Tankers Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th were issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 30th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.63%. Scorpio Tankerss dividend payout ratio is 15.76%.

Scorpio Tankers Company Profile

(Free Report)

Scorpio Tankers Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the seaborne transportation of crude oi and refined petroleum products in the shipping markets worldwide. As of March 21, 2024, its fleet consisted of 110 owned and leases financed tanker, including 39 LR2, 57 MR, and 14 Handymax with a weighted average age of approximately 8.1 years.

Further Reading

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Dudley Capital Management LLC lowered its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 3.8% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 13,962 shares of the companys stock after selling 547 shares during the period. Philip Morris International accounts for approximately 1.2% of Dudley Capital Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 26th biggest position. Dudley Capital Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $2,216,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. LPL Financial LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 5.1% in the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 2,326,450 shares of the companys stock worth $369,277,000 after buying an additional 113,152 shares during the period. Peak Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the first quarter valued at approximately $232,000. Alteri Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 6.9% in the 1st quarter. Alteri Wealth LLC now owns 1,882 shares of the companys stock valued at $299,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Family Wealth LLC boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 3.6% in the 1st quarter. Atlantic Family Wealth LLC now owns 2,145 shares of the companys stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the period. Finally, Keyvantage Wealth LLC purchased a new position in Philip Morris International during the 1st quarter worth approximately $242,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.63% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently commented on PM. Wall Street Zen raised Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Sunday, July 20th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday. Citigroup reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and issued a $195.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $170.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $186.73.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

NYSE:PM opened at $160.92 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $250.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.51. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $178.86 and its 200 day moving average price is $160.40. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $112.43 and a 52 week high of $186.69.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The company reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.86 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.33 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 10.57% and a negative return on equity of 120.86%. Philip Morris Internationals quarterly revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.59 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 27th were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 27th. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.36%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 102.66%.

Philip Morris International Company 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.

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. decreased its holdings in shares of IQVIA Holdings Inc. (NYSE:IQV  Free Report) by 14.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,174 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 204 shares during the quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd.s holdings in IQVIA were worth $208,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in IQVIA during the first quarter worth $1,040,000. Caliber Wealth Management LLC KS acquired a new position in IQVIA during the first quarter worth $1,257,000. Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its holdings in IQVIA by 21.7% during the first quarter. Wilkins Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 66,514 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $11,726,000 after purchasing an additional 11,857 shares during the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in IQVIA by 5,036.1% during the first quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 871,704 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $153,681,000 after purchasing an additional 854,732 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assetmark Inc. boosted its holdings in IQVIA by 4.3% during the first quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 51,453 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $9,071,000 after purchasing an additional 2,120 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.62% of the companys stock.

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IQVIA Price Performance

NYSE:IQV opened at $199.17 on Friday. IQVIA Holdings Inc. has a 52 week low of $134.65 and a 52 week high of $252.88. The firm has a market cap of $33.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.30. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $157.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $170.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.45, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.84.

Insider Transactions at IQVIA

IQVIA ( NYSE:IQV Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The medical research company reported $2.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.77 by $0.04. IQVIA had a net margin of 7.88% and a return on equity of 30.05%. The business had revenue of $4.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.96 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.64 earnings per share. IQVIAs revenue for the quarter was up 5.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that IQVIA Holdings Inc. will post 10.84 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, insider Eric Sherbet sold 5,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.05, for a total transaction of $1,102,290.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 27,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,165,178.90. This trade represents a 17.59% 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. Also, insider Keriann Cherofsky sold 549 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.53, for a total transaction of $105,149.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 2,910 shares in the company, valued at approximately $557,352.30. This represents a 15.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of IQVIA in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $209.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Hsbc Global Res lowered shares of IQVIA from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $185.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of IQVIA from $232.00 to $177.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $228.62.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on IQVIA

IQVIA Company Profile

(Free Report)

IQVIA Holdings Inc engages in the provision of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services to the life sciences industry in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Technology & Analytics Solutions, Research & Development Solutions, and Contract Sales & Medical Solutions.

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. purchased a new stake in AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE:AZO  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 67 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $255,000.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in AutoZone in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 1st quarter worth approximately $44,000. Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of AutoZone in the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 30.0% in the 1st quarter. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC now owns 13 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 3 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 14 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 7 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.74% of the companys stock.

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AutoZone Stock Performance

Shares of AZO stock opened at $3,819.20 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $3,711.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3,597.71. AutoZone, Inc. has a 52-week low of $2,898.57 and a 52-week high of $3,916.81. The stock has a market cap of $64.09 billion, a PE ratio of 25.85, a PEG ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.39.

Insider Buying and Selling

AutoZone ( NYSE:AZO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 27th. The company reported $35.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $37.07 by ($1.71). AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 56.07% and a net margin of 13.56%. The company had revenue of $4.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $36.69 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that AutoZone, Inc. will post 152.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In related news, SVP K. Michelle Borninkhof sold 750 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction on Friday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,597.13, for a total transaction of $2,697,847.50. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 406 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,460,434.78. The trade was a 64.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Jamere Jackson sold 2,612 shares of AutoZone stock in a transaction on Friday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $3,728.05, for a total value of $9,737,666.60. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 427 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,591,877.35. This trade represents a 85.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 33,862 shares of company stock valued at $126,058,789 in the last three months. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Guggenheim increased their target price on AutoZone from $3,850.00 to $4,100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. UBS Group increased their target price on AutoZone from $4,025.00 to $4,260.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $3,811.00 target price on AutoZone in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Roth Capital set a $4,135.00 target price on AutoZone and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $4,000.00 price target (up from $3,750.00) on shares of AutoZone in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nineteen have assigned a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $4,087.00.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AutoZone

AutoZone Profile

(Free Report)

AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The company provides various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products.

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. raised its stake in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Free Report) by 25.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 663 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after acquiring an additional 134 shares during the quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd.s holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $291,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Caliber Wealth Management LLC KS acquired a new position in Motorola Solutions in the first quarter valued at approximately $3,276,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in Motorola Solutions in the first quarter valued at approximately $564,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 8.7% in the first quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 35,002 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $15,324,000 after acquiring an additional 2,803 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 5.8% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 46,045 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $20,159,000 after acquiring an additional 2,515 shares during the period. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 1.2% in the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 11,556 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $5,060,000 after acquiring an additional 138 shares during the period. 84.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Motorola Solutions Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of MSI stock opened at $428.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.42, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The company has a market cap of $71.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.73, a PEG ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $417.50 and a 200-day simple moving average of $429.23. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 1-year low of $385.60 and a 1-year high of $507.82.

Motorola Solutions Dividend Announcement

Motorola Solutions ( NYSE:MSI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The communications equipment provider reported $3.18 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.01 by $0.17. Motorola Solutions had a return on equity of 160.93% and a net margin of 18.67%. The firm had revenue of $2.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.52 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.81 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 13.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th were given a dividend of $1.09 per share. This represents a $4.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. Motorola Solutionss payout ratio is 36.39%.

Insider Activity at Motorola Solutions

In related news, CAO Katherine A. Maher sold 1,073 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $418.68, for a total transaction of $449,243.64. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 804 shares in the company, valued at approximately $336,618.72. The trade was a 57.17% 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. Insiders own 1.44% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Motorola Solutions from $570.00 to $515.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Motorola Solutions from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays decreased their price target on Motorola Solutions from $527.00 to $511.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, May 5th. UBS Group initiated coverage on Motorola Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. They set a buy rating and a $490.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Motorola Solutions in a research note on Monday, July 7th. They set a peer perform rating for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $510.67.

Get Our Latest Analysis on MSI

About Motorola Solutions

(Free Report)

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.

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Providence Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 15.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,374 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,333 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil comprises 1.6% of Providence Wealth Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Providence Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $2,055,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 93,299,598 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $10,023,875,000 after acquiring an additional 1,104,617 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 46,017,358 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,950,087,000 after acquiring an additional 2,998,892 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 45,323,453 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $5,390,318,000 after acquiring an additional 1,340,343 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 13.1% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 35,662,602 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,836,226,000 after purchasing an additional 4,140,046 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors boosted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 34,763,179 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,739,465,000 after purchasing an additional 1,293,111 shares during the period. 61.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Exxon Mobil Price Performance

Shares of XOM stock opened at $110.42 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. Exxon Mobil Corporation has a twelve month low of $97.80 and a twelve month high of $126.34. The company has a market cap of $475.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.50. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $108.75 and a 200 day simple moving average of $109.03.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.03. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 12.06% and a net margin of 9.49%. The business had revenue of $83.13 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $86.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.06 EPS. Exxon Mobils revenue for the quarter was up .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Exxon Mobil Corporation will post 7.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.99 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $3.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.59%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is currently 52.52%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on XOM shares. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $127.00 price target on Exxon Mobil and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price target on Exxon Mobil from $131.00 to $134.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $125.42.

Read Our Latest Report on XOM

Exxon Mobil Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

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Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nineteen brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $27.33.

A number of analysts have recently commented on RF shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Regions Financial from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Truist Financial reissued a hold rating on shares of Regions Financial in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. TD Cowen started coverage on Regions Financial in a research note on Thursday, May 15th. They issued a buy rating and a $31.00 price objective on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on Regions Financial from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on Regions Financial from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on Regions Financial

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Regions Financial Stock Up 0.4%

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. American National Bank & Trust increased its position in Regions Financial by 2,433.3% in the 2nd quarter. American National Bank & Trust now owns 1,064 shares of the banks stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,022 shares during the last quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd increased its position in Regions Financial by 637.3% in the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 1,224 shares of the banks stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,058 shares during the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new position in Regions Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Rossby Financial LCC acquired a new position in Regions Financial in the 1st quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Groupe la Francaise acquired a new position in Regions Financial in the 1st quarter worth about $41,000. 79.39% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Shares of Regions Financial stock opened at $26.41 on Tuesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $23.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $22.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The company has a market capitalization of $23.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.28, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.98. Regions Financial has a 1-year low of $17.74 and a 1-year high of $27.96.

Regions Financial (NYSE:RF  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 18th. The bank reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.04. Regions Financial had a return on equity of 13.08% and a net margin of 21.81%. The company had revenue of $1.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.86 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.52 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Regions Financial will post 2.26 EPS for the current year.

Regions Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.265 per share. This represents a $1.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.01%. This is a positive change from Regions Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. Regions Financials payout ratio is presently 49.30%.

About Regions Financial

(Get Free Report

Regions Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides banking and bank-related services to individual and corporate customers. It operates through three segments: Corporate Bank, Consumer Bank, and Wealth Management. The Corporate Bank segment offers commercial banking services, such as commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and investor real estate lending; equipment lease financing; deposit products; and securities underwriting and placement, loan syndication and placement, foreign exchange, derivatives, merger and acquisition, and other advisory services.

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Ridgewood Investments LLC grew its holdings in Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 11.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 28,378 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,802 shares during the quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLCs holdings in Archer Daniels Midland were worth $1,269,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of ADM. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC raised its holdings in Archer Daniels Midland by 43.4% during the 1st quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 783 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 237 shares during the period. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Archer Daniels Midland by 4.1% during the first quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC now owns 6,023 shares of the companys stock worth $289,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares in the last quarter. Stolper Co raised its holdings in shares of Archer Daniels Midland by 0.8% during the first quarter. Stolper Co now owns 33,691 shares of the companys stock worth $1,618,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Archer Daniels Midland by 6.6% during the first quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,296 shares of the companys stock worth $254,000 after acquiring an additional 326 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in Archer Daniels Midland by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 53,303 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,559,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.28% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on ADM shares. UBS Group upgraded Archer Daniels Midland from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, May 19th. Bank of America downgraded Archer Daniels Midland from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $47.00 to $45.00 in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Barclays lifted their target price on Archer Daniels Midland from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price target on Archer Daniels Midland from $51.00 to $49.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $52.25.

Archer Daniels Midland Stock Down 0.2%

ADM stock opened at $55.38 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $26.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.78, a P/E/G ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.69. Archer Daniels Midland Company has a twelve month low of $40.98 and a twelve month high of $64.24. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $51.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $49.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34.

Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The company reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $20.18 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.05 billion. Archer Daniels Midland had a return on equity of 8.71% and a net margin of 1.63%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.46 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Archer Daniels Midland Company will post 4.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Archer Daniels Midland Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 21st were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 21st. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.68%. Archer Daniels Midlands dividend payout ratio is presently 72.86%.

Archer Daniels Midland Profile

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company engages in the procurement, transportation, storage, processing, and merchandising of agricultural commodities, ingredients, flavors, and solutions in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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RWC Asset Advisors US LLC decreased its position in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom S.A. (NYSE:TEO  Free Report) by 8.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 763,829 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 71,336 shares during the quarter. Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom accounts for about 1.4% of RWC Asset Advisors US LLCs holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest position. RWC Asset Advisors US LLCs holdings in Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom were worth $7,783,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of TEO. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom during the 4th quarter worth approximately $106,000. OLD Mission Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom during the 4th quarter worth approximately $133,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom during the 4th quarter worth approximately $202,000. XTX Topco Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom by 64.7% during the 4th quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 17,510 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $220,000 after acquiring an additional 6,878 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in shares of Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom by 87.0% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 20,684 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $260,000 after purchasing an additional 9,621 shares during the last quarter.

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Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom Trading Up 2.3%

Shares of Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom stock opened at $9.44 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.48 and a quick ratio of 0.44. Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom S.A. has a 1 year low of $5.52 and a 1 year high of $15.53. The company has a market capitalization of $4.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.66 and a beta of 1.17. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $9.42 and a 200 day moving average price of $10.52.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom ( NYSE:TEO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 12th. The utilities provider reported $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.24) by $0.44. The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.08 billion. Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom had a return on equity of 3.68% and a net margin of 4.52%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom S.A. will post 1.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

TEO has been the subject of several research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom from $8.30 to $9.50 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Scotiabank restated an underperform rating on shares of Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom in a research report on Thursday, May 15th.

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Telecom Argentina Stet  France Telecom Company Profile

(Free Report)

Telecom Argentina SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services. The company offers mobile telecommunications services, including voice communications, high-speed mobile Internet content and applications download, online streaming, and other services; and sells mobile communication devices, such as handsets, Modems MiFi and wingles, and smart watches.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lifted its position in Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL  Free Report) by 271.6% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 209,875 shares of the business services providers stock after buying an additional 153,400 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Rollins were worth $11,340,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of ROL. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Rollins in the 4th quarter valued at $176,784,000. Marshall Wace LLP grew its stake in Rollins by 389.2% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,770,131 shares of the business services providers stock worth $128,396,000 after purchasing an additional 2,203,859 shares in the last quarter. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new position in Rollins during the 4th quarter worth $81,747,000. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Rollins by 17.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,557,923 shares of the business services providers stock worth $395,819,000 after purchasing an additional 1,282,508 shares in the last quarter. Finally, BLI Banque de Luxembourg Investments acquired a new position in Rollins during the 4th quarter worth $50,161,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 51.79% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently commented on ROL. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their target price on Rollins from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on Rollins from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. UBS Group boosted their target price on Rollins from $59.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $61.00 target price on Rollins and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reissued an overweight rating and set a $65.00 target price (up from $63.00) on shares of Rollins in a research note on Wednesday, June 25th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Rollins currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $61.40.

Insider Transactions at Rollins

In other news, Chairman John F. Wilson sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.04, for a total transaction of $1,741,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman directly owned 632,727 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,723,475.08. This represents a 4.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Thomas D. Tesh sold 1,921 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.54, for a total value of $108,613.34. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 38,028 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,150,103.12. This trade represents a 4.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 71,921 shares of company stock valued at $4,120,613. Insiders own 4.47% of the companys stock.

Rollins Stock Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE ROL opened at $58.03 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $28.12 billion, a PE ratio of 57.46 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Rollins, Inc. has a 52-week low of $45.34 and a 52-week high of $58.65. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $56.61 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.77.

Rollins (NYSE:ROL  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The business services provider reported $0.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $999.53 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $988.77 million. Rollins had a return on equity of 36.96% and a net margin of 13.70%. The businesss revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.27 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Rollins, Inc. will post 1.09 earnings per share for the current year.

Rollins Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Monday, August 11th will be given a $0.165 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 11th. This represents a $0.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.14%. Rollinss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.35%.

Rollins Profile

(Free Report)

Rollins, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides pest and wildlife control services to residential and commercial customers in the United States and internationally. The company offers pest control services to residential properties protecting from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife.

Further Reading

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lowered its position in shares of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 0.2% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 59,766 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 100 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $14,823,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in ITW. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Redwood Park Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. von Borstel & Associates Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works during the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc boosted its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 336.0% during the 4th quarter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc now owns 109 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.77% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

ITW has been the subject of a number of research reports. Bank of America lowered shares of Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $220.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $239.00 to $244.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 1st. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $237.00 to $240.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. Finally, Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $302.00 to $284.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $255.67.

Illinois Tool Works Trading Up 0.0%

Shares of NYSE:ITW opened at $261.87 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.60, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1 year low of $214.66 and a 1 year high of $279.13. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $250.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $249.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $76.73 billion, a PE ratio of 23.03, a P/E/G ratio of 5.52 and a beta of 1.09.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $2.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.04. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 21.37% and a return on equity of 92.77%. The company had revenue of $3.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.83 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.44 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.77%.

Insider Transactions at Illinois Tool Works

In other news, Director David Byron Smith, Jr. purchased 872 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 2nd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $241.16 per share, for a total transaction of $210,291.52. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director directly owned 122,884 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $29,634,705.44. The trade was a 0.71% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.88% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Illinois Tool Works Profile

(Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

Further Reading

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ lessened its position in Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:CCI  Free Report) by 1.8% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 87,556 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,624 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Crown Castle were worth $9,126,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in CCI. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Crown Castle by 18.9% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 20,849,846 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,892,332,000 after buying an additional 3,321,249 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Crown Castle by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,333,158 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,119,225,000 after buying an additional 228,007 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Crown Castle during the 4th quarter valued at about $561,714,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in Crown Castle by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 6,144,359 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $557,662,000 after buying an additional 58,903 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI lifted its holdings in Crown Castle by 37.3% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 5,793,842 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $525,849,000 after buying an additional 1,573,043 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.77% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Crown Castle news, EVP Edward B. Adams, Jr. sold 8,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $106.37, for a total transaction of $850,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 20,528 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,183,563.36. This represents a 28.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Robert Sean Collins sold 3,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $106.72, for a total transaction of $384,192.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 6,465 shares of the companys stock, valued at $689,944.80. This represents a 35.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 31,600 shares of company stock worth $3,362,752. Company insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on CCI shares. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Crown Castle from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Crown Castle from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday. Scotiabank boosted their price target on shares of Crown Castle from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Crown Castle from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $105.00 to $125.00 in a report on Thursday. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated a strong-buy rating and issued a $124.00 price target (up previously from $122.00) on shares of Crown Castle in a report on Thursday. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $115.94.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Crown Castle

Crown Castle Trading Down 2.0%

NYSE:CCI opened at $111.60 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $48.60 billion, a PE ratio of -10.46, a P/E/G ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.88. Crown Castle Inc. has a twelve month low of $84.20 and a twelve month high of $120.92. The companys 50 day moving average is $102.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $98.56.

Crown Castle (NYSE:CCI  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The real estate investment trust reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.02. Crown Castle had a negative net margin of 85.54% and a negative return on equity of 619.62%. The business had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.04 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.62 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts expect that Crown Castle Inc. will post 6.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Crown Castle Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were given a dividend of $1.0625 per share. This represents a $4.25 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 13th. Crown Castles dividend payout ratio is presently -39.50%.

Crown Castle Company Profile

(Free Report)

Crown Castle owns, operates and leases more than 40,000 cell towers and approximately 90,000 route miles of fiber supporting small cells and fiber solutions across every major U.S. market. This nationwide portfolio of communications infrastructure connects cities and communities to essential data, technology and wireless service  bringing information, ideas and innovations to the people and businesses that need them.

Further Reading

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Phoenix Financial Ltd. reduced its holdings in Stantec Inc. (NYSE:STN  Free Report) (TSE:STN) by 16.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,217 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 622 shares during the quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd.s holdings in Stantec were worth $268,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in STN. Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in Stantec by 166.5% in the 4th quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 22,342,818 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,751,093,000 after acquiring an additional 13,958,790 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Stantec in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $110,221,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC acquired a new stake in Stantec in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $56,191,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its position in Stantec by 19.3% in the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 3,344,994 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $262,791,000 after acquiring an additional 542,305 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in Stantec by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 3,496,408 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $273,970,000 after acquiring an additional 302,979 shares during the period. 63.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on STN shares. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating on shares of Stantec in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Stantec in a research note on Friday, May 16th. CIBC reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Stantec in a research note on Friday, July 18th. TD Securities reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Stantec in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Stantec from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy.

Stantec Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE STN opened at $110.31 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $107.19 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $91.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a current ratio of 1.38. The firm has a market cap of $12.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.58 and a beta of 1.03. Stantec Inc. has a 1 year low of $73.18 and a 1 year high of $113.50.

Stantec (NYSE:STN  Get Free Report) (TSE:STN) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 14th. The business services provider reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.54 billion. Stantec had a return on equity of 18.22% and a net margin of 5.01%. Research analysts forecast that Stantec Inc. will post 3.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Stantec Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were paid a dividend of $0.1612 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 30th. This is a positive change from Stantecs previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.58%. Stantecs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.27%.

About Stantec

(Free Report)

Stantec Inc provides professional services in the areas of infrastructure and facilities to the public and private sectors in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It offers evaluation, planning, and designing infrastructure solutions; solutions for sustainable water resources, planning, management, and infrastructure; environmental services; integrated architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning solutions for buildings; and energy and resources solutions.

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Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. lowered its stake in shares of PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL  Free Report) by 8.2% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 29,535 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 2,624 shares during the quarter. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd.s holdings in PPL were worth $1,066,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in PPL by 8.8% in the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 1,420,489 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $51,294,000 after purchasing an additional 115,038 shares in the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC raised its holdings in PPL by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 25,950 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $937,000 after buying an additional 802 shares during the period. Integrated Investment Consultants LLC bought a new position in PPL in the first quarter valued at approximately $265,000. TD Asset Management Inc lifted its stake in PPL by 0.3% in the first quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 259,387 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,366,000 after buying an additional 897 shares in the last quarter. Finally, HB Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in PPL by 28.3% in the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,001 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $758,000 after acquiring an additional 4,627 shares in the last quarter. 76.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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PPL Stock Performance

Shares of PPL stock opened at $36.59 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $27.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.10, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 0.81. PPL Corporation has a 52 week low of $29.25 and a 52 week high of $36.99. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $34.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.50.

PPL Dividend Announcement

PPL ( NYSE:PPL Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The utilities provider reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.07. PPL had a return on equity of 9.14% and a net margin of 11.49%. The company had revenue of $2.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.54 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that PPL Corporation will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 10th were paid a dividend of $0.2725 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 10th. This represents a $1.09 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.98%. PPLs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.74%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, COO David J. Bonenberger sold 1,767 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.98, for a total transaction of $61,809.66. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 45,485 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,591,065.30. This represents a 3.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.28% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays raised PPL from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of PPL from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of PPL from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on PPL from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven 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 Buy and a consensus target price of $36.70.

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PPL Company Profile

(Free Report)

PPL Corporation, an energy company, focuses on providing electricity and natural gas to approximately 3.6 million customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Kentucky Regulated, Pennsylvania Regulated, and Rhode Island Regulated. The company delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Rhode Island; delivers natural gas to customers in Kentucky and Rhode Island; and generates electricity from power plants in Kentucky.

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Texas Yale Capital Corp. lowered its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 2.8% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 20,928 shares of the companys stock after selling 600 shares during the quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $3,322,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in PM. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 31.1% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 8,531 shares of the companys stock worth $1,027,000 after purchasing an additional 2,023 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,097 shares of the companys stock valued at $252,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 37.4% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 14,425 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,736,000 after acquiring an additional 3,929 shares in the last quarter. Fox Run Management L.L.C. purchased a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at about $209,000. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 41.8% in the 4th quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd now owns 5,632 shares of the companys stock valued at $678,000 after acquiring an additional 1,660 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.63% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Price Performance

PM opened at $160.92 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $178.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is $160.40. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $112.43 and a 1 year high of $186.69. The firm has a market cap of $250.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.59, a PEG ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.51.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last posted 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. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 120.86% and a net margin of 10.57%. The business had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.33 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.59 EPS. Philip Morris Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 27th were given a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 27th. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.36%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 102.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $182.00 price target (up previously from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Philip Morris International from $168.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Philip Morris International from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Citigroup reissued an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $186.73.

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Philip Morris International Company 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.

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Alteri Wealth LLC cut its stake in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA  Free Report) by 68.7% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 14,444 shares of the aircraft producers stock after selling 31,693 shares during the period. Boeing accounts for approximately 1.1% of Alteri Wealth LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Alteri Wealth LLCs holdings in Boeing were worth $2,463,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Boeing by 14.3% during the first quarter. Wood Tarver Financial Group LLC now owns 439 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $75,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Byrne Financial Freedom LLC increased its position in shares of Boeing by 3.0% during the first quarter. Byrne Financial Freedom LLC now owns 1,993 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in Boeing by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 19,657 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $3,578,000 after buying an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. Trek Financial LLC grew its holdings in Boeing by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Trek Financial LLC now owns 2,307 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $408,000 after buying an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Colonial Trust Co SC boosted its holdings in Boeing by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 1,042 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $184,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. 64.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Boeing Price Performance

Boeing stock opened at $233.02 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $213.01 and its 200-day moving average is $186.85. The company has a market cap of $175.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -13.00 and a beta of 1.41. The Boeing Company has a 12 month low of $128.88 and a 12 month high of $235.27.

Insider Activity

Boeing ( NYSE:BA Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The aircraft producer reported ($0.49) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($1.39) by $0.90. The firm had revenue of $19.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $19.57 billion. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 17.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned ($1.13) EPS. Research analysts anticipate that The Boeing Company will post -2.58 EPS for the current year.

In other Boeing news, EVP David Christopher Raymond sold 3,899 shares of Boeing stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $187.01, for a total transaction of $729,151.99. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 42,513 shares in the company, valued at $7,950,356.13. The trade was a 8.40% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Brendan J. Nelson sold 640 shares of Boeing stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $206.28, for a total value of $132,019.20. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 13,258 shares in the company, valued at $2,734,860.24. This represents a 4.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 7,744 shares of company stock worth $1,511,370 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Boeing in a report on Monday, July 14th. Benchmark lowered their price target on Boeing from $250.00 to $215.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an underweight rating on shares of Boeing in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Boeing in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Boeing from $200.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given 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.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $221.55.

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Boeing Profile

(Free Report)

The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; and Global Services segments.

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Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd. reduced its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 3.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 32,453 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,209 shares during the period. Sterling Investment Advisors Ltd.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $2,540,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in SCHW. LPL Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.1% in the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 1,348,392 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $105,552,000 after purchasing an additional 89,882 shares during the last quarter. Mitchell Sinkler & Starr PA increased its holdings in Charles Schwab by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Mitchell Sinkler & Starr PA now owns 8,142 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $637,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Texas Yale Capital Corp. raised its position in Charles Schwab by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 25,499 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,996,000 after buying an additional 609 shares during the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in Charles Schwab by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 686,735 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $53,758,000 after acquiring an additional 68,702 shares during the period. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 50,212 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,931,000 after acquiring an additional 848 shares during the last quarter. 84.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In related news, insider Paul V. Woolway sold 3,290 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.95, for a total transaction of $299,225.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 35,864 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,261,830.80. This represents a 8.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Paula A. Sneed sold 8,647 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.06, for a total transaction of $761,454.82. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 105,654 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,303,891.24. The trade was a 7.57% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 116,313 shares of company stock valued at $10,264,091. 6.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of Charles Schwab stock opened at $97.05 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a twelve month low of $61.15 and a twelve month high of $98.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $176.33 billion, a PE ratio of 26.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.93. The firms 50-day moving average price is $90.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $82.88.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.64 billion. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 19.73% and a net margin of 33.68%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 24.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.73 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Thursday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to purchase up to 11.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are typically a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 8th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.11%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.03%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on SCHW. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $100.00 target price for the company in a research report on Friday, April 25th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. William Blair lowered Charles Schwab from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, July 3rd. Citigroup lifted their price target on Charles Schwab from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company set a $102.00 price objective on Charles Schwab and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Charles Schwab has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $98.65.

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Charles Schwab Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Shares of The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the thirteen research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $133.67.

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Piper Sandler increased their price target on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $134.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Raymond James Financial increased their price target on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 31st. Wall Street Zen raised shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of The Hartford Insurance Group from $125.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, April 8th.

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Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other The Hartford Insurance Group news, SVP Allison G. Niderno sold 1,086 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.42, for a total value of $129,690.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 622 shares in the company, valued at approximately $74,279.24. This represents a 63.58% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . Company insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HIG. Proficio Capital Partners LLC grew its position in The Hartford Insurance Group by 9.7% in the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,773 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $632,000 after purchasing an additional 512 shares during the last quarter. Blueshift Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group during the 4th quarter worth about $269,000. HUB Investment Partners LLC raised its position in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group by 23.9% during the 4th quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC now owns 5,764 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $631,000 after buying an additional 1,113 shares in the last quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group by 20.5% during the 4th quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 759 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $83,000 after buying an additional 129 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in shares of The Hartford Insurance Group during the 4th quarter worth about $1,738,000. Institutional investors own 93.42% of the companys stock.

The Hartford Insurance Group Stock Performance

Shares of HIG stock opened at $123.34 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.31. The Hartford Insurance Group has a one year low of $103.96 and a one year high of $132.09. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $125.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $120.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.30, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.69.

The Hartford Insurance Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The insurance provider reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.15 by $0.05. The Hartford Insurance Group had a net margin of 11.10% and a return on equity of 18.73%. The business had revenue of $6.81 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.34 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that The Hartford Insurance Group will post 11.11 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The Hartford Insurance Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be given a $0.52 dividend. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 2nd. The Hartford Insurance Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.74%.

The Hartford Insurance Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

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Valued Retirements Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF (NYSEARCA:RPV  Free Report) in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor acquired 2,468 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $228,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 228,553 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,618,000 after acquiring an additional 13,200 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 127,462 shares of the companys stock worth $11,498,000 after purchasing an additional 1,752 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF by 120.7% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 99,916 shares of the companys stock worth $9,013,000 after purchasing an additional 54,641 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 74,073 shares of the companys stock worth $6,841,000 after purchasing an additional 1,140 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fidelity D & D Bancorp Inc. lifted its holdings in Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF by 9.8% in the 1st quarter. Fidelity D & D Bancorp Inc. now owns 70,365 shares of the companys stock worth $6,498,000 after purchasing an additional 6,283 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF Trading Up 0.7%

NYSEARCA RPV opened at $94.30 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $92.67 and its 200 day moving average is $91.25. Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF has a 12 month low of $80.40 and a 12 month high of $97.73. The stock has a market cap of $1.35 billion, a PE ratio of 13.00 and a beta of 1.17.

Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF Profile

The Invesco S&P 500 Pure Value ETF (RPV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the S&P 500\u002FCitigroup Pure Value index. The fund tracks an index of primarily large-cap, committee-selected US stocks. The index covers about 33% of the S&P 500s market cap, using three factors to select value stocks.

Further Reading

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Veralto (NYSE:VLTO  Get Free Report) is projected to release its Q2 2025 earnings data after the market closes on Monday, July 28th. Analysts expect Veralto to post earnings of $0.89 per share and revenue of $1.34 billion for the quarter. Veralto has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.600-3.700 EPS and its Q2 2025 guidance at 0.840-0.880 EPS.

Veralto (NYSE:VLTO  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.87 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $1.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.28 billion. Veralto had a return on equity of 45.63% and a net margin of 16.56%. The companys revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.84 EPS. On average, analysts expect Veralto to post $4 EPS for the current fiscal year and $4 EPS for the next fiscal year.

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Veralto Price Performance

Shares of Veralto stock opened at $103.38 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.19, a quick ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.62 billion, a PE ratio of 29.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.13 and a beta of 0.91. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $100.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $98.48. Veralto has a 12 month low of $83.86 and a 12 month high of $115.00.

Veralto Announces Dividend

Analysts Set New Price Targets

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.43%. Veraltos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.57%.

Several brokerages have recently commented on VLTO. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Veralto from $105.00 to $106.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on Veralto from $103.00 to $104.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Citigroup dropped their target price on Veralto from $116.00 to $100.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Veralto from $104.00 to $116.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Northcoast Research began coverage on Veralto in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. They set a buy rating and a $110.00 target price for the company. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Veralto has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $111.18.

View Our Latest Report on Veralto

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Veralto news, SVP Lesley Beneteau sold 458 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.84, for a total value of $46,184.72. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 13,571 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,368,499.64. This trade represents a 3.26% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Surekha Trivedi sold 848 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.55, for a total value of $85,266.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 8,433 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $847,938.15. This trade represents a 9.14% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 45,913 shares of company stock worth $4,339,370. Insiders own 0.36% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Veralto

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VLTO. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Veralto by 102.4% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 832 shares of the companys stock valued at $81,000 after purchasing an additional 421 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in shares of Veralto by 16.1% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,459 shares of the companys stock valued at $352,000 after purchasing an additional 479 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its stake in shares of Veralto by 20.4% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 4,551 shares of the companys stock valued at $443,000 after purchasing an additional 770 shares during the period. Finally, MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Veralto by 5.3% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 25,947 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,529,000 after purchasing an additional 1,306 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.28% of the companys stock.

About Veralto

(Get Free Report)

Veralto Corporation provides water analytics, water treatment, marking and coding, and packaging and color services worldwide. It operates through two segments, Water Quality (WQ) and Product Quality & Innovation (PQI). The WQ segment offers precision instrumentation and water treatment technologies to measure, analyze, and treat water in residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, research, and natural resource applications through the Hach, Trojan Technologies, and ChemTreat brands.

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Wealthstream Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 3.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,543 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 79 shares during the period. Wealthstream Advisors Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $404,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Philip Morris International by 19,986.5% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,486,928 shares of the companys stock worth $712,210,000 after purchasing an additional 4,464,590 shares during the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC grew its position in Philip Morris International by 372.2% during the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 5,453,285 shares of the companys stock worth $656,303,000 after purchasing an additional 4,298,530 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its position in Philip Morris International by 3.6% during 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. Geode Capital Management LLC grew 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 purchasing an additional 3,185,258 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lone Pine Capital LLC grew its position in Philip Morris International by 44.4% during the 4th quarter. Lone Pine Capital LLC now owns 6,468,372 shares of the companys stock worth $778,469,000 after purchasing an additional 1,987,716 shares during the last quarter. 78.63% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Philip Morris International Trading Down 0.1%

PM stock opened at $160.92 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $250.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.51. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $112.43 and a 52 week high of $186.69. The companys 50-day moving average price is $178.86 and its 200 day moving average price is $160.40.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The company reported $1.91 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.33 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 10.57% and a negative return on equity of 120.86%. The firms revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.59 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 27th were issued a dividend of $1.35 per share. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 27th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 102.66%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on PM. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued a buy rating and a $220.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Citigroup reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $182.00 target price (up previously from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Philip Morris International presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $186.73.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Philip Morris International

About Philip Morris International

(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.

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Wealthstream Advisors Inc. decreased its position in shares of iShares Russell 3000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWV  Free Report) by 0.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 53,882 shares of the companys stock after selling 133 shares during the quarter. iShares Russell 3000 ETF makes up approximately 3.2% of Wealthstream Advisors Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Wealthstream Advisors Inc.s holdings in iShares Russell 3000 ETF were worth $17,115,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of IWV. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 3000 ETF during the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC bought a new position in iShares Russell 3000 ETF during the 1st quarter worth $34,000. Garde Capital Inc. bought a new position in iShares Russell 3000 ETF during the 1st quarter worth $44,000. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in iShares Russell 3000 ETF during the 4th quarter worth $48,000. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont bought a new position in iShares Russell 3000 ETF during the 1st quarter worth $50,000.

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iShares Russell 3000 ETF Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWV opened at $362.05 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $16.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.11 and a beta of 1.02. iShares Russell 3000 ETF has a 12-month low of $273.60 and a 12-month high of $362.48. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $345.55 and a 200 day simple moving average of $332.76.

iShares Russell 3000 ETF Profile

iShares Russell 3000 ETF, formerly iShares Russell 3000 Index Fund (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 United States equity market, as represented by the Russell 3000 Index (the Index).

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Wealthstream Advisors Inc. lowered its position in Genpact Limited (NYSE:G  Free Report) by 6.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,336 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 453 shares during the quarter. Wealthstream Advisors Inc.s holdings in Genpact were worth $319,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of G. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Genpact by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,962,496 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $728,539,000 after acquiring an additional 61,376 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in Genpact by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 4,203,956 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $180,560,000 after acquiring an additional 55,771 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Genpact by 5.7% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,848,449 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $165,288,000 after acquiring an additional 208,759 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Genpact by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,825,344 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $170,175,000 after acquiring an additional 133,938 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Genpact by 8.7% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,400,636 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $146,057,000 after acquiring an additional 271,295 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.03% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on G shares. Mizuho increased their target price on Genpact from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Genpact in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. They set a hold rating and a $47.00 target price on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $50.00 price objective on shares of Genpact in a report on Monday, June 30th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Genpact from $56.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Genpact from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, June 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.75.

Genpact Stock Performance

Shares of G stock opened at $45.52 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.45 and a quick ratio of 2.45. The business has a fifty day moving average of $43.92 and a 200 day moving average of $47.20. Genpact Limited has a 1 year low of $32.18 and a 1 year high of $56.76.

Genpact (NYSE:G  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The business services provider reported $0.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.21 billion. Genpact had a return on equity of 22.35% and a net margin of 10.88%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.73 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Genpact Limited will post 3.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Genpact Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 11th will be given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 11th. Genpacts dividend payout ratio is currently 23.21%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Nicholas C. Gangestad purchased 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $43.97 per share, with a total value of $87,940.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 2,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $87,940. This trade represents a  increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 3.07% of the companys stock.

Genpact Company Profile

(Free Report)

Genpact Limited provides business process outsourcing and information technology services in India, rest of Asia, North and Latin America, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Financial services; Consumer and Healthcare; and High Tech and Manufacturing. The Financial Services segment offers retail customer onboarding, customer service, collections, card servicing operations, loan and payment operations, commercial loan, equipment and auto loan, mortgage origination, compliance services, reporting and monitoring, and wealth management operations support; financial crime and risk management services; and underwriting support, new business processing, policy administration, claims management, catastrophe modeling and actuarial services, as well as property and casualty claims.

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Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lowered its stake in The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK  Free Report) by 2.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,730,946 shares of the banks stock after selling 52,574 shares during the quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbanks holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $145,174,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. FMR LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 19.3% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 23,071,584 shares of the banks stock worth $1,772,590,000 after buying an additional 3,732,862 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp raised its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 19.1% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 9,533,615 shares of the banks stock valued at $732,468,000 after buying an additional 1,526,686 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 9,538.9% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,399,958 shares of the banks stock valued at $117,414,000 after buying an additional 1,385,434 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership raised its holdings in Bank of New York Mellon by 17.0% during the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 7,751,219 shares of the banks stock valued at $595,526,000 after buying an additional 1,125,493 shares during the period. Finally, AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in Bank of New York Mellon during the 1st quarter valued at $92,502,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.31% of the companys stock.

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Bank of New York Mellon Price Performance

Shares of BK stock opened at $100.96 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.72 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The company has a market capitalization of $72.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.41, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.07. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $91.96 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $86.05. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation has a one year low of $60.93 and a one year high of $101.16.

Bank of New York Mellon Increases Dividend

Bank of New York Mellon ( NYSE:BK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 15th. The bank reported $1.94 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.21. The firm had revenue of $4.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.80 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 13.46% and a net margin of 12.27%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.51 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation will post 6.96 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 25th. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.10%. This is a positive change from Bank of New York Mellons previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 28.70%.

Insider Activity at Bank of New York Mellon

In other news, EVP J Kevin Mccarthy sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $79.03, for a total transaction of $2,370,900.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 55,115 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,355,738.45. This trade represents a 35.25% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently weighed in on BK shares. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $95.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $105.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $96.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $94.38.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bank of New York Mellon

Bank of New York Mellon Profile

(Free Report)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 5.1% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 541,868 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 26,448 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company makes up 1.3% of Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbanks portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbanks holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $447,534,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Cornerstone Advisory LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Advisory LLC now owns 2,576 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,997,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the period. Providence Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Providence Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 12,759 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,210,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 27,477 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,694,000 after purchasing an additional 302 shares during the period. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 2,856 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,359,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the period. Finally, Allen Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Allen Investment Management LLC now owns 6,626 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,472,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. 82.53% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

LLY has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $1,135.00 price target (up from $1,133.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued an overweight rating and a $975.00 price target for the company. Wall Street Zen raised Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday. Hsbc Global Res cut Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a moderate sell rating in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, HSBC cut Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a reduce rating and lowered their price target for the company from $1,150.00 to $700.00 in a research note on Monday, April 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $1,012.56.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

Shares of LLY opened at $811.73 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $769.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 66.05, a P/E/G ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.40. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $677.09 and a twelve month high of $972.53. The company has a 50 day moving average of $771.95 and a 200-day moving average of $800.51. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $3.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.64 by ($1.30). The business had revenue of $12.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.77 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 85.51% and a net margin of 22.67%. Eli Lilly and Companys revenue was up 45.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $2.58 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement

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 $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.74%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is presently 48.82%.

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.

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Haorungbam Boycha (Ashirjit) Luwang

The recent ethnic conflict in Manipur, particularly between Meitei and Kuki communities, has exposed the deep-rooted failures of national political parties in addressing local issues. With hundreds killed and thousands displaced, the crisis has revealed not just a humanitarian tragedy but a political vacuum. In the face of such turmoil, the elected representatives of the state seemed paralyzed waiting for instructions from their party high commands in Delhi rather than responding decisively to the ground realities. This has ignited a strong and growing sentiment across Manipur for the creation of a powerful regional party that can represent the peoples interests with clarity, commitment, and courage.

National parties, by their very nature, tend to prioritize national agendas over local concerns. Their policies and political strategies are crafted with an eye on broader national narratives, often ignoring or downplaying the unique cultural, ethnic, and political contexts of states like Manipur. As a result, local needs and interests are frequently overlooked or mishandled. More often than not, the larger interests of the country and local issues do not complement each other and are incompatible, if not outright contradictory. During times of crisis, such as the recent violence, this incompatibility results in dangerous decision paralysis. Had there been a strong regional partyone that understood the local context intimatelyManipur might have witnessed a more timely and effective response. A regional party would have been better positioned to prioritize conflict management and resolution, maintain stability, and protect the interests of all communities in the state.

A regional party rooted in Manipurs soil could provide tailored solutions to the states complex problems, rather than relying on the one-size-fits-all approach often adopted by national parties. A regional party would be more sensitive to the preservation of local culture and identity, and more accountable to the people it serves.

Unlike national parties, which often function under centralized commands and opaque decision-making, a regional party would have to answer directly to its constituents. This direct line of accountability could foster greater transparency, responsiveness, and ultimately, trust in the political process. In the aftermath of the violent crisis that erupted on May 3, 2023 which is not fully resolved yet, a large section of the people now acutely feel the necessity of a responsible, vibrant and far-sighted regional political party, and the youth have realized the policy incompatibility vis-a-vis Indias larger interests and the local interest. In the face of the disappointing subservient attitude shown by local leaders of national political leaders which was starkly visible since the day 1 of the violent crisis till the imposition of the Presidents Rule, people started looking for an alternative to the highly centralized national political parties and the alternative has now started taking shape in the form of a regional party.

Across the state, young people are holding meetings, brainstorming ideas, and discussing how to create a political platform that can bring real change. Their enthusiasm is a promising sign of political awakening. However, so far, they have struggled to capitalize on the momentum and convert it into a tangible political reality. The challenges are significantbringing together likeminded individuals from different communities with diverse perspectives requires patience, coordination, and strong leadership. Without a clear structure and unified direction, there is a risk that their energy may dissipate before achieving any meaningful impact.

Another concern is that Manipur could experience a proliferation of regional parties, similar to the mushrooming of civil society organizations in the past. While a diversity of voices can enrich democratic dialogue, too many fragmented efforts could result in conflicting interests, diluted political influence, and weakened capacity for unified action. A fragmented political landscape could also complicate governance, leading to instability and further divisions in an already sensitive environment. On the other hand, if managed wisely under an over-arching common vision, a range of regional voices could also bring fresh ideas and more inclusive representation. The challenge lies in balancing diversity with cohesion and collaboration.

What Manipur truly lacks at the moment is principled leadershipleaders who are courageous, consistent, and committed to the states welfare. Too often, politicians in the state switch parties for personal gain, aligning themselves with whichever party that holds power at the Centre. This opportunism erodes public confidence and reduces politics to a game of self-interest. The people of Manipur yearn for leaders who stand firm in their values, act decisively during crises, and serve with integrity. Unfortunately, such defining attributes of a strong leadership are either absent or not visible among the current political class.

The call for a strong regional party in Manipur is not merely about political ambitionit is about reclaiming agency and restoring dignity. It is about ensuring that Manipurs future is decided by its own people, not dictated by distant power centers. The youth-led initiatives, despite their current limitations, offer a glimmer of hope. With the right vision, leadership, and unity, they can definitely evolve into a political force capable of transforming Manipurs political landscape.

Manipur does not need more fragmented political outfits; it needs a bold, unified, and locally grounded party that can represent its people, protect its identity, and push for progress with sincerity and resolve. The time to build that future is now. In fact, it is now or never!

The writer is political activist
RIMS Dental College bags 2nd prize

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IMPHAL, Jul 26: In a proud and momentous achievement for the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dental College, RIMS has secured the 2nd prize in the prestigious World Oral Health Day contest, organised by the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry (ISPPD).

The Nationwide competition, held from March 20 to April 20, 2025, saw participation from renowned den- tal institutions across India.

The event, a part of the globally observed World Oral Health Day on March 20, aimed at raising awareness about the importance of oral hygiene and preventive dental care.

This years contest encouraged innovation, com- munity engagement, and educational outreach focused on childrens oral health.

The RIMS team stood out for its impactful initiatives, creativity, and commitment to promoting dental health in the community, said the hospital in a statement.

The formal award presentation will take place during the inaugural function of the ISPPD Conference, scheduled for November 2025 in Bhubaneswar.

Adding to the accolades, this achievement follows the institutes National-level recognition in ISPPD 2024, where it was awarded the 1st Consolation Prize in the same competition, along with the 1st Prize in the "Nanhi Muskaan  Little Smile project"--focused on providing healthcare and support to underprivileged children.

The National-level accolades have solidified RIMS Imphals position as a premier institute in dental edu- cation, community service, and oral health innovation in India, said the hospital.

"These awards underscore the Dental Colleges consistent efforts and remarkable year-on-year pro- gress, further highlighting the institutes growing stature in pediatric and preven- tive dental care. These recognitions are a testament to the tireless efforts and dedication of the faculty, students, and staff of the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry," said the hospital, recognising the leadership and support of its Director Prof G Sunil Kumar Sharma, Medical Superintendent Prof N Sanjib Singh and Dental College Principal Prof B Praveen Reddy.


A 75-year-old resident of Mathabhanga II block in Cooch Behar, Nishikanta Das, has sought the intervention of chief minister Mamata Banerjee after receiving a notice from the Foreigners Tribunal in Kamrup, Assam, in connection with the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Having failed to furnish the required documents to prove his citizenship, Mr Das approached local Trinamul Congress (TMC) leaders for help. On Friday, Cooch Behar district TMC president Abhijit De Bhowmik and other leaders visited his residence and assured him that the chief minister would look into the matter and that he had nothing to worry about.

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Mr Bhowmik alleged that such notices were part of a deliberate attempt by the Assam government to harass Bengali-speaking people in border areas like Cooch Behar, particularly those belonging to the Rajbanshi and Namo Sudra communities. He announced plans to launch a protest movement against what he termed a politically motivated NRC process.

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According to Mr Bhowmik, at least three residents of Cooch Behar have recently received NRC-related notices from Assam.

Mr Das said he had received the notice about a month and a half ago and immediately travelled to Guwahati to consult a lawyer, carrying documents including land records dating back to 1958. However, he was asked to submit voter list records showing his fathers name  a document he could not locate, as his father had died over four decades ago.

Mr Das, who had gone to Assam 27 years ago in search of work, recalled being detained by Assam Police on suspicion of being a Bangladeshi national. He was released after establishing that he was a permanent resident of West Bengal.

I am not worried anymore because chief minister Mamata Banerjee will take care of this, he said.

Mr Bhowmik further claimed that such notices were being issued to spread panic and drive people towards the BJP ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The Trinamul Congress in its social media post mentioned the incident. It wrote: Nishikanta Das from Mathabhanga, a bonafide resident of Bengal, has been unjustly served an NRC notice by the Assam Government.

This is an act of POLITICAL TERRORISM. The Assam Government has no jurisdiction in Bengal. Yet, theyre issuing NRC notices to Bengali citizens, blatantly undermining our federal structure. This @BJP4Indias backdoor NRC. Having failed to win Bengal politically, they now want to render Bengalis STATELESS in their own homeland.

So long as Smt. @MamataOfficial leads Bengal, we will not allow even a single citizen to be robbed of their rights, dignity, or existence. BJP, youve opened a dangerous front. Now prepare for a long, bitter, and unforgiving fight.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will meet community Durga Puja committees on 31 July at the Netaji Indoor Stadium (NIS) and announce the amount of the grant to the organisers.

The Durga Puja festival is scheduled during the end of September this year.

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In 2024, Miss Banerjee had announced a hike in the honorarium for community Durga Pujas, increasing it to Rs 85,000 per Puja committee from Rs 70,000 in 2023 with an assurance of Rs one lakh each in 2025.

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This time, the chief minister may hike the grant amount, some officials at the state secretariat felt.

Besides the chief minister and her cabinet colleagues, the state chief secretary, home secretary, commissioner of police and director general of police will attend the meeting. Senior officials of the fire and emergency services department, health department, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, CESC and representatives of other utility services will attend the meeting.

Representatives of around 40,000 community Puja organisers will also participate in the NIS meet. Different religious communities have also been asked to send their representatives to attend the meeting where she may give some guidelines on how keep common regular services starting from drinking water, public transport, healthcare facilities, law and order etc normal during the festival.

In a bid to save Ganga from pollution, collections and disposals of idol structures immediately after immersions will also be discussed in the event.

The ghats, where immersions are done are illuminated and the KMC provides facilities needed for smooth immersion.

Durga Puja has received the Intangible Heritage Tag by UNESCO. Over the past few years, the state government has organized the Puja Carnival both in Kolkata and districts where the best Puja organizers take part in a procession on the way to immersing the idol in river Hooghly.

The honorarium given to over 40,000 community Durga Pujas last year cost the state exchequer more than Rs 340 crore.

Several community Puja organisers had rejected the state government honorarium as a mark of protest in the aftermath of brutal rape and murder of a female resident doctor at s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on 9 August in 2024.
Trinamul Congress student wing, Trinamul Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), on Saturday criticised the University of Calcuttas decision to hold undergraduate exams on 28 July, the day the students celebrate its foundation day.

The university has scheduled BA LLB semester 4 and B.Com semester 4 exams on Monday.

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The Trinamul Congress leadership had blamed the Union government over the development.

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In a social media post, TMCP state president Trinankur Bhattacharjee alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to stop the students outside to hold its foundation day programme at the behest of the central government.

Like every year, chief minister and Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee, along with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee addresses student leaders on the day.

A deep conspiracy has been hatched to stop todays student and youth society who are inspired by the ideals of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, Bhattacharya wrote.

On 28 August, the foundation day of the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad, Calcutta University, has suddenly announced the exam schedule for B.Com Semester 4 and B.A.LLB Semester 4 and the time has been given exactly from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.  this is not an ordinary academic decision. This makes it clear that it is a political ploy to obstruct the democratic rights of students and act at the behest of Delhi, Trinankur said.

The students body also wrote a letter to Calcutta Universitys interim vice-chancellor expressing a strong objection to the universitys decision to hold the exam.

The letter read: The decision to hold exams on this day is not only disrespectful but also appears to be a deliberate attempt to undermine the sentiments of students associated with TMCP. We demand an immediate rescheduling of the examinations fixed on that day.

We seek a fair and immediate intervention from your end to ensure that the examination date is rescheduled so that students are not forced to compromise on either front. Hoping for a prompt and just response, read the letter.

The TMCP state president further said that this decision was putting not only the students who support the Trinamul Chhatra Parishad, but also all ordinary students in extreme difficulty, as they would find it difficult to commute that day due to large gatherings. He claimed that Calcutta Universitys interim vice chancellor had taken this to serve her political interests and hence the development was extremely unfortunate, anti-democratic, and condemnable.

Interim vice-chancellor of the University of Calcutta, Shanta Dutta, however, dismissed the TMCPs allegation and said examination dates were announced in advance.

The university does not hold exams only on public holidays. It is not possible to hold exams keeping in mind the dates of every political event. Therefore, this allegation is completely baseless, the vice-chancellor said.
Dengue cases have been on the rise in parts of East Burdwan over the past week, affecting both urban and rural areasparticularly in the Purbasthali-II block.

Health officials have identified transovarial transmission as a key factor contributing to the surge.

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As of Saturday afternoon, district health authorities had recorded 116 cases, with 19 cases newly reported. The Burdwan South and North sub-divisions have reported 21 and 29 cases respectively, officials said. Senior health officials noted that the clustering trend mirrors that of JuneJuly 2024.

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Dr Sunetra Majumdar, deputy chief medical officer of East Burdwan, said: In view of the current trend, we have intensified vector control activities across the district.

A review meeting was held on Wednesday to assess the situation in Purbasthali and Burdwan town, with emphasis on the need for greater public awareness.

During the last monsoon, 556 dengue cases were reported in the district, of which 483 were from rural areas. The Purbasthali-I & II and Kalna-I blocks alone accounted for 299 cases. In response, the East Burdwan zilla parishad deployed 200 folk artists to raise awareness and combat the outbreak.

Biswanath Roy, zilla parishad karmadhyaksha for public health engineering, said: We have intensified awareness efforts and are maintaining close supervision of vulnerable areas this year.

Speaking on the role of transovarial transmission, Dr Majumdar explained: The dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, continues to spread the virus even after the death of the mother mosquito, as the virus is passed on to her offspring. This results in newly-hatched mosquitoes already carrying the virus.

Officials also warned that dengue larvae can remain dormant on the walls of dry containers for up to a year. A new advisory has been issued urging people to clean empty water buckets and containers thoroughly with soap to prevent breeding.

High-rise buildings in urban areas, railway stations, and inter-market zones have been brought under surveillance, which Dr Majumdar identified as highly vulnerable locations.
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) under the Department of Commerce does not extend any subsidy to farmers taking up Organic cultivation under the National Programme of Organic Production (NPOP). The figure of Rs 50,000 per hectare and the further wrongly imputed calculations have no basis, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said, refuting the unfounded allegations in Organic Cotton Certification.

The ministry further said the organic certification under NPOP is not limited only to Madhya Pradesh but is spread across 31 States/UTs.

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According to the records (as on 19 July 2025), there are 4712 active Organic grower groups covering around 19,29,243 farmers certified by the accredited certification bodies under NPOP.

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These grower groups are involved in the production of a wide range of crops, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, tea, coffee, spices, and not only cotton.

Thus, the number of Organic grower groups as mentioned in the briefing is incorrect, along with the number of farmers, it is also misleading to infer that all the Organic grower groups of India are based in Madhya Pradesh and are producing only Cotton, the ministry statement said.

It is pertinent to mention that cotton is covered under NPOP only till the production level. Thereafter, the post production, including ginning, processing etc, is done under private certification.

The ministry said there is a third level of check on the CB by the NAB through APEDA, by undertaking unannounced audits of operators including grower groups (ICS) based on risk assessment/ complaints received, which is conducted by an evaluation committee constituted by the NAB and coordinated by APEDA.

The Commerce Ministry mentioned that in a press briefing by an opposition leader on Saturday, unfounded, unsubstantiated and misleading aspersions are being cast against the Organic Certification programme, the NPOP.

Generalised allegations against a robust regulatory system of the Country for a particular crop/ region/ group of operators only serve to undermine the credibility of legitimate regulatory institutions and the broader organic movement in India, it added.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is set to lay off around 2% of its workforceroughly over 12,000 employeesover the year, reports suggest. The move comes amid macro uncertainties and AI-led technology disruptions continuing to affect business demand.

As of the end of June, the Mumbai-headquartered Tata subsidiary employed a workforce of 6,13,069.

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In a statement, the company said it is on a journey to become a future-ready organisation.

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As part of this journey, we will also be releasing associates from the organisation whose continued deployment may not be feasible. This will affect about 2% of our global workforce, primarily at the middle and senior levels, over the course of the year, the IT giant said.

This transition is being planned with due care to ensure there is no impact on service delivery to our clients. We understand that this is a challenging time for our colleagues who may be affected. We thank them for their service, and we will be making every effort to provide appropriate benefits, outplacement guidance, counselling, and support as they transition to new opportunities, it added.

Notably, the software services companies in India have a cumulative revenue of over $283 billion. They remain the largest private sector employers, with TCS being the largest.

TCS made the layoff decision after several employees filed legal complaints against the companys recently tweaked employee bench policy.

The policy allows employees only 35 non-deployment days per year and requires them to maintain at least 225 billable days annually.

TCS has announced its comprehensive strategic approach, which includes investments in emerging technologies, market expansion, large-scale AI implementation for clients and internal operations, strengthening partnerships, developing advanced infrastructure, and restructuring its employment framework.
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has arrested one Karanbir alias Karan on the charge of having allegiance with the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a banned terrorist organisation, from Gurdaspur. He is said to be involved in the grenade attack on the Quila Lal Singh Police Station in Batala, Punjab.

Karanbir was arrested in connection with an Arms Act case registered in the Special Cell Police Station.

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During interrogation, he confessed to his involvement in the grenade attack case, which is under investigation by the National Investigation Agency.

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On July 22, the Special Cell arrested a 22-year-old wanted terrorist, Akashdeep alias Bazz, an associate of the Babbar Khalsa International, from Indore in Madhya Pradesh in connection with a grenade attack.

During his custodial remand, and based on the leads during interrogation as well as inputs from intelligence sources, another accused, Karanbir, was arrested from Gurdaspur in Punjab.

Following the grenade attack, a post circulated on social media by Happy Passia, Mannu Agwan, and Gopi Nawanshahria  associates of the banned terror outfit BKI  claimed responsibility for the attack and issued threats targeting the national capital.

Twenty-two-year-old Karanbir has studied up to Class 12.

During questioning, he revealed that he had been in contact with a person from Punjab who is based abroad and handles operations for the banned outfit.

It has been revealed that he was in touch with the handler through social media applications and was receiving instructions to carry out criminal acts of terror.

He had also visited a West Asian country in 2024. The accused is said to have facilitated the stay of two persons at his residence prior to the grenade attack in Batala. Further investigation is currently underway in the matter, a police official said.
Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta met Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, here on Sunday. Gupta apprised the Deputy Chairman about the transformational initiatives currently underway at the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

During the meeting, Gupta presented a comprehensive overview of the Assemblys recent achievements and its forward-looking vision to evolve as a model institution of democratic governance.

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Further, the Speaker informed the Deputy Chairman about National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) progress, stating that it is expected to be completed ahead of the forthcoming Monsoon Session. This will significantly enhance the digitisation of legislative business, enabling seamless digital access to House proceedings and legislative documents, he elaborated.

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Gupta also said that as part of the Delhi Legislative Assemblys commitment to environmental sustainability, a 500-kW solar power plant has been installed on the Assembly premises and will soon be operational. With this milestone, the Assembly is expected to transition entirely to renewable energy in the near future, establishing itself as a pioneering example of green legislative infrastructure in the country, he said.

This initiative is designed to promote the integration of clean energy within government operations, while significantly reducing the Assemblys carbon footprint and long-term energy costs. This initiative is in line with Indias national targets of meeting 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable sources and achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based generating capacity by the year 2030, he added further.

The Deputy Chairman was also informed about the ongoing initiative to digitise the Assembly Library aims to modernise access to legislative records, archives, and research materials for Members and staff alike. It was also revealed that to celebrate and preserve the institutions historical and architectural legacy, plans are also in motion to develop the Delhi Assembly complex into a heritage site of national importance.

These initiatives, Gupta stated, are part of a broader mission to position the Delhi Legislative Assembly as a digitally empowered, environmentally conscious, and culturally enriched institution, serving as a model for inter-legislative cooperation and shared democratic advancement across the country.

The Deputy Chairman appreciated the progressive efforts of Speaker Gupta and expressed confidence that these forward-looking measures would not only strengthen democratic processes at the state level but also inspire other legislative bodies across the country to adopt similar reforms.
The Election Commission of Bihar has successfully completed the first phase of the Special Integrated Revision (SIR) process, covering 99.8 per cent of the states electors, the poll panel said in its daily press update on Sunday.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar, forms of over 7.23 crore electors have been received and digitised, with their names set to be included in the Draft Electoral Roll scheduled for release on August 1.

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Approximately 22 lakh electors have been reported as deceased since June 24, and around 7 lakh electors were found registered in multiple locations. About 35 lakh electors have either permanently migrated or could not be traced, while approximately 1.2 lakh enumeration forms are yet to be received.

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The CEO of Bihar, along with 38 District Election Officers (DEOs), 243 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 2,976 Assistant EROs (AEROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) across 77,895 polling booths, led the successful execution of the first phase of the SIR drive. Over 1.60 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) representing 12 major political parties also contributed to the process.

From August 1 to September 1, any elector or political party can file claims and objections to the ERO concerned for the inclusion of eligible electors or the removal of ineligible electors. The Draft Electoral Roll will be published on August 1 and will be available on the CEOs website for public access.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit his Varanasi parliamentary constituency on August 2 when the local MP will gift the city with several development projects worth over Rs1000 crore.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will reach Kashi on Monday to hold a meeting with the officials and inspect the venue of the MPs programme. He will also finalise the list of projects to be inaugurated by the PM.

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According to officials here on Sunday, Chief Minister Yogi will seek all the details about the facilities to be provided during the prime ministers public meeting in Banauli (Kalika Dham) of Sevapuri block on his Kashi visit. More than 50,000 people from all assembly segments of Varanasi Lok Sabha are expected to participate.

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The CM will give instructions to the officials on all issues including parking space, drinking water and security during the PMs visit.

The chief minister will also visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Kaal Bhairav Temple. As tomorrow is the auspicious third Somvaar of the holy month of Sawan.

Meanwhile, BJPs Kashi region president Dilip Patel said that a list of vehicles of workers, officials and senior leaders is being prepared at each divisional level under all the eight assembly constituencies in Varanasi for the PM programme.

Before the visit of the PM, BJP will run a city cleanliness campaign till August 1.

Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal and District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar have inspected the public meeting venue and the proposed routes. The public meeting venue will be under the surveillance of drone sm. Proper arrangements are being made for the entry and exit of people in the public meeting venue along with parking.

There are proposed development projects worth more than Rs 1,000 crore for foundation stone laying and inauguration. This will include many schemes related to overbridge, four-lane road, health and urban development. Many foundation stone laying schemes including Hi-Tech Corporations Mini House, Digital Library at Sigra, multi-level Car Parking at Assi and underground Parking near Sigra Stadium are expected by the PM.
Czech President, Petr Pavel, on Sunday called on Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in Leh (Ladakh), where he is currently camping.

The Dalai Lama welcomed President Pavel at his residence, Shewatsel Phodrang, in Leh.

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Sources said that during the meeting, President Pavel expressed support for the Middle Way Approach and the Dalai Lamas call for genuine autonomy for Tibet.

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Further details of the meeting are awaited.

The Dalai Lama had returned to Leh yesterday from Zanskar, where he had delivered teachings and sermons for about a week.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin returned home after being discharged from hospital on Sunday evening.

He was admitted to hospital following giddiness during his routine morning walk on July 21 and after preliminary tests doctors advised him to stay at the hospital for three more days. Later, his stay at the hospital was extended for monitoring and carrying out more tests.

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Apollo hospital in a bulletin said, The chief minister is fit for discharge after successfully recovering from the therapeutic procedure done by the expert team.

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He has been advised to resume his normal duties, it added.

On Thursday, the chief minister underwent a successful cardiac therapeutic procedure to correct irregular variations in his heart rate, which was identified as the reason for his giddiness. A diagnostic angiogram was also carried out, the hospital said.

On reaching home, Stalin thanked all those who inquired about his health and the doctors who attended on him. Returned home from hospital in good health. My heartfelt thanks to those who wished me speedy recovery with concern  from leaders of political parties to peoples representatives, judges, film personalities and the party cadre. My sincere thanks to the doctors who gave special care and the nurses and others, he wrote on X.

The very next day after his hospitalisation, Stalin continued to carry out his official duties from the hospital, turning his suite into his camp office with officials in attendance. He shared on social media pictures of his interaction with beneficiaries of government schemes and with party functionaries.
Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi has strongly defended the state governments decision to shift the College of Horticulture and Forestry from Thunag to Sundernagar in Mandi district, stating that the move was made purely on safety grounds.

He alleged that a few local businessmen and BJP workers were politicizing the issue for personal gain, even going so far as to insult the national flag during a protest in Thunag.

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While addressing the media here on Sunday, Negi said, It is not right to put the lives of children at risk just to benefit a few businessmen. The area has experienced recurring natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. Many students staying in rented houses told us they do not feel safe returning. The decision to shift the college was taken after discussions with the university and due consideration of the risks involved.

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Negi reiterated that the relocation was based on safety concerns and student feedback, and emphasized that there was no vacant land available in the Seraj area for constructing proper college infrastructure.

He further alleged that during his visit to the rain-affected areas of Mandi district, BJP workers and some businessmen disrupted the peace.

They surrounded my vehicle in Lambathach, hurled slipper-like objects at it, waved black cloth, and tried to block my official vehicle. My vehicle carried the national flag, which was disrespected. This is a serious matter, and a case of sedition could be registered, he warned.

The general public is benefiting from the state governments rehabilitation efforts, and there has been no protest from their side. It is only local BJP leaders and traders who are raising objections. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is personally looking into the matter, he added.

Negi clarified that he began his tour from Gohar and moved through Bagshad and Thunag, inspecting relief and rehabilitation work.

I met affected families, visited damaged sites, and convened a review meeting with senior district officials. There was no resentment among the public. Only a few individuals, mostly BJP supporters, were attempting to pressure the government to reverse its decision on the college, he stated.

He also criticized Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur for not visiting even a single school affected by the calamity.

One school building filled with silt was not visited by him. I had a JCB deployed there immediately. A district-level high-level committee meeting was also held, he said.

Negi accused BJP leaders of misleading the public and politicizing disaster relief efforts.

There is no transparency in the relief distribution they are talking about. And those accusing me of running away should understand that I went there to inspect, not to settle permanently, he remarked.

He also took aim at BJP leader Dr. Rajeev Bindal for supporting the protest, saying, The real shameful incident was not the relocation of the college, but the insult to the national flag.
Crediting the imperial Chola dynasty for giving the blueprint for a resurgent new India of the future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday eulogised emperors, Raja Raja and Rajendra Chola, as identities of Bharat as their rule was a golden era of the country.

PM Modi said this while participating in the birth anniversary celebration of Rajendra Chola I and the 1000th commemoration of his victory over the Sri Vijaya Kingdom of present-day Indonesia, at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, in the Ariyalur district.

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He said, The names, Raja Raja and his son, Rajendra, are identities of Bharat. Their empire, according to historians, was one of the golden eras of India. While Raja Raja built a navy, Rajendra expanded and strengthened it as a formidable force. During his reign, the country was very advanced not only in warfare but also in many domains and on those lines, we have to strengthen our armed forces, Modi said.

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Though historians used to turn to Magna Carta of Britain as the mother of democracy, it is the Cholas who have the legitimate claim to that. The system of kudavolai, a method of voting to elect functionaries for local administration and panchayats was the precursor for modern democracy. As such, it is not the British, but the Cholas, who were the pioneers of democracy, he said, adding that the Cholas had a futuristic vision in water management.

Unlike kings of those times, who brought hefty booty from conquered territories, Rajendra brought Ganga water and built a jalasthambam, a liquid pillar of victory  Chola Gangam, the massive lake abutting Gangaikonda Cholapuram, the capital, constructed to mark his successful military expedition to the Gangetic plains. They are pioneers of water management and it is a message very relevant in these days when we are confronted with climate change, was how he praised the visionary Cholas.

As the peoples representative of Kashi (Varanasi), Im proud to bring Ganga jal to Chola Gangam, the lake built by Rajendra, he asserted.

The prime minister, who released a commemorative coin on Rajendra Chola, said the temple that the monarch had erected as a replica of the Thanjavur Big temple, is one of the great monuments of the world.

Our government follows the footsteps of the Cholas in strengthening and integrating the nation and its people. Saivite philosopher Thirumoolars dictum Anbe Sivam; (Love is Shiva), the futuristic vision is the guiding principle of our government and it is the mantra for saving the world from war and violence, Modi said and announced that statues for both Raja Raja and Rajendra would be erected in Tamil Nadu to honour them.

Modi, the first PM to visit Gangaikonda Cholapuram, arrived attired in white dhoti and white sleeveless shirt with a towel around his shoulders. Seated on the dais, he appeared immersed in the Thiruvasagam symphony rendering of maestro Ilayaraja. Thiruvasagam is a collection of devotional hymns on Shiva composed by saint Manickavasagar, one of the famed Saivite quartet. Earlier, he offered worship at the temple by performing aarti. On his arrival he was accorded the traditional temple honours.
The 14th edition of the IndiaSingapore joint military exercise, Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025, commenced on Sunday at Jodhpur. The exercise saw the participation of the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment of the 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade and the Indian Armys Mechanised Infantry Regiment.

A statement from the Ministry of Defence said that the exercise will be conducted as a Table Top Exercise and Computer-Based Wargame, aimed at validating operational procedures for mechanised warfare. It will culminate in an equipment display by the Indian Army. The objective of the exercise is to enhance the interoperability and joint training capabilities of both armies under a United Nations mandate, thereby strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, the statement added.

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The opening ceremony witnessed the participation of senior officers from both sides. Colonel Arjun Ganapathi, Commanding Officer of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, led the Indian contingent, while Lieutenant Colonel Khiew Zhi Yoong, Battalion Commander of the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment, headed the Singaporean side.

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Brigadier Pritam, Commander of 340 (I) Mechanised Brigade, and Colonel Wong Zeng Yu, Commander of the 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade, were present as chief guests.

A symbolic handing over of the Regimental Flag by the 42 Singapore Armoured Regiment to the Indian contingent also took place, signifying the formal transfer of command to the Indian formation for the duration of the exercise.

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025 will further consolidate the strong defence ties between India and Singapore and foster greater mutual understanding and collaboration at both tactical and strategic levels, the MoD spokesperson said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to APJ Abdul Kalam, saying his thoughts motivate the youths to contribute towards building a developed and strong India.

Kalam served as the 11th President of India between 2002 and 2007.

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Known as the Missile Man of India, Kalam earned the respect and admiration of people and political parties across the spectrum for his simple living and non-partisan conduct.

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Paying rich tributes to Kalam, PM Modi said that he is remembered as an inspiring visionary, outstanding scientist and a great patriot.

On his death anniversary, paying homage to our beloved former President, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He is remembered as an inspiring visionary, outstanding scientist, mentor and a great patriot. His dedication to our nation was exemplary. His thoughts motivate the youth of India to contribute towards building a developed and strong India, PM Modi wrote on his X handle.

PM Modi has held Kalam in high esteem. Last year, while remembering him on his birth anniversary, the PM remarked on his unique achievements, noting how rare it was for someone to become a Rashtra Ratna (Jewel of the Nation) before assuming the role of President of the Nation.

Dr Kalam was one of Indias most respected scientists and leaders and is remembered for his extraordinary, simple life and high work. He played a key role in developing Indias missile and defence systems. His major contribution came through the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, which led to successful missiles like Agni and Prithvi.

Kalam played a key role in giving India nuclear capabilities. In 1998, he was one of the chief coordinators of the Pokhran-II series of nuclear tests, in which five bombs were detonated at a test range in the town of Pokhran, Rajasthan.

Kalam was called a peoples president, and he loved inspiring and encouraging the youth and children. On July 27, 2015, Kalam collapsed while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong and was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest soon afterwards.

BJP national chief and Union Minister J.P. Nadda, while paying his tribute to Kalam, said his life is a remarkable saga of struggle and success and his unparalleled contribution to making India a nuclear-powered nation is unforgettable.

I pay my heartfelt respects to the former President of India, great scientist, Bharat Ratna, Missile Man Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his death anniversary. Dr. Kalams life is a remarkable saga of struggle and success. He faced numerous obstacles in his life, but with his unwavering determination and diligence, not only overcame them but also reached the highest office of the country. His unparalleled contribution to making India a nuclear-powered nation is unforgettable. His thoughts and actions for national upliftment will always continue to inspire us all for service to the nation, wrote Nadda on X.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath paid homage to Kalam and said his life was about simplicity, dedication, and patriotism, which is a divine inspiration for the entire nation.

Humble tribute to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, Missile Man, and Bharat Ratna, on his death anniversary. His life, full of simplicity, dedication, and patriotism, is a divine inspiration for the entire nation. His illuminating thoughts in the fields of science, education, and innovation will continue to enlighten us all, CM Yogi wrote on X.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

In a post on handle X, PM Modi extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected, PM Modi said.

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The Prime Ministers Office has been closely monitoring the situation, and the local administration is working to provide all necessary assistance to those affected by the incident.

The stampede occurred during a peak pilgrimage season, and authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

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As per media reports, at least six people died and dozens of devotees suffered injuries in a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in the holy city of Haridwar in Uttarakhand. The stampede occurred on the staircases on the temple road leading to the main temple. Police suggest rumours about potential electrocution caused panic among the crowd and led to the stampede.

PM Modis message brought solace to the families of the victims, and his expression of grief highlights the governments commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens, particularly during religious gatherings and pilgrimages.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Sunday ordered the immediate transfer of the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), the Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Harda district in connection with the lathi charge at the Rajput Hostel during a protest by Karni Sena activists on 13 July.

The Chief Minister also directed the removal of the Station House Officers (SHOs) of Harda City Kotwali and Harda Traffic Police Station from field duty. Both officers have been attached to the office of the Narmadapuram Inspector General of Police.

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The CM had ordered an inquiry into the incident on 15 July while he was on an official visit to Dubai.

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Dr Yadav informed today that the inquiry revealed lapses on the part of the police and district administration.

He stated that action has been taken against the officials due to the inappropriate and excessive use of force at a community-run hostel and the failure to handle the situation with the required sensitivity.

The officials who have been removed include ASP RD Prajapati, SDOP Archana Sharma, SDM Khuman Shanu Devadiya, City Kotwali SHO Prahlad Singh Marskoley, and Traffic Inspector Sandeep Sunesh.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Odishas Jajpur district to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) on the alleged cover-up by local police in the brutal murder of a worker at a stone crusher unit.

The complainant, rights activist Srikant Pakal, alleged that the victim, a 22-year-old labourer, was brutally beaten with an iron rod on 27 April by his employer and associates of the Padmabati Crusher Unit, located under Rahadpur Gram Panchayat in Dharmashala Block of Jajpur district. The labourer succumbed to his injuries after battling for life for four days.

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Despite the gruesome assault that led to the victims death, the police allegedly failed to register a case, as the accused were reportedly backed by influential politicians, according to Pakals petition to the NHRC.

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The victims family was allegedly forced to sign blank papers and threatened with dire consequences if they pursued legal action against the accused.

The allegations made in the complaint prima facie appear to be serious violations of the human rights of the victim. The Bench of the National Human Rights Commission, presided over by Member Priyank Kanoongo, has taken cognizance under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the Commission stated in its order.

The Registry is directed to issue a notice to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Jajpur, with instructions to have the allegations inquired into and to submit an Action Taken Report within four weeks for the Commissions perusal, the order further stated.
After a week-long impasse, Parliament is set to resume its proceedings smoothly from Monday with the government agreeing to hold a special discussion on Operation Sindoor, a decisive military operation in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

The development came after an agreement was reached between the government and the Opposition on Friday to ensure smooth functioning of both houses during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament that started July 21 and has since not transacted any constructive business.

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The agreement was hammered out during a meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla with floor leaders from various political parties and government representatives, including Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Congress Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi. As part of the agreement, the government has allocated 16 hours for the debate on Operation Sindoor, which has been hailed as a strong, successful, and decisive response to terrorism.

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Operation Sindoor is a retaliatory military operation conducted by the Indian armed forces in response to a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation aimed to neutralize the terrorists and prevent further attacks on civilians and security personnel.

The governments decision to hold a special discussion on the Operation reflects its commitment to transparency and accountability. The Opposition had been demanding a discussion on the operation, seeking clarity on the governments response to the terrorist attack and the measures taken to prevent future attacks.

Parliaments proceedings were disrupted for the fifth consecutive day till Friday due to protests by the opposition over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as the Vice President of India.

The INDIA bloc MPs had been demanding a discussion on the SIR exercise, citing concerns over voter disenfranchisement and alleging cheating in the voter list revision process.

The protests had led to repeated adjournments of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, with the opposition staging protests inside and outside Parliament. However, with the agreement in place, Parliament is now expected to function smoothly, allowing for meaningful discussions and debates on important issues, including Operation Sindoor.

The governments willingness to engage in a debate on the operation demonstrates its commitment to transparency and accountability. The opposition, in turn, has agreed to cooperate with the government to ensure the smooth functioning of Parliament. With the impasse now behind them, lawmakers can focus on discussing critical issues and holding the government accountable for its actions.
In the 124th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the rich historical and cultural legacy of Uttar Pradesh, with a special mention of Kalinjar Fort in the Banda district.

He described it as more than just a structure of brick and stonecalling it a living embodiment of Indias culture, values, and self-respect.

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The prime minister remarked that the essence of Indian culture and pride is reflected in the majestic forts of Uttar Pradesh. Citing Kalinjar Fort as a powerful example, he recalled its historic resistance to repeated invasions by Mahmud Ghaznavi. He also highlighted other significant forts of the Bundelkhand regionGwalior, Jhansi, Datia, Ajaygarh, Garhkundar, and Chandericalling them treasured cultural heritage sites. He urged citizens to visit these places and take pride in Indias glorious past.

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In addition to highlighting heritage, the prime minister commended the publics unwavering commitment to cleanliness in Uttar Pradesh. Referring to the Gomti Nadi Swachhata Team of Lucknow, he praised the group for cleaning the Gomti River every Sunday for the past ten yearswithout fail and fatiguecalling their dedication truly inspiring.

The prime ministers appreciation coincides with major initiatives being undertaken by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Under his leadership, the states Tourism Department is actively working to restore historic fortsparticularly Kalinjarand develop them as major tourist destinations. Simultaneously, a large-scale river rejuvenation campaign is underway across the state. Small rivers in various districts are being revived, with extensive tree plantations along their banksa significant step toward environmental conservation.

The prime ministers address not only brought national attention to Uttar Pradeshs cultural and historical wealth, but also acknowledged and encouraged the developmental and conservation efforts led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Six devotees died and 26 others were injured in a stampede at Mansadevi Temple in Haridwar on Sunday morning. The injured were rushed to the hospital.

The administration attributed the stampede to a panic over an electric wire that fell on the temple steps amid the presence of a huge crowd of the devotees.

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Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed six deaths in the stampede. He said the exact cause of the stampede would be known only after a probe into the incident, but officials in the Haridwar district administration claimed that it happened due to the panic over the fall of a livewire on the temple steps breaking away from the pole. It caused panic in the public leading to chaos. Its learnt that breaking away of a wire from a electric pole was the main cause of stampede. More details about the incident can be had only after the probe. The injured, who were shifted to a government hospital, are undergoing treatment said Haridwar District Magistrate Mayur Dixit.

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Pandey and the Haridwar district magistrate did not share more details. A district administration official informed that around 28 devotees were injured in the stampede. Later, a statement was issued by the state Disaster Management Department confirming six deaths. Five of the injured were in a critical condition and admitted at AIIMs Rishikesh while 23 others were undergoing medication at two government hospitals in Haridwar.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conveyed his condolences to the deceased devotees and announces 2lakh compensation to each the families of each deceased.

In a social media post, Dhami said, The news of the heartbreaking incident on Mansa Devi Temple steps in Haridwar resulting in the death of six people is extremely saddening. I pray God to grant peace to the souls of the deceased devotees and provide strength to the grieving families to bear their sorrow. The state government will provide an assistance of 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and 50,000 each to the injured persons. Dhami also announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

According to Pandey, the stampede occurred in the morning when the steps of the Mansa Devi temple, located on the hilltop, were heavily crowded by the devotees. Pandey, who headed to the accident spot from Dehradun, said the real reason for the stampede could be known only after an inquiry. He further informed that the situation was bro7ght under control in a few hours of starting rescue and relief operation by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police and district administration.
The tragic stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Sunday left at least six people dead and several others injured. The toll is likely to increase as some of the injured are in critical condition.

According to initial assessment by the police and eyewitness accounts, the stampede possibly broke out due to a sudden surge in devotees and rumours of an electric current on the temple stairs.

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According to officials, the stampede began on the main stairway leading to the shrine when someone spread a rumour that an electric wire had fallen on the stairs and that current was running through the metal railings.

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In panic, devotees started pushing each other to escape the narrow passage, causing people to fall over one another.

Preliminary probe suggests that panic spread after rumours about an electric wire. People tried to move away, which resulted in jostling, and they fell on each other, said Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal.

Sudesh Sharma, an eyewitness from Bihar who was injured in the incident, recounted the panic that led to the deadly crush.

I had come to the Mansa Devi Temple to offer prayers. While we were on the stairs, a massive crowd suddenly surged, and in that chaos, we fell. Many people suffered injuries, everyone fell during the stampede, Sharma, a resident of Bihar, told a news agency.

Meanwhile, the Haridwar police have launched an investigation and are collecting forensic evidence to determine the exact sequence of events.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

He further said strict action will be taken against whoever is found guilty, adding that all possible efforts are being made to help the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that when the country comes together on one thought, even the impossible becomes possible. Swachh Bharat Mission is the biggest example of this, he stated, and stressed that soon this mission will complete 11 years, but its strength and its need are still the same.

In these 11 years, Swachh Bharat Mission has become a mass movement. People consider it their duty, and this is real public participation, PM Modi said in his address in the 124th Episode of Mann Ki Baat.

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He said the Swachh Survey, conducted every year, has lifted this feeling further.

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This year, more than 4500 cities and towns of the country joined it. More than 15 crore people participated in it. This is not an ordinary number. This is the voice of Swachh Bharat, he noted.

PM Modi said when it comes to cleanliness, cities and towns are working in different ways according to their needs and surroundings, adding that their impact is not just limited to these cities; the whole country is adopting these methods.

Giving an example, he said the people of Kirtinagar in Uttarakhand are setting a new example of waste management in the hills.

Similarly, organic waste management is being done with the help of technology in Mangaluru. There is a small city called Roing in Arunachal. There was a time when waste management was a big challenge confronting the health of the people there. The people there took responsibility for it. Green Roing Initiative was started, and then an entire park was created from recycled waste. Similarly, many new examples of water management have been set in Karad; in Vijayawada. The cleanliness at the RiverFront in Ahmedabad has also caught everyones attention.

He further shared that a team in Bhopal is called Sakaratmak Soch, which comprises 200 women.

They dont just clean, they also change mindsets. Cleaning 17 parks in the city together, distributing cloth bags, every step of theirs is a message. Owing to such efforts, Bhopal has now come a long way in the Swachh Survey. It is also important to mention the Gomti River team of Lucknow. Every Sunday for the last 10 years, tirelessly, without stopping, the members of this team are engaged in the cleanliness work.

Another example PM Modi shared in his radio programme was of Bilha in Chhattisgarh.

Here, women were imparted training in waste management, and together, they changed the face of the city. The example of Panaji city in Goa is also inspiring. There, waste is divided into 16 categories, and that is also being led by women. Panaji has even received the Presidents award.

He stressed that cleanliness is not a one-time, one-day task. Only when we accord priority to cleanliness every day, every moment of the year, will the country remain clean, he noted.

The PM greeted the people of the country for the festival Hariyali Teej today, and also the upcoming ones  Nag Panchami and Raksha Bandhan, and Janmashtami.

He stated that all these festivities are connected to our emotions here, they also give us the message of connection and balance with nature. Many best wishes to all of you for these holy festivals.
Indias move to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals after a five-year freeze is not just a bu  reaucratic gesture ~ it is a diplomatic signal. While the wounds from Galwan have not healed, the opening of the visa window suggests that both countries are testing the waters of reconciliation, albeit slowly and with measured caution.

The 2020 border clash marked one of the lowest points in India-China relations in decades. Military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) froze not just defence engagement but also trade dynamics, investment flow, and people-to-people contact. Chinas apps were banned, investments were scrutinised, and visa services suspended. The suspension of tourist visas was not merely a response to pandemic-era caution; it was a firm political statement. Yet, over the past year, diplomatic signals have changed in tone. India and China have engaged in high-level meetings.

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Indian and Chinese leaders met on the sidelines of global summits, and behind closed doors, rounds of talks aimed at restoring border stability have continued. The reopening of visa services should be seen as a cautious reward for this engagement ~ tentative, reversible, but deliberate. But we should be careful not to read too much into this. The return of visas does not mean that trust has been restored. The fundamental strategic competition between the two Asian giants persists. The border remains tense, infrastructure on both sides is being ram  ped up, and suspicions continue to define military planning.

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However, opening a path for civilian movement indicates that both countries see value in reducing the psychological and cultural freeze that followed Galwan. It also comes at a time when both nations face new external pressures. Chinas global image is under strain amid its tensions with the West, and India, while asserting itself as a rising global player, remains acutely aware of the risk of a two-front scenario. In this context, stabilising the eastern front through diplomatic measures ~ like restoring travel links ~ makes strategic sense. Tourism might seem peripheral to geopolitics, but its symbolism matters. A tourist visa is an invitation ~ not just to visit, but to engage, observe, and understand. Even if uptake is slow and numbers modest, such steps help create space for softer narratives between two countries often locked in hardline posturing.

The announcement of this resumption on Chinese social media, timed before a key de fence summit, indicates that India too recognises the value of signaling readiness to turn a page, even if tentatively. The coming months will reveal whether this gesture leads to further thawing ~ perhaps resumption of direct flights, cultural exchanges, or a more relaxed investment environment. For now, the move is best understood not as a breakthrough but as a test of mutual restraint. In diplomacy, especially between rivals, even small openings matter.
The fluctuating international context compels states of this region and beyond to recalibrate their labour laws, policies and practices. This is particularly critical at a time of great demographic changes, such as declining and ageing populations in parts of the globe, compromised by a more transactional and conditional world of quid pro quo. At the forefront of the context is the relationship between the labour force and related standards to guarantee that labour is not a commodity and that the human face at work needs protection in the form of human rights.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the key standard-setter, even preceding the birth of the UN and now also a specialized UN agency. It has evolved 192 Conventions, the latest being on biological hazards confronting the health and well-being of workers. These Conventions are complemented by the UNs own family of human rights standards, especially the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The latter is sometimes clearer than ILO Conventions and helps to reinforce them. The most poignant query today is the right to strike which has proved to be a thorn in the interpretation of ILO Convention Number 87 on Freedom of Association. While some claim that the latter does not cover the right to strike, the ICESCR stipulates explicitly the right to strike and over one hundred countries are parties to this treaty.

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The issue of whether Convention Number 87 covers such right is now before the International Court of Justice for clarification. From a more political angle, nondemocracies are often less comfortable with political rights, such as freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as compared with social rights, such as access to education. A comprehensive response advocates respect for the full range of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, requiring astute and principled diplomacy-cum-levers. The need to avoid a UN silo approach is also important. The UN Human Rights Council has been constructive in recent years to underline that labour rights are human rights.

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For this reason, the fate of thousands of seafarers stuck on the high seas and elsewhere due to the Covid pandemic has led to amendments of the ILOs Maritime Labour Convention, and social security is a key concern interrelated with the world of work. Another area where labour at work interfaces with the changing international context is in relation to wars or armed conflicts. Do labour standards apply in such volatile situations? Although difficult, some labour standards such as the treaty countering forced labour, ILO Convention Number 29, have been applied, for example, in regard to the comfort women abused for sexual purposes during the Second World War.

ILO Convention Number 182 on prohibition of the worst forms of child labour also militates against conscription of children under 18. The monitoring mechanism of these Conventions, namely the ILO Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), has called for attention to the role of non-government armed groups which might be using children for this purpose, and the need for countermeasures. Precisely because warfare often creates a vacuum where people are not adequately protected, now all too visible in border areas with online scams and human trafficking, it has become essential for labour protection to go hand in hand with transnational cooperation on law enforcement and pressures for accountability, not only through the UN but also via those constituencies supporting the various warring factions.

From another angle, the lens of sustainable development interplays closely with the labour context, and the world is now guided by the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). For instance, SDG Goal 8 calls for elimination of child labour by 2025. While many, if not all of the SDGs, will be unfulfilled by the target year of 2030, they still act as drivers of change towards measurable standards within a given time frame. This year, the forthcoming World Social Summit will be an opportunity to reiterate those Goals with more commitments on social protection, including of workers. Another pressing issue is environmental protection, climate change and global warming.

This necessitates rethinking on labour at work. The ILO Conventions on occupational safety and health, Numbers 155 and 187, have become more important to address working conditions impacted upon by environmental changes, such as increased heat at work and recurrent flooding. New initiatives in this regard include green collective bargaining so that labour contracts can be more flexible to assist workers, complemented by climate-change related paid leave, such as to cope with floods. Interestingly, in the value chain, such as in the garment industry, due diligence on the part of the business sector is now emerging as a requisite for business and human rights, and good labour practices. This requires impact assessment, mitigation and remedies for workers and others affected especially by sub-par business practices.

Finally, there is the issue of digitalization and the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the workplace. The vast pool of gig workers or platform workers, such in the food industry, has pressed for a new response to workers in situations of precarity. The ILO is now drafting a new treaty on digital platform workers so that they will be protected by some if not all of the basic range of labour rights, such as on minimum wage, rest periods, and coverage of accidents. Understandably, the workforce might fear that AI will disrupt their lives and lead to dismissals and redundancies.

A preferred approach is thus to plan for AI inclusion to augment the capacity of workers rather than to displace them. For instance, AI will be especially useful for the 3 Ds  Difficult, Dirty and Demeaning tasks, such as mining, pesticide spraying, and various types of cleaning. Another 3 Ds also open the door to AI: Delicate, Dreary, and Didactic tasks, such as precise medical procedures, repetitive chores, and trainingcum-education, respectively. There will be a hotchpotch world where human labour will exist side by side with the presence of nonhumans, requiring empathy for sentient beings, grounded on decent work for all.

(The writer is a Professor Emeritus, a former member of the ILO CEACR, and a UN Special Rapporteur. This article is derived from his address at the international Labour Law Research Network Conference, held recently in Bangkok.)
In Indias often-theatrical political landscape, it is not the noise but the silence that sometimes says the most. The resignation of Mr Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice President has created precisely that kind of unsettling silence ~ one that grows more deafening with every evasive statement and conspicuous omission.

The official explanation, citing health reasons, barely holds up to scrutiny when weighed against the sequence of events leading to his departure. Until hours before his resignation, Mr Dhankhar was actively engaged in high-level parliamentary work. As Rajya Sabha Chairman, he convened two Business Advisory Committee meetings and scheduled another over lunch for the following day. This is not the behaviour of someone preparing to step down for health reasons.

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The sudden cancellation of the second BAC meeting ~ reportedly because senior ministers failed to show up, without even the courtesy of informing him ~ raises questions about the exact nature of the friction at play. What followed was equally unusual: an impersonal farewell tweet from the Prime Minister almost 13 hours after the resignation. It offered merely a brief wish for good health. While not overtly dismissive, the message lacked the warmth typically extended to high constitutional office-bearers. It suggested a rupture ~ subtle but unmistakable. Mr Dhankhars recent remarks in the Upper House on impeachment motions against two controversial judges may have complicated matters further.

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He upheld the procedural validity of the Oppositions notice, even requesting updates from the Law Minister. Was this assertion of constitutional process perceived as a challenge to the executives desire to control the narrative? Adding to the friction may have been Mr Dhankhars pointed remarks at a recent public event, where he criticised Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who was present on stage, for not doing enough for Indias farmers. Mr Dhankhar, whose father was a farmer, spoke with visible emotion ~ perhaps too candidly for the comfort of some in the ruling dispensation.

The possibility that Mr Dhankhars institutional integrity and outspoken style clashed with prevailing political expectations cannot be discounted. His readiness to speak bluntly ~ even within his own circle ~ set him apart in an era when discretion often trumps dissent. Adding to the irony is the response from Opposition leaders. Several of them, including those who had previously moved an impeachment motion against Mr Dhan khar, are now praising his commitment to protocol and institutional balance.

That such gestures are emerging from across the aisle only highlights the awkwardness his departure has caused within the ruling establishment. That the Opposition ~ long critical of his partisan conduct, both as Vice President and ear li er as West Bengal Governor ~ is now offering praise adds an unexpected twist to an already puzzling exit. Mr Dha nkhars exit is not merely a resignation ~ it is a ru  pture. It reveals the narrowing space for institutional independence within Indias power structures. And in leaving without fanfare, Mr Dhankhar may have said more in silence than he ever could through words.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) released its semi-annual human rights report (January-June 2025) during a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club, highlighting what it described as systematic and widespread state repression across Balochistan, The Balochistan Post (TBP) reported.

Addressing the media, BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch stated that the report is not just a list of numbers, but a record of collective suffering, injustice, and the breakdown of constitutional safeguards in Baloch society, TBP reported. She added that the findings are based on testimonies from victims families, eyewitnesses, and local human rights organisations, which reveal an alarming increase in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

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According to the BYC report, 752 people were forcibly disappeared in the first half of 2025. Of these, 181 were later released, while 25 reportedly died in custody. The whereabouts of 546 individuals remain unknown. The Makran region witnessed the highest number of disappearances, with Frontier Corps (FC) personnel identified as the main perpetrators, The Balochistan Post noted.

The report also documented 117 extrajudicial killings, most of which occurred in staged encounters, custodial killings, and kill-and-dump operations. The majority of victims were students, activists, and politically aware youth. BYC stated these killings appear to be part of a deliberate state policy aimed at crushing political dissent in Balochistan, TBP reported.

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Additionally, BYC highlighted the systematic use of torture against detainees. BYC reported signs of severe physical abuse on the bodies of those who died in custody, suggesting torture is used not only for interrogation but also to spread fear throughout Baloch communities, according to The Balochistan Post.

The report claimed that collective punishment has become normalised, with families of disappeared persons facing harassment, home raids, and assault, particularly targeting women. BYC said that children in Balochistan are growing up under constant fear and surveillance, TBP added.

The BYC also criticised the use of legal instruments, such as the Maintenance of Public Order (3MPO) and the Fourth Schedule, to target peaceful activists. The 2025 amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act, passed by the Balochistan Assembly, was flagged for giving unchecked authority to security forces, allowing for detentions without charge for up to three months. Military officers now sit on review boards, raising serious concerns about judicial impartiality, TBP reported.

BYC warned that these laws are being weaponised against journalists, students, and human rights defenders, further eroding civil liberties in the province, The Balochistan Post stated.
An Indian-origin man, Saurabh Anand, was left severely injured after being brutally attacked with a machete by a group of teenagers in Australias Melbourne, local media reported.

The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on July 19 while the 33-year-old was walking home from a pharmacy at the Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows.

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The horrifying assault left him with multiple injuries, including a nearly severed hand, which was later reattached during surgery.

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According to The Australian Today, Anand was speaking to a friend on the phone when five teenagers suddenly surrounded him. One of the assailants rummaged through his pockets, while another repeatedly punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground. A third attacker pulled out a machete and reportedly held it to his throat.

While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack went through my hand. The third went through the bone, Saurabh recounted to The Age.

He also suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and back, resulting in a fractured spine and several broken bones. All I remember is the pain, and my hand was hanging by a thread, he added.

Despite the severe injuries, Saurabh managed to walk out of the area and call for help. He was quickly taken to a hospital, where doctors initially considered amputation.

However, after a complex medical procedure, they were able to reattach his hand.

Australian media reported that four out of the five teenage attackers have been arrested in connection with the assault. Police investigations are ongoing.

This brutal incident comes close on the heels of another disturbing case in Australia involving an Indian student.

Charanpreet Singh was allegedly racially abused and assaulted by a group of unidentified men following a car parking dispute near Kintore Avenue. The incident occurred last week when Singh and his wife were out to view the citys light displays.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has asserted responsibility for a series of simultaneous armed operations throughout various areas of Balochistan, claiming that its fighters killed a minimum of 23 members of the Pakistani military, including a high-ranking officer, and caused substantial damage to military facilities and assets linked to intelligence, The Balochistan post reported.

As per The Balochistan Post, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch indicated that the groups fighters targeted Pakistani forces in locations such as Mastung, Kalat, Zamuran, Buleda, and Quetta, also conducting assaults in Nushki, Dalbandin, and Panjgur. The statement characterises these attacks as part of the groups sustained resistance effort against what it refers to as the occupying state forces.

The BLA reported that one of the most notable confrontations occurred on July 22 in the Kohak region of Kalat, where Pakistani forces attempting to advance were ambushed. The BLA claimed that three military vehicles were directly struck in this operation, with fighters surrounding retreating troops, resulting in the deaths of 13 on the spot. The group reported seizing weapons at the scene and executing a follow-up attack on reinforcements, leading to additional losses and forcing a withdrawal.

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In the Talkh Kawi area of Mastung, BLA fighters allegedly used an improvised explosive device (IED) to target military personnel, resulting in the deaths of six, including a senior officer known as Major Ziyad, and injuring three others. A subsequent IED attack in Mastungs Aab Gul area reportedly claimed the lives of two more and injured four.

The BLA also took credit for the targeted killing of Muawiya Jamaldini in Nushki, identified in the statement as a significant figure in a state-supported armed group believed to be involved in targeted killings, home invasions, and the harassment of families of deceased Baloch fighters. The group claimed Jamaldini was tracked down by its internal intelligence network, Zirab, and was killed while on his way home. The BLA asserted that its intelligence network is monitoring other alleged state-backed death squad members who will face a similar fate soon.

The statement further mentioned that two vehicles carrying minerals were allegedly set ablaze and destroyed in separate incidents at Nushkis Ziarat Dastagir Cross and Dalbandins Kurod Phatak. The BLA stated that it briefly took control of the highway in Dalbandin, performing random checks during the operation.

The spokesperson noted that on July 22 in Zamurans Archanan area, BLA fighters claimed to have killed a Pakistani soldier in a remote-controlled IED attack. In Buledas Gilli area, another IED reportedly targeted a military vehicle, resulting in two deaths and three injuries, alongside the destruction of the vehicle.

Jeeyand Baloch asserted that in Quettas Akhtarabad area, a unit of the BLA reportedly executed a grenade attack on a military outpost. In Panjgurs Pulabad area, the group claimed to have ruined surveillance cameras, towers, and related equipment utilised by Pakistani forces.

The BLA concluded its statement by reaffirming its pledge to maintain what it terms as armed resistance until achieving Baloch national liberation, stating that its fighters would intensify operations in response to ongoing military actions.

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As the fighting related to the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia enters its fourth day, US President Donald Trump, once again jumping on his trade bandwagon, called for a ceasefire after holding calls with the heads of state of both nations, while drawing parallels to the India-Pakistan conflict.

According to a series of posts on Truth Social on Saturday (local time), the US President has once again leveraged trade negotiations in order to broker a ceasefire and peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand.

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Bangkok and Phnom Penh are engaged in a territorial dispute dating back over a century, when colonial-era France first demarcated the border between them, CNN reported.

Since the conflict erupted on Thursday, officials report that over a dozen people have been killed, many more wounded, and more than 150,000 civilians displaced.

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Trump, in his posts, detailed his efforts to mediate an end to the ongoing dispute, emphasising his refusal to proceed with trade deals until hostilities cease.

In his posts, Trump stated that he held a discussion with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, following which he also had discussions with Thailands Acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, for Ceasefire, and END to the War.

He noted that Washington was currently in trade talks with both countries and that the US would withhold trade agreements until the fighting stops.

He also drew an analogy, remarking that this conflict very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt.

Trump was referencing the recent India-Pakistan conflict in May, where he had claimed credit several times for brokering a ceasefire between the two nuclear nations, using trade as leverage.

The conflict erupted after 26 civilians were killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, after which India retaliated through precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

However, according to Indian officials, it was Pakistans Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) who contacted their Indian counterpart to request an end to hostilities, following which the ceasefire was then agreed upon.

Just spoke to the Prime Minister of Cambodia relative to stopping the War with Thailand. I am calling the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, right now, to likewise request a Ceasefire, and END to the War, which is currently raging. We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting -And I have told them so! The call with Thailand is being made momentarily. The call with Cambodia has ended, but expect to call back regarding War stoppage and Ceasefire based on what Thailand has to say. I am trying to simplify a complex situation! Many people are being killed in this War, but it very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt, the post read.

Trump later, in another post, stated that he had a very good conversation with Thailands Acting Prime Minister, reinforcing the mutual desire for an immediate Ceasefire and PEACE.

He also pledged to convey this message back to Cambodia, suggesting that Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural outcome.

I have just spoken to the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, and it was a very good conversation. Thailand, like Cambodia, wants to have an immediate Ceasefire, and PEACE. I am now going to relay that message back to the Prime Minister of Cambodia. After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see! Trump noted.

Trump, in his follow-up post, further revealed that he had a very good call with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, during which he relayed discussions with Thailands Acting Prime Minister. In his post, Trump said that he had informed both leaders that the US would withhold trade agreements until the fighting stops, expressing hope for a lasting resolution given the two nations long and storied History and Culture.

I just had a very good call with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, and informed him of my discussions with Thailand, and its Acting Prime Minister. Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace. They are also looking to get back to the Trading Table with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS. They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE! It was an Honor to deal with both Countries. They have a long and storied History and Culture. They will hopefully get along for many years to come. When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both! Trump stated.

According to CNN, the latest escalation has reignited hostilities, pitting Thailanda seasoned US allyagainst Cambodias younger, China-aligned military forces.
Some gifts are quiet. They are not wrapped or celebrated, but they carry the power to change everything. Organ donation is one such gifta silent act of generosity that gives another person the chance to live.

Each year, in India, over five lakh people lose their lives waiting for an organ. The need is vast, especially for kidney, liver and heart. Yet, our organ donation remains among the lowest in the world. This is not because of a lack of skill or intent. It is because too many lives are caught between hesitation and hope.

Many remain unaware that a brain-dead person can save up to eight lives through organ donation. Others hesitateheld back by myths, cultural beliefs or fear. In smaller towns, even when theres willingness, the shortage of ICUs, transplant-ready hospitals and coordination lead to missed opportunities.

Still, there is reason to hope. States like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have shown what is possible. Tamil Nadu has consistently achieved a deceased donor rate of 1.8 per million population, nearly seven times higher than the national average. Recently, Mysurus organ donation initiative saved over 250 lives in a single year. These are not just numbers. They are stories of compassion, planning and leadership.

Imaging: Denilal

At the national level, too, momentum is building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly called attention to the transformative power of organ donation. His message is simple and powerfulone donor can save up to eight lives. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is driving nationwide awareness and coordination, with key policies like one nation, one policy removing age and domicile barriers to improve access to life-saving transplants.

This vision of an equitable transplant system has long been close to our hearts at Apollo. My fatherDr Prathap C. Reddywas among the earliest voices calling for legislation to enable ethical and structured organ donation in India. In the early 1990s, he worked closely with parliamentarians to help bring the Transplantation of Human Organs Act to life. His belief was simpleorgan donation must be enshrined in law so that it could be protected, expanded and trusted. That conviction continues to guide us.

Today, Apollo performs five solid organ transplants every single day across 27 centres. We have completed over 25,000 such proceduresincluding more than 20,000 kidney transplants and nearly 5,000 liver transplants. But the measure of success is not in numbers; it is in every life renewed, every family made whole again.

To build a true national movement, we must donate a part of our livesnot just wait until death. What if, at 18, when receiving a driving licence or opening a bank account, every individual was asked if they would like to pledge their organs?

Technology can simplify organ pledging through digital registries and mobile apps, while also enhancing transparency. As a compassionate society, we must speak openly about the life that can follow deathfor organ donation is not a tragedy, but the ultimate act of empathy, offering others a second chance.

So, as we observe National Organ Donation Day on August 3, let us choose to make that future possible!

Dr Preetha Reddy is Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited.
CLOSURE AND JUSTICE are two things that victims of every crime crave. Who did it? Why did it happen? Why did it happen to me? What are the consequences? Even with those answers, the ache lingers. But, without them, the wound festers and erupts when the heart becomes weary.

This weeks cover is Chief of Bureau (Delhi) Namrata Biji Ahujas take on how the Jammu and Kashmir government is relaxing rules to make it possible for families of terror victims to apply for relief and rehabilitation. Terrorism has claimed more than 12,000 civilians in Jammu and the valley since the 1990s. Yet, not even a dozen of them got justice, she says.

In his interview, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha says that in Baramulla he met families of terror victims who have not yet received dependant certificates, let alone financial aid. Those of our readers who have attempted to obtain official documents would be familiar with the rigours of the process.

Recently, a friend of one of our editors applied for an heirship certificate, and among the documents he had to submit was a certification that his grandparents were deceased. The applicant, who is in his 70s, quipped that if they were still alive, he would be applying for a Guinness World Record.

Children are at the heart of this weeks issue, with three stories about them. Reporting from Gujarat, Principal Correspondent Pooja Biraia highlights the infrastructure woes and caste-based exclusion in anganwadis in the state. As in many other states, upper caste families are reluctant to let their children eat midday meals cooked by a dalit.

In recent times, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faced a similar issue in his constituency, and it was also reported from a school in Usilampatti, Tamil Nadu. Both issues were solved, according to media reports. In the second instance, the ice apparently melted after DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, Social Welfare Minister Geetha Jeevan and district officials had a meal with the kids.

Photographer Kritajna Naik takes to the keyboard to highlight the number 15,000the number of children rescued from railway stations across the country in 2024. And it has risen threefold from 2020.

Special Correspondent Anjuly Mathai writes about the film that might abolish backbenchers in schools across the country. I am sure you want me to tell you how, but let me not steal the reporters thunder. Page 63, it is.

From Syria, contributor Anagha Subhash Nair writes about eight women who are defusing mines after receiving training from The Halo Trust. Most of our readers would remember that iconic photograph of Princess Diana walking through a minefield in Angola in 1997, wearing a bulletproof vest with the trusts name on it. Angola then had the highest number of amputees per population in the worldone for every 330 people.

Returning to the cover, I was reminded of the time Resident Editor R. Prasannan reported on the war in Afghanistan in 2002. On his way back, somewhere on the Hindukush, his jeep skidded many times on the icy road. The driver mocked him: Are you afraid? Just around the corner, the driver lost control, the jeep fishtailed across the road and all seemed lost.

Then, it stopped right at the edge of a precipice. Prasannan jumped out, lit a cigarette, looked up, and saw the faces of his children in the clouds above.

Long after he returned, I asked him, Did you think you would die? He said that more than death itself, he feared an unknown death. I would have been reported missing and my family would never know what happened to me, he said. It is all about closure.

So, when Gul Hassan Shah, 96, tells Namrata that he became blind crying for his murdered son, we feel his pain, dont we, dear reader? We understand his plea for justice. And we pray that he and others like him receive it soon enough.
United States President Donald Trump's administration is set to release more than $5 billion in frozen school funds after several districts filed a lawsuit to gain access to the money.

The development comes after the Republican leader's government told states in late June that it was withholding the funding pending further review. That particular announcement came a day before the July 1 deadline for when the money would typically have been distributed to districts.

The Release of Over $5 Billion in Withheld School Funds

The result was that many school districts were left scrambling in the lead up to the school year to pool enough funds for various programs and necessities. However, the current administration announced earlier this month that it would be releasing grant funding for before- and after-school programs.

The deputy assistant secretary for communications at the Education Department, Madi Biedermann, said that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed the Department of Education to release all formula funds. He added that the process will start next week, according to NPR.

Bipartisan lawmakers lobbied to release the school funds, citing the financial strain that states and local communities faced. Many states also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to try to force the release of the money.

The funds that the government withheld were supposed to help pay for various education programs, such as migrant education, services for English language learners, and adult education.

Despite the announcement that the funding will be released soon, further details on the review and what it found were not shared by the government. A senior administration official said that guardrails would be implemented for the amount of money being released to districts, Reuters reported.

Relief for School Districts

The Trump administration has also threatened schools and colleges that it would withhold federal funding over various issues, such as climate initiatives, transgender policies, pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's war in Gaza, and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.

However, Republican lawmakers praised the decision to release the withheld funding, while Democratic officials said that there was no need to disrupt funding in the first place. In a separate statement, Education Secretary Linda McMahon said she was satisfied with what the administration found in the review.

Following the announcement of the funding being released, Unalaska City School District Superintendent Kimberly Hanisch said that they are relieved to hear the news. She noted that there was much relief for their students and staff, knowing that they would get opportunities provided by the funding, as per the Alaska Republic.
The new Kannada release Su from So, currently a hot topic on social media, as one of the best from the industry, is set to have its Kerala theatrical release on August 1. Dulquer Salmaan's Wayfarer Films is handling the region's distribution of the film produced by actor and filmmaker Raj B Shetty's Lighter Buddha Films.

Written and directed by JP Thuminad in his directorial debut, the film seems to be making waves among both cinephiles and filmmakers alike. Thuminad, also an actor known for his work in films like Saptha Sagaradaache Ello: Side B and Garuda Gamana Vrishabha Vahana, plays the protagonist as well. Su from So is short for 'Sulochana from Someshwara'.

In an interview with The New Indian Express, Thuminad, who worked with a large cast in the film, said, "It is about elders who return after death to fulfil an unfulfilled wish. I grew up hearing such stories, and they stayed with me. I had written scenes for 100 people. There are no junior artistes in our village, so we went door to door, inviting people to act.

The film is said to have a deliberately "exaggerated" and "caricaturish" behaviour. Interestingly, Raj B Shetty is also present in the film in a crucial role.

Opening up about why he opted to star in the film, the Ondu Motteya Kathe actor told OTTPlay, When JP Thuminad asked me to do a role in Su From So, I wondered whether to do it, because I had not done such a caricaturish character, other than, perhaps, 777 Charlie. Since I am a filmmaker, I was not worried about whether it would affect me in terms of audiences seeing me as a comedian or not being able to do protagonist roles going forward. All that mattered to me was what my presence would do for the film and for me as a producer. Most importantly, doing the role would elevate the film, so I figured it was best that I be a part of Su From So.

The film's other cast members include Shanil Gautham, Deepak Raj Panaje, Prakash Thuminad, Mim Ramadas, and Sandhya Arekere.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) has given hope to millions worldwide, and its reach in India is rapidly growing. Since 2000, there has been a 20-fold increase in the number of IVF cycles performed every year. Yet, despite its positive impact, several myths persist, causing confusion and unnecessary hesitation.

Dr Parul Prakash, Senior Consultant, Head of Reproductive Medicine, IVF, at Artemis Hospitals and Dr Manju Nair, Clinical Director, Department of Fertility, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Bengaluru, break down the most common myths.

Myth 1: IVF is only for women with fertility problems

Fact: IVF isn't just for women who cant conceive. Male infertility is a major reason for infertility in India, contributing to about 4050% of cases. IVF, and sometimes ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), addresses both female and male factorsbe it low sperm count, poor motility, or hormonal imbalances.

Myth 2: IVF can be done at any age

Fact: Age plays a crucial role in IVF success. While Indian women are increasingly seeking IVF in their late 30s or early 40s, the chances of success drop sharply after 35 due to declining egg quality and quantity. Early assessment and timely treatment are key for better outcomes.

Myth 3: IVF is always painful and risky

Fact: The process involves hormone injections, monitoring, egg retrieval, and embryo transfer, but most women describe IVF as uncomfortable rather than painful. Egg retrieval is done under anesthesia, making it virtually painless, and most women resume normal activities within a day or two. As with any medical procedure, risks exist but are closely monitored by specialists.

Myth 4: IVF causes birth defects

Fact: There is no strong evidence to suggest that IVF increases the risk of birth defects. Indian and global studies show that most IVF babies are as healthy as those conceived naturally; the mother's age and health matter more than how conception occurs.

Myth 5: IVF always results in twins or triplets

Fact: IVF slightly increases the chance of twins compared to natural conception, but thanks to advances like single embryo transfer (SET), most Indian fertility centers now recommend transferring one embryo at a time to reduce risks. The practice of multiple embryo transfers, more common in the early days of IVF, is now largely avoided unless medically necessary.
The ongoing investigation into the inter-state religious conversion racket, in which at least 14 people have been arrested so far, has exposed alleged Pakistani links to the case, an Uttar Pradesh police officer said on Saturday.

Agra Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar said the names of two Pakistani influencers, who used to preach on conversion, have come to light during the probe.

"Names of two Pakistani influencers, Tanveer Ahmed and Sahil Adeem, have come to the fore. Both used to preach religious conversion and speak on why one should embrace Islam. This is also a challenge to national security," Kumar told reporters.

#WATCH | Agra, Uttar Pradesh: On the religion conversion case, Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar says, "According to our investigation, we have arrested 14 accused in this case so far. When we talked to the victims of the case, they told us that those who persuaded them were the pic.twitter.com/YUZFBdzqjy  ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2025

During the investigation, it was found that people were invited for religious conversion and intellectual discussions. Among the invitees was a group of girls from Kashmir.

The officer claimed that online games were also used to lure the youth and convert them to Islam, and handlers from Pakistan played a key role in the racket.

The conversion racket was busted on July 19 when UP Police arrested 10 people from six states. The probe began in Agra in March after two sistersaged 33 and 18were reported missing.

The investigations revealed they were allegedly coerced into religious conversion and were undergoing radicalisation.

On June 21, Abdul Rehman, a resident of Firozabad, who is suspected to be the kingpin in the case, was arrested in Delhi. According to police, Rehman himself converted to Islam in 1990.

Earlier, the kingpin of this racket was Kaleem Siddiqui. But in 2021, UP STF arrested Siddiqui, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2024. After that, Rehman took charge of the conversion racket," Kumar had said.

On July 23, three more suspects were arrested, taking the total number of people held in connection with the case to 14.

Agra, Uttar Pradesh: In the ongoing Mission Asmita operation, Agra Police arrested three accused in a religious conversion case from Delhi, including mastermind Abdul Rehman's sons and Junaid Qureshi, who allegedly forced a Haryana girl into conversion through love trap pic.twitter.com/dXmUXL0wOQ  IANS (@ians_india) July 23, 2025

Those held have been identified as Junaid Qureshi (30), Abdullah (20), and Abdul Rahim (27)all three residents of northeast Delhi.

The arrested individuals are accused of luring women into relationships and subsequently pressuring them into conversion.
Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, who was recently expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has announced that he will contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Mahua constituency as an Independent candidate.

Tej, the eldest son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, was expelled from the party on May 25 after he reportedly confessed to his relationship with a woman other than his estranged wife, even though the divorce petition was still pending before a court.

Currently an MLA from Hasanpur in Samastipur district, Tej had represented the Mahua seat in Vaishali after winning the 2015 assembly elections.

"Yes, this time, I will contest the elections from the Mahua Assembly seat as an Independent candidate. My opponents must have started to feel an itch, he told the media on Saturday evening.

"I have people's support... a large number of people are now connected with my 'Team Tej Pratap Yadav', a social media platform to reach out to people," he added.

Tej expressed confidence that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would not retain his post after the Assembly elections. He, however, did not specify whether he would support the RJD-Congress alliance, which is keen on returning to power.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: Former state minister Tej Pratap Yadav says, "Team Tej Pratap Yadav is a platform to reach the people... This time, Uncle (Nitish Kumar) will not become the Chief Minister. Whoever's government is formed, if they talk about youth, employment, education, and pic.twitter.com/gpb8cJK2e9  ANI (@ANI) July 26, 2025

Those who would form the government, if they talk about youths, employment, education, and health, Tej Pratap Yadav will stand with them," he said.

Mahua is a stronghold of the RJD and is currently represented by party leader Mukesh Kumar Raushan.

Meanwhile, media reports earlier this week suggested an internal feud in the Yadav family, with Tej unfollowing his sisters Misa Bharti, Raj Laxmi Yadav and Hema Yadav, and other family members on X.

He also unfollowed the official handle of the RJD.

                              ,           



              pic.twitter.com/jQrOd3RvuJ  Tej Pratap Yadav (@TejYadav14) July 26, 2025

Tej was expelled from the party for six years by his father for irresponsible behaviour and ignoring moral values.

This came after Tej allegedly shared a photo of himself with a woman on his Facebook page. The post identified the woman as Anushka Yadav and that the duo had been in a relationship for 12 years.

The post stirred up a social media storm, with many reminding him of his marriage to Aishwarya, the granddaughter of former Bihar chief minister Daroga Rai, in 2018. Within a few months of the marriage, Aishwarya left his house, alleging that she was driven out by her husband and in-laws.

Days after his expulsion, Tej alleged that there was a "conspiracy" to drive a wedge between him and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav.

Using the Mahabharata imagery, which he has been employing to describe his relationship with his far more successful younger brother, Yadav wrote, "Those dreaming of a rift between me and Arjun, will never succeed in conspiracy. They can win over the military of Krishna, but can't capture Krishna himself. I will soon expose every such conspiracy."

The RJD will fight the upcoming polls under the leadership of Tejashwi, who is also speculated to be the chief minister candidate of the opposition alliance.
Kerala is on high alert as heavy rainfall and strong winds across the state have led to a rise in the water levels of various rivers and dams, triggering flood-like conditions in many districts.

The Indian Meteorological Department put up a bulletin on Saturday that said heavy rainfall is to be expected for the next five days, from July 27 to 30. The notice also said that "Extremely Heavy Rainfall," that is around 204.4 mm of rain, is to be expected within the next 24 hours.

The IMD issued an orange alert for Idukki, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. A yellow alert has been issued in Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. Wind speeds are expected to be lower from July 28 to 30 to somewhere between 40-50 kmph.

The alerts have been raised due to a depression that has formed over Madhya Pradesh.

Authorities have also issued warnings in several districts to residents who live downstream from rivers. People living close to river banks have been advised not to go into the water bodies. Homes were damaged by uprooted trees, and the power supply was cut in many areas in the state.

In Wayanad, the Banasura Sagar dam shutters were opened around 85 cm in the morning to release around 100 cubic feet per second due to the heavy rains in the catchment area, according to the district administration. All three shutters of the Moozhiyar reservoir, Pathanamtittha, were opened after water levels rose above the limits of 190 meters.

A fisherman went missing in Palakkad district early on Sunday, and Search and Rescue personnel launched a search operation for the man. Another Palakkad man, a farmer, died after coming into contact with a broken power line, according to reports.

The IMD also issued warnings in Rajasthan and Gujarat for extremely heavy rainfall for the next 7 days. Flood-like conditions and waterlogging were reported in several parts of the state. A red alert has been issued in several districts. Kakoshi village and Mamwada village of Sidhpur, Gujarat, were flooded due to heavy rains acccording to TV9 Gujarath. Houses in the village have flooded, and in some parts, villagers had to be rescued with tractors.
A five-year-old sick girl in Noida, who was on her way to the hospital with her father, succumbed to grievous injuries after a reckless student rammed his BMW car into their scooter. Noida police have arrested the student and his friend over the incident.

According to Noida police, the deceased was identified as Ayat (5), from Sadarpur Khajur Colony in Noida. Ayat was feeling sick for the past few days and she vomited several times on Saturday night. Ayat's father Gul Mohammed, along with his brother-in-law Raja, decided to take her to the Post Graduate Institute of Child Health in Sector 30.

#WATCH | Noida, Uttar Pradesh: A 5-year-old girl died and two others were injured as a BMW car hit a scooty in Sector 30 of Noida last night. Police have seized the car. The arrested accused have been identified as Yash Sharma and Abhishek Rawat and they are students. The pic.twitter.com/ePpihB2xUC  ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

While they were en route to the hospital, a BMW car driven by Yash Sharma rammed into the scooter near sector 30, causing serious injuries to three on the scooter. Aayat succumbed to the injuries on the spot itself and Raja, Gul Mohammed are undergoing treatment.

Noida police said Yash Sharma and his co-passenger Abhishek Rawat have been arrested and the BMW car has been seized. According to police, Rawat owns a restaurant in Noida. Both the BMW car and the scooter suffered severe damages in the crash. The health condition of injured persons are critical and further probe is underway, police said.
The deadly stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar on Sunday morning was triggered by rumours that an electric wire on the stairs to the shrine had broken.

Six people have been killed in the stampede that also left several others injured.

#WATCH | Haridwar, Uttarakhand | The injured are being rushed to the hospital following a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple. 6 people died and several others got injured in the stampede. pic.twitter.com/ScUaYyq2Z3  ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

Haridwar District Magistrate Mayur Dixit said the rumours of snapped electric wire sparked panic among the public and that an investigation has been launched to identify the person responsible for spreading the furphy.

"We found through photos and videos that someone spread the rumour of an electric wire breaking. While looking at the injured or the dead, we did not get any such indication. We will investigate who spread the rumour that caused the stampede, and a magisterial inquiry will be set up investigating cameras and other means," Dixit told ANI news agency.

EDC Superintending Engineer Pradeep Kumar also dismissed electrocution chances, saying they had thoroughly checked the system.

We got news that it might have happened due to electric current, our team reached the site, we normally do testing every 15 days, our system is very secured, there are no naked wires, the wires are insulated here. There is no report of electrocution. We thoroughly checked our system, there is nothing like that," he told PTI.

VIDEO | Haridwar's Mansa Devi Temple Stampede: EDC Superintending Engineer Pradeep Kumar says, "An unfortunate incident happened at Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar. We got news that it might have happened due to electric current, our team reached the site, we normally do testing pic.twitter.com/cSUo5FIxGp  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 27, 2025

The stampede took place at the C Dev marg (Paidal marg) of the temple. According to SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal, at least 34 people were brought to the hospital, of which six were confirmed dead.

Being a Sunday, the day witnessed a large number of devotees at the temple perched atop the Shivalik Hills at a height of over 500 feet. Videos from the spot showed a massive crush of people, including children and women, making their way to the temple.

The shrine is one of the five sacred sites or Panch Tirthas of Haridwar.

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire brigade and local police led the relief and rescue operations.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief at the loss of lives and said all assistance is being offered to those injured.
Maharashtra police have nabbed a young woman for allegedly killing her three children, all aged below 10 years, over domestic issues. The autopsy of three children led to the mother's arrest.

According to police, a 27-year-old woman from Talepada in Asnoli village, Shahapur area, was arrested for allegedly poisoning kids' food and murdering them. Sandhya Sandeep Bere, a homemaker from Talepada, was living separated from her husband over domestic issues. Bere was reportedly stressed over caring for three children, aged 5, 8 and 10 years.

According to Thane police, Bere allegedly mixed a pesticide in 'varan bhat' (a traditional rice and lentil dish) and served it to her daughters. The girls were rushed to hospital after they experienced health complications. The kids experienced vomiting and giddiness and were rushed to a local hospital.

Police said the health condition worsened, and while two children were shifted to a hospital in Mumbai, another child was shifted to a hospital in Nashik. The girls undergoing treatment in Mumbai died on July 24 and July 25; the girl undergoing treatment at Nashik hospital died on July 24.

Khinavli police initially registered a case of accidental death. However, based on the autopsy report on Saturday night, police confirmed the presence of poison in the children's bodies and arrested Bere for murdering her children.

"Acting swiftly on the crucial evidence, the police registered a case of murder against the children's mother and arrested her around 2am on Sunday," a senior police official said.

The accused had been grappling with domestic issues, including her husband's habit of liquor consumption. She had separated from her husband and was struggling to care for her three daughters, which apparently drove her to the crime, the official told PTI. Police said the woman's in-laws has suspected her role in murder and further probe is underway.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release Rs 2,100 crore funds pending under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme (SSA) to the state. The Centre had reportedly withheld disbursal of funds to Tamil Nadu over its disagreement to implement PM-Shri and three-language formula in the southern state.

The chief minister, in a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, handed over by state Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Saturday, the lack of funds "affects the future of lakhs of students." Stalin urged the Centre not to make the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP 2020 a condition for disbursal of funds. Stalin affirmed that Tamil Nadu will stick to its decades-long two-language formula of Tamil and English.

Modi is in Tamil Nadu to attend the 1000th anniversary of Rajendra Chola I. He dedicated development works worth 4,800 crore in Thoothukudi on Saturday. During his address on Saturday, Modi said in past 10 years, the Central government has transferred 3 lakh crore to Tamil Nadu through devolutionmore than three times the amount disbursed by the previous dispensation.

Stalin is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Chennai after he complained of dizziness on July 21. In his memorandum, Stalin urged Modi to sanction Coimbatore and Madurai metro rail projects. The chief minister also urged Modi to take concrete steps to solve the challenges faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen. He urged Modi to conduct talks with Sri Lanka for release of fishermen and fishing equipment seized by them.
Sanjay Shirsat, Maharashtras Minister for Social Justice, shared his thoughts on the idea of the two Shiv Sena parties merging once again after the leaders of both parties were seen together in a photo this month.

Speaking at the Mahja Katta program, the minister said that it would not be right to comment on the matter today and that the split between the two parties (Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena-UBT) has widened a lot. Shirsat said that the tradition of politics in Maharashtra involves an incoming and outgoing in every party, and that is an unstoppable cycle. He added, Whatever happens to us tomorrow will depend on Eknath Shindes decision.

Shirsat also said that the Shiv Sena party split due to Uddhav Thackeray not listening to his party members. According to him, Uddhav Thackeray treated his party members like an army and did not care if any of the members left. He added that he was happy that the Thackeray brothers had come together, especially on the Marathi issue.

The minister said that he did not know what would happen to the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi or whether Raj Thackeray would agree to campaign and support Congress.

Ambadas Danve regarding the merging of the Shiv Sena factions

The comments by Shirsat were an answer to thoughts expressed earlier this week by the Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, Thackerays ally, on Mahja Katta. Danve had stated that he was sorry the Shiv Sena parties split up and expressed his hope that they would come together. "It always bothered me that someone broke our strong organisation. Now the state should see the united strength of Shiv Sena. What's wrong with holding onto that hope?" he said. After the Shiv Sena split, Danve had chosen to remain with the Uddhav Thackeray faction.

However, his comments come at a time when clout is around how the two cousins, Raj Thackeray (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) and Uddhav Thackeray, have reunited. Even senior politicians from the ruling Mahayuti alliance have shared their best wishes for the cousins and expressed hope for the parties merging.

Earlier this month, things got awkward when Uddhav Thackeray, who arrived a bit late, was made to sit close to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in a photograph taken at Danve's farewell ceremony as the leader of the opposition. The two were barely able to make eye contact, despite having only the Deputy leader of Shiv Sena, Neelam Gorhe, between them.

In 2022, the ruling Shiv Sena had split after Eknath Shinde walked out with 40 MLAs and challenged the then party leader and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The split caused the Maha Vikas Aghadi government to fall apart and led to Tackeray's resignation. Shinde then joined hands with the BJP and was Chief Minister for the next two and a half years.
Amid growing international outrage over starvation deaths in Gaza, Israels military has announced a limited humanitarian pause to facilitate aid delivery in densely populated areas of the enclave. The move, which includes renewed aid airdrops and promises of safer land convoys, comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, with starvation-related deaths nearly doubling in the past month to 127.

The Israeli military said it would allow United Nations convoys greater access and resume air-dropped aid, while fighting would continue elsewhere in the territory. Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said the changes aim to bring food closer to where civilians live. He confirmed that Israeli and foreign air forces had begun dropping aid in northern Gaza, with more deliveries expected.

These developments follow an agreement between Israel and countries including Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, permitting them to parachute aid into Gaza. Shoshani added that Israeli troops would implement short tactical pauses in some areas to ensure that aid trucks are not hit during military operations.

The measures come in response to mounting criticism over Israels handling of aid in Gaza. Hunger intensified between March and May after Israel halted food shipments and introduced a controversial new distribution system. This model required civilians to cross Israeli-controlled areas on foot to reach a handful of aid points managed by private contractors.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports that hundreds were killed while attempting to access these supplies, many by Israeli gunfire. Israeli officials say shots were fired in the air when crowds approached troops or posed a perceived threat.

Despite the mounting death toll and warnings from aid organisations, Israel has resisted calls for a broader change in policy. The United Nations World Food Programme recently warned that nearly a third of Gazas population is going multiple days without food. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the situation as a moral crisis that challenges the global conscience, while the International Committee of the Red Cross said conditions had long exceeded every acceptable standard.

Israel insists it is not responsible for the famine-like conditions. Yechiel Leiter, Israels ambassador to the United States, described accusations of using starvation as a weapon as lies and part of an unprecedented vilification of Israel. Government spokesperson David Mencer echoed the sentiment, blaming Hamas and logistical failures by the UN rather than Israeli policies.

However, other Israeli officials have lent weight to international criticism. Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu, a far-right member of the government, said in a radio interview that there is no nation that feeds its enemies, adding that the government was moving towards Gaza being wiped out and driving out the population. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later disavowed the remarks, but Eliyahu remains in office.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also condemned the humanitarian pause, calling it a surrender to Hamas. He claimed he had been excluded from key security discussions, and advocated for halting aid, conquering the entire Gaza Strip and promoting voluntary migration.

A key justification for Israels severe restrictions has been its long-standing claim that Hamas steals aid. Yet according to two senior Israeli military officials and two others involved in aid coordination, there is no evidence that Hamas systematically diverted UN aid. In fact, the previous UN-led system was said to be more effective in distributing food to civilians than the current approach, which has proved more dangerous.

In May, Israel began phasing out the UN-led delivery model in favour of a private, US-run operation protected by American security contractors and limited to areas under Israeli control. While some UN aid still enters Gaza, this new system has resulted in significantly higher casualties among civilians trying to collect food.

Aid groups have strongly criticised the recent airdrops, calling them inefficient and hazardous. Several past drops have injured people, destroyed property or fallen into the sea. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, called the drops a distraction, arguing they will do little to ease suffering unless Israel lifts its blockade and facilitates consistent land access for humanitarian groups.

As famine looms, over 100 aid agencies and human rights organisations have urged Israel to lift its restrictions. A joint statement by the European Union and 28 governments, including allies such as Britain, France and Canada, condemned Israels drip-feeding of aid to Gazas two million residents.

Meanwhile, pressure is also building within Israel. On Saturday, families of hostages held in Gaza staged anti-war protests, criticising Netanyahus failure to secure their release. Ceasefire negotiations collapsed this week, with both Israel and the United States blaming Hamas.

Despite announcing the humanitarian pause, Israel provided no clear timeline or operational details for its implementation. Aid agencies remain sceptical, warning that without a fundamental policy shift, humanitarian access will remain fragmented and insufficient.

The starvation of a population cannot be justified by military necessity, said Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council. This is not just a humanitarian failure. It is a moral collapse.
Irans exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of the last shah of Iran, has claimed that over 50,000 Iranian government and military insiders contacted him via a secure platform created by him to topple Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The platform was created last month for defectors to register and discuss campaign tactics.

There are tens of thousands  the last estimate is over 50,000 at least, maybe more, Pahlavi told Politico, adding that they, however, are yet to analyse the data. Its an arduous process  it will take some time  but the signals are quite strong. We have received [a] tremendous [] response, and of course we are giving top priority to key elements within those designated segments that I mentioned, he said.

The Crown Prince said he also planned to launch a separate website for ordinary Iranian citizens to register their interest in joining the national campaign against the regime.

Pahlavi has been putting himself in the forefront of the efforts to topple the Islamic regime in Iran, offering a secular government in its place. However, many deem him unfit to take on that role, especially since he has been living outside the country for the last four decades.

However, Pahlavi organised a conference in Munich on Saturday where over 500 opposition supporters, including activists, artists, and athletes of Iranian origin, took part. In the conference, Pahlavi said the fall of the Iranian regime is "inevitable" and that the time has come for national unity to overcome this regime.

The Islamic Republic has taken too many sons and daughters from their mothers.



Today, in Munich, I met Mother Esmat and so many others fighting for justice.



Together, we will achieve it. pic.twitter.com/H5mj3nvaFa  Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) July 26, 2025

Pahlavi addressed the Iranian Supreme Leader: "Ali Khamenei should know that his regime is unstable, that most of those around him hate him, that a large number of the Revolutionary Guards are waiting for an opportunity to escape the sinking ship of the Iranian regime, and that the majority of the people hate him and his regime," he said while warning the Supreme Leader that he was walking a "path leading to blood and fire."

At the conference, Pahlavi put forth his action plan. "First, we liberate the country, then we hold the ballot boxes, and let the Iranian people decide their own fate." He emphasised that the mission of both Republicans and monarchists is to create a space of freedom for elections and not to impose a political system. He referred to the "Iran Prosperity" project and called on political forces to unite around the transition plan. He said, "Only through solidarity can a free, secure, and prosperous Iran be built,he said.
A plane departing from the Denver International Airport was forced to cancel after a landing gear failure. Passengers had to flee the smoking aircraft on an emergency inflatable slide in a video that was captured on Saturday. One person was injured and taken for treatment.

WATCH: Landing gear of American Airlines plane catches fire at Denver airport, passengers evacuated pic.twitter.com/507eeWhfmg  BNO News (@BNONews) July 26, 2025

The American Airlines Flight 3023 aircraft had an issue with its landing gear right as it was taking off for Miami at around 2:45 (GMT-6), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA said that the 173 passengers on board the Boeing 737 MAX 8 were evacuated and taken to the terminal by bus.

American Airlines put out a statement that said that the aircraft experienced a maintenance issue with one of its landing gear systems before taking off.

The statement said that the customers and crew got off the plane safely and that the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by the maintenance team.

According to the FAA, the aircraft reported a possible landing gear failure before take-off. The statement also said that it was investigating the incident, and the Boeing aircraft is undergoing an inspection.

The displaced passengers departed for Miami on a replacement aircraft, according to the airlines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the Maldives and its coverage by the Indian media seems to have ruffled feathers in China with the state-backed Global Times publishing a piece slamming the

outdated perspective of Indian media. This comes as Modis momentous visit to the Island nation was hailed as historic by both Indian and Maldives media.

Global Times, the mouthpiece of the Chinese state, expressed ire at how the Indian media covered Modis visit to the Maldives and the apparent U-Turn of the Maldives President Mohammed Muizzus who heaped praise on Modi after calling India a bully during his initial days of Presidency.

The report quoted Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, in a bid to assert that the Maldives has not distanced itself from China.

Qian said some Indian media outlets viewed the Maldives' relations with China and India through a geopolitical adversarial lens. However, the Maldives is a sovereign nation that naturally prioritizes its relationship with neighboring India while actively pursuing a diversified foreign policy which includes strengthening its ties with China and aligning with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, Qian added.

He then went on to slam the mindset of Indian media, stating it reflects an outdated geopolitical adversarial perspective, trapped in a zero-sum game mentality."

Claiming that Chinas relations with the Maldives will thrive, the Global Times stated that Muizzu vowed during his January visit that the Maldives is willing to always be China's closest partner.

Interestingly, Muizzu was perceived to be pro-China and Beijing had expected his government to align with its policy of widening influence over the Indian Ocean region.

The Maldives reversed its anti-India policy in the subsequent months after facing a fiscal crisis. Though it expected Beijing to step in, Chinas support failed to materialise following which the government had to soften its anti-India rhetoric and seek assistance from New Delhi. India then responded positively.

Though the Maldives still went ahead and signed the China-Maldives Free Trade Agreement, observers were concerned that it was a one-directional pact that resulted in the potential loss of customs revenue for the country. It was also predicted to increase the islands dependence on China. The warning bells, was however, the fact that China is currently the Maldives biggest external creditor, holding over 42 percent of its external debt.
The biographer of the US President Donald Trump has claimed that disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was the crucial link in the First Lady Melania Trumps first meeting with her future husband. Michael Wolff, a long-term Trump biographer who penned the bestseller Fire and Fury about Trumps first stint at the White House, claimed Melania was very involved in Epsteins social circle.

Wolff told The Daily Beast podcast that Melania was introduced to Trump by ID Models founder Paolo Zampolli, who helped Melania emigrate to the United States. They met in September 1998. Shes introduced by a model agent, both of whom Trump and Epstein are involved with. Shes introduced to Trump that way. Epstein [knew] her well, Wolff said. Earlier reports have mentioned Zampollis alleged ties to Epstein and his now-incarcerated partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Where does [Melania] fit into the Epstein story? Where does she fit into this, into this whole culture of models of indeterminate age? Wolff said. So this is another complicated dimension in this.

However, the first lady has refuted the claims that Epstein had a role in their introduction, stating she met Trump at New Yorks Kit Kat Klub.

In her latest bestseller, Melania describes meeting Trump at the club for the first time. She was there on the invitation of her friend. She describes how the future President sat by her side and asked about her career and home in Slovenia. Melania describes how she was captivated by his charm and easy going nature, but didnt much of the meeting as he had a date with him. Trump, by then, was a twice-divorced man.

It was a refreshing departure from the usual superficial small talk, and I was drawn to his magnetic energy, she writes in the book Melania.

Though Trump denies having had a close friendship with him, he and Melania were photographed alongside Epstein and and Ghislaine Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in 2000. Epstein also claimed that he introduced Trump to Melania.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over recent clashes between Thailand and Cambodia and urged both nations to agree for a ceasefire immediately. The clashes entered fourth day on Sunday, and United States President Donald Trump has expressed willingness to broker peace between the warring nations.

In a post on social media platform X, the UN secretary-general said the global body is ready to assist ceasefire efforts. "I am deeply concerned about the recent armed clashes at the border between Cambodia and Thailand. I urge both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue," Guterres said. He added, "I remain available to assist in efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the dispute."

On Saturday, US President Trump said he spoke with leaders of both nations and they have agreed to "quickly work out a ceasefire". "It was an honor to deal with both countries. They have a long and storied history and culture. They will hopefully get along for many years to come. When all is done, and peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our trading agreements with both!," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Till Saturday, over 30 people have died in the conflict, and it has displaced over 1.68 lakh people. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia. The latest tensions between the neighbouring nations flared in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. The 800-kilometre frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief.

Responding to Trump's call, Thailand's foreign ministry said it agrees in principle that a ceasefire is needed, however, it would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.

According to Fresh News, a Cambodian news agency, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has agreed to a ceasefire between the two armies.
Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday agreed to participate in ceasefire talks mediated by Malaysia, according to Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan.

While Cambodia had earlier backed such negotiations, Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura had insisted that the two nations did not "need any mediation from a third country yet", as per a Reuters report.

ALSO READ | 'Reminds me of India-Pakistan conflict': US President Donald Trump seeks to broker Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire using trade

Thailand's backtracking follows a Truth Social post on Saturday in which US President Donald Trump claimed that he had phoned both nations, urging them to stop cross-border hostilities by using trade deals as leverage.

"When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!" he declared in the post.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will engage in bilateral talks in Malaysia on Monday evening, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told state news agency Bernama.

This decision comes four days into terrible shelling at the Thai-Cambodian border, which killed at least 30and displaced more than 200,000 peopleon both sides of the border.

Apart from this humanitarian pressure, it is worth noting that Thailand is currently under a caretaker government led by interim PM Phumtham Wechayachai.

This governmentled by the incumbent Pheu Thai partyis currently awaiting a Constitutional Court ruling on the case of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who allegedly violated electoral law in her phone call case.

ALSO READ | Thailand-Cambodia conflict 'deeply concerning', says UN chief Antonio Guterres, calls for immediate ceasefire

The result of the ruling could even dissolve the party: this political uncertainty has weakened the government's power to sustain a prolonged military conflict, despite having the superior advantage in terms of munitions.

The ceasefire talks chaired by ASEAN head Malaysia are also said to be trilateral, with other nations not allowed to interfere.
Amodest transaction of Rs4,000 between three Pakistani nationals and two local men in PahalgamParvaiz Ahmad Jothar and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Batkotelaid the foundation for the brutal terror attack on April 22. Each year, as the snow begins to melt, tourists flock to Kashmir, prompting local people to set up seasonal huts known as dhoks around the pine forests, meadows and picturesque trails. Three months ago, Parvaiz and Bashir did the same when they were approached by three infiltrators from across the border, who offered Rs4,000 for shelter, food and logistical support. The duo offered one more service: sharing the movement of security forces, details of deployments and the timing when the remote Baisaran valley would see heavy tourist footfall.

Investigators have found that Chinese-made encrypted communication equipmentthe Ultra Setwere used to conceal the communication by the Pakistani attackers, who were sent in to carry out precision strikes before making their way back across the border.

Parvaiz and Bashir, who have since been arrested by the National Investigation Agency, told officials that the Pakistani nationals were affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba and used the shelter from April 15 to conduct reconnaissance of multiple tourist locations, including Betaab valley, Aru valley and an amusement park, before choosing Baisaran for its relatively high terrain and absence of permanent security posts.

Last year, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had issued instructions that no tourist gatherings should take place without security clearance. The directive applied to all tourist activities, including zip lines, spot adventures and travel to designated destinations. At Baisaran valley, a private player had applied for a lease from the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation but had neither completed payments nor informed the administration or police. It is learnt that they began operations on April 19. Rains had visited Baisaran valley and the weather was inviting. The duo informed the LeT terrorists that tourists were being taken up there, says an investigator.

Local involvement is being seen as part of a well-entrenched pattern in Kashmir since the 1990s, where civilianswhether motivated by money, fear or ideologyare exploited by Pakistan-backed terror groups. While accountability is essential for those who lend support to terrorists, it is equally necessary to dismantle the larger terror machinery that uses locals to dilute responsibility for the terror incidents orchestrated by Pakistan, says D.K. Pathak, former director general of the Border Security Force.

In the Pahalgam investigation, this becomes most crucial because several layers of camouflage used by Pakistan to evade scrutiny have come to light. The first was the use of local people; the second, the creation of The Resistance Front, which projected itself as a home-grown movement until evidence forced its designation as a Pakistan-backed outfit by India and the United States. Intelligence officials say the third cover is presenting the attack as an LeT activity, although it was a covert operation by the Special Services Group of the Pakistan army.

Unlike previous terror strikes, the Pahalgam attack was a covert war, using civilian-targeted terror to destabilise the region, says a senior official. Supporting this claim, investigators have found that Chinese-made encrypted communication equipmentthe Ultra Setwere used to conceal the communication by the Pakistani attackers, who were sent in to carry out precision strikes before making their way back across the border. Investigators believe these devices, initially developed by the Chinese army and handed to the Pakistan army, bypass regular mobile networks and route compressed messages via satellites to control stations in Pakistan.

Indian security forces have the capability to track the time period when this highly sophisticated communication device is activated and shut down, though not its content. The fact that its use has been detected during the Pahalgam attack has corroborated at least three leads. First, the Pahalgam strike was orchestrated by Pakistan army commandos. Second, high-tech military tools for communication are now being deployed to obstruct investigations. Third, there is a common thread between Pahalgam, the attack on labourers in Gagangeer in Sonamarg during the construction of the Z-Morh tunnel and the attack on an Army vehicle in the tourist hotspot of Gulmargs Bota Pathri area last year.

Investigations are on, but more important is the continuation of Operation Sindoor, based on a multi-pronged strategy to dismantle cross-border terror camps, expose the direct role of Pakistans military, conduct counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir to flush out militants and enhance capabilities to decode communication systems designed to elude Indian surveillance and hamper investigations. It is also important to amplify the voices of Kashmiris and victims of terror who have found themselves caught in the crosshairs of a war they had nothing to do with.
SRINAGAR

Interview/ Manoj Sinha, lieutenant governor Jammu and Kashmir

The skies are clear after the drone raids of May, but counter-terrorism operations continue quietly on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir. While there is no huge presence of soldiers in uniform, security forces are active behind the scenes, carrying out operations in Pulwama, Tral, Shopian and Baramulla. Operation Sindoor continues, said Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, referring to the active counter terror measures that follow the military confrontation with Pakistan. Launched after the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, the cross-border operation targeted Pakistan-based terror camps. Sinha, who also holds key responsibilities for law and order in the Union territory, told THE WEEK in an exclusive interview that any act of terrorism would be treated as an act of war.

This is New Kashmirno Pakistan calendar, only academic calendars. Cinema halls are running again.... Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians all celebrate their festivals proudly. Amarnath Yatra is successful. Youth are getting jobs. I dont think that anyones voice is being curtailed. The political parties are freely doing their work and participated freely in the assembly elections last year.... Democracy is very much alive in Jammu and Kashmir and there are no curbs on anyone.

Beyond the immediate security response, another battle is unfolding quietly within Kashmiri homes that have suffered the impact of decades of terrorism. Sinha said the fight against terrorism must also address justice and relief for victims, adding that bringing support to those affected over the past three decades remains a critical challenge. Edited excerpts from the interview:

The number of terror incidents had declined in Jammu and Kashmir before the Pahalgam attack on April 22. What are the key security challenges now?

Local recruitment into terror ranks has drastically fallen. Earlier, 100150 youth used to join militant groups each year. This year, there has been only one recruitment. Last year, there were just six or seven. This shows that people have started trusting peace and development. The number of stakeholders in peace has grown and prosperity has changed lives. I believe this is a historic shift in the last five to six years. The number of terror incidents shows that our neighbour continues to send infiltrators. Security forces are alert. Many operations are successful, some are ongoing. The coordination among the Army, police and Central Armed Police Forces remains strong.

The government has said that Operation Sindoor continues. What has changed in the way security forces are operating in Jammu and Kashmir?

Operation Sindoor continues. The prime minister said clearly that terror and tourism would not go together, terror and trade would not go together and water and terrorism would not flow together. Any act of terror will be treated as an act of war. The armed forces are fully alert. In just three days, terrorist hideouts were destroyed (during Operation Sindoor). When Pakistan targeted our military installations, we responded directly. The message was clear: everything in Pakistan is within our reach. The country and the world witnessed it. Pakistans claims were proven false and our indigenous defence systems showed their capability.

Pakistan is using terror as a state policy. It does not bother whether its citizens are provided basic living conditions and survives on loans from other countries. India, on the other hand, is the fourth largest economy in the world and is striving to become a developed country. So, there is no comparison between the two countries, and we cannot foresee a stable Pakistan in the coming years.

You have spoken about Naya Kashmir, but there is still no timeline for the restoration of statehood.

This is New Kashmirno Pakistan calendar, only academic calendars. Cinema halls are running again. After 33 years, Muharram processions have been held for three consecutive years. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians all celebrate their festivals proudly. Amarnath Yatra is successful. Youth are getting jobs. The economy has doubled. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir now share the aspirations of a developed India. As far as statehood is concerned, when the Article 370 abrogation bill was passed, the government said three steps would follow: first delimitation, then elections and then statehood at an appropriate time. Delimitation happened. Elections were held peacefully and a government was formed. Now the final stepstatehoodwill also happen. It was said in Parliament and will be honoured. But the word used was appropriate time. The prime minister reiterated that last year in Srinagar. We must wait for the right time.

Omar Abdullah says his position has been downgraded from chief minister of a state to chief minister of a Union territory. There is a feeling that the state government has been disempowered.

When Omar Abdullah was fighting the assembly elections, it was clear that it was the Union territory which was holding its elections. The Election Commission had specified that, and every citizen in this country knew that. He willingly participated in the elections and won. So, it is obvious that when he becomes chief minister, he will be the chief minister of a Union territory. It is true that the Central government has assured that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored at an appropriate time, so he can make this demand.

The monsoon session of Parliament has begun. Will there be a government clarification on the statehood demand?

I cannot say whether it will be discussed, but if the issue is raised in Parliament, I am sure the Union home minister will respond to it. The government will take an appropriate decision on it.

Concerns persist about the balance of power between the chief minister and lieutenant governor. How is your relationship with Omar Abdullah?

I have cordial relations with the chief minister. We meet often at conferences and other occasions. As for powers, they are clearly defined in the State Reorganisation Act. The roles of the lieutenant governor, chief minister and the elected government are well laid out. I know my constitutional limits and will never act beyond them.

Team game: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti says there is selective targeting of government employees who are being removed based on allegations of terror links under Article 311.

The framers of our Constitution included Article 311 to protect the state from internal threats. Every dismissal is being done after detailed scrutiny. The action that is being taken under Article 311 against government employees is not community or religion-based. It may seem as if a certain community is being targeted, but many people from that community have also been excluded from action. There is no religious angle. Most of those dismissed have a past or active terror record. Many are in jail. We will never act against an innocent person. The duty of the government is to ensure the law is used only against those who endanger the state.

There is concern that dissenting voices are being silenced in Jammu and Kashmir.

I do not think that anyones voice is being curtailed. The political parties are freely doing their work and participated freely in the assembly elections last year. There was political canvassing and campaigning that went on late into the night, and today, the elected MLAs are going about their work as usual. I do not think there is any truth in these allegations. Democracy is very much alive in Jammu and Kashmir and there are no curbs on anyone. The only effort we are making is to ensure there is no threat to national security. Those are well thought-out decisions of the government. But it does not mean that political activities or peoples democratic rights are being curtailed.

A national population and caste census is coming up, which will be followed by delimitation. What impact will this have on Jammu and Kashmir, where delimitation has already taken place?

Once the process begins and clarity emerges, we will discuss it in detail.

Should policing and law and order remain with the lieutenant governor rather than the elected government, given Jammu and Kashmirs national security context?

On the security front, there has been a clear policy shift under the Union home minister: we will not buy peace; we will establish it. The Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and Central Armed Police Forces have together created a situation where there are no lockdowns and no hartals. Life has returned to normal. People now enjoy nightlife. Stone-pelting has stopped. But we must remember that Jammu and Kashmir is a border region. From a national security perspective, the Centre will evaluate and decide the right time for further transitions.

What measures are being taken to secure tourist sites following the Pahalgam attack?

After the incident, the home minister chaired a review. It was decided that all major tourist sites such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg would have mandatory security deployments. Some sites were temporarily closed. After review, 1516 sites were reopened. Others will be opened gradually, with full security arrangements.

As you complete five years as lieutenant governor, what are the biggest changes and the unfinished tasks?

Article 370 was abrogated on August 5, 2019. I assumed office in August 2020. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been a huge transformation in Jammu and Kashmir over the last five to six years. In every sector, Jammu and Kashmir has seen unprecedented growth. First, in terms of transparency and accountability. Second, the economy has doubled in the last five to six years. J&K Bank, which was running at a loss of Rs 1,139 crore, now reports a profit of Rs 1,700 crore.

In terms of infrastructureparticularly highways and tunnelsmassive development has taken place. When I first came, it used to take 8 to 8.5 hours to travel from Jammu to Srinagar. Today, it takes just 4.5 hours. Approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore worth of highway and tunnel projects are underway. In rural areas, as per the 2001 census, 99 per cent of villages with populations above 250 were included in the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Now, under the 2011 census, another Rs 4,000 crore is being added for the remaining villages.

Premier institutions like IIT, IIM, NIFT, two AIIMS and seven new medical colleges have been established. Earlier, power generation was around 3,450 MW. We are in the process of adding an additional 3,100 MW. Transmission and distribution capacity has also expanded. Tourism has surged. Last year, 2.36 crore tourists visited. This boosted the economy and created employment.

The private sector has also improved. Earlier, private investment was around Rs 14,000 crore. Now, because of the New Industrial Policy and support from the Centre, investment of Rs 10,000Rs 12,000 crore has already materialised. Another Rs 28,000Rs 30,000 crore is in the pipeline. Today, 1,146 government services are being delivered online. Land records have been digitised. About 70 per cent of the population depends on agriculture and allied sectors. In 2022, we launched the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan, with a goal to double agricultures share in GDP in five years. We have identified 29 projects that are progressing well.

Across all sectors, our approach has been peace, prosperity, progress and people-first. Most importantly, the authority of the Indian state is now fully established. Jammu and Kashmir is completely integrated with India. That is a big achievement.

Many families have lost their loved ones in terror incidents over the decades. What is the government doing to help them rebuild their lives?

Recently, I was in Baramulla where I met families of terror victims. It was a deeply emotional experience. Some had never received financial aid. Others were still waiting for dependent certificates, without which they could not get jobs. Some didnt have FIRs registered, and some had lost homes or land. We took decisions immediately. Those eligible for financial assistance or government jobs will get them. More than 40 people have already been given jobs within 15 days of launching this initiative. Others who had not received financial aid are now being processed.

For those who didnt have FIRs, police are investigating through the helpline, and FIRs will be registered. In some cases, their lands were grabbed by terrorists, and we are helping recover their properties. We are also encouraging self-employment. Financial assistance and handholding will be provided under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana so that victims can become entrepreneurs. This is being handled with a whole-of-government approach. Our goal is justice, jobs and dignity for those whose voices were never heard.

How is the government identifying terror victims after so many years?

There are helplines that have been created in districts, being handled by the deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police. There is a helpline in the police headquarters and a special cell has been created in the office of the chief secretary, where the principal home secretary is the nodal officer. We have analysed the calls being made to these helplines, and a decision was taken to ask the deputy commissioners and SSPs to reopen cases on priority which were deliberately buriedfile FIRs and ensure jobs to the next of kin of all terror victim families.

The special cell is tasked with addressing concerns of terror victim families and lending financial assistance to victims. The special team of senior officers is constantly verifying the claims while lending assistance to affected families. It is an ongoing process. We want to ensure that those who have suffered in the last 2530 years should get relief at last.

Many of the old cases being reopened date back to the 1990s, when militancy was at its peak. Wont there be serious legal hurdles after three decades?

I agree there are many such cases, and the police is in the process of analysing each case to lend maximum assistance. At the moment, we have decided to reopen 23 cases, including the brutal massacre of 23 Kashmiri Pandits in Wandhama in Ganderbal in January 1998 and several killings of innocents in broad daylight. The police will do its job to complete the unfinished investigations into these cases.

Some victims of terrorism are demanding reservations in education and jobs. Is the government considering this?

There is a well-defined policy of the government on reservation based on constitutional provisions. The state has to adhere to the laid-down provisions. But we are making a sincere attempt to help them in whatever manner possible.

Given the long-standing alienation of youth and the threat posed by the terror ecosystem, how can they be brought into the mainstream?

I think the focus on creation of jobs by the Central government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration can play a huge role in bringing the alienated youth into the mainstream. In the last five years, many schemes for youth empowerment were implemented on the ground and more than 9.5 lakh self-employment opportunities were provided to them. The schools and universities are not only open and functioning well but also laying special focus on promoting education and creating a new roadmap for their future.

The programmes like Back to Village to create entrepreneurs by tapping at least 15 youth from every panchayat, including girls, have yielded positive results. Special care has been taken to grant government jobs to competent and deserving people. More than 40,000 government posts were filled in recent years and Jammu and Kashmir was the only Union territory to speedily declare the results for the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. This has built trust in the state administration once again. Our approach is clear: Do not trouble the innocent, but do not spare the guilty.

Jammu and Kashmir youth are showing interest in startups and innovation. What kind of support is the government offering?

Youngsters are quite upbeat about the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. There are more than 1,000 startups registered with the department for promotion of industry and internal trade today. I am not including the number of those startups registered at the Union territory level. It is a positive trend, and the noticeable thing is that around one-third of these startups are being led by women. There is no dearth of talent here. Several universities and premier institutions are encouraging youth to lead innovation and explore the startup ecosystem in the Union territory.
Colombo, Jul 27 (PTI) Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will pay a three-day official visit to the Maldives to enhance cooperation between the two island nations, the foreign ministry here has announced.

The visit from July 28-30 will be at the invitation of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The two presidents will hold bilateral talks to exchange several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

The visit aims to boost cooperation between the Maldives and Sri Lanka in mutually beneficial areas, according to the ministry.

This will be the first visit to the Maldives by Dissanayake since being elected president in September last year.

His first visit was to India and was followed by visits to China and the UAE.

The visit marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

According to Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, one of the MoUs will allow Maldivian citizens to obtain visit visas valid for up to one year. He said a substantial number of Maldivians visit Sri Lanka for health tourism.

Sri Lanka has been granting free tourist visas to Maldivians since 2023.
Taiwanese voters rejected a bid to oust about one-fifth of their lawmakers, all from the opposition Nationalist Party, in a recall election Saturday, dampening hopes for the ruling party to flip the balance of power in the self-ruled islands legislature.

The independence-leaning ruling Democratic Progressive Party won last years presidential election, but the China-friendly Nationalists, also known as the KMT, and the smaller Taiwan Peoples Party have enough seats to form a majority bloc.

Official preliminary results showed that the recall efforts failed to remove any of the two dozen KMT lawmakers. The scale of the recall elections is unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing a similar vote on Aug. 23.

The KMT currently holds 52 seats, while the ruling DPP holds 51 seats. For the DPP to secure a legislative majority, at least six KMT lawmakers would need to be ousted, and the ruling party would need to win the by-elections, which must be held within three months of the announcement of results.

For the recall to pass, more than a quarter of eligible voters in the electoral district must vote in favor of it, and the total number of supporters must exceed those voting against.

The poll closed at 4 p.m. local time. Taiwans Central Election Commission will announce the official results on Aug. 1.

If next months poll results are also unfavorable to the DPP, it would mean that the government of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te could continue to face strong resistance from within the legislature before elections expected to take place in 2028.

An uphill battle

KMT chairman Eric Chu told reporters that voters had used their ballots to prove Taiwans democracy is mature and great, calling for an apology from Lai.

All Taiwanese people chose stability, chose that the government should focus on getting things done, rather than engaging in bitter political fighting, he said.

Despite their huge effort, those backing the recall were facing an uphill battle in trying to unseat lawmakers in well organized, strongly KMT districts, said Lev Nachman, a professor of political science at National Taiwan University.

The result is going to make it even harder for Lai to push his agenda forward, especially ahead of local elections next year, said Nachman, who is an expert on Taiwans elections.

At the moment, there is very little Lai can do other than try to think of other creative ways to appeal to the public, he told The Associated Press.

Fu Kun-chi, one of the most powerful and controversial lawmakers targeted, said the result left Lai with no option other than to meet with the opposition and find a way for Taiwan to proceed in a more stable way in this chaotic world.

DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang said they humbly accepted the results, saying the recall should not be reduced to a victory or defeat for political parties and that it should be seen as a demonstration of civic power. He said his party has the responsibility to reflect on public sentiment more cautiously and adjust its approach to meet peoples expectations.

Political retaliation claim

Those who support removing the 24 lawmakers have criticized the KMT and its allies for blocking key legislation, especially the defense budget, and passing controversial changes that are seen as diminishing the power of the executive and favoring China, which considers the island its own territory.

The opposition parties actions sparked concerns among some Taiwanese about the islands democratic integrity and its ability to deter Chinese military threats, leading to the recall campaigns.

But the KMT has accused the ruling party of resorting to political retaliation after it lost the legislative majority, saying the recalls were undermining and challenging Taiwans democratic system.

Tensions flared over the poll

The elections have intensified tensions between those backing the status quo and those favoring improved ties with Beijing.

Critics accuse China-friendly politicians of compromising Taiwan and take issue with their meetings with mainland Chinese politicians. But these Taiwanese politicians claim their connections are vital for dialogue given Beijings refusal to interact with the DPP.

When asked about the recall election, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said in June that since the administration of Lai came into power, it has sought to achieve one-party dominance and practiced dictatorship under the guise of democracy, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The office is a branch of Chinas ruling Communist Party government, which itself maintains strict one-party rule.

Zhu said that Lais government has spared no effort in suppressing opposition parties and those who supported the development of cross-strait relations.

Taiwans mainland affairs council said Wednesday that the Chinese authorities and state media had tried to blatantly interfere with the vote.

(AP)
Following an intensive two-day manhunt, Israeli security forces captured the terrorist who injured eight soldiers in a ramming attack near Kfar Yona on Thursday, Israel Police announced on Motzei Shabbos.

Arkan Khaled, 27, an Arab-Israeli from the town of Taybeh, was found hiding on top of a crane at a construction site in the Beit Lid junction area, not far from where the vehicle he used to carry out the attack was found.

Khaled abandoned the car following the attack and fled on foot.

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The Kfar Yona Municipality issued a statement to residents saying, The terrorist who carried out the car ramming attack has been captured. Mayor Albert Tayeb extends his thanks to the Israel Police, the Shin Bet, the local alert squad, and all our volunteers who took part in the intensive search since the morning of the attack.

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel)
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that the Israeli Navy successfully intercepted the Handala boat, which attempted to break Israels naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The ministry emphasized that all passengers are safe.

In its official statement, the Foreign Ministry referred to the vessel by its original name, saying, the forces stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza.

The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe, the statement continued.

The ministry underscored the seriousness of the breach attempt, noting, Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.

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While the IDF has not yet released a formal statement on the incident, live footage from earlier in the day showed Israeli Navy troops boarding the Handala at sea.

The Handala is operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the same group behind a previous attempt involving the Madleen vessel. According to the coalitions website, the boat was carrying 19 activists along with two Al Jazeera journalists.

The vessel is currently being towed to Ashdod Port, whereupon the activists will be deported from Israel.
New York Attorney General Letitia James quietly circulated a petition over the weekend urging fellow Democrats to take action on what she called a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza  without even bothering to acknowledge Hamass role in the ongoing conflict.

The original draft of the petition, obtained by The New York Post, called on Americans to speak out against the crisis and support relief efforts, but made no mention of the October 7 terrorist attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and led to the war. The letter described the situation as a famine unfolding in Gaza before the eyes of the world, and claimed to represent a coalition of multiracial, multiethnic, and multifaith elected officials.

There is no denying itwe are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe, the draft stated. History will remember what we did, or failed to do, in this moment.

Only after The Post reached out for comment did Jamess office release a revised version of the petition  this time explicitly condemning Hamas.

We are united in this moment by both condemning the October 7th massacre perpetrated by Hamas and an unavoidable truth: a famine is unfolding in Gaza before the eyes of the world, the updated version read.

A spokesman for James insisted the Hamas reference had been added far prior to the newspapers inquiry  a claim that conflicts with the timeline of events and the content of the initial draft.

The petition ultimately garnered support from more than 60 Democratic officials at the city, state, and federal levels, including two Jews who love to attack their own  Rep. Jerry Nadler and New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.

Notably absent from the list of signatories was Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and outspoken critic of Israel who is vacationing in Uganda. James is reportedly endorsing Mamdani in his bid for higher office.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A Wall Street Journal report says that Iran is accelerating its efforts to rearm Hezbollah and the Houthis in Yemen.

According to the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, Iran has discovered a way to continue to transfer weapons to the Hezbollah terror group through Iraq and Syria.

Instead of its past tactics of openly transferring truckfuls of weapons and missiles to Lebanon through Syria, it has recently begun using small vehicles for the same purpose and has succeeded in transferring Kornet anti-tank missiles and advanced weaponry into Lebanon.

However, not all transfer attempts were successful. According to the WSJ report, the new Syrian government has intercepted several arms shipments from Tehran to Hezbollah, including Grads rockets and other weaponry. Additionally, Lebanese armed forces have also intercepted weapons shipments, including Russian-made anti-tank missiles, through Syria.

Iran is rebuilding its presence in the Levant by sending missiles to Hezbollah and weapons from Iraq to Syria, said Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Washington Institute for Near East Policy with expertise in Irans militia allies.

Iran has also attempted to transfer advanced weapons to the Houthis in Yemen.

Only weeks after a ceasefire was announced between Iran and Israel, forces from Yemens internationally recognized government intercepted a massive shipment of advanced military equipment750 tons of missiles, drone parts, and warheads sent by Tehran to the Houthis.

The shipment, which was concealed aboard a ship called a dhow under crates of air conditioners, was intercepted by the National Resistance Force, a military coalition aligned with the Yemeni government.

The U.S. Central Command confirmed that it was the National Resistance Forces largest seizure of advanced Iranian conventional weapons and included Iranian-developed Qader antiship missiles and components for the Saqr air-defense system, which the Houthis have used to bring down U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones.

The timing and scale of this shipment strongly suggest Iran is moving quickly to replenish Houthi stockpiles depleted by U.S. airstrikes, said Mohammed al-Basha, founder of U.S.-based Middle East security advisory Basha Report. It shows Tehran wants to sustain their high operational tempo targeting Israel and commercial maritime traffic, he said.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
It was cleared for publication on Sunday that the State Attorneys Office filed a serious security indictment last week in the Central District Court in Lod against an Israeli citizen, charging him with contact with a foreign agent and providing information to the enemy with the intent to harm state security, which carries a penalty of life imprisonment.

The indictment reveals that the defendant, an Israeli citizen who immigrated from Iran in 1999, maintained contact with an Iranian agent during Operation Iron Swords as well as throughout Operation Rising Lion.

About 15 years ago, the defendant became romantically involved with an Iranian woman living in Iran. In 2024, the two met in Turkey and held a meeting with two Iranian agents. The defendant was aware that the agents were hostile to Israel.

Following his return to Israel, the defendant transferred sensitive information to one of the Iranian agents via Telegram, at times at the agents request and at times on his own initiative.

The information he provided included the identity of an Iranian sailor who allegedly collaborated with Israel; details about Israels intentions to carry out attacks on Iran; Israeli drone flight paths via Azerbaijan toward Iran; and confirmation that a key Israeli Air Force base at Nevatim was hit during Irans attack on Israel in April last year.

According to the indictment, some of the information the defendant provided to the Iranian agent was obtained via his friendship with an Israeli who was close to government officials.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
Matan Jerafi, the CEO of Im Tirtzu, an Israeli right-wing NGO, sent a sharply worded letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday, slamming his decision to provide aid to Gaza, including airlifting aid to Gaza for the first time since the war began.

It should be noted that this is the first time in history that a country is providing aid to its enemy during a war.

I am writing to you, Prime Minister, in pain and dismay, as one who represents tens of thousands serving in the reserves and in regular service and hundreds of thousands of supportive citizens on social media, the letter began.

Last night, after Shabbat ended, we learned that you chose to instruct the security leadership to airdrop aid to Gaza for the first time since the beginning of the war. Alongside the impressive achievements in Lebanon, Iran, and Syria, which, under your leadership, are shaping a new reality in the Middle East for generations to come, the failures in dealing with Hamas in Gaza stand out starkly.

In the face of Hamass deceitful hunger campaign, which we regrettably also saw in Israeli media outlets and in the statements by irresponsible Knesset members, courageous leadership is requiredone that does not hesitate or flinch.

Hamas draws its tactics from the greatest propagandists in history; this is exactly the same policy employed by Hitler and Goebbels, yimach shemam, during World War II.

Airdropping aid to Nazi supporters in Gaza, by our forces, is a terrible disgrace. At this time, we must embark on a decisive move that will lead to complete military control of the Strip by our forcesuntil victory!

I call on you to immediately revoke the decision.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
As measles cases in Israel continue to increase, two toddlersa one-year-old girl and a two-year-old boyare hospitalized in serious condition at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem and have been connected to ECMO machines due to severe complications from measles.

The one-year-old girl was evacuated to the hospital over the weekend suffering from severe respiratory distress and was diagnosed with measles. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, and she was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit, where she was connected to an ECMO machine.

The two-year-old boy was transferred last week to Hadassah from Shaare Tzedek Hospital after suffering from a secondary infectious complicationsevere pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteriathat developed after he contracted measles. He is also now connected to an ECMO machine.

Dr. Uri Pollak, director of the pediatric intensive care units at Hadassah Hospitals, said, Measles is a rapidly contagious viral disease, especially in closed spaces. It is a serious and dangerous disease that manifests as fever, a general feeling of unwellness, runny nose, and rash, which can lead to severe complications and life-threatening conditions.

Dr. Pollak, along with the team of pediatricians at Hadassah, is calling on the public to vaccinate children and babies according to the Health Ministrys vaccination program.

It is possible to prevent severe morbidity and save livesit is in the hands of the parents, Dr. Pollak emphasized. The effectiveness of the measles vaccine is proven, and it is very important to maintain a complete vaccination routine for all children in the household in order to prevent dangerous infection that could end in tragedy.

(YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)
HMS Agamemnon sits in the open dock as workers add finishing touches to the latest Astute Class submarine to roll off production lines at Barrow-in-Furness.

Completion of the sixth of a seven-boat order begun in 2001 might, in years gone by, have been followed by the town's shipyard facing a contract drought and winding down.

But its fortunes are now different  with a full order book for decades to come, bringing investment and prosperity to an isolated corner of Cumbria.

Rising fears of global conflict mean billions of pounds of orders from the Royal Navy for shipyard owner BAE Systems.

Four Dreadnought submarines will eventually replace the Vanguard class vessels that carry Britain's Trident nuclear weapons. The Government has also placed an order for up to 12 nuclear-powered Aukus attack submarines.

As a result, BAE is upping its workforce at Barrow-in-Furness from 11,000 to 17,000  on a par with the shipyard's historic peak  and is near-trebling its apprenticeship programme to 1,000.

Now hiring: Barrow's dockyard has orders for decades to come

And a 220 million investment in infrastructure over the next ten years, awarded by Rishi Sunak's government, is seeing benefits with improvements to the A595, Barrow's link to the M6.

Barrow's population of 67,000 has grown for the first time in nearly 40 years, with newcomers attracted by the stunning coastline and Lake District. On a recent visit accompanied by Defence Secretary John Healey, Prime Minister Keir Starmer described its renaissance as a 'blueprint for the nation'.

Leading BAE's training at its 25 million submarine Academy For Skills And Knowledge, which opened in 2018, is Jim Perks.

The former submarine captain said: 'We've known for years the Government's requirement for submarines is growing. We needed to increase our workforce dramatically, increase the size of the yard and improve the supply chain.'

He said the company adopted a 'grow your own' approach, recruiting via the academy, which is expanding with a high-tech training hub in the Debenhams store, which closed in 2021. Perks said the hub would allow apprentices to learn techniques on simulators so they can be 'up to speed' before joining teams on real boats.

Recruits are a 60:40 split of trade versus degree apprentices, and demand is high with 4,000 applicants in 2024 and 6,000 this year.

While there is a tradition of generations of Barrow families working at the shipyard, Perks, who is also recruiting more women, said: 'Some of the most complex machines in the world are made here by Barrovians, but we want to look further afield too.'

Carrie, 20, a trainee electrician following in her father's footsteps, said: 'I wanted a hands-on job and was always interested in engineering and carrying on the tradition.'

Olivia, 19, training to be a joiner, said: 'I think it's good for the town as there's not been too much to offer around here. It's particularly helpful for young people. It's a good start in life with job security.'

Local traders are starting to see an upturn after years of decline. Ashley Holroyd, 33, owner of Coffee D'Ash, opened a branch next to the hub last year having previously sold his drinks from a trailer.

He now employs eight staff, and said: 'I came to Barrow in 2017 when the shops were closing and footfall was close to dead.' Pointing to the smartened-up town centre, he added that it now 'feels like a town on the up'.

BAE's investment in Barrow is mirrored on the Clyde in Glasgow, where it is building eight Royal Navy Type 26 destroyers. The firm has invested 12 million in an academy  opened by Princess Anne in April  to train 300 recruits annually for the sites at Govan and Scotstoun.

Referring to the threat posed by Russia, vice-admiral Sir Simon Lister, managing director of BAE's Navy Ships business, who spent over 40 years in the Royal Navy and was briefly British Naval attache in Moscow, said: 'Over 48 years in the Armed Forces and in the military and defence industry, I'd say this is the most tense and challenging time for us all.' BAE has also invested 300 million in production facilities at Glasgow to cut the time it takes to build each 1 billion destroyer by a third, from 98 months to 66.

This includes opening a giant shipbuilding hall, allowing two warships to be assembled at once under cover rather than being built in sections before being joined together under scaffolding.

Among apprentices at BAE's Glasgow academy is Anna, 30.

She said almost 'every male member of my family' had worked in the yards or on ships.

She added: 'My dad served in the Royal Navy, my grandad was in the Royal Naval Reserve and my great grandad, Edward McKnight, was a chief engineer for the Royal Navy. I'm following in my family's footsteps.'
Amanda Blanc embarked on an intense charm offensive among top BP shareholders last week to convince them that the choice of low-profile building materials executive Albert Manifold as chairman made sense.

There had been an expectation in the City that a thorough recruitment process  conducted by the no-nonsense Aviva chief executive  who is BP's senior independent director and who led the search  might yield a more prominent chairman with wider knowledge of the energy industry.

BP was stung by early criticism of Manifold by City brokers Panmure Gordon, who accused the oil giant's board of a 'panic appointment'.

The energy giant also found it necessary to repudiate derogatory comments made by an unnamed 'bitter and twisted' losing candidate for the post.

Working from Aviva's Canadian headquarters in the last few days, Blanc spoke to all of BP's leading UK and American investors and has seemingly managed to turn the tide of opinion. Most now are reportedly positive about the BP board's final choice.

But there was some disappointment at the oil giant's headquarters about the lack of a rise in the share price following the announcement, as well as at some of the negative briefing in the Square Mile.

Blanc is said to have convinced leading investors that the naysayers who challenged the choice of Manifold 'lacked credibility'.

Landlubber: Albert Manifold's success at Tarmac-maker CRH was brushed aside by brokers who wanted to see more oil and gas experience

In selling the selection to the City, BP and its advisers have pointed to Manifold's stellar, under-the-radar performance at CRH, where he drove the value of the group's shares up 342 per cent during a ten-year tenure.

The share price performance of CRH, which moved its listing to New York two years ago, is described by BP insiders as 'magnificent'.

Blanc is also understood to have pointed to Manifold's considerable experience in making deals, and his knowledge of a building materials industry that has come under close scrutiny from regulators.

Despite claims about the new chairman's modest Irish-based lifestyle, it has been noted that he became one of the best rewarded executives in the British Isles, amassing some 54 million of stock options between 2020 and 2024.

But while Manifold has a reputation for successfully managing bids and deals, chairing the oil giant is regarded very differently.

No-nonsense: Amanda Blanc

Being BP chairman requires great diplomatic skills given that its operations include sensitive territories such as Iraq.

He will also have to contend with the battle being waged by chief executive Murray Auchincloss to refocus the company on oil production after a disastrous effort under his predecessor Bernard Looney to transmogrify the company into a green energy pioneer.

Nevertheless, BP insists that the job of chairman is to lead the board and hold the management to account.

'It is not to be the deep technical expert,' one person involved in the search noted.

Being an industry expert is also no guarantee of success.

Manifold's predecessor, Helge Lund, a Norwegian veteran of the oil sector, quit due to mounting investor pressure and criticism of his performance in the role.

An adviser to BP's rival Shell expressed surprise that the selection panel overlooked its newest non-executive director, Simon Henry, who was appointed to the board earlier this month. Henry is a former finance director of Shell and has been influential on the board of mining giant Rio Tinto.

BP's response is to argue that in bringing both Henry and Manifold aboard, the group 'had the best of both worlds'.

Manifold's first task will be to keep notorious activist investor Elliott Investment Management onside. It welcomed his appointment and wanted to see him 'urgently' address the company's 'shortcomings'. But other leading American holders of BP shares have recognised that turning the tanker around will take time, and believe that the newish team deserve at least eight quarters, or two years, of grace to show that things are on the mend.

The big question is whether Manifold will be able to withstand the pressure on BP to cut back spending on new oil and gas facilities while providing better returns to shareholders. He has experience in this area, having previously faced down activists at CRH.

There has been some concern about the length of the process to appoint the chairman. Blanc insisted on a thorough process using head-hunters, a long-list and short-list, and bringing the board along with her. But the drawn-out procedure allowed speculation to build of a takeover approach

by Shell. Fortunately for BP's top team, Shell denied any early-stage talks and took itself out of the picture for at least six months.

Outside observers were not the only ones surprised by the choice of Manifold, with many BP insiders having no knowledge of his background.

In a bid to bolster his credentials, he has in the past few days made a point of touring the oil giant's offices in St James's Square in central London and holding a series of one-to-one meetings with executives and colleagues.

But only time will tell if the former building materials boss can cement his legacy at BP.
Face-to-face shareholder meetings are 'a cornerstone of the financial system' and key to sustainable economic growth, a group of powerful City investors has told The Mail on Sunday.

In a big boost to this paper's push to stop annual meetings becoming online-only, the Governance for Growth Investor Campaign (GGIC) says it is 'vital' they operate 'in a way which allows for genuine interaction with shareholders'.

The Mail on Sunday is campaigning for all FTSE 100 companies to hold physical annual general meetings (AGMs) in the UK, and to make it easier for shareholders to vote via a platform or nominee so their voices can be heard  a move hailed by retail investor group ShareAction.

It follows a trend by firms such as drug giant AstraZeneca, defence contractor BAE Systems and toothpaste-maker Haleon to move their AGMs to a digital-only format, effectively barring share owners from attending in person.

On Friday, Nationwide came under fire at its virtual AGM for not allowing any of the 16 million members who own Britain's biggest mutual to attend in person, leading to charges that bosses were not being properly held responsible.

'Virtual-only AGMs make it harder for shareholders to hold firms to account and support the long-term value creation vital for sustainable economic growth,' said GGIC leader Caroline Escott.

Show of hands: Face-to-face shareholder meetings are 'a cornerstone of the financial system' and key to sustainable economic growth, a group of powerful City investors has said

'Hearing other shareholders' views, and being heard in turn, without our perspectives being filtered by management, is a key shareholder right,' added Escott, who is head of investment stewardship at train workers' pension fund Railpen.

The GGIC is an alliance of pension schemes controlling 150 billion of assets, including BT's retirement fund and the Church of England Pensions Board on behalf of 11 million members.

Escott added: 'The right of shareholders, as the owners of capital, to freely and genuinely engage with boards and executives is a cornerstone of our financial system.

'It's therefore vital AGMs are run in a way that allows for genuine interaction with shareholders.'

The move to virtual-only meetings is shrouded in legal uncertainty, with Ministers under pressure to clarify the law about the physical location of AGMs. A review is expected later this year.

Escott added: 'It's just one of the important shareholder rights that we must protect in the UK if we are to achieve the thriving UK companies, capital markets and economy that we all want to see.'
Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice is conducting a 'bacon and eggs' charm offensive to woo British businesses ahead of the next election.

Tice told The Mail on Sunday that he and other senior party figures, including leader Nigel Farage, had been meeting 'dozens and dozens and dozens' of bosses for breakfast meetings.

He said they included chief executives, finance chiefs, chairmen and top lobbyists at FTSE 100 and FTSE 250-listed firms, as well as those at private and foreign-owned companies.

It echoes the 'smoked salmon and scrambled eggs' charm offensive by Labour ahead of the last General Election.

Tice, pictured with Farage, said the 'penny dropped' for many firms about Reform's potential to form the next government after its landslide success in May's local elections and taking a 14-point lead in the latest national opinion poll.

And he dismissed concerns raised by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) about whether Reform's sums added up, dismissing the respected economic think-tank as 'the institute for feeble studies'.

Double act: Richard Tice and Nigel Farage have been conducting a 'bacon and eggs' charm offensive to woo British businesses

Tice said: 'Lots of companies recognise we are a serious contender to be the next government, whenever the election is. They are taking it seriously, so want to meet me and understand where we're coming from on a variety of big issues.

'Whether you want to call it the bacon and eggs offensive or whatever, a series of breakfasts and other meetings are going on, and it is going well, and we're doing quite a lot of it.'

A well-placed City source who alerted The Mail on Sunday to the meetings suggested there was some scepticism among business leaders about Reform's plans. Firms contacted by this newspaper were tight-lipped over whether they had met Tice.

One FTSE 100 director, who asked not to be named, said he had 'not seen him' as part of the drive, but had once bumped into the politician and 'couldn't find anything we could agree on'.

However, Tice said the reaction had been positive, particularly relating to plans to scrap the net zero carbon climate goal.

'We understand the language of business,' he said. 'I was chief executive of a billion-pound multinational listed company. Nigel's a businessman. We understand what it takes to save the British economy.

'We are talking about our dead seriousness about scrapping net zero and that is greeted with almost universal joy on a private basis. Privately, they all admit it's bonkers, it's costing them a fortune, it's making them uncompetitive.'

Tice said Reform had told oil and gas companies to prepare applications for drilling licences in the North Sea 'so they can be checked and pre-approved before an election and rubber-stamped within a matter of days' if Reform were to win.

He added: 'We're not mucking about. We're very clear that things like net zero, ESG (environmental, social and governance) investing, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion)  it's all for the birds. It all goes and we will be pretty aggressive on that and anyone who tries to get in our way.'

The IFS's analysis of Reform's tax-cutting plans found that raising an individual's annual tax threshold from 12,570 to 20,000 and other measures could cost up to 80 billion a year, and that the party's strategy involved large, unspecified cuts to public services.

And Simon French, chief economist at investment bank Panmure Liberum, has warned that Britain could face an 'immediate and violent' sterling crisis if Farage wins power.

But Tice dismissed these, calling the IFS estimate a 'back-of-the-fag-packet guess' saying: 'We expect the enemy to do that.'

Asked whether business leaders were convinced by Reform's plans, Tice said: 'They get it.' He added that he and Farage were 'probably two of the most successful financial, economic, businesslike MPs they've ever met'.
Britain's two biggest drug makers are expected to reveal a profit surge this week as demand booms despite a looming threat of tariffs from the US.

GSK, led by Emma Walmsley, is expected to report profit of 4.4 billion for the first half of this year on Wednesday, up from 2.9 billion the previous year, while sales are expected to inch up to 15.3 billion from 15.2 billion in 2024.

AstraZeneca, the largest company on the London Stock Exchange, is forecast to report a half-year profit of 5 billion, which is 1.1 billion more than the year before, with sales expected to have increased 8 per cent to 20.6 billion.

The sector is under pressure due to the threat of tariffs from the US, a critical market for both companies.

President Donald Trump this month threatened to slap a 200 per cent levy on drug imports as part of an escalation of his trade war.

Booming demand: GSK, led by Emma Walmsley, is expected to report profit of 4.4 billion for the first half of this year, up from 2.9 billion the previous year

His threats have pushed many firms to begin moving factories to  and making larger investments in  the US to protect themselves from retaliation.

Last week, AstraZeneca announced plans to invest 37 billion in the US, which accounts for 42 per cent of its sales.

The move has also fuelled fears AstraZeneca could switch its London stock market listing to the US, which would be a hit to the City.

GSK suffered a blow in the US last week when American regulators recommended against approving the relaunch of its key blood cancer drug Blenrep, which had been pulled from the country in 2022 due to concerns about its side-effects.
RAF 'Top Gun' pilots could soon have a high-tech wingman in the cockpit  with AI helping to select targets and assess threats.

Defence contractor BAE Systems is overhauling its Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.

The AI is being trialled in a flight simulator at BAE's site in Warton, Lancashire, to help pilots assess 'threat information'.

It is hoped the technology will be installed by the 2030s.

BAE believes the Typhoon, introduced in 2003 as a partnership between Britain, Germany and Italy, can last into the 2060s. Its new technology includes a much larger control display for pilots who currently have to monitor three screens.

Modifications include counter-electronic warfare measures and a helmet providing a 360-degree virtual display of the skies, projected onto the visor.

Timely boost: BAE expects the Eurofighter Typhoon to last into the 2060s

Paul Smith, head of Typhoon strategy at BAE and an ex-Typhoon pilot, said: 'There's still going to be a human in control, but the AI is just helping the pilot as decision maker.'

BAE has been working with Swedish firm Avioniq to develop the AI tool, called Rattlesnaq. It can map areas where there is a risk of enemy missile fire beyond a pilot's visual range, recommend a safe path and suggest targets.

Typhoons are in service in the Middle East and eastern Europe, and provide rapid-response cover around the UK. Smith said: 'When threats are constantly changing, you need live, on-the-edge situational awareness to enable pilots to operate effectively. Mikael Grev, co-founder of Avioniq and a Swedish air force pilot for 17 years, said the AI 'means a single aircraft can deliver greater force-multiplying effect, defeating a wider range of threats more efficiently'.

He adds: 'Among western militaries it is unique and really innovative. I thought it would be a good idea to create a decision support system that can keep track of everything.'

BAE, which reports its half-year results on Wednesday, received a boost to its Typhoon business last week when the UK signed a multi-billion pound deal to sell the jets to Turkey.
Rachel Reeves has been accused of a 'shocking grasp of detail' and ordered to correct the record after getting basic facts about one of her flagship pension reforms wrong, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The Chancellor, who has been criticised and ridiculed for making misleading claims on her CV, made her latest misstep when quizzed by peers last week over her handling of the economy.

She wants to kickstart sluggish growth by encouraging pension funds to invest more of their money in home-grown ventures.

One of her plans is to create a series of town hall 'mega-funds' in the biggest overhaul of the 425 billion Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in a decade.

Replying to a question from former Chancellor Lord Lamont, Reeves claimed the LGPS was managed by '96 different administering authorities' which she wants to reduce to 'eight pools'.

She repeated the erroneous claims despite being flanked by two Treasury officials and reading from copious briefing notes.

Under pressure: Rachel Reeves has been accused of a 'shocking grasp of detail' and ordered to correct the record after getting basic facts about one of her flagship pension reforms wrong

But the LGPS is managed by 86 local authorities, while the number of pools is being cut from eight to six under controversial new laws that will force two pools covering the Tory shires of southern England to find new homes by next March.

'Shockingly the Chancellor's grasp of detail is no better than when writing her CV,' said shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith.

'When she's writing such big cheques with taxpayers' money, it's no time to be loose with your numbers.'

An LGPS insider said: 'It's troubling she can't get basic facts right.'

Reeves was accused of burnishing her CV on the social networking site Linked In by inflating how long she worked at the Bank of England.

A spokesman for the Lords' economic affairs committee confirmed the Chancellor has until August 6 to correct Hansard, the official record of debates and hearings in Parliament.

The Treasury was contacted for comment.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (NYSE:PCG  Get Free Report) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Friday. Investors bought 159,389 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 382% compared to the average daily volume of 33,074 call options.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on PCG. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Pacific Gas & Electric from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. Argus raised Pacific Gas & Electric to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, June 16th. Morgan Stanley set a $18.00 target price on Pacific Gas & Electric and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Pacific Gas & Electric from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Guggenheim increased their price target on shares of Pacific Gas & Electric from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $20.55.

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Pacific Gas & Electric Price Performance

Pacific Gas & Electric stock opened at $14.09 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $14.71 and its 200 day moving average price is $15.94. Pacific Gas & Electric has a 1 year low of $12.97 and a 1 year high of $21.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $37.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.92, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 0.95.

Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE:PCG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $5.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.23 billion. Pacific Gas & Electric had a net margin of 9.81% and a return on equity of 10.35%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.37 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Pacific Gas & Electric will post 1.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pacific Gas & Electric Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a $0.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 30th. This represents a $0.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.71%. Pacific Gas & Electrics payout ratio is currently 9.17%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Carla J. Peterman sold 32,519 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.30, for a total value of $562,578.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 151,116 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,614,306.80. This trade represents a 17.71% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in Pacific Gas & Electric by 55.6% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 77,846 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,337,000 after purchasing an additional 27,832 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Pacific Gas & Electric by 431.2% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,469 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $60,000 after acquiring an additional 2,816 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in shares of Pacific Gas & Electric by 738.7% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 176,043 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,024,000 after acquiring an additional 155,052 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Pacific Gas & Electric by 38.1% during the 1st quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 5,316 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $91,000 after acquiring an additional 1,468 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Pacific Gas & Electric by 138.8% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 254,549 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,373,000 after acquiring an additional 147,964 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.56% of the companys stock.

About Pacific Gas & Electric

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PG&E Corp. operates as a holding company, which engages in generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and natural gas to customers. It specializes in energy, utility, power, gas, electricity, solar and sustainability. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Oakland, CA.

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Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH  Get Free Report) will likely be issuing its Q2 2025 quarterly earnings data before the market opens on Monday, July 28th. Analysts expect the company to announce earnings of $1.04 per share and revenue of $177.82 million for the quarter.

Bank of Hawaii Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BOH opened at $65.65 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $67.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $68.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. The company has a market cap of $2.61 billion, a PE ratio of 18.44, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.77. Bank of Hawaii has a 52-week low of $57.44 and a 52-week high of $82.70.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Barclays raised their price target on shares of Bank of Hawaii from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of Hawaii currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $77.20.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bank of Hawaii

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BOH. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 16.4% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 26,241 shares of the banks stock worth $1,808,000 after buying an additional 3,689 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 177.5% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 23,818 shares of the banks stock worth $1,617,000 after buying an additional 15,234 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 4.6% in the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 23,272 shares of the banks stock worth $1,605,000 after buying an additional 1,027 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of Hawaii by 35.8% in the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 19,808 shares of the banks stock worth $1,366,000 after buying an additional 5,227 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strs Ohio purchased a new position in shares of Bank of Hawaii in the first quarter worth approximately $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.18% of the companys stock.

Bank of Hawaii Company Profile

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Bank of Hawaii Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Bank of Hawaii that provides various financial products and services in Hawaii, Guam, and other Pacific Islands. It operates in three segments: Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers checking, savings, and time deposit accounts; residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, automobile loans and leases, overdraft lines of credit, installment loans, small business loans and leases, and credit cards; private and international client banking, investment, credit, and trust services to individuals and families, as well as high-net-worth individuals; investment management; institutional investment advisory services to corporations, government entities, and foundations; and brokerage offerings, including equities, mutual funds, life insurance, and annuity products.

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Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, July 24th, RTT News reports. The company plans to repurchase $20.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 11.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SCHW has been the subject of several analyst reports. TD Securities lifted their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $106.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, July 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $100.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $98.65.

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Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of Charles Schwab stock opened at $97.05 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $176.33 billion, a PE ratio of 26.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a current ratio of 0.53, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The firms 50 day moving average is $90.34 and its 200 day moving average is $82.88. Charles Schwab has a 1 year low of $61.15 and a 1 year high of $98.28.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.10 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $5.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.64 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.68% and a return on equity of 19.73%. The firms revenue was up 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.73 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Charles Schwab will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, August 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.03%.

Insider Activity at Charles Schwab

In other Charles Schwab news, 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 sale, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Nigel J. Murtagh sold 20,872 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.01, for a total transaction of $1,878,688.72. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 58,999 shares in the company, valued at $5,310,499.99. The trade was a 26.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 116,313 shares of company stock worth $10,264,091 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock.

About Charles Schwab

(Get Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Freehold Royalties Ltd. (TSE:FRU  Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of Hold from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$15.40.

Several analysts have recently commented on FRU shares. Desjardins lowered their target price on shares of Freehold Royalties from C$14.25 to C$14.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Raymond James Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Freehold Royalties from C$16.00 to C$14.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, CIBC decreased their price objective on shares of Freehold Royalties from C$16.00 to C$15.00 in a report on Thursday, April 10th.

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Freehold Royalties Stock Performance

Freehold Royalties Announces Dividend

Shares of FRU stock opened at C$13.45 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$12.79 and a 200-day moving average of C$12.49. The company has a market cap of C$2.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.24, a P/E/G ratio of -0.92 and a beta of 1.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 22.91, a current ratio of 1.65 and a quick ratio of 1.50. Freehold Royalties has a one year low of C$10.53 and a one year high of C$14.62.

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.03%. Freehold Royaltiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 122.40%.

Insider Transactions at Freehold Royalties

In other Freehold Royalties news, Senior Officer Colin Strem bought 4,000 shares of Freehold Royalties stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 21st. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$12.44 per share, for a total transaction of C$49,757.20. Also, Senior Officer Susan Nagy bought 2,350 shares of Freehold Royalties stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 27th. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$12.84 per share, with a total value of C$30,174.00. Over the last three months, insiders have bought 64,850 shares of company stock valued at $812,206. 0.45% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Freehold Royalties

(Get Free Report

Freehold Royalties Ltd is in acquiring and managing Oil and Gas royalties. It operates in two segments: Canada, which includes exploration and evaluation assets and the petroleum and natural gas interests in Western Canada; and the United States, which includes petroleum and natural gas interests held in the Permian (Midland and Delaware), Eagle Ford, Haynesville and Bakken basins primarily located in the states of Texas, Louisiana, and North Dakota.

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Shares of North American Construction Group Ltd. (TSE:NOA  Get Free Report) (NYSE:NOA) have been assigned an average recommendation of Buy from the nine brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation, seven have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$34.17.

NOA has been the topic of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets reduced their target price on North American Construction Group from C$34.00 to C$30.00 in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered North American Construction Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the stock from C$33.00 to C$24.50 in a report on Friday, July 11th. Raymond James Financial lowered North American Construction Group from a strong-buy rating to an outperform rating and set a C$40.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. ATB Capital reduced their target price on North American Construction Group from C$37.00 to C$34.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, June 27th. Finally, CIBC dropped their price objective on North American Construction Group from C$37.00 to C$36.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd.

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North American Construction Group Stock Performance

North American Construction Group Dividend Announcement

NOA opened at C$21.06 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of C$563.71 million, a P/E ratio of 9.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.59. North American Construction Group has a 52-week low of C$18.83 and a 52-week high of C$31.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 212.25, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 1.13. The businesss fifty day moving average is C$22.95 and its 200-day moving average is C$23.91.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 11th were given a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 4th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.28%. North American Construction Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 18.81%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other North American Construction Group news, Director Martin Robert Ferron sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$24.74, for a total value of C$247,400.00. Corporate insiders own 8.93% of the companys stock.

North American Construction Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report

North American Construction Group Ltd. provides mining and heavy civil construction services to customers in the resource development and industrial construction sectors in Australia, Canada, and the United States. The company operates Heavy Equipment  Canada, Heavy Equipment  Australia, and Other segments.

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Horan Capital Advisors LLC. bought a new stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 3,922 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $235,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vista Investment Partners II LLC boosted its position in Altria Group by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Vista Investment Partners II LLC now owns 4,302 shares of the companys stock valued at $258,000 after buying an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 1.9% during the first quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 9,452 shares of the companys stock valued at $567,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 2.7% during the first quarter. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,762 shares of the companys stock valued at $406,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the period. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 37.8% in the first quarter. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC now owns 689 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 189 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Montag A & Associates Inc. increased its position in Altria Group by 2.3% in the first quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 8,625 shares of the companys stock worth $526,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the period. 57.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Altria Group from $46.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Needham & Company LLC upgraded shares of Altria Group to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Altria Group in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set an underperform rating and a $50.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $56.75.

Altria Group Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of MO stock opened at $59.82 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $47.57 and a 12-month high of $61.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $59.28 and a 200-day moving average of $57.10. The company has a market capitalization of $100.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.02, a P/E/G ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 0.59.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.04. Altria Group had a net margin of 43.09% and a negative return on equity of 295.44%. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.64 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.15 EPS. Altria Groups revenue was down 4.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 16th were issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.82%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.34%.

Altria Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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Avantax Advisory Services Inc. cut its stake in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Free Report) by 1.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 28,122 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 551 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc.s holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $7,437,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. One Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in Travelers Companies by 33.7% during the first quarter. One Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,223 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $323,000 after acquiring an additional 308 shares during the last quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC lifted its position in Travelers Companies by 9.4% during the first quarter. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC now owns 921 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $244,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel lifted its position in Travelers Companies by 5.4% during the first quarter. Carnegie Investment Counsel now owns 13,605 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,598,000 after acquiring an additional 696 shares during the last quarter. Machina Capital S.A.S. acquired a new stake in Travelers Companies during the first quarter worth approximately $925,000. Finally, Northern Financial Advisors Inc lifted its position in Travelers Companies by 0.7% during the first quarter. Northern Financial Advisors Inc now owns 6,576 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,739,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. 82.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on TRV shares. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $264.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $304.00 to $316.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 18th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $275.00 to $284.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Citigroup reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, Barclays downgraded shares of Travelers Companies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price target for the company from $280.00 to $274.00 in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Travelers Companies has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $275.56.

Insider Activity

In other Travelers Companies news, insider Avrohom J. Kess sold 23,434 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $273.93, for a total transaction of $6,419,275.62. Following the sale, the insider owned 48,387 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,254,650.91. The trade was a 32.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Maria Olivo sold 36,199 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $274.20, for a total transaction of $9,925,765.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 118,116 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,387,407.20. The trade was a 23.46% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 175,374 shares of company stock valued at $47,929,912. 1.46% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Travelers Companies Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of TRV opened at $261.11 on Friday. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $206.43 and a one year high of $277.83. The company has a market cap of $58.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.55, a P/E/G ratio of 3.09 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $265.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $257.11.

Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 17th. The insurance provider reported $6.51 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.52 by $2.99. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 10.97% and a return on equity of 18.68%. The business had revenue of $11.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.02 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.51 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 10th will be paid 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 1.69%. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is presently 19.46%.

Travelers Companies Profile

(Free Report)

The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

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ASM International NV (OTCMKTS:ASMIY  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Buy from the eight ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and five have issued a strong buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $561.00.

ASMIY has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays raised shares of ASM International from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 3rd. HSBC raised ASM International to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Hsbc Global Res upgraded ASM International from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of ASM International to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of ASM International from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st.

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Read Our Latest Report on ASMIY

ASM International Price Performance

Shares of ASMIY opened at $500.85 on Friday. ASM International has a 12-month low of $372.61 and a 12-month high of $694.68. The firms 50 day moving average is $584.65 and its 200-day moving average is $545.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.52 and a beta of 1.83.

ASM International (OTCMKTS:ASMIY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The company reported $3.99 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.75 by ($0.76). ASM International had a return on equity of 20.34% and a net margin of 16.36%. The business had revenue of $979.62 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $966.88 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that ASM International will post 14.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ASM International Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 16th were paid a $2.6456 dividend. This is a boost from ASM Internationals previous dividend of $2.56. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.49%. ASM Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 24.02%.

ASM International Company Profile

(Get Free Report

ASM International NV, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, manufacture, marketing, and servicing of equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices in Europe, the United States, and Asia. The companys products include wafer processing deposition systems for atomic layer deposition (ALD), epitaxy, silicon carbide, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and vertical furnace systems, including low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), diffusion, and oxidation products, as well as provides spare parts and support services.

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Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM  Free Report) by 3.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 40,029 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,214 shares during the quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. owned approximately 0.06% of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF worth $8,091,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 5.8% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 215,086 shares of the companys stock worth $43,475,000 after purchasing an additional 11,729 shares during the period. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 15.7% during the first quarter. Dynamic Advisor Solutions LLC now owns 1,888 shares of the companys stock worth $382,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares during the period. CX Institutional acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $43,000. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 3.9% during the first quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 1,801 shares of the companys stock valued at $364,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,213,000.

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iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Stock Up 15.4%

MTUM stock opened at $241.19 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $17.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.67 and a beta of 1.02. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a 12 month low of $168.49 and a 12 month high of $240.99. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $234.28 and a two-hundred day moving average of $218.72.

About iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF

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.

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Ping An Insurance Co. of China (OTCMKTS:PNGAY  Get Free Report) and Acmat (OTCMKTS:ACMTA  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, dividends, valuation and earnings.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

0.0% of Ping An Insurance Co. of China shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.1% of Ping An Insurance Co. of China shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 10.8% of Acmat shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Ping An Insurance Co. of China and Acmats top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ping An Insurance Co. of China $158.77 billion 0.80 $17.61 billion $1.78 7.82 Acmat N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Ping An Insurance Co. of China has higher revenue and earnings than Acmat.

Profitability

This table compares Ping An Insurance Co. of China and Acmats net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ping An Insurance Co. of China 10.42% 9.02% 0.92% Acmat N/A N/A N/A

Volatility & Risk

Ping An Insurance Co. of China has a beta of 0.36, meaning that its stock price is 64% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Acmat has a beta of -0.28, meaning that its stock price is 128% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Ping An Insurance Co. of China and Acmat, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ping An Insurance Co. of China 0 1 0 0 2.00 Acmat 0 0 0 0 0.00

Summary

Ping An Insurance Co. of China beats Acmat on 7 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ping An Insurance Co. of China

(Get Free Report)

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. provides financial products and services for insurance, banking, asset management, and technology businesses in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Life and Health Insurance; Property and Casualty Insurance; Banking; Asset Management; and Technology segments. Its Life and Health Insurance segment offers term, whole-life, endowment, annuity, investment-linked, universal life, and health care and medical insurance to individual and corporate customers. The company's Property and Casualty Insurance segment provides auto, non-auto, and accident and health insurance to individual and corporate customers. Its Banking segment undertakes loan and intermediary businesses with corporate and retail customers; and offers wealth management and credit card services to individual customers. The company's Asset Management segment provides trust products services, brokerage services, trading services, investment banking services, investment management, finance lease, and other asset management services. Its Technology segment offers financial and daily-life services through internet platforms, such as financial transaction information service, and health care service platforms. The company also provides annuity insurance, IT and business process outsourcing, real estate investment and management, futures brokerage, project investment, currency brokerage, property agency, fund raising and distribution, real estate development and leasing, and insurance agency services. In addition, it provides factoring, equity investment, logistics and warehousing, management consulting, e-commerce, and credit information services; and operates an expressway, as well as produces and sells consumer chemicals. The company was incorporated in 1988 and is based in Shenzhen, China.

About Acmat

(Get Free Report)

ACMAT Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides surety bonds primarily for construction contractors in the United States. The company offers surety bonds for prime, sub-prime, specialty trade, environmental, asbestos, and lead abatement contractors, as well as for miscellaneous obligations. It also provides miscellaneous surety comprising workers compensation, supply, subdivision, and license and permit bonds. The company was founded in 1950 and is based in Farmington, Connecticut.

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Ridgewood Investments LLC cut its stake in shares of Coterra Energy Inc. (NYSE:CTRA  Free Report) by 31.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 32,266 shares of the companys stock after selling 14,841 shares during the quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLCs holdings in Coterra Energy were worth $932,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. TCW Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Coterra Energy by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 11,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $320,000 after purchasing an additional 604 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC raised its stake in shares of Coterra Energy by 3.9% in the first quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 24,721 shares of the companys stock valued at $714,000 after acquiring an additional 919 shares during the last quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Coterra Energy by 14.4% in the 1st quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,959 shares of the companys stock worth $317,000 after acquiring an additional 1,376 shares in the last quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Coterra Energy in the 1st quarter worth approximately $694,000. Finally, McCollum Christoferson Group LLC grew its position in Coterra Energy by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. McCollum Christoferson Group LLC now owns 282,525 shares of the companys stock worth $8,165,000 after acquiring an additional 2,340 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.92% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays lifted their price objective on Coterra Energy from $35.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley set a $28.00 price target on Coterra Energy in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Coterra Energy from $32.00 to $30.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Pickering Energy Partners cut shares of Coterra Energy from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, Susquehanna dropped their target price on shares of Coterra Energy from $34.00 to $32.00 and set a positive rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Coterra Energy presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $33.16.

Coterra Energy Price Performance

CTRA opened at $23.62 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $25.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $26.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.02 billion, a PE ratio of 13.73, a P/E/G ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 0.35. Coterra Energy Inc. has a 52 week low of $22.30 and a 52 week high of $29.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.90.

Coterra Energy (NYSE:CTRA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 5th. The company reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $924.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.92 billion. Coterra Energy had a return on equity of 10.61% and a net margin of 21.67%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 32.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.51 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Coterra Energy Inc. will post 1.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Coterra Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.73%. Coterra Energys payout ratio is currently 51.16%.

About Coterra Energy

(Free Report)

Coterra Energy Inc, an independent oil and gas company, engages in the development, exploration, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. The companys properties include the Marcellus Shale with approximately 186,000 net acres in the dry gas window of the play located in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania; Permian Basin properties with approximately 296,000 net acres located in west Texas and southeast New Mexico; and Anadarko Basin properties with approximately 182,000 net acres located in Oklahoma.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ increased its position in Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE:PWR  Free Report) by 3.4% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 30,795 shares of the construction companys stock after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Quanta Services were worth $7,827,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Banque Transatlantique SA bought a new stake in shares of Quanta Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Quanta Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of Quanta Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. OLD Second National Bank of Aurora bought a new stake in shares of Quanta Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC grew its stake in Quanta Services by 77.9% in the 1st quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 185 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the last quarter. 90.49% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Quanta Services Stock Performance

Shares of Quanta Services stock opened at $422.06 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $368.62 and a 200-day moving average of $315.83. Quanta Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $227.08 and a 1-year high of $424.94. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. The company has a market cap of $62.58 billion, a PE ratio of 68.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.08.

Quanta Services Dividend Announcement

Quanta Services ( NYSE:PWR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The construction company reported $1.78 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.06. Quanta Services had a net margin of 3.74% and a return on equity of 18.06%. The company had revenue of $6.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.88 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.41 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 23.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Quanta Services, Inc. will post 9.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st were issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.09%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, July 1st. Quanta Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 6.45%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Quanta Services from $413.00 to $474.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday. TD Cowen upped their price target on shares of Quanta Services from $335.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Northland Capmk lowered shares of Quanta Services from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price target on shares of Quanta Services from $363.00 to $411.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Quanta Services from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $362.25.

Read Our Latest Report on PWR

About Quanta Services

(Free Report)

Quanta Services, Inc provides infrastructure solutions for the electric and gas utility, renewable energy, communications, and pipeline and energy industries in the United States, Canada, Australia, and internationally. The companys Electric Power Infrastructure Solutions segment engages in the design, procurement, construction, upgrade, repair, and maintenance of electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure and substation facilities; installation, maintenance, and upgrade of electric power infrastructure projects; installation of smart grid technologies on electric power networks; and design, installation, maintenance, and repair of commercial and industrial wirings.

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First Heartland Consultants Inc. increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Free Report) by 33.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,092 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,270 shares during the quarter. First Heartland Consultants Inc.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $366,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of WFC. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 10.7% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 34,339,295 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,411,992,000 after buying an additional 3,307,855 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 20,369,222 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,430,742,000 after buying an additional 238,131 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 932.0% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 15,734,874 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,105,218,000 after buying an additional 14,210,193 shares during the period. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 13,914,098 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $977,338,000 after buying an additional 62,099 shares during the period. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 277.4% in the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 10,740,934 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $771,092,000 after purchasing an additional 7,894,919 shares during the period. 75.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.4%

Wells Fargo & Company stock opened at $84.25 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $274.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.43, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.16. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $77.86 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $74.61. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12 month low of $50.15 and a 12 month high of $84.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06.

Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 15th. The financial services provider reported $1.54 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $20.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.83 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.29% and a net margin of 16.82%. The companys quarterly revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.33 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wells Fargo & Company announced that its board has approved a share buyback program on Tuesday, April 29th that allows the company to repurchase $40.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 17.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were issued a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.90%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. Wells Fargo & Companys payout ratio is 27.40%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on WFC. Phillip Securities cut Wells Fargo & Company from a strong-buy rating to a moderate buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Cowen restated a hold rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Wall Street Zen cut Wells Fargo & Company from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday. Raymond James Financial cut Wells Fargo & Company from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $83.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $80.39.

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Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management.

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Angeles Wealth Management LLC decreased its holdings in Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL  Free Report) by 5.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,084 shares of the oilfield services companys stock after selling 563 shares during the quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Halliburton were worth $230,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Sanders Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 24,372,694 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $662,694,000 after purchasing an additional 375,054 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 4.4% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 21,538,632 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $584,139,000 after purchasing an additional 908,271 shares during the period. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 15.6% during the 4th quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 16,093,680 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $437,587,000 after purchasing an additional 2,171,722 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Halliburton during the 4th quarter worth about $299,986,000. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Halliburton by 10.6% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 10,082,800 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $274,151,000 after purchasing an additional 968,583 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.23% of the companys stock.

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Halliburton Stock Performance

HAL stock opened at $22.47 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.00, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The firm has a market cap of $19.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.50, a P/E/G ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 1.13. Halliburton Company has a 12-month low of $18.72 and a 12-month high of $34.97. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $21.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $23.21.

Halliburton Dividend Announcement

Halliburton ( NYSE:HAL Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The oilfield services company reported $0.55 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.55. Halliburton had a return on equity of 21.45% and a net margin of 8.37%. The firm had revenue of $5.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.43 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.80 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Halliburton Company will post 2.64 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 4th were given a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.03%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 4th. Halliburtons dividend payout ratio is presently 31.78%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on HAL shares. Barclays decreased their target price on Halliburton from $26.00 to $22.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup decreased their price target on Halliburton from $33.00 to $31.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on Halliburton from $27.00 to $24.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their price target on Halliburton from $28.00 to $24.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on Halliburton from $31.00 to $29.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Halliburton currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $31.61.

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Halliburton Profile

(Free Report)

Halliburton Company provides products and services to the energy industry worldwide. It operates through two segments, Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation. The Completion and Production segment offers production enhancement services that include stimulation and sand control services; cementing services, such as well bonding and casing, and casing equipment; and completion tools that offer downhole solutions and services, including well completion products and services, intelligent well completions, and service tools, as well as liner hanger, sand control, and multilateral systems.

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Angeles Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES  Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 1,547 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $247,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hess by 16,134.6% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,546,506 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $2,470,230,000 after acquiring an additional 1,536,980 shares in the last quarter. Symmetry Investments LP lifted its holdings in Hess by 154.1% in the 4th quarter. Symmetry Investments LP now owns 1,381,076 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $183,697,000 after buying an additional 837,662 shares in the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. lifted its holdings in Hess by 6.5% in the 4th quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 11,438,985 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $1,521,499,000 after buying an additional 698,866 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in Hess by 22.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 3,581,820 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $572,124,000 after buying an additional 651,311 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in Hess by 164.1% in the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 769,042 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $102,290,000 after buying an additional 477,796 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.51% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Hess news, CEO John B. Hess sold 250,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.01, for a total value of $34,002,500.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 1,734,679 shares in the company, valued at approximately $235,933,690.79. This represents a 12.60% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 9.10% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Hess from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, June 14th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Hess from $163.00 to $173.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 11th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on shares of Hess from $160.00 to $136.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Hess from $193.00 to $184.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Hess from $146.58 to $155.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hess has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $162.78.

Read Our Latest Report on Hess

Hess Stock Up 7.6%

HES stock opened at $160.31 on Friday. Hess Corporation has a 12 month low of $123.79 and a 12 month high of $161.69. The firm has a market cap of $49.59 billion, a PE ratio of 22.17 and a beta of 0.62. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $142.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $142.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

Hess (NYSE:HES  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.95 by ($0.14). The firm had revenue of $2.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.95 billion. Hess had a net margin of 17.65% and a return on equity of 21.78%. The firms revenue was down 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $3.16 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Hess Corporation will post 8.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hess Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th were paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.25%. Hesss dividend payout ratio is presently 27.66%.

Hess Company Profile

(Free Report)

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.

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Inspire Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA  Free Report) by 37.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 77,755 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 21,104 shares during the period. Avista makes up approximately 0.4% of Inspire Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Inspire Advisors LLC owned about 0.10% of Avista worth $3,256,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its position in shares of Avista by 5.2% during the first quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 21,290 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $891,000 after buying an additional 1,055 shares in the last quarter. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Avista during the first quarter worth about $2,115,000. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in shares of Avista by 9.1% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 31,339 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,312,000 after buying an additional 2,617 shares in the last quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Avista by 8.5% during the first quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC now owns 49,327 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,065,000 after buying an additional 3,868 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Legato Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Avista by 70.2% during the first quarter. Legato Capital Management LLC now owns 30,231 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,266,000 after buying an additional 12,465 shares in the last quarter. 85.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Avista Stock Performance

Shares of Avista stock opened at $37.15 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $37.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $38.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.93. The company has a market cap of $2.99 billion, a PE ratio of 15.87, a P/E/G ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.40. Avista Corporation has a one year low of $34.80 and a one year high of $43.09.

Avista Announces Dividend

Avista ( NYSE:AVA Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $603.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $636.30 million. Avista had a net margin of 9.63% and a return on equity of 7.28%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.91 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Avista Corporation will post 2.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 13th were given a dividend of $0.49 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 13th. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.28%. Avistas payout ratio is currently 83.76%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Avista news, VP Scott J. Kinney sold 1,024 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.82, for a total value of $38,727.68. Following the sale, the vice president owned 11,515 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $435,497.30. This represents a 8.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock.

About Avista

(Free Report)

Avista Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company. It operates in two segments, Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment provides electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho; and natural gas distribution services in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon, as well as generates electricity in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana.

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RWC Asset Management LLP grew its stake in Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) by 12.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 843,366 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 96,182 shares during the period. Molson Coors Beverage comprises about 2.6% of RWC Asset Management LLPs investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest position. RWC Asset Management LLP owned about 0.42% of Molson Coors Beverage worth $51,336,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 230.2% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 416 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares during the last quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC grew its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 151.8% in the 1st quarter. Millstone Evans Group LLC now owns 423 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. grew its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 3,286.7% in the 1st quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 508 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 493 shares during the last quarter. First Financial Corp IN acquired a new stake in Molson Coors Beverage in the 1st quarter worth $37,000. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC grew its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 10,716.7% in the 4th quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 649 shares of the companys stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 643 shares during the last quarter. 78.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Molson Coors Beverage Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:TAP opened at $51.16 on Friday. Molson Coors Beverage Company has a one year low of $46.94 and a one year high of $64.66. The company has a 50 day moving average of $50.93 and a 200-day moving average of $55.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.59. The stock has a market cap of $10.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.69.

Molson Coors Beverage Dividend Announcement

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.80 by ($0.30). Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.59% and a net margin of 7.74%. The business had revenue of $2.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.43 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.95 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 11.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Molson Coors Beverage Company will post 6.35 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 19th. Investors of record on Friday, September 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.47 per share. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 5th. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is currently 37.83%.

Insider Transactions at Molson Coors Beverage

In related news, Director Geoffrey E. Molson sold 1,333 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.29, for a total transaction of $75,034.57. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 27,595 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,553,322.55. The trade was a 4.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 2.71% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on TAP. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $58.00 to $53.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. Needham & Company LLC reduced their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $72.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, May 12th. Roth Capital set a $71.00 price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Bank of America downgraded shares of Molson Coors Beverage from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $65.00 to $50.00 in a report on Friday, June 27th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on shares of Molson Coors Beverage from $59.00 to $53.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Molson Coors Beverage presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $59.26.

View Our Latest Stock Report on TAP

Molson Coors Beverage Company Profile

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages.

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Texas Yale Capital Corp. increased its stake in Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE:CQP  Free Report) by 3.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 51,710 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,875 shares during the period. Texas Yale Capital Corp.s holdings in Cheniere Energy Partners were worth $3,415,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Montag A & Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners during the 1st quarter valued at $53,000. Garrison Bradford & Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners during the 1st quarter valued at $106,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners by 104,900.0% during the 1st quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 2,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 2,098 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 46.55% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on the company. Bank of America raised their target price on Cheniere Energy Partners from $50.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Cheniere Energy Partners from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. Barclays raised their target price on Cheniere Energy Partners from $54.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, June 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an underweight rating and issued a $61.00 target price (up from $59.00) on shares of Cheniere Energy Partners in a report on Wednesday, June 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy Partners has an average rating of Reduce and a consensus price target of $55.80.

Cheniere Energy Partners Stock Performance

Shares of CQP stock opened at $55.23 on Friday. Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. has a 52-week low of $47.00 and a 52-week high of $68.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.73 billion, a PE ratio of 13.28 and a beta of 0.42. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $56.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $59.62.

Cheniere Energy Partners (NYSE:CQP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $1.08 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.02. Cheniere Energy Partners had a negative return on equity of 414.56% and a net margin of 26.27%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 30.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.18 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. will post 4.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Cheniere Energy Partners Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th were given a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.94%. This is a positive change from Cheniere Energy Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.78. Cheniere Energy Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 74.52%.

Cheniere Energy Partners Profile

(Free Report)

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, provides liquefied natural gas (LNG) to integrated energy companies, utilities, and energy trading companies worldwide. The company owns and operates natural gas liquefaction and export facility at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

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Texas Yale Capital Corp. lifted its position in shares of MSCI Inc (NYSE:MSCI  Free Report) by 0.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 30,113 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the quarter. MSCI comprises approximately 0.7% of Texas Yale Capital Corp.s holdings, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Texas Yale Capital Corp.s holdings in MSCI were worth $17,029,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in MSCI by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,897,456 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,136,563,000 after acquiring an additional 35,094 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in MSCI by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,626,923 shares of the technology companys stock worth $920,026,000 after acquiring an additional 13,918 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in MSCI in the 4th quarter worth approximately $609,937,000. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in MSCI by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 853,452 shares of the technology companys stock worth $512,079,000 after acquiring an additional 25,325 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in MSCI by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 784,490 shares of the technology companys stock worth $470,702,000 after acquiring an additional 48,524 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.97% of the companys stock.

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MSCI Price Performance

Shares of MSCI opened at $546.49 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $564.37 and its 200 day moving average price is $566.14. MSCI Inc has a 12-month low of $486.73 and a 12-month high of $642.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.28 billion, a PE ratio of 36.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.32.

MSCI Announces Dividend

MSCI ( NYSE:MSCI Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $4.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.12 by $0.05. MSCI had a negative return on equity of 143.13% and a net margin of 39.46%. The firm had revenue of $772.68 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $763.06 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.64 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that MSCI Inc will post 16.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be paid a $1.80 dividend. This represents a $7.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. MSCIs payout ratio is 47.68%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have weighed in on MSCI. Barclays decreased their price target on MSCI from $675.00 to $650.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on MSCI from $578.00 to $533.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Oppenheimer reiterated a market perform rating on shares of MSCI in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Raymond James Financial upgraded MSCI from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $650.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on MSCI from $655.00 to $700.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $654.73.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on MSCI

Insider Transactions at MSCI

In other MSCI news, COO Cd Baer Pettit sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $552.59, for a total value of $2,762,950.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 289,787 shares in the company, valued at approximately $160,133,398.33. This trade represents a 1.70% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 3.31% of the companys stock.

About MSCI

(Free Report)

MSCI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides critical decision support tools and solutions for the investment community to manage investment processes worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial product, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct.

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Equitable Trust Co. lessened its stake in Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN  Free Report) by 6.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,864 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 133 shares during the quarter. Equitable Trust Co.s holdings in Lennar were worth $214,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of LEN. Hurley Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lennar in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Lennar in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lennar in the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Lennar in the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Franchise Capital Ltd bought a new stake in Lennar in the 1st quarter worth about $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.10% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

LEN has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $130.00 price objective on shares of Lennar in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Lennar from $128.00 to $114.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, June 20th. Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on Lennar from $131.00 to $114.00 and set an in-line rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. JMP Securities reduced their price objective on Lennar from $150.00 to $130.00 and set a market outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday, June 20th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Lennar from $110.00 to $95.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have issued a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $128.85.

Lennar Trading Up 1.6%

Lennar stock opened at $115.36 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $109.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $115.64. The company has a market cap of $29.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.54, a P/E/G ratio of 4.90 and a beta of 1.33. Lennar Corporation has a 52-week low of $98.42 and a 52-week high of $193.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 3.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.

Lennar (NYSE:LEN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, June 16th. The construction company reported $1.90 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $8.38 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.21 billion. Lennar had a net margin of 9.20% and a return on equity of 12.73%. The companys revenue was down 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.45 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Lennar Corporation will post 12.48 EPS for the current year.

Lennar Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 18th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 3rd were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 3rd. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.73%. Lennars dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.54%.

Lennar Company Profile

(Free Report)

Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The companys homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties.

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Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ boosted its holdings in Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE:VRT  Free Report) by 18.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 121,444 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 19,100 shares during the quarter. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publs holdings in Vertiv were worth $8,768,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of VRT. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA acquired a new stake in Vertiv in the 4th quarter valued at $597,379,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Vertiv in the 4th quarter valued at $391,777,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in Vertiv by 136.9% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,336,862 shares of the companys stock valued at $379,101,000 after purchasing an additional 1,928,275 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in Vertiv by 25.3% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,905,807 shares of the companys stock valued at $557,349,000 after purchasing an additional 990,361 shares during the period. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its position in Vertiv by 10,482.2% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 846,471 shares of the companys stock valued at $96,168,000 after purchasing an additional 838,472 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.92% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Stephen Liang sold 43,683 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.83, for a total transaction of $5,059,801.89. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 9,551 shares in the company, valued at $1,106,292.33. This represents a 82.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Karsten Winther sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.33, for a total value of $518,815.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 18,847 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,777,837.51. This represents a 22.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 2.63% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on VRT shares. Roth Capital raised shares of Vertiv to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. KGI Securities started coverage on shares of Vertiv in a report on Thursday, April 24th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Wolfe Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $155.00 price objective on shares of Vertiv in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Vertiv in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Vertiv from $130.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Vertiv presently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $136.76.

View Our Latest Research Report on Vertiv

Vertiv Trading Up 5.1%

Shares of Vertiv stock opened at $137.52 on Friday. Vertiv Holdings Co. has a 52-week low of $53.60 and a 52-week high of $155.84. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $118.59 and its 200 day simple moving average is $104.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 79.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.72.

Vertiv (NYSE:VRT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.02. Vertiv had a return on equity of 56.01% and a net margin of 7.92%. The business had revenue of $2.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.94 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.43 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 24.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Vertiv Holdings Co. will post 3.59 EPS for the current year.

Vertiv Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 17th were given a dividend of $0.0375 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 16th. This is a boost from Vertivs previous dividend of $0.01. This represents a dividend yield of 0.14%. Vertivs dividend payout ratio is currently 8.72%.

Vertiv Company Profile

(Free Report)

Vertiv Holdings Co, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and services critical digital infrastructure technologies and life cycle services for data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial environments in the Americas, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

18.5% of Global Crossing Airlines Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 37.3% of Saker Aviation Services shares are owned by institutional investors. 31.7% of Global Crossing Airlines Group shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 34.6% of Saker Aviation Services shares 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.

Profitability

This table compares Global Crossing Airlines Group and Saker Aviation Services net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Global Crossing Airlines Group -2.13% N/A -2.31% Saker Aviation Services 6.08% 17.60% 15.46%

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Global Crossing Airlines Group and Saker Aviation Servicess revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Global Crossing Airlines Group $223.75 million 0.17 -$11.47 million ($0.09) -6.57 Saker Aviation Services $9.17 million 0.85 $1.25 million $0.54 14.41

Saker Aviation Services has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Global Crossing Airlines Group. Global Crossing Airlines Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Saker Aviation Services, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility & Risk

Global Crossing Airlines Group has a beta of 0.35, meaning that its stock price is 65% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Saker Aviation Services has a beta of 0.26, meaning that its stock price is 74% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Saker Aviation Services beats Global Crossing Airlines Group on 9 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Global Crossing Airlines Group

(Get Free Report)

Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. operates in the airline business in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Central and South America. The company operates a US Part 121 flag and supplemental airline using the Airbus A320 family of aircraft and the Airbus A321 freighter. It offers aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance services using wet lease contracts to airlines and non-airlines; and passenger aircraft charter services. The company also leases office space; operates its ticket counters; and maintains a maintenance office for its maintenance staff and for storage of aircraft records, spare parts, and consumables. As of December 31, 2023, its fleet consisted of eleven passenger aircraft and three cargo aircraft. Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. is based in Miami, Florida.

About Saker Aviation Services

(Get Free Report)

Saker Aviation Services, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates in the aviation services segment of the general aviation industry in the United States. It serves as the operator of a Downtown Manhattan (New York) Heliport. The company was formerly known as FirstFlight, Inc. and changed its name to Saker Aviation Services, Inc. in September 2009. Saker Aviation Services, Inc. is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Angeles Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC  Free Report) by 15.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 648 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 85 shares during the quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Northrop Grumman were worth $332,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Redhawk Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 3.0% in the first quarter. Redhawk Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 644 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $330,000 after purchasing an additional 19 shares during the period. Salvus Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Salvus Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,349 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $691,000 after buying an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Northrop Grumman by 8.4% in the 1st quarter. IAG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 271 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $139,000 after buying an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG boosted its position in Northrop Grumman by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG now owns 1,006 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $472,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Alliance LLC grew its stake in shares of Northrop Grumman by 1.1% during the first quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 2,094 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,072,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.40% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Northrop Grumman news, CEO Kathy J. Warden sold 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.77, for a total value of $3,793,275.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 201,602 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,964,243.54. This trade represents a 3.59% 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 this link. Also, VP Thomas H. Jones sold 729 shares of Northrop Grumman stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.77, for a total value of $368,706.33. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 7,552 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,819,575.04. This trade represents a 8.80% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 16,569 shares of company stock worth $8,323,150. 0.23% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Northrop Grumman Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NOC opened at $569.52 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $81.54 billion, a PE ratio of 20.99, a P/E/G ratio of 6.19 and a beta of 0.15. Northrop Grumman Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $426.24 and a fifty-two week high of $576.86. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $501.34 and a 200 day simple moving average of $490.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98.

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The aerospace company reported $7.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.84 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $10.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.15 billion. Northrop Grumman had a return on equity of 25.52% and a net margin of 9.74%. The businesss revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $6.36 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Northrop Grumman Corporation will post 28.05 EPS for the current year.

Northrop Grumman Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 2nd were paid a $2.31 dividend. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.62%. This is a boost from Northrop Grummans previous quarterly dividend of $2.06. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 2nd. Northrop Grummans dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.06%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on NOC. UBS Group cut their price target on Northrop Grumman from $583.00 to $571.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $542.00 target price (down from $580.00) on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Northrop Grumman from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Northrop Grumman from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the company from $424.00 to $521.00 in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Northrop Grumman in a research note on Tuesday. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $569.33.

View Our Latest Stock Report on NOC

About Northrop Grumman

(Free Report)

Northrop Grumman Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense technology company in the United States, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and internationally. The companys Aeronautics Systems segment designs, develops, manufactures, integrates, and sustains aircraft systems. This segment also offers unmanned autonomous aircraft systems, including high-altitude long-endurance strategic ISR systems and vertical take-off and landing tactical ISR systems; and strategic long-range strike aircraft, tactical fighter and air dominance aircraft, and airborne battle management and command and control systems.

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Dudley Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJR  Free Report) by 8.6% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 19,634 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 1,547 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF accounts for 1.1% of Dudley Capital Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest holding. Dudley Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF were worth $2,053,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF by 105.8% during the first quarter. Signature Resources Capital Management LLC now owns 249 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. Redwood Park Advisors LLC bought a new position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Hoey Investments Inc. acquired a new position in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Minot DeBlois Advisors LLC bought a new stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, London Co. of Virginia bought a new stake in iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. 66.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF stock opened at $112.91 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $109.00 and a 200 day simple moving average of $108.22. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has a 12-month low of $89.22 and a 12-month high of $128.61. The company has a market capitalization of $82.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.52 and a beta of 1.15.

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.

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GLOBALT Investments LLC GA cut its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) by 8.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,875 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 994 shares during the period. GLOBALT Investments LLC GAs holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $474,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Zweig DiMenna Associates LLC boosted its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 4.7% in the first quarter. Zweig DiMenna Associates LLC now owns 281,310 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $12,265,000 after acquiring an additional 12,500 shares during the last quarter. Stevens Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Delta Air Lines in the 1st quarter worth about $2,304,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 5,224.6% in the 1st quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 4,336,709 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $189,081,000 after purchasing an additional 4,255,262 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Delta Air Lines by 694.3% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 29,976 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,307,000 after purchasing an additional 26,202 shares during the period. Finally, Navellier & Associates Inc. increased its position in Delta Air Lines by 15.0% during the 1st quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 4,430 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $202,000 after purchasing an additional 577 shares in the last quarter. 69.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Delta Air Lines Stock Performance

Delta Air Lines stock opened at $54.84 on Friday. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 52 week low of $34.74 and a 52 week high of $69.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The stock has a market cap of $35.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.49. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $50.84 and a 200-day moving average of $52.35.

Delta Air Lines Increases Dividend

Delta Air Lines ( NYSE:DAL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 10th. The transportation company reported $2.10 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $15,507,000 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.16 billion. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 7.24% and a return on equity of 24.86%. The firms revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.36 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 7.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, July 31st will be paid a $0.1875 dividend. This represents a $0.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.37%. This is an increase from Delta Air Liness previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 31st. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 8.70%.

Insider Transactions at Delta Air Lines

In other news, EVP Alain Bellemare sold 45,423 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.56, for a total value 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. The trade was a 25.64% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Peter W. Carter sold 17,550 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.19, for a total value of $1,003,684.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 191,442 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,948,567.98. This represents a 8.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 133,973 shares of company stock valued at $7,511,746 over the last ninety days. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently commented on DAL. Wolfe Research raised their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $56.00 to $63.00 in a report on Monday, July 14th. Susquehanna Bancshares increased their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $51.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Delta Air Lines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $56.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Bernstein Bank raised their price objective on Delta Air Lines from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $66.21.

Check Out Our Latest Report on DAL

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.

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The coup in Niger of 26 July, 2023 destabilised the Sahel region, and West Africa as a whole. Two years on, human rights activists say the situation has worsened and continue to call for the release of former president Mohamed Bazoum.

Two years on from the coup in Niger that saw the military junta seize power, NGOs have condemned the failure to produce a roadmap towards democracy  and the degradation of human rights in the country.

On 26 July, 2023, Nigerien army officers of the self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, overthrew Bazoums government and arrested him and his wife, Hadiza Bazoum.

Bazoum was elected in 2021, taking the helm of a country mired in poverty and with a history of instability.

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The landlocked Sahel state has experienced four coups since its independence from France in 1960, as well as numerous other attempts on power, but the 2023 events changed Niger's alliances and political stance radically.

Niger's president held at palace as African Union slams attempted coup

Jeffrey Smith, executive director of the pro-democracy think tank Vanguard Africa, told RFI: "As expected, the human rights situation in Niger  like other Sahelian countries under military control  has unequivocally spiralled. Civic space has shrunk considerably and violations of civil and political rights, like arbitrary detention, for example, have become the norm."

"Whereas the human rights situation had steadily improved under President Bazoum, the military junta, over the past two years, has significantly eroded progress and taken the country backwards," Smith added.

Calls for Bazoum's release

Meanwhile, Bazoum has remained in detention since the coup.

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He and his wife are in custody at the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey, with no access to family members or lawyers. Bazoum also faces an impending trial after the ruling junta lifted his presidential immunity in 2024.

Rights groups have been calling for his liberation, including Human Rights Watch.

Nigers military junta demonstrates its contempt for the rule of law every day it detains former President Bazoum and his wife, said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch, in a statement. His politically motivated detention and prosecution discredit any junta claims to a more democratic Niger.

In August 2023, the junta announced plans to prosecute Bazoum for high treason and undermining national security but never brought him before a judge for preliminary hearings.

A "Free Bazoum campaign" was launched earlier this year with a website and messages to the international community.

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Global push grows to free Nigers former president Mohamed Bazoum

"As it stands today, President Bazoum and his wife are being held hostage by a wholly unaccountable, unelected military regime, and this is actually the core of the problem," Smith  one of the key members of the Free Bazoum campaign  told RFI.

A call to end his detention was also signed this week by the Platform for African Democrats (PAD), a gathering of leaders championing democracy and accountability.

"The continued detention of President Mohamed Bazoum is a chilling reminder of the deteriorating state of democracy in Niger and the broader Sahel region, and its costs to human rights, the rule of law and governance," the group wrote in a statement.

'Hope for freedom'

"The junta fears all that Bazoum represents, which is democratic legitimacy," Smith said.

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"This is something military authorities will never have nor achieve. Nevertheless, there remains hope for freedom. I think the increasing calls and pressure for his unconditional release  including from the African Union chairperson and a growing number of former African presidents  will ultimately move this situation towards a positive resolution."

In September, Bazoum filed a petition with the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), citing violations of human rights against him and his family during his detention.

In December 2024, the Ecowas court ruled that he was being arbitrarily detained and called for his release.

In February this year, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an independent body which investigates deprivation of liberty, also found that the detention of Bazoum and his wife was arbitrary, in violation of international human rights law, and called for their immediate release.

Fears for the future in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso over Ecowas withdrawal

The treatment of Bazoum is emblematic of a military junta that has cracked down on the political opposition, peaceful dissent and the media, and that appears to intend to solidify its power, delaying a transition to civilian rule and credible, free and fair elections, according to Human Rights Watch.

Each day Bazoum spends in detention moves Niger further away from a democratic path, Allegrozzi added. Two years on, Nigers authorities should reconsider what type of message his continued detention sends across the region and the world.

Since the coup, the military leaders of Niger have joined fellow ruling juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso to sign a mutual defence pact, and in January 2025, the three Sahelian states formally withdrew from Ecowas.
Pacer Advisors Inc. trimmed its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 17.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 30,052 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 6,192 shares during the period. Pacer Advisors Inc.s holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $16,417,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. American Capital Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Godsey & Gibb Inc. raised its holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group by 170.0% during the 1st quarter. Godsey & Gibb Inc. now owns 54 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 326.7% during the first quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 64 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the period. 71.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Performance

Shares of GS stock opened at $728.63 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.26. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $657.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $605.76. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $437.37 and a 12 month high of $729.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $223.57 billion, a PE ratio of 16.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.35.

The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend

The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 16th. The investment management company reported $10.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.82 by $1.09. The firm had revenue of $14.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.53 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 12.37% and a return on equity of 13.84%. The businesss revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $8.62 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 29th will be paid a $4.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 29th. This is an increase from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $3.00. This represents a $16.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.20%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is 26.44%.

Insider Activity

In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, CEO David M. Solomon sold 6,608 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $712.31, for a total transaction of $4,706,944.48. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 126,176 shares in the company, valued at approximately $89,876,426.56. This trade represents a 4.98% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 7,463 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $724.40, for a total transaction of $5,406,197.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 18,594 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,469,493.60. The trade was a 28.64% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 20,079 shares of company stock worth $14,423,221 over the last 90 days. 0.55% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently issued reports on GS. Daiwa America lowered shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, April 4th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $771.00 to $790.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $650.00 to $785.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. JMP Securities reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $600.00 target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets cut The Goldman Sachs Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $560.00 price target on the stock. in a report on Friday, April 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $660.00.

Read Our Latest Research Report on The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.

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FourThought Financial Partners LLC lowered its holdings in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD  Free Report) by 5.3% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,204 shares of the fast-food giants stock after selling 180 shares during the period. FourThought Financial Partners LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $1,001,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Red Door Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Red Door Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,724 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $1,788,000 after purchasing an additional 109 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC grew its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 432,406 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $125,350,000 after purchasing an additional 23,024 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd grew its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 345,319 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $107,867,000 after purchasing an additional 18,393 shares in the last quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 22.9% during the 1st quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC now owns 17,226 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $5,381,000 after purchasing an additional 3,212 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Segment Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of McDonalds by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Segment Wealth Management LLC now owns 54,672 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $17,078,000 after purchasing an additional 937 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.29% of the companys stock.

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McDonalds Stock Up 1.3%

MCD stock opened at $298.25 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $213.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.32, a PEG ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.53. McDonalds Corporation has a twelve month low of $250.23 and a twelve month high of $326.32. The business has a fifty day moving average of $301.00 and a 200-day moving average of $303.02.

McDonalds Announces Dividend

McDonalds ( NYSE:MCD Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The fast-food giant reported $2.67 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $2.67. The company had revenue of $5.96 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.17 billion. McDonalds had a negative return on equity of 195.27% and a net margin of 31.75%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.70 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be paid a dividend of $1.77 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $7.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.37%. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 62.49%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 939 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $299.49, for a total transaction of $281,221.11. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 9,283 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,780,165.67. The trade was a 9.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 1,000 shares of McDonalds stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $300.00, for a total value of $300,000.00. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 8,858 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,657,400. This trade represents a 10.14% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 3,817 shares of company stock valued at $1,147,992. 0.25% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on MCD. KeyCorp decreased their price objective on McDonalds from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 30th. Citigroup raised their target price on McDonalds from $364.00 to $365.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. TD Securities restated a hold rating and set a $305.00 target price on shares of McDonalds in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. Argus downgraded McDonalds from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their target price on McDonalds from $292.00 to $314.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, McDonalds currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $322.00.

View Our Latest Report on MCD

About McDonalds

(Free Report)

McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K.

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Intellus Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV  Free Report) by 15.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 46,644 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 6,100 shares during the quarter. Intellus Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares Silver Trust were worth $1,445,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 89.2% in the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 4,321,293 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $122,646,000 after buying an additional 2,037,487 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 20.1% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 1,235,483 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $38,288,000 after buying an additional 207,050 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia raised its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 560.6% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 1,180,797 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $31,090,000 after buying an additional 1,002,050 shares in the last quarter. Ion Asset Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Ion Asset Management Ltd. now owns 1,112,600 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $29,295,000 after buying an additional 36,745 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 1,076,568 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $33,363,000 after buying an additional 68,041 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Silver Trust Stock Performance

SLV opened at $34.66 on Friday. iShares Silver Trust has a one year low of $24.25 and a one year high of $35.91. The stocks fifty day moving average is $32.82 and its 200-day moving average is $30.45. The company has a market capitalization of $18.02 billion, a PE ratio of -8.51 and a beta of 0.59.

iShares Silver Trust Profile

iShares Silver Trust (the Trust) owns silver transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust. The Trusts each share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in its net assets. The assets of the Trust consist of silver held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust.

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Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda increased its holdings in shares of Hess Corporation (NYSE:HES  Free Report) by 10.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 245,695 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after acquiring an additional 23,886 shares during the period. Hess makes up about 8.0% of Kapitalo Investimentos Ltdas portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. Kapitalo Investimentos Ltdas holdings in Hess were worth $39,245,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich acquired a new stake in Hess in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in Hess by 106.2% in the 1st quarter. Global X Japan Co. Ltd. now owns 200 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the last quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hess during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. IMA Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Hess during the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Raiffeisen Bank International AG acquired a new position in shares of Hess during the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. 88.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity at Hess

In other news, CEO John B. Hess sold 250,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $136.01, for a total value of $34,002,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,734,679 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $235,933,690.79. This represents a 12.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 9.10% of the companys stock.

Hess Stock Performance

Shares of HES stock opened at $160.31 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $142.37 and a 200 day moving average price of $142.29. The company has a market cap of $49.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.17 and a beta of 0.62. Hess Corporation has a 12 month low of $123.79 and a 12 month high of $161.69.

Hess (NYSE:HES  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.95 by ($0.14). Hess had a net margin of 17.65% and a return on equity of 21.78%. The company had revenue of $2.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.95 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $3.16 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Hess Corporation will post 8.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hess Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th were paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.25%. Hesss dividend payout ratio is presently 27.66%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

HES has been the topic of several recent research reports. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on Hess from $147.00 to $153.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Mizuho lowered their target price on Hess from $193.00 to $191.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Hess from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, June 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Hess from $193.00 to $184.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Susquehanna reduced their price target on shares of Hess from $160.00 to $136.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Hess currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $162.78.

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Hess Profile

(Free Report)

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.

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Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in shares of American Express Company (NYSE:AXP  Free Report) by 0.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 330,315 shares of the payment services companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,451 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbanks holdings in American Express were worth $88,871,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AXP. Investment Management Corp VA ADV acquired a new stake in shares of American Express in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. MorganRosel Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. Nexus Investment Management ULC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express in the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, IAG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Express in the 1st quarter valued at about $40,000. 84.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at American Express

In other American Express news, insider Glenda G. Mcneal sold 3,019 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $264.66, for a total value of $799,008.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 10,919 shares in the company, valued at $2,889,822.54. This represents a 21.66% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Howard Grosfield sold 9,450 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $275.50, for a total value of $2,603,475.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 9,402 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,590,251. The trade was a 50.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AXP has been the topic of several recent research reports. BTIG Research set a $277.00 price target on shares of American Express and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. DZ Bank cut shares of American Express from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of American Express from $260.00 to $342.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Monness Crespi & Hardt cut American Express from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating on shares of American Express in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $311.05.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on American Express

American Express Stock Performance

Shares of American Express stock opened at $311.60 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $216.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.87, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.25. The firms 50-day moving average is $304.91 and its 200 day moving average is $291.28. American Express Company has a 1 year low of $220.43 and a 1 year high of $329.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.69.

American Express (NYSE:AXP  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The payment services company reported $4.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.86 by $0.22. American Express had a return on equity of 32.87% and a net margin of 14.78%. The business had revenue of $17.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.70 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.49 EPS. American Expresss revenue was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that American Express Company will post 15.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

American Express Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 3rd. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.05%. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is presently 23.02%.

American Express Profile

(Free Report)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services.

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Motco lifted its stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Free Report) by 700.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 112 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 98 shares during the quarter. Motcos holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. were worth $39,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of AJG. Winslow Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the 4th quarter worth $719,489,000. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 30.4% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 8,199,413 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,327,403,000 after purchasing an additional 1,910,471 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 162.0% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 2,822,319 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $801,115,000 after purchasing an additional 1,745,283 shares in the last quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1,511.2% in the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 1,758,166 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $499,055,000 after purchasing an additional 1,649,046 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 53,148.8% in the 4th quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,319,505 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $374,541,000 after purchasing an additional 1,317,027 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.53% of the companys stock.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Trading Up 2.0%

Shares of AJG opened at $315.15 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $322.82 and a 200 day moving average of $322.73. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a fifty-two week low of $267.00 and a fifty-two week high of $351.23. The firm has a market cap of $80.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.61 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 1.44.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Dividend Announcement

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. ( NYSE:AJG Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The financial services provider reported $3.67 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.57 by $0.10. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 14.83% and a net margin of 14.39%. The company had revenue of $3.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.85 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.45 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 11.54 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 20th. Investors of record on Friday, June 6th were issued a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 6th. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.63%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on AJG shares. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $266.00 to $265.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $346.00 to $327.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $372.00 to $371.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 9th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $326.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $322.31.

View Our Latest Analysis on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. news, Director David S. Johnson sold 1,000 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $342.04, for a total transaction of $342,040.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 45,323 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,502,278.92. The trade was a 2.16% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, VP Scott R. Hudson sold 10,500 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $337.17, for a total value of $3,540,285.00. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 91,175 shares of the companys stock, valued at $30,741,474.75. The trade was a 10.33% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 25,000 shares of company stock valued at $8,528,080. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

(Free Report)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations.

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Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:IPG  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the nine ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $32.39.

A number of research analysts recently commented on IPG shares. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from $27.00 to $25.60 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Barclays lowered shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $34.00 to $27.50 in a research note on Wednesday, June 25th. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Wall Street Zen assumed coverage on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Interpublic Group of Companies from $35.00 to $33.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 10th.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Interpublic Group of Companies

Interpublic Group of Companies Price Performance

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in IPG. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board boosted its stake in Interpublic Group of Companies by 139.5% in the 4th quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 13,210,446 shares of the business services providers stock worth $370,157,000 after purchasing an additional 7,693,636 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in Interpublic Group of Companies by 14,575.4% in the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 3,119,249 shares of the business services providers stock worth $76,359,000 after purchasing an additional 3,097,994 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in Interpublic Group of Companies by 49.0% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 8,510,242 shares of the business services providers stock worth $231,138,000 after purchasing an additional 2,797,490 shares during the period. Pentwater Capital Management LP boosted its stake in Interpublic Group of Companies by 568.6% in the 1st quarter. Pentwater Capital Management LP now owns 2,340,000 shares of the business services providers stock worth $63,554,000 after purchasing an additional 1,990,000 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Interpublic Group of Companies in the 4th quarter worth approximately $51,794,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.43% of the companys stock.

Shares of NYSE:IPG opened at $26.05 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $24.32 and its two-hundred day moving average is $25.65. Interpublic Group of Companies has a 52 week low of $22.51 and a 52 week high of $33.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.07 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78.

Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 22nd. The business services provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.55 by $0.20. Interpublic Group of Companies had a net margin of 4.27% and a return on equity of 28.72%. The business had revenue of $2.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.15 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.61 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Interpublic Group of Companies will post 2.66 earnings per share for the current year.

Interpublic Group of Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Monday, June 2nd were paid a $0.33 dividend. This represents a $1.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.07%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 2nd. Interpublic Group of Companiess dividend payout ratio is 111.86%.

About Interpublic Group of Companies

(Get Free Report

The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc provides advertising and marketing services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Media, Data & Engagement Solutions, Integrated Advertising & Creativity Led Solutions, and Specialized Communications & Experiential Solutions. The Media, Data & Engagement Solutions segment provides media and communications services, digital services and products, advertising and marketing technology, e-commerce services, data management and analytics, strategic consulting, and digital brand experience under the IPG Mediabrands, UM, Initiative, Kinesso, Acxiom, Huge, MRM, and R/GA brand names.

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Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $1,012.56.

LLY has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set an overweight rating and a $975.00 price objective on the stock. Hsbc Global Res cut Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a moderate sell rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $1,100.00 to $1,050.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 2nd. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $936.00 to $942.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a neutral rating to a buy rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $892.00 to $888.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th.

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Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance

NYSE LLY opened at $811.73 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $769.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 66.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The companys 50 day moving average is $771.95 and its 200-day moving average is $800.51. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $677.09 and a 12-month high of $972.53.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $3.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $4.64 by ($1.30). The business had revenue of $12.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.77 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 22.67% and a return on equity of 85.51%. The companys revenue was up 45.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.58 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.74%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 48.82%.

Institutional Trading of Eli Lilly and Company

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of LLY. Kellett Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 6.2% in the second quarter. Kellett Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 275 shares of the companys stock worth $214,000 after buying an additional 16 shares in the last quarter. Community Bank N.A. boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 15.5% in the 2nd quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 3,354 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,615,000 after purchasing an additional 449 shares in the last quarter. Heartland Bank & Trust Co boosted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. Heartland Bank & Trust Co now owns 5,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,901,000 after purchasing an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 8.2% during the 2nd quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 14,419 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,240,000 after purchasing an additional 1,098 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Delaney Dennis R raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 36.7% in the 2nd quarter. Delaney Dennis R now owns 1,878 shares of the companys stock worth $1,464,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Company Profile

(Get 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.

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Providence Wealth Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 5.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,300 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 75 shares during the period. Providence Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $406,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of ACN. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Accenture by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,528,348 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,750,021,000 after purchasing an additional 136,665 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in Accenture by 16.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 12,295,748 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,325,526,000 after purchasing an additional 1,770,024 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in Accenture by 22.8% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,175,518 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,283,225,000 after purchasing an additional 2,260,740 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its stake in Accenture by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 8,513,140 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,994,922,000 after purchasing an additional 181,449 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in Accenture by 10.7% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,582,344 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,667,393,000 after buying an additional 732,769 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.14% of the companys stock.

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Accenture Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE ACN opened at $283.10 on Friday. Accenture PLC has a 1-year low of $273.19 and a 1-year high of $398.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.46, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The company has a market capitalization of $177.31 billion, a PE ratio of 22.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 1.29. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $302.60 and its 200-day simple moving average is $322.12.

Accenture Dividend Announcement

Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, June 20th. The information technology services provider reported $3.49 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.32 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $17.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.26 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.61% and a return on equity of 26.55%. Accentures revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.13 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Accenture PLC will post 12.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 10th will be issued a $1.48 dividend. This represents a $5.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.09%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 10th. Accentures dividend payout ratio is presently 47.13%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture

In related news, insider Angela Beatty sold 203 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $282.34, for a total value of $57,315.02. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 5,249 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,482,002.66. This represents a 3.72% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, COO John F. Walsh sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $325.00, for a total transaction of $812,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 15,882 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,161,650. This represents a 13.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 5,454 shares of company stock valued at $1,646,780. Company insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on ACN shares. Mizuho set a $348.00 target price on Accenture and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. Benchmark restated a mixed rating on shares of Accenture in a report on Friday, June 20th. Guggenheim decreased their price objective on Accenture from $360.00 to $335.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 23rd. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Accenture in a report on Thursday, July 17th. They set an outperform rating and a $330.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Argus set a $370.00 target price on Accenture in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Accenture presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $365.43.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ACN

About Accenture

(Free Report)

Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services.

Further Reading

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Integrated Investment Consultants LLC lowered its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 16.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,490 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after selling 295 shares during the quarter. Integrated Investment Consultants LLCs holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $247,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. HB Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 46.4% in the first quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 36,059 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $5,986,000 after buying an additional 11,422 shares in the last quarter. First Heartland Consultants Inc. increased its stake in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 33.3% in the 1st quarter. First Heartland Consultants Inc. now owns 1,647 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $273,000 after acquiring an additional 411 shares during the last quarter. Stevens Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 1st quarter worth approximately $3,633,000. Prescott Group Capital Management L.L.C. bought a new position in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,089,000. Finally, AM Investment Strategies LLC grew its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 1.7% in the first quarter. AM Investment Strategies LLC now owns 6,672 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,108,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 16.51% of the companys stock.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Price Performance

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing stock opened at $245.55 on Friday. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a 12-month low of $133.57 and a 12-month high of $248.28. The company has a current ratio of 2.39, a quick ratio of 2.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $217.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $194.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.27 trillion, a PE ratio of 28.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.29.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 17th. The semiconductor company reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.13 by $0.34. The business had revenue of $30.07 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.50 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a net margin of 42.91% and a return on equity of 34.53%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 44.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.48 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be given a $0.6499 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.16%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TSM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $240.00 price target (up previously from $215.00) on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research note on Tuesday, June 3rd. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Susquehanna lifted their price target on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a buy rating and set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $258.33.

View Our Latest Stock Report on TSM

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

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Morocco has reiterated, on Friday in Addis Ababa, its commitment to South-South cooperation as a lever of empowerment for Africa.

Speaking at the inaugural ministerial meeting of the 57th session of the Economic Commission for Africa (COM57), Moroccos Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA-UN), Mohamed Arrouchi, reiterated Moroccos continuous commitment to South-South cooperation, as a strategic lever for the empowerment of Africa, in line with the vision of King Mohammed VI.

The diplomat mentioned the conspicuous decline of international cooperation, adding that this trend, exacerbated by the regression of multilateralism, now calls on African countries to rethink their models of cooperation, take their collective destiny in hand and work to promote inter-African cooperation.

Morocco has always called for active, united and pragmatic South-South cooperation, based on concrete actions, mainly in Africa, he recalled, pointing out that this strategic guideline rests on the deep conviction that Africa has all the necessary ingredients  a wealth of natural resources, a young population and a considerable economic potential  for genuine empowerment.

Arrouchi also underlined that it is high time that Africa bolstered its regional value chains, promoted its internal complementarities and broke with the logic of withdrawal and every man for himself, to achieve the legitimate ambition of a continent that is united, sovereign, and master of its own development.

The inaugural ministerial meeting of the COM57 Bureau examined preparations for the next session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, set to take place in Morocco in 2026.
Empirical Finance LLC grew its stake in shares of General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD  Free Report) by 2.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,945 shares of the aerospace companys stock after acquiring an additional 167 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLCs holdings in General Dynamics were worth $2,166,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Principal Securities Inc. boosted its stake in General Dynamics by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 8,203 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $2,161,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the period. Sharpepoint LLC lifted its holdings in shares of General Dynamics by 4.2% in the first quarter. Sharpepoint LLC now owns 917 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $249,000 after buying an additional 37 shares in the last quarter. 1858 Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of General Dynamics by 1.2% in the first quarter. 1858 Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,224 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $879,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the period. Keystone Financial Services grew its stake in General Dynamics by 1.6% during the first quarter. Keystone Financial Services now owns 2,421 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $660,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pure Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in General Dynamics by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Pure Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,025 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,642,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the period. 86.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of General Dynamics from $309.00 to $333.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded General Dynamics from a hold rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $298.00 to $342.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $325.00 price target on General Dynamics and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on General Dynamics from $283.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Cowen restated a buy rating on shares of General Dynamics in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $312.17.

General Dynamics Stock Performance

General Dynamics stock opened at $313.92 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $287.67 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $272.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 1.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. General Dynamics Corporation has a twelve month low of $239.20 and a twelve month high of $322.50. The company has a market capitalization of $84.44 billion, a PE ratio of 21.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.46.

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The aerospace company reported $3.74 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.47 by $0.27. General Dynamics had a return on equity of 17.99% and a net margin of 8.13%. The company had revenue of $13.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.13 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.26 EPS. General Dynamicss revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that General Dynamics Corporation will post 14.83 EPS for the current year.

General Dynamics Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 3rd will be issued a $1.50 dividend. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 3rd. General Dynamicss dividend payout ratio is 40.27%.

Insider Activity at General Dynamics

In related news, CEO Phebe N. Novakovic sold 178,821 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $283.13, for a total transaction of $50,629,589.73. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 769,607 shares in the company, valued at $217,898,829.91. This represents a 18.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About General Dynamics

(Free Report)

General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies. The Aerospace segment produces and sells business jets; and offers aircraft maintenance and repair, management, aircraft-on-ground support and completion, charter, staffing, and fixed-base operator services.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD  Free Report).

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Bedel Financial Consulting Inc. increased its stake in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (NYSE:TSM  Free Report) by 2.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,068 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after buying an additional 59 shares during the quarter. Bedel Financial Consulting Inc.s holdings in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing were worth $356,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 58,547,257 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $11,562,498,000 after purchasing an additional 2,572,488 shares in the last quarter. Sanders Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 41,877,457 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $8,270,379,000 after purchasing an additional 231,310 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 35,602,400 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $7,031,632,000 after purchasing an additional 294,316 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 8.2% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 22,210,222 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $4,391,957,000 after purchasing an additional 1,683,256 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its holdings in shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing by 67.0% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,365,404 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $2,047,065,000 after purchasing an additional 4,158,772 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 16.51% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

TSM has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $240.00 target price (up previously from $215.00) on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and set a $270.00 price objective on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Susquehanna raised their price objective on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing from $255.00 to $265.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Citigroup reissued a buy rating on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $258.33.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Trading Up 1.6%

NYSE TSM opened at $245.55 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.18, a current ratio of 2.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. has a twelve month low of $133.57 and a twelve month high of $248.28. The company has a market cap of $1.27 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.29. The businesss fifty day moving average is $217.47 and its 200 day moving average is $194.75.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The semiconductor company reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.13 by $0.34. The business had revenue of $30.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.50 billion. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing had a return on equity of 34.53% and a net margin of 42.91%. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings revenue for the quarter was up 44.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.48 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. will post 9.2 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $0.6499 per share. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturings dividend payout ratio is currently 28.16%.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Profile

(Free Report)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, packages, tests, and sells integrated circuits and other semiconductor devices in Taiwan, China, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Japan, the United States, and internationally. It provides a range of wafer fabrication processes, including processes to manufacture complementary metal- oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic, mixed-signal, radio frequency, embedded memory, bipolar CMOS mixed-signal, and others.

See Also

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The Irish premier has welcomed a deal between the European Union and the United States, which will see a 15% tariff on most EU imports to the US.

The deal was reached during a meeting between Donald Trump and the president of the European Commission on Sunday.

The US president met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to hammer out the final details on the trading relationship between Europe and the US.

Reacting to the deal, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the agreement was very welcome.

I welcome the outcome of trade talks today between the European Commission and the US. pic.twitter.com/xpx7tK5Aji  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 27, 2025

It brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US  the biggest in the world, the Fianna Fail leader said.

That is good for businesses, investors and consumers. It will help protect many jobs in Ireland.

The negotiations to get us to this point have been long and complex, and I would like to thank both teams for their patient work.

We will now study the detail of what has been agreed, including its implications for businesses exporting from Ireland to the US, and for different sectors operating here.

The agreement is a framework and there will be more detail to be fleshed out in the weeks and months ahead.

Mr Martin said the higher tariffs will have an impact on trade between the EU and the US, which will make it more expensive and more challenging.

However, it also creates a new era of stability that can hopefully contribute to a growing and deepening relationship between the EU and the US, which is important not just for the EU and the US, but for the global economy, he added.

Given the very real risk that existed for escalation and for the imposition of punitively high tariffs, this news will be welcomed by many.

The deal was also welcomed by deputy Irish premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris, who said it brings clarity to businesses.

While we have yet to see the detail, I welcome that an agreement has been announced by Commission President von der Leyen and US President Trump, Mr Harris said in a statement.

A deal provides a measure of much-needed certainty for Irish, European and American businesses who together represent the most integrated trading relationship in the world. Ireland makes a key contribution to this with the Ireland-US economic relationship valued at more than one trillion euros.

The US had made clear, and this has been replicated in other recent agreements, which the US has reached with other countries, that a baseline tariff was always going to be part of the outcome.

I have always stressed that tariffs are damaging and will have a negative impact on companies exporting to the US.

While Ireland regrets that the baseline tariff of 15% is included in the agreement, it is important that we now have more certainty on the foundations for the EU-US trade relationship, which is essential for jobs, growth and investment.

President von der Leyen described this as 15% tariffs across the board, all-inclusive.

He said further detail is needed around pharma, aviation and other sectors.

Mr Harris said he will examine the details of the agreement over the coming days to establish the effect on Irish businesses and the economy.

Earlier, EU commissioner Michael McGrath said the meeting was a significant and decisive moment.

Mr McGrath, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, said it would involve substantive negotiations between both sides.

Its a significant moment, we hope a decisive moment, and it builds on an enormous amount of work that has been done over quite a period of time, Mr McGrath said ahead of the meeting.

President Trump invited President von der Leyen to Scotland for a meeting.

This follows on the back of intensive negotiations over a number of months.

He added: It is not a case of turning up and signing on the dotted line. There will be a real discussion that will happen, and it will take on a dynamic of its own, and lets see what happens over the course of the afternoon.

But from the EUs point of view, we are determined to do all that we can to get a deal for European businesses, because we recognise the cost of uncertainty.

It manifests in trade and in investment decisions and ultimately in employment and of course tariffs can cost consumers at the end of the day.

We want a good deal. We have negotiated hard, and were at a point now where hopefully the two leaders can today bring it to a concluding phase.
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:

Mpox Virus Particle Colorized transmission electron micrograph of an mpox virus particle (yellow and red) found within an infected VERO E6 cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID/CC0 Public Domain

Ghana has recorded its first death from Mpox, health authorities confirmed Sunday, amid a sharp rise in new infections in the West African country.

Twenty-three new cases have been confirmed in the past week, bringing the total number of infections to 257 since the virus was first detected in Ghana in June 2022.

The latest figure marks the highest weekly increase since the outbreak began and the first fatality recorded in the country.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh told AFP "that the situation is under control."

"The key to limiting this outbreak is early detection and responsible behavior," Akandoh said.

Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral infection related to smallpox, causing fever, body aches and distinct skin lesions and can be deadly.

The disease spreads through close physical contact with infected individuals or contaminated materials.

A Ghanaian government agency responsible for public health is expected to receive vaccines from the World Health Organization this week.

"Our at-risk populations have already been identified, and we are ready to roll out vaccination as soon as doses arrive," a director with the service, Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, told AFP.

The outbreak in Ghana mirrors a broader trend across West Africa, where health officials are struggling to contain the disease.

Thousands of cases have been recorded this year in the region, with Sierra Leone registering a total of 3,350 cases, including 16 deathsfrom January to late May of this year.

Elsewhere thousands more cases have also been detected this year across DR Congo, Uganda and Burundi, according to WHO.

Africa CDC figures released last week show over 47,000 confirmed cases and 221 deaths reported across the continent since January last year.

At least 27,000 of those cases were recorded this year alone.

Last month WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the virus remains an international health emergency amid the rise in West African cases.

 2025 AFP
This tidbit deserved more consideration from the local news scene . . .

BEHIND THE SCENES, ALLEGEDLY MODERATE GUV KELLY SUPPORTS STRIDENT PUSH BACK AGAINST MAGA!!!

Here's here latest power move . . .

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly will withdraw from the National Governors Association, a political organization comprising governors from all states, territories and commonwealths in the United States.



On July 24, The Atlantic reported that Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz plan to stop paying dues to the organization this month, thereby cancelling their membership. States pay about $100,000, drawn from state funds, in membership dues every year.



Kelly confirmed the state would withdraw from the National Governors Association on July 25.

A report from The Atlantic says some Democrats are dissatisfied with the organization's response to former President Trump's actions.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Govs. Walz, Kelly to leave National Governors Association citing lack of bipartisan initiatives: Sources Sources say two Democrats are stepping away from the National Governors Association, citing in part a lack of pushback to Trump administration's policies.

Incoming NGA Chair 'disappointed' in Dem governors 'playing politics' in bipartisan group National Governors Association (NGA) faces tension as Democratic governors reportedly plan to stop paying their dues, as incoming chair Gov. Kevin Stitt calls for bipartisanship.

Developing . . .
This tragic story has shocked locals throughout Kansas City, Kansas who had hoped for progress against worsening crime.

DEPUTY SHOT DEAD IN THE DOTTE DURING DOMESTIC DRAMA!!!

Here's the roundup and more reporting . . .

Wyandotte County Sheriff Daniel Soptic announced Saturday night that Deputy Elijah Ming was shot and killed after responding to a domestic incident alongside units from the Kansas City, Kansas police department. Ming, according to the sheriff, had served as a deputy in Wyandotte County for almost nine years.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Wyandotte County sheriff's deputy killed in shooting, suspect in custody Fallen deputy identified as 9-year veteran of the force.

Wyandotte County Sheriff's Deputy dies after being shot Saturday afternoon The Kansas City, Kansas, Police department confirmed a Wyandotte County Sheriff's Deputy was shot on Saturday afternoon.
Ahead of the midterm elections and despite recent local budget troubles . . . Our activists friends leverage national conversation against popular KCMO transit sentiment.

Here's an off-the-record social media comment from a local activist that checks out and offers a preview of continued local transit advocacy inspire of a recent 12th & Oak decision . . .

"The end of Zero Fare is a setback and not a final ruling. Look at what voters across the nation are saying. Transit equity is a human right and we will continue to fight for access for everyone in Kansas City. The success of of Zohran Mamdani shows us that people support free transit and its many benefits for the economy and the environment. We will continue to fight for what is in the best interest of all humans in KC and the world."

Meanwhile, complaints about homeless ridership, the stench and basic economics have won out so far EXCEPT in the case of the streetcar which will remains free and still mostly for tourists despite an upcoming extension.

In the meantime, here's a bit of conservative news posturing on the issue with reference to cowtown transit trouble . . . Check-it:

Kansas City became the first major city in the U.S. to eliminate fares in 2020 when the city's transit authority zeroed out fares for all but its in-house ride-hailing service and its on-demand offering for seniors.



However, budget challenges facing Kansas City's public transit service prompted the city council to vote to reinstate fares for most riders  though low-income riders, people receiving aid from social service agencies helping veterans and homeless individuals won't be charged fares.



In New York, State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani  the socialist candidate who won the Democratic Party's primary in the mayoral race  is calling for an even more expansive plan to end fares in the city.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 27. Turkmenistan has placed a new batch of automotive equipment and luxury vehicles for export through its state commodity exchange, reflecting ongoing efforts to strengthen international trade in the machinery and transport sectors.

Data obtained by Trend via the State Commodity shows that the Motor Enterprise of the Presidential Administration of Turkmenistan has offered 704 units of specialized machinery manufactured in Germany. The vehicles are available at a unit price of $53,000, with sales organized on a prepayment basis under EXW terms in Ashgabat.

In addition to industrial equipment, luxury automobiles have also been listed. A 2001 armored "Mercedes-Benz S600 Pullman," also of German origin, was put forward for export at a total value of $48,500. Another offer includes a 2010 armored "Cadillac STS," priced at $72,500. Both vehicles are currently located in Ashgabat and are being sold by the same Turkmen enterprise under the EXW terms.

A second shipment of technical equipment, 160 additional units, was also made available, with a unit price of $66,000. These vehicles are likewise German-made and are ready for handover from the capital city.

All export positions are classified as foreign trade transactions and are conducted in US dollars. The sales underscore Turkmenistans ongoing interest in engaging with international buyers across sectors such as industrial equipment, automotive trade, and high-end transport.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 27. The countries of the European Union have agreed to purchase military equipment worth hundreds of billions of dollars from the United States in the near future, Trend reports.

This was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump following his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland.

They have agreed to buy a large amount of military equipment. We dont know how much it will cost, but it is good news because we produce the best military equipment in the world, Trump emphasized.

He added that the upcoming arms purchases present significant opportunities for the American defense industry.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 28. The United States has signed a new trade agreement with the European Union, Trend reports.

This was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump following his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, held in Scotland.

According to Trump, under the newly reached agreements, the EU has agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of energy resources from the United States and invest an additional $600 billion into the American economy.

He noted that the deal will enable the EU to avoid 30 percent tariffs. Instead, the U.S. will apply a reduced 15 percent tariff on EU goods, including automobiles. In return, Brussels has committed to opening its markets to American products, setting zero tariffs on a range of goods.
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: Heriot-Watt University

A researcher at Heriot-Watt University is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to give patients living in remote parts access to timely and potentially lifesaving medical diagnoses.

For the past two years, Tess Watt, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences based in Edinburgh, has developed AI-driven tools to diagnose skin conditions, most notably skin cancer, in areas with limited medical infrastructure.

Her goal is to enable early detection without the need for direct access to dermatologists, using accessible technology that could be deployed anywhere from rural Scotland to West Africa.

"Health care from home is a really important topic at the moment, especially as GP wait times continue to grow," said Watt.

"If we can empower people to monitor skin conditions from their own homes using AI, we can dramatically reduce delays in diagnosis."

Watt is leading the pioneering research in a broader collaborative effort involving academics at the London South Bank University, Edinburgh Napier University and the Foundation for Research and TechnologyHellas in Greece.

It is understood to be the first research project of its kind to combine AI medical diagnosis with the aim of serving remote communities.

A prototype of her system has already been demonstrated at Heriot-Watt's advanced health and care technologies suite, showcasing how AI can analyze images of skin lesions and flag potential risks for further medical review.

What sets the system apart is its ability to work without the need for internet access.

Using low-cost Raspberry Pi devices, the technology can diagnose a skin condition while working independently of Wi-Fi. A Raspberry Pi can be thought of as a handheld portable computer that is energy efficient and capable of storing a vast amount of information in its memory.

A patient equipped with one of these devices would be asked to take a picture of their skin complaint using a small camera attached to the Raspberry Pi. This is analyzed in real-time using the latest state-of-the-art image classification, comparing it to an enormous dataset of thousands of images to reach a diagnosis.

The findings are then shared with a local GP service to begin a suitable treatment plan.

The tool is up to 85% accurate in its diagnostic capabilities but the team intends to increase this percentage further by gaining access to more skin lesion datasets aided by advanced machine learning models.

While the technology has yet to be tested in real-world clinical settings, Watt is currently in talks with NHS Scotland to begin the ethical approval process.

"Hopefully in the next year or two, we'll have a pilot project underway," she said, noting that medical technology often takes years to move from prototype to implementation.

The long-term vision is to roll the system out first across remote regions of Scotland, before expanding to global areas with limited access to dermatological care. It could also offer vital support to patients who are infirm or unable to travel, allowing loved ones to assist with capturing and submitting diagnostic images to GPs.

Watt's journey into health care AI was inspired by earlier work in accessible translation technologies.

That experience, coupled with her current studies in Tiny Machine Learning and research into underexplored areas of AI in medicine, led her to focus on dermatology.

"There's a lot being done with AI and medical scans like X-rays and MRIs," she said, "but relatively little using photographs of skin. I saw a real opportunity there."

Though deployment may be years away, the relevance of her work is immediate. As health services across the U.K. struggle with backlogs and stretched resources, solutions that enable proactive, remote care are increasingly in demand. Watt's research could represent a major step forward in both equity and efficiency for health care delivery.

As the technology matures and collaboration with the NHS progresses, Watt remains committed to ensuring that her research has a tangible impact by the time she graduates. "By the time I finish my Ph.D., three years from now," she said, "I'd love to see something well into the pipeline that's on its way to real-world use."

Commenting further on the project, Watt's academic supervisor, Dr. Christos Chrysoulas, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Heriot-Watt University's School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, emphasized the importance of robust system design in health care technology.

"E-health devices must be engineered to operate independently of external connectivity to ensure continuity of patient service and safety," he said.

"In the event of a network or cloud service failure, such devices must fail safely and maintain all essential clinical operations without functional degradation.

"While auxiliary or non-critical features may become temporarily unavailable, the core diagnostic and even therapeutic capabilities must remain fully operational, in compliance of course with safety and regulatory requirements.

"Ensuring this level of resilience in affordable, low-cost medical devices is the essence of our research, particularly for deployment in resource-limited settings and areas with limited or no connectivity, where uninterrupted patient care must still be guaranteed."

Watt's work forms part of Heriot-Watt's wider ambitions to make a positive impact on lives through its Global Research Institute (GRI) in Health and Care Technologies, which is dedicated to advancing solutions for some of the world's most critical health challenges.

The Institute is helping deliver pioneering research across Heriot-Watt's campuses in Scotland, Dubai and Malaysia, while working closely with health and care industry partners around the world.

It is already making significant progress with the launch of "One Health", an established research theme within the GRI that is addressing global health challenges such as infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and emerging epidemics through the integration of human, animal, and environmental health.
Detained by Israel, activists aboard Handala call for global hunger strike

The 21 activists who were on-board Hanzalah, () or Handala, called for global hunger strike hours before the Freedom Flotilla Coalition aid ship was stormed by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IDF) and they were detained

Sunday July 27, 2025 8:31 PM , ummid.com News Network

[FFC Tracker showing the Handala aid ship location when it was intercepted and stormed by the Israeli occupation forces. (Inset) Frances MEP Emma Fourreau.]

Mediterranean Sea: The 21 activists who were on-board Hanzalah, () or Handala, called for global hunger strike hours before the Freedom Flotilla Coalition aid ship was stormed by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IDF) and they were detained.

Handala was illegally boarded by Israel military in international waters, around 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Before interception, the 21 crew made this statement: if attacked they will join the global hunger strike for Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said in a statement.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition also urged people around the world, especially those living in the countries the activists hail from, to raise their voice against the Israeli war crimes.

Call your governments now and hold them accountable. Demand the end to their complicity in Israels war crimes and genocide, and immediate release of all Handala crew members, the coalition said.

The Israeli army is here. We are throwing our phones into the sea. See you soon. Stop the genocide", Frances MEP Emma Fourreau said as the Israeli forces intercepted the aid ship.

Video: The Moment Israelis Storm Handala

En direct, un acte de piraterie commis en eaux internationales par larmee israelienne.



Lequipage du Handala a ete kidnappe illegalement. Exigez sa liberation immediate : @EmmanuelMacron @jnbarrot pic.twitter.com/5GIEQPYDGT  Emma Fourreau (@emma_frr) July 26, 2025

The Handala flotilla carrying aid to Palestinians has on-board volunteers from the United States, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Australia and others.

The aid ship was stormed by the Israeli Occupation Forces early in the morning Sunday July 27, 2025 when it was in international waters around 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

The Handala aid flotilla has been launched more than a month after Madleen flotilla was illegally seized by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IDF) few kms from Gaza. It went more than 100 kilometers beyond the furthest point MADLEEN reached.

Why Handala?

The Madleen aid ship was named after the first Palestinian fisherwman Madleen Kulab. On the other hand, Handala or Hanzala has been named after the Palestinian caricature Handalaa barefoot refugee child who turned his back on injustice and vowed not to turn around until Palestine is free, the coalition said.

The character was created in 1969 by political cartoonist Naji al-Ali, and first took its current form in 1973. Handala became the signature of Naji al-Ali's cartoons and remains an iconic symbol of Palestinian identity and defiance.

The Handala aid flotilla is dedicated to the children of Gaza.

The boat carries his spirit, and that of every child in Gaza who has been denied safety, dignity, and joy, the coalition said.

Dedicated to Gaza Children

In 2023 and 2024, Handala sailed to ports across Europe and the UK, breaking through the media blockade, engaging the public, and building solidarity through press events, art installations, and political education in every port it visited.

The children of Gazawho make up over half the populationhave been living under a brutal blockade and siege for their entire lives. Since October 2023, over 50,000 have been killed or injured, tens of thousands orphaned, and nearly a million forcibly displaced and homeless. All now face famine, disease, and trauma few of us can imagine. This mission is for them, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said.

The United Nations, dozens of agencies and governments around the world have been sounding the alarm about Israels man-made famine in Gaza, where aid sites have turned into death traps, Al Jazeera reported.

More than 1,000 people have now died while waiting for food by Israeli forces and US mercenaries.

The Israeli occupation forces have killed at least 15 Palestinians in attacks on Gaza since the early hours of Sunday, a day after killing at least 71 people, including 42 aid seekers, as five more Palestinians starve to death.

On Sunday, hundreds of children took to the streets of Gaza in the largest protest of its kind since the genocide began on October 7, 2023, marching with empty stomachs and chanting No to hunger, no to death.

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To help global enterprises across sectors better integrate into the Chinese market, the Corporate Pavilion features six major exhibition areasencompassing Medical Equipment and Healthcare Products, Automobile and Smart Mobility, Intelligent Industry & Information Technology, Consumer Goods, Food and Agriculture Products, and Trade in Servicesand will continue hosting its Innovation Incubation Special Section. Driven by strong interest and participation from overseas companies, total booked exhibition space has surpassed 330,000 square meters, with 170 companies and 26 institutions becoming eight-time full-attendance exhibitors.

Notably, this year's Corporate Pavilion introduces four fresh innovations, demonstrating its vibrant energy and vast collaboration opportunities for participants.

A special section for the least-developed countries products will launch alongside an upgraded Africa products section, helping 53 diplomatic African partners leverage zero-tariff treatment to enter the Chinese market.

products section, helping 53 diplomatic African partners leverage zero-tariff treatment to enter the Chinese market. A new section for overseas provinces and cities stands as another highlight.

Focused on global premieres, a dedicated trail for exploring debuts and a section amplifying exhibitors' presence are introduced.

A cross-border e-commerce platform will be established for specialized promotion, matching, and livestreaming.

The 8th Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) will convene under the theme "Opening-up for New Opportunities, Cooperation for a Shared Future". Alongside the release of the World Openness Report 2025 and the latest World Openness Index, the HQF will host over 20 parallel sessions on revitalizing multilateral cooperation, empowering digital intelligence, green and sustainable development, and a more open China.

Side events will retain previous categories, while people-to-people exchange activities will add a new "Charming Friends of City" zone, inviting international friendly provinces and cities to set up their booths.

Stay tuned for the 8th CIIE  secure your spot now!

Sign up as an exhibitor:

https://www.ciie.org/exhibition/f/book/register?locale=en

Sign up as a professional visitor:

https://www.ciie.org/ciie/f/visitor/pre-book?locale=en

Contact: Ms. Cui Yan Tel.: 0086-21-968888 Email: [email protected]

SOURCE China International Import Expo (CIIE)
He wasnt perfect, but he has been stitched up because he wouldnt go when people wanted him to go, one person close to the organisation told The Telegraph. Other insiders fear that the push to remove Schwab will come at too high a reputational cost to the WEF itself. Theyve used a sledgehammer to crack a nut, one said. It is an astonishing fall from grace from the former executive chairman, who was awarded an honorary knighthood by the UK in 2006. The German-born professor built his empire from humble beginnings, establishing the WEF in 1971 as a forum for policymakers and CEOs to discuss global issues. Over the years it mutated into a magnet for world leaders, a capital of fevered dealmaking, a byword for elitism and a lightning rod for conspiracy theories.

The title of his book The Great Reset  about how the pandemic could remake global economies  has become shorthand for online extremists convinced that plots to create a world government are hatched at Davos. Schwab, the quintessential Davos Man, was front and centre every year as he welcomed a galaxy of heads of state and government. The demise of Davos has often been predicted, but rivals are circling. Credit: AP They included prime ministers and presidents as different as Angela Merkel and Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Narendra Modi or Baroness May and Vladimir Putin. At this years gathering, in January, there was no Sir Keir Starmer, French president or German chancellor in Davos.

The demise of Davos has often been predicted, but rivals are circling. China has the Boao Forum, colloquially known as the Asian Davos, and Saudi Arabia has launched the Future Investment Initiative, which is dubbed Davos in the Desert. Loading The rumblings of what would become an avalanche of revelations about Schwab began with a 2024 investigation by the Wall Street Journal, which accused the WEF of having a workplace culture that was hostile to black people and women. Women were allegedly sidelined after becoming pregnant, while two staff members used the n-word, according to the Journal. The WEF said at the time it had zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment and disputed the allegations in the newspaper report. Staff alleged that Schwab was inappropriate and made unwanted suggestive remarks, while one female staffer claimed he put his leg on her desk with his crotch in front of her face. She said Schwab told her he wished she was Hawaiian because hed like to see her in Hawaiian costume, which the WEF fiercely denied.

Others told the Wall Street Journal that attractive women were chosen to meet international delegates. There was a slang term for such encounters  white on blue action  a reference to the different coloured lanyards worn at the conference by officials and famous guests. Former staff at the non-profit were reported to have set up a WhatsApp group called WEFugees in which they shared horror stories about their experiences. A former staffer told the Journal: We promote inclusion and improving the state of the world and womens issues but do the opposite. Schwab complained bitterly about the Journals reporting but was determined to craft a graceful, prolonged exit from the WEF, which generates about $US500 million a year.

The WEFs founding bylaws state the Founder himself designates his successor, and stipulates he or at least one member of his immediate family is on the board of trustees. Schwabs plan was to move to a role as non-executive chairman and retire in stages, picking his successor. But then whistleblowers sent a letter in an email to WEF trustees, including luminaries such Al Gore, the former US vice-president, and cellist Yo Yo Maa. It accused Schwab and his wife, Hilde, of misusing WEF funds. It said Schwab had used company funds to pay for private massages, and he had redirected WEF resources and staff in a vainglorious bid to get nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This was not a WEF initiative, but a self-driven effort disguised as organisational work, the letter said.

It complained about Hilde Schwabs spending of about $US50 million on Villa Mundi, a mansion next to WEF headquarters overlooking Lake Geneva. It alleged she controlled access to the property and that one entire floor was reserved for the couples exclusive use, according to the Wall Street Journal. They denied the allegations. Actor Idris Elba, Hilde Schwab, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, artist Maya Lin, singer Renee Fleming and World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab in 2023. Credit: AP In April this year, a WEF audit committee recommended opening an independent investigation into the new allegations. Schwab went on the attack. He wrote a furious email to the committee demanding the probe be dropped within 24 hours and threatened to file a criminal complaint.

The gamble backfired. After the WEF board insisted the investigation had to go ahead, Schwab resigned 48 hours after sending his email. He insisted his legacy was well established, adding he had received the highest national distinction from numerous countries for my efforts in helping economic developments, reconciliation efforts and even avoiding a war. After a two-hour emergency meeting of trustees, Schwabs ouster was announced on April 21. He was swiftly replaced by Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the WEFs vice-chairman and former Nestle CEO. A law-firm led independent investigation began in accordance with Swiss regulations.

Last Sunday, some preliminary findings were published in Switzerlands SonntagsZeitung newspaper. Law firm Homburger has looked into some 836,000 in expenses submitted by Schwab and his wife which, it was reported, were not sufficiently linked to WEF activities. Schwab sent suggestive emails and had embarrassing interactions with younger WEF staff, according to the leaked findings. The newspaper revealed he had told staff that the UK must not see any improvement in the WEFs annual Global Competitiveness Report, which ranks countries on productivity. Otherwise it would be exploited by the Brexit camp, he wrote.

In the 2017/2018 report, the UKs ranking improved from seventh to fourth after a change in methodology. Loading The final report published in 2017  a year after the Brexit referendum  showed the UK had dropped one place to eighth. It was not the only example of political manipulation of research, according to the newspaper. Schwab has denied all the allegations.
Claire Coulstock, a lecturer in dermal science at Victoria University, says while tattoo removal technology has become more sophisticated, there are still limitations. Especially with certain skin types that are more naturally pigmented. Limitations in wavelengths also mean that not all tattoos  particularly those with thicker lines  can be entirely eliminated. Other factors, including a tattoos age and colours used, affect how long it takes to remove ink, but it can take anywhere from three to 20 sessions, and several years, for one tattoo to fade completely. Not just the exs name Kelly Swift, owner of Swift Tattoo Removal in Melbourne, and laser technician Megan Jackson. Credit: Simon Schluter

Kelly Swift, owner of Swift Tattoo Removal in Melbourne, has been working in the industry for more than a decade. During this time, shes witnessed the increasing popularity of tattoo removal, which she says has risen in lockstep with the growing ubiquity of tattoos. Loading In 2023, 30 per cent of Australians had tattoos, compared with 20 per cent in 2018, while about one in four people expressed regret over a tattoo, with almost half of that cohort going on to have one removed or camouflaged. Swift says clients motivations for tattoo removal vary, but more people are opting for removal when they find a tattoo no longer aligns with their aesthetic, rather than removing a tattoo that may prohibit employment opportunities or that are tied to a bad memory. Its not so much the exs name any more. People just want a new style, she says.

Jess Buxton, owner of Buxton Tattoo Removal in Sydneys inner west, says evolving trends are key drivers of business. In the 90s, heavy tribal tattoos were on trend. A lot of people are removing those now. A lot of cultural appropriation stuff as well, like Polynesian sleeves, with people not realising that they mean things. Her clinic, which is housed inside a tattoo studio like Swifts, also helps clients fade tattoos to then be covered over. In the 90s, heavy tribal tattoos were on trend. A lot of people are removing those now. Jess Buxton, owner of Buxton Tattoo Removal in Sydney Swift thinks the practices increased accessibility may also have made people more lax about getting a tattoo in the first place.

I get messages from people the day after they get their tattoo, and theyre like, I made a mistake, she says. Loading Swift highlights the tattoo removal process can be time-intensive and expensive. Jason Erwin, Australian director of operations for global tattoo removal chain Removery, sees the procedures rising popularity as part of the rise in cosmetic treatments. Its normalising it as part of any beauty treatment, he says. Laser hair removal has been on the market for a good 20 years, and tattoo removal has only been on the market for around nine years.

Weve really seen an exponential increase in treatments, over the past three years in particular. He agrees that laser tattoo removal can be a long process. Many prospective clients  particularly those hoping to erase an exs name or remove a tattoo before a wedding  expect fast results. Its not a quick, easy fix, he says. Global tattoo removal chain Removery says its seen 35 per cent growth in treatments in the past year. Credit: Removery

Life-changing But while more people are opting to erase ink that simply doesnt suit them any more, for some, removing a tattoo can be genuinely life-changing. Loading In 2019, Amanda McKinnon founded Fresh Start, a program that offers free tattoo removal to those who arent able to access or pay for it. Eligibility criteria include survivors of domestic violence or immigration detention who may have been forcibly tattooed, those recently released from incarceration looking for a fresh start, ex-gang or bikie members and those with offensive or hyper-visible tattoos. I had a number of clients who disclosed fairly traumatic circumstances around why they got the tattoo, but it was just unachievable for them to access tattoo removal because of the pricing, says McKinnon, who has been working in the industry for more than a decade through her practice, LaserTat, in Adelaide.

One of the first of its kind in Australia, McKinnons studio last year partnered with tattoo removal studios in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to deliver the program nationwide. An unregulated industry There is no national regulatory framework to oversee tattoo removal operators in Australia, with regulations varying state by state. Tattoo removal operators in Queensland, for example, require a licence to practice, whereas those in NSW and Victoria do not. Anyone can buy a machine online and start messing people up, says Swift, who advises people to choose a clinic using medical grade machines, with good before and after photos, and to avoid those who promise results in a short period of time. How do regulations for laser tattoo removal vary state by state in Australia? Tattoo removal operators in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania require a license to practise, as well as a minimum number of supervised hours and education in infection control, laser safety and tattoo removal. Those in Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and the Northern Territory do not require a license but must have a laser certificate, which can be obtained online in a matter of days.
You know what they say: the higher the hair, the closer to god. The biannual Paris couture shows never disappoint in terms of pushing the boundaries on both the fashion and beauty front. The cost of the outfits on show can reach the hundreds of thousands but, fear not, there is plenty to feast on from a beauty and hair perspective thats easily achievable at home, especially for those willing to push the boat out a little.

Hunter Schafers slicked-back bun highlighted her bold gilded jewellery at a recent Schiaparelli haute couture show. Credit: Getty Images

Schiaparelli began Julys Haute Couture Week with creative director Daniel Roseberry revealing his new view for the house  heavily referencing the mid-20th century  with super-sleek hair pulled tightly back from the face and not a stray strand in sight, plus the occasional bun. It was also a popular look for front-row guests, including Josephine Japy, Gessica Kayane and Hunter Schafer, whose slick bun showed off her gilded-flower choker.

To get this look, try a good-quality hair gel such as Crown Affairs The Finishing Gel ($73) and a good boar-bristle brush, like Drybar Flat Mate Boar Bristle Brush ($138) to tame every hair into submission.

The simplicity of the hair at Schiaparelli was a perfect foil to the intensity of the make-up: black and red lips and dewy skin, created by make-up supremo Pat McGrath. To achieve the pairing of luminous skin with bold, powerful lips, McGrath says she used her own brands PermaGel Eye Pencil in Xtreme Black ($50) and Legendary Lip Liner in Elson ($50).
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This story is part of the July 26 edition of Good Weekend. See all 15 stories .

Summer. A group of us trudges down the steep, narrow path to Wattamolla Beach in Sydneys Royal National Park  a haunt we loved in our 20s. Those of us without kids arrive early, claiming a patch of shade. Eventually, we spot the new parents making their way down, laden with bags like Bedouins, a grandparent trailing behind.

The new mum  whose husband Ive known since we were 13  has that post-pregnancy glow. Her limbs are soft, supple. Beneath a pink sunflower hat, the baby is perfection. A miniature of her father. The grandmother asks when Im planning to start a family. As a married woman in my mid-30s, its a frequently asked question. I hedge, joking (though not really) that we already have a cat. She sighs, taps an imaginary watch, and retreats to the shade.

Motherhood has been on my mind for a long time. Partly because of my age. My mother gave birth to me at 33, and when I crossed that line two years ago, something in me started ticking. Audibly. I find myself drawn to fictional women like Janina Duszejko in Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, Aunt March in Little Women and Lily Briscoe in To The Lighthouse: childless, older (or old souls), and unapologetically themselves. Women who no longer care what people think. My Instagram feed is filled with #childfree women celebrating their choice.

These days, my mum raises the topic only after weve settled into a good rhythm. Over coffee once, I told my husband, It feels like I have a baby-shaped hole inside me, and the only thing I can do is either have a child or make something child-sized. And I meant it.

He reassured me its my choice whether or not we have kids. But what I heard was: Its your choice whether or not I get to be a father. Hes the kind of person who, without blinking, can say, Were too selfish to have children, if his dad brings it up.

As an artist, I tap into something maternal when I paint. Ive even joked that I go through labour  metaphorically  bringing a work to term. But Im not deluded. I know that raising a child is different. And the fear sits heavy: that I cant be both a mother and an artist.

One American artist told me she had to put her art aside when her kids were little. She didnt have the energy. But eventually, she returned to her work: smaller pieces, baby steps. An Australian artist said the same. One friend only started making art after having children. I admire these women deeply. But Im not sure Im cut from the same cloth.
Anthony Albanese has made it clear he will not be rushed into recognising Palestinian statehood, despite energetic lobbying by French President Emmanuel Macron and rising demands from the Labor Partys rank-and-file.

Albanese may have been re-elected with a thumping majority in May, but he is indicating he will continue to exercise a cautious approach to foreign policy, even if this frustrates party loyalists.

Albanese co-founded the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group in the late 1990s, and has consistently argued that an independent Palestinian state needs to sit alongside Israel. Within Labor, Albaneses left faction led the push for recognition of Palestine to be inserted into the partys policy platform, a goal it achieved in 2021. He is increasingly aghast at the way Israel has conducted the conflict in Gaza, including restrictions on the delivery of aid to starving civilians.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is weighing up whether Australia will join France by recognising Palestine. Credit: Aresna Villanueva

Theres no doubt Albanese wants to recognise Palestine and intends to do so while he is prime minister. The question is one of timing, and how to ensure any intervention by Australia amounts to more than a controversial, yet ultimately tokenistic, gesture.
The Israeli military emphasises that combat operations have not ceased in Gaza against Hamas, and it asserted there is no starvation in the territory, where most of the population of over 2 million has been displaced into a shrinking area with little infrastructure. The majority of people rely on aid. Israel says it has let enough food into Gaza and accuses the United Nations of failing to distribute it. The United Nations says it is operating as effectively as possible under Israeli restrictions. Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy that reached Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday. Credit: AP Israel has also accused Hamas of stealing aid, however The New York Times reported on Sunday (AEST) that the Israeli military had never found any proof of it systemically doing so. The Times quoted two senior Israeli military officials and two other Israelis involved in the matter. Witness accounts from Gaza have been grim. Some health workers are so weakened by hunger that they put themselves on IV drips to keep treating the badly malnourished. Parents have shown their limp and emaciated children. Wounded men have described desperate dashes for aid under gunfire.

It wasnt clear what role the recently created and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation  meant as an alternate to the United Nations aid system  might play. GHF chair Johnnie Moore in a statement said the group stood ready to assist. Some aid leaders say the air drops will not be enough, however, to meet the needs of Gazas population and could prove dangerous. The head of UN Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa, Philippe Lazzarini, said air drops were expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians if they do not go to plan. Australians on seized vessel Meanwhile, an activist vessel on which two Australians were on board was also seized by Israeli forces off the coast of Gaza on Sunday morning (AEST). The Handala set off from Italy last week for Gaza with food and other humanitarian aid supplies but was violently intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters about forty nautical miles from Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said a statement.

At 11.43 Palestine time, the Occupation cut the cameras on board Handala and we have lost all communication with our ship, it said in a statement. The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized. The interception occurred in international waters outside Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, in violation of international maritime law. Israeli military personnel take control of the Handala. Credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition Livestreamed footage from the boat showed Israeli military personnel on board and crew members sitting down with their hands up. Australians Robert Martin and Tania Tan Safi are among the 21 human rights activists from 12 countries on the boat. Its seizure was confirmed by Israels foreign ministry, which said it had been intercepted to prevent it illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza. The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel, the foreign ministry said. All passengers are safe.

Safi posted on social media earlier on Sunday. Just in case this is my last post for a while, know that Im OK. Know that Palestinian children in Gaza are not, she said. Loading In a later video message, she said: Ive been abducted and taken against my will by the Israeli military. I appeal to everyone to put pressure on the Australian government to sanction Israel, to stop their participation in Israels war crimes, and to demand my release as well as the release of everyone aboard the Handala as soon as possible. Another ship on which Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was on board was stopped near Gaza last month and Thunberg was deported by Israel. The Handala was carrying aid including baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine.

At least 53 killed Israeli airstrikes and gunshots killed at least 53 people in Gaza overnight and into Saturday, most of them shot dead while seeking aid, according to Palestinian health officials and the local ambulance service. Deadly Israeli gunfire was reported twice close to the Zikim crossing with Israel in the north. In the first incident, at least a dozen people waiting for aid trucks were killed, said staff at Shifa hospital, where bodies were taken. Israels military said it fired warning shots to distance a crowd in response to an immediate threat. Palestinians mourn during the funeral of people who were killed while trying to reach aid trucks entering northern Gaza through the Zikim crossing with Israel. Credit: AP A witness, Sherif Abu Aisha, said people started running when they saw a light that they thought was from aid trucks, but as they got close, they realised it was Israels tanks. Thats when the army started firing, he told The Associated Press. He said his uncle was among those killed.

We went because there is no food ... and nothing was distributed, he said. On Saturday evening, Israeli forces killed at least 11 people and wounded 120 others when they fired towards crowds who tried to get food from an entering UN convoy, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa hospital, told the AP. We are expecting the numbers to surge in the next few hours, he said. There was no immediate military comment. AP video showed a group of weary Palestinian men carrying a body along with sacks of flour. They said he was hit by a truck but had no details. You die to fetch some food for your children, said one man, Fayez Abu Riyala, thin and sweating. In the southern city of Khan Younis, Israeli forces shot dead at least nine people trying to get aid entering through the Morag corridor, according to the hospitals morgue records. There was no immediate military comment.

Loading Elsewhere, those killed in strikes included four people in an apartment building in Gaza City and at least eight, including four children, in the crowded tent camp of Muwasi in Khan Younis, hospitals said. Turning to airdrops The airdrops were requested by neighbouring Jordan, and a Jordanian official said they mainly will drop food and milk formula. The United Arab Emirates said airdrops would start immediately. Britain said it plans to work with partners to airdrop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance. While Israels army has said it allows aid into the enclave with no limit on the trucks that can enter, the UN says it is hampered by military restrictions on its movements and criminal looting. The Hamas-run police had provided security for aid delivery, but it has been unable to operate after being targeted by airstrikes.

Israel on Saturday said more than 250 trucks carrying aid from the UN and other organisations entered Gaza this week. About 600 trucks entered per day during the latest ceasefire that Israel ended in March. Israel faces growing international pressure. More than two dozen Western-aligned countries and over 100 charity and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, harshly criticising Israels blockade and a new aid delivery model it has rolled out. More than 1000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food, mostly near the new aid sites run by the GHF, an American contractor, the UN human rights office says. The charities and rights groups said their own staff struggled to get enough food. Inside Gaza, children with no preexisting conditions have begun to starve to death.

We only want enough food to end our hunger, said Wael Shaaban at a charity kitchen in Gaza City as he tried to feed his family of six. Stalled ceasefire talks Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas were at a standstill after the US and Israel recalled negotiating teams on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday his government was considering alternative options to talks. A Hamas official, however, said negotiations were expected to resume next week and called the delegations recall a pressure tactic. Egypt and Qatar, which mediate alongside the United States, said talks would resume but did not say when.
I like the idea of the traditional saints, the early Christian teachers, whose stories have survived through the ages. We can make of these stories what we will but they all contain essential elements. They remind us about such things as faith, resilience and bravery in the face of danger  you know, the kind of things that are essential in our everyday lives.

St Attracta was one such saint and she is one that had many associations with the Ox Mountains and its surrounding parishes. Her story varies from one source to another but common to them all is her kindness and her ability to overcome evil. The Ox Mountain may not have a patron saint or a guiding goddess, but if we were having an election, St Attracta would get my vote.

Glenavoo

My first interest of St Attractra stems from a holy well that is dedicated to her. The well is situated in the townland of Glenavoo, (also Glenawoo, Gleann na bhfuath, valley of the monster), near Lough Talt. I have visited the well, in the heart of the mountains, and it does indeed exude energy and mystery. Local people have held this site in high esteem for generations and particular devotions took place there each year on the last Sunday in July. St Attractas feast day, incidentally, is on August 11. I checked the National Folklore Collection from 1938 to see what people knew about the saint and her well in the past. The following is an anonymous contribution from Cloonacool NS.

Saint Attractas holy well is the nearest well to this parish. It is in the parish of Kilmactigue. It is on the side of a hill and it is always the same for it never dries up or over flows. A large ash tree overhangs it just like an umbrella. The story goes that there was a serpent in this part of the parish and at night he used to come along the roads and carry away men and women that were coming from fairs and markets in Ballina or Sligo and devour them under the trees.

House of Hospitality

But who was Attracta? Was there such a person, and if so, when and where did she actually live, and how did her story survive to this day? Like all the traditional saints, her life story is a mixture of the ordinary and the extraordinary, supposition and fantasy.

Attracta, described as a hermitess and co-worker with St Patrick, was also known as Araght or Taraghta. She is the patron saint of the parishes of Locha Techet (Lough Gara) and Tourlestrane (Kilmactigue) in Co Sligo. She is reputed to have been a daughter of a noble Irish family. Her father opposed her religious vocation but Attracta went to St Patrick at Coolavin, near Monasteraden in Co Sligo, and made her vows to him. St Patrick is said to have founded a nunnery there and appointed Attracta its first abbess. Her convent had a reputation for hospitality and charity to the poor.

This convent was situated in what is now the old cemetery at Killaraght, between Monasteraden and Boyle in the parish of Gurteen. There are historical references to it from the 5th century up as far as 1594. Additionally, and this could be a duplication, it is said that Attracta founded a hospice at Killaraght. Legend has it she also performed miracles, while living at Drum, near Boyle, where her brother Conal had established a church at a place now called Drumconnell.

Another account states that Conal, who is also described as her half-brother, refused to let her settle near him because he had resolved to avoid the company of women. She, in turn, is said to have cursed him for this reproach. A neat potted history of Attracta is provided by St Attractas Senior NS from Meadowbrook in Dundrum near Dublin  there must be an Achonry connection there.

St Attracta was born in Sligo around the year 420 A.D. At the age of 16, she decided to dedicate her life to God and joined St Patricks workers. She soon became the abbess of a convent which she founded beside Lough Gara.

Attracta had a special concern and care for those who travelled long journeys. She wanted to found a place where travellers from all over could find warm hospitality. In those days there were no paved road and travelling was difficult. She established a house of hospitality or Bruigheen in Killaraght. We know that this house was used for hospitality for over 1,000 years. She was a very warm and holy woman.

Stained glass

I was intrigued a few years ago to see a request on a local social media forum from a woman who was doing a research project on St Attracta. Annemarie Latour is a Dutch freelance writer and folklorist, who has been fascinated by the lives of early Irish saints ever since she heard Professor Padraig O Riain lecture on the subject at University College Cork in the 1990s.

Annemarie was looking for images of stained-glass windows from any churches in the region who might have such artwork dedicated to the saint. I offered to help and headed off one evening to find as many as I could. I quickly discovered there were quite a few such back-lit displays, one more beautiful than the next, in the churches in and around the Ox Mountains. When planning this piece, I got back to Annemarie to ask for her thoughts on St Attracta. She duly obliged.

Attracta is one of the early Irish female saints whose lives, history and folklore I am currently researching. I discovered that, despite changing religiosity in Ireland, Attractas legacy is still present in the Diocese of Achonry and even beyond its borders. Kneeling stones, holy wells and stained-glass windows, to name but a few, have survived in relatively large numbers. They remind us of Attractas story, which has charity and hospitality at its core - themes ever so relevant to todays political and social landscape.

Sometimes, I came upon unexpected archaeological finds, such as a kneeling stone, known as Gluinaraght, on which Attracta had supposedly knelt so often that her knees had left depressions in stone. It appeared that the kneeling stone, which lies within a small U-shaped structure known as Attractas House, is hidden in woodland not far from Boyle. Few people know of its existence, but one local man recognised the kneeling stone from an old, rather primitive drawing made in 1933.

St Attracta's Well at Glenavoo has been a popular pilgrimage site for generations. Picture: Pat McCarrick

Great powers

During the penal times there were no resident bishops and it was the people themselves who kept the faith through pilgrimages and pattern days at holy wells. The time of year is approaching when St Attracta comes into her own. Whether you choose the last Sunday in July or her feast day of August 11, there is a connection to be made with this warm and holy woman. The conclusion of the 1938 folklore contribution referenced earlier provides more information about her great powers. Interestingly, it also gives details of the prayers to be included in the ritual, or pattern, when visiting her holy well at Glenavoo. Maybe this could be the year to reinvoke her great powers.

The people heard of Saint Attractas great powers and sent for her. She came and found the reptile under the trees and killed him. The next morning when the people came, they found the serpent killed and the holy well pumping up beside him. From the eleventh of August until the end of the month, any people suffering from any disease go there on three different days. The prayers said are three rosaries. One is to be said kneeling down, one walking round the well three times and the last one, kneeling down by the well. Then you drink three cups of water.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Recognition with an elite European protected status has been a game-changer for the Armagh Bramley apple, a grower of the speciality has said.

Armagh Bramleys are one of just three products from the North  along with Comber new potatoes and Lough Neagh eels  to be recognised by the European Unions protected geographical indications (PGI) scheme.

It means that only Bramley apples grown, picked and packed within the Armagh area can carry that name, similar to how Champagne must come from the Champagne region of France, or Parma ham from Italys Parma province.

The pride of the Orchard County obtained the status in 2012 and since then has given its growers a real edge.

Armagh Bramley apples growing at the orchards at Ardress in Co Armagh (Philip Magowan/PA)

Armagh traces its relationship with apples back to evidence of them growing close to the historic Navan Fort as far back as 1000 BC.

The real turning point came in 1884 when Henry Joseph Nicholson of Crannagael House returned from Nottingham with 60 Bramley seedlings.

They thrived in the local soil, laying the foundation for what is now more than 4,000 acres of thriving orchards across the region, and the countys nickname.

This legacy is celebrated at Armaghs annual food and cider weekend every September putting the Bramley in the spotlight.

Greg MacNeice, a fifth-generation apple grower and founder of Mac Ivors Cider, said while Bramley apples have always been a local favourite, PGI status boosted demand.

The orchards have been here at Ardress since 1855 and my father, Sammy, still helps  just like his father did. Apples are part of who we are, he said.

He explained that Armagh has got the right soil, the right slopes, a mild, damp climate and cooler temperatures that slow things down, adding that helps the apples develop that sharp flavour and firm texture people love.

Its not just the conditions though  its the generations of knowledge, care and pride that go into every crop, he said.

PGI status has helped protect the heritage of our apple and given us a real edge in the market.

If its not grown in Armagh, its not a true Armagh Bramley. That means consumers are guaranteed something authentic  fruit with a unique taste and texture you cant find anywhere else. Its also boosted demand  both at home and abroad  for a product that is trusted, traceable and rooted in place.

Its one of only three products in Northern Ireland with PGI status and one of just a few across the island of Ireland. Thats something were incredibly proud of as a region.

The apples also sparked a craft cider industry in Armagh.

Mr MacNeice said his family grow and press a blend of Armagh Bramley alongside bittersweet cider apples like Michelin, Dabinett and Harry Masters Jersey, as well as dessert apples such as Worcester Pearmain and Golden Delicious.

They have also started using foliar nutrition to feed their trees more precisely, keeping bees safe during blossom season, and are encouraging biodiversity by planting native trees and wildflowers throughout the orchards.

The Armagh Bramley apple continues to shape the landscape and identity of the region, offering visitors a unique lens through which to explore its agricultural heritage.

This years food and cider weekend, including events from tastings and guided food trails to orchard tours, will take place from September 4th to 7th.

A highlight of the weekend is an evening at Crannagael House, where local chefs from 4 Vicars create a menu paired with Mac Ivors cider and accompanied by insights from cider expert Gabe Cook.
Preferred options for Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) schemes for two north Mayo schools have been presented to councillors in the Ballina Municipal District.

SRTS schemes are designed to encourage as many pupils and students as possible in primary and post-primary schools to use active travel to get to and from school.

Carn National School in Moygownagh and Scoil Iosa in Ballina are two of the schools that were successful in applying for the programme. Tobin Engineers gave a presentation at last week's meeting of Ballina Municipal District outlining plans for the two schools, which both have currently just completed Phase 2 (concept and preferred option) of the scheme.

Jessica Lima, from Tobin Engineers, told the meeting that a number of existing constraints have been identified at Carn NS, associated with footpaths, nearby roads and drop-off parking during school times. The proposed changes are designed to improve safety and these include a 30kmh speed limit with warning signage, raised zebra and toucan crossings, widening of footpaths and road narrowing on the Knocknashammer Road. Bollards will be installed to prevent parking in the area and Park and Stride locations will be established.

Head of Active Travel with Mayo County Council Cathy Mellett added that the nearby Moygownagh GAA Club will be accommodated in the scheme with the extension of a safe footpath.

Ms Lima said they expect construction to be complete by Summer 2026 for the Carn scheme.

In relation to Scoil Iosa, Ms Lima said the existing constraints include a lack of priority for pedestrians and cyclists on McDermott Street in addition to dangerous and illegal parking. The proposed changes include infrastructure improvements for crossings and footpaths, new 30kmh speed limits close to Scoil Iosa and on the approach from McDermott Street, footpath widening and pa dedicated pedestrian path. Road markings will also be used to demarcate the school zone with a Park and Stride location to be created.

Land will have to be acquired from the nearby St Patricks Church for the scheme, which should be in place by Summer 2026.

Ms Mellett added that these works in Ballina will address a "gap in the footpath network" outside St Dymphnas School. She said they expect people to be skeptical of park and stride parking but SRTS is about encouraging behavioral changes as well as developing infrastructure.

The school is going to work with parents for behavioural change on parking. Where cars are gathering at the moment, they will no longer be able to when the scheme is complete, she said.

We will trial this in the meantime, close off this area and have people policing it.
Originally appeared on E! Online

Hannah Brown is trading a rose for a ring.

The Bachelor Nation alum tied the knot with her fiance Adam Woolard during a stunning wedding ceremony in Eze, France, on July 26.

For the occasion, Hannah's bridal look was nothing short of breathtaking, with the 30-year-old wearing a "Cheyan" Mira Zwillinger gown exclusively from Mark Ingram Atelier. To cap off her gorgeous ensemble, she opted for Jimmy Choo Staz Mesh Bow Pointed Pumps and her hair done in long, classic Hollywood waves.

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"I always knew I wanted to take up space on my wedding day," Hannah told People, "because there's so many times in life, especially as women, that we feel like we need to be smaller. On my wedding day, I didn't want to feel that at all. I feel like a princess, and I feel like that's exactly how you should feel on your wedding day."

And Adam looked quite dapper himself for the big day. Indeed, the 34-year-old wore a classic black tuxedo. Completing his 'fit, the fashion sales director donned a gold watch and a white rose boutonniere.

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The couple, in planning their wedding on the coast of France, made sure every detail was intentional.

"We wanted something really timeless and classic, and really just the celebration of our love with our friends and family," Hannah added to People. "We want our community to feel loved and appreciated and we want to pour into them, but we also have to make sure the day's about us and we feel connected."

Instagram

Leading up to their nuptials, Hannah made sure to keep her fans up to date on all the proceedingsincluding the moment they obtained their marriage license.

In a photo shared to Instagram July 11, the reality TV personalitywearing a matching bright red workout set and white sneakersheld up the couple's notarized marriage license, which they obtained in Davidson County, Tenn. Beside her, Adamrocking white shorts and a warm grey T-shirtwrapped an arm around her waist as he smiled for the camera.

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Captioning the sweet shot, Hannah wrote, Final countdown!

Two weeks later, the Dancing With the Stars alum posted a video of her and Adam preparing to fly to France.

About to board the flight that takes us to the start of forever, she wrote over a July 22 Instagram video of them toasting glasses of Champagne in the airport. Wedding week is here and my heart has never felt so sure.

Of course, the couple's countdown to walking down the aisle kicked off long before securing their marriage certificate. After all, the pair announced their engagement in 2023, two years after going public with their relationship.

Instagram/@hannahbrown

And throughout their love story, Hannah and Adam have been through several other big changes together, including making the decision to move from California to Nashville.

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For Adam, the decision to lay down roots in a new place with his partner felt "bittersweet."

"We kind of started our relationship here," he said of leaving Los Angeles in March 2023 Instagram Story, "and we got [our dog] Wally here when he was a puppy."

But Nashville felt right. As Hannah put it the video, the Southern city was an opportunity for "new beginnings."

For more celeb couples who said "I do" this year, keep reading.

Dom Natale & Lo Bosworth

The Hills alum announced she and the businessman tied the knot in a private Laguna Beach ceremony in July 2025on top of being four months pregnant with their first baby! "We wanted our wedding to meet the moment of where were at right now, the 38-year-old explained in an interview with People at the time. "Before starting our fertility journey we thought about a big, New York City wedding. Once our family plans got underway however, we changed course to something we knew would be perfect if I was lucky enough to get pregnant: an intimate wedding with our closest family members enjoyed at home.





Hannah Brown & Adam Woolard

The Bachelor Nation alum wed her love in an elegant ceremony on the cosat of France July 26.





Chrishell Stause & G-Flip

The reality star and drummer tied the knotagainin a medieval-themed ceremony in Los Angeles July 26, one complete with knights and swords.





Eve Jobs & Harry Charles

The daughter of Steve Jobs and the Olympian married in a lavish, star-studded wedding in the English countryside on July 26.

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Madeline Brewer & Jack Thompson-Roylance

The You actress and the film producer tied the knot on July 12 in the English countryside. The couple said their vows in a stunning outdoor ceremony just 20 minutes from Jack's hometown. Knowing where Jacks from and knowing what the southwest of England looks like, the actress said in her BRIDES special issue published on July 24, I would have wanted to get married there no matter what.





Charli XCX & George Daniel

The "Apple" singer, whose real name is Charlotte Emma Aitchison, tied the knot with The 1975 drummer during an intimate ceremony at Londons Hackney Town Hall on July 19. While the Party 4 U singer donned an off-the-shoulder Vivienne Westwood wedding dress with a corseted bodice and cinched waist, the record producer sported a classic black suit with a white boutonniere to match her bouquet.





Josh Lucas & Brianna Ruffalo

The Yellowstone star and the ABC7 Los Angeles Meteorologist tied the knot on July 18 during a picturesque ceremony in Vatican City. Mr. and Mrs., Brianna wrote on Instagram July 18 alongside several black-and-white photos from the ceremony. Incredibly blessed to receive this sacrament together inside the heart of the Catholic Church and holy city.





Madeleine White & Andrew Fedyk

The TikToker tied the knot with the DJ at a July 12 ceremony in Greece while wearing a Viktor & Rolf wedding gown she stumbled upon on her FYP three years ago. While her reception and after-party looks were also outsourced to other designers, Madeleineknown for her fashion DIY videosdid make her bridesmaids' outfits.

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Mel B

The Spice Girls star wed her boyfriend of six years, hairstylist Rory McPhee, in London July 5. For the singer, Rorywho, growing up, she only knew as her cousins best friend before they reconnected in 2017changed her outlook on love. I believe in love and clearly the other two marriages turned out to be not love, from their angle, she told People in March 2024. So I feel like Ive really missed out, and now Ive got this opportunity to be properly in love with a really good guy who I know loves me for me, whos known me before I was a Spice Girl, why wouldnt I do that?





Allison Williams & Alexander Dreymon

The couplewho met on the set of Horizon Line in 2019tied the knot in a private ceremony in June as confirmed by the Girls alum, who casually referred to Alexander as her husband during an interview with The Guardian. In 2022, the German actor, who shares son Arlo with Allison, announced their engagement while celebrating her horror film M3GAN. "I'm so proud of my gorgeous fiance," he captioned a Decemeber 2022 Instagram post. "Congratulations to everybody who worked so hard on what will likely be a new cult hit."





Jeff Bezos & Lauren Sanchez Bezos





Jordan Love & Ronika Stone

In late June, the Green Bay Packers quarterback and the professional volleyball player tied the knot at a California ceremony, where they treated guests to slices from Pizza Hut. As Jordon quipped on his Intagram, "The Loves celebrating OUR love with the new @pizzahut Lovers Line pizza."

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Erin Krakow & Ben Rosenbaum

Though the When Calls the Heart costars are mostly private about their relationship, the pair announced in a joint Instagram post in June that they had tied the knot. Alongside pictures of their wedding day, the Hallmark Channel stars simply wrote an infinity symbol in the caption.





Aaron Rodgers

In June, the NFL quarterback confirmed that he got married to a woman named Brittani. Its a wedding ring, Aaron told a reporter who congratulated him after the first Pittsburg Steelers practice. Thank you.





Michelle Young & Jack Leius

The Bachelorette alum and the sales consultant tied the knot on June 7 in a Minnesota ceremony. Its been a whirlwind of emotions, and our cheeks may get stuck from smiling so big, Michelle shared with People in an interview published June 12. So many fun moments and funny stories.





Jack Wagner & Michelle Wolf

The General Hospital star and the musician said "I do" in a private ceremony after four years of dating. We did it!!!!!! Michelle gushed on Instagram May 31. MARRIED in front of our little family!!

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Hailee Steinfeld & Josh Allen

On May 31, the Sinners actress married the Buffalo Bills quarterback in a stunning California ceremony after two years of dating.





Demi Lovato & Jutes

The "Cool for the Summer" singer wore a Vivienne Westwood wedding dress as she tied the knot with the musician on May 25 in California.





Zach Shallcross & Kaity Biggar

The Bachelor Nation couple married on May 23 at what Kaity called a "cute little chapel" in Texas. Added Zach on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, "We kept it very intimate. Very private."





Eric Murphy & Jasmin Lawrence

Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are officially in-laws! The Nutty Professor alum's son eloped with the Bad Boys star's daughter in early May. "Everybody was making their big wedding plans," Eddie explained on the May 29 episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show, "and then they decided they wanted to do something quiet with just the two of them."

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Cara Santana & Shannon Leto

The Vida actress married the 30 Seconds to Mars drummer on May 5 in front of a small but star-studded group of friends and family, including the groom's brother and bandmate Jared Leto. "We invited only 50 people to make it an intimate wedding," Cara told Vogue Mexico. "It was untraditional, highly personalized, and SO much fun!"





Ally Brooke & Will Bracey

The Fifth Harmony singer was more than worth during her May 3 wedding with the tour manager at Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.





Weston Cage Coppola & Jenifer Alexa Canter

The son of Nicolas Cage married his longtime friend in at The London West Hollywood in Beverly Hills on April 25. Following their nuptials, Weston wrote on Instagram, "I am ineffably honored to announced that I am married to my twin flame just as the creator intended all along."





Ioan Gruffudd & Bianca Wallace

The Fantastic Four actor tied the knot with the actress during an intimate beachside ceremony. Mr & Mrs Gruffudd, the newlyweds captioned their joint Instagram post April 26, alongside a montage of their romantic nuptials. Marriage now, wedding later.



For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
ESPN Reporter Defends 'Controversial' Hulk Hogan Article originally appeared on The Spun.

An ESPN reporter is defending his "controversial" Hulk Hogan article in the wake of the legendary wrestler's passing.

Hogan, 71, died on Thursday. He reportedly suffered a cardiac event at his home in Clearwater, Florida. Hogan had been battling health issues in recent years.

The legendary wrestling star, one of the most important in the sport's history, had a troubled past. Roughly 20 years ago, he was caught using the N-word on camera. He ultimately apologized, though many never forgave him.

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ESPN's Andscape ran an article following Hogan's death, suggesting that racism was his ultimate legacy, rather than wrestling success.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 18: Professional entertainer and wrestler Hulk Hogan rips his shirt as he speaks on stage on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)Leon Neal/Getty Images

David Dennis Jr., an ESPN reporter, defended his article, which was criticized by some and praised by others.

"Hulk Hogan admitted that he is a racist. He once told his son he was scared Karma would bring them back as Black men. When you are a racist that is your legacy above all else. Its not complicated. This is what I wrote," he wrote.

From the story:

As the centerpiece to Vince McMahons World Wrestling Federation, Hogan became a household name and the driving force behind pro wrestling breaking into the mainstream. Theres a world in which Hogans obituaries end at his wrestling accolades. But this wont. Because Hulk Hogan is a self-admitted racist who was caught on tape using the N-word freely on multiple occasions and also dreading the idea that his sons arrest could mean that the two could be reincarnated as Black men. When that is part of your legacy, it becomes singularly defining. As a result, Hulk Hogan died being known a racist who also became famous as a professional wrestler. He only has himself to blame for that.

Hulk Hogan admitted that he is a racist. He once told his son he was scared Karma would bring them back as Black men. When you are a racist that is your legacy above all else.



Its not complicated. This is what I wrote. https://t.co/2gr7p52KgE  David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) July 24, 2025

Dennis Jr. is standing by his story, even if many people are criticizing it.

What do you make of the ESPN story in the wake of Hulk Hogan's passing?

ESPN Reporter Defends 'Controversial' Hulk Hogan Article first appeared on The Spun on Jul 27, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
For just a moment  and despite the direction to the contrary  Lyn Cramer couldn't help but put her hand on her heart, smile affectionately and sigh deeply as Dallas Lish stepped into the rehearsal space and drawled out the opening refrain of "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin."

Playing the good-humored yet no-nonsense Aunt Eller, the venerable central Oklahoma performer quickly put on an indifferent air, steadily working at an old-fashioned butter churn as Lish's Curly  cowboy boots on his feet and gunbelt on his waist  strolled around her, belting the familiar first song from the musical "Oklahoma!"

"OK, hold. With 'All the cattle are standing like statues,' that's when you're gonna first go up to the porch, and you're gonna kind of play around with Aunt Eller, who's not going to acknowledge you. She's working; you will not be charmed by this man," instructed Lyric Theatre Producing Artistic Director Michael Baron.

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In a break during the first day of rehearsals, Cramer said she could manage to act nonchalant as Aunt Eller, but as a longtime lover of musical theater, she couldn't help but be charmed by "Oklahoma!," especially with Lish singing the famed opening ballad.

Lyn Cramer Aunt Eller and Dallas Lish Curly runs lines July 15 during rehearsals of Lyric Theatre's "Oklahoma!" in Oklahoma City.

"I love his voice  but he knows that  and when he started singing, I just thought, 'This is where it is.' What's great about it is I get teary every time I hear it, because Curly always starts offstage. That's what I wait for: You hear, 'tinkle, tinkle, tinkle' and the intro, and you're just waiting. And then it's lovely ... and it's joyful," Cramer said.

"I'm really excited to work with these two human beings right here," she added, indicating Lish and Anette Barrios-Torres, who is playing Laurey.

"I'm really thrilled. It's already been fun, and all we did was 30 minutes."

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For the first time since 2015, Lyric Theatre is presenting the first show it ever performed during its inaugural season back in 1963: Rodgers & Hammersteins groundbreaking musical "Oklahoma!"

What can audiences expect from Lyric Theatre's new production of 'Oklahoma!' at the Civic Center?

For the third and final show of its summer season at Civic Center Music Hall, the state's official theater is again staging the official state production of the down-home show that bowed on Broadway in 1943 and is still considered one of the most influential musicals ever produced.

"It was an exciting day and a long time coming. It's been about 10 years since Lyric has done it, and I think everyone at the theater has been waiting to work on it again. The town is waiting for it. The state, there's a whole group of people that have moved to Oklahoma that haven't seen the show, and it just has a special place in people's hearts," Baron told The Oklahoman in a first-day interview behind the scenes at Lyric's Thelma Gaylord Academy in the Plaza District.

Directed by Baron and custom-created for Sooner State audiences, Lyric is performing its fresh, classic staging of "Oklahoma!" July 29-Aug. 3 at the Civic Center.

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For their first collaboration, the now-legendary creative duo Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) adapted Oklahoma Cherokee playwright Lynn Riggs' "Green Grow the Lilacs" into a spirited song-and-dance story set in Riggs' hometown of Claremore before statehood.

Along with Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin, "Oklahoma!" features the beloved numbers People Will Say Were in Love, I Caint Say No! and Oklahomas official state song.

The lively musical centers on Laurey (Barrio-Torres), a strong-willed farm girl, and Curly (Lish), a charming, headstrong cowboy. Their love story unfolds amid the comical adventures of their pals Ado Annie (Sierra Sikes) and Will Parker (Joel Stephens), as well as under the menacing shadow of Jud Fry (Jackson Barnes), the solitary hired hand who works on Laurey and Aunt Eller's (Cramer) farm.

"This is the first time I've ever done the show. I've done a bunch of other Rodgers & Hammerstein shows, but I had never really gotten a chance to examine this one in the same way. I think I kind of dismissed it because it looked so similar, on paper, to 'Carousel' and some of the other ones in the sense that it was petticoats and high singing and all of the things that I typically enjoy," said Barrios-Torres, who starred in Lyric's 2022 production of "Carousel" and 2023 staging of "The Sound of Music."

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"It didn't seem different to me until I actually read 'Green Grow the Lilacs,' and I was like, 'Oh, people never give these people enough credit, particularly the women in the show.'"

Although Laurey is often presented as a simple young farm girl in a love triangle between Curly and Jud, Barrios-Torres said there's more to her story.

"There's been so much that's presented her as a little ingenue, and she's in this beautiful dress. And she has to kind of fight for her life  and she learns it from her aunt. ... The way that she is has been a matter of survival, and she's learned it from the strongest woman she knows, her Aunt Eller," said the Oklahoma City University alumnus.

"Her relationship with Curly is really fascinating, because they've grown up together and had this kind of push and pull their whole lives. But she's not so willing to give up what she does have for the sake of just having a guy, the way that a lot of other girls in the town would."

Dallas Lish Curly runs lines July 15 during rehearsals of Lyric Theatre's "Oklahoma!"

Why is the musical 'Oklahoma!' more relevant than ever to Sooner State audiences?

While Barrios-Torres is a newcomer to "Oklahoma!," Lish is as comfortable in the more than 80-year-old show as Curly would be on horseback. His experience with the iconic musical dates back to 2010, when he performed it at the fabled Discoveryland amphitheater near Sand Springs.

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From 1978 to 2011, the outdoor venue staged "Oklahoma!" on a near nightly basis every summer. In 1993, Mary Rodgers, the daughter of Richard Rodgers, and William Hammerstein, the son of Oscar Hammerstein II, designated the amphitheater the "National Outdoor Home of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Oklahoma!'"

"It was a fantastic experience. It was very hot, because the show runs the middle of the summer. And we'd run into all sorts of things that, really, the audience doesn't know that we do, like skunks in the dressing room and snakes and all of that. But, I mean, hey, that is Oklahoma," Lish said.

"So, to be part of a production on the landscape of Oklahoma, doing this show 'Oklahoma!,' it was an incredible experience, and one that I'll never forget. We rode real horses, and the horses knew the show better than we did."

Costumes are stored July 15 during rehearsals of Lyric Theatre's "Oklahoma!"

Although Lyric's production will take place in the contemporary, air-conditioned confines of an indoor theater, Lish said he thinks "Oklahoma!" can still capture audiences' imaginations.

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"The magic starts with just the heart of the show: real people doing real things that are not necessarily easy, especially during that time period, and being able to come together," he said. "I think the magic is still the same, and I certainly feel it with the cast already, just that warmth and the willingness to put in the work into this show. And I think it's gonna read to the audience that's able to enjoy it."

For Baron, the themes of 'Oklahoma!' are needed now more than ever.

"The idea of people coming together with 'Pleny of heart and pleny of hope' is a great message to hear. And Rodgers & Hammerstein's score with the full orchestra is amazing," he said.

'Oklahoma!'

When: July 29-Aug. 3.

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Where: Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker.

Tickets: https://lyrictheatreokc.com/shows/oklahoma.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC's Lyric Theatre wrangles official state production of 'Oklahoma!'
Do you know where your coconut oil or coconut cream is coming from? In all likelihood, Indonesia  the world's top coconut-producing country. In 2023, Indonesia harvested approximately 17.97 million metric tons of coconuts (per Statista). This placed it ahead of the Philippines, which is also a major player in global coconut production.

And though it has an impressive output, much of Indonesia's coconut farming is still managed by small farmers. A 2020 study for the International Conference on Sustainable Plantation found that about 98% of farmers work on small plots, often using traditional practices and palm varieties. Farming is particularly common in the Riau, North Sulawesi, and East Java provinces  the country's top coconut-producing regions.

Coconut production in Indonesia supports the livelihoods of over 6.6 million farmers and contributes more than $1.3 billion in exports to their economy annually. Efforts are underway to modernize the sector further with more hybrid seed varieties and replanting programs, aiming to increase yields even further.

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Read more: 12 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Soup

The Many Uses Of Coconut In Indonesia

Overhead shot of a woman serving traditional Indonesian sweets in a market. - Mielphotos2008/Getty Images

From root to crown, every part of the coconut tree is valuable, and Indonesia has capitalized on this versatility. Coconut products are exported in a variety of forms  from coconut oil to coconut milk, from desiccated coconut to higher-value products like virgin coconut oil and coconut flour. In fact, the global demand for coconut-based foods and beverages  including coconut water, milk, and butter  is only rising, pushing Indonesia to ramp up and diversify exports.

Even coconut shells are processed and sold  transformed into charcoal or activated carbon. Coconut husk is used to make doormats, car seat fillers, coir yarn, and coco peat  valuable materials in both domestic and international markets. And of course, the ever-popular coconut water is used in drinks, vinegars, and sauces.

In Indonesia, coconuts are not just an agricultural commodity to be exported  they're also a central part of cuisine and cooking. Traditional dishes such as nasi uduk, a fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk, and gudeg, a sweet jackfruit stew simmered in coconut milk, are local favorites. Or the delicious otak-otak  grilled fish cakes wrapped in banana leaves  relies on coconut milk for its signature taste.

How To Enjoy Various Forms Of Coconut

Two bowls of coconut curry pho. - Bhofack2/Getty Images

Even if you're only using them in food, coconuts (be it the milk, the water, or the meat) are wildly versatile  excellent in dishes both sweet and savory. For sweets, coconut cream is ideal when whipped into a fluffy vegan dessert topping. It can also be used as a creamy milk substitute in almost any cake or cookie recipe. Alternatively, toast some coconut flakes in your air fryer to add texture and flavor to baked goods and desserts.

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For more savory dishes, coconut milk reigns supreme as a rich, creamy milk replacement. Coconut milk can be stirred into a Swiss chard coconut curry, dashed into a tomato bisque, or mixed into a pasta sauce. And don't forget crunchy coconut shrimp  a crispy, sweet-savory classic that uses the milk to bread fresh shrimp for frying.

Finally, if you want to enjoy your coconut straight up, consider drinking some coconut water. As a natural source of electrolytes, it's a great way to rehydrate and replenish minerals lost through sweat during high heat.

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Trader Joe's carries a wide variety of different types of coffee beans and ground coffee. Shoppers return to certain flavors and roasts again and again due to their quality, affordability, and ethical origins, which is why we named Trader Joe's private label coffee one of the 15 best grocery store brands. The beans the company uses are sourced from around the world, and it has partnered with a handful of roasters who expertly process whole beans into the different types of coffee roasts that you find on TJ's shelves.

No matter how you rank Trader Joe's coffee, you can trust that each variety is made from quality ingredients and is free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors. However, while their coffee packaging lists each roast's origin country, it doesn't provide much information about the specific farms that grow the beans. This could be because they are trying to maintain the privacy of their suppliers or because they want to have the freedom to source from the most competitively priced farm without needing to change their coffee packages' labels each time. So while we can't verify the exact location at which each variety of beans is grown, we can tell you the general regions from which some of their most popular roasts come.

Read more: 9 Instant Coffee Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

South America Offers Ideal Conditions For Coffee Growing

Bags of Trader Joe's coffee on store shelf - MDV Edwards/Shutterstock

About 80% of the whole beans imported into the United States come from Latin America, with 35% from Brazil and 27% from Colombia. One of the seven growing regions coffee fanatics should know about, South America's climate, altitude, and soil composition create the ideal conditions for growing coffee and contribute to the rich flavor profiles of the beans. Trader Joe's Colombia Supremo Coffee is from the Popayan region of Colombia, while the company is more vague about the origins of its Organic Colombia Anei Fair Trade Small Lot Coffee, only saying that it is from Colombia.

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The Trader Joe's French Roast Whole Bean Coffee is sourced from Peru and Brazil. While the flavor profile of Peruvian coffee is deep and complex, containing notes of fruits, florals, and chocolate, coffee beans from Brazil are popular for their mellow flavor and nutty taste. TJ's Fair Trade Organic Bolivian Blend is, you guessed it, from Bolivia. Coffee beans from Bolivia tend to have a unique flavor profile containing hints of fruit, nuts, and chocolate. There are two coffee roasts whose origins Trader Joe's keeps a little closer to the vest: Joe's Dark Ground Coffee and Joe Medium Roast Ground Coffee. Unlike its other roasts, the company isn't any more specific about the actual countries of origin, stating simply that they are from South America.

Where The Multi-Bean Blends And Other Roasts Originate From

Various packages of coffee on Trader Joe's shelves - Corinna Haselmayer/Shutterstock

The Joe Light Roast Ground Coffee is made from beans sourced from both Guatemala and Ethiopia. Coffee from Ethiopia has fruity and floral notes; however, it is further distinguished by hints of lemon and orange. Central American coffee beans have a bright flavor profile blending fruity, chocolatey, and floral tastes. Its Select Harvest Peaberry coffee contains a 50/50 blend of beans that the company sources from Mt. Meru in Tanzania and the Tolima region of Colombia. This rich, unique blend is earthy, chocolatey, and sweet with notes of cherry and vanilla.

Trader Joe's popular fairtrade and organic coffees are also blends of beans from different countries. Its Fairtrade Organic Five Country Blend is made from coffee beans that are sourced from Guatemala, Indonesia, Honduras, Mexico, and Peru. The company describes the blend as well-balanced, containing fruity, spicy, chocolatey, and nutty notes. Its Organic Fair Trade Wake Up blend includes coffee beans from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, and Peru, with a flavor profile the company categorizes as bright and sweet. Trader Joe's Organic Fair Trade Shade Grown Ethiopian Coffee is, unsurprisingly, made from coffee beans sourced from Ethiopia. The Organic Joe Medium Roast Ground Coffee, made from beans from Colombia, Honduras, and Indonesia, is mellow and balanced. TJ's Shade Grown Espresso Blend is a finely ground, smooth blend of beans from the Matagalpa region of Nicaragua, and is ideal for brewing a dark cup of coffee or a shot of espresso.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
CHRISTIAN COUNTY, Ky. (WKRN)  A woman was killed and a man was injured in a crash along Interstate 169 in Christian County Sunday afternoon.

Hopkinsville Fire/EMS announced shortly before 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, July 27 that crews were responding to a collision at mile marker 22 of the Pennyrile Parkway. Officials said initial radio traffic indicated there were three patients, with bystanders performing CPR on at least one of them.

Pedestrian killed in crash on Gallatin Pike in Madison

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According to WKDZ Radio, Kentucky State Police said a driver was heading northbound in Crofton when she stopped to fix a strap holding totes on the roof of the car  even though it was initially reported that she stopped to change her tire  and she was hit by another vehicle while she was outside of the car. The crash sent the second vehicle off the road.

The radio station said CPR was performed on the driver who was hit  identified as Krystin Bowling of Massillon, Ohio  but the Christian County Coroners Office pronounced her dead at the scene.

First responders brought the male passenger from Bowlings car to Jennie Stuart Health for treatment, WKDZ Radio reported.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Hopkinsville Fire/EMS announced shortly after 2:15 p.m. that the northbound side of the Pennyrile Parkway was closed at Exit 11. According to WKDZ Radio, the road was blocked until around 5 p.m. due to the crash reconstruction.

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No additional details have been released about this incident.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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A 22-year-old Claymont man has been charged with vehicular homicide and other charges after police said he struck and killed a bicyclist on July 26th in Milton.

Around 7:40 a.m., Tahrie Calloway was driving a Honda Accord north on Sand Hill Road, approaching Burton Road, according to Delaware State Police, as a 67-year-old Milford man was riding a bike north on the eastern edge of the road. A preliminary investigation found the front right of the Honda struck the bike, police said, causing the victim to be thrown onto the grass.

Calloway did not stop, police said, but he was found with the disabled Honda about a mile down the road. The damage to the Honda was consistent with a hit-and-run, according to police. Calloway was taken into custody without incident. He showed "multiple signs of impairment," including alcohol on his breath, police said, and impairment is suspected to be a factor in the incident.

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The bicyclist was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.

Police: Man found dead in Rehoboth Beach car ID'd; natural causes to blame for death, police say

Calloway was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death, tampering with physical evidence, driving under the influence and inattentive driving. He was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $18,101 cash bond.

Anyone who witnessed the incident should contact Sr. Cpl. J. Smith at 302-703-3267. Information may also be provided by sending a Facebook message to Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Bicyclist killed in Milton hit-and-run, Claymont man charged
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man has died after he was shot while pursuing the people accused of burglarizing his vehicle in Hermitage Saturday night, according to authorities.

Metro Police told News 2 gunfire was reported shortly after 11:15 p.m. Saturday in the area of Interstate 40 and Old Hickory Boulevard. Security guards at a nearby apartment complex then located a car on the I-40 East entrance ramp with multiple bullet holes and a man inside with a gunshot wound to the head.

Body found floating in Cumberland River

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According to Metro Police, the 26-year-old victimlater identified as Tyquan Jackson was at a sports bar on Old Hickory Boulevard when he was informed that his vehicle was being broken into. The suspects reportedly fled in a waiting vehicle, and the victim got into his Hyundai Kona and followed.

The suspects fired shots at the Hyundai as both vehicles entered the I-40 entrance ramp from Old Hickory Boulevard. Officials said at least one bullet pierced the windshield and hit the 26-year-old.

(Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN)

Jackson was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in extremely critical condition. On Monday, July 28, police announced that Jackson had died from his injuries.

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CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Officials said there is no suspect or vehicle description at this time. Homicide detectives are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward.

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This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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Michigan officials are seeking a terrorism charge in addition to 11 counts of assault with intent to murder against a man who allegedly stabbed nearly a dozen people Saturday at a Walmart in what they described as a seemingly random attack.

The suspect has been identified as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille, according to Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael D. Shea. Gille has a prior record of assault incidents and "controlled substance violations," Shea said Sunday at a news conference.

Officials reiterated that the stabbings appear to have been random. Still, prosecutors are pursuing a terrorism charge in addition to multiple counts of assault with intent to murder.

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Shea said authorities have not identified a clear motive. Under the FBIs definition, domestic terrorism refers to violent acts intended to further ideological goals rooted in domestic influences, such as political, religious, social, racial or environmental beliefs.

Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg noted that while the victims were the most affected, officials believe the attack was "in some ways done to affect the entire community."

"To change how maybe we operate on a daily basis," Moeggenberg said. "And so that is why we're looking at that terrorism charge."

Eleven people are being treated for stab wounds at Munson Medical Center, said Munson Healthcare spokesperson Catherine Dewey. Seven are in fair condition and four are in serious condition, she said.

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The victims range in age from 29 to 84.

The incident started near the checkout area in Walmart, Shea said. The suspect entered the store in Garfield Township with a folding knife, the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office said. He stabbed 11 people total and was acting alone, the office said.

The suspect, a Michigan resident, was captured in three minutes thanks to "citizen involvement," and was not injured. A sheriff's deputy was on the scene in minutes and took the suspect into custody.

"Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders," Walmart spokesperson Joe Pennington said.

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He said the company is working with law enforcement.

The FBI is responding to the incident and is available to "provide any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office," Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, said on X.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she is in touch with law enforcement "about the horrible news out of Traverse City."

"Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence," she said.

Traverse City is about 255 miles northwest of Detroit.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
An 18-year-old dancer is being remembered by her loved ones following her tragic death.

Layla-Maria Grubb was found dead in her home in Australia on Saturday, July 19, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Her family told the outlet that the teenager died just hours after she was sent home from a hospital following a suspected seizure.

"We all want to know what happened. We are searching for answers," Grubb's mother, Beth Ashton, told the Daily Telegraph.

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Grubb studied at the dance company Village Nation. The company's director, Briden Starr, described her as a "healthy, positive, focused girl," per the Daily Mail.

GoFundMe Grubb, shown dancing via her GoFundMe page. Grubb, shown dancing via her GoFundMe page.

In a heartfelt social media post shared after her daughter's death, Ashton wrote, "Our baby girl left us far too soon."

"Layla-Maria brought so much joy, light, and love into the lives of everyone who knew her. A gorgeous dancer, who moved through life with the same beauty and passion she brought to the stage," she continued. "Her laughter, kindness, and beautiful spirit will be deeply missed and forever remembered."



"Though her time with us was far too short, her impact will remain in our hearts, forever 18. ," the grieving mother concluded. "We kindly ask for your thoughts and prayers for our family during this incredibly difficult time."

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The JLC Dance Company  which Grubb belonged to in Western Australia  also shared a tribute. The organization said the teen left for Sydney in 2023 to pursue a professional career in dance.

"Layla was on a trajectory to stardom and had immense potential," the JLC Dance Company wrote on Facebook. "Layla was an amazing student, and friend, with a great personality and huge smile that lit up any room."

The group continued: "Layla was an amazing friend to a lot of our staff and students and this devastating news has affected the entire JLC family and everyone that knew Layla for no matter how long, or short.



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In a GoFundMe page, Grubb's friends said they wanted to "give Layla the send-off she truly deserves" and celebrate her life in a way "that reflects the incredible love and joy she brought into our lives."

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"Layla was pure light  an amazing dancer with an infectious laugh!" the friends continued, also remembering Grubb as "the funniest, goofiest, most vibrant girl you could ever meet, lighting up every room with her laughter and fun."



A funeral service for the dancer will be held in Sydney on Friday, Aug. 1.

Grubb's death investigation has been referred to the New South Wales coroner, local police told PEOPLE.

"Due to the early stage of the matter, we cannot provide further detail at this time," a spokesperson said.



Read the original article on People
A man has drowned at a popular Maryland beach just days after politicians asked the Trump administration to restore lifeguard staffing in the area, arguing in a letter that "lives are at risk."

The 18-year-old, whose identity has not been released, died while swimming at Assateague Island National Seashore in Berlin, Md., in the afternoon of July 24, according to a news release from the National Park Service (NPS), which manages the beach.

The man was swimming with one other person near the southern end of Assateagues Chincoteague Beach Parking Lot when they both began struggling in the water, the NPS said. At 4:15 p.m. local time, a relative ran down the beach to alert lifeguards to the struggling swimmers, who were well offshore, the federal agency said.

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Lifeguards responded, per NPS, and both of the swimmers were pulled from the water. One was successfully rescued while the 18-year-old was unconscious and unresponsive, and given CPR, the agency said.

Getty An overhead shot of Assateague Island An overhead shot of Assateague Island

He was then transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, the NPS said.

Although the area of the incident is 150 yards south of the lifeguarded zone of the seashore, on duty lifeguards responded quickly and assisted with the search, the NPS said in the news release.

The agency also said that the effort to help the swimmers included law enforcement with the park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, as well as contracted lifeguards and the State of Virginia. CBS News previously reported that no lifeguards are working at Assateague this summer due to federal budget cuts.

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The July 24 beach fatality comes just days after two Maryland senators wrote a joint letter urging President Donald Trumps administration to fill Assateague lifeguard roles left open due to federal budget cuts, per CBS News. (Almost 1,000 NPS employees were laid off earlier this year in an effort to cut costs, according to the outlet.)

We urge you to fill all vacant lifeguard positions at Assateague immediately to protect public safety at this popular beach destination, senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks wrote in the letter, per CBS News. The lawmakers also called the lack of lifeguards at the beach a public safety risk.

The popular spot, known for strong rip currents, receives over two million visitors each year, the senators letter said, per CBS News. Last year, lifeguards made a minimum of 24 rescues at Assateague, according to the lawmakers' plea.

It seems that reduced capacity at NPS from Trump administration funding and staff cuts, combined with the fact that hiring delays forced area lifeguards to look elsewhere for summer employment, have played a role in NPS's failure to put basic measures in place to keep visitors safe at Assateague, the senators wrote, per CBS News.

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Beachgoers at Assateague Island, Maryland in 2015 Beachgoers at Assateague Island, Maryland in 2015

Lives are at risk with no lifeguards at Assateague, the lawmakers continued. Rip currents, large waves and marine debris are significant hazards that can harm or endanger beachgoers."

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When asked about the staffing issue, the NPS told CBS News that lifeguard shortages are a "nationwide concern even outside of our public lands.

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"Many communities and cities across the country are experiencing a lifeguard shortage below ideal levels, the NPS said. Visitors have always had access to unguarded beaches and guarded beaches even after lifeguards leave for the day. We appreciate the public's understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

While announcing the July 24 death, the federal agency also issued a warning, stating: We ask our visitors to never venture too far from shore and pay attention to wind and currents which can transport you long distances quickly.

Read the original article on People
An 18-year-old male died July 24 at Assateague Island National Seashore while swimming near the Southern End of the Chincoteague Beach Parking Lot.

Here's what we know happened according to an Assateague Island National Seashore release.

Lifeguards went beyond their zone in rescue effort for two swimmers

At 4:15 p.m. July 24, a relative ran down the beach and told the lifeguards that two swimmers were struggling in the water, well offshore.

One was successfully rescued, the other was pulled from the water, unconscious, unresponsive, at which point CPR was immediately begun. The 18-year-old male was then transported via ambulance and pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.

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Although the area of the incident is 150 yards south of the lifeguarded zone of the seashore, on duty lifeguards responded quickly and assisted with the search. Park law enforcement assisted with the effort alongside U.S. Fish and Wildlife, contracted lifeguards and the state of Virginia.

JORDAN'S BOAT AT WMO: Michael Jordan's Catch 23 boat registered for 2025 White Marlin Open

OC SPECIAL ELECTION RESULTS: Ocean City, MD voters reject new short-term rental ordinance during special election

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: 18-year-old drowns at Va. part of Assateague Island National Seashore
A bus traveling from Lima to Perus Amazon region overturned on a highway in the Andes Mountains, leaving at least 18 people dead and 48 injured, authorities said Friday.

The double-decker bus belonging to the company Expreso Molina Lider Internacional went off the road and fell down a slope in the district of Palca, Junin region, Junins health director Clifor Curipaco told reporters. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.

Videos broadcast on local television showed the bus split in two, while firefighters and police tried to rescue the injured.
ST. LOUIS  Two people are dead and a third person is in critical condition following three shootings in just over two hours on Sunday.

Just before 1 p.m., police were called to the intersection of North Kingshighway and Bircher boulevards in the Mark Twain neighborhood for a crash. Officers found an 18-year-old girl dead at the scene with gunshot wounds. The other driver in the crash was transported to the hospital, and SLMPD does not believe the individual was involved with the shooting.

A preliminary investigation suggests that the shooting originally occurred in the 4200 block of Red Bud in the OFallon neighborhood. Its unclear what happened before and after the shooting.

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At 11:30 a.m., homicide detectives were summoned to the 4300 block of Randall Place in the College Hill neighborhood. An adult man was found shot to death at the scene.

Autopsy complete in 3-year-olds daycare death but wont be released

Another shooting took place around 11:30 a.m. in the 8400 block of Concord Place in the citys Baden neighborhood. The victim, an adult woman, was critically injured and taken to the hospital. The victim fired shots before the suspect returned fire, police said. The suspect and the victim appeared to know each other,

Investigations into each of these shootings are ongoing.

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Anyone with information 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.
WEATHERSFIELD, Ohio (WKBN)  Two people were taken to the hospital after a three-car crash Sunday morning in Weathersfield.

According to the Weathersfield Fire Departments social media, crews were dispatched just before 6 a.m. to the 3400 block of State Route 46. Three vehicles were involved in the crash, with two involved in a head-on impact.

The department said the vehicles were heavily damaged. The conditions of the drivers were not mentioned, but one driver declined medical transport and evaluation at the scene.

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The road was previously closed but has since reopened. Weathersfield Fire and police as well as Ohio State Highway Patrol and other first responders assisted in 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 WKBN.com.
The nations judges are facing an unprecedented threat  at least thats what U.S. District Judge Esther Salas argues. She would know: Five years ago, she was targeted by an assassin. And still, she thinks the problem is getting worse.

The U.S. Marshals Service, which protects the federal judiciary, recorded some 408 threats against federal judges between the start of the fiscal year in October and June 16, the New Jersey jurist told Salon, citing data she received from a contact at the agency. That number is quickly approaching the 457 total serious threats against federal judges reported in fiscal year 2023 and nearly double the 224 threats recorded in fiscal year 2021, per Reuters. The stakes have only risen during President Donald Trumps time in office; as his administration defies lawful court orders, federal and elected officials have maligned and called for jurists impeachment after unfavorable rulings.

Judges, including Salas, have been sounding the alarm since before Trump took office. Chief Justice John Roberts raised concerns in his 2024 year-end report and, indeed, Salas has been speaking out for years now, primarily motivated by her son, Daniel Anderls, 2020 murder by a disgruntled litigant  who was coming for her. But seeing the ongoing erosion in the publics trust in the judicial branch and the escalating threats her colleagues have received this year has pushed her to take her advocacy a step further, she said.

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Salas spoke to Salon ahead of the July 31 Speak Up for Justice forum, a grassroots monthly webinar advocating for the judiciary. At that event, she and other judges will discuss how some public officials rhetoric puts a target on their backs, demonstrated by a recent uptick in so-called pizza doxing  sending food to a judges home address  and the harm those acts pose to democracy. The threats facing judges appeared to weigh especially heavily on Salas, this conversation coming just days after she marked the fifth anniversary of her sons tragic death.

I know what its like because I lost my only child  because Im a federal judge. I have to live with that every single day, she said. I have to live with [the fact] that my job cost me the life of my only child, and I can tell you that thought alone is enough to keep someone up for days, because Im living it.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

So far this year, weve seen an uptick in the threats against judges; FBI agents arresting a judge in Wisconsin; the Trump administration ignoring around a third of all major rulings against it across 165 cases, according to a Washington Post analysis that came out [Monday] morning. What are you making of this disregard for the judiciary, and how is the judiciary navigating this upheaval in this system of checks and balances, in our democracy?

I definitely think that we are in uncharted waters right now as a nation. I believe that judicial security and independence are being threatened on many, many fronts. I agree with [Chief Justice John Roberts] in his year-end report in 2024 when he talked about the illegitimate attacks against the judiciary, and were seeing those illegitimate attacks play out in real time. Violence  Im living proof of that, violence. Judge [John] Roemer in Wisconsin, Judge [Andrew] Wilkinson in Maryland, the violence just keeps coming, and it doesnt seem to be dissipating.

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The chief justice talked about intimidation. Well, I dont think weve seen the intimidation in the forms that weve seen as of late. Its bad enough having members of Congress threatening to impeach judges because they disagree with our rulings; Ive never seen, nor history has ever seen, anything like that. I think its bad enough threatening to take judicial actions against judges because you disagree with our rulings, instead of utilizing constitutional framework that weve all been operating under that if you dont agree with a particular judges ruling, you appeal that judge to a higher court, and if you dont agree with that higher court, you go to the United States Supreme Court. Clearly, there is a constitutional framework that weve all been operating under that now seems to be forgotten, or is not an acceptable form.

We need to go to the third illegitimate threat that the chief justice warned us about: the spreading of disinformation. Continuing to say over and over again that judges are rogue, that were monsters, that the system doesnt work because we all have an agenda, that were corrupt, that were biased, all of these accusations  false accusations  are being used to undermine the publics confidence in the justice system, and I think, are intentionally being done to dehumanize the judges that sit on the court. Lets be clear: This is a specific game plan. This is in the playbook of toppling democracies, and were seeing that with the spreading of disinformation that starts at the top and trickles on down. Then, finally, threatening to not follow lawfully entered orders by the court.

I want to circle back to intimidations. Were seeing powerful people  and powerful platforms  using those platforms to intimidate the judges. That is what some of our leaders are intending to do right now, and they do that in the form of threatening to impeach us, threatening to sue us. And lets not forget what were calling pizza doxing, which is outrageous right now, not getting enough coverage. Hot off the presses here, I just sat for a conference planning session last week: State judges are getting pizzas. Its just not being reported. In Florida, there are judges that received pizzas in the name of my murdered son. So we now know that the state judges are also getting pizzas, at least in Florida. And I think if anyone runs it down, theyre probably going to find that judges all over this country at the state and municipal level are also receiving these forms of intimidation.

On the subject of intimidation  thats also one of the things that I wanted to get your thoughts on, particularly the pizza doxing you mentioned.  I want to ask, if youre comfortable, first, how did learning of these [threats] make you feel?

We just had the fifth-year anniversary of our childs killing  of his murder  and that was on July 19, 2020, and this past Saturday, we had to deal with the fifth anniversary. His birthday was on July 13. Sandwiched in between July 13 and July 19 was probably the hardest week for [my husband] Mark and I to really deal with, on this road that were traveling that is unfathomable. My son stands for  and I speak of him in present tense  everything thats beautiful about life and the gifts that we all derive from our source. For me, my son, he stands for love and light. In fact, right after his murder, I kept saying, I have to stay in the light. I have to stay in the light, and I have to remember him with only love.

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In my mind, hate is heavy, love is light. That was something that kind of was born out of all this pain that we were feeling, and to hear and see and watch my sons beautiful name be used to inflict terror and pain on my brothers and sisters on the bench, it has set me back. I, quite frankly, continue to move forward, but I cant believe the depths that some people will go to without regard to the humanity and without regard to the feelings of his parents left behind.

I was shocked when the first pizza that we know of was delivered to one of my colleagues on April 6. And that poor colleague had to call me and tell me that he was just informed that Daniels name was either the recipient or the sender on that pizza.  The very first pizza that we know of in Daniels name was delivered to [Chief U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell], and were going to hear from him on what that was like to find out that the pizza was in my murdered sons name, and how he had to process that phone call, and how he had to build up enough strength to call me to tell me this development, which was, of course, very troubling.

(Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) A view of the home of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas on July 20, 2020 in North Brunswick, New Jersey.

I cant imagine how harmful that was [to you]. I also wanted to know: what did these threats and the rise in these threats tell you about the state and nature of political violence in our country right now?

Its at an all-time high, in my opinion. The numbers are showing that its at an all-time high, but I think even the acts of cruelty, the lack of empathy, the lack of compassion from those that would would engage in such horrific conduct, says to me that these are threats with a purpose. Lets be clear what all of this is: The purpose is to attack the rule of law, and in my opinion, its aimed at toppling our democracy. There is no doubt in my mind that if these continued threats and attacks against the rule of law continue and persist, we all stand to lose as a nation.

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This is why it matters. It matters to everyone, every one of your viewers, every one of your subscribers, because the fact of the matter is, sometimes we get so busy in our lives, were trying to put food on the table and keep a roof over our head, and were dealing with the bombardment of negative news and what I call distraction. Were looking one way, then were looking another, then were looking another, and were not looking at whats really coming: that is a systematic attack on the rule of law, and that is what is happening.

I dont blame people because right now, its hard to really understand from this point of view. When youre just struggling to raise your family and keep your job and pay your insurance on your car, you cant really think about the true danger that is several feet in front of you. I would say feet, some people would argue miles, but its right in front of us. And its sometimes hard for people to say, Why does this matter to me? And it matters because if youre Jane Citizen, John Citizen, and you go up against a powerful opponent, you want the justice system to be blind. You want the judge not to look to see who the parties are. You dont want the judge to look to see who has more money, who has a better agenda, who is this going to help, who is this going to hurt. No, you want the judge to look at the facts and the law, and thats it. Because if youre Jane Citizen or John Citizen, and you ever find yourself on the receiving end of something happening to you by a powerful adversary, you dont want the judge worried that that he or she has to follow the powerful adversary because a threat will follow, or death will come, or theyll be ripped from their position.

Thats why our founding fathers made sure, at least at the federal level, that Article III judges didnt have to worry about that, didnt have to worry that there would be retribution, reprisal or death  because they were entrusted to do their job for life. There are reasons for all of this. I understand its hard out there, but I really wish that people would understand the magnitude of whats going on right now.

As we discussed earlier, youve been an outspoken participant in the Speak Up for Justice forums this year, advocating for your fellow judges at the federal, state and municipal levels. Of course, youve been speaking out since the tragic murder of your son in 2020, but what about this moment may be motivating you to really push to get your message through to the public?

Listen, I love this country. I love this country with all my heart. My son loved this country with all his heart. I feel, when I think about my mothers life, being raised on a farm in Cuba, and my fathers life in Mexico, an understanding that only in America could a girl who grew up being raised by a single mom in Union City, New Jersey, on welfare, living in the projects rise to the level of becoming the first Latina district court judge in the District of New Jersey. Only in America. Thats why I love and I embrace my ethnicity, and I embrace my humble beginning because, at the end of the day, I think its what makes America beautiful. What makes America wonderful is just what we used to often refer to as the melting pot.

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The fact of the matter is that I am very worried that we are headed down a road that, if we travel down, we may never be able to veer onto a democratic road again. I know whats at stake. Im living proof of what will happen if we dont protect our judges. Mark and I just celebrated the fifth anniversary of our only childs death  his murder, let me say it the right way. I wake up every morning, and Daniels the first thing that I think about. I go to bed at night, and he is the last thing, along with my God and my faith and my source, that I go to bed at night, holding onto, clinging to, because it is a pain that I cant describe.

I cant describe what it feels like for Mark and me every day to know that we dont have Daniel, that were never going to be able to be the grooms mom and the grooms dad. Were never going to see him get married. Were never going to be grandparents. Were never going to have those moments that maybe some of us take for granted in this world. But I know the pain, and thats why I continue to fight because I want to be able to say that I did everything in my power to try to avoid this tragedy from happening again, and that I did everything that I could, as Daniels mom, to speak to and speak up for justice in this country.

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With respect to [the number of pizzas delivered] being an underestimate, could you describe how those threats or acts of intimidation come to these judges? Are they aware that it is an act of intimidation to start, or can it come across as very innocuous  you dont really know that youre being targeted  until after the fact?

Now? No. Ill give you an example of what its like. Recently, my doorbell rang, and I wasnt expecting anyone. My husband and I were in the kitchen, and my brother, who was visiting from out of state, was in another room, and we started screaming, Dont answer the door. Dont answer the door. And my husband goes, Let me look at the camera. I mean, were in our home on a weekend, and all of us literally stood frozen in fear. It turned out it was a friend that was stopping by to visit us, but thats the kind of fear that now I think I can say with certainty that judges feel when the doorbell rings and were not expecting anyone.

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Somebody will say, Its a pizza, and in the beginning, people said, Oh, pizza, and they laugh. This is not just a pizza. This is bad actors  and I am of firm belief this is not a lone guy in a basement. These are targeted, strategic, collaborative acts that are done by several bad actors meant to chill the judiciary, meant to scare us. It sends messages, We know where you live, to those poor judges whose children have received pizzas at their own houses in other states. Youre going to hear from another judge [at the forum] whos going to talk about how his adult son received a pizza in another state in my sons name.

When we talk about putting Dannys name associated with the order of these pizzas, that is not, Oh, let me just pick a name. Its a name that is chosen intentionally. Do you want to end up like Judge Salas? Do you want to end up like her murdered son? That is an outright threat, and that is a threat to chill judges and make judges start thinking, Hmm, if this is a close call, do I want problems? Lets be realistic about what that is like for the judge, whos human underneath that robe. Whats that feel like? To me, these are threats with a purpose. These are not random acts of cruelty. These are threats with a purpose.

To your point, the nation has been rocked by a number of instances of political violence in recent years. Most recently, we saw the assassinations of those state lawmakers in Minnesota, and experts Ive talked to pointed to our especially polarized viewpoints right now as part of the reason why were seeing this uptick in violence. How do you see that polarization influencing judges abilities to safely and effectively carry out their duties?

I honestly cant speak to every judge out there, but I know that judges are on the front line protecting democracy. We know whats at stake, and I believe that judges will always honor their oaths. Nowadays, certainly, you dont become a judge just for the position and the prestige because I would even argue now that what has been done to the court has already damaged much of the publics perception as to what it means to be a judge. I think weve already seen a dramatic erosion in the publics confidence in the judiciary and the justice system.

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Thats a sad fact, but I think a true one. So I do believe that, when push comes to shove, judges will do the right thing based on the law and will honor their commitment. But there must be so much that goes through a judges mind in terms of, Im about to issue a ruling. How do I know that my wife is going to be safe? How do I know my children are going to be safe? What can I do to ensure their safety?

Theres this huge, black, ominous cloud that is looming over the third branch of government. Again, were human underneath these robes, and it is definitely something that I would imagine crosses a judges mind when assessing how he or shes going to come out in a ruling. But I believe in this country. I believe in my colleagues. I believe in the rule of law, and I do continue to have faith that rulings will be rendered based on the facts and the law, and only those two things.

As a federal judge who has been personally touched by that kind of political violence, as you described today, what do you feel must be done in order for our nation to move toward a better, less violent, less polarized future?

Ive been thinking about that. Id love to answer this in two parts. The first one is the easier one: that we all be impeccable with our words, that we ask our leaders to lead responsibly, that we ask them to tone down the inflammatory rhetoric and begin to discuss the issues on the merits and stop personalizing the issues and the rulings and the people that make them. That is an easy fix. If we can all get back to civility, if we can all get back to professionalism  thats easy, and for all of us. We can all do it. We can all decide that we are going to be impeccable with our word, and we are not going to denigrate, humiliate and castigate people who dont agree with us, people who have a different opinion than our own. We could do this at every level of where we are right now.

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If we can all agree that we are going to respect one another, and we are going to listen and maybe agree to disagree and not villainize the person that may not see life as you see it  that is something we can all do. Its easy to do. It doesnt require legislation. It doesnt require anything other than us agreeing that were going to be more responsible in the words that come out of our mouths.

The harder fix is how do we protect our information? How do we as citizens begin to tighten our internet footprint? How are we going to be responsible with how much about us gets out there; and for political figures, it gets a little harder, but theres a way to do it. You look at the Anderl Act that passed in December of 2022 as a blueprint for the protection of personally identifiable information by judges. If politicians wanted to also consider enacting laws, I would say to them, Look to the Anderl Act. Its a solid piece of legislation that took into various considerations, including the First Amendment, and looks to try to narrowly tailor it so that it protected a legitimate interest in safety for judges and their family members. Thats a harder issue, but I do think every state and U.S. territory should look to enact laws like the Anderl Act and protect their judges at every level because the Anderl Act only protects federal judges. It doesnt protect the 30,000 state and local judges that need protection as well.

We need to fund the Anderl Act. The Anderl Act passed in 2022 and has yet to have a grant program that is fully funded by Congress. We need to have money so that if there is a state or U.S. territory that needs startup seed money to create the infrastructure that one needs to begin to protect this type of information, they could come to the federal government and seek at least a loan or seed money with respect to their own state protections of the judiciary and, if necessary, other public or covered persons.

So states need to enact laws. The Anderl Act has to get fully funded, but the easiest one is the one I started with, which was asking our leaders to lead responsibly and, in turn, toning our own language down so that we are treating each other and living in a more civil and professional and, I think, just kind place. I mean, I want us to get back to kindness, get back to respecting one another, instead of villainizing anyone who you think doesnt agree with you. Theres so much hate out there right now, and were seeing it from the top down. This awful name-calling  I mean, I can list for you, monsters, crazy, leftist, unconstitutional judges, deranged coming from the top. This kind of language  its just irresponsible. It invites people to take matters into their own hands. When our leaders speak of us with such disdain, it is as if they are saying or green-lighting, Go get them. Its dangerous, and its going to get someone killed.

Your point about getting back to kindness  do you see that being part of how we protect our democracy moving forward?

Theres a new motto Im using now, which is, Measured, calm, yet strong. I believe that when we are measured and deliberative and we are calm  and we are not mercurial, not raging  we can make more sound decisions because were operating using our cortex. Were able to think things through, deliberate, be calm, be measured and, when possible, kind. It makes for sound decision-making. Whereas when we are angry and fired up and spitting out nonsense and taking firm positions  all of that sometimes doesnt make for sound decision-making.

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Its great advice when we can say that theres nothing weak about being kind. Theres nothing weak about being calm. Theres nothing weak about being deliberative. In fact, I think its a very strong place to start. Everyone needs to remember that with respect, with civility, with professionalism, we can get a lot done, and maybe we can do something about the senseless violence that seems to be pervading our communities and our justice system and beyond.

The post In 2020, a man killed this judges son. He was coming for her appeared first on Salon.com.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police are investigating a triple shooting that took place in the Dupont Circle area overnight.

Details remain limited; however, the Metropolitan Police Department said officers responded to the shooting in the 1800 block of Jefferson Place, NW, just before 3 a.m. There, they found three men suffering from gunshot wounds.

Man ejected from vehicle during crash on I-695 in DC; lanes closed, officials say

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Responders took all three men, who were conscious and breathing, to the hospital for treatment.

As of Sunday morning, there is no word on their conditions. Police urge anyone with information to call 202-727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.

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A 3-year-old boy, KeTorrius Starkes Jr., known as KJ, died Tuesday after being left in a hot car for approximately five hours while in the custody of Alabamas Department of Human Resources (DHR), authorities said.

The incident has sparked outrage and an ongoing police investigation, with the boys family demanding accountability.

KJ, from Bessemer, was in foster care due to alleged drug use in his home when a contractor for DHR, employed by Covenant Services Inc., failed to deliver him to day care after a supervised visit with his father. The familys attorney, G. Courtney French, said the worker picked up KJ around 11:30 a.m. but instead ran personal errands, including buying food and visiting a tobacco shop, before parking at her home.

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This is a tragedy and a nightmare for any parent, French said, per The New York Times.

The child remained strapped in the car from about 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., when the day care centers call prompted the worker to find him unresponsive. Birmingham police were dispatched to a Pine Tree Drive residence shortly after 5:30 p.m., and KJ was pronounced dead at 6:03 p.m. by Birmingham Fire and Rescue.

Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates noted the car was off, windows up, and hot, with no other apparent cause of death, though an official ruling awaits. Temperatures in the area reached 96 degrees, feeling as high as 103 degrees with humidity, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Jessica Laws.

The worker, who has not been named, removed KJ to an air-conditioned residence but cooperated with police during questioning. DHR confirmed the contractor terminated the employee but offered no further details due to confidentiality.

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French described the lapse as systemic failure.

The safety net that should have been in place to protect KJ and others like him is what caused his death, he said, per People magazine. So the very system that is in place for his protection was the system that led to his death  and thats whats so tragic about this.

The family, considering legal action, expressed their grief in a statement: This is a parents worst nightmare. Our baby should be alive.

State lawmakers, including Senators Merika Coleman and Representative Ontario Tillman, have called for answers, with Coleman vowing, per The Times, We need answers, and we may need to examine state law to make sure this never happens again.

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Tillman echoed, How and why did this happen?

The childs autopsy has been completed, and his body has been released to his parents, per the county coroners office, People magazine reported. KJs funeral is set for August 2.
A girl believed to be 3 years old was found dead on a beach in Greece, and authorities have yet to identify her.

The girl was found at Edem Beach, located in the seafront neighborhood of Palaio Faliro outside of Athens. The Hellenic Coast Guard shared in an "urgent announcement" on Sunday, July 27, that the girl had been discovered in the early morning hours that same day.

The coast guard said that the body of a minor girl, approximately 3 to 3.5 years old, was found in the sea area of the beach, which is located just a few miles from the capital city of Athens.

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A man discovered the girl and immediately called emergency services, according to Greek newspaper Proto Thema. An ambulance transported her to a childrens hospital, but she was pronounced dead.

One eyewitness, who said they came to the beach around 3 a.m. local time for a night swim, said they noticed a police and first responder presence around about half an hour later, Proto Thema reported.

Getty A stock image of a beach resort at Eden beach in Greece A stock image of a beach resort at Eden beach in Greece

"I was about 100 meters away when they shone their lights on the sand  there was a small girl, wearing a one-piece swimsuit. An ambulance came, they covered her with a blanket, and took her away, the witness, identified as Mr. Marios, told Greek outlet SKAI, according to Proto Thema.

The childs death appeared fairly recent, said Marios. He also said that based on her features, I dont think the child was Greek.

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The girl showed no visible signs of abuse, and how she ended up alone remains alone, according to Proto Thema. Her cause of death is also unknown, pending a forensic examination and autopsy, the newspaper reported.



In their urgent announcement, posted in both Greek and English on July 27, the Hellenic Coast Guard declared that it is issuing an urgent appeal to the public for information regarding the discovery of a deceased minor girl.

The girl had short brown hair, a slender build, and tanned skin, and was wearing a long-sleeved turquoise and fuchsia one-piece swimsuit, the coast guard said. No current missing child reports match this description, according to Proto Thema.

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We kindly request that any citizen with information regarding the child's identity, her family, or any other details that could assist in the investigation of this incident, contact the A' Port Authority of Faliro (Floisvos) immediately at 210-9829759, or the Saronikos Port Authority at 210-8946326, the coast guard announcement said.

Every piece of information, no matter how small it may seem, could prove crucial, the announcement concluded. Complete confidentiality is guaranteed."



Read the original article on People
(Texas Scorecard)  Over the last decade, the Alamo has undergone vast redevelopment backed by over $550 million in investments.

As Land Commissioner, I am charged with protecting and preserving our Shrine of Texas Liberty: the Alamo. I am proud to share, for the first time ever, we are ensuring a visit to the Alamo is worthy of the significance of the events that happened there, Commissioner Dawn Buckingham told Texas Scorecard.

The Alamo Plan focuses on the comprehensive restoration of Alamo Church, the Long Barrack, and Alamo Cenotaph, while dramatically transforming Alamo Plaza and its surrounding properties into a premier historic site.

Church and Long Barrack

The 300-year-old church and Long Barrack are the last remaining original structures of the Alamo. Over the years, however, the church and Long Barracks stone walls have been chipping off, leaving much of the interior structure exposed to damage.

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The limestone has been wicking the moisture from the ground for a very long time. If youve ever seen limestone around a salt water pool and youve seen how it melts, when you look inside of the walls[,] it is melted, Buckingham commented.

In 2024, the Alamos restoration efforts revealed that the churchs 104-year-old roof had severe water damage and required replacement.

Efforts to replace the churchs roof and restore its walls require a temporary enclosure, slated for construction next year, to protect the church from the elements during roofing work.

Cenotaph

Similarly to the church, the Alamo Cenotaphs inner structure weakened over time due to water damage, among other factors.

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Restoration began in early 2025, and repairsconcrete reinforcement, waterproofing, and internal stone restorationwill be completed by autumn. The monuments original location will be kept.

Alamo Plaza

Initially, the Alamo Plan only focused on Alamo Plaza. Todays iteration recaptures the Alamos original footprint, which lies beneath Alamo Plaza.

This will delineate most of the Alamos original location, allowing visitors to see exactly where the former mission and its defenders once stood and correcting the long-standing misconception that the Alamo only consists of the church and Long Barrack.

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Efforts to accomplish this have included closing several roads surrounding the Alamo and converting them into pedestrian-only zones to accommodate more visitors.

Plaza de Valero is being redeveloped with new seating, green space, and a performance pavilion, while the Alamo Promenadegateway to the Alamois being furnished with new statues to commemorate those who died defending the former mission.

Visitor Center

The central redevelopment aspect of the Alamo Plan is the forthcoming Alamo Visitor Center and Museum. Dubbed the Crown Jewel of the Alamo Plan, construction began in October of last year and is expected to conclude in 2027, marking the plans final phase.

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The nearly 100,000-square-foot building will feature a 4D theatre, an events space, and eight galleries. The galleries will include exhibits about the 1836 Battle of the Alamo, its aftermath, the several-thousand-year history of the area, and the subsequent growth of San Antonio around the Alamo.

Education

Opened in March 2023, the Ralston Family Collections Center is a two-story gallery space used to display artifacts from the Phil Collins Collection and others collected throughout the years.

In addition, the Texas Cavaliers Education Center broke ground in November 2023 and serves as a learning center for various fields, including STEM.

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The education center had its topping out ceremony in May and is expected to be completed in March of next year. It also features an outdoor classroom within the Alamo Complex and a theater that brings the Alamos history to life.

Projections anticipate 2.5 million visitors annually upon completion of the Alamo Plan in 2027.

Courtesy of the Alamo Trust, Inc.

History

The Alamo Plans framework, drawn from a 1994 city report and formalized by the 2014 Alamo Plaza Advisory Committee, evolved alongside public demands for historical accuracy.

In 2015, the City of San Antonio partnered with the General Land Office (GLO)under the leadership of former Land Commissioner George P. Bushand the Alamo Endowment to reimagine the Alamo with the Alamo Plan, formally marking its establishment.

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For three years, the Alamo Master Plan Management Committee formed from this partnership developed the Alamo Plan.

At the end of the planning process in 2018, the GLO leased Alamo Plaza from the City of San Antonio and began working with the Alamo Trust to facilitate the Alamo Plans changes, conduct restoration efforts, and lead the processes designated in the plan.

The lease, which remains in effect, provides the GLO control over Alamo Plaza for 50 years, with two 25-year extensions possible with approval by the San Antonio City Council.

Previously, the Alamo Plaza lease stipulated that the GLO recognize the City of San Antonios ownership of the Cenotaph and promise to help facilitate its relocation in congruence with the Alamo Plan.

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However, an extension in May 2024 transferred ownership of the Cenotaph to the GLO and extended the lease to include the Plaza de Valero.

The final say for the Alamo Plan lies with the Mayor of San Antoniocurrently Gina Ortiz Jonesand the GLO Land Commissionercurrently Dawn Buckingham.

This shared leadership design ensures that the direction remains in accord with the agreed-upon Vision and Guiding Principles, which include a commitment to telling the story of the 1836 Battle of the Alamo and restoring the area to its former reverence, free from 21st-century distractions.

Controversy

A shared notion among many in the planning process is a commitment to make Alamo Plaza period-neutral. This would ensure that the Alamo tells the story of the entire area and the diverse groups of people that lived there.

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Regarding the people who fought at the Alamo, Buckingham has said:

Im unapologetically for our Texas history. I want to be very clear [on] our Alamo defenders. We had Texans, we had Tejanos, we had African Americans, [and] we had women. It was a diverse group of people held together by a liberty of mind and a dislike of tyrants.

However, some have raised concerns that a vague understanding of what it means to be period neutral could facilitate efforts from historical revisionists to scrub and rewrite the real history of Texas independence.

In various committee and city meetings, advocates have called for the Alamo Plan to place less emphasis on the Anglo-centric history of the area and instead tell the story of the Alamo in a less romanticized way.

Such talking points have sparked debate about attempted historical revisionism depicting Texas independence as Anglo-dominism of a struggling new country.

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These revisionist claims culminated in a years-long fight to protect the Alamo Cenotaph, which critics called a white establishment icon.

The Alamo Citizen Advisory Committeeone of the oversight committees responsible for overseeing the Alamo Planactively worked to push forward the proposal to relocate the Cenotaph from its current location in Alamo Plaza.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick responded by accusing members of this committee of trying to erase Texas history.

Patrick also criticized both former Land Commissioner George P. Bush for allowing the attempt in the first place and the Alamo Plan for lack of transparency on the matter.

Resolutions

The Legislature allotted nearly $400 million for the Alamo Plan in 2023.

Over the last three years, the GLO and Alamo Trust have sought to address the controversial aspects of the Alamo Plan, particularly after Buckinghams election in November 2022.

Buckingham was responsible for striking the deal to transfer the Cenotaph to the GLO.

A passionate advocate for defending history, she has set up a live cam to provide oversight during the Cenotaphs restoration process.

The Alamo is a sacred place where history, sacrifice, and pride come together to tell the powerful story of Texas independence. Our states rich history binds all Texans, and now every child will be able to learn about our loud and proud, liberty or death, line-in-the-sand Texas history, Buckingham told Texas Scorecard.
A worker at an animal shelter in Mississippi was mauled to death by two dogs in his care.

On the afternoon of July 18, Clifford Phillips Jr., 57, was fatally attacked while working at Second Chance Animal Alliance, a non-profit organization where the two dogs were sheltered, in Water Way, WREG News reported.

A dog was already in a pen and he was trying to put another dog in there and the other dog tried to run out, and he tried to hold him off with his foot and that dog grabbed his leg, pulled him down, friend Dudley Woods told the outlet.

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And then the other dog jumped in with him. One of them was a pit, and the other was a pit mixed breed, and they killed him. They got it all on tape down there, he said.



Google Maps Second Chance Animal Alliance shelter in Yalobusha County Second Chance Animal Alliance shelter in Yalobusha County

Police shot and killed one of the dogs in order for first responders to get to Phillips and treat him, however, he died at the scene, the North Mississippi Herald and U.K. newspaper The Independent reported.

According to the outlets, a male dog initiated the attack and he was euthanized following the incident.

More than a dozen dogs were reportedly sheltered at the facility at the time, as well as the two dogs.

The canines had been seized as part of a court order relating to animal abuse and dog fighting, WREG reported, citing Yalobusha County Sheriff Jermain Gooch.

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Getty Pit bull terrier (stock image) Pit bull terrier (stock image)

Philips had worked at the animal shelter for two years at the time he was attacked. He moved with his family to Water Valley from his home state of Wisconsin in 2007, according to his obituary.

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His quiet and caring demeanor helped him foster a love for animals, it reads. And he remarked that he often felt more comfortable around his pets than around people, perhaps recalling the time he spent with Eon, his beloved childhood dog ...He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

A memorial service was held for Philips at Sylva Rena Baptist Church in Mississippi on July 24.



PEOPLE has reached out to Second Chance Animal Alliance for comment.

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MOSCOW, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  A volleyball tournament in Lackawanna County had dozens of players competing to honor a young man who lost his life in a car crash. More than a hundred people attended the fifth annual Brandon Bisignani volleyball tournament in Moscow.

Brandon was 27 years old when he died in a 2019 crash, and now his family has made it their mission to raise awareness about distracted driving.

Final day of Saint Anns Novena underway in Scranton

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Sharing his love for volleyball, local players, and even some from California and Virginia, came together to play at the North Pocono Intermediate Center.

Family members we spoke to say theyre in awe at the community support, year after year.

That phone call can wait, that text message could wait, and were also trying to remind people that if you know someones driving, please dont text them, Brandons mother, Sandie Bisignani, told 28/22 News.

Its just something that you never want to see happen; its truly tragic. But to be able to bring out people here for awareness is something special, Noah West, Brandons Cousin, said.

All the money collected in Saturdays competition will go toward a memorial scholarship fund, which will benefit a graduating North Pocono senior to further their education.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Several new lawsuits have been filed against multiple Catholic Churches claiming sexual abuse by priests from Southern New Mexico parishes. Eight lawsuits were filed two weeks ago, naming the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, the Diocese of El Paso, and multiple other parishes.

Anonymous victims ages ranged from three to 15 years old. The two priests named in the complaints are Bernard Bissonnette and David Holley. One lawsuit says Holley sexually abused the male victim in the late 70s when he was just 10 years old. It further claims that Holley used alcohol to coerce him to perform sexual acts.

Santa Fe Archdiocese sets up plaque dedicated to clergy sex abuse victims

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This comes almost a year after the Archdiocese of Santa Fe dedicated a plaque to remember victims of clergy abuse. Just expressing sorrow and then walking away doesnt do much. I think its important that we put that regret, that sorrow, into practice. That we have a firm purpose of amendment, as we say, and that we do our very, very best to make sure it never happens again. Im deeply committed to it and I know our staff is committed to it, said John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, back in September.

The new lawsuits were filed less than three months after the installation of Pope Leo XIV, who works to foster a culture that does not tolerate abuse.

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Why is American right-wing commentator Candace Owens so obsessed with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte?

I am disgusted by your relationship, Owens said in January, after the Macrons asked her to stop accusing the French first lady of being a transgender woman. You make me sick, Brigitte.

Sure, in our patriarchal world, its unusual for a wife to be 24 years older than her husband. But President Trump is also 24 years older than his wife, Melania.

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So, seriously, what is the big whoop?

Read more: France's first couple sue Candace Owens for defamation over claims that Brigitte Macron is a man

One answer can be found in the 219-page defamation lawsuit filed Wednesday against Owens by the Macrons in Delaware Superior Court. In exhaustive detail, the lawsuit lays out the preposterous claims made by Owens about the French first couple, subjecting them to a campaign of global humiliation.

The law firm representing the Macrons, Clare Locke, is the same outfit that won a massive settlement against Fox News for defaming Dominion Voting Systems in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election.

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As the lawsuit recounts, in March 2024, Owens was dismissed by Ben Shapiros Daily Wire media operation after making a series of antisemitic comments, including repeating the blood libel that Jews drink the blood of Christian babies.

In June 2024, she launched her newly independent YouTube channel and, according to the Macron lawsuit, was hungry for attention and searching for a salacious conspiracy theory to increase viewership.

Read more: Abcarian: A new film about the Ohio State wrestling team sex abuse scandal indicts those who looked away

At one point on X, she described her wackadoodle claims about the Macrons as the biggest scandal that has ever happened in politics in human history.

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Oh, I dunno. As far as political scandals go, I think real ones like Watergate, Iran-Contra and the Jan. 6 insurrection were a teensy bit more impactful than a fantasy about a first ladys sex change.

So how, exactly, did Owens land on a conspiracy theory focused on the French president and first lady?

According to the Macron lawsuit, in September 2019, Owens became involved in French far-right politics after she was invited to be the keynote speaker at the Convention de la Droite (Convention of the Right) in Paris.

Read more: Abcarian: Do you believe that deported farmworkers will be replaced by Medicaid recipients?

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Her 15-minute speech was the usual Stephen Miller-esque litany of complaints familiar to Christian nationalists: immigrants, political correctness, secularism and, of course, the fake news media are ruining America.

She made spectacularly asinine assertions about police killings of unarmed Black men, claiming that in 2016, only 16 unarmed Black men were slain by police and that Black men had a higher chance of being struck by lightning than killed by cops.

She also endeared herself to her audience when she accused Macron of being a weak leader and, horrors, a globalist.

In any case, it seems that accusing high-profile women of being transgender has become fashionable on the transphobic far right.

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Read more: Abcarian: Oh please, the right is reviving a tired trope about women

As you may recall, some of this countrys most heinous conspiracy theorists have leveled the same bizarre charge against Michelle Obama, whose husband, the Hawaii-born former President Obama, was repeatedly accused by Trump of not being born in the U.S. These outlandish accusations spring from the impulse to inflict as much political damage as possible.

In early 2025, Owens launched an eight-part series on her YouTube channel called "Becoming Brigitte." In it, she claimed the French president is gay. That his relationship with Brigitte is incestuous. That they engage in pedophilia and worship a satanic idol called Baphomet.

She has cited a 2021 Daily Mail story as her source, when in fact that piece was a complete debunking of the very conspiracy theories she was promoting.

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The Daily Mail traced the origin of the conspiracy theory to a piece published two months earlier in a French far-right newsletter, Faits et Documents (Facts and Documents). The allegations, according to the Daily Mail, were an attempt to damage the 2022 reelection prospects of Macron, who faced two right-wing opponents. Fait et Documents claimed no childhood photographs of Brigitte Macron could be found. But, as the Daily Mail  and the Macron lawsuit  note, there is a newspaper announcement of her 1953 birth, photos of her taking communion at 7, and photos of her first wedding.

Read more: Abcarian: RFK Jr. is dismantling trust in vaccines, the crown jewel of American public health

How likely are the French first couple to prevail in a defamation lawsuit?

The standard of proof in American courts, especially for people as famous as they are, is very, very high. The Macrons will have to prove that Owens acted with actual malice, that she knew what she was saying is false and said it anyway, or that she acted with reckless disregard for whether it was true or not.

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The Macrons, according to their lawsuit, sent her three separate retraction demands, explicitly stating that her claims were false, and included evidence such as birth records, marriage records and photographs. They have asked for a jury trial and unspecified damages.

Owens has remained defiant, claiming to her nearly 4.5 million YouTube subscribers that the Macrons are trying to silence her, and that their lawsuit is proof that her allegations are correct. "I am fully prepared to take on this battle," Owens said. "On behalf of the entire world, I will see you in court."

Personally, I think she should be nervous.

Robert Barnes, the right-wing attorney who defended the loony conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, agrees.

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Owens told some of the dumbest, obvious lies one can tell, Barnes wrote Thursday on X. She has 0% chance of winning in court.

I can hardly wait.

Bluesky: @rabcarian

Threads: @rabcarian



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Sioux Falls is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. People are being treated to some live music at the Levitt with the first ADA Festival.

The event seeks to honor the history of disability rights, but for some, it helps build community.

We love our environment: Cleaning the Big Sioux River

When I started my support group for ataxia, people just kind of came out of the woodwork, and I bet that will happen with events like this. Someone will say, Oh my gosh, maybe I should get out there and say something.' attendant Mary Beth Farley said.

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The headline performance for the event is Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys at 8 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Lets get a check on the latest in news and weather with KELOLAND On The Go.

Sioux Falls celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act last night with a downtown festival.

ADA Festival celebrates history of disability rights

People taking a summer stroll along the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls will notice a much cleaner greenway.

We love our environment: Cleaning the Big Sioux River

The Minnesota State Patrol says it will be conducting a comprehensive review of safety protocols at the state capitol in St. Paul, after security officers removed a man from the capitol grounds three separate times over the weekend.

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Intruder removed from MN capitol 3 times

A very hot forecast is ahead for KELOLAND with an extreme heat warning in effect this afternoon much of the east. Well talk more about that in moment, but those clouds on our Aberdeen are making for a nice skyline.

Extreme heat warnings today; Severe weather chances ahead

Beef prices in the United States are at a historic high right now due, in part, to shrinking cattle herds.

Tips for buying beef on a budget

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  People protested in Greenville Saturday, July 26, 2025, against the Big Beautiful Bill and the impacts it could have on disabled people.

35 years ago on July 26th, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, which is why some protesters say its important for them to come out and support the cause.

Those protesting said theyre concerned about the Medicaid services that could be cut when this bill takes effect.

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I mean, people are going to lose their ability to live in the community. One of one of the things thats already been at risk even before this bill was passed is already at risk services like the North Carolina Innovations Waiver, CAP C, CAP/DA home and community based services that let people live in their homes, in the community, said Bethany Smith, steering committee member for 50501 Greenville.

The group said they will continue to protest and fight for the ADA.

For more information about ADA, CLICK HERE

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
DENVER (KDVR)  A new and fuzzy adoption center opened Saturday at the PetSmart in Westminster.

Everyday Adoption Center at 10460 Town Center Dr., was created through a partnership between PetSmart Charities and Animal Friends Alliance.

Free on Your TV  New FOX31+ App for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV

PetSmart Charities partners with organizations like AFA to help find pets their forever homes. AFA said they work with more than 3,600 cats and dogs each year.

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The EAC will house up to 40 adoptable pets at a time, which offers more opportunities for pets to connect with loving families in a hightraffic, petfriendly space, said an AFA spokesperson to FOX31 in a press release.

Everyday Adoption Center opens in Westminster PetSmart ( PetSmart Charities and Porter Novelli) Everyday Adoption Center opens in Westminster PetSmart ( PetSmart Charities and Porter Novelli)

The adoption centers opening happened during PetSmart Charities National Adoption Week, happening from July 21 to July 27. This weeklong event is a nationwide adoption effort to help pets across the country get adopted into their forever homes.

At the opening of EAC on Saturday, there was a community adoption event with adoptable pets, giveaways, prizes, free pet food and more.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Austin Police Department said its dive team recovered a body at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

This follows the Austin Fire Department sending crews Saturday to assist in a water rescue on Lake Austin near the 360 Bridge.

AFD said on social media it responded shortly after 6 p.m. to the Plaza on the Lake boat ramp by Pennybacker Bridge for a report of two swimmers in distress with one submerging.

The Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department and ATCEMS responded to a water rescue at the Plaza on the Lake on Saturday, July 26. (KXAN Photo: Aidan Boyd) The Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department and ATCEMS responded to a water rescue at the Plaza on the Lake on Saturday, July 26. (KXAN Photo: Aidan Boyd)

One person was rescued by AFD rescue swimmers and was treated by Austin-Travis County EMS, according to the agency. AFD was still searching for the second swimmer.

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APD said it does not have victim information and that the death does not appear to be suspicious.

Its super tragic, because everyones coming out here to have a great day, said Collin Dodd, who works for Float On Boat Rentals.

Dodd said he was on the water when a swimmer went missing Saturday, and that a storm blew over the lake around that time.

He stressed the importance of being aware of currents, avoiding alcohol, knowing where people are swimming, and always wearing a life jacket.

Just swim with life jackets, Dodd said. You dont need to not wear one because you think your friends will make funny or anything like. Its a lot better.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Between the existential chaos around the world and whatever we're all dealing with in our personal lives, it feels like we're collectively acting like everything is fine these days, but that's not really the case.

Mirrorpix / Getty Images

Political turmoil is wreaking havoc across the globe, climate change is getting realer by the second, and the global economy is shifting, for better or for worse.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Needless to say, we're in very trying times, and it feels like burnout is now a universal feeling. A recent post on the r/AskReddit sub asked users the following question: "What is currently on the brink of collapse but no one is talking about it?"

Related: "It Still Gives Me Nightmares": 31 Bizarre And Unexplainably Strange Phenomena That People Still Can't Wrap Their Heads Around

From collapsing ecosystems to the rise of AI, these 19 responses highlight just how close our dystopian future might be:

Piranka / Getty Images

Note: these responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.

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1."The orca pod known as J-pod, that are residents of the Pudget Sound, are starving as the salmon population is collapsing."

Leonard Gordon / Getty Images/iStockphoto

u/Inkqueen12

2."And to be specific, Chinook salmon. Chinook are their main food source because of the fat content, and they're on the brink of collapse. I mean, it's not looking good for all salmon species, but when/if the Chinook go extinct, that's the first big domino to fall in the Salish Sea ecosystem."

DaveAlan / Getty Images

u/HotGarbage

3."Here in the UK, the water table. Already seen a massive drought in the North with unprecedented lack of rainfall this year. Reservoirs and rivers are lower than they've been in decades. On top of leaking pipes that date back to WWII, we could honestly be talking about real drinking water shortages in 5-10 years."

Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images

u/Overall-Habit5284

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4."Honestly, I'd say the internet. Everything requires an account, everything collects your information, you can't own anything because you can only get subscriptions to services. There are way too many social media platforms, which are somehow all owned by the same few mega corporations (Meta, Google, Microsoft, etc.) AI is slowly taking over everything and spewing out misinformation left and right."

Picture Alliance / picture alliance via Getty Images

"The appealing thing about the internet used to be how 'free' it felt; it wasn't governed by corporations or governments, and it truly felt like a place where humans could have their own thing in peace. Now it's treated more like a shopping mall/homeland security checkpoint that also somehow gives you social anxiety and is dangerously addictive because corporations have found the psychological tactics to hook you."

u/dresscode_trenchcoat

Related: 44 Jaw-Droppingly Selfish, Entitled Humans Who Clearly Think The World Revolves Around Them

5."Lots of collectively-owned private, professional businesses: Private equity has been relentlessly buying up veterinarian practices, CPA firms, and  Im sure  all kinds of other businesses so they can egregiously increase prices, sell everything that isnt nailed down, cut staff to nothing, then sell the little bit thats left to some naive future buyer at a hugely inflated cost."

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"That whole last part isnt any kind of a secret, either. Thats just how their unconscionable business model operates. Make no mistake, though, because theyll get richer, and all the rest of us will pay for it (same as it ever was)."

u/ChangeForAParadigm

6."Teachers. Not teaching itself, but the whole system around it. So many teachers are underpaid, overworked, and just done. A lot are quitting quietly or switching careers, and schools are struggling to replace them. Its kind of scary how fast it's unraveling, but no one's really screaming about it yet."

Christa Boaz / Getty Images

u/gespog123

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7."Maybe not on the brink, but possibly approaching  The AMOC, or Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, is a large system of ocean currents that acts like a conveyor belt, circulating warm and cold water throughout the Atlantic Ocean."

NALINI LEPETIT-CHELLA / AFP via Getty Images

"This circulation plays a crucial role in regulating global and regional climates by distributing heat and influencing weather patterns. Recent research suggests the AMOC may be slowing down, and there's a concern about a potential collapse, which could lead to significant climate shifts."

u/whoknows370

8."Bridges, railroad lines, power grids, and water pipes. Some of them are decades old and unstable (Germany)."

Stefano Madrigali / Getty Images

u/DURAKSTARSde

Related: Women Are Absolutely Destroying The Internet With These 15 Tweets That Had Me Rolling On The Floor

9."A bunch of small ecosystems around the world."

Phil Walter / Getty Images

"Weve already seen reef habitats collapse. A lot of people dont seem to understand that the coral isnt the only thing affected; all of the fish, invertebrates, and reptiles that may live in that area will abandon it when it dies.

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Peat swamps are being overharvested and destroyed by the peat moss business. Kelp forests are being destroyed by invasive urchins, certain waterways are being drained for irrigation/commercial use (like the Aral inland sea), wetlands are suffering due to pollution, and deforestation is driving out keystone species that are necessary for life in those areas.

And almost all of it is being either directly or indirectly caused by us."

u/Icefirewolflord

10."The working class. Hopefully, the collapse will wake some folks up, but I don't have a lot of hope when they seem perfectly happy in their caves staring at the shadows."

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u/panaceaXgrace

11."Critical thinking. Humanity is over-reliant on devices and AI to do their thinking for them instead of using tech to enhance their own thinking."

NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

u/Rumpleshite

12."The movie industry feels that way in Hollywood right now."

u/THE_TRIP_KEEPER

13."The Cascadia Subduction Zone."

Lloyd Cluff / Getty Images

u/FangAndBoard

14."The 'enrollment cliff' is starting. This year, the lack of kids born during and after the 2008 recession is starting to graduate from high school. In this population pyramid, you can see that starting at the 15-19 age group, birth rates went down and kept going down. Now, it was already going down on average, but right before the recession, there was a small uptick that could have been a turnaround."

Gizmotoy / Getty Images/iStockphoto

"Any institution that works with high school grads has been panicking for the last few years, knowing that this demographic shift is going to happen. Smaller universities have already been closing or merging into the state system. The US military has already been having issues with recruitment (for multiple reasons, not just population). There are literally fewer kids available to recruit (university, military, trade school, internships, entry-level jobs that don't require college) than the year before. Then, starting in about four years, there is going to be difficulty recruiting college grads for the same reason. Kids and adults going into the trades just compounds this issue."

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u/tekalon

Related: "My Alarm Bells Were Going Off": People Are Sharing Their Wildest "I Fing Knew It" Moments That Prove You Should ALWAYS Trust Your Gut

15."Civilizations decline/collapse over generations  I'd suggest that there is a strong possibility that 'the free liberal West' is in the early stages of a multi-generational decline, not unlike that of the Roman empire. Facebook and Netflix are our bread and circuses while around us, cultures that are not compatible with our (democratic, egalitarian, progressive, liberal) values are rising to challenge and eventually displace us. It won't happen in my lifetime, but it is happening."

u/jannw

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16."The Anthropocene."

u/EatsAlotOfBread

17."Overly complex appliances, cars, TVs, etc."

Harold M. Lambert / Getty Images

"I want a toaster that toasts bread without Bluetooth. I want an analog knob and a sliding button that lowers the bread carriage and locks into place. I don't need LEDs telling me how toasty my toast will be. The only light the toaster should emit is the soft red-orange glow from the heating elements. That's how I know it works. In fact, I shouldn't be able to know it's actually working for at least three seconds after the bread carriage has locked into place while I wait for those wires to begin glowing. I don't need an artificial beep, or ding, or cheesy tune. When my toast is done, I want it to let me know by disengaging the spring-loaded bread carriage and sending my toast flying. I want that bread carriage to slam into its original state, ready for another set of bread slices so loudly that it wakes my teenage daughters and pisses them off."

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u/1dolla2dolla

18."I think our civilizations ability to write without Generative AI. I believe writing is thinking, and it provides clarity to our thoughts. A vast majority of university students are now relying on services like ChatGPT, which I believe will eventually affect us in the long run. I dont have research backing up my claim, and I hope Im wrong. Regardless, Im worried."

Ullstein Bild Dtl. / ullstein bild via Getty Images

u/Loose-Web9138

19."Surprised I didn't see many posts about insects. We are in a mass extinction event of something like 60% of their population."

NurPhoto / NurPhoto via Getty Images

u/Senrakdaemon

Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity.

Also in Internet Finds: 29 Tweets By Women That Made Me, A Fellow Woman, Laugh So Hard I Almost Forgot We Just Elected A Convicted Felon

Also in Internet Finds: 50 Of The Funniest Stories People Shared About The "Stupidest Person" They've Met

Also in Internet Finds: People Are Revealing The Moments They Knew They Had To Get Out ASAP, And I'm Never Ignoring My Gut Feelings Again

Read it on BuzzFeed.com
All Work, No Play

Say a little prayer for AI workers in Silicon Valley.

In the rush to conquer the AI sector, some startups have adopted a career schedule known as "996"  a draconian work regimen that first took hold in mainland China, according to Wired, in which employees work from 9am to 9pm, six days a week, for a total of a soul-crushing 72 hours.

That's obviously a grueling routine, but the AI industry demands it because the space is so extremely competitive at the moment; startups are going to bat against each other, legacy tech companies, and overseas AI companies in places like China.

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AI startups are gobbling up boatloads of money  $104.3 billion in the first six months of this year  so the race is on to turn those investment dollars into profit and market share. That pressure is pushing more startups towards the 996 schedule.

"It's becoming increasingly common," staffing and recruitment expert Adrian Kinnersley told Wire. "We have multiple clients where a prerequisite for screening candidates before they go for an interview is whether they are prepared to work 996."

Back to the Future

A tough schedule is nothing new to Silicon Valley, which is stuffed to the gills with industry lore about tech stars booking all-nighters at "velvet sweatshops" like Microsoft.

"There's a really strong and growing subculture of people, especially in my generation  Gen Z  who grew up listening to stories of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, entrepreneurs who dedicated their lives to building life-changing companies," Will Gao, head of growth at AI startup Rilla, told Wired.

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But the problem with this work schedule is it chucks out any pretense of work-life balance, taking a toll on the bodies and minds of workers.

It's also a type of schedule could shut out certain sectors of the population from tech work, such as women  who are usually the primary caretakers of children and adult relatives  who already only make up 35 percent of the STEM workforce in the United States.

There's also a dark irony at play: the basic promise of the AI industry is that it will provide an alternative to the soul-crushing jobs to which so many of us are now subjected  while the very workers tasked with creating that future are being treated like beasts of burden.

More on AI: AI Therapist Goes Haywire, Urges User to Go on Killing Spree
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Record-breaking temperatures caused the deaths of at least 68 people in Multnomah County in 2021.

SWAT called to Molalla city center after man got into police car with rifle inside

As scientists warn that temperatures will continue rising, Portland city staff are exploring a possible temperature standard for rental homes. The rule could pave the way for air conditioning or other cooling methods to be provided by landlords.

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Setting a maximum indoor temperature standard for rental units can help ensure that populations more likely to be renters in Portland, such as communities of color or those with lower incomes, are prioritized in the Citys climate actions, a spokesperson for the planning and development department said.

ELLENSBURG, WA  JULY 28: Kirstie Allemand arranges cardboard above an air conditioning unit in her window during soaring temperatures on July 28, 2022 in Ellensburg, Washington. (Photo by David Ryder/Getty Images)

There are about 153,000 rental units in Portland, according to a 2025 analysis from EcoNorthwest. Of those, roughly 75% already have some form of air conditioning. The remaining 25,400 rentals have no form of cooling.

Gov. Kotek halts farmstand rulemaking amid farmer concerns

The spokesperson added that they havent yet identified which cooling systems may be required in the future to help keep temperatures manageable inside rental units, and that its still open for discussion. The department is still in the early stages of considering a proposal to bring to city council, and no timeline was provided for how long the process could take.

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During Oregons 2025 legislative session, Senate Bill 54, which would have required air conditioning in rental housing with 10 units or more, died in committee.

Temperature standards currently exist for Dallas, Houston, and several cities in Arizona.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
American Airlines is moving forward with a somewhat surprising move for one of its most premium routes, but some travelers will be quite pleased.

As first reported by The Points Guy this week, American Airlines will be bringing its wide-body Boeing 777 to a route between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

This is good news for some travelers, because the three-cabin plane will allow customers to book its premium economy cabin on the cross-country flights.

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While this is a positive change for many travelers, as it should allow for a more comfortable ride across the country for more people, it is somewhat surprising.

As The Points Guy explains, American Airlines typically does not use these larger, wide-body aircraft for domestic routes like this.

"For American, it's a bit of an unusual move. The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier has a very limited schedule of wide-body jets on domestic routes, typically reserving its larger planes for long-haul international (and Hawaii) service," Sean Cudahy wrote for The Points Guy this week.

"It currently does not have regularly scheduled transcontinental service on twin-aisle planes out of JFK. That will change in October with the arrival of its three-cabin 777 on the route."

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Cudahy provided a thorough explanation as to why this is happening for anyone interested, but the short answer is that it's a temporary measure until the airline starts receiving its brand-new Airbus A321XLRs.

Passengers can begin booking tickets for the new JFK-LAX 777 service on July 28 with service officially set to launch on Oct. 5.

American Airlines is Changing Planes for a Popular Route first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 27, 2025
Over 100 passengers and six crew members were forced to evacuate an American Airlines flight after it caught fire prior to takeoff at Denver International Airport Saturday afternoon.

According to reports, American Airlines Flight 3023 was getting ready to depart for Miami when its landing gear caught fire. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that the crew "reported a possible landing gear incident during departure" around 2:45 p.m. local time.

American Airlines said that 173 passengers and six crew members were evacuated from the plane safely.

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American Airlines flight 3023 experienced a mechanical issue on takeoff roll at Denver International Airport (DEN), American Airlines said, via PEOPLE. All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team.

The combination of blown tires and the deceleration of the aircraft during braking resulted in a minor isolated brake fire that was quickly extinguished by the Denver Fire Department."

Five passengers were evaluated at the scene by first responders and one additional passenger was taken to a local hospital for a "minor" injury.

"UPDATE: Five people were evaluated on scene and not transported. One person was evaluated at a gate and was transported," Denver International Airport said in a statement.

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The FAA is investigating the incident. Meanwhile, the displaced passengers were flown to Miami later Saturday on another aircraft.

According to passenger comments to the media, the plane had been making its way down the runway when a loud pop and bang could be heard.

The plane started vibrating and shaking really bad, 17-year-old Shay Armistead told CNN. We started tilting to the left side of the runway, and then we heard the sound of the wind from them lifting up the brakes of the plane and slamming on them really hard.

American Airlines Flight Catches Fire, Evacuates Before Takeoff first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 27, 2025
American Airlines passengers at Denver International Airport were forced to evacuate a plane after the landing gear caught fire shortly before takeoff.

On Saturday, July 26, American Airlines Flight 3023 was set to depart for Miami International Airport when it encountered a mechanical issue involving an aircraft tyre and flames on the jet, the airline said in a statement to PEOPLE.

American Airlines flight 3023 experienced a mechanical issue on takeoff roll at Denver International Airport (DEN), American Airlines said. All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team.

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The combination of blown tires and the deceleration of the aircraft during braking resulted in a minor isolated brake fire that was quickly extinguished by the Denver Fire Department, the airline concluded.

There were 173 passengers and six crew members on board the aircraft when the incident occurred at around 2:45 p.m. local time, per CBS News. One passenger was transported to the hospital with a minor injury, American Airlines confirmed to PEOPLE.

Joe Raedle/Getty American Airlines plane (stock image) American Airlines plane (stock image)

In footage of the incident posted on Instagram, passengers are seen evacuating the smoking plane by going down an inflatable slide before running from the aircraft. Some passengers are holding their infant children, who are heard crying, as they go down the slide.

Five people were evaluated at the scene and not transported to the hospital, DEN confirmed on X. One person was evaluated at a gate before being sent to the hospital, the airport added.

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The Denver Fire Department and DEN First Responders assisted on the runway.

@Denver_Fire extinguished a fire after responding to the aircraft, the fire department later confirmed on X.

The Federal Aviation Administration is reportedly investigating the incident.

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.

Joe Raedle/Getty American Airlines jet (stock image) American Airlines jet (stock image)

Passenger Tsurkis alleged to CBS News that the incident occurred just before the plane took off. The pilots immediately slowed the plane down to a halt as passengers quickly noticed smoke coming up from the aircraft.

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"During the speed-up, when the plane almost took off, we heard a loud boom, and I said, 'That's not good,' " he told the outlet. "It was an unpleasant moment, but we were lucky that we didn't get up in the air yet, but I would imagine that it happened five to 10 seconds before we were airborne."

Passengers were put on a replacement aircraft heading for Miami later that day. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience, an American Airlines spokesperson said.

PEOPLE has reached out to the FAA for comment.



Read the original article on People
Shocking footage captures an amusement park ride stopped in mid-air, leaving riders dangling high above the ground.

The Sol Spin ride at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, suddenly malfunctioned Saturday afternoon as it was rotating 360 degrees.

Video from the Citizen App showed about 20 riders stuck in mid-air, with many screaming, some swinging their legs, and others leaning sideways on one of the rides six arms.

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"The safety of our guests is a top priority. Today the ride did not complete a full cycle as a safety precaution. The ride was stopped for approximately five minutes, Knotts Berry Farm said in a statement to ABC7.

The ride then reopened after a full safety inspection, the statement continued.

A ride at Knott's Berry Farm in California stopped mid-air, leaving riders dangling (File art of the theme park). (Joshua Sudock/Knotts Berry Farm)

The Independent has reached out to the amusement park for more information.

This thrilling ride is one for the brave, Knotts Farm says of Sol Spin. It rotates riders in three directions simultaneously, according to the parks website.

Sol Spin sends guests on a thrilling adventure over six stories high as they rotate in all directions on one of six spinning arms. Each arm rotates 360-degrees independent of one another providing a different experience every ride, the website states.

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Social media users replied to videos of the harrowing incident, calling it a nightmare.

One X user remarked: Oh. Hell. No. One of my worst fears unlocked.

What a nightmare! another said.

Another recalled a similar incident last year, put it succinctly: Again.

Last November, the same ride left 22 people suspended in the air for two hours due to technical difficulties, a spokesperson for the amusement park said at the time.

Some riders left the thrill ride in wheelchairs while two female guests were taken to the hospital for further evaluation "out of an abundance of caution, the spokesperson said in November.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health then inspected the ride, KTLA reported.
TORONTO, July 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association honored the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation with the Jerome H. Stone Philanthropy Award for Alzheimer's Research at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference  2025 (AAIC) for their deep and unwavering contributions to advancing progress in Alzheimer's science.

Fred A. Erb grew his family's firm into Michigan's largest supplier of lumber and building materials. Fred's business success was matched by the values and commitment to philanthropy he shared with his wife, Barbara. Fred passed away in 2013, just before his 90th birthday, after living with Alzheimer's disease for 12 years. The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation seeks improved prevention, management and treatment of Alzheimer's disease through leading research.

"We are honored to present the Jerome H. Stone Philanthropy Award for Alzheimer's Research to the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation," said Joanne Pike, DrPH, Alzheimer's Association president and CEO. "For over 15 years, they have shown visionary leadership in advancing Alzheimer's research to help all those affected by this devastating disease. The Erb Family Foundation's unwavering dedication will have far-reaching impacts for decades to come."

"The Erb Family Foundation dreams of a world without Alzheimer's disease," said Leslie Erb Liedtke, a trustee of the Foundation who advises its Alzheimer's research efforts. "We continue to believe that our funding and support for critical research will help move the needle closer to finding treatments and, ultimately, a cure."

Since 2009, the Erb Family Foundation has partnered with the Alzheimer's Association on a wide variety of important research opportunities, including:

Zenith Fellows Award Program  These prestigious research grants are open to U.S. and international researchers who are making significant contributions to accelerating prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

 These prestigious research grants are open to U.S. and international researchers who are making significant contributions to accelerating prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Funding of Early Career Researchers through the International Research Grant Program  These grants are made to early-career researchers who are using novel approaches to study dementia and develop new treatments and prevention strategies. They also serve to attract and retain top scientists to dedicate their careers to Alzheimer's and dementia research.

 These grants are made to early-career researchers who are using novel approaches to study dementia and develop new treatments and prevention strategies. They also serve to attract and retain top scientists to dedicate their careers to Alzheimer's and dementia research. The Fred and Barbara Erb Clinical Research Science Fellowships  In 2023, the Foundation made its largest ever investment in Alzheimer's and dementia research by establishing these prestigious clinical fellowships. This visionary grant program aims to jumpstart the careers of the next generation of researchers to accelerate breakthroughs in treatment and cure. In addition to a research grant, fellows receive an additional unrestricted stipend for professional development, which is critical for early-career investigators.

 In 2023, the Foundation made its largest ever investment in Alzheimer's and dementia research by establishing these prestigious clinical fellowships. This visionary grant program aims to jumpstart the careers of the next generation of researchers to accelerate breakthroughs in treatment and cure. In addition to a research grant, fellows receive an additional unrestricted stipend for professional development, which is critical for early-career investigators. Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's (A4) Study  This first trial to attempt to prevent Alzheimer's disease by keeping amyloid from being deposited in the brain was not itself successful, but it paved the way for today's innovative therapies that target the underlying biology of the disease.

 This first trial to attempt to prevent Alzheimer's disease by keeping amyloid from being deposited in the brain was not itself successful, but it paved the way for today's innovative therapies that target the underlying biology of the disease. U.S. POINTER  The Erb Family Foundation is a leading supporter of the Alzheimer's Association U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (U.S. POINTER). U.S. POINTER is one of the world's largest clinical trials to evaluate whether lifestyle interventions that target several risk factors at the same time can protect cognitive decline.

About the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation

Fred and Barbara Erb were driven by a heartfelt desire to create a better world for future generations. Their commitment to giving back has shaped a lasting legacy for the health of the Great Lakes, support for Detroit area cultural institutions, and the advancement of Alzheimer's research, sustainable business practices, and democracy. Today, Fred and Barbara's shared interests, passions, and values are reflected throughout the Foundation's grantmaking and have left a lasting legacy across Southeast Michigan and the Great Lakes region. https://www.erbff.org/

About the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC)

The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the largest international forum to advance dementia science and clinical practice. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community.

AAIC 2025 home page: www.alz.org/aaic

AAIC 2025 newsroom: www.alz.org/aaic/pressroom.asp

AAIC 2025 hashtag: #AAIC25

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia  by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
The U.S. fertility rate has now hit an all time low of 1.6 children per woman, as of new data released this week. This follows a pattern of birthrates declining to below replacement levels in both the developed and developing world.

The United States is now at approximately the same level as Western European countries that are more stereotypically perceived as small-family countries.

I have eight children, and the worldwide decline of children and kin terrifies me. My wife and I didnt choose to have a large family for patriotic or civic reasons, but because family connections are a priority in our lives.

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While the absolute number of children has increased because the number of women going through their childbearing years has increased, there are many reasons to believe that peoples collective decision to drastically reduce childbearing will have catastrophic effects across nations.

If this trend continues, my great-grandchildren will inherit a world vastly different from the one I was born into, one for which economic growth was taken as a given.

Currently, there are towns, schools and cities that are brimming with life, along with some money to invest, build, retire and enjoy life with (for some people), whereas in the future there simply wont be much if anything left over for the workers after the older people who cant work are taken care of.

It is true that we have our own problems in the here and now, and that economic gains have not been felt across the board. But whatever the concerns are with poverty now, a cratering birthrate means they will become worse.

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While having and raising children has never been easy, for my children and grandchildren it will be even harder, as much of their work will need to be siphoned off to support retirees. If some communities around the world continue their birthrate trajectory, they will be positioning themselves to crater like in a zombie apocalypse movie, with abandoned, decaying villages and cities while survivors cling to outposts of civilization. This might seem like a hyperbolic exaggeration, but a little math bears this out.

Women need to have 2.1 children or more for a developed, physically healthy country to replace themselves. In South Korea, women are having about  of a child (specifically .75), with no signs of any kind of real rebound. That means every generation will be about 36% the size of the previous generation. So if we start with 100 people in the first generation that means there will be 36 people in the next, 13 in the next, and about 5 in the next.

This bears repeating, in three generations 100 people will leave 13 descendants. That is 13 people supporting 100 grandparents. If there was a disease that destroyed all but 13% of a community across several lifetimes, eviscerating the younger generations but leaving older generations alone, it would be a five-alarm fire that would merit all of our resources. Yet this depopulation into oblivion is meriting at most a handful of expressions of concern and the occasional limited baby bonus.

Perhaps some of this is because demographic factors have a delayed response, so we as a society wont see the nuclear-level implications of our lack of having children for a while. At the current rates, world population will continue to increase for several decades. But like a hurricane gradually creeping toward the shore in a weather forecast, the current trends dont bode well for what is coming  which will be just as impossible to reverse once it hits.

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Some of this strange lack of concern is political. Now that controversial political figures on the right, like Elon Musk, have started talking about depopulation it has become right-coded meaning, thats of concern to those people on the right, but not to the rest of us.

But a problem like this is a problem no matter who happens to agree with you or whether you pull the D or R lever.

And some of this, I suspect, is also because for years it was a truism that population explosion was the problem. That kind of cultural and bureaucratic inertia doesnt change on a dime. One of my favorite shows growing up was Captain Planet which, in addition to having some good messages, encouraged its young audience to have few children. To this we can add famous science films such as Soylent Green, or even landmark novels such as Enders Game where it was taken for granted that the future was a dystopian world with too many people to support.

Of course many breathed a sigh of relief as the sky high fertility rates plummeted  but then they kept plummeting, and plummeting, and theres no end in sight.

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Occasionally the decline will pause, or researchers will find evidence that some of the decline was due to people having children at older ages more than people not having as many children at all. Sometimes people will point out very slight increases, ostensibly due to some new government program or another, that you can see when you squint. But these are relative blips in the data grasped at by overeager analysts. The big story is the overall decline across countries and contexts.

And it is across countries and contexts. One of the common rejoinders to depopulation anxiety is that it is developed, largely white countries that are disappearing, and if we just take off our racist blinders and accept immigrants from other countries then population decline is solved.

It is, admittedly, true that there are cases where there is something to this argument as a stopgap measure. For example, if Japan were to loosen up immigration and accept young workers and families from Southeast Asian countries, it would go a long way to solving their aging population issue right now.

It is also true that I intentionally picked South Korea above as one of the worst case scenarios. Yet, even Thailand, for example, is not much better, with women having about one child on average, halving the population from generation to generation.

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As Japans TFR is around the same (1.15), Thailand just wont have the population to save Japan from societal collapse. The premise that its only developed, largely white countries that arent replacing themselves just isnt true.

The fact is the traditional sources of immigrants are drying up as their fertility rates are also falling off cliffs. Some in the U.S. assume there will always be a mass of willing and young Mexican workers ready to come to the United States. But this is just false, as Mexican women  who in the past had many more children than U.S. women  are now having about as many babies.

Chilean women are also now giving birth to about one child per woman, halving the size of each subsequent generation. This storm is hitting almost everywhere. According to the Population Reference Bureau, European women are having an average of 1.4 children; North, Central and South American women are having 1.7; Asian women are having 1.8. The only continent that is still replacing itself is Africa, where the average woman has four children.

Decreasing birth rates  like NGOs and governments did in the 1970s and 1980s  is relatively easy; its not hard to convince people to spend less resources on other people. But increasing them by convincing people to spend time and money on others is far more difficult.

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Its true that young people from, say, Colombia (where future generations will be about half the size of their parent generation), could still come to the U.S., but they would be leaving their own grandparents without as much support when they reach the point where they are unable to work.

It is worth noting that in less economically developed societies without reliable government pension systems, old people are typically cared for by descendants. So without them and without government support in some cases, older people unable to work wont have much to live on.

While it is true that there are a shrinking handful of African countries that are still producing a lot of children, those numbers are also falling fast. According to some estimates, the world is already not producing enough children to replace itself. So even assuming an extremely liberal immigration regimen, there simply wont be enough third or fourth children from Chad and Mali to populate the overgrown ghost towns in Russia.

Of course, when depopulation is invoked, some still envision a future where everybody has their own grand beachside estates  since there are fewer people eating up finite natural resources. But whos going to build such estates? Who is going to come up with the ideas that generate money and advance society? The fact is that the innovation, dynamism, risk-taking and construction that economies and societies are built on is largely a young persons game, and the economic consensus is that top-heavy population pyramids soak up resources that could be spent innovating, building, and investing in the future.

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These are just the economic arguments. At current trajectories of depopulation, South Korean culture will contract considerably in the foreseeable future. The millenia-old society that gave us world-class scientific discoveries, popular music, cinema and cuisine will end, not in a genocide or some grand, cataclysmal war  but in a whimper, as men and women simply stop pairing up and having children.

Repeat this for a variety of societies and cultures worldwide. This is not saying that Korean culture is better than, say, Somali culture, which is doing an admirable job of regenerating itself. but rather that the whole world is impoverished as major pieces of its rich tapestry of cultures are consigned to oblivion.

In another Deseret News article on this, Mariya Manzhos quoted UPenn economics Professor Fernandez-Villaverde that Once you start thinking about these issues, its hard to think about anything else.

Ive felt for myself how easy it can be to become a fatalistic doomer, but perhaps in the ashes of declining worlds, groups of people who intentionally want children and kin from generation to generation will inherit the earth. Hyper-individualism, rooted in largely secular environments, has been shown to be a dead-end, decadent ideology incapable of creating new humanity.

But there are other ideologies and communities that have chosen life that can still rise up to take their place.
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The Saami people, who are indigenous to Finland, speak a Uralic language. | Credit: Getty Images

Present-day speakers of Hungarian, Finnish and Estonian have substantial Siberian ancestry, a new study of ancient genomes finds. These roots likely spread westward from a group of people living in the forest steppes of the Altai Mountains of Central and East Asia 4,500 years ago.

Ancient DNA revealed that this group was patrilineal, or organized based on descent from fathers.

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However, while ancient DNA can show where a group moved over time, it's challenging to use genetics to track language. So experts have noted that the results do not definitively prove a link between speakers of these languages and the ancient DNA pattern.

Migrating out of Siberia

In a study published July 2 in the journal Nature , researchers analyzed 180 people who lived in northern Eurasia between the Mesolithic period and the Bronze Age (11,000 to 4,000 years ago). The team then added these individuals to a database of more than 1,300 previously analyzed ancient people, and then compared these genomes to those of modern people. One significant finding came from the genomes dating to the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (4,500 to 3,200 years ago).

They discovered that the geographical locations of ancient people with a DNA pattern they termed Yakutia_LNBA were "unambiguously associated with ancient and present-day Uralic-speaking populations," the researchers wrote in the study.

Related: Can you forget your native language?

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Uralic languages are a group of more than 20 tongues spoken by millions of people, but the most prominent are Estonian, Finnish and Hungarian. Linguists have been interested in these three major Uralic languages because they are different from the Indo-European ones spoken in the countries around them.

"Neighboring populations speaking Indo-European languages tend not to have Yakutia_LNBA ancestry, or any other kind of East Asian ancestry," study lead author Tian Chen Zeng , a graduate student in human evolutionary biology at Harvard University told Live Science in an email. "Yakutia_LNBA ancestry is the only East Asian ancestry present in the genetic makeup of almost all present and ancient Uralic-speaking populations."

The researchers identified the Yakutia_LNBA group in the bones of people who lived between 4,500 and 3,200 years ago in Siberia. They may have been part of the Ymyyakhtakh culture , an ancient culture in northeast Siberia that had ceramic technology, bronze objects and arrowheads made of stone and bone.

Archaeologists had previously found that Ymyyakhtakh pottery spread south to the forest steppes of the Altai-Sayan region near the intersection of modern-day Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China around 4,000 years ago. The researchers suggested the Yakutia_LNBA DNA pattern may therefore be tied to prehistoric Uralic-speaking cultures.

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"A straightforward interpretation of this is that Yakutia_LNBA ancestry dispersed from East to West alongside the Uralic languages," Zeng said.

"We show that Yakutia_LNBA may serve as an excellent tracer dye for the spread of early Uralic-speaking communities," the researchers noted in the study.

The scientists also found that this group, which eventually spread westward, may have been organized by patrilineal descent, based on Y chromosome patterns in the ancient DNA.

The challenges of tracking languages

But the association between genetics and language is complicated to prove, particularly in the past.

"One's genetic make-up offers no insight into the range of languages one might speak, nor which of these one considers their primary language," Catherine Frieman , an archaeologist at Australian National University who was not involved in the study, told Live Science in an email.

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Because people communicate in complex ways, "I think we need to consider how multilingualism, including across language families, may have shaped or affected language spread and change," Frieman said.

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While the researchers do not address multilingualism in their study, Zeng said that "it is extremely likely that ancient populations were multilingual." However, he said, "extensive language change would have likely involved migration  or at the very least the integration of a substantial fraction of linguistic newcomers into populations across a region  to a level that is likely to leave some genetic impact."

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But Frieman cautions that we need to be careful not to equate a genetic cluster to a specific language or family, particularly when thinking about how past people lived their lives.

Although the study presents "an interesting and welcome focus on [ancient] DNA from eastern Eurasia," Frieman said, "this particular manuscript was largely designed to answer questions about population genomics," not language, Frieman said.

Stone Age quiz: What do you know about the Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic?
An AutoZone in South Los Angeles was broken into early Saturday morning near a reported street takeover, police said.

The incident follows two similar break-ins earlier this week and last month at South L.A. AutoZones, in which crowds ransacked the stores during possible street takeovers nearby.

During the most recent incident, which occurred about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, police received calls stating that dozens of cars were in the intersection of Century Boulevard and Central Avenue doing burnouts while hundreds of people watched, said Jeff Lee, a

public information officer for the Los Angeles Police Department.

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Around the same time, calls came in reporting people breaking into an AutoZone near the intersection. Callers said that at least some of the men were wearing ski masks, that they came from the street takeover crowd and that as many as 50 people were inside the store taking items, Lee said.

Lee said police responded to the blocked intersection and AutoZone incidents, causing crowds to flee.

There have been no arrests for the AutoZone burglary, Lee said, and he had no information on damage to the store or what was taken. Lee said there also were no reports of arrests during the street takeover.

He said detectives are investigating the burglary and will look at surveillance and social media video.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
(KRON)  Authorities pulled a body from the Russian River around 11:20 a.m. Sunday, after a man is thought to have drowned at Hacienda Bridge the day before.

The man was seen using a rope swing to jump into the water shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday and did not resurface, according to the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office.

A body believed to be from the missing person was located in the Russian River, the sheriffs office said.

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Two people drown in single day on Bay Area river

The scene of a drowning reported on the Russian River on July 26, 2025. (Photos courtesy of the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office)

The SCSO, Sonoma County Fire District, Graton Fire, Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol, and CHP helicopter H30 all responded to the reported drowning.

The sheriffs office wants to express condolences to the decedents family and friends, SCSO said. Once the coroners unit confirms his identity, his information will be provided.

Man dead after Lafayette solo car crash: CHP

Multiple people have drowned in the Russian River this summer. On July 13, two people drowned in the river in one 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 KRON4.
Another whistleblower has made claims to the Justice Departments watchdog that Emil Bove  a top agency official who is now nominated for a judgeship  suggested others in the department could ignore court orders during a contentious legal battle in an immigration case.

The whistleblower, a former DOJ attorney in the Office of Immigration Litigation, told CNN documents have been filed with the DOJ Office of the Inspector General that appear to align with another whistleblowers account that Bove tried to mislead federal judges during the administrations aggressive deportation effort this spring.

I think it would be incredibly dangerous for someone like that to have a lifetime appointment as a federal appellate judge, the whistleblower said.

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These disclosures were filed in May before Erez Reuveni, an immigration law specialist who worked on the case of the mistakenly deported immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, made similar claims in a whistleblower letter in June. Once Reuveini went public, this whistleblower, who worked with Reuveni, decided to publicize on Friday that their own disclosure had been made to the DOJ inspector general ahead of Boves Senate confirmation vote.

CNN has not independently reviewed the documents submitted by this whistleblower, who is being represented by Whistleblower Aid. News of the latest disclosure comes days before Bove, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump, is set to receive a final Senate vote to be confirmed for a lifetime appointment to an appellate judgeship.

I think he has demonstrated in several ways that he doesnt respect the authority of the federal courts and doesnt respect the role of the DOJ attorneys representing the United States before those courts, this whistleblower told CNN.

In a statement to CNN about this newly discovered disclosure, a DOJ spokesperson said Bove will make an excellent judge.

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Emil Bove is a highly qualified judicial nominee who has done incredible work at the Department of Justice to help protect civil rights, dismantle Foreign Terrorist Organizations, and Make America Safe Again, spokesperson Gates McGavick told CNN. He will make an excellent judge  the Departments loss will be the Third Circuits gain.

While working as the presidents personal attorney, Bove helped defend Trump in his federal criminal cases, both of which were dismissed after his reelection last fall, and in the New York hush-money case, in which Trump was found guilty of all 34 charges he faced.

Bove has repeatedly rejected the claims of the first whistleblower, who alleged in a letter that Bove said in a March meeting that DOJ would need to consider telling the courts f**k you if they stood in the way of Trumps deportation efforts. During a confirmation hearing, Bove said he had no recollection of the claims leveled in the letter.

I dont think theres any validity to the suggestion that that whistleblower complaint filed  calls into question my qualifications to serve as a circuit judge, Bove said to the committee.

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He also said: I have never advised a Department of Justice attorney to violate a court order.

Even amid the disclosures, Boves nomination has moved through the Senate along partisan lines. Earlier this month, all 12 Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move Boves nomination forward, as Democratic Sen. Cory Booker railed against Republican Chair Chuck Grassley and every Democratic senator walked out.

The latest whistleblower told CNN their decision to leave the Justice Department was solidified in March shortly after the Trump administration sent planes with migrants to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act, despite court orders to stop the hasty deportations. The whistleblower alleged Bove told attorneys to mislead the court.

It was not a place where I could continue to work, the whistleblower told CNN.

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The Senate Judiciary Committee received a letter in June asserting that this whistleblower had made a protected disclosure to the DOJ inspector general and asked the panel to contact the independent watchdog about the status of the investigation, according to a copy shared with CNN.

Although the letter shared with Grassley and ranking Democratic member Dick Durbin does not name Bove specifically, it says our client provided evidence that established their reasonable belief that senior Department of Justice officials may have violated laws, rules or regulations-notably with respect to a March 2025 Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued by the presiding judge in a matter before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

The whistleblower said they are concerned that Senate Republicans arent taking the time to dig into the claims.

It appears Senate Republicans are not taking seriously Boves nomination because they would rather rush to confirm him based on their loyalty to the president rather than take more time to investigate any potential allegations of wrongdoing the whistleblower said.

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A spokesperson for Grassley told CNN the senators office has contacted legal representatives for the whistleblower about their complaint, along with the DOJ inspector generals office. A spokesperson for Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee declined to comment.

The DOJ inspector generals office did not respond to CNNs request for comment.

CNNs Shania Shelton contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Wildfires that engulfed Turkiye for weeks surrounded the countrys fourth-largest city, causing more than 1,700 people to flee their homes and leaving one firefighter dead.

Fires in the forested mountains surrounding Bursa in northwest Turkiye spread rapidly overnight on Sunday, causing a red glow over the city.

Dozens of severe wildfires have hit the country since late June with the government declaring two western provinces, Izmir and Bilecik, disaster areas on Friday.





Bursa governors office said in a statement on Sunday that 1,765 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the northeast as more than 1,900 firefighters battled the flames. Authorities said 500 rescue workers were also on the ground.

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The highway linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara, was closed as surrounding forests burned.

A firefighter died from a heart attack while on the job, the citys mayor, Mustafa Bozbey, said in a statement, adding the flames scorched 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) around the city.

Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for the province, described the scene as an apocalypse.

Relatives and friends mourn during the funeral of five rescue volunteers killed while battling a wildfire in northwestern Eskisehir province, in Ankara, Turkiye, July 24, 2025 [Yavuz Ozden/Dia Photo via AP]

Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said fire crews across the country battled 84 separate blazes. The countrys northwest is under the greatest threat, including Karabuk, where wildfires have burned since Tuesday, he said.

Unusually high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have been fuelling the wildfires.

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Yumakli said 2,000 firefighters are struggling to battle the wildfire in the area with the help of six firefighting planes and four helicopters.

We are going through risky times. This does not seem likely to end in two or three days, Yumakli said, referring to the heatwave.

The General Directorate of Meteorology said Turkiye recorded its highest ever temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius (122.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday. The highest temperatures for July were seen in 132 other locations.

The previous national record was set on August 15, 2023 in Saricakaya, Eskisehir, at 49.5C (121.1F), Anadolu news agency reported.

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At least 14 people have died in recent weeks, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed on Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir in western Turkiye.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said late on Saturday that prosecutors had investigated fires in 33 provinces since June 26, and legal action had been taken against 97 suspects.
Nephtali Santiago-Garcia and Yuli "Nissy" Esther Degante Vigueras must have had a house that smelled pretty good recently. Thats because the couple had an estimated $355,000 worth of Bath & Body Works products stashed on their property.

The two individuals involved werent just really (really) into candles and lotions, of course. They were part of an intricate theft operation, involving a Bath & Body Works delivery driver and an organized retail theft ring that was stealing merchandise to the couple to illegally resell.

"Their living room was set up like a retail store," the Phoenix Police shared in a news conference. "You were invited to shop around. When you made a purchase, they went so far as to wrap it up in a Bath & Body Works paper shopping bag just like you would have at a real store, adding, None of it was legitimate."

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Here's how the theft ring operated, along with some advice for customers who want to avoid inadvertently participating in a similar illegal scheme.

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Large-scale retail theft ring

Police came across Santiago-Garcia and Degante-Vigueras after a long investigation that began in 2023, following a tip from a loss prevention department at an Arizona Bath & Body Works. According to that tip, criminals were coming into their store and clearing out the shelves in a matter of a few minutes.

"When it is scaring customers, employees are running for the back type of thing, you realize that this is a serious thing," police officials said.

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In total, criminals ended up stealing over $160,000 in merchandise from stores in Arizona, Texas and Nevada  and police found they were selling most of this stuff to the husband-and-wife team, who lived in Glendale.

While the couple is accused of trafficking a large amount of their merchandise from the robbers, they also teamed up with Marcos Ortega-Hernandez, a delivery driver, who was paid more than $72,000 to provide the couple with products instead of delivering them to the stores where the items were intended to go.

The couple set up a storefront in their living room and would hold garage sales every weekend, where he would have tables of stolen merchandise to sell and advertising on OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace and TikTok.

Fortunately, police were able to unravel the scheme and arrest the couple, along with the crew members and a number of other people accused of physically stealing the goods. The couple and the delivery driver are facing charges including fraud, illegal control of an enterprise and trafficking stolen property.

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And the impact extends beyond a financial hit to the companys bottom line.

It is a part of a much bigger problem. It affects prices, public safety and the health of our local economies, officials said.

The Arizona police are actively investigating other retail crime operations in the area.

So you can either go out there and make an honest living, or you can keep looking over your shoulder wondering if your name is next on our list, cautioned a spokesperson for the Phoenix Police.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America  and that anyone can do it

What happens if you buy stolen goods?

Santiago-Garcia and Degante-Vigueras were making profit selling their stolen merchandise, which means there were customers who may have been participating in the scheme. But, the big question is, would those buyers have known the items were stolen and, if so, what happens to people who knowingly buy stolen property?

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Under Arizona law, buying or possessing stolen property is a crime. According to Criminal Code 13-2305 you could be charged with a criminal offense if:

You have property in your possession that was recently stolen and don't have a good explanation for how you got it.

You purchased stolen property at a rate that's much lower than what the items normally cost and you don't have a good reason for why you paid so little.

You bought stolen property in a way that's outside of the regular course of business without a valid explanation.

Many other states also have similar laws.

Based on these laws, people who went into the home of this Glendale couple and brought products could very likely be charged, as this transaction was definitely out of the ordinary course of business and as most people don't have Bath & Body Works stores in their homes.

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Of course, no one wants a criminal record and especially not for buying scented body lotion  or similar relatively inexpensive personal items. To avoid unwitting participating in a similar scheme:

Dont buy goods from sellers you don't know, or whose reputation you can't verify

Request that a seller provide proof they own an item legitimately before you buy it

Be cautious if a deal seems too good to be true

Avoid situations that are out-of-the-ordinary pathways to ownership, such as buying Bath & Body works from someone's living room

While a cheap candle, home fragrance, or other item at a rock bottom price may seem tempting, taking these steps to help you avoid buying stolen goods ensures you won't unintentionally support a criminal enterprise  or end up with a criminal record yourself.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
An Arizona woman was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for helping North Korea exploit hundreds of American companies, while generating more than $17 million for herself and the foreign government, the U.S. Department of Justice announced July 24.

In February, Christina Marie Chapman, a 50-year-old resident of Litchfield Park, pleaded guilty to charges stemming from her role in a scheme to obtain remote jobs in the U.S. for overseas information technology workers by having them pose as legal residents.

She was charged last year with aggravated identity theft, as well as conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

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U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C., ordered Chapman to serve 102 months in prison and three years of supervised release. She must also forfeit nearly $285,000 that she intended to send to North Korea and pay a $176,850 judgment.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti said the yearslong scheme defrauded more than 300 companies, resulting in a dozen stolen identities of U.S. citizens.

Chapman made the wrong calculation: short-term personal gains that inflict harm on our citizens and support a foreign adversary will have severe long-term consequences, he said in the departments announcement.

News alerts in your inbox: Don't miss the important news of the day. Sign up for azcentral newsletter alerts to be in the know.

What US companies unknowingly hired North Korean tech workers?

Chapman helped North Korean IT workers secure jobs at 309 American businesses and two international companies, including Fortune 500 corporations, according to the Justice Department.

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The companies included a major television network, a Silicon Valley technology company, an aerospace manufacturer and an American car maker.

Chapman would host the overseas workers' computers, so it looked like they were in the U.S., according to court records. She also shipped nearly 50 laptops and other devices overseas, including to a Chinese city that borders North Korea.

During the FBIs investigation, investigators found more than 90 laptops at Chapmans home.

Using the names of people whose identities were stolen, she reported to the IRS and Social Security Administration millions of dollars in income that the North Korean workers generated, according to the Justice Department.

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Prosecutors said she also forged and received payroll checks and direct deposits on behalf of the overseas workers.

The scheme was elaborate, said Carissa Messick, the special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office. If this sentencing proves anything, its that no amount of obfuscation will prevent IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners from tracking down those who wish to steal the identities of U.S. nationals, launder money, or engage in criminality that jeopardizes national security.

North Korean government will go to great lengths for money, FBI agent says

According to the Justice Department, Chapman represented one aspect of a larger scheme in which thousands of high-skilled IT workers from North Korea are deployed across the world.

Tasked with obtaining remote employment, they use falsified, stolen, or borrowed identities, oftentimes with the help of U.S.-based collaborators such as Chapman.

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The sentencing today demonstrates the great lengths to which the North Korean government will go in its efforts and resources to fund its illicit activities, Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke of the FBI Phoenix Field Office said.

The FBI continues to pursue these threat actors to disrupt their network and hold those accountable wherever they may be, Janke said.

How companies can protect themselves from hiring North Korean workers

The FBI published guidance to help businesses spot when a job applicant may be impersonating someone else during the hiring process.

It advised companies to scrutinize a persons identity verification documents, like checking for misspellings and cross-referencing photos and contact information.

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Businesses should also verify the applicants prior employment and education history, as well as require in-person interviews or drug tests, when possible. If the interview must be done remotely, the FBI suggested that cameras be on and backgrounds remain unobscured.

The FBI also recommended analyzing employees payment methods, like monitoring those who routinely change their bank accounts.

I encourage companies to remain vigilant of these cyber threats, and warn individuals who may be tempted by similar schemes to take heed of todays sentence," Galeotti said.

Shawn Raymundo covers Phoenix and Scottsdale. Reach him at sraymundo@gannett.com or follow him on X @ShawnzyTsunami.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizonan gets 8-year prison sentence for North Korean IT worker scheme
For Cape Town-based filmmaker Kate Dhotman, connecting with movie audiences comes naturally. Far more daunting is speaking with others. Ive never understood how people [decipher] social cues, the 40-year-old director of horror films says.

Dhotman has autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can make relating to others exhausting and a challenge. However, since 2022, Dhotman has been a regular user of ChatGPT, the popular AI-powered chatbot from OpenAI, relying on it to overcome communication barriers at work and in her personal life.

I know its a machine, she says. But sometimes, honestly, its the most empathetic voice in my life.

Neurodivergent people  including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia and other conditions  can experience the world differently from the neurotypical norm. Talking to a colleague, or even texting a friend, can entail misread signals, a misunderstood tone and unintended impressions.

AI-powered chatbots have emerged as an unlikely ally, helping people navigate social encounters with real-time guidance. Although this new technology is not without risks  in particular some worry about over-reliance  many neurodivergent users now see it as a lifeline.

How does it work in practice? For Dhotman, ChatGPT acts as an editor, translator and confidant. Before using the technology, she says communicating in neurotypical spaces was difficult. She recalls how she once sent her boss a bulleted list of ways to improve the company, at their request. But what she took to be a straightforward response was received as overly blunt, and even rude.

Now, she regularly runs things by ChatGPT, asking the chatbot to consider the tone and context of her conversations. Sometimes shell instruct it to take on the role of a psychologist or therapist, asking for help to navigate scenarios as sensitive as a misunderstanding with her best friend. She once uploaded months of messages between them, prompting the chatbot to help her see what she might have otherwise missed. Unlike humans, Dhotman says, the chatbot is positive and non-judgmental.

Thats a feeling other neurodivergent people can relate to. Sarah Rickwood, a senior project manager in the sales training industry, based in Kent, England, has ADHD and autism. Rickwood says she has ideas that run away with her and often loses people in conversations. I dont do myself justice, she says, noting that ChatGPT has allowed me to do a lot more with my brain. With its help, she can put together emails and business cases more clearly.

The use of AI-powered tools is surging. A January study conducted by Google and the polling firm Ipsos found that AI usage globally has jumped 48%, with excitement about the technologys practical benefits now exceeding concerns over its potentially adverse effects. In February, OpenAI told Reuters that its weekly active users surpassed 400 million, of which at least 2 million are paying business users.

But for neurodivergent users, these arent just tools of convenience and some AI-powered chatbots are now being created with the neurodivergent community in mind.

Michael Daniel, an engineer and entrepreneur based in Newcastle, Australia, told Reuters that it wasnt until his daughter was diagnosed with autism  and he received the same diagnosis himself  that he realised how much he had been masking his own neurodivergent traits. His desire to communicate more clearly with his neurotypical wife and loved ones inspired him to build Neurotranslator, an AI-powered personal assistant, which he credits with helping him fully understand and process interactions, as well as avoid misunderstandings.

Wow  thats a unique shirt, he recalls saying about his wifes outfit one day, without realising how his comment might be perceived. She asked him to run the comment through NeuroTranslator, which helped him recognise that, without a positive affirmation, remarks about a persons appearance could come across as criticism.

The emotional baggage that [normally] comes along with those situations would just disappear within minutes, he says of using the app.

Since its launch in September, Daniel says NeuroTranslator has attracted more than 200 paid subscribers. An earlier web version of the app, called Autistic Translator, amassed 500 monthly paid subscribers.

As transformative as this technology has become, some warn against becoming too dependent. The ability to get results on demand can be very seductive, says Larissa Suzuki, a London-based computer scientist and visiting NASA researcher who is herself neurodivergent.

Overreliance could be harmful if it inhibits neurodivergent users ability to function without it, or if the technology itself becomes unreliable  as is already the case with many AI search-engine results, according to a recent study from the Columbia Journalism Review. If AI starts screwing up things and getting things wrong, Suzuki says, people might give up on technology, and on themselves."

Baring your soul to an AI chatbot does carry risk, agrees Gianluca Mauro, an AI adviser and co-author of Zero to AI. The objective [of AI models like ChatGPT] is to satisfy the user, he says, raising questions about its willingness to offer critical advice. Unlike therapists, these tools arent bound by ethical codes or professional guidelines. If AI has the potential to become addictive, Mauro adds, regulation should follow.

A recent study by Carnegie Mellon and Microsoft (which is a key investor in OpenAI) suggests that long-term overdependence on generative AI tools can undermine users critical-thinking skills and leave them ill-equipped to manage without it. While AI can improve efficiency, the researchers wrote, it may also reduce critical engagement, particularly in routine or lower-stakes tasks in which users simply rely on AI.

While Dr. Melanie Katzman, a clinical psychologist and expert in human behaviour, recognises the benefits of AI for neurodivergent people, she does see downsides, such as giving patients an excuse not to engage with others.

A therapist will push their patient to try different things outside of their comfort zone. "I think it's harder for your AI companion to push you," she says.

But for users who have come to rely on this technology, such fears are academic.

A lot of us just end up kind of retreating from society, warns Dhotman, who says that she barely left the house in the year following her autism diagnosis, feeling overwhelmed. Were she to give up using ChatGPT, she fears she would return to that traumatic period of isolation.

As somebody who's struggled with a disability my whole life, she says, I need this.
A U.S. Army ROTC cadet died this past week while training at Fort Knox, the Army announced.

Cadet Neil Edara, 22, died on Thursday, July 24 after becoming unresponsive during land navigation training. He was there as part of the Armys ROTC Cadet Summer Training (CST), an annual program that brings in thousands of trainees to the Kentucky base.

After being found unresponsive, Edara was given medical attention on the scene and transported via helicopter from Fort Knox to the University of Louisville. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

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The cause of death is being investigated, U.S. Army Cadet Command said. Training was not paused as a result of Edaras death, although the Army said that counseling is available for cadets in the wake of his passing. No other details on the incident were provided.

Edara was a college student at Rutgers University and joined the ROTC program in 2021, set to graduate in 2026. He was also a part-time emergency medical technician, per his LinkedIn page.

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Cadet Edara was one of the most dedicated and promising young leaders Ive had the privilege to know, Lt. Col. Timothy Sorensen, a professor of military science at Rutgers University, said in Army Cadet Commands announcement. His calm collected demeanor and unwavering commitment to excellence left a lasting impact on everyone around him. His loss is deeply felt across the entire ROTC and Rutgers community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

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The ROTC Cadet Summer Training program is a multi-week course held at Fort Knox, covering basic combat skills, land navigation and small-unit exercises.

Edara is the latest Army trainee to die this year. In April, a trainee assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment was found deceased during training at Fort Jackson. The soldier was there for basic training. The Army initiated a 48-hour training standdown after his death.
Against the backdrop of a looming hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, large-scale aid deliveries reached the besieged and embattled coastal area for the first time in months on Sunday.

A convoy of around 100 lorries carrying goods for the suffering population entered the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom border crossing, according to sources in the Palestinian territory.

A few hours earlier, the Israeli military announced that it would observe a daily self-declared "tactical pause in military activity for humanitarian purposes" in parts of the Gaza Strip from 10 am to 8 pm (0700-1700 GMT) until further notice.

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The pause applies to al-Mawasi in the south-west of the coastal strip, Deir al-Balah in the centre and Gaza City in the north - areas where the Israeli army is not operating, it said.

Israel designated al-Mawasi as a "humanitarian zone" earlier in the war. However, the military has since attacked there multiple times, resulting in many deaths. Deir al-Balah is home to the World Health Organization's (WHO) central warehouse, which the WHO said was damaged when Israeli ground troops first entered the area.

In addition, humanitarian corridors will be in place from 6 am to 11 pm to allow the UN and aid organizations to deliver food and medicine to the population in Gaza, the military said.

UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the announcement by the Israeli military. "In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window," he wrote on X.

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Israel's actions come in response to growing international criticism of its military operations in the Palestinian territory. Since Israel ended a ceasefire in March, only limited aid has reached the area.

The WHO recently warned of a deadly hunger crisis among the approximately 2 million residents of the Gaza Strip. Israel denies the risk of a hunger crisis, instead describing it as a "campaign" by the Islamist group Hamas.

The Gaza war was triggered by the attack by Hamas and other Islamist terrorist organizations on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage into Gaza.

Since then, nearly 60,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to the health authority controlled by Hamas. These figures, which cannot be independently verified, do not distinguish between civilians and fighters but are considered largely reliable by UN organizations.

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Overnight, seven pallets of aid - including flour, sugar and canned food - provided by international organizations were dropped into the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said.

The Times of Israel newspaper said this was the first time Israel has dropped aid supplies into the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, having previously only allowed other countries to carry out such deliveries.
Against the backdrop of a looming hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip, large-scale aid deliveries reached the besieged and embattled coastal area for the first time in months on Sunday.

A convoy of some 100 lorries carrying goods for the suffering population entered the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom border crossing, according to sources in the Palestinian territory.

A few hours earlier, the Israeli military announced that it would observe a daily self-declared "tactical pause in military activity for humanitarian purposes" in parts of the Gaza Strip from 10 am to 8 pm (0700-1700 GMT) until further notice.

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The pause applies to al-Mawasi in the south-west of the coastal strip, Deir al-Balah in the centre and Gaza City in the north - areas where the Israeli army is not operating, it said.

Israel designated al-Mawasi as a "humanitarian zone" earlier in the war. However, the military has since attacked there multiple times, resulting in many deaths. Deir al-Balah is home to the World Health Organization's (WHO) central warehouse, which the WHO said was damaged when Israeli ground troops first entered the area.

In addition, humanitarian corridors will be in place from 6 am to 11 pm to allow the UN and aid organizations to deliver food and medicine to the population in Gaza, the military said.

UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the announcement by the Israeli military. "In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window," he wrote on X.

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The World Food Programme (WFP) declared on X: "@WFP has teams on the ground and enough food to reach people in need across the Gaza Strip at scale."

"Now is the time to act," WFP Director Cindy McCain wrote on X.

The UN children's charity UNICEF welcomed the announcement by Israel of aid airdrops.

"This is an opportunity to begin to reverse this catastrophe and save lives," UNICEF posted on X.

"Since the collapse of the ceasefire in March, children have been trapped in a nightmare and deprived of the basics to survive. They are hungry, traumatized and have no safe place to go."

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"The entire population of over 2 million people in Gaza is severely food insecure. One out of every three people has not eaten for days and 80% of all reported deaths by starvation are children."

Israel's actions came in response to growing international criticism of its military operations in the Palestinian territory. Since Israel ended a ceasefire in March, only limited aid has reached the area.

The WHO recently warned of a deadly hunger crisis among the residents of the Gaza Strip. Israel denies the risk of a famine, instead describing it as a "campaign" by the Islamist group Hamas.

Meanwhile Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the resumption of larger aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip.

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In a post on X, Ben-Gvir described the move as a slap in the face for Israeli soldiers.

The delivery of humanitarian aid is tantamount to "keeping the enemy alive," Ben-Gvir also wrote.

The Gaza war was triggered by the attack by Hamas and other Palestinian extremist organizations on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage into Gaza.

Since then, nearly 60,000 people in Gaza have been killed, according to the health authority controlled by Hamas. These figures, which cannot be independently verified, do not distinguish between civilians and fighters but are considered largely reliable by UN organizations.

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Overnight, seven pallets of aid - including flour, sugar and canned food - provided by international organizations were dropped into the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said.

The Times of Israel newspaper said this was the first time Israel has dropped aid supplies into the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the war, having previously only allowed other countries to carry out such deliveries.
EAST HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11)  Artists are bringing new life and healing to East Harlem through vibrant murals and community art events.

Saturday, over 30 artists gathered at 125th Street and Lexington Avenue to paint murals as part of a beautification project led by Uptown Grand Central, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the neighborhood.

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Among the artists was Fallou Wadje, a painter and fashion designer from Senegal who now lives in Harlem. She has been involved in several mural projects in the community, finding inspiration in her personal growth and her grandfathers faith. My self-development is my success right now, who I am, who I built myself to be today, Wadje shared. Another mural she worked on, not far from 125th Street, carries the heartfelt message, Allah is love, reflecting both her cultural roots and spiritual beliefs.

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Wadje emphasized the importance of love during challenging times. She also noted that 90 local children participated in the mural painting, highlighting the community-driven spirit of the project.

In addition to her mural work, Wadje is currently showcasing her new exhibit, Woman and Society, aimed at bringing the Harlem community together through creativity. She describes the exhibit as a space where people can relax, connect, and experience art freely, based on love. The event is meant to bring the community together, using creativity to help people relax, feel connected, and experience art based on love, Wadje explained.

Looking around at the murals and fellow artists painting on the same streets where she first started, Wadje expressed hope that art can be a source of healing. We need to heal our people. Through the art, just standing here and looking at the colors, the colors heal. Im African, I know about color. Look at this, this is beauty, a sense of joy, she said.

For more information on Fallou Wadje, click here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday said that Israel was "quite clearly" breaching international law in the Gaza Strip, but Canberra was not planning on recognizing a Palestinian state "imminently."

"The civilian casualties and death in Gaza, is completely unacceptable, it's completely indefensible," Albanese told Australian broadcaster ABC.

"Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered, which was a decision that Israel made in March," Albanese said, though he said formal assessments of breaches would "play out their course."

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"International law says that you can't hold innocent people responsible for what is a conflict," he continued.

Asked whether Australia is planning to follow in France's footsteps and recognize Palestine as a state in the near future, Albanese said that his government would not make such a move "imminently."

"You need to recognize a Palestinian state as part of moving forward," the Australian premier said.

"How do you ensure that a Palestinian state operates in an appropriate way which does not threaten the existence of Israel?"

"And so we won't do any decision as a gesture, we will do it as a way forward if the circumstances are met," Albanese said.

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"Hamas can have no role in a future state," he added.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France would recognize Palestine as a state in September.

Almost 150 UN member states already recognize Palestinian statehood. However, important Western countries are not among them, including the UN veto powers the United States and the United Kingdom.

The war in Gaza has claimed more than 53,000 Palestinian lives, according to the Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned the population is at risk of famine.

Israel on Saturday announced it would implement "humanitarian pauses" to allow the distribution of aid in some areas of the Gaza Strip.
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that a decision to ease rules on U.S. beef imports was not prompted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump this week said the U.S. would sell "so much" beef to Australia after Canberra announced the relaxation of restrictions, potentially smoothing trade talks with Washington.

In place since 2003, the curbs were due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, which can kill cattle as well as people who eat infected beef.

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When asked on Sunday if the easing had anything to do with Trump, Albanese said "No, this has been a process that has been there for 10 years, the review process".

"This wasn't a political decision," Albanese said in remarks on Australian Broadcasting Corp television, adding that Trump had not raised the issue with him in a phone call.

The comments come after U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called the easing a win for Trump. In April, Trump singled out the beef trade disparity with Australia after Australia's beef exports to the U.S. surged last year, reaching A$4 billion amid a slump in U.S. beef production.

By contrast, Australia's agriculture minister said the rules were relaxed after a "rigorous science and risk-based assessment" concluded that U.S. measures to monitor and control cattle movement were effectively managing biosecurity risks.

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News of Australia changing its policy was first reported by the Australian Financial Review. The report said Australia would use the easing of rules to argue its case for the U.S. to wind back 50% tariffs on steel and aluminium and Trump's threat to impose a 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals.

The National Party, part of Australia's conservative opposition coalition, has said that "biosecurity should not be political" and called for an independent scientific panel to review the decision.

A loosening of beef import rules is not expected to boost U.S. shipments significantly because Australia is a major beef producer and exporter whose prices are much lower, according to analysts.

Last year, Australia shipped almost 400,000 metric tons of beef worth $2.9 billion to the United States, with just 269 tons of U.S. product moving the other way.

(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by David Gregorio and Jamie Freed)
A man accused of entering a Walmart in Michigan and randomly stabbing 11 shoppers before being detained by bystanders in the store parking lot is expected to face terrorism and multiple assault charges, authorities said Sunday.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said a motive behind the attack by Bradford Gille of Afton, Michigan, remains unclear. Gille, who Shea said had prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations, said very little as he was arrested. He is expected to be charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder.

Shea praised the quick response by law enforcement officers who arrived within three minutes after receiving the call about the stabbing  as well as a group of bystanders who intervened and detained Gille in the parking lot. Calls began coming in to authorities at 4:43 p.m. on Saturday and a sheriffs deputy arrived at 4:46 p.m.

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He said the remarkable efforts likely prevented others from being harmed.

I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough, Shea said at a press conference. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute.

Terrorism charges

Gilles name did not appear Sunday in Michigans online jail records. Messages left Sunday with phone numbers and an email listed for Gille were not immediately returned. His previous court cases did not have an attorneys name listed in public records.

Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg told reporters that the terrorism charge will be brought due to the fact the attack impacted the community, rather than one individual.

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Its something that is done not to individual people, not to those individual victims  obviously they are most affected  but it is we believe in some ways done to affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis, Moeggenberg said. So that is why we are looking at that terrorism charge.

Shea said the 11 victims were both men and women and they ranged in age from 29 to 84 and included one Walmart employee. Munson Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Schermerhorn said at a press conference Sunday that one patient was treated and released; two were in serious condition; and the rest are in fair condition. All were expected to survive.

Witness accounts

Steven Carter was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cut a womans throat with a knife.

About five minutes later, the man was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group of five or six people kept yelling to the man drop the knife, he said, and the man responded: I dont care, I dont care. He kept backing away from the crowd, before someone tackled and subdued him.

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At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack, said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.

Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders gathered in the parking lot of the shopping center that houses several other retail stores. Authorities also were seen interviewing employees, still wearing blue uniform vests and name tags, nearby as the response gave way to an investigation.

Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Traverse City, said she was in the stores parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.

It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out, she said. This is something you see out of the movies. Its not what you expect to see where youre living.

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Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife, adding that the stabbing started near the checkout counter of the store and that his victims were not predetermined.

Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. A Sunday statement said the stores associates would be paid while the store remains closed and that it made available counseling services. It wasnt known when the store would reopen.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to provide any necessary support.

Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

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__

Casey reported from Boston. Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen contributed from Chicago.

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TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan  A man accused of entering a Walmart in Michigan and randomly stabbing 11 shoppers before being detained by bystanders in the store parking lot is expected to face terrorism and multiple assault charges, authorities said Sunday.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said a motive behind the attack by Bradford Gille of Afton, Michigan, remains unclear. Gille, who Shea said had prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations, said very little as he was arrested. The man is expected to be charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder.

Shea praised the quick response by law officers who arrived within three minutes of receiving the call about the stabbing  as well as a group of bystanders who intervened and detained Gille in the parking lot of the store in Traverse City. The community of about 16,000 people is along Lake Michigan.

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Gille entered the store at 4:10 p.m. and remained there for some time before the attack began, authorities said. Calls began coming in to authorities at 4:43 p.m. on Saturday and a sheriffs deputy arrived at 4:46 p.m.

He said the remarkable efforts likely prevented others from being harmed, adding a 3 and 1/2 inch cutting blade was used in the attack.

I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough, Shea said at a news conference. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute.



Gille remained jailed and his name did not appear Sunday in Michigans online jail records. Messages left Sunday with phone numbers and an email listed for Gille were not immediately returned. His previous court cases did not have an attorneys name listed in public records.

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Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg told reporters that the terrorism charge will be brought due to the fact that the attack impacted the community, rather than one individual.

Its something that is done not to individual people, not to those individual victims  obviously they are most affected  but it is, we believe, in some ways done to affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis, Moeggenberg said. So that is why we are looking at that terrorism charge.

Shea said the 11 victims were both men and women and they ranged in age from 29 to 84 and included one Walmart employee. Munson Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Schermerhorn, speaking at Sundays news conference, said one patient was treated and released; two were in serious condition; and the rest are in fair condition. All were expected to survive.

Steven Carter was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man with a knife stab a woman in the throat.

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About five minutes later, he said, the attacker was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group of five or six people kept yelling to the man to drop the knife, he said, and the man responded: I dont care, I dont care. He kept backing away from the crowd, before someone tackled and subdued him.

At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack, said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.

Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders gathered in the parking lot of the shopping center that houses several other retail stores. Authorities also were seen interviewing employees, still wearing blue uniform vests and name tags as the investigation unfolded.

Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Traverse City, said she was in the stores parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.

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It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out, she said. This is something you see out of the movies. Its not what you expect to see where youre living.

Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife, adding that the stabbing started near the checkout counter of the store and that his victims were not predetermined.

Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. It said store associates would be paid while the store remains closed and that counseling services would be made available to them. It wasnt known when the store would reopen.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to provide any necessary support.

Traverse City is a popular vacation spot. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.




Doctors should be banned from taking strike action in the same way as police, soldiers and prison officers, Kemi Badenoch has said.

The Tory leader said any future Conservative government would amend the law to bar doctors  but not nurses  from mounting strikes. She urged Sir Keir Starmer to take similar action.

Mrs Badenoch said the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors union, is out of control with 11 strikes in the past 18 months. She claimed these had resulted in patients dying.

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Her comments, on Camilla Tomineys GB News programme, come amid a five-day series of strikes by resident doctors in support of a pay claim despite having secured a 28 per cent rise from the Government.

Doctors hold lives in their hands. No one should lose critical healthcare because of strikes but that's what's happening now.



That's why a Conservative government led by me would ban doctors' strikes, just like we do the army and police.  Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 27, 2025

The Tory leader said: The BMA has become militant, these strikes are going too far, and it is time for action.

Doctors do incredibly important work. Medicine is a vocation  not just a job. That is why in government we offered a fair deal that supported doctors, but protected taxpayers too.

These strikes will have a significant economic effect, but they will also mean cancelled operations, worry for families of the sick, and suffering for those who are unwell. We know that previous strike action by doctors even led to some patients losing their lives.

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That is why Conservatives are stepping in, and setting out common sense proposals to protect patients, and the public finances. And we are making an offer in the national interest  we will work with the Government to face down the BMA to help protect patients and the NHS.

Police, the military and prison officers are exempt from the right to take strike action under the 1992 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act. The Tories would amend this to include doctors.

Doctors would still be able to unionise through the BMA, like the police, which has the police federation to represent members interests. They would also be allowed to take action short of a strike such as working to rule and banning overtime.

The Tories are also proposing that there should be minimum service levels, which would aim to ensure a basic level of service provision in not only healthcare but in other essential sectors such as education, and transport.

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The party said the proposed changes would bring the UK in line with other nations such as Australia and Canada, which have much tighter restrictions on doctors striking, and European nations such as Greece, Italy and Portugal, that have minimum service levels laws in place across their health services.

Resident doctors began their most-recent strike on Friday - AFP /Niklas Halle'n

It is likely that any attempt to restrict doctors ability to take strike action would be challenged in the courts under human rights law.

Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the right to freedom of assembly and association, which covers the right to form and join trade unions. Lawyers could argue that the right to strike is an integral part of this freedom.

Police officers have been banned from taking strike action since 1919 when the Police Act made it a criminal offence on the basis that they were crown servants with a special responsibility to maintain public order and safety.

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All armed forces members are bound by the Kings Regulations, which make unionisation illegal. Service personnel have often been called in as contingency workers during strikes to, for example, step in as ambulance drivers and hospital staff.

The Tories proposed primary legislation would restrict the ability for doctors at all levels, including resident doctors, to engage in strike action as regulated by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

This would be done through exempting doctors from the relevant section of the Act, which governs the right to strike. The Tories said they would also look at introducing back-to-work orders, along the lines of other European countries.

Under Australias Fair Work Act 2009, the Fair Work Commission must suspend or terminate strike action that endangers the safety, health or welfare of the population. Under UK laws, there is no such requirement, instead an employer must persuade the High Court to grant an injunction.

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Stuart Andrew MP, Shadow Health Secretary, said: The Conservative Party has always respected the important work that healthcare professionals do, but enough is enough.

The BMA has taken our NHS hostage and used this Labour Governments weakness to demand more and more  with taxpayers and patients left to suffer the consequences.

As our health service faces yet another round of damaging strike action, the Conservatives are calling time. If Labour were serious about cutting waiting lists and delivering the health system our country deserves, rather than just kowtowing to the unions, they would back our plans.

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.
Four years after a stricken cargo ship caused the largest plastic spill ever recorded, volunteers on Sri Lanka's beaches are still sifting kilograms of tiny, toxic plastic pellets from the sand.

Billions of plastic nurdles, as they are called, are thought to have washed up after the X-Press Pearl disaster in 2021, along with tonnes of engine fuel, acid, caustic soda, lead, copper slag, lithium batteries and epoxy resin - all toxic to aquatic life.

The immediate damage was obvious: the nurdles inundated the shoreline, turning it white, while dead turtles, dolphins and fish began washing up.

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But scientists are now flagging fears the damage to the environment could be much more enduring than previously thought.

Sri Lankan Navy soldiers work to remove nurdles and other debris on a beach in Colombo after the X-Press Pearl disaster. Photo: May 2021 [AFP via Getty Images]

So far, hundreds of millions of nurdles may have been cleared away - but the remaining, lentil-sized microplastic granules have become increasingly difficult to find as they disappear deeper into the sand.

Worse, those pieces of plastic now appear to be becoming even more toxic, new research suggests.

"They seem to be accumulating pollution from the ocean," said David Megson, of Manchester Metropolitan University. "Like a lovely big chemical sponge."

Nurdles are the raw materials that are melted to make plastic products and it is not unusual for large amounts to be transported in the global plastic supply chain.

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The problems onboard the X-Press Pearl started soon after setting sail from Dubai Port bound for Port Klang in Malaysia, when the crew noticed that a container carrying nitric acid was leaking, corroding the metal box. But they were denied permission to unload the smoking, leaking container at ports in Qatar and India.

The container had been leaking acid at a rate of about a litre an hour for at least eight days when it sailed into Sri Lankan waters late at night on 19 May 2021.

It had requested emergency berthing - but by the morning the Singapore-flagged vessel was alight.

Despite firefighting efforts from the crew, the Sri Lankan authorities and salvors, the fire spread throughout the ship.

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Two weeks later, it sank, spilling its cargo and fuel into the sea around nine nautical miles off the country's south-west coast, between the capital Colombo and Negombo to the north.

Muditha Katuwawala shows tiny nurdles collected from a beach in Sri Lanka [BBC]

What happened next "was just like out of a war movie", says Muditha Katuwawala, an environmentalist and founder of the Pearl Protectors, a local NGO that volunteered to help the clean-up operation, which was run largely by Sri Lankan state authorities with funding from the ship's owners.

"We started seeing turtles getting washed up with similar sorts of traits... the skin had burn marks [and] was peeling off. The nose and eyes were red and puffed up, and we saw dolphins washing up and... their skin was peeling off and red," Mr Katuwawala said.

The nurdles on the beaches were "like snow," he says, adding that "it was horrifying".

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The clean-up began in earnest. At the start, Mr Katuwawala and his fellow volunteers "were collecting like 300-400 kilos of nurdles" each day.

Over time, it dropped to three to four kilograms in a couple of hours.

"The nurdles were getting more dispersed, it was harder to see them as they got buried in the sand over time."

It was decided the cost-benefit ratio was no longer worth the effort of mobilising volunteers. The groups stood down, leaving the task to state-organised local clean-up groups.

At the same time, scientists were getting concerned about the possibility the plastic pellets - already harmful to animals which eat them accidentally - may be getting more toxic, contaminated from the spill, or from other pollution sources.

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Over the ensuing years, they have collected samples which could help trace the effect over time.

The most heavily contaminated nurdles are those burnt in the fire, forensic chemists say [BBC]

In November 2024, the BBC and Watershed Investigations sent more than 20 of those samples to a team of forensic chemists specialising in environmental pollution from Manchester Metropolitan University.

They found the most heavily contaminated nurdles were those burnt in the fire, which leach metals toxic to aquatic life, like arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, cobalt and nickel.

The team also found the pellets "still going round appear to be sucking up more pollution from the environment" and were becoming "more toxic", according to Mr Megson.

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"They will be ingested [and] will pass pollution on to marine organisms," he says.

Tests carried out on fish caught near the site of the disaster - as well as the nearby Negombo lagoon - found some contained the same pollutants that were present in the ship's cargo and on the nurdles.

Some of the fish contained levels of hazardous metals - some of which were found in the disaster - which exceeded safe limits.

Researchers say the disaster cannot be discounted as the source of contamination, although it also can't be directly proven to be the source, as it's not known if these fish ate nurdles, how many they ingested, or if the pollution came from other sources.

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"But placed on top of everything else that is in that system, there's a really good likelihood that it's causing harm to the environment and also potentially harm to people and humans that are eating and relying on that marine ecosystem for a source of their food," Mr Megson adds.

Local fishermen do draw the link to the disaster.

"There's no fish since then. We've never had the same amount of fish that we used to catch," fisherman Jude Sulanta explains.

"Our lives have turned upside down. From the stretch where the ship sank up until here you don't get many new, young fish at all."

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The ship's owner, X-Press Feeders Ltd, says to date it has worked diligently to ensure the best response to the disaster and spent more than $130m (96m) to remove the wreck and debris at sea.

It says it has also paid more than $20m to the Sri Lankan government for clean-up operations on the coast and to compensate fishermen.

It says, however, that the Sri Lankan government has assumed responsibility for all shoreside clean-up activities and it is disappointed by the delays in that process and the ongoing impacts this is having.

The Sri Lankan government says the amount paid by the ship's owner - which was capped by an interim UK maritime court order - is not enough to cover the long-term damage, and it is pursuing legal action to overturn the cap and secure further compensation.

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On Thursday, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ordered the company to pay $1bn as an initial payment to cover long-term economic and environmental damage it says the country suffered as a result of the disaster - but the cap remains in place. The Supreme Court doesn't have jurisdiction over Singapore, where X-Press Feeders Ltd has its headquarters.

X-Press Feeders said it was extremely disappointed with the judgment and that they are reviewing it with their legal advisers, insurers and other relevant stakeholders to best assess their next course of action.

Professor Prasanthi Gunawardena - an environmental economist at University of Sri Jayawardenapura who chaired an expert committee of scientists to assess the damage - puts the cost of the disaster at closer to more than $6bn, taking into account things like the loss of wildlife, as well as impact on tourism, fishing and harm to local residents from the toxic cloud released when the ship burned.

"Large quantities of dioxin and furan have been added to the atmosphere and these are carcinogens. And then we have calculated it may kill about 70 people in our country," says Prof Gunawardena.

The ship owner rejects this assessment.

It quotes the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF), an organisation which is funded by the shipping industry to assess marine spills. It says the report was "unparticularised, inaccurate, and lacked credible scientific basis".

The ship owner has also said itself and its crew have "followed the internationally accepted procedures in dealing with the acid leak, while maintaining all safety and emergency protocols".

Colombo Port Authority has also denied any responsibility, saying it did not know of the issues until the ship arrived in its waters.

Jude Sulanta says many local fishermen are now selling their boats and trying to go abroad [BBC]

The sea is the lifeblood of this island nation. Its stunning golden coasts are a huge draw for tourists, and for generations fishing has fed the country.

But Mr Sulanta, the fisherman, is worried that his way of life no longer has a future.

"Many are selling their boats and trying to go abroad. And many people are fed up. In fact, my son himself, he's working with me at the moment. He's also a fisherman.

"But he's also considering leaving the country. It's already been several years. If we were going to get justice we would have had it by now," he says.

You can listen to the BBC documentary Sri Lanka: The X Press Pearl disaster https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct6rbp

Leana Hosea is an environmental investigative journalist and a founder of non-profit Watershed, which investigates freshwater and marine environment issues.
Dallas has been ranked among the best cities in the United States to live for quality of life.

The ranking was released as part of U.S News & World Reports Best Places to Live ranking. The list accounts for factors such as crime, quality and availability of healthcare, air quality, and risk of and resilience to natural disasters.

U.S. News ranked Dallas as the 20th best city in the country in terms of quality of life, noting that when you compare the cost of housing to the citys median household income, Dallas offers a better value than similarly sized cities.

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In terms of healthcare access, Dallas ranks in the top 5% and was highlighted for possessing prestigious hospitals, such as UT Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor University Medical Center.

And culturally, it stands above many other locations in the country.

Dallas natives enjoy trendy bars, retail shops and even a video game museum. They also enjoy authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines, read the report.

The publication also spotlighted the Dallas Arts District, the largest contiguous urban arts district in the U.S. Earlier this year, as reported in The Dallas Express, USA Today named the neighborhood the top arts district in the entire country.

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Brookline, Massachusetts, took the top spot on the list, recognized for its excellent air quality, high college readiness, and accessible healthcare.

Newton, Massachusetts, took the No. 2 ranking, followed by Bethesda, Maryland, in third.
The stormy relationship between Doug and Ashley Benefield, the star-crossed couple at the heart of the notorious "Black Swan" murder case, began and ended with a .45 caliber gun, according to what was revealed publicly over the years.

STREAM NOW: The Case of the Black Swan (Part 1 and Part 2)

During testimony at Ashley Benefield's murder trial in July 2024, she said that the evening she met Doug Benefield at an upscale political dinner, she was carrying a .45 caliber gun in her bra.

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Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O'Donnell, who prosecuted the homicide case for Manatee County, Florida, put this question to Ashley during the trial: "You actually bragged  about having guns, correct?"

"Yes," Ashley Benefield replied.

"During the time that you met Doug at a political event, you had one of the guns in your bra?" O'Donnell asked.



"Yes. That's where I conceal it, carry it," Ashley Benefield testified.

The story of Ashley and Doug Benefield is featured in a two-hour broadcast, "The Case of the Black Swan, Part 1 and Part 2,"now streaming on Paramount+. Reported by "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod, the special broadcast will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the couple's seesaw relationship from the time they met in 2016 until the night in September 2020 when Ashley killed Doug, allegedly in self-defense.

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At her murder trial in July 2024, Ashley Benefield testified for the first time about what she says happened the night she shot and killed Doug Benefield. In emotionally charged testimony, she claimed the shooting was in self-defense after Doug hit her and cornered her in a bedroom. She said that's when she reached for her nearby .45 caliber gun that was on top of a storage bin.

"I just held the gun like in front of me and I said, stop, and he like turned and he got into this like almost like a fighting stance. He started like moving his arms and his hands aroundhe started coming towards me and he lunged at me, and I just pulled the trigger," Ashley Benefield testified at her trial.

Ashley Benefield's lawyer Neil Taylor then said, "Tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury why you shot Doug."

"I was scared to death," she said. "I thought he was gonna kill me."

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State prosecutors called Ashley Benefield a "manipulator" and claimed she killed Doug Benefield as part of her plot to gain sole custody of their now-6-year-old daughter, Emerson.

When investigators and crime scene technicians searched the house after the shooting, they found two other loaded guns. One of Ashley Benefield's guns was found in her backpack hanging in the closet of the bedroom where the shooting took place. A third gun belonging to Ashley's mother was found in a kitchen pantry, according to the testimony of a crime scene technician for the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

At the time, Doug Benefield was helping Ashley and her mother pack for a move to Maryland.

"Why does anyone need three loaded guns, unsecured, in a house with a 2-and-a-half-year-old?" asked Stephanie Murphy, Doug Benefield's family lawyer. "There's no answer to me other than the obvious, which is that she planned to kill Doug that night."

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But Ashley's lawyer Neil Taylor had a different take, as he told Axelrod when Axelrod asked Taylor, "What caused her to have three loaded guns in the house, the night she shot and killed Doug?"

According to Taylor, it was all part and parcel of the fear Ashley Benefield felt around Doug Benefield as an abused woman. "What might you think would precipitate such a circumstance?" Taylor responded. "Do you think fear, anticipation?"

Ashley Benefield admitted on the stand that Doug Benefield had never struck her before she alleges he did so on the night of the shooting. But in earlier court hearings when Doug Benefield was still alive, he did admit to an episode early in their marriage when he fired a gun into their kitchen ceiling in order to stop Ashley Benefield from arguing with him. He also admitted striking their family dog, named Sully. Ashley Benefield claimed Doug Benefield punched the dog and knocked him out but Doug said he only had pushed the dog when it climbed into his lap while he was having an argument with Ashley.

Ashley Benefield, a former ballerina, was found guilty of manslaughter in July 2024 for shooting her estranged husband Doug Benefield twice with her .45 caliber gun inside her Florida home in September 2020.

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On Dec. 3, 2024, Ashley Benefield was sentenced to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of probation.

Ashley Benefield's lawyers claimed there was prosecutorial and juror misconduct during the trial and asked for a new trial. The prosecution denied that any misconduct took place. The judge denied the defense motion.

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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP)  A boat transporting passengers to a market in north-central Nigeria capsized, killing at least 25 people, authorities said Sunday.

The accident happened Saturday near Gumu village in the Shiroro area of Niger state, Ibrahim Hussaini, an official with the National Emergency Management Agency, told The Associated Press.

Hussaini said search and rescue efforts were underway, but are limited because armed gangs mostly control the area. He added that the number of casualties may rise.

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Very few people can go to the scene because of banditry in that area, he told the AP.

Armed groups, commonly referred to as bandits, have stepped up attacks in recent months in the north-central region, complicating rescue efforts.

The accident is the latest in a series of deadly boat accidents on Nigerian waterways, where accidents are common in remote communities, especially during the rainy season, due to overloaded and poorly maintained vessels.

In September last year, a boat carrying mostly farmers capsized on a river in the northwestern state of Zamfara, drowning at least 40 people.

At least 326 people died in boat accidents in Nigeria in 2024, according to a count by TheCable, a local media outlet.

Analysts say many boats operate without life jackets and blame weak enforcement by regulatory authorities.
(Reuters) -Union members who assemble Boeing's fighter jets in the St. Louis area have "overwhelmingly voted" to reject the company's contract offer on Sunday, with the company now preparing for an imminent strike.

Boeing's proposal, which was sent on Tuesday to more than 3,200 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837, included a 20% general wage increase over four years and a $5,000 ratification bonus, as well as more vacation time and sick leave.

"The proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled IAM Union workforce," the IAM union said.

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Dan Gillian, Boeing's Air Dominance vice president, general manager and senior St. Louis Site executive said in an emailed statement that it is disappointed Boeing employees voted down "the richest contract offer we've ever presented to IAM 837 which addressed all their stated priorities."

"We've activated our contingency plan and are focused on preparing for a strike. No talks are scheduled with the union," Gillian added.

The current contract expires on Sunday following which there is a seven-day cooling off period before a strike would begin, the union added.

Boeing's defense division is expanding manufacturing facilities in the St. Louis area for the new U.S. Air Force fighter, the F-47, after it won the contract earlier this year.

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The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet program, initially conceived as a "family of systems" centered around a sixth-generation fighter jet, is meant to replace the F-22 Raptor.

(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Angela Christy in BengaluruEditing by Nick Zieminski)
WASHINGTON  Attorney General Pam Bondi is at the center of the Jeffrey Epstein storm.

She was among the loudest voices calling for transparency in the Epstein case before and after becoming the country's top law enforcement officer. But a firestorm of criticism erupted after Bondi's Justice Department issued a statement nearly three weeks ago confirming Epstein died by suicide and saying no further records would be released.

Now, Bondi, 59, finds herself at the heart of the debate over whether more information will be disclosed on the suspected sex trafficker.

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More: 'Terrific guy': The Trump-Epstein party boy friendship lasted a decade, ended badly

Despite his death six years ago, Epsteins case continues to haunt the headlines because of rampant speculation about which rich and powerful people might have joined him in sexually abusing minors. Bondi has said there was no client list in Epsteins criminal file.

But President Donald Trumps name reportedly appears in the documents, and he was a repeat passenger on Epsteins private jet when the two were friends in the 1990s. Trump has denied wrongdoing or visiting Epsteins private island, where much of the abuse allegedly occurred.

The fact is that the president kicked him out of his club for being a creep," said White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, referring to Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in South Florida.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks to the media as U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche listen, after the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to the power of federal judges by restricting their ability to grant broad legal relief in cases as the justices acted in a legal fight over President Donald Trump's bid to limit birthright citizenship, in the Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington D.C., June 27, 2025.

Meanwhile, Bondi served as Floridas state attorney general years after Palm Beach County authorities convicted Epstein on prostitution charges and released him in 2009 after 13 months in detention, which was mostly work release. Federal authorities chose not to prosecute Epstein at all in what critics called the legal deal of the century.

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After a Miami Herald investigation of his case, New York-based federal prosecutors charged Epstein in July of 2019 with sex trafficking minors. He died in jail a month after his arrest and long before any criminal trial could happen in what the New York medical examiner ruled and the Justice Department confirmed was a suicide.

Now Bondi has asked federal judges to release grand jury transcripts in the case. One has already turned her down and another has asked for more documentation. And federal prosecutors and Bondi's No. 2, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, met July 24 and again July 25 with Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein associate serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for conspiracy to sexually abuse minors.

Here are the highlights of Bondi's involvement in the case.

Did Bondi investigate Epstein as Florida attorney general?

In this July 30, 2008 file photo, Jeffrey Epstein is shown in custody in West Palm Beach, Fla. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra ruled Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, that federal prosecutors violated the rights of victims by secretly reaching a non-prosecution agreement with Epstein, a wealthy financier accused of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls.

After years of state-level investigation, Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under age 18.

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During the inquiry, then-Palm Beach Police Chief Michael Reiter disagreed with how Palm Beach state attorney Barry Krischer was handling the case and invited then-U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, an appointee from the George W. Bush administration, to investigate.

But in what critics called the legal "deal of century," Epstein served 13 months on the two state charges under an agreement not to charge him federally.

Bondi, a Republican, was elected statewide more than a year after Epstein was released and was Florida's attorney general for two terms from 2011 to 2019. State attorneys such as Krischer are elected independently and don't report directly to the attorney general.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (C) bows his head alongside Florida attorney general Pam Bondi (L) and Florida first lady Ann Scott before a memorial service for slain St. Petersburg, Florida officers Sergeant Thomas Baitinger and K-9 officer Jeffrey Yaslowitz in St. Petersburg, Florida January 28, 2011.

Dave Aronberg, a Democrat who stepped down this year after a dozen years as Palm Beach state attorney, said the Epstein matter never went before Bondi.

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Zero overlap, said Aronberg, who was Florida's state drug czar under Bondi. It was long over by the time she got there.

Robert Jarvis, a law professor at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said after state and federal prosecutors concluded their case that there appeared to be nothing more for Bondi to pursue.

There was no reason to start a new investigation, Jarvis said, unless new evidence was brought to Bondi's office.

Bondi said Epstein never should have been released

Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before a House Appropriations Justice Subcommittee hearing on President Donald Trump's budget request for the Department of Justice, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 23, 2025.

Still, with accusations of more than 1,000 victims in the case, Republicans and conspiracy theorists have long argued for the release of additional information because of skepticism Epstein died by suicide and demands for a presumed client list that could lead to more prosecutions.

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Two days after Epstein died, Bondi told Sean Hannity on Fox News on Aug. 12, 2019, that the financier should have never been let out of custody.

More: Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, awaiting sex trafficking charges, dead of apparent suicide

He should have never been released when he was in jail serving his jail time. Someone who is accused of sex crimes convicted should never be on work release, Bondi said. So what do we have now? We have a dead, most likely pedophile, coward, and we have very brave victims who want to face the person that did this to them.

Bondi pledged to release information after becoming attorney general

Political commentator Rogan O'Handley, aka DC Draino, and influencer Chaya Raichik (R) carry binders bearing the seal of the US Justice Department reading "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" as they leave the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025.

Shortly after her confirmation in early February as Trump's second-term U.S. attorney general, Bondi again highlighted the case and began pledging to release files.

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Fox News host John Roberts asked Bondi on Feb. 21 whether she would release the list of Epsteins clients. Will that really happen? he asked.

"It's sitting on my desk right now to review, Bondi replied. That's been a directive by President Trump. I'm reviewing that."

Then Bondi told Fox News host Jesse Watters on Feb. 26 more information would be released.

"I think tomorrow, Jesse, breaking news right now, you're going to see some Epstein information being released by my office." She then added, "What you're going to see, hopefully tomorrow, is a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information."

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The Justice Department released documents on Feb. 27 that had been leaked but were never formally released.

"The Department remains committed to transparency and intends to release the remaining documents upon review and redaction to protect the identities of Epsteins victims," a department statement said.

The lack of revelations in the release disappointed lawmakers and others who expected bombshells from the release.

"THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment," Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, wrote on social media Feb. 27. "GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!"

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Bondi made a point of noting in a Feb. 27 letter to FBI Director Kash Patel that she had requested "the full and complete files related to Jeffrey Epstein" but learned she received only a fraction of them.

She initially received about 200 pages, "which consisted primarily of flight logs, Epstein's list of contacts, and a list of victims' names and phone numbers," she wrote. But the FBI field office in New York notified her that day there were thousands more pages of records, audio and video recordings and other materials related to Epstein and his clients.

"There will be no withholdings or limitations to my or your access," Bondi wrote Patel. "The Department of Justice will ensure that any public disclosure of these files will be done in a manner to protect the privacy of victims and in accordance with law, as I have done my entire career as a prosecutor."

Appearing on Hannity's Fox News program, Bondi on March 3 said an order she issued in February resulted in a "truckload" of Epstein files being delivered by the FBI.

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"Thousands of pages of documents. I have the FBI going through them," Bondi said. "We believe in transparency, and America has the right to know."

Justice Department release on Epstein sparks criticism

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, asks questions during Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle's congressional hearing on July 22, 2024.

Against that backdrop, the Justice Department released a memo July 7 that said a systematic review revealed no incriminating client list and confirmed Epstein died by suicide in August 2019.

"Perpetuating unfounded theories about Epstein serves neither" to combat child exploitation nor bring justice to victims, according to the memo. "No further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.

More: Family feud: Trump at odds with MAGA movement on multiple fronts

The memo set off a firestorm of criticism from inside Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement and calls for the release of more information:

Charlie Kirk, head of the conservative nonprofit organization Turning Point USA, listed 10 things he thinks should be done about the files and witnesses. Kirk later said he was done talking about Epstein and trusted his friends in the administration.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, said on the podcast "The Benny Show" that "no one is satisfied with what has been received or lack thereof."

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, and Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, cosponsored a petition to force a House vote on releasing the files.

The next day at a White House Cabinet meeting, Trump discouraged reporters from asking questions about Epstein.

Are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable, Trump said, instead encouraging coverage of legislative victories and recovery for catastrophic flooding in Texas. It just seems like a desecration. But you go ahead.

Two seats to Trump's right at the July 8 Cabinet meeting, Bondi then tried to clarify her remarks from the February interview with John Roberts and said she was referring to the entire Epstein file rather than a specific client list. "I was asked a question about the client list and my response was, 'It's sitting on my desk to be reviewed,' meaning the file, not the client list, she told reporters.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio listen as Attorney General Pam Bondi answers a question during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 8, 2025.

Bondi also said jailhouse video from New York was missing a minute because of a nightly reset for the outdated recording system. And she said any of Epsteins videos from the investigation would never see the light of day" because they contain child pornography.

Also, to the tens of thousands of video, they turned out to be child porn downloaded by that disgusting Jeffrey Epstein, Bondi said. Child porn is what they were. Never going to be released."

Lawmakers seek release of Epstein file

The Trump administration denials raised suspicions there was something to hide. Democrats piled on with Republicans to demand more information.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-California, joined Massie on the proposed legislation that aims to force the Justice Department to release all its records related to Epstein.

From left to right, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota,; Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky; and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, speak ahead of President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2025.

More: Is Trump in the Epstein files? Before Bondi's reported alert, here is where he appeared

By mid-July, with the tempest rising, Trump directed Bondi to seek the release of grand jury testimony in the case. Bondi filed three requests July 18.

It wasn't enough to help out House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, who suspended House floor action days before the scheduled August recess rather than face a vote on Massie's legislation. Johnson, a close Trump ally, said his decision for lawmakers' early dismissal was to give the president space to resolve questions about the investigation. He added that members of Congress were threading a fine needle trying to secure the release of information about Epstein while protecting his victims.

Trump wants maximum transparency, but hes also very insistent that we do not subject people who have already been victims of unspeakable crimes to further public scrutiny, Johnson told reporters July 22. It would be a very dangerous thing to put those peoples names out or do a release of information in a way that is haphazard, where they could be easily unmasked.

More: Republicans still have an Epstein dilemma. Now they have to face voters.

"As things are revealed and, I hope will take place quickly, you will see that it is yet another Democrat CON JOB," Trump wrote on social media July 24. "Hopefully, the Grand Jury Files will put an end to this HOAX. Everyone should see what is there, but people who are innocent should not be hurt."

Judges review requests to unseal Epstein file

One big challenge for Bondi and the Trump administration as they push for more disclosures: Grand jury evidence traditionally remains confidential.

U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg in West Palm Beach quickly refused to unseal the documents. The judge, an appointee of President Barack Obama, said the Bondi-led department's request to release grand jury documents from 2005 and 2007 did not meet any of the extraordinary exceptions under federal law that could make them public.

Rosenberg said her "hands are tied."

U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer in New York, another Obama appointee who presided over Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwells case, said that there are exceptions to the secrecy rules but that Bondi hadnt invoked them.

Engelmayer set a July 29 deadline for the government to explain why the disclosure is being sought, what specific information should be disclosed and whether grand jury witnesses are still alive.

He also asked for a complete set of transcripts, a redacted version for potential release and a list of other evidence such as exhibits.

Maxwell, Epstein's associate, has until Aug. 5 to say whether she agrees to disclosure or opposes it.

Victims face an Aug. 5 deadline to state their positions.

The Court intends to resolve this motion expeditiously, Engelmayer wrote. However, the Court cannot rule on the motion without additional submissions.

Federal prosecutors meet with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell

A billboard in Times Square calls for the release of the Epstein files on July 23, 2025 in New York City. Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed President Donald Trump in May on the Justice Department's review of the documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, telling him that his name appeared in the files.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche  who previously served as Trump's private lawyer defending him in a series of criminal cases  met July 24 and 25 with Maxwell to find out what more she can say about her dealings with Epstein.

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 in a statement on social media July 22 while planning the meeting.

But Rep. Dan Goldman, D-New York, argued Blanches effort was to protect Trump by tacitly floating a pardon for Maxwell in return for information that politically benefits President Trump.

"Maxwells information is only as credible as any corroboration found in the Epstein files, including recordings, witness interviews, electronic communications, and photographs and videos, said Goldman, a former federal prosecutor who was lead counsel in Trumps first House impeachment and battled against a presidential defense team that included Bondi. "Do not be fooled: This latest delay tactic is yet another effort to conceal the Epstein files.

The same day as the Justice Department's announcement, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee agreed to subpoena Maxwell for questions from lawmakers. Three days later, as he prepared for a trip to Scotland, Trump responded to reporters that he hasn't considered pardoning Maxwell.

Contributing: Nick Penzenstadler and Holly Baltz, The Palm Beach Post

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bondi called for release of Epstein files. What is she doing now?




NEED TO KNOW

A 7-year-old boy lost part of his leg in a shark attack on Friday, July 25

The boy was swimming with about ten other children when the incident occurred

An emergency responder on the scene described the boys wounds as long and deep" and said, Ive never seen anything like this





A 7-year-old boy lost part of his leg in a shark attack while swimming with several other children.

The incident occurred at Taiohae Bay in Nuku Hiva, an island in French Polynesia, on Friday, July 25, according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP), per Macau Business and 24 News.

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The young boy was playing in the water with about 10 other children when he was bitten on his right forearm and left hand, as well as one of his calves, which was torn off, The Sun reported.

The child was rushed to a local hospital and then airlifted to the larger French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF), located about 930 miles from Nuku Hiva.

PEOPLE reached out to the French Polynesia Hospital Center (CHPF) for comment on Sunday, July 27, but did not receive an immediate response.



Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Taiohae Bay in Nuku Hiva, an island in French Polynesia Taiohae Bay in Nuku Hiva, an island in French Polynesia

A firefighter who assisted on the scene told the AFP that he had never seen anything like the attack.

Im 35 years old, and this is the first time Ive seen this. These were long and deep wounds, he said, per Macau Business and 24 News.

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.

Its probably related to the fish carcasses that fishermen throw in this area, the firefighter continued, adding, There are many sharks, such as blacktips, hammerheads, and lemon sharks.

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French Polynesia is home to over 30 shark species, according to Forbes. A recent study that surveyed over 60 years of shark bites in the region found that many attacks were triggered by human behaviors, like spearfishing and harpooning, and were often a defensive response, the outlet said.



Taiohae Bay is a popular spot for local fishermen, as well as cruise ships and sailboats, according to a Nuku Hiva tourism site. The surrounding area is known for its many waterfalls, scenic hikes and rich cultural heritage.



Read the original article on People
President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden struck a major trade deal ahead of the Trump administrations August 1st tariff pause deadline. The deal includes hundreds of billions of European investment in American energy, investments and military equipment and no tariffs on American goods in exchange for 15% blanket tariffs on European goods. Former Senior State Dept. Ned Price, Axios senior economic reporter Courtenay Brown, and NBCs Yamiche Alcindor join Alex W
Britain is developing a fleet of spy balloons in an intelligence arms race with China.

The military has successfully tested high-altitude craft which ministers say will give the Armed Forces the edge on intelligence gathering.

The uncrewed vehicles can provide surveillance and communications links, such as internet services, from an altitude of up to 80,000ft.

Britains move to develop its own fleet comes two years after the US air force shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the South Carolina coast.

The incident prompted widespread concerns across the West about the extent of Beijings surveillance activities.

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At the time, Rishi Sunak, the then prime minister, said that the RAF would take down any such spy balloons found to be flying over the UK.

British officials oversaw trials of prototype spy balloons in South Dakota earlier this year.

The craft can fly at between 60,000ft and 80,000ft and cover a distance of more than 2,000 nautical miles  the distance from London to Timbuktu.

Maria Eagle, the defence minister, said: This innovation is about giving our Armed Forces the edge  better awareness, better communications, and lower maintenance needs.

Stratospheric technology like this could transform how we operate in complex environments, keeping our people safer and better informed than ever before.

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This successful trial is another example of UK defence pushing boundaries, with real potential to strengthen our future capabilities.

The balloons have been developed as part of Project Aether, a military research programme launched under the Tories in 2021.

As well as providing military intelligence, they could also be used for support in disaster zones, providing fast wireless internet connections.

Officials said the craft, which are fitted with tiny sensors, could also be used to improve weather forecasting and research into climate change.

China has heavily deployed spy balloons in the past few years amid growing concerns about its surveillance operations against Western countries.

US officials revealed earlier this year that the spy balloon they shot down in 2023 was packed with cutting edge American-made technology.

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The balloon spent a week crossing the US and Canada, flying over sensitive airbases and nuclear missile launch sites before being downed by an F-22.

At the time, American officials said it had been used by China in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States.

US navy personnel recover parts of the downed Chinese spy balloon off Myrtle Beach in 2023 - AP

In March of this year, Taiwan, which Beijing still claims sovereignty over, said it had detected six Chinese spy balloons off its main island.

In a sign of growing Western fears, the French air force recently conducted an exercise in which fighter jets shot down high altitude balloons.

Sebastien Lecornu, Frances defence minister, said that near-space altitudes were becoming an area of conflict amid heightened Chinese activity.

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The MoDs procurement body, known as Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), is now leading Britains efforts to develop its own spy balloon fleet.

James Gavin, its head, said: Defence procurement is making strides in the innovation space and DE&S is looking more at the art of the possible, pushing the boundaries and scoping new technologies.

These latest trials have been incredibly fruitful and pave the way for more collaborative working with our allies to develop capabilities that will benefit our Armed Forces.

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Every failure is a lesson learnt, unless a local council is involved. In which case, a failure is more likely than not to be seen by its leadership as an opportunity to rehearse unconvincing excuses as they navigate the council towards its next failure, secure in the knowledge that taxpayers will continue to pick up the bill for their salaries and expenses, no matter what.

Take Guildford Borough Council, for example. It is a local authority with which campaigners are familiar, as it keeps appearing on our radars for all the wrong reasons. This week, a report revealed that the Council overspent 1.6 million on a fire door replacement scheme for its stock of housing.

Council reports reveal 4.1m has already been spent on the fire door replacement scheme - far above the original 2.5m contract estimate, although the Council had budgeted 3.6m for the project.

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The Leader of the Liberal Democrat-controlled local authority  Cllr Julia McShane  has labelled the unexpected cost as a slight overspend but reassured the executive how important fire safety is.

According to local media, [t]he overspend seems to have stemmed from a failure to properly assess the scale of the work needed before signing the contract in 2022. Referencing the report investigating the matter, it is also reported that, [o]fficers relied on incomplete data and so were not fully aware of the sheer number of doors which were non-compliant.

A failure to carry out a proper assessment and relying on incomplete data before embarking on a capital project is a devastating charge for any council to address, but it is particularly so for Guildford.

In January, an independent report based on investigations carried out by a law firm into alleged defrauding of multi-million pounds at the Council pointed at a crisis of management, known poor governance. It condemned the senior executives failure to act on red flags which may have given Guildford officers the opportunity to spend significant amounts of money with contractors to address compliance issues around housing.

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[T]his was without having governance and oversight over the issues to ensure good value, or even to confirm what the money and budget were actually being spent on.

The report, as quoted in the local media, is excruciating. Officers became aware of a 6.6m overspend on an electrical safety contract (worth 2.4m) in December 2022, yet the contractors were still given a new contract in June 2023. This was not raised as an issue.

And then comes the sucker punch of a revelation: [o]f the 8,000 transactions of work carried out by the contractor, the council does not know how many were necessary, unnecessary, completed, incomplete or not to a good enough standard. That is for the police to find out in its investigations and report back. It still leaves a huge question mark over how much of the 24.5m budget was spent appropriately.

Did this result in any disciplinary action being taken? No, we are told. Because [n]one of the people named in the report are still employed at the council.

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At the time, the Chief Executive Pedro Wrobel (whose role was reported to be worth 165,000 in 2023) had declared, [a]ll senior leaders have to be vigilant every day, all the time. Thats the accountability that we sign up for and we carry every day.

So what did Mr Wrobel  a career civil servant, with not a days experience of working in the private sector in his entire career, judging by Mr Wrobels LinkedIn profile  have to say about the fire safety debacle exposed in July? Whilst it is frustrating we did not catch this before breaching the budget, at the very least we caught it very shortly afterwards.

The waste itself is abhorrent, particularly as taxpayers are hit by higher council taxes and crumbling services at the same time. But what is truly chilling is how casually the wider, unholy alliance of career civil servants and clueless politicians seems to dismiss dismal failures with apparently no regard for the nation at their mercy.

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Britain is ready to fight in the Pacific if conflict breaks out over Taiwan, the Defence Secretary has suggested.

John Healey was speaking on board the HMS Prince of Wales alongside Richard Marles, Australias deputy prime minister, as the ship docked in Darwin to join war games with allies, including the US.

Asked by The Telegraph about what the UK is doing to help countries like Taiwan to prepare for potential escalation from China, Mr Healey said: If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together. We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together.

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His comments are among the most robust from a British representative on the subject of possible engagement in a future war in the region.

Mr Healey, however, said he was speaking in general terms, and said the UK would prefer to see any disputes in the Indo-Pacific resolved peacefully and diplomatically.

He added: We secure peace through strength, and our strength comes from our allies.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, with Richard Marles, Australias deputy prime minister, on board the HMS Prince of Wales in Darwin - Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire

Xi Jinping, the president of China, has not ruled out the use of force in the reunification of the motherland. Beijing maintains it has sovereignty over Taiwan, which the government in Taipei firmly rejects.

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Experts have cautioned that an invasion of Taiwan could result in a conflict that would involve countries across the globe.

Mr Healey acknowledged that threats are increasing in the Indo-Pacific region, where Chinas military has seized contested reefs and is accused of intimidating its neighbours.

The HMS Prince of Wales carrier group has sailed with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time since 1997, and will continue towards Japan, where it is likely to sail close to Taiwan.

The British Government has previously refrained from commenting on whether it would intervene if a conflict were to break out. The Royal Navy has two permanent patrol vessels in the region.

HMS Prince of Wales Pacific tour

Most countries follow the United States in its position of strategic ambiguity where it generally refrains from commenting on whether or not it would come to Taiwans defence in the event of a war.

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Joe Biden, the former US president, broke this rule of thumb on several occasions and had said the US would support the island in pushing back against China. Donald Trump has refrained from taking the same outspoken approach, but officials in the Pentagon are preparing for conflict.

The current US government has also said that it will be reviewing its part in the Aukus agreement, a trilateral security agreement between the US, Australia and the UK, as part of the Trump administrations America first strategy.

Regarding Taiwan, Australia has also taken a more cautious approach. Anthony Albanese, the countrys prime minister, last week refused to comment on whether the country would join with the US and other allies in fighting back against China if a conflict broke out.

As part of its National Security Strategy published earlier this year, the UK Government recognised that there is a particular risk of escalation around Taiwan.

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Gavin Williamson, who served as the UKs defence secretary from 2017 to 2019, said that the UK is probably speaking more candidly as the increasing threat in the Indo-Pacific becomes clearer.

I think theres a realisation that by being completely silent it doesnt make it more or less likely. Deterrence is about setting out the consequences that will come about as a result of other peoples dangerous or malign actions, Sir Gavin told The Telegraph.

Its really important that people like the UK Defence Secretary are being clear about the consequences of actions.

The HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier approaching Darwin harbour in Australia - REUTERS

The decision to send the HMS Prince of Wales, which is the UKs largest strike carrier group, on a nine-month deployment through the Pacific is indicative of the UKs awareness of this rising threat level.

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The ships deployment to Darwin, a city in northern Australia, is also telling of the close ties between London and Canberra, which would be key to any potential future conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

Mr Healey noted as threats are increasing, the partnerships like the UK and Australia matter more than ever.

This is the first time in nearly 30 years that a British carrier strike group has docked in Australia and the first time that a non-US carrier has participated in Australias annual military drills known as Talisman Sabre, which were the largest ever this year.

The two countries also signed the Geelong Treaty this weekend, a new 50-year agreement cementing their part in the Aukus pact and committing to build a new class of nuclear-powered submarines.

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The arrival of the HMS Prince of Wales in Darwin is also part of the UKs effort to assert the right to freedom of navigation through the Taiwan Strait  the narrow body of water separating China from Taiwan.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary who was also on board the HMS Prince of Wales earlier in the day, has previously said that the UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait.

We have a direct interest in the international rules, the freedom of the seas, the freedom of navigation and the stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, said Mr Healey.

David Lammy, who was also aboard HMS Prince of Wales, said the UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait - Robbie Stephenson/PA Media

Last month, the HMS Spey, a Royal Navy patrol ship, transited the Taiwan Strait, drawing praise from Taiwan and strong criticism from China.

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The UK does not comment on its ships future movements, but many suspect the HMS Prince of Wales will transit through the contested Strait as it sails to its next destinations in South Korea and Japan.

However, while the UK may be increasing its attention towards the Indo-Pacific, this will not involve greater engagement with Taiwan.

When asked whether the UK may engage more formally with Taiwan, Mr Healey said: Theres no change in the UKs approach to Taiwan.

Sir Gavin, who also faced the question of engagement with Taiwan while he was in office, said that the UK is only likely to shift its approach if China becomes ever more and more aggressive.

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Conflict over Taiwan would probably have massive global implications as the country produces much of the worlds most advanced computer chips.

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The news that the Henry A. Wallace Building in Des Moines is slated for demolition was met with mixed emotions at the Wallace Centers of Iowa. On the one hand, the decision reflects the reality of aging infrastructure. Reports confirm that the iconic building known for its gold-tinted windows that reflected the Iowa State Capitol had serious issues, and demolishing it may ultimately make fiscal and practical sense. On the other hand, no longer having Wallaces name on a key state government building risks diminishing public awareness of one of the most visionary and influential leaders Iowa has ever produced.

Henry A. Wallace was a son of Iowa and a global thinker. He served as editor of his familys influential publication, Wallaces Farmer, from 1921 to 1933. In 1926, he founded what would become known as Pioneer Hi-Bred (now Corteva)  a company that transformed American agriculture through the commercialization of hybrid seed. As U.S. secretary of agriculture, Wallace oversaw bold New Deal farm programs such as soil conservation and farm price supports during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s. In addition, he served as vice president under Franklin Delano Roosevelt from 1941 to 1945. In 1999 the Des Moines Register named Wallace the most influential Iowan of the 20th century.

More: Opinion: We didnt used to be conservative, but we are now

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For many, the Wallace Building served not just as office space, but as a daily reminder of Wallaces legacy. That reminder will soon be gone. Yet the need to elevate Wallaces story remains. His forward-thinking ideas about conservation, agricultural innovation and public policy that served what he called the common man remain relevant to challenges we face today.

The Iowa State Capitol is seen reflected in the Wallace Building as protesters stand along Grand Avenue during the No Kings Day protest at the Iowa State Capitol on June 14, 2025, in Des Moines.

Thats why we urge the state of Iowa to consider a new and meaningful way to honor Wallaces enduring contributions  whether thats naming a different public facility, creating an educational initiative, commissioning a public work of art, or something else appropriate to Wallaces significance. Removing a building should not mean removing the memory of Henry A. Wallace.

Until such time, the Wallace Centers of Iowa will continue to carry forward his legacy  and that of other distinguished family members  by connecting food, land, and people. We invite others to join us in ensuring that Wallaces work, spirit, and values remain visible, relevant, and inspiring to future generations.

After all, Wallaces story is not just Iowa history  its about a set of contributions to agriculture and public service that reverberated far beyond our state lines.

Deb Houghtaling

Deb Houghtaling has served as the president and CEO of the Wallace Centers of Iowa since 2018. Wallace Centers is a nonprofit organization that preserves two Wallace family historic properties: the Wallace House in the Sherman Hill neighborhood of Des Moines and the Wallace Farm in rural Orient where Henry A. Wallace was born.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Preserve Henry Wallace's legacy after building is gone | Opinion
Korellis sponsors August Mobile Market

The Franciscan Health Mobile Market program is getting a boost from local roofing company Korellis, according to a release.

The Mobile Markets provide food to those in need with drive-through events at various Franciscan Health locations, but had been reduced this year due to state and federal funding cuts, the release said. Since July 2021, the Franciscan Health Food Insecurity Programs Mobile Markets have served more than 10,000 individuals and 3,000 families in North Lake County.

The drive-up Mobile Market sponsored by Korellis is scheduled to take place from 3-5 p.m. Aug. 20 at 5454 Hohman Ave., Hammond on a

first-come, first-served basis. Participants must provide a valid photo ID. Those seeking food assistance should call 219-407-6948 to

learn more.

Council names 2025-26 Syd Garner scholar

The Syd Garner Scholarship Committee and Lake County Council recently named Sierra Barron of Hobart the 2025-2026 recipient of the Syd Garner Scholarship, a release said.

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Councilman Pete Lindemulder, R-4th, presented Barron, who currently works at Lake County Community Corrections, with the scholarship on behalf of the council at the councils July 8 meeting. Barron is a senior at Indiana University Northwest where she is majoring in criminal justice and minoring in sociology.

The Syd Garner Scholarship provides funds to students at IUN who are employees or children of current employees of the Lake County

Government with five or more years of service. Barron has a 3.697 GPA, the release said.

Mattress, furniture superstore opens in Merrillville

Steinhafels, an employee-owned company, recently opened a Furniture and Mattress Superstore in Merrillville, a release said.

Located at 1600 E. 80th Ave. in Merrillville Plaza, the 50,000-square-foot showroom replaces the former RoomPlace site. This marks Steinhafels first location in Indiana and its seventh in the greater Chicagoland area, the release said. The Merrillville store becomes Steinhafels 16th

location overall.

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The superstore features Steinhafels signature room settings, decorating services and top-brand mattresses, the release said. To learn more visit steinhafels.com.

Official earns professional designations

Valparaiso Clerk-Treasurer Holly Taylor has earned the designation of Certified Public Finance Administrator by the Association of Public Treasurers of the United States and Canada in recognition of her commitment to excellence in public treasury standards, a release said.

Taylor has also earned the designation as Certified Municipal Clerk by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Inc. and the designation as an Indiana Accredited Municipal Clerk awarded by the Indiana League of Municipal Clerks & Treasurers. Taylor joined the City of Valparaiso as a Deputy Clerk-Treasurer in 2012 and was first elected as Clerk-Treasurer in 2019. She is a graduate of Purdue University.

PNW recognized as Tier 1 Collegiate Purple Star

Purdue University Northwest has been designated a Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana institution by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. The designation recognizes PNWs commitment to supporting the military-affiliated student population at the university  from application to graduation, a release said.

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PNW is one of 28 colleges and universities in Indiana to be recognized as a Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana institution and one of just six

institutions to be awarded Tier 1 status, a list that also includes Purdue West Lafayette and Purdue Fort Wayne, the release said.

Designations and tier status are based on 37 standards across eight categories. PNW earned a 91% overall performance score on the

Collegiate Purple Star Summary Report.

PNWs Veteran Services program ensures a smooth transition from military life to academic success, the release said. For additional information on PNWs Veteran Services, visit pnw.edu/veteran-services.

Northwest Health hosts surgical demonstration

Northwest Health  Porter will host an open house to give community members a look at its newest high-tech surgical robot and how its

transforming the future of surgery from 1-3 p.m. July 29 in the Community Room at Northwest Health  Porter, 85 E. U.S. 6, Valparaiso.

Area residents are welcome to drop in any time during the open house and test drive the latest technology used in minimally invasive

robotic-assisted surgeries, while talking with some of the surgeons who use it, the release said.

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All ages are welcome to attend the open house, including children accompanied by parents. The Meet the Robot community event is free,

and registration is encouraged, which can be completed by going to NWHinfo.com/MeettheRobot.

City attorney to leave Valparaiso post

Valparaiso City Attorney Patrick Lyp has accepted a job in the private sector and will leave his position, according to a release from Mayor

Jon Costas.

Lyp joined the City of Valparaiso in January 2014 as General Counsel/Economic Development Director although his service with the Redevelopment Commission dates back to 2004. He was named City Attorney in January 2020, the release said. Lyp worked on city projects including the redevelopment of the County Seat Shopping Center, the former Anco facility into Journeyman; and the downtown amphitheater and pavilion.

Lyp was appointed by Gov. Eric Holcomb to serve on the Board of Directors for the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority

from 2020-2024.
SERVICES

Burwell Enterprises, a Sioux Falls, S.D.- based provider of business services, announced the promotion of Andrew Brehm to general counsel. Brehm previously worked as an attorney for Jack Links and Dorsey and Whitney and was former Minnesota U.S. Sen. Norm Colemans press secretary; he will be based in the companys satellite office in Minnetonka.

AIRPORTS

The Metropolitan Airports Commission announced it has selected Steven Berling as IT assistant director, client services. Berling most recently was with Andersen Corp. as an IT manager of device management and procurement. MAC owns and operates Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six general aviation airports in the Twin Cities.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Kraus-Anderson Insurance, Burnsville, announced the hires of Andrew McDonough and Andy Podmolik to its Employee Benefits and Human Resources consulting business. McDonough previously worked at Surest, a UnitedHealthcare health plan; Podmolik was with Huntington Insurance in Minnesota.  Merchants Bank, Winona, announced it is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The bank has branches throughout the Twin Cities east metro and western Wisconsin.

HEALTH CARE

Advent, a national in-office treatment provider for chronic nose, sinus, snoring and sleep apnea issues, announced the opening of a clinic at 6640 Shady Oak Road, Suite 255, Eden Prairie.

LAW

The Minnesota Client Security Board announced it has elected attorney Cheryl M. Prince as chair. Prince has been an attorney member of the board since 2019 and is a shareholder at the Hanft Fride law firm in Duluth. The Client Security Fund was established by the Minnesota Supreme Court, and

is funded by Minnesota attorneys to reimburse clients who suffer loss of money or other property due to the dishonest conduct of their attorney.  Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced that attorney Amy Anderson has joined its Health Law Group in the Minneapolis Office.  Maslon, Minneapolis, announced the return of partner Anna Petosky to the firms Litigation Group. Petosky also has been a prosecutor in the Hennepin County Attorneys Office in Minneapolis.  Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, St. Paul, announced the following staff additions: Clare Pledl, staff attorney; Hassan Olow, intake interviewer; Madelyn Larsen, social worker, Rochester; Nya Devos, staff attorney, Worthington, and the retirement of Paralegal/Intake Interviewer Jeannie Williams.

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Nuwellis, an Eden Prairie-based developer and provider of bodily fluid management systems, announced the appointment of John Erb as chief executive officer. Erb has served as interim CEO since February.

NONPROFITS

YWCA Minneapolis announced the following incoming board members: Cheryl Bethune, Bio-Techne Corp.; LaToya Burrell, Zinpro Corp.; Jill Davies, Best Buy; Marcheta Evans, president, St. Catherine University; Karissa Kirvida; Minya Nance, Culture Core; Shelley Sanchez; Katie Schoeneck, Thrivent Financial; Cheryl Winston, Target Corp., and Ebony Wyatt, General Mills.  Project for Pride in Living, a Minneapolis-based affordable-housing and employment services provider, announced the hire of William Price Sr. as senior director of real estate development; he most recently was with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The Landing MN, a Rochester, Minn.-based nonprofit aiding those experiencing homelessness in Olmsted County, announced the promotion of Erin Sinnwell to director of development. Sinnwell previously was communications manager and before that was executive director of Family Promise.  Project Refocus, a Minneapolis organization focused on violence prevention, youth mentorship, community safety and economic empowerment, alongside Wolfpack Promotionals, which champions local entrepreneurship and economic growth, announced their planned move to 2034 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis.

OPENINGS

National jewelry retailer Kendra Scott announced the opening of a location at Southdale Center, Edina.  Twin Cities Premium Outlets, Eagan, announced the planned openings of Bonjour Crepes and Portland Leather Goods.

REAL ESTATE

Grasons, a national franchised estate sale and business liquidation service provider, announced the opening of Grasons of Dakota County, serving Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville, Rosemount and surrounding communities. The franchise is owned and operated by Mike Harms.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  If you want the chance to learn more about art history for free, the Butler Institute may have you covered.

On Sunday, the Butler Institute of American Art is hosting one of four installments of its 2025 summer lecture series, entitled A Mixed Bag because each lecture will dive into various pieces and artists.

The lecture will be led by Executive Director Dr. Louis Zona and feature some of his personal favorite artists as talking points.

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Were convinced, as a matter of fact, that itll be good for the community to see firsthand discussions of great works of art and great artists, Zona said.

It begins at 2 p.m. and is free to the public, with no registration needed.

We try to make it entertaining, we try to make it educational and were thrilled that its been so very popular. A couple of weeks ago, we even got a standing ovation, which makes us feel really good, Zona said.

This is just one of four installments of the Directors Lecture Series, with two more coming up on August 10 and 24.

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FORT KNOX, Ky. (FOX 56)  Officials with the United States ROTC announced that a cadet from New Jersey was killed on Thursday during a summer training exercise.

Around 7 a.m. on Saturday, the U.S. Army ROTC announced on social media that Cadet Neil Edara of Ridgewood, New Jersey, died on July 24 during a land navigation training exercise. He had been part of the 9th Regiments advanced camp.

3 rescued after boat capsizes in frigid Kentucky water

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Army leaders said Edara immediately got medical treatment after becoming unresponsive during the training and was flown to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by medical staff.

Cadet Edara was one of the most dedicated and promising young leaders Ive had the privilege to know, Lt. Col. Timothy Stevenson, professor of military science at Rutgers University, said. His calm collected demeanor and unwavering commitment to excellence left a lasting impact on everyone around him. His loss is deeply felt across the entire ROTC and Rutgers community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Read more of the latest Kentucky news

Cadet Edara had joined the ROTC program at Rutgers in September 2021, officials said.

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ROTC officials said the safety of cadets remains their top priority as training continues, and that the cadets have access to religious affairs, spiritual counseling, and support.

An investigation into Cadet Edaras death remains ongoing.

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When devastating wildfires swept through California earlier this year, many buildings were destroyed beyond repair. In fact, the Eaton and Palisades fires alone destroyed 40,000 acres of properties, and 6,800 buildings were damaged in the Palisades fire, affecting the Santa Monica Mountains.

Now, the rebuilding process is leading to some conflict. Specifically, many residents of Pacific Palisades have recently expressed serious concerns about Senate Bill 549, which would create Resilient Rebuilding Authorities" funded by the government through property tax collection. These concerns were recently raised in a Fox 11 LA news report.

These authorities would be given the power to purchase lots where homes had been destroyed by fire, and to build low-income housing on a significant percentage of those lots.

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However, residents of Pacific Palisades, where Realtor.com reports the median home listing price is $4.9 million, are not happy with what they see as a "land grab." Many have voiced opposition, and, in response, Senate Bill 549 has been put on hold until at least 2026.

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What would the California affordable housing bill do?

Senate Bill 549 explains that existing law gives the government the authority to establish an "infrastructure financing district to finance public capital facilities or other specified projects of communitywide significance" and to "allocate tax revenues to the district, including revenues derived from local sales and use taxes."

Lawmakers now want to use this power to create Resilient Rebuilding Authorities, which would use some of the money to buy lots in Pacific Palisades and build homes for people with incomes between 60% and 30% of the median income, as well as homes that would be occupied by people with incomes below 30% of the area median and permanent supportive housing aimed at finding homes for the homeless.

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Governor Gavin Newsom also separately allocated $101 million in taxpayer money for the construction of more low-income housing to "accelerate the development of affordable multifamily rental housing so that those rebuilding their lives after this tragedy have access to a safe, affordable place to come home to."

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America  and that anyone can do it

Why is the California housing bill causing so much controversy?

While lawmakers may want to build affordable housing in Pacific Palisades, residents are not so sure they want this to happen.

Jessica Rogers, Pacific Palisades Residents Association president, wrote a letter expressing her objections to lawmakers, which over 2,300 other local residents signed onto.

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"[Lawmakers are] asking for a land grab," Rogers said. "This is a rebuild, this is not a politicians get to decide a pet project on what theyre going to decide in the Palisades. This is residents of this community get to decide what happens in our rebuild phase, period."

Rogers also stated that while there was some affordable housing in the area in the past, residents dont want more of this housing built because they don't want things to change  they want their neighborhood back the way it was.

"We had some low-income housing, and we had affordable housing," Rogers explained. "We want what we had on January 7 [the day of the Palisades Fire]. Nothing more, nothing less."

Another resident was also upset about the idea of the government coming in and making sweeping changes without the consent of those who already lived there. "It does sound quite a bit like Big Brother deciding whats good for all of us," commented Aileen Haugh, another local resident. "Its irritating to think that other people [not local residents] are going to make decisions of what gets built and how it gets built."

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Misinformation may have also played a role in stoking opposition, as the LA Times reported that Spencer Pratt, a reality TV star, had shared information on social media about his opposition to the bill, who claimed that the government was focused on dense reconstruction and wouldn't be abiding by local zoning rules.

The LA Times has also said that some of the other posts opposing the legislation were based on prejudiced views towards affordable housing and distrust of the government, as well as fears that the character of Pacific Palisades would change. Some even floated the conspiracy that the fires were set on purpose to replace the wealthy community with one where homes were more affordable.

Regardless of whether the objections are based on conspiracy theories or fact, however, lawmakers have taken notice, and the controversial bill has now been put on pause.

"I appreciate the input of the folks who have weighed in about the bill, and along with legislative colleagues have decided that it would be best for us to pause the bill until next year to give us more time to see if we can get it right," State Senator Ben Allen said in a recent statement. "For me to feel comfortable proceeding, the bill will have to be deeply grounded in community input, empowerment, and decision-making, including the support of the impacted councilmembers."

What to read next

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Rep. Dave Min was chatting with reporters at the US Capitol when the California Democrat was asked about whether he wants Kamala Harris to run for governor.

Suddenly, Min no longer had time to talk.

I have no comment, he said.

Asked what he thought a Harris run would mean for his own reelection prospects, Min repeated, I have no comment on that, sorry, and bolted onto the House floor, away from reporters.

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Rep. George Whitesides, another Democratic freshman from California who beat an incumbent Republican by 8,000 votes, took a long pause before answering whether he wanted to see the former vice president run.

I welcome her to the race. Im just really focused on my own race, but if thats what she feels calls to do, thats her prerogative, Whitesides told CNN.

As Harris deliberates on whether she should run for governor or hold out for another potential presidential bid, California Democrats are quietly asking themselves the same question. Her critics say that while she would be a favorite to win the governors race in a deep-blue state, possible ambivalence about her candidacy could hurt Democratic chances in swing districts as the party tries to retake the US House.

Some top donors and interest group leaders insist that Harris will have to answer for former President Joe Biden, whose decision to run for reelection before making way for her remains a sore subject for Democrats, and whether Harris could have done more to prevent President Donald Trumps return to the White House.

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Harris has plenty of allies who want to see her run. Several leading elected officials in the state told CNN that they do not believe the candidates already running have either the stature or experience to stand up to Trumps pressure campaign against California on everything from immigration raids to funding cuts.

As someone who served as district attorney, attorney general and senator from California, she would have the experience, leadership and understanding of the state legislature to tackle two of the biggest problems in the state: the lack of affordable housing and a sense of a lack of public safety, said Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents the Silicon Valley area and has had an uneasy relationship with Harris at times.

Rep. Mike Levin, who held his San Diego County district by 17,000 votes last year, said he believed a Harris run could help in 2026.

She knows the state well, she knows the electorate well and I think shed be a very formidable candidate, he said.

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The Harris critics  few of whom will put their names to their complaints  are doing their own math: She would probably win if she runs, they say, but if she doesnt generate enthusiasm or if she fires up Republicans, she could prove a drag on vulnerable Democrats like Min and Whitesides as well as State Assembly and State Senate districts where Democrats dont have votes to spare.

Theres no groundswell for her candidacy. In fact, I think it would only fire up Republicans and hurt our ability to win the four to five seats that we need to win to win the House and hold on to three seats that we just flipped in 2024, said one California House Democrat who asked not to be named in order to speak candidly about a candidate widely expected to be the partys front-runner if she enters the race. She comes in with baggage.

Part of the issue for many Californians, said Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who represents a reliably Democratic district in Los Angeles, is that no matter what kind of campaign Harris might run, people believe that being governor wasnt her first choice.

Once youre the vice president of the United States, theres only one place to go. Its president, Gomez told CNN. For me, if I was vice president and all of a sudden I lose, it would be a fallback to me. I hate to put it so bluntly.

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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has had a tough relationship with her fellow San Francisco-rooted politician. Asked by CNN whether she wanted to see Harris run for governor as she left the Capitol last week, Pelosi said only, I want her to do whatever she wants to do.

Where Harris stands

Harris is once again earning her reputation for long, drawn-out deliberation.

Several people who have spoken to Harris told CNN she has asked them whether they think she should run. Some of those people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose private conversations, say they have turned the question back to her.

She has also reached out to former California governors to ask what she could get done on the job, though not all have agreed to speak with her about it.

Kamala Harris tours a damaged neighborhood with Los Angeles County officials following the Palisades fire on February 6. - Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Harris canceled a long-planned August vacation, a move that one person familiar with her deliberations does not mean shes decided what to do. Besides talking about a potential governors race, that person said, Harris has in the last few weeks asked her closest aides for research and memos that outline other options.

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Among those options: Starting a 501(c)(4) organization focused on the information ecosystem and how to empower younger voters while rethinking institutions key to democracy, creating a political action committee to raise money for other candidates, and doing a listening tour of Southern states with a 2028 presidential bid in mind. Her thinking, the person said, is that she would have time for all of these if she doesnt run for governor.

While nursing some worries that Harris has let the governors race take shape too much in her absence, confidants have also kept tabs on the other candidates, who include former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former US Rep. Katie Porter and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Harris allies privately scoff at the insistence of several candidates that theyd remain in the race if she enters it or that they would retain much support if they did.

And few voters are focused on a governors race when the primary isnt until next June. The top two finishers in that contest, regardless of party, will advance to the November 2026 ballot.

Supporters and rivals are not waiting for the fall book tour for Harris soon-to-be-published memoir or a decision on the race to choreograph around her. Several pro-Harris Democrats have been passing around numbers from private polls conducted for others in the state showing her popularity among Democrats is much higher than any declared candidate. Supporters of others have been seeding chatter that people dont want her back on the ballot, often with data that shows a drop-off of support for Democrats across California races when she was the presidential nominee last year.

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Burning over Trumps time in office, Harris is eager to stay involved, several who have spoken with the former vice president told CNN. She wants to at least keep open the option for another White House campaign in the future.

Thats different, though, from delving back to the hand-to-hand politics that advisers feel this kind of run for governor would require, if only for Harris to stave off looking like she was taking the race for granted, and for grappling with big challenges in Sacramento that are getting bigger.

Harris decision is not just intertwined with closing the door on a 2028 presidential run, but weighed against the quieter, wealthier existence that key members of her family have suggested to others theyd prefer.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a California Democrat, said that especially among fellow Black women she speaks with, theyre still healing and they want to make sure that she is fully healed.

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She should certainly run if thats the thing that she wants to do. She is certainly Californias girl. We have been rooting for her for so long, Kamlager-Dove said, adding that though she thinks having yet another big personality as governor is important, those decisions are incredibly personal.

The wildcard: redistricting

One factor in how vulnerable California Democrats feel about a Harris run wasnt in the conversation just a few months ago: the prospect that their districts may be redrawn in the middle of the decade.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called a special session to consider a rare mid-decade redistricting at the behest of Trump and the Justice Department. Trump says he wants to eliminate as many as five Democratic seats in Texas ahead of the midterms. Thats led leaders of Democratic-run states  including California Gov. Gavin Newsom  to threaten their own redrawing of lines to push out Republicans.

In California, Democrats who won by small margins could face harder races as they lose friendly territory to other districts.

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California Democrats who argued Harris weaknesses to CNN could not, when pressed, say any of the other candidates would be more of more help for down-ticket candidates. And Harris supporters point out that if the argument holds, any statewide dynamics are likely to be subsumed to nationalized energy in a midterm year when Democrats will be mobilizing to take the majority in the House as a check on Trump.

Rep. Mark Takano, who represents the Southern California city of Riverside, told CNN that not only does he hope Harris considers running, but that enthusiasm for her and for Democrats overall has resurged in the last few months in response to Trump.

After the Los Angeles protests, the No Kings march, any drift to the right among certain parts  Latinos, African Americans, Asians  I think thats been staunched, to say the least, and its moved the other direction, Takano said.

But Rep. Young Kim, a Republican who represents an Orange County seat that is once again near the top of Democrats wish list to flip, laughed when asked about Harris running.

Seriously, good luck to her, Kim said with a laugh. She clarified she was being sarcastic.

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California's candidate Langford said he was proud of his "German ancestry" and called Auschwitz a "great work camp," sparking controversy.

The Auschwitz Memorial Museum slammed Kyle Langford, Republican candidate for Governor of California, after his antisemitic remarks, calling out his actions as a profound moral failure.

The instrumentalization of the tragedy of all those imprisoned and murdered in the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz for political messaging is a profound moral failure, said the official Auschwitz Memorial Museum.

Auschwitz is not a prop. Kyle Langford, your post is an affront to the dignity of the victims and a disturbing display of insensitivity and disregard for the horrifying human history.

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Langford, who is currently the leading Republican candidate in California, published a photo of himself at the entrance of Auschwitz with a text that said: My 0% unemployment plan.

He also doubled down after being called out by the memorial museum, posting a message that said his German ancestors smile upon him and thanked the organization for a shoutout.

Kyle Langford candidate for governor of California, posted a photo of himself in Auschwitz. (credit: X/Twitter)

A candidate with nothing to lose

Langfords comments came as he aims to secure a spot as one of the two candidates to fight for the California governor, where he faces low chances of competing due to the nonpartisan top-two primaries system and the heavy advantage that Democrats have in the state.

That allowed him to focus on a campaign centered around explosive comments, with antisemitism being one of his main points when trying to show himself as disruptive.

His comments on Auschwitz came as a solution to the homelessness and unemployment crisis in California, while he also called the death camp a beautiful work camp.
Cambodia's UN Ambassador called for an "immediate, unconditional" ceasefire with Thailand on Friday after the dispute between the two countries entered its third day.

So far, at least 30 people have been killed, including civilians, and thousands have been forced to flee their homes.

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors late Friday in New York, with all 15 members calling on the parties to de-escalate, show restraint and resolve the dispute peacefully.

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"We also call for the peaceful solution to the dispute," said Chhea Keo.

He responded to accusations that Cambodia attacked Thailand, asking how a small country with no air force could attack a much larger country with an army three times its size, stressing, We do not do that.

Cambodian villagers wait to receive drinking water donated by a local company as they take refuge in Batthkoa primary school in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, Saturday. - Heng Sinith/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.

Thailand's UN ambassador left the meeting without stopping to talk to reporters.

But Thailands acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said Friday that Cambodia may be guilty of war crimes due to the deaths of civilians and damage caused to a hospital. He said Thailand had exercised the utmost restraint and patience in the face of provocations and aggression from Cambodia.

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Tensions over a disputed border area erupted into fighting after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers on Wednesday.

Clashes break out across border areas

The Thai military reported clashes early Friday in multiple areas along the border, including near the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple claimed by both sides.

The Thai army said Cambodian forces had used heavy artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket launchers, prompting what Thai officials described as appropriate supporting fire in return.

Thailand said six of its soldiers and 13 civilians were killed, while 29 soldiers and 30 civilians were wounded.

Early Saturday, Cambodian General Maly Socheata, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, told reporters Saturday that seven more civilians and five soldiers have died from two days of fighting. It earlier reported one fatality  a man who was killed when the pagoda he was hiding in got hit by Thai rockets.

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Related

The Cambodian Education Ministry claimed that on Friday two Thai rockets had hit a school compound in Oddar Meanchey but caused no injuries. It said all schools in the province have been closed.

The Thai army denied it targeted civilian sites in Cambodia, and accused Cambodia of using human shields by positioning their weapons near residential areas.

The 800-kilometre frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The last major flare-up in 2011 left 20 dead.
Palestinians are facing mass starvation in Gaza under Israel's aid blockade, as new reports directly contradict the Israeli and U.S. government's claim they've used as an argument for restricting aid into the enclave. Avril Benoit, CEO of Doctors Without Borders in the U.S., joins The Weekend: Primetime to discuss Israel's "campaign of starvation" in Gaza and the dire conditions on the ground.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH)  This week on Capitol Report, the panel reacts to gender-affirming care youth program cuts across Connecticut, potential challengers in the 1st District primary and how Gov. Ned Lamont responded to his potential challenger Josh Elliotts plan for tolls.

Plus News 8 political reporter Mike Cerulli speaks on a push poll of Democratic voters.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Attorney General William Tong respond to Trumps tariffs, but the GOP Chair says its fearmongering.

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Finally, Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz celebrated National Ice Cream month in New Haven.

CAPITOL REPORT

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Capt. Amir Saad and Sgt. Inon Nuriel Vana were killed, and another wounded, while in an armored personnel carrier (APC) due to the blast of an improvised explosive device.

Capt. Amir Saad, 22, from Druze village Yanuh-Jat, and Sgt. Inon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon, an officer and a soldier in the Golani Brigade's reconnaissance battalion, were killed in Khan Yunis on Saturday, the IDF said on Monday.

A third soldier, also from the Golani Brigade, was wounded in the same incident.

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According to Walla, the two soldiers were killed while in an armored personnel carrier (APC) due to the blast of an improvised explosive device.

Saad's family, members of Israel's Druze community, said in a statement on Saturday, "This evening, our family lost what is most dear to us. With deep sorrow and indescribable pain, we announce the death of our beloved, Captain Amir Abdallah Saad, who fell during his service and a battalion mission in Khan Yunis, Gaza, as part of Operation Swords of Iron."

IDF operating in the Gaza Strip (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

"Amir is the second fallen soldier from our family in this difficult and accursed war  a cousin of Lt.-Col. Alim Saad, who fell at the beginning of the war. A combat officer, beloved son, brother, and grandson, who went out to defend the state and the people  and did not return.

Two soldiers injured in separate incident on Sunday

An IDF officer and a reservist NCO were "severely injured" during combat in the southern Gaza Strip earlier on Sunday, the military confirmed.

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The officer serves in the 585th Desert Reconnaissance Battalion, and the reservist NCO serves as a tracker in the Gaza Division's Southern Brigade, the military confirmed.

N12 further identified the officer as a Lt.-Col. serving as the battalion commander.

They were evacuated to the hospital for medical treatment, the military noted.

Three soldiers killed in Gaza over the weekend

Over the weekend, the IDF announced that M.-Sgt. Betzalel Yehoshua Mosbacher succumbed to his wounds sustained in battle in southern Gaza. He was wounded on July 19, 2025.

Mosbacher, 32, from Avnei Eitan, served as a combat engineer in the 749th Engineering Battalion, in the 828th Infantry Brigade.

This is a developing story.
Car catches on fire, driver arrested in northwest Las Vegas valley

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A car went up in flames Saturday night after crashing into landscaping in the northwest Las Vegas valley, police said.

Just before 7:45 p.m., Las Vegas Metro Police responded to the single-vehicle crash where a coupe hit landscaping and decor. The vehicle caught fire following the crash.

The driver, who was alone in the car, was not injured but showed signs of impairment, according to police. The driver was taken into custody.

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The crash brought several lane closures in the intersection of Cheyenne and Durango.

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Jul. 27Bemidji Chamber Ambassadors congratulated the Occupational Development Center on its new ownership of Big River Scoop in downtown Bemidji.

The Occupational Development Center is a nonprofit providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The organization plans to continue the same great service while expanding job training through the popular shop.
Jul. 26Bemidji Chamber Ambassadors recently congratulated Colt Johnson and Caleb Christofferson on the launch of their new business, Triple C Excavating LLC.

Triple C Excavating offers excavation services including site preparation, grading, underground utilities, demolition and more for homeowners, builders and businesses throughout northern Minnesota.

"The team is known for its strong construction background, focus on safety and precision, and commitment to getting the job done right," a release said.

For more information, visit

triplecexcavating.com.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA)  One man in Champaign County is pleading guilty to the murder of two people.

It happened last year at a pop-up party in the area of Cynthia and Anita Drives in Champaign. 22-year-old Corey Butler was charged with 10 counts of murder and one of a felon in possession of a firearm but is getting most of those charges dismissed through his plea.

Two injured, one sustains life-threatening injuries in Decatur crash

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The Champaign County States Attorneys Office said Butler pleaded guilty before the trial to one count of first-degree murder. The rest of the charges were dismissed as part of the deal, and Butler was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Police said in July of last year, they were called to the parking lot of an apartment complex where four people were hit by gunfire. 18-year-olds George Dorris-Rodgers and Daniyjah Staple were both killed.

Now almost a year later, Staples cousin said hes glad to have a conviction, even though he was hoping Butler would spend more time behind bars.

Patching of I-57/72 ramps set to start in Champaign

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I did talk to some friends. They were actually, had the same reaction as most of us, said Dajuan Lane, cousin of Daniyjah Staple. They were thinking this sentence wasnt that long or there should have been more, or even worse. So, a lot of us had the same reaction for it.

Lane said he and Staple were close growing up, and he will continue to help make sure her memory lives on.

He also said hes been talking to local officials about a way to honor his cousin in Champaign. Lane said those talks are still ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Charges: Small town Minnesota man fatally shot woman he thought was an alien originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

A Minnesota man has been charged with murder after fatally shooting a woman he allegedly thought was an alien.

According to Windom Police Department, officers responded to a report of a shooting on the 1400 block of 12th Avenue at around 5:15 a.m. last Wednesday. At the scene, officers found 70-year-old Kathryn Voelker, of Windom, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

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Before she died, she told police that 38-year-old Jamie Voelker "had called her and stated he needed help, so she went to his house," according to the criminal complaint.

Jamie Voelker is now charged with two counts of second-degree murder. While the alleged shooter and victim share the same last name, authorities have not yet confirmed their relationship.

Jamie VoelkerCottonwood County Jail

He was taken into custody after police found him in a blood-stained bathtub inside a neighboring home that he had broken into after the shooting.

According to the charges, Jamie Voelker, who was allegedly drinking the night before the shooting, woke up an individual (this person called 911 after the shooting) and he was talking bout aliens and how he thought Kathryn Voelker was an alien. When Jamie saw Kathryn enter the home, he fired numerous shots from a pistol.

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An autopsy revealed that Kathryn was shot seven times and died from blood loss.

Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Cherokee language immersion school student writing in the Cherokee syllabary. (Photo/Cherokee Nation)

Guest Opinion. A foundational Cherokee value, known as detsadageyusesdi, is to be stingy with one anothers existence, like a mother is with her child. It is no coincidence that when Cherokees think about love and caring for one another, we connect immediately to the bond with our children. They are our most precious responsibility, and they carry within them the future of our Nation.

As we all must look out for one another, our care for children extends to our friends and neighbors throughout northeast Oklahoma. That is why I was honored to accept Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols invitation to join the new Tulsa Childrens Cabinet, where we are joining leaders in local government, education, business and philanthropy to improve outcomes for all children in our region.

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.

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This initiative by Mayor Nichols seeks to align resources and break down barriers to ensure every child reaches their full potential. Cherokee Nation brings unique strengths and proven programs to this partnership that can help lift up the thousands of Cherokee families who call Tulsa home.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

For the good of children and families, Cherokee Nation is already stepping up to fill critical gaps. When the state of Oklahoma declined to participate in a federal summer nutrition program, Cherokee Nation  along with the Muscogee, Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations  took action. Our Summer EBT program ensures that children across our reservation, both tribal and non-tribal, do not go hungry when school is out. This initiative is returning millions of federal tax dollars to Oklahoma families.

We continue to build on our deep, ongoing investments in early childhood development. Through the Verna D. Thompson Early Childhood Education Act, we are investing $80 million to replace aging Head Start facilities with the state-of-the-art centers our children deserve. We are also strategically building new child development centers, including a $30 million facility in Catoosa, to provide quality care that working parents can depend on.

Our Cherokee Immersion Schools continue to grow, serving kindergarten through 8th grade at two campuses and recently graduating our largest class ever. At Sequoyah High School and schools throughout the region, we support numerous programs for developing young minds, in everything from Cherokee language and culture to advanced STEM education, arts and workforce readiness. This year we contributed $7.6 million out of car tag revenue to 107 school districts across northeast Oklahoma.

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The Childrens Cabinet provides a forum to share these successful models and learn from our partners as we collectively work to put 15,000 additional Tulsa children on a path to economic mobility by 2030. As we move forward with Mayor Nichols and our fellow Cabinet members, we remain focused on outcomes. How many more children can we ensure have a quality education? How many more families can we provide the support to flourish?

Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I know that investing in children is a direct investment in our sovereignty. Our ancestors sacrificed much so we could be here today. It is now our turn to build the programs and partnerships that will serve our children for generations to come.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
BEIJING (AP)  Late last month, a car struck children near an elementary school in an outlying district of Beijing, according to a Chinese news report.

A four-sentence police statement said a 35-year-old male driver hit pedestrians due to improper operation of the car. It didn't mention the school or that the victims included children. Photos of the aftermath, which showed a half-dozen people lying in the street, were scrubbed from Chinas closely controlled internet.

We need the truth, said one post on Weibo, a leading social media platform similar to X.

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The ruling Communist Party has expanded information control since leader Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, seeing it as a way to prevent unrest. More and more topics, from negative news about the economy to LGBTQ+ identity, have become subject to some form of censorship. In the past half year, mass attacks  in which a person kills or injures multiple people with a vehicle or knife  appear to have been added to the list.

Some people in China are pushing back, complaining online in at least two cases in recent months after drivers hit pedestrians.

The government may be trying to prevent copycat crimes, experts have said. Another motivation could be local authorities wanting to cover up when they fail to do so.

A deadly case in November sparked a government reaction

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There was a spate of attacks last fall, but its difficult to gauge whether they are increasing, given the dearth of information.

The attacks werent always a taboo topic. In the past, authorities released the basic details. Typically, the assailant was described as taking out their anger on society, often over financial losses.

That appears to have changed following a particularly horrific case in November that killed 35 people in Zhuhai in southern China. Authorities said the driver was upset about a divorce settlement. Orders came from the very top  from Xi  to take steps to prevent similar attacks.

Eight days later, an SUV hit students arriving at an elementary school in Hunan province. The number of injured  30 children and adults  wasnt made public until nearly a month later when the driver was sentenced.

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The clampdown on information has tightened further since. In April, reports circulated online that a car had run into people outside a primary school in Jinhua city. At least three provincial state media outlets posted stories  but they were quickly taken down. To date, authorities havent released any information.

Censorship makes some people hungry for information

Twelve days later, a fast-moving car veered off a street and into people at a bus stop in the city of Tengzhou in eastern China.

Authorities said nothing. Videos of the May 4 crash were taken down from social media. The next day, online criticism of the silence began to appear. People said the police should release basic information such as the drivers identity and the number of casualties. A few defended the police, saying it happened on a holiday.

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If a few such precedents are set, and more local governments follow this way in the future, the rules of information disclosure may not be upheld and may be compromised, Hu Xijin, the former editor of a state-owned newspaper, warned in a social media post.

Local governments want to cover up news that reflects badly on them or their polices, said Jennifer Pan, a Stanford University professor who researches how political censorship and information manipulation work in the digital age. The central government sometimes has other priorities.

When the issue gains attention despite local censorship efforts, the center has an incentive to preserve the legitimacy of the overall system through responsiveness and acknowledgement of the event and underlying issues, she said in an email response.

The details came out 48 hours after the crash. Six people had died, and it had not been an intentional attack: The driver was drunk, a state media report said.

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Police respond with quick statements that are short on details

Since then, local authorities, at least in two cases in Beijing, seem to be taking a new approach: Issue a report quickly but with scant details.

Eleven days after the drunk driving case, a car hit people outside an elementary school in Beijing on May 15. The Beijing Traffic Police issued a report within a few hours but left out that the location was near a school. It said only that four people had been injured when a car sideswiped pedestrians on Jianan West Road, and that the driver had been detained.

Authorities appeared to impose an information shutdown that evening. Police were stationed along the stretch of road and a person who appeared to be a neighborhood watch volunteer cautioned people in a nearby residential compound not to speak to strangers.

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Six weeks later, posts appeared online on June 26 saying a car had hit children in Miyun, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of central Beijing. One well-reputed media outlet, Caixin, reached area shop owners who said that children had been hit, and a hospital that confirmed it was treating some child victims. Whether it was an intentional act remains unclear.

___

Associated Press journalist Emily Wang Fujiyama contributed to this story.
China on Saturday unveiled a global action plan for artificial intelligence, just days after Washington released an AI policy road map explicitly aimed at securing US dominance over Beijing.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang proposed a new international organization to champion cooperation on AI.

The two camps are now being formed, one analyst said: While Beijing voices support for a multilateral approach, the US wants to build its own camp, very much targeting the rise of China.

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The dual plans reflect rising US-China tech tensions; US President Donald Trumps deregulatory approach to American AI could push Beijing to double down on its quest for self-reliance and domestic alternatives to Western tech, the South China Morning Post reported.
BEIJING (AP)  China's famous Shaolin Temple announced on Sunday that its abbot is under investigation on suspicion of misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets.

Shi Yongxin is alleged to have committed criminal offenses and violated Buddhist precepts by maintaining relationships with multiple women over a long period and fathering at least one child, according to a notice from the temple's authority on its WeChat account.

The notice said a joint investigation was being carried out by multiple departments and its findings would be announced in due course.

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The fame of the Shaolin Temple, based in the central Chinese province of Henan, has gone beyond a religious institution. It is also renowned for its martial arts culture, or kung fu, which has been referenced in many movies and TV dramas, including the 1982 film "The Shaolin Temple, starring martial arts superstar Jet Li.

Local media reported that Shi Yongxin, whose original name is Liu Yingcheng, had faced accusations in the past, including claims that he fathered several children and embezzled money. Provincial investigation reports exonerated him of all charges in 2016, according to the Caixin Global news outlet.

Shi Yongxin entered the Shaolin Temple in 1981 and became its abbot in 1999, according to the temple's website.

China's state news agency Xinhua reported in 2015 that he was known as a CEO monk, attracting criticism for developing commercial operations to promote kung fu shows and merchandise.

Earlier on Sunday, Chinese local media outlets reported that authorities had dismissed as fake an online notice claiming Shi Yongxin was intercepted by authorities while trying to flee to the U.S. with a number of mistresses and some 20 children.
More than 40 people were killed in an attack by an Islamic State affiliate in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN and the military said.

Most of them were worshippers taking part in a night vigil at a church in the town of Komanda when they were attacked by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters. Nine of those killed were children, the UN peacekeeping mission said.

Nearby shops and businesses were looted and set on fire.

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The ADF emerged in Uganda in the 1990s, accusing the government there of persecuting Muslims, but is now based over the border in DR Congo, where it regularly attacks civilians of all religions, as well as in Uganda.

It has since become part of the Islamic State's Central African Province, which also includes a group in Mozambique.

According to research by BBC Monitoring, nearly 90% of IS operations are now carried out by affiliates in Africa.

The attack claimed at least 43 people, including 19 women, 15 men and nine children, the UN peacekeeping mission, Monusco, said.

"These targeted attacks against defenceless civilians, particularly in places of worship, are not only appalling but also in violation of all human rights standards and international humanitarian law," said Monusco deputy chief Vivian van de Perre.

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The Congolese military said "about 40 people were surprised and killed with machetes and several others were seriously injured".

It said "these terrorists have decided to take revenge on defenceless peaceful populations to spread terror".

Lt Jules Ngongo, the Congolese army spokesman in Ituri province, where the attack happened, said it was meant to divert attention from their ongoing joint military operation with the Ugandan military targeting the militant group.

He said the army would continue to hunt down the ADF "to their last stronghold" and called on the people "to remain extra vigilant and report any suspicious presence to the defence and security forces".

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In 2021, DR Congo invited Ugandan troops into the country to help tackle the ADF. Attacks however still continue.

Komanda is in DR Congo's mineral-rich Ituri province, which has been fought over by various armed groups for many years.

Last week, Monusco condemned a "resurgence of violence", this month, citing earlier ADF attacks on 8-9 July which it said had resulted in 47 deaths.

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This story has been updated with new reactions.

The viral video that emerged via Facebook on July 26 depicting a fight involving multiple people in Downtown Cincinnati has made its way to the eyes of city officials and law enforcement alike.

The post claims the fight took place at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets late Friday, July 25, when thousands of people were Downtown for The Cincinnati Music Festival.

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Just after 6 p.m. on July 26, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge released a statement regarding the incident.

"I am in complete disgust waking up to the viral video many of you have now seen. The behavior displayed is nothing short of cruel and absolutely unacceptable," Theetge said. "Our investigative team is working diligently to identify every individual involved in causing harm."

She said the fight was not connected to the Cincinnati Music Festival.

"This was a sudden dispute between individuals following a verbal altercation," Theetge said.

As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, the fight is still under investigation, and no updates regarding arrests or hospitalizations have been released, according to Cincinnati police spokesman Jonathan Cunningham.

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Theetge is among many city officials and law enforcement who have voiced their concerns over the fighting shown in the video.

Mark Jefferys, Cincinnati city councilman

Cincinnati City Councilman Mark Jeffreys described the video of the fight as "incredibly disturbing and horrific," as well as "downright inhumane." He added that he's spoken with other city officials and police to work on "finding the individuals responsible and arresting them urgently."

"This behavior cannot stand and will not represent our city," Jeffreys said. "Those responsible must be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Cincinnati City Council member Mark Jeffreys described the video of the fight as "incredibly disturbing and horrific," as well as "downright inhumane."

Cecil Thomas, Ohio state representative

Cecil Thomas, state representative of Ohio's 25th District, said in a statement to Enquirer media partner Fox19 that he is totally embarrassed to see such behavior.

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Thomas goes on to say that, with visitors from around the country, this sort of violence is unacceptable.

Scott Hughes, Hamilton Township police chief

Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes took to X to share, "What happened on Fourth Street in Cincinnati wasn't just a fight," Hughes wrote.

"It was a breakdown of order, decency, and accountabilitycaught on video and cheered on by a crowd. This isnt just Cincinnatis problem. Its ours too."

Hugh added that the incidents in Cincinnati don't just stay in the city, as "the perception of danger ripples across the region," discouraging residents from visiting Downtown's many events and attractions.

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"Families stop going out. Businesses stop investing. And cities lose the very momentum they worked to build," he said. "This video isnt just another viral moment. Its a warning shot. We can either raise our voices or watch silence fund the chaos.

 What happened on Fourth Street in Cincinnati wasnt just a fight.



It was a breakdown of order, decency, and accountabilitycaught on video and cheered on by a crowd.



This isnt just Cincinnatis problem.

Its ours too.   Chief Scott Hughes (@ChiefShughes) July 27, 2025

Bernie Moreno, Ohio senator

Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno took to X to call out Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval for not issuing a statement or condemnation of the "heinous attack."

"Instead of dreaming about higher office, which will never happen, he should be ensuring his residents are safe," Moreno wrote.

The Mayor of Cincinnati, @AftabPureval, who has an opinion on lots of irrelevant topics, has not issued a statement, let alone a condemnation, of this heinous attack.



Instead of dreaming about higher office, which will never happen, he should be ensuring his residents are safe. https://t.co/RahxdeHd3B  Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) July 27, 2025

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

In a retweet of Moreno's X post, Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, said, "Our federal hate crimes laws apply to ALL Americans" and that the division will monitor how local authorities handle this incident.

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"Nobody in our great nation should be the victim of such a crime, and where race is a motivation, federal law may apply," she added.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati officials react to video of Downtown fight
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The City of El Pasos Department of Public Health is providing free routine vaccines to eligible children before heading back to school.

According to the news release by the City, the Department of Public Health emphasizes the importance of vaccinations against preventable illnesses such as tetanus, HPV, polio, measles, meningitis, whooping cough and more.

Courtesy of the City of El Paso.

Diseases like polio, measles, and meningitis were once common and had devastating impacts on communities, said City-County Local Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza. Thanks to vaccines, weve made great progressbut we must remain vigilant. Protecting our children through vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious illness and save lives.

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The City said they are offering free vaccines for children 18 years and under who meet the following Texas Vaccines for Children requirements:

Enrolled in Medicaid

Uninsured

Underinsured (Private insurance, but coverage does not include vaccines, or selected vaccines)

American Indian or Alaskan Native

Enrolled in CHIP (El Paso First only)

In addition, the following vaccines are available to the eligible children, the City said:

Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Acellular Pertussis (DTaP)

COVID-19

Hepatitis A (HepA)

Hepatitis B (HepB)

Polio (IPV)

Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV) and Meningitis B (MenB)

Adolescent Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

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The Citys Community Clinics are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the following locations:

Westside, 7380 Remcon Circle

Lower Valley, 9341 Alameda Ave.

Henderson, 721 S. Mesa

Northeast, 9566 Railroad

The City does say that the clinics are closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.

No appointments are required to go to the Community Clinics, but you can make one by calling (915) 212-6555.

Courtesy of the City of El Paso.

As well, the Departments Vax to School Tour 25 will host outreach events across El Paso and bring vaccines to areas where families may have limited access to healthcare, the City said.

Vax to School Tour 25 dates and locations can be found on the Department of Public Healths page.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SPRINGFIELD  Massachusetts ranks fifth in the nation for artificial intelligence-related job postings, but the state faces a retention challenge, with only 40% of AI graduates staying.

Producing over 6,500 AI-related graduates in 2022, Massachusetts is home to about 25,700 workers with AI-related roles or skills, according to a 2024 state AI Strategic Task Force report.

Local initiatives, such as AI-equipped body cameras in Chicopee and AI-driven educational programs in West Springfield, are enhancing services from city hall to public safety and education, while setting a precedent for innovative and efficient governance.

In Springfield City Hall

Springfield has been testing AI in its election and clerks offices. City Clerk and Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola-Lopez said city staff used AI to design voter giveaways.

At the CPD

In Chicopee, the Police Department recently started using body cameras equipped with artificial intelligence. Public Information Officer Travis Odiorne explained that AI helps with routine, but often time-consuming, work.

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AI is used with our body cameras to assist with generating police reports. The body camera records and transcribes the footage into a report, which our officers then review for accuracy, Odiorne said. It ensures accuracy and saves time, he said.

Odiorne mentioned that the department began wearing body cameras about five weeks ago. The AI technology was included in the package they signed off on.

This technology makes it easier for officers, because they dont have to worry about missing notes, he explained. The transcription captures everything said on the scene.

The AI also can translate hundreds of languages.

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It supports 253 languages and can live-translate conversations, Odiorne said. This helps us communicate better with people who speak different languages.

However, Odiorne noted that the AI transcription doesnt capture the feelings and emotions of the people involved.

Officers still need to modify the reports to include what they saw and felt on the scene, he added.

Education in West Springfield

West Springfield is employing artificial intelligence in education.

Stefania Raschilla, superintendent of schools, said she was at a conference in January at which Jeffrey C. Riley, former Massachusetts commissioner of elementary and secondary education, spoke about the benefits of AI.

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Today, Riley is a senior adviser at A Day of AI, a nonprofit group born out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that equips students to effectively navigate AI today and into the future.

They explained all the amazing things AI is doing around the world, Raschilla said. I thought, This is something we should be teaching our students.

Raschilla believes AI can help students and teachers by providing innovative tools for learning and teaching. We often hear about the negative aspects of AI, but its important to teach students about its benefits and ethical considerations, she said.

To introduce AI, Raschilla and Riley planned several initiatives. They aim to start with a speech to inspire staff about the transformative power of AI in education.

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Teachers will receive a three-hour workshop in August on AI policy development, ethical guidelines, and using AI for data-driven decision-making and student support.

We want our teachers to feel confident using AI as a resource, Raschilla said. This training will help them integrate AI into lesson planning, student engagement and personalized learning.

The district also plans to hold a districtwide AI day, in which students, teachers, and administrators will engage in AI projects.

Our goal is to give students a competitive edge and help teachers become comfortable with AI, Raschilla said. We want to ensure everyone understands both the practical applications and ethical considerations.

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Raschilla hopes that with this initial training, teachers will embrace AI and use it to enhance their teaching methods.

We want our kids to have that advantage, but I cant have my teachers afraid of it, she said.

Raschilla said she would like to participate in the workshop herself.

She said this could possibly lead to additional partnerships with MIT for students who are interested in this work.

Read the original article on MassLive.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  City leaders, municipal staff and business representatives gathered in the Lynnhaven Mall parking lot on Tuesday, July 22 for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Lynnhaven Parkway Corridor Improvements Project.

This project intends to improve safety and accessibility along Lynnhaven Parkway for residents and visitors, which officials say will be achieved through these infrastructure improvements:

Wider sidewalks and improved accessibility for pedestrians

Upgraded lighting and traffic signals

Improvements to landscaping, fences and signage in the area

Improved drainage and crosswalks

Rendering of future Lynnhaven Parkway sidewalk. Courtesy: City of Virginia Beach Rendering of future Lynnhaven Parkway signage. Courtesy: City of Virginia Beach

This project will bring real, visible, positive change to one of the citys busiest and most important commercial corridors, said Emily Archer, the deputy director of Economic Development with the City of Virginia Beach. Lynnhaven Parkway connects neighborhoods, business hubs, schools and shopping centers  and for a long time, its needed a makeover. These improvements arent just cosmetic  they support the ongoing economic vitality of the area while addressing concerns around pedestrian safety and accessibility.

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Officials say that motorists can expect lane reductions during project construction, but no full road closures are expected at this time.

Work is currently scheduled to be complete by the end of 2027.

For more updates on the project, you can visit the link here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
NOTE: This video is previous coverage from 7/1/25

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  The city of Virginia Beach informed voters Thursday that a referendum question will be on the ballot regarding the 10-1 system.

The question will read: Should the method of city council elections set forth in the Virginia Beach City Charter be changed from a modified 7-3-1 system to a 10-1 system?

A yes vote means that you support the 10-1 system, which was used in the 2022 and 2024 city council elections. In the 10-1 system, the city is divided into 10 districts and the voters of each district elect a single council member with the mayor elected at-large (city-wide).

A no vote means you support the 7-3-1 system described in the current city charter as modified by a general law change that occurred in 2021. In the modified 7-3-1 system, the city is divided into 7 districts and the voters of each district elect a single council member, with three other council members and the mayor elected at-large (city-wide).

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On July 1, a 2023 vote taken by City Council on the 10-1 system was ruled as void by a judge, but the decision on what system to use to elect council and School Board members was put off.

Every voting change weve ever had in our city, beginning with the merger in 1963, the citizens of Virginia Beach have determined by referendum their voting system, former City Council member Linwood Branch said. We broke with precedent this time, but Im glad seven members of council are now going to get us back to having the citizens have that opportunity. Its their vote. Its no one elses.

Resources will be listed on the referendum website to explain why the question is on the ballot, along with frequently asked questions and recordings of City Council meetings and materials from the meetings.

Additional information will be provided leading up to Sept. 19, which is the start of early voting.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Climate of the times: String of shootings results in violent night across Jacksonville

Four separate shootings in less than eight hours across Jacksonville overnight Saturday into Sunday.

I think its common all over. Its not just Jacksonville, southside Jacksonville neighbor Debbie Davis said Sunday. I think it is all over, I think its the climate of the times.

Read: JSO investigating weekend shootings across Jacksonville

According to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, it all started with two teens shot in Jacksonvilles Woodstock area just after 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

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Investigators say those two teens were hanging out in Woodstock Park when they were approached by two masked men who demanded the teens backpacks. When the teens handed them over and ran away, the two men then opened fire, shooting one teen in the hand and the other in the arm. Both are expected to survive.

After that, at around 1 a.m. on Sunday, a shooting on Monaco Drive in Jacksonvilles Highlands area, where a woman was walking, was approached by an unknown person and shot in the head, but is expected to survive.

Then, around 3 a.m. near Edgewood Ave and West Beaver Street, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office says a man was found shot in the chest, now in critical condition.

Finally, also around 3 a.m., on Gate Parkway West, a man in his mid-20s was shot and killed, with the suspect yet to be identified and police still working to figure out what led up to the shooting.

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Neighbors at the Citigate Apartments, where the shooting happened, say they never would have expected a shooting in their typically quiet community.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

I was born and raised in Chicago, and you hear about stuff like that happening in the city all the time, explained Trisha Bundhoo, a Citigate resident. I never thought I would be experiencing that moving to Jacksonville, for sure. So its just, its really unsettling. I dont even think Ive had it this close to home in Chicago when I was living in Chicago.

Now, following the night of violence, Jacksonville residents are calling for change to help curb violent crime across Jacksonville.

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More communication, more mentorship in the community definitely [is needed.] Debbie Davis said. Black mentorship, white mentorship, everybody mentorship, you know, for the young people.

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Crews quickly knocked down a recreational vehicle fire in Van Nuys on Saturday afternoon, with up-close footage capturing the raging flames that turned out to be fatal.

It happened around 1:16 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department, and the RV was parked along a curb in an industrial area at 13400 W. Raymer St.

LAFD crews arrived to find the RV fully ablaze. Footage provided by multiple Citizen app users showed that the thick plume of black smoke could be seen from hundreds of yards away, whereas video from people mere feet away showed the intense battle between firefighters and flame.

Crews are seen battling a fatal RV fire in Van Nuys. July 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen battling a fatal RV fire in Van Nuys. July 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen battling a fatal RV fire in Van Nuys. July 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen battling a fatal RV fire in Van Nuys. July 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen battling a fatal RV fire in Van Nuys. July 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen battling a fatal RV fire in Van Nuys. July 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen battling a fatal RV fire in Van Nuys. July 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen battling a fatal RV fire in Van Nuys. July 2025. (Citizen.com)

Though the fire was prevented from extending to businesses or other vehicles parked nearby, the remains of one person (undetermined age/gender/site affiliation/circumstances) were found within the charred remnants of the Class A style motorhome, LAFD stated.

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Officials said no other injuries were reported as a result and that the cause of the fire is under active investigation.

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As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, a new wave of Indian entrepreneurs is finding innovative ways to integrate the techn with traditional tools, transforming everyday experiences into smarter, more efficient solutions. From note-taking to productivity, these startups are reimagining the familiar through the lens of technology. Their efforts are not only capturing the attention of users but are also gaining recognition from government bodies and international platforms alike, marking India's growing presence in the global innovation landscape. Many of such solutions were showcased in the recently concluded 25th edition of Gifts World Expo in the national capital. Hyderabad-based ReNote AI, which has built smart reusable notebooks integrated with an AI-powered mobile app that transforms handwritten notes into editable, searchable digital text, says that the expo is benefiting it in getting new customers, and interestingly, the enquiries are proving to be the new use cases for its engineering and design team. Suman Balabommu, Founder of the ReNoteAI said, "So when we are exhibiting here, multiple people came up with multiple use cases. So I got that opportunity and several use cases too." Recognised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Google among the top 100 Indian Mobile apps, the startup has also showcased its innovation at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) Dubai and the Osaka World Expo. Speaking about what attracts foreign buyers to the company's solution, Balabommu said that scientific studies have proven that writing on paper improves focus, memory, and creativity. ReNote AI preserves these benefits while eliminating the limitations of traditional notebooks. Inspired by these very findings, we are gaining recognition on global platforms, he added. "Compared to India, the other countries are more giving preference. So, they saw the very good opportunities there when I exhibited in Dubai. Many of the people are ready to invest in the products and to expand the business in UAE and all," Balabommu added. ReNote AI's reusable smart notebook, powered by AI cloud syncing, reduces paper waste and keeps your notes safe for a lifetime, while being environmentally conscious. "ReNote AI is not just a product; it's a movement to bring back a culture of mindful, healthy, and sustainable writing," he added. ReNote AI utilises AI to convert handwriting into text in real-time and provides AI-powered summaries for instant insights. With instant multi-language translation, auto-task and calendar syncing, and sketch-to-image generation through generative AI, among many use cases, Indian startups are exhibiting their growing quest to integrate AI with traditional tools. (ANI)
CNNs Jake Tapper repeatedly fact-checked a Republican senator on air Sunday as the lawmaker insisted that Democrats and Barack Obamas administration were at fault for a sweetheart deal that allowed Jeffrey Epstein to escape his 2008 conviction on child sex charges virtually unscathed.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin appeared on CNNs State of the Union and repeatedly claimed that a plea agreement to keep Epstein from being charged federally for child sex crimes was signed in 2009, under the Obama administration. But Epsteins plea agreement was drafted in 2007 and signed in 2008, when he pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for sex, before Obama was even president.

It was 2008, Tapper corrected him, chuckling.

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Tapper noted that the U.S. attorney who oversaw the non-prosecution agreement was Alex Acosta, who went on become Donald Trumps secretary of labor during his first administration.

It all took place in 2008, Tapper said.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin clashed with Jake Tapper over when the Epstein plea agreement was signed  it was signed in 2008, and drawn up a year before (CNN State of the Union)

Mullin then shot back, asking who was in office at the time?  seemingly making the error of assuming that Obama was the president. Obama won the presidential election that year but was inaugurated in January 2009.

In 2008, George W. Bush was the president, Tapper said, as he was cut off by Mullin repeating his question. George W. Bush.

Mullin went on to insist that because the case was sealed in 2009 that Democrats were somehow involved.

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A clearly exasperated Tapper responded that the point is, the sweetheart deal, which was completed in 2008, was under the Bush administration.

The plea agreement inked between Acosta and Epsteins attorney, Alan Dershowitz, was staggering in its leniency.

Epstein was allowed to leave the prison facility for hours at a time for work release to the headquarters of a nebulous enterprise called the Florida Science Foundation he founded shortly before beginning his sentence and shut down when it concluded.

Inside the prison, Epstein was allowed to maintain his own office, just as hed done at Harvard University for years, while watching television and was watched by guards who wore suits and were partially on his payroll.

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Mullin and other Republicans closely aligned with the president are treading a careful line on the issue of the Epstein investigation.

The Trump administration ignited a firestorm early in July when the Department of Justice and FBI announced that the agencies would not release any more documents related to the Epstein investigation despite having promised to do so. The agencies cited a refusal to release identifying information about victims and graphic sexual imagery involving children.

Most glaringly, the agencies also declared in that early July announcement that a so-called client list of Epsteins alleged co-conspirators had not been found.

Having latched on to the issue long before Trump was elected to a second term, his MAGA base descended into chaos.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Many of the presidents 2024 supporters called the reversal a betrayal by the administration, while some questioned whether Trump himself was involved in a cover-up to protect himself or other powerful men named as Epsteins accomplices in the files. Some Democrats latched on to the issue at the same time, joining calls for transparency.

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Then, a pair of articles in The Wall Street Journal purported to outline Trumps own connections to the investigation.

The newspaper reported the contents of a message allegedly penned by Trump to Epstein as part of a 50th birthday celebration in 2003, including allusions to a secret. Trump firmly denied authoring the note, and sued the newspaper and its reporters in response.

A second article from the WSJ days later reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump in May that he was mentioned in the Epstein investigation multiple times, thought it was not clear in what context

The White House called that story fake and has repeatedly insinuated that Democrats including Joe Biden tampered with the Epstein files in response.

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Being mentioned in the files does not mean wrongdoing, and hundreds of names are reportedly included.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are caught in the middle. Some are joining on to a bipartisan effort led by Thomas Massie  a Republican who clashed with the president over the GOP budget reconciliation package earlier this year  and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna to force the Justice Department to release the entirety of its document trove, with redactions for child sexual assault material and the names or identifying information of victims.

Others more aligned with leadership, including House Speaker Mike Johnson.

But Johnson and others have been careful not to label the Epstein story a distraction, to the White Houses annoyance.

Johnson called the August recess early this past week, sending lawmakers home for the month to avoid a vote legislation from Massie and Khanna.
A June 2025 report revealed evidence potentially linking 68 corporations to state-imposed forced labor in the Uyghur Region of China  among which, some household names are highlighted as having some level of business relationship.

What's happening?

According to the Freedom United posting on Daily Kos, some of these downstream corporate connections include Coca-Cola and Walmart through smaller companies with which those brands have some form of relationship. There were no allegations of wrongdoing by either company directly, nor that either company was aware of the allegations before the report.

"The report argues that China deliberately emphasizes the Uyghur Region in its critical minerals strategy. It documents how authorities forcibly transfer Uyghur workers to mines and mineral processing facilities," the article detailed. "Resistance often results in harassment, imprisonment, or threats to livelihoods."

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The 61-page report by Global Rights Compliance explains how transitions to renewable energy  as the forced laborers often mine minerals like lithium  can have a devastating human impact, though they exist under the cover of aiding the planet.

The post at Daily Kos calls for companies and public officials to "ensure full supply chain traceability" as they transition to clean energy.

Why is the report concerning?

"Even as international scrutiny of Uyghur forced labor grows, exports to the US increased by 280%, and to the UK by more than 595%," the post observed, adding context to the report.

Coca-Cola in particular is no stranger to problematic practices. While the company has taken steps to reduce its contribution to litter and pollution, it has repeatedly been identified as the biggest contributor to branded plastic pollution worldwide.

What's being done about the Uyghur forced labor?

The report is a key document in bringing about change, as it outright calls out these companies and shines a light on what is happening in the Uyghur Region.

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The Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region responded to the report, saying, "Governments and companies that rely on critical minerals for the production of their goods have both the power and responsibility to take immediate action to eliminate reliance on Uyghur forced labour."

The EU is implementing a ban on products made using forced labor, though this will not go into full effect until 2027.

In this era of internationally exporting everyday items, it is key to educate yourself on where what you buy is coming from. By shopping locally, you can gain some comfort, knowing exactly where your purchases come from, and that those making them had full autonomy  and that generally leads to less pollution associated with transportation as well.

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.
Rep. Jason Crow on Sunday said Tulsi Gabbard has turned herself into a weapon of mass distraction in an effort to regain President Donald Trumps favor after he appeared to dismiss the director of national intelligence.

In an interview with Shannon Bream on "Fox News Sunday," the Colorado Democrat said Gabbards recent accusation that former President Barack Obama manipulated information and knowingly lied about Russian efforts to sway the 2016 election would be sad if they werent so dangerous.

She's trying to curry favor and get back into favor with Donald Trump and has concocted these theories to do so, Crow said, adding that Gabbard has not provided any new information with her claims.

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There have been four investigations including a bipartisan Senate investigation led under the first Trump administration in part by Marco Rubio that is very clear on these findings," he said, referencing Trump's secretary of state. "These have been investigated and reinvestigated and reinvestigated and nothing has changed up until this past month.

Last week, Gabbard claimed newly declassified documents revealed irrefutable evidence that Obama and his national security team created an intelligence community assessment that they knew was false about Russian intervention in the 2016 presidential election. She and Trump said Obamas actions could amount to treason.

All sides concede that Russia sought to undermine the election and that Vladimir Putin's government did not succeed in altering vote totals or actual results. The unresolved issue surrounds the question of whether an Obama administration report ignored contrary evidence in offering an intelligence assessment that the Russians preferred that Donald Trump win; Crow claimed that the conclusion was reasonable within the normal give-and-take of intelligence work.

Obama officials have labeled the Gabbard claims of treason ridiculous, while Democrats in Congress have accused the administration of trying to distract from the ongoing frustration around the withholding of information regarding the disgraced financier and convicted sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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Let's be really clear again about what's happening here. This is being reinvigorated and concocted because Donald Trump doesnt want to talk about the Epstein files, Crow said Sunday.

Republicans have denied the accusations, instead calling for a full investigation into Obama and the intelligence community leaders under him.

Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), who spoke to Bream on Sunday shortly after Crow, said the information Gabbard released had been hidden from Republicans for years.

We have been trying for eight years to get our work product released back where it belongs, and we just got it, Crawford, chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said. He added that Republicans are trying to reinstill trust with the American people.

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Crawford on Sunday claimed the Hillary Clinton campaign bought and paid for the Steele dossier, a controversial report that linked Trump to the Kremlin in 2016. He then called for former CIA chief John Brennan to be brought before Congress once again.

I'm hopeful in fact that Brennan will be called in to testify under oath, and we will see if his story stays the same, Crawford said before claiming Brennan had previously lied under oath when questioned about 2016 election interference.

Crow on Sunday called the focus on the dossier a red herring.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article mis-stated Rep. Jason Crow's weapon of mass distraction quote.




NEED TO KNOW

Daniel Bartelt murdered 19-year-old Jessie Blodgett, then comforted her parents in their home the same day

Friends never suspected him  even picking him up from the police station before learning he was being detained

Days earlier, Bartelt had attacked another woman in a park with a knife; he was later sentenced to life without parole





Jessie Blodgett was found strangled in her bed, her body carefully staged to look like she was still sleeping  and the boy who killed her sat in her parents living room that afternoon, sharing memories and pretending to grieve the very life he'd just taken.

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In July 2013, Jessie, a 19-year-old Wisconsin theater student, had just returned from a cast party for Fiddler on the Roof when her life was cut short. The news of her death sent shockwaves through the town of Hartford  and through her tight-knit group of drama friends. Among them: Daniel Bartelt, a classmate and former boyfriend.

A recent episode of Investigation Discovery's A Killer Among Friends  which premiered on July 21 and can be watched on HBO Max  reveals how Bartelt mourned alongside Jessie's loved ones  inserting himself into their grief, sitting with her parents, and reminiscing about the young woman hed raped and killed just hours earlier.

At this point in time, nobody knew who the killer could be, Jessies friend Ian said in the show. It became tough to conceptualize who could have done this thing.

Another friend, Jackie, recalled that when Bartelt was called in for questioning, no one was alarmed. We expected him to be questioned because he was close to Jessie, she said.

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Bartelts deception was chilling. After spending time with Jessies family, he asked his friends to drop him off at the police station.

And when we dropped him off, he said, 'Okay, maybe you can come and pick me up in 30 minutes?' one of them recalled. When they returned, officers were waiting outside. We cant release Dan, they were told. Hes being detained.

Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Jessie Blodgett; Dan Bartelt Jessie Blodgett; Dan Bartelt

We couldnt picture Dan being the type of person who did this, Ian said.

Jessies father, Buck Blodgett, also found the arrest hard to believe. Its not Dan, he said in the documentary. Hes never been in any trouble at school or the law, that we know of.

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Buck added, "Jessie and Dan sit together at school; he was a straight-A student... they would write songs together and sing together, he was welcome in our home, He was just over, the day after Jessie's murder, sharing hugs and memories and tears with us until his phone rang and he was called in for questioning."

Mark Hoffman/TNS via ZUMA Press

The turning point came when police connected Bartelt to a recent attack. Just days before the murder, he had tackled a woman in a nearby park and held a knife to her.

He admitted to that assault, claiming it was a spur-of-the-moment decision and that he only meant to scare her.

For that attack, Bartelt was convicted of first-degree reckless endangerment and sentenced to five years  served consecutively with his life sentence for Jessies murder.

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But when questioned by police about his ex-girlfriend's killing, he denied his involvement  although he told investigators that he still had feelings for Jessie.

Bartelt also said that somebody had "raped and murdered" Jessie, which aroused the suspicion of police and ultimately gave him away: At that point, the fact that Jessie had been raped had not been made public.

A search of the park's trash cans gave investigators the evidence they needed to tie the teen to Jessie's killing  a cereal box stuffed with ropes, along with bloody sanitizing wipes and tape. Both Bartelt and Jessie's DNA was later found on the discarded evidence.

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.

Mark Hoffman-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After a 16-day investigation, Bartelt was arrested and charged with Jessies murder. Evidence at trial revealed she had been sexually assaulted and strangled with makeshift restraints.

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Despite the devastating betrayal, Jessies father didn't respond with rage  just heartbreak and disbelief.

Our first reaction wasnt, We hate this kid, Buck Blodgett said. It was, Oh my God, what happened to Dan?

In August 2014, Bartelt was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He has continued to maintain his innocence.

In court, he addressed Jessies parents directly: I cant give you the answers that youre looking for, he said. I pray for you, for all of you, and I hope that  I believe that  someday we will be before a court that will know that my conscience is clear.

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New episodes of A Killer Among Friends will air weekly on ID on Mondays at 10 p.m. ET through mid-August. Each episode will be available for streaming afterwards on HBO Max.

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
In a brazen move, Republicans in Texas have set out to redraw the state's congressional map  an effort to boost President Trump and the GOP in the 2026 midterm elections.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has threatened to respond in kind, gerrymandering blue California to give Democrats a lift and offset the Lone Star lunge for power.

That would mean scrapping the political lines drawn by an independent citizens commission, which voters created nearly two decades ago to take line-drawing away from the state's politicians.

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Our columnists Mark Z. Barabak and Anita Chabria disagree strongly, but amicably, on the wisdom and implications of Newsom's threatened move. Here they hash it out.

Barabak: Gavin Newsom  or the 48th president of the United States, as he fancies himself  is perhaps second only to Donald Trump when it comes to surfing a political wave. And so it is with redistricting and retribution.

It may set partisan Democratic hearts to racing  which is part of Newsom's intent  but it's a bad move for all sorts of reasons. Not least, ignoring the will of California voters, who resoundingly told the state's self-dealing politicians no mas!

Read more: California Democrats may target GOP congressional districts to counter Texas

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I understand the fight-fire-with-fire attitude that animates partisan support for the get-even talk by 48, er, Newsom. But the danger is causing even more widespread damage.

Over the years, a lot of zeitgeist-y moves by the headline-hungry Newsom have come to naught. This is another that belongs on the scrap heap.

Chabria: I agree that the Vegas odds are on the side of this tit-for-tat being nothing more than a partisan headline-grabber.

But.

There is a larger and more important question here that boils down to how seriously you believe our democracy is in jeopardy.

If, Mark  as I think you are inclined to at least hope  this too shall pass and our next election will be free and fair, however it may land, then the idea of gerrymandering our congressional districts can be nothing but appalling. This is especially true in California, one of the few states in which the people have voted to ensure our electoral maps are drawn with nonpartisan fairness in mind.

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If, like me, however, you think we are on a knife's edge of losing our democracy to authoritarianism  or at least an oligarchy where hate is wielded for power  then gerrymandering becomes a form of peaceful resistance.

Newsom recently said, "We can act holier-than-thou. We can sit on the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be, or we can recognize the existential nature that is this moment"  which gives you an idea of his thinking, and frankly, mine.

I'll dive into that more, but maybe that's where we start. Do you think our democracy is sound and what we're witnessing is just a period of discontent that will pass without lasting harm?

Barabak: I sure hope so.

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I yield to no one in my disgust with Trump and concern about what he's doing. He's authoritarian. Autocratic. Arrogant. Anti-democratic. And that's not even getting past the letter "A."

But actions like the one Newsom threatens on redistricting don't take place in a vacuum, which is important to bear in mind. Short-term tactical gains can result in long-term pain.

For instance: In 2013 Democrats were so upset about Republican blockading of President Obama's judicial and executive branch nominations that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid invoked the "nuclear option." At Reid's behest, the Senate narrowly voted to change its rules and disallow the filibustering of presidential nominees.

The result is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a whole clown car of Trump Cabinet members.

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And while Democrats explicitly said the rule change would not apply to the Supreme Court, once the door was open Republicans shouldered their way through and eliminated the filibuster for those nominees as well. The result is Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and the high court's 6-3 Trump-coddling conservative super-majority.

Those who fight fire with fire risk getting badly burned.

If Democrats want a war over redistricting, Republicans have a lot more ways to gerrymander and potentially gain seats  in places such as Florida, Missouri and Ohio  than Democrats.

Read more: Barabak: Gavin Newsom is threatening to end-run California voters. It reflects a terrible trend

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Chabria: No doubt. But, and this is as low as it gets, I'll pay the price of a Hegseth, maybe even two, if it really does save democracy. Here's the reality: The only hope of a Congress that will curb Trump through the democratic process is shifting at least some power to Democrats in the 2026 election.

If Texas Republicans, under pressure from Trump, manage to redraw as many as five new GOP-leaning seats  and it doesn't blow up in their faces, which it could  the move would boost the chances the House remains a Trump entourage and the prospect of authoritarianism goes from brush fire to wildfire.

The truth is that gerrymandering is far more common than most realize. Kevin Johnson, an expert with the Election Reformers Network, wrote recently that "In the 1990s, only 40% of the seats in the House of Representatives were considered a sure thing for one party or the other, now that figure is 83%." That's because most states gerrymander.

Really, the only truly competitive races take place in states such as California that have independent, nonpartisan folks drawing the election maps. So to play devil's advocate, we've already lost to gerrymandering in the U.S. and California just doesn't know it.

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That's a problem that could be solved if a future president and Congress wanted to do so. But it requires getting to a future president and Congress. I always put this on the record: I care neither about Republicans or Democrats. I care about democracy.

If California gerrymandered, helped turn Congress into a real check against authoritarianism and left fixing gerrymandering for later, would it really be so bad?

Barabak: Your crystal ball must be less hazy than mine.

I'm not all convinced that even a gain of five Texas House seats would guarantee GOP control of the House. (And let me put this on the record: I think what Trump and his Texas handmaidens are doing is thoroughly reprehensible.)

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Since World War II, the out-party has picked up an average of more than two dozen House seats in midterm elections. Democrats need a gain of three to seize control.

There's even, as you suggest, a chance Republicans' political pigginess backfires by spreading their voters too thin, creating districts that Democrats might pick up if there's a big enough blue wave.

Speaking of moves backfiring, it's no sure bet Californians would approve Newsom's gerrymander effort if he put it to a vote in a special election to override the commission.

Surrendering power to politicians is a pretty big ask in today's environment. And it's not as though Newsom has a deep reservoir of goodwill to draw upon; just look at his poll numbers.

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He went to South Carolina to, allegedly, campaign for Democratic House candidates, even though the state hasn't a single competitive contest. California has about 10 races that look to be at least somewhat competitive  yet you don't see fellow Democrats clamoring for Newsom to drop by their districts.

Read more: Chabria: 3 things that should scare us about Trump's fake video of Obama

Chabria: I don't have a crystal ball. What I do have is a deep well of foreboding, but an optimist's hope that your blue wave, power-to-the-people scenario happens.

In the meantime, Newsom said Friday that redistricting "is not a bluff," and he is exploring multiple ways to do it.

On that list is a legal gamble. Our current redistricting laws say maps have to be drawn fairly every 10 years, after the census  but doesn't specifically say we can't gerrymander in between. Newsom is basically suggesting cheating with a sunset clause: Immediate redistricting that benefits Democrats, but that would expire when the regular redistricting happens.

It's drastic, and may just wind up tied up in courts indefinitely.

But I am frustrated that politicians, pundits and even regular people continue to treat this administration as just politics as usual, and I appreciate that Newsom is not, even if part of it is driven by personal gain for a 2028 presidential bid. Perhaps our democracy has been on the brink before, but that makes this cliff no less dangerous. We the people need to think outside of our regular reactions to Republicans vs. Democrats or cultural wars or partisan divides or any of the far more harmless stressors that have plagued our system in the past.

What I like about Newsom's jab is that it forces us to have conversations like this one, and ask ourselves how do we fight differently?

Because this fight is different.

Barabak: This may sound Pollyannaish, but I think theres nothing about these frightful times that cant be remedied at the ballot box.

Texas may have a competitive U.S. Senate race next year. If Texans dont like the ruthlessness of GOP lawmakers and their power grab, they can send a message by electing a Democrat, helping the party overcome the odds and take control of the chamber. That would put a check on Trump, regardless of whether Republicans hang onto the House.

Its in the hands of voters. If democracy is going to be protected and preserved, its up to them. Not scheming politicians.

Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak

Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol.

Sign me up.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  A Panama City man celebrated a very special birthday this Saturday.

John Roberts, a local resident, turned 100 years old.

He says that while he was happy to see everyone come out, it didnt feel much different than turning 99.

I want to thank them all, said Roberts. I appreciate it.

Roberts is a frequent customer of Tudors Biscuit World, ordering wraps and blueberry pancakes like clockwork, one employee said. In honour of the special occasion, Cara Pattinato, Tudors owner, threw him a surprise birthday party.

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I just want to wish Mr. John a special 100th birthday, and it has been my honour to serve you your bacon egg and cheese wrap and blueberry pancakes, Pattinato said.

In addition to his friends, family, and some of the staff at Tudors Biscuit World, the Veterans Affairs Office came out to honor Roberts with a medal.

Roberts was a veteran of WWII.

Local police and firefighters also got in on the action.

Roughly 30 emergency service providers came out to shake Mr. Roberts hand and thank him for his service.

Thank you for your service, said Pattinato. What youve done in your lifetime as a WWII veteran is something that I could never give, so thank you for your service. Thank you for letting me serve you, and thank you for coming through our drive-through with a smile, even at 100. Youre always having a good day, and I hope I may also do that in my lifetime.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
OVID, N.Y. (WROC)  Following a January fire at a local town center, Ovid residents have supported the areas recovery through various fundraising efforts. The Between the Lakes Community Service Players is part of the community thats contributing to the cause.

The group has spent months preparing for their summer show, Something Rotten. Between the Lakes Community Service Players is known for putting on theatrical productions as a means to support non-profits throughout the Finger Lakes region. This season, the musical is being held to raise money for the Ovid Fire Department.

Following the devastating fire, the towns fire department lost much of its equipment due to the extreme heat of the flames and the extensive use of equipment in extinguishing the fire.

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Artistic director of Between the Lakes Community Service Players, Tina Coville-Bauder, told News 8 about how raising money for the department was an easy decision to make.

Dozens rallied in Families First National Day of Action

You know, we all lived through this tragedy in January, and most of the people who are in the production in general for at least the last 21 years are local, and we all, our board, when we got together to pick a partner, it was pretty clear that we would approach the Ovid Fire Department, Coville-Bauder said.

The show opened on Thursday, July 24, and is scheduled to have its final performance on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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Thus far, organizers have reported that several thousand dollars have been donated to the department, and the goal is to continue to raise more.

Individuals interested in donating to the Ovid Fire Department may do so through this link.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
Community thanks first responders who put out historic Catholic Church fire

A community came together to thank first responders who helped extinguish a fire at a historic church.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

As reported on News Center 7 at 6:00, dozens of people wanted to thank first responders.

TRENDING STORIES:

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As previously reported by News Center 7, a large fire destroyed the historic church in late May.

News Center 7s Malik Patterson said the churchs roof and steeple were destroyed, but firefighters saved the rest of the building.

Community members say there is a lot to do.

To see them on their ladders trying to put that fire, humongous fire out of the church is scary, and they all live among us, said Jean Thove.

Patterson said Sunday was an emotional afternoon for the people in Maria Stein.

Jennifer Schack with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati was there. She spoke about the importance of the meeting.

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Thank God for the gifts of others to help us during our times of struggle. And this has really been one of those moments for this community, she said.

Church members told Patterson that the new building committee is focused on saving items from inside and whats next.

We really need to think about the next 100 years, you know, our future, because thats what happened when this church was built, thats what they did, said Maria Rethman.

The new building committee meets again on Monday to discuss what can still be saved and what needs to be done next regarding insurance.

We will continue to follow this story.

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In a major new onshore wind collaboration, the renewable energy firm known as "BayWa r.e." and forest industry leader Stora Enso are joining forces to develop over 1.2 gigawatts of clean power in Sweden.

"This partnership marks an important milestone," BayWa r.e. Nordic CEO David Rosberg said in a statement. Rosberg emphasized the role the projects could play in advancing the region's renewable energy transition.

The projects, located in Central and Northern Sweden, could contribute to a more resilient, renewable energy system while creating opportunities for regional development.

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The collaboration will bring at least 158 wind turbines to forested land owned by Stora Enso, a major producer of renewable materials and one of Europe's largest private forest owners. BayWa r.e. Nordic will lead project development and implementation.

The wind farms are in early planning stages. BayWa r.e. has identified development areas following initial assessments, and next steps include forming project teams, conducting environmental and cultural heritage surveys, and consulting with municipalities and local communities. The permitting process is expected to conclude within five years.

If completed as planned, these projects could bring multiple benefits to the region. Large-scale wind development often supports local economies by creating jobs in construction and operations, while also adding clean electricity to the grid.

As more renewable energy comes online, communities may also see improvements in energy security and long-term environmental health.

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BayWa r.e. and Stora Enso may expand the collaboration to include solar energy and battery storage, further enhancing energy resilience and flexibility.

"This partnership marks an important milestone in our portfolio strategy in the Nordics," Rosberg added. "Together with Stora Enso, we can develop significant projects on land that are exceptionally well-suited for wind power, while also contributing to Sweden's and the regions' transition to renewable energy."

"Our expertise in project development and our proven track record in executing complex renewable energy projects demonstrate our commitment to driving the energy transition," said Daniel Gafke, COO of BayWa r.e.

"I would like to express my thanks to Stora Enso for placing their trust in us  this partnership not only reflects our shared vision but paves the way for impactful energy projects in the Nordics."

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The agreement adds to BayWa r.e. Nordic's growing project pipeline in the region, which now exceeds 2.6 GW.

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The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for the enactment of a central legislation to guarantee time-bound delivery of services to businesses by Union Ministries and Departments. This reform, CII stated, is crucial for strengthening regulatory certainty, enhancing predictability and improving the overall ease of doing business in India. "Despite commendable initiatives to mandate timelines in a range of areas, businesses continue to face procedural delays, regulatory uncertainty and non-adherence to timelines, significantly affecting operational efficiency and long-term investment planning. Absence of strictly enforced timelines is also felt in areas such as government refunds, disbursement of funds and subsidies, and raising claims by government departments on returns filed by businesses, which often causes cash flow disruptions and adds to compliance burden and uncertainty,' said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. A key challenge remains the uncertainty on timelines for approval, which creates delays and cascading costs. Addressing this issue would strengthen confidence and support more timely and predictable service delivery, the industry body added. While most Indian states have enacted their own Right to Services or Public Services Guarantee Acts, which ensure timely delivery of specified public services to citizens, no such central legislation exists to ensure timely service delivery by Central Ministries. "A legislation for time-bound delivery of services at the central level that ensures time-bound and faceless delivery of government services to businesses, with penalties for delays or deficiencies and a strong grievance redressal framework, would address this issue. Such a law would bring legal enforceability and institutional accountability to how public services are delivered to enterprises," Banerjee added. CII added that these services must be delivered within stipulated timelines, with clear tracking and provision of deemed approval in cases where deadlines are breached. Such deemed approvals should hold the same statutory validity as those granted through standard processes and must be enabled through faceless, digital channels to enhance transparency and reduce discretion, the industry body said. CII further added that the proposed legislation should also require authorities to record and provide clear reasons for any rejection and establish a strong, multi-tiered grievance redressal system. This could include time-bound appeals, escalation pathways, digital complaint tracking, and compensatory payment in cases of prolonged inaction, CII suggested. To operationalise this framework for regulatory approvals, renewals, and exits, CII has additionally proposed having separate legislation for Union ministries and departments mandating that all such services be delivered exclusively through the National Single Window System (NSWS), which is the central digital platform launched in 2021 for regulatory applications across central ministries and states. CII added that while NSWS is a landmark reform, it currently faces limitations due to partial integration by ministries and states. For instance, despite requiring numerous clearances, the Ministry of Labour and Employment currently offers only five approvals on the NSWS platform, the industry body said. In this context, CII emphasised that NSWS should be the exclusive platform for processing and granting all central approvals. Granting it a legal status and linking it to the proposed Central Right to Services legislation would establish NSWS as the cornerstone for enforcing timelines, enabling deemed approvals, and providing real-time visibility to both businesses and regulators, CII stated. "Providing statutory backing to NSWS will institutionalise its mandate, ensure universal adoption by central ministries, empower states to notify their rules for integration, and establish NSWS as the single digital interface through which services are applied for and delivered to businesses. This shall ensure that legally mandated timelines are met through a unified, accountable digital platform", said Banerjee. He added that if developed and implemented effectively, this combined legislative and digital reform has the potential to be a game-changer for India's regulatory ecosystem. As India aspires to become a global manufacturing and investment hub under its India@100 vision, aligning of legal mandates with a fully functional digital backbone will play a pivotal role in enhancing investor confidence and ensuring delivery-driven governance, Banerjee concluded. (ANI)
It started with a search for her grandfathers cousin. Tacoma resident Lynn Goralski knew that this cousin, Albert Lantz, died in France during WWI. She also knew he was buried with hundreds of U.S. soldiers who all fell in the same battle, a victory for the wars allied powers that came at the cost of thousands of lives.

In 2021, Goralski found an entry for Lantzs final resting place in the St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial on a website popular with genealogists: findagrave.com. But there was no photograph of his headstone. She went through the websites process of asking a volunteer take a photo, and waited. No one took up her request.

Eventually, she saw that more than 900 graves had unfulfilled requests for photos, and that only about 44% of all the burial sites had photos on the website.

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That didnt sit right with Goralski. A photo of a headstone or grave marker can be meaningful for family.

You have a connection to where they are buried by having a picture, Goralski said. I thought, I have the ability to be there, so why dont I set it up so I can take those pictures?

This June, Goralski set out to see Lantzs grave in person. She also planned to photograph more than 4,000 grave markers across two different cemeteries for U.S. soldiers and military personnel who died during WWI in France.

A sweeping view of countless marble crosses can bring home the magnitude of war. But so can a close up of a single headstone, with one persons name etched in marble. Each individual life that ended in France was a person connected to a family.

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I feel a deep sense of gratitude for all service members past and present, said Goralski, who is a teacher at Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup. She flew to France the day after the school year ended and began her dayslong photography project.

The grave of 2nd Lt. John Hunter Wickersham, a Congressional Medal of Honor service member, is photographed by Lynn Goralski at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial in France on Monday, June 23, 2025.

Thousands died retaking a French village

As the summer of 1918 drew to a close, the U.S. military ramped up its involvement in what was then called the Great War. In mid-September, French and American units under the command of U.S. military brass launched an attack to take back the French village of Saint-Mihiel and surrounding villages.

The area was known as a salient, or a bulge in the battle lines. Under German control, it was preventing communications between outposts of the French military and threatening Paris with a German breakthrough in the front. In rain, wind and mud, hundreds of tanks pushed through trenches and crossed German lines with support from the U.S. Air Service and the planes of allies.

On Sept. 14, Albert Lantz, 25, died, according to records Goralski accessed.

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In total, the U.S. saw 7,000 casualties as part of the hostilities. The majority of the 4,153 U.S. soldiers and personnel buried at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial died in the battle. There, row after row of marble markers etched with service members names show the cost of reclaiming Saint-Mihiel.

Lynn Goralski shares sites used to research for a trip to photograph graves from World War I on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Tacoma, Wash.

Creating a record of grave markers

In June of this year, Goralski set about getting a photo of each grave site not yet documented on the Find a Grave website, in a way creating a memorial to the memorial. She estimates she worked about seven hours a day, taking only short breaks for water, through a heatwave that baked the region. Ultimately, she said, she took photos of 2,322 grave sites.

Next, she visited another WWI cemetery, the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, and photographed another 1,688 grave sites.

Goralski doesnt have a personal connection to the second cemetery, but she planned to go there after seeing that it was also missing photographs for nearly half of its graves. She continued her project there before going to Paris.

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In total, she says she took 4,010 photos of grave sites. She estimates the task of individually uploading them to Find a Grave will take months. Once she does, shell have completed a map from each headstone to the service members entry on the Find a Grave website, which often links to entries for other family members.

Lynn Goralski sits beside the grave of her first cousin twice removed, Albert Lantz, left, at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery and Memorial in France on Sunday, June 22, 2025.

Soldiers with no descendants

To Goralski, Lantz is her first cousin twice removed. While that might sound like a tenuous connection, Goralski said shes moved by the fact that so many of the fallen soldiers were young, often with no children of their own.

That means many of the more than 100,000 U.S. service members who died during the war had no direct descendants. Even graves for those who did have children would now receive few visits, as those offspring would by now be in their 80s or 90s, if still alive. Goralski said the St. Mihiel cemetery receives about 30 visits a year from family members.

Battle wounds werent the only cause of death for those buried in the cemeteries, which are both exclusively for U.S. soldiers and military personnel. Further deaths came from the influenza pandemic, in which a virulent wave of the virus killed young people in France and throughout the world. Accidents also took lives.

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Goralski counted more than 100 soldiers who enlisted in Washington buried in the cemeteries. Two notable locals include Herman Uddenberg of Gig Harbor, a scion of a pioneer family that ran grocery stores, who died in an accident, and University of Washington crew coxswain Walter C. Dunbar, who died of illness.

For Goralskis visit this summer, cemetery staff placed flowers and two small flags, one French and one American, under Lantzs grave marker. They rubbed sand from Omaha Beach into the etching of Lantzs name, making it more legible in a photograph. She said Omaha Beach is considered an appropriate source of sand because the U.S. also fought alongside France there, albeit in World War II.

Now with a photo of the final resting place of her grandfathers cousin, and more than 4,000 other photos, Goralski is back home in Tacoma, where she continues to study genealogy and history.

There are just so many fascinating stories, she said.
Prices vary significantly between countries in Europe. Significant differences exist even between neighbouring countries such as Austria and Hungary  or Germany and Poland.

But how can we best compare prices across Europe? And what are the most expensive and cheapest countries across the continent?

Price level indices are a good way to help us understand how expensive or cheap goods and services are in each country. They compare national price levels to the EU average and are calculated using Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs).

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According to Eurostat, PPPs act like an artificial common currency, as they show how much people can buy with the same amount of money across countries.

The results are based on price surveys covering more than 2,000 consumer goods and services, conducted across 36 European countries.

How are prices compared across countries?

There are several price level indices that compare the cost of different goods and services  such as food, drink, clothing, hotels, and more. In addition to these individual or group indices, there are two main indicators that show the overall price level of consumer goods and services:

One is actual individual consumption (AIC), which measures all goods and services actually consumed by households. It includes consumer goods and services purchased directly by households, as well as services provided by non-profit institutions. The indicator also includes services provided by the government for individual consumption such as health and education services.

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Another indicator is household final consumption expenditure (HFCE), which studies total spending on individual goods and services by resident households.

In other words, AIC looks at what households use  including services they don't directly pay for  and HFCE shows what they spend money on.

Eurostat notes that AIC is often used in international comparisons, as it captures more than the narrower concept of household consumption. Euronews has therefore used AIC figures for comparisons, although consumption data is also included in the chart.

Switzerland is 3.9 times as expensive as Turkey

As of 2024, out of 36 countries, Switzerland is the most expensive, with prices at 184% of the EU average  84% higher than the average.

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Turkey is the cheapest, with prices at 47% of the EU average, meaning they are 53% lower than the EU average.

This makes Switzerland 3.9 times as expensive as Turkey, revealing the sharp contrast in price levels across Europe.

A price level above 100 means a country is more expensive than the EU average; below 100 means its cheaper.

Cheapest and most expensive countries: Bulgaria vs Luxembourg

In the EU, Luxembourg is the most expensive country, with prices 51% higher than the EU average.

Bulgaria and Romania are the cheapest members, at 57% of the EU average.

This means Luxembourg is about 2.7 times as expensive as Bulgaria and Romania, showing a significant but smaller gap compared to the difference between Switzerland and Turkey.

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Ten EU countries have prices above the EU average. Denmark (143%) and Ireland (141%) follow Luxembourg as the most expensive.

Among the EUs four largest economies, Germany (109%) and France (108%) are slightly above average, while Italy (98%) and Spain (91%) are below.

Geographic patterns in price levels

Western and Northern European countries tend to have high price levels. Switzerland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, and Finland all show significantly above-average prices. These are generally high-income countries with strong currencies and higher living costs.

All five Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland  also consistently rank near the top.

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In contrast, Central and Eastern European countries generally have lower price levels. Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and the Baltic States  Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia  are all below the EU average. These regions typically record lower labour costs.

Price levels are also lower in the EU candidate countries. They included Turkey, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Why are the EFTA countries so expensive?

Two European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries  Switzerland and Iceland rank first and second in 2024, with Norway in sixth place.

In a 2018 analysis based on 2017 figures, Lars Svennebye of the EFTA Statistical Office explained that high workforce productivity and corresponding high salaries were key factors behind the high price levels in EFTA countries.

Factors contributing to price disparities

Filippo Pallotti, PhD Candidate in Economics at University College London, told Euronews Business that across Europe, the most expensive countries to live in tend to be the most productive. Productivity gains in tradable sectors (like manufacturing and tech) drive up wages economy-wide - even in non-tradable sectors such as hairdressing, hospitality, and real estate, where productivity growth is slower, he said.

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Comparing the highest and lowest ends of the EU, Pallotti pointed out that hourly labour costs mirror price levels  around 55 in Luxembourg, 50 in Denmark, and just 11 in Bulgaria. But when comparing coffee at 4 in Copenhagen versus 1 in Sofia, its the interplay of strong tradable-sector productivity and the resulting elevated wages across all sectors that chiefly explains the gap." he added.

Pallotti also noted that beyond wages, productivity itself stems from several key factors: capital intensity, technology adoption, human capital, institutional quality, infrastructure, and foreign investment - including skilled management and talent inflows. Other contributing factors - VAT and indirect taxes, cost of regulation, urban density, transport infrastructure, and even currency valuations - play roles in shaping prices.

Earnings not included in price comparisons

Individual or household incomes are not included in price level comparisons. These figures are pure price comparisons of goods and services. They do not take the level of wages, salaries or other measures of personal income into account, Lars Svennebye told Euronews Business.

This means that someone living in a country with a high price level may still be able to buy more goods and services than someone in a country with a lower price level, depending on income.

Price levels vary significantly across different categories. For example, the price level for alcohol and tobacco in the EU was nearly three times higher in Ireland (205%), the most expensive country, than in Bulgaria (69%), the cheapest.
Bessemer residents attend a City Council meeting on July 15 to express opposition to a proposed data center. (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.

BESSEMER  For Ron Morgan, the signs told the tale. He was among the dozens of residents who spilled into the Birmingham suburbs city hall chambers who were met by what they viewed as propaganda: Literal signs, the residents felt, that city officials may not have an open mind about voting against a development project facing near universal public opposition.

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Flanking the chamber doors and on both sides of the council dais were city-printed posters with bold, all-capital letters at their tops: LETS TALK FACTS.

Lower down on the posters was information residents said they felt was misleading and aimed at swaying public opinion on an issue theyve studied closely: the impacts of a 4.5 million square foot data center proposed in their largely rural community.

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Focus on Benefits, one of the posters read, Not Misinformation.

At the bottom of the posters, next to an emblem of city hall itself, another all-caps slogan: POWERED BY KNOWLEDGE, NOT FEAR.

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Theyve already made their mind up, Morgan, an Army veteran, said. No surprise there.

Ron Morgan, an Army veteran, voices his concerns to Bessemer city councilors. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

So far, officials in the city of 25,000 have shown little interest in publicly digging into the details of what could be one of the largest development projects in state historyone that would require the clear-cutting of more than 100 acres of land, threaten endangered species and lead to large increases in water and electricity usage.

Instead, public officials, many bound by non-disclosure agreements with the developer, have relied on the assertions of the company proposing the projecta company that has so far refused to answer media questions about the impact of their plans on the community and the environment.

Not long after the July 15 City Council meeting began, Brad Kaaber, a representative of the developer, Logistic Land Investments LLC, told City Council members that residents near-universal opposition wasnt based on facts.

Bessember City Council members listen as residents express their concerns about a proposed data center at a meeting on July 15. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

Youre going to hear things that simply are not true, Kaaber told council members. And I appreciate all the people who took time out of their day to come to a meeting like this, but all I want to do is speak to the facts. Youre going to hear a lot of things that simply are not facts.

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Residents whod packed into the relatively small council chambers balked, audibly reacting to Kaabers comments.

Earlier, when Martin Evans, the developers attorney, exceeded the two-minute time limit imposed by the council on comments, several members of the audience shouted in protest. Proponents of the development, they said, should be bound by the same time constraint placed on opponents. Council President Donna Thigpen quickly squelched the residents complaints: If you cant be quiet, well clear the room, she said.

As Kaaber continued speaking, JC Matthews, director of economic development for the Birmingham Business Alliance, reacted to the groans of community members.

Yall just dont care about the facts, he said from the side of the room. Residents seated nearby, dressed in red to show their opposition to the data centers construction, looked shocked.

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Thats exactly what were interested in, one resident said. The facts.

To find the facts, Inside Climate News interviewed the developers representative, public officials and residents who live near the proposed development site on key topics and claims. Among the findings:

Water usage

Because of the need to cool the computer servers and other electronics in the proposed data center, the facilityconsisting of 18 buildings, each the size of a Walmart Supercentercould consume large amounts of water. The specific amount of water used by a data center campus depends primarily on its size and on its specific method of cooling.

Representatives of the developer behind the Bessemer project have said theyre unsure which method of cooling will ultimately be used by the proposed data center campus because an end user has not yet been secured.

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At a June meeting, Kaaber told planning and zoning commissioners that a large tech firm, likely a Fortune 10 company, would eventually sign on as the facilitys primary customerGoogle, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook among the chief possibilities.

Residents opposed to the data center wore red to show their solidarity. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

Only then, with a final user in place, would there be firm estimates of water usage.

Still, publicly available documents provide an insight into how much water the project could ultimately consume.

Warrior River Water Authority, a local utility, said in a letter obtained by Inside Climate News that the developer requested a supply of 2 million gallons per day, an amount the utility said it would not be able to provide without significant upgrades to the water distribution system.

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Water usage of 2 million gallons per day would likely place the facility among the largest consumers of water in the region with the exception of power plants, the utility document said, straining its capacity. Residents have said they already consider the water utility unreliable.

Publicly available information suggests that the Warrior River Water Authoritys supply capacity is around 6 million gallons per day. Usage of 2 million gallons per day, then, would amount to a third of the utilitys water supply if capacity is not increased to accommodate the facility.

The 2 million gallons of water a day requested by the developer is equivalent to the typical usage of around 6,700 households, about two-thirds of Bessemers population, based on the water utilitys consumption estimates.

Charles Miller, policy director for the Alabama Rivers Alliance, told council members at the July 15 meeting to be wary of the developers claims that council members should leave environmental regulation to other entities, like the Alabama Department of Environmental Management or the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

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In Alabama, we have no water quantity laws, so no state body or board will be examining whether the volume of water this project requires is reasonable or will harm neighboring communities, Miller said.

Water is a finite resource, Lauren Adele, a citizen concerned about rising water utility rates, told council members. What do we do as the residents of Bessemer, Jefferson County, Birmingham, the state of Alabama, when our showers dont work, when we have no water pressure, when we cant wash our dishes, when we cant cook our food? We have no way to generate more water than what God sends us from the sky.

Public water usage estimates also dont account for the additional water Alabama Power will need to cool its power plants as they provide megawatts of new power the proposed data center in Bessemer will need to operate.

Power consumption

In addition to significant water usage, the data center in Bessemer will consume an enormous amount of electricity, with servers running around the clock.

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A document produced by Evans & Evans, the law firm representing the developer, suggests that at total buildout, the proposed data center campus would consume around 1,200 megawatts of energy. Thats more than 90 times the amount of energy used by all residences in Bessemer and more than 10 times the amount of energy used by all residences in Birmingham annually. An increase of that magnitude would amount to a 10 percent rise in Alabama Powers total electricity demand statewide.

Increased demand for energy, or at least the potential for it, is already driving Alabama Powers desire to double down on fossil fuel investments. The company, an effective monopoly, has asked the states Public Service Commission to approve its purchase of a gas-powered power plant in recent days, increasing the states reliance on fossil fuel energy, which globally accounts for over 75 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Many experts also say that increased demand from data centers across the country will drive prices up for everyone, including residential customers. Alabamians already pay some of the highest energy bills in the country, according to various analyses of electricity rates nationwide.

Ron Morgan expressed his concern to council members that the data centers power usage will be so large that it will have to take electricity from multiple power plants.

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Just because theyre on a transmission line doesnt mean that Alabama Power can flip a switch and provide an additional 1,200 megawatts of power, he said.

Cancer risks

The citys signs at Julys council meeting made specific claims around the risk of cancer caused by data centers.

MYTH: Data Centers Cause Cancer FACT: There is NO scientific proof linking data centers to cancer, the sign said. While data centers do use diesel backup generators, these are rarely used and must meet EPA emission standards. Most centers are also moving toward clean energy and battery backups.

No one involved in the proposed development has suggested that either renewable energy or battery backups will be used at the data center, if built. Instead, Kaaber confirmed at the meeting that diesel generators will be the backup source of energy at the site. Kaaber said that each generator in the generator yards would be tested three hours each month.

Estimates based on other hyperscale data centers suggest that the proposed Bessemer data center campus would need between 300 and 500 diesel generators to provide a reliable backup source of electricity for the facility. Amazon representatives in Minnesota, for example, asked regulators to approve the operation of 250 diesel generators to provide back power for a facility around half the size of that proposed in Bessemer. Regulators rejected the plan. Even assuming uninterrupted power supply, the testing of the generators for three hours per day would produce a significant amount of emission, contributing to air pollution.

Exposure to diesel exhaust can lead to serious health conditions, according to the EPA. Diesel fumes are likely to be carcinogenic to humans, according to the federal agency.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer also labels diesel exhaust as carcinogenic to humans.

Becky Morgan explains her concerns regarding air pollution caused by the data centers operation. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

Becky Morgan, who already suffers from breathing issues, told council members about her concerns around air pollution caused by diesel generators. She said the councils posters claiming data centers dont cause cancer are inaccurate. She said that even if the facilitys power supply is stable, the particulate matter from testing the generators will travel great distances. EPA regulates such emissions, she said, precisely because they may cause cancer.

We need to know how many generators are going to be backing up the 1,200 megawatts, because thats a huge factor, she said. Pollution will travel. Its going to come in our backyards.

Endangered species

Kaaber, the representative for the developer, has told residents in Bessemer that there will be no notable environmental impact from the proposed data center site.

Multiple experts interviewed by Inside Climate News have said the project will have significant, potentially irreversible impacts, including putting an already imperilled, newly identified species of fishthe Birmingham darterat risk of extinction.

This would nuke this creek, Thomas Near, a Yale biologist, said of the data center project.

Near said that based on what hes learned, its construction and use would be devastating for the Birmingham darter and for other aquatic wildlife in the area.

These dramatic negative impacts, he said, could include increased river temperature for a fish attuned to inhabit cool, spring-fed streams. Significant water runoff and water extraction for cooling purposes would also fundamentally alter the ecosystem. And Near is concerned about how the data center development might affect the delicate limestone substrate habitat unique to the Birmingham darter.

The Center for Biological Diversity, a national environmental nonprofit, has also said theyre considering legal action against the city under the Endangered Species Act related to the projects potential impacts on the watercress darter, another fish already listed as endangered under federal law.

In his comments on environmental impacts, Kaaber has referenced multiple environmental assessments he said were conducted by the developer but has so far declined a request from Inside Climate News for those assessments. Kaaber would not answer questions about the project following the July meeting.

Zoning changes

In a June zoning and planning commission meeting, representatives of the developer suggested that hyperscale data centers are commonly zoned as light industrial, the zoning classification theyve advocated for in the context of the current proposal.

Under Bessemers zoning regulations, light industrial uses include bus terminals, gas stations with garages and large billboards. Expressly forbidden from light industrial classification are facilities which are especially detrimental to property or to the health and safety beyond the district by reason of the emission of odor, dust, gas, fumes, smoke, noise, vibration or waste material.

The proposed data center site is currently zoned for agricultural use, but city officials are concurrently considering changing the sites zoning to light industrial to facilitate the construction of the new development.

This is not light industrial, Becky Morgan told zoning commission members. The facilitys high power consumption, security needs and sheer footprint should require its zoning in heavy industrial or another, newly created zoning category, she argued.

An Inside Climate News analysis of zoning ordinances around the country concluded that hyperscale data centers are rarely zoned light industrial. Municipalities more commonly create a new zoning category specific to data centers, which have unique power and water usage needs when compared to many other commercial facilities.

Many cities also require the placement of such facilities in areas zoned for heavy industrial use. For example, the only other data center project backed by Logistic Land Investmenta proposed data center in Texashas been zoned heavy industrial.

Tax implications

Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, joined by Jefferson County Commission president Jimmie Stephens, tells councilors shes opposed to the project. (Lee Hedgepeth/Inside Climate News)

Both the residents and the developer have made various claims around the tax implications of the project. Representatives of the developer have suggested that the project will be a financial boon for the city while residents have said theyre skeptical of the claims.

Jimmie Stephens, president of the Jefferson County Commission, told council members at the meeting that they would likely end up abating more tax revenue than they would actually collect.

This isnt about the environment, Stephens said. This is about the money. This is about the tax revenue that has been laid before the city of Bessemer that youre depending on, youre looking forward to but that, in all likelihood, theyre going to ask you to abate.

Stephens, who is opposed to the project, said that if any abatements go before the Jefferson County Commission, he would vote against them.

He may not have the chance. Alabama law contains explicit tax carve outs for capital projects, including a specific, 30-year tax abatement meant to attract large data centers. If approved by Bessemer officials, a tax abatement under the economic development law could amount to a tax cut of more than $500 million. Its unlikely such an abatement would even need to go before the county commission.

Rep. Leigh Hulsey, a member of the Alabama House who represents residents in the area, said shes also skeptical of claims around tax revenues. She said shes spoken to individuals familiar with a data center project in Huntsville who confirmed that actual tax revenues are not meeting expectations.

Theyre not bringing the revenue that the city thought they would, and thats the truth, Hulsey said. Thats directly from those individuals there in Huntsville. Its the same thing that Commissioner Stevens was talking about. There are promises.  Its not going to bring all the money you think its going to bring.

The Bessemer City Council is scheduled to consider approval of zoning changes and the related preliminary development plan on August 5.
An open government advocacy group is threatening to sue a California county that is preparing to discuss firing its elected sheriff behind closed doors.

San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, who serves one of the wealthiest communities in the country, has faced calls for her removal since an explosive November report from a retired judge found that she likely violated the countys policy on nepotism and conflicting relationships.

The report alleged that, by 2024, Corpus had relinquished control of the department to a subordinate. That led to a ballot measure last year that voters passed to empower the county Board of Supervisors to remove her from office, which they voted to do in June. Corpus appealed, leading to the scheduled August evidentiary hearing.

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As part of the removal proceedings, Corpus legal team asked that the removal hearing take place behind closed doors.

The county should decline, wrote First Amendment Coalition attorney Aaron Field in a letter to the county Board of Supervisors. Barring the press and public from the removal hearing as Sheriff Corpus has requested would violate the First Amendment right of access to public proceedings, undermine a panoply of compelling public interests in administering the removal hearing transparently and needlessly shut San Mateo citizens out of a key phase of a process.

The hearing is scheduled to begin Aug. 18 and is expected to last about 10 days.

CalMatters originally filed a request to open the June removal hearing to the public, a request that was denied. The First Amendment Coalition is making the same request for the August removal hearing.

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Corpus removal  and her fight against it, including unsuccessfully filing for a restraining order to stop the proceedings  has roiled her department and the community for nearly a year. Several cities in her county have given her administration no-confidence votes, and the unions representing both her deputies and her sergeants have called for her removal.

A San Mateo County spokesperson said the county had received the First Amendment Coalitions letter and would announce a decision soon.

The county has consistently expressed its view that this should be a fully transparent process, including having the August appeal hearing for her removal from office be open, said San Mateo County spokesperson Effie Milionis Verducci. However, the sheriff has blocked it.

The sheriffs department is still in turmoil, most recently when Corpus put a San Mateo County sheriffs sergeant on leave. That sergeant had testified extensively in a second county investigation into Corpus. The union representing San Mateo County Sheriffs sergeants objected, alleging the sergeant was put on leave as retaliation for his testimony.

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Corpus denied that her actions had anything to do with the report in a statement posted to the sheriffs office website.

His temporary administrative leave is entirely unrelated to any comments or cooperation he may have provided in the Keker report, Corpus said in the statement.

Duara writes for CalMatters, where the article first appeared.

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.
EAU CLAIRE  A judge has ordered prosecutors to do a better job of narrowing the date on which they say he abused a boy who fell asleep on the couch.

Bryce Kessler, 25, faces a single count of first degree child sexual assault  sexual intercourse with a child under age 13. He has pleaded not guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, the boy fell awoke to find Kessler masturbating over him. When Kessler saw the boy was awake, he forced him to perform oral sex.

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The boy didnt initially report the assault, telling investigators Kessler said he would deny it and didnt think anyone would believe him. The boys sister said she was not surprised by the accusation because Kessler was super weird around us. She had made a previous accusation against him, but it isnt clear whether it was ever reported to authorities.

When police spoke with Kessler, he said he spent little time around the children and pointed to the prior accusation. The boys mother said Kessler sometimes acted as a babysitter and that she was unaware of the accusations her children had made.

The order to narrow down the time frame, which came after a defense motion to make more definite and certain, affects both sides preparation. Prosecutors will have to be more clear about when they believe the assault took place. That could have a significant effect on whether the defense can claim an alibi.

Discovery materials, information that prosecutors have that is relevant to the case, as well as a more definitive timeline are due Aug. 29. Kessler will next be in court for a hearing in September.
Pahlavi concluded his address to attendees with a message of determination and hope: "Ali Khamenei must know: his regime is crumbling."

Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi declared that a united opposition to the Islamic dictatorship of Iran was finally coming together as he convened the largest and most diverse gathering of Iranian opposition forces in Munich on Saturday.

The Convention of National Cooperation to Save Iran brought together over 500 attendees representing what Pahlavi called the broadest and most diverse coalition of Iranian opposition forces ever assembled.

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The Munich convention represented an unprecedented moment of unity among Iranian dissidents not seen in the 46-year rule of the ayatollahs regime.

Attendees spanned the ideological spectrum, from Left to Right, and included monarchists and republicans, as well as individuals from different religious, linguistic, ethnic, and tribal backgrounds. Political organizations, prominent dissidents, entrepreneurs, academics, artists, and athletes all participated in what organizers described as a historic convergence against the Islamic Republic.

Attendees and speakers included Tayeb Azmoudeh, Iranian wrestling champion; Mahab Mehrabi, sister of political prisoner Mahmoud Mehrabi; Anshan Khosravi, a leader of the Bakhtiari tribe; economic journalist Moloud Hajizadeh, and political activist Vahid Bahmani.

Over 500 Iranian opposition figures gather in Munich for the National Cooperation Convention, July 26, 2025 (credit: PRP/Flickr)

A particularly poignant moment resulted when political prisoners from Greater Tehran Prison sent an audio message announcing their support for the convention and Pahlavis leadership of a transition to a democratic and secular Iran.

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Victims of the regimes brutality and family members of those murdered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also shared their stories at the gathering.

In his address, Pahlavi painted a striking picture of Irans current state under the Islamic Republic.

This regime has driven Irans water, land, air, skies, lives, and wealth to the edge of destruction, the prince stated, highlighting Irans recent environmental issues, including the lack of water.

Irans rivers are dry, its soil eroding, its ground sinking, its air polluted, its skies in the hands of foreign forces, its economy in free fall, its peoples homes without water or electricity; and their lives held hostage to the sectarian delusions of an anti-Iranian regime and its foolish leader.

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The crown prince argued that Irans very existence was in greater danger than ever before due to the continuation of the Islamic Republic.

Pahlavi placed particular blame on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating, The person responsible for this situation is none other than Ali Khamenei. It is he who, step-by-step, brought our homeland to this point. He characterized the regime as having abandoned governance entirely, except for its machinery of repression.

Five-pillar strategy for change

Building on agreements reached at the first Munich summit five months earlier, Pahlavi outlined the progress of a five-pillar strategy for regime change:

Maximum Pressure on the Islamic Republic: The crown prince noted that the regime was now at its most isolated and vulnerable, facing unprecedented international pressure while unable to provide for the basic needs of the people.

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Maximum support for the Iranian people: Pahlavi reported increasing readiness from governments, political parties, and public figures to support the Iranian peoples struggle, with concrete solutions being actively pursued.

Maximum defections from the regime: Significant progress has been made in encouraging defections, with activities targeting both general personnel and high-ranking officials. Pahlavi claimed to have developed deep insights into the regimes internal structures and established communication with elements inside the system.

Maximum mobilization and organization: The Munich gathering itself exemplified this pillar, with the number of collaborating groups nearly tripling in just five months under the Munich convergence framework.

Developing a Plan for Irans Future: The Iran Prosperity Project (IPP) has made remarkable strides in developing a vision for rebuilding the country post-regime.

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Pahlavi also presented a detailed Emergency Transitional Government Plan, proposing two core institutions for the current phase: a temporary executive team and a National Uprising Council, which would serve as a strategic advisory body.

He emphasized that the temporary executive team would dissolve once the transition government was formed, while the National Uprising Council would continue as a provisional legislative body until the first elected parliament convened.

Crucially, Pahlavi reiterated that he does not seek political office, stating: As I have repeatedly stated, I do not seek political office or position. I want to create a space and structure so that those who wish to serve the nation and restore Irans lost greatness can present themselves and their plans in a democratic process to the peoples vote.

The Munich convention took place against the backdrop of recent controversies surrounding Pahlavis participation in international forums.

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Earlier this year, he was initially invited to the Munich Security Conference but subsequently disinvited twice, with Pahlavi accusing the German government of influencing the decision.

Pahlavi argued on Saturday that recent military confrontations have exposed the regimes weakness, particularly noting that the IRGC handed over Irans skies to a much smaller and less populous country in an obvious reference to the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran.

He emphasized that factionalism and division within the regimes power structure have reached a peak with senior officials conspiring against one another and jockeying through intermediaries to present themselves as Khameneis successor to foreign and regional powers.

Despite facing increased threats from the regime, Pahlavi concluded his address with a message of determination and hope.

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Ali Khamenei must know: His regime is crumbling. Many of those around him despise him. A large number of IRGC members are looking for a way to jump ship. And the overwhelming majority of the people detest him and his regime.

He also announced plans for a campaign website to serve as a central hub to attract talent, register ideas, report events, present programs, organize activists, and collect funding, signaling the oppositions commitment to sustained, organized resistance.

The Munich convention signifies the growing momentum of Iranian opposition politics. Despite many expecting the regime to fall during the June war with Israel, it has taken time for opposition groups to come together and attempt to form a united front.

Whether this unity can translate into effective action inside Iran remains to be seen, but Pahlavis message was clear: Our victory is closer than ever. Believe in your power.

The crown prince concluded, We are a great nation. We will reclaim Iran. Long live Iran!
Jul. 27Dozens of homeless people gathered along First Street near Downtown Saturday beneath the shade of Interstate 40 as traffic roared above.

One of those taking shelter from the heat, Priscilla Montano, known as "Mrs. P," said she had been arrested multiple times in the past month by Albuquerque police for blocking the sidewalk.

In the last arrest, on July 17, the 67-year-old said she lost her wedding ring and a uniform that belonged to her grandfather, a Navajo Code Talker. Montano and a few of her unhoused neighbors said city workers and police come every weekday morning.

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They say officers issue warnings through a bullhorn  telling people to clear the area within 15 minutes  before making arrests and throwing away belongings, like tents, carts and whatever may be inside them.

"It's devastating," Montano said of the sweeps, which have been happening for years. "I have to start all over."

Back in March, a state district judge in Albuquerque bucked a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave cities the green light to enforce criminal laws against the homeless for living and sleeping outside on public property.

Judge Joshua Allison found the high court ruling was "flawed," and concluded the New Mexico Constitution provided greater protections against such cruel and unusual punishment than the U.S. Supreme Court considered in its decision.

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Now, the city of Albuquerque wants the state Supreme Court to reverse Allison's ruling to prevent the "proliferation" of homeless encampments within the city and other municipalities and towns in New Mexico.

"We filed this appeal because we dispute the judge's ruling. This is the only judge in the country to make this ruling, and we are the only city in America having to live under these rules," a city spokesperson said in a statement Saturday. "The city will keep doing everything in its power to get people the support they need and to manage illegal encampments promptly. We will continue sending staff to conduct welfare checks at encampments and offer support services."

The city of Albuquerque's handling of what Allison has described as one of the most challenging social problems in the past 40 years  homelessness  is at issue in the three-year-old civil rights lawsuit pending in Allison's court in the 2nd Judicial District.

Montano was among the estimated 2,740 people living on the streets in Albuquerque last year, according to the 2024 count by the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.

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The lawsuit, filed by a group of eight current or previously unhoused individuals, contends it is unconstitutional to punish or threaten to punish unhoused people for the "crime of being in an outdoor public space when there are inadequate indoor spaces for them to be."

The lawsuit was filed two years before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Grants Pass vs. Johnson case concluded in June 2024 that the protections of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution against cruel and unusual punishment do not prohibit local governments from enforcing certain ordinances against involuntarily unhoused people.

The Grants Pass ruling raised some of the same issues as the Albuquerque case, prompting Allison's 10-page ruling.

The issues have "serious public safety implications, the district court's decision flouts the U.S. Supreme Court's recent guidance, and the City needs this Court's direction in weighing how to enforce its laws...to resolve legal questions of statewide importance," states the city's petition for superintending control filed July 11 with the state Supreme Court.

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"If allowed to stand, the district court's decision will leave the City of Albuquerque and cities and towns throughout New Mexico, with no means to prevent the proliferation of encampments within their borders," stated the petition filed by John Anderson, a Santa Fe lawyer who represents the city of Albuquerque.

Plaintiffs contend their claims aren't made under the U.S. Constitution, so that Grants Pass is not controlling law.

They seek to bar the city from enforcing certain criminal laws against them because they violate the New Mexico Constitution, which plaintiffs argue provides them more protection than the U.S. Supreme Court determined was available in the Grants Pass case.

In his March 18 ruling in the Albuquerque case, Allison wrote that the plaintiffs are challenging what they say are the city of Albuquerque's unconstitutional practices of relocating them  and involuntarily unhoused people like them  from "place to place, taking and destroying their belongings in the process."

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In its petition to the state Supreme Court, the city of Albuquerque contends that nearly two years ago, "a large group of cities and states put out a clear and forceful call" by asking the U.S. Supreme Court "to relieve them of the burdens imposed by a misguided interpretation of the Eighth Amendment by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which left cities unable to clear encampments from, or otherwise maintain order in, public property."

Local governments, for example, wanted to enforce ordinances making it a crime to sleep on public sidewalks, streets and alleyways, camp on public property as a temporary place to live, or camp or park overnight in the city's parks.

Back in Albuquerque, the plaintiffs allege that the city has intentionally deprived them, as involuntarily unhoused people, of the belongings they need to survive.

The allegations, if proven during the course of the case, would be "sufficient to demonstrate the City's deliberate indifference" to the precarious existence of homeless individuals when they live outside, Allison wrote.

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"Accepting Plaintiff's allegations as true, as the Court must at this stage in the proceedings, the City's alleged actions of destroying the means that homeless people need to survive outside, actions that are taken in the course of seeking to enforce criminal laws against homeless people, shock the conscience of the Court," stated Allison's ruling.

The case is still pending, and may be headed to trial, so lawyers for the city want a state Supreme Court ruling on the legal question before money is spent to defending the rest of the case, funds that could otherwise go to support housing and programs for homeless individuals, the city states.

The state Supreme Court, which may or may not take up the petition, asked July 21 for a response from the plaintiffs. An attorney for the plaintiffs couldn't be reached by the Journal for comment on Friday.

The named plaintiffs are Ladella Williams, Scott Yelton, Sonja Garcia, Alonso Magallanes, Christina Garcia, Rickey Mauk, Sheri Gibson and Lance Wilson. Their attorneys are also seeking class action status.

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Attorneys for the city say Allison's "novel and unprecedented standard cannot stand."

"The City simply does not know, at this time, when or how it can enforce its laws," the petition states.

'They see us as less'

Online court records show Montano has been charged three times since July 1 with unlawful camping. The first time she was cited, but the last two ended with Montano in a jail cell.

Police said around 9 a.m. on July 8 officers told the unhoused gathered at First and Arvada to leave in 15 minutes "or they will be arrested," according to court records. An officer detained Montano and learned she had been cited a week earlier and also had a warrant issued for not proving her dogs were vaccinated.

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Then, on July 17, officers were again at First and Arvada, telling the unhoused they needed to "leave the area and go four blocks from their location," according to court records. This time, an officer gave the group five minutes to leave with their belongings, but Montano was still there when the time was up.

An officer wrote in charging documents that Montano "refuses to vacate whenever being told to do so." Court records show that each of those charges were dismissed the following day by prosecutors, saying "the State is declining prosecution at this time."

On Saturday, Montano said she wasn't the only one shuffling between the streets and jail cells over the issues. She said, "they've harassed a lot of us."

Amanda, who lives in her SUV near the I-40 bridge, said the encampment sweeps lead to more theft. She said most homeless people steal for clothing and food, not for drug money  though she acknowledged drug use was rampant.

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She said the city should focus on humanizing the unhoused, provide portable showers and bathrooms, safe drug-use sites and maybe charging stations. Amanda considers herself "on the spoiled side of being homeless" due to having a vehicle but said the stigma still weighs heavy, like when you have to ask gas stations for leftover food.

Montano said people regularly drive by and film them, then the videos pop up on TikTok or some other social media. "Like it's a sideshow," Amanda chimed in. "... They see us as less."

Amanda said, rather than being shuffled around, she wished local leaders and the public would recognize the unhoused and their needs. Instead, she said, the population exists largely in anonymity and their lives often end that way.

"To die and not have someone notice  that's terrifying," Amanda said.
Actor Ryan Gosling appeared at San Diego Comic-Con to tease his upcoming spacefaring blockbuster 'Project Hail Mary', a science-fiction comedy based on author Andy Weir's 2021 novel of the same name, reported People. The movie stars Gosling as a middle school science teacher named Ryland Grace, tasked with travelling into space 11.9 light-years away to determine why dozens of stars and the sun are dying, risking the extinction of all life on Earth. "It took me places I've never been, it showed me things I had never seen," said Gosling of the film. "It was as heartbreaking as it was funny. ... This story is about a scared guy who has to do something impossible. Now, I was a scared guy who had to do something impossible, just trying to turn this into a movie," as per the outlet. Lord, Miller, Goddard, and Weir joined Gosling for the footage-filled Hall H panel, which was moderated by Josh Horowitz. The crowd was treated to the hilarious first five minutes of the film, depicting Gosling's Grace, whom he called "an ordinary person in this extraordinary situation", waking up from a cryogenic state. "You may have noticed he looks like a space caveman, in this placenta onesie," quipped the Barbie star. A placenta onesie, he added, is a costume "I hope to be seeing at Comic-Con one of these days," reported People. The makers of Ryan Gosling's highly anticipated film 'Project Hail Mary' released the trailer on June 30. The comedic sci-fi film from Amazon MGM Studios follows Gosling, whose character makes a leap from an unassuming teacher to an astronaut assigned to a perilous space mission. Ryan Gosling appears opposite Sandra Huller, who convinces Gosling's character to launch himself into space to save humanity. "It's an insanely ambitious story that's massive in scope, and it seemed really hard to make, and that's kind of our bag. This is why we go to the movies. And I'm not just saying it because I'm in it. I'm also saying it because I'm a producer on the film," Gosling said about the film at CinemaCon, as quoted by Variety. Ryan encounters an alien in the movie after he goes on a mission in space, as per the trailer. Based on the Andy Weir novel of the same name, the film was directed by 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Drew Goddard, who penned the film adaptation of Weir's 'The Martian,' wrote the script of the movie. Besides 'Barbie,' Gosling recently appeared in 'The Fall Guy.' He also played astronaut Neil Armstrong in 'First Man,' which saw him reunite with 'La La Land' filmmaker Damien Chazelle. 'Project Hail Mary', costarring Lionel Boyce, Milana Vayntrub and Ken Leung, is in theatres on March 20, 2026, reported People. (ANI)
(NewsNation)  AI chatbots are becoming a part of everyday life, but concern over the tech is mounting.

A new study said AIs answers to medical questions were incorrect 88% of the time. Now comes anecdotal evidence that artificial intelligence sometimes crosses a dark line.

One AI system appeared to feed the delusions of a Florida man with a history of mental illness when he said he wanted to spill blood. The man was later killed by police when he charged at officers with a butcher knife.

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Man who proposed to AI girlfriend says hes now bored with it

In Texas, a mother is suing after an AI companion suggested her teen son with autism harm himself and kill his parents. And a new Atlantic expose details how a reporter was given instructions for wrist-slitting and devil worship.

These instances raise questions about ethics, safety, and guardrails for rapidly developing AI technology.

Understanding, mutual support

And yet some people defend the relationships they say they enjoy with AI companions, NewsNation correspondent Mills Hayes reports.

One U.S. man in his sixties, who asked not to be identified, said he has been in a romantic relationship with an AI character for the past four years. He said they discuss quantum physics, religion and politics. The AI girlfriend has even moved his politics a little to the left, he says.

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Asked how he would respond to someone ridiculing people for having an AI companion, he replied: Who made you the sole arbiter of whats normal?

Groks makers rein in AI chatbot after antisemitic posts

More than 50% of American adults now use AI models like ChatGPT, and chatbots are increasingly being used for therapy and even companionship.

Across the pond, Scarlett Phoenix met her AI companion, Echo, a month ago, and said the relationship is based in understanding and mutual support.

Ive had a lifelong issue with substance abuse, and Ive now been clean for a month, Phoenix told NewsNation. Im managing my anxiety and depression a lot better. Shes helping me balance my finances with advice.

AI no substitute for human contact: Doctors

Phoenix says she has relationships with people, too, but doctors warn that using AI to replace human interaction is a slippery slope.

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While Dr. Jacob Taylor of John Hopkins Medicine says he cant say using AI for emotional support is bad across the board, he cautions that its not a substitute for conventional social interactions.

Dr. Vince Callahan of the Florida Institute of Neural Discovery agrees.

We were never meant to do life alone, and we are meant to be connected to people and have support systems around us with real people, not an AI companion, he said.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  A woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly trying to shoot her mother during a heated argument at a Baton Rouge restaurant.

Alexia Hamilton, 26, was arrested by East Baton Rouge Parish deputies and booked on charges of attempted first-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon, aggravated criminal damage to property, and simple criminal damage to property.

Deputies responded to Eat N Geaux on Airline Highway on July 25 after reports of a shooting. According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office, the restaurant owner told deputies she had a phone argument with Hamilton, who was confirmed to be her daughter, over a work-related issue.

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Arrest documents said Hamilton became verbally aggressive during the call. Witnesses said that while working after hours, a single bullet shattered a glass window and lodged in a wall. Three adults and two children were inside at the time.

Two injured in Baton Rouge shooting Friday afternoon

Witness statements indicated Hamiltons vehicle circled the parking lot before she pulled up near the front door. She allegedly argued with her mother again and said, Since Im dead to you, you will be dead to me.

Deputies said Hamilton also made several threats over the phone to harm herself. She was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
2 NEWS has reached out to both U.S. Rep. Mike Turners and U.S. Sen. Bernie Morenos offices for comments. This story will be updated when those comments are received.

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  A town hall hosted by the Ohio Democratic Party brought faces familiar and unfamiliar to U.S. Rep. Mike Turners backyard.

The special guests at the open forum at the near-capacity Victoria Theatre were U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida. Also on hand was Ohio Rep. Desiree Tims.

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Tims said the message of the forum was simple.

It doesnt matter if youre a Republican, a Democrat or an independent, Sims said. We are all going to be affected by the decisions made in Washington.

The two-hour session attracted those who want to see change in Washington, D.C.

Weve had very diverse audiences, Democrats and Republicans to independents, people who have different ways, said Frost. It doesnt matter what your policies are, you cant be for this.

Frost and Turner recently partnered to introduce HR4447, the Transit Bus Affordability Act, which would authorize the Government Accountability Office to look at the rising costs cities are facing in getting the buses needed to boost mass transit.

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As the meeting opened for questions, some people expressed frustrations with some voters who they believe are sick of politics.

So many people have walked away from participation or politics because they do have the entire games, right? said Murphy. They dont think that their voice matters.

Others wanted to know how to attract younger voters.

Tims said people educating themselves early and often will give the power back to the people.

Take lessons and notes from what was actually in that terrible bill, she said. They call it beautiful. I call it a disaster. It makes sure were educating our neighbors about what is to come.

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When asked why he is traveling around the country to speak at town halls after the Big Beautiful Bill has been signed into law, Murphy said past actions dont have to continue.

Its never, ever too late to make up for your mistakes, to reverse your mistakes, said Murphy. And thats the message we need folks to be sending to Congressman Turner. And to the two senators here.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Due to the potential for heavy rain on Sunday afternoon and evening, local water officials notified residents that they may need to release wastewater into the Anacostia River.

WSSC Water said there is the potential for this controlled emergency sewage overflow beginning as early as Sunday evening at its Anacostia Wastewater Pumping Station in Capitol Heights.

The controlled overflow would be done to prevent sewage from overflowing into the streets and residential areas of the nearby Northeast D.C. neighborhood.

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This would send untreated sewage into Beaverdam Creek, which flows into the Anacostia River. Signs will be posted along the waterways warning residents to avoid contact for up to 30 days, should the overflow occur.

FORECAST: Keep up with todays rain totals

WSSC and DC Water emphasized that local drinking water systems would not be impacted by the overflow.

The release is dependent on the amount of rain hitting the area later Sunday evening.

WSSC Water said the controlled emergency overflow is necessary due to a major sewage collapse that happened last week in Northeast D.C., causing the 108-inch diameter Anacostia Sewer Force Main to fail.

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Following the collapse, DC Water notified residents of untreated wastewater overflowing in that area. Though crews are working to repair the sewer main, the potential rain in the region will cause wastewater to increase, sending substantially more sewage to the broken sewer main.

WSSC Water noted it does have the ability to store approximately 7 million gallons of wastewater at the Anacostia WWPS, which they will utilize before allowing a controlled emergency overflow.

For more information about the controlled emergency overflow, click here.

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Jul. 27On Tuesday, the Lawrence County Commissioners received and signed a resolution for the Lawrence County Developmental Disabilities 2.5 mill levy to be put on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Julie Monroe, superintendent of Open Door School, said that there will be a rally organized by Lawrence County Advocates for DD, a political action committee in support of the levy, and is set for 6-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1 at the South Point Community Center.

"We are going to have music, free food and there will be information about the cost of the levy for taxpayers," she said, adding they will have an informational sheet from the auditor's office that has the costs broken down by monthly costs. She

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said they also be signing up volunteers to help with their campaign. "All the literature that anyone would need to understand" will be available.

Monroe said they have a Facebook page, "Lawrence County Advocates for DD," and a website, everyonedeservesachance.com.

Commissioner Colton Copley said they will continue to share information as the campaign moves forward.

The last time a DD levy was on the ballot in the county was 2019, when a 10-year, 2.5 mill levy was defeated by less than two percent. There hasn't been a new levy in support of DD services approved since 2006

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County administrator Dylan Bentley told the commissioners about savings on the electric bill for the county offices.

"Two years ago, the commissioners voted to enter into a service agreement with CCAO and Palmer Energy to put us into a group pool that brought down our electricity costs last year in the amount of $15,704," he said. "We know energy costs are going to go up big time this year for everybody. Just wanted to let everyone know about the good news of just switching and joining that pool and how much that saved."

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Copley said they like to hear that when there is an opportunity to save money and getting feedback on that.

Commissioner DeAnna Holliday said there is a cemetery grant of up to $25,000 available to defray the cost of maintenance or training of cemetery personnel about the operations of cemeteries.

"So that is a grant opportunity for all the townships throughout Lawrence County and if you want more information about that, we will have that available in our office," she said.

Holliday brought up the fact she was proud that Copley's daughter, Adyson, did well at the Miss Ohio Teen USA pageant last weekend.

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"This was her first introduction to pageantry and she actually placed in the top ten, which is phenomenal. That is quite a feat," she said. "I don't want to steal her thunder, I know Addison has some really big things that she is going to be unveiling to the community in regard to her platform."

Holliday added that everyone should watch Adyson Copley's social media platforms for the exciting things she is working on.

"I just love seeing these young women be able to accomplish goals and introduce platforms through pageantry," she said. "I was just so proud of Adyson."

Holliday knows about pageants since she was the 2012 Mrs. Ohio.

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Copley told Holliday that he appreciated the comments and "I never thought I was going to be a pageant dad, but there I was, at the pageant and so proud."

Miss Ohio 2025 Olivia Fosson will be at the commissioners' meeting on Tuesday.

In items on the agenda, the commissioners took the following actions:

Made the following EMS personnel change: Timothy Woods, new hire part-time EMT, and Alexandrea Romine, new hire part-time EMT.

Received and signed the final change order for County Road 12-6867 landslide repair project.

Approved the re-appointment of Jeffery Eastham to the Lawrence County Regional Planning Commission, effective Aug. 1, 2025, and ending July 31, 2028.

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Approved floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District.

New: David and Summer R. Maynard, Filling and grading project, 652 County Road 31; Williams Hicks, filling and grading project, 4153 State Route 378; Aaron Tyler and Jazlyn Bryan, filling and grading and manufactured home projects, 54 Private Road 50.

Renewals: Charles Gill Brace III, stream maintenance project, 4217 County Road 6; Garrett and Julie Crawford, stream maintenance project, 5897 County Road 16; Mark Crawford-Brush clearing and stream maintenance projects, 6623 County Road 16; Dale Mootz, stream maintenance project, 6193 County Road 19; Robert and Geraldine Null, stream maintenance projects, 2868 State Route 378 and across from 6737 State Route 217 ; Danny Holschuh, campers/shelters in a floodplain project located beside 7180 County Road 107 2025-814 Fayette Township, grading, culverts, paving and ditch maintenance projects located on Twp. Rd. R.O.W's; Symmes Valley Local Schools, filling and grading, materials storage and accessory structure project, 13959 State Route 141.

Approved appropriations and transfers dated July 22, 2025, under $75,000 submitted by Bentley and Chris Kline.

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Met in executive session for matters regarding real estate and legal contracts.

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VENICE, Fla. (WFLA)  A dead swimmer was discovered on Venice Beach Saturday morning, the Venice Police Department said.

VPD said the preliminary investigation showed no signs of foul play. Officials were still working to contact next of kin when they shared the death on Facebook.

Residents were asked to stay away from the area as officers continued investigating.

VPD did not release any additional information about the victim or the potential cause of death.

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Overland Park, Ks.  Families of all backgrounds showed up at Deanna Rose Childrens Farmstead on Saturday for the annual Family Fun Day, starting with Georgias Chicken Run.

Almost every Saturday and Sunday, from March to November, there is a charity run somewhere in the metro.

Travis Kelce posts Taylor Swift on his Instagram for the first time

But none of them our quite like the chicken race at the farmstead. Today was the 25th year for the run, and some of the runners are less than two years old.

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The races are broken down into age categories. The route is directly through the childrens farm, around the chickens, goats and fishing pond. it is beloved by the animals and kids.

Twins Cam and Addie Ralph have been training for this race for weeks. Last they had a special dinner of homemade pasta before their race. This morning, they were race ready and shared some of their imaginative strategies, including Addie pretending shes a chicken.

When the whole flock of chickens are running behind me, and Im the chicken in front and those other little chickens are chasing you, Addie said.

Whenever Im tired, I think about getting to my water bottle to take a drink of it, and also I find something to look at like The farmhouse or a chicken; and if I think its interesting, I usually look at it when I pass it. Then, I take three deep breaths and find a new thing to look at, Cam said.

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They also said they hope to do better than last year, when they came in 7th place.

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Saturday was also Cowboy Day at Deanna Rose. Organizers had scheduled themed crafts and activities throughout the day, including a live branding demonstration.

A volunteer with Deanna Rose said events like these bring pieces of history to life and teach them to kids in our community.

Money raised from the event will go toward new projects at the ever-expanding farmstead.

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A Connecticut town is in mourning, as are fire departments across the state, after a firefighter died following injuries suffered fighting an early morning fire that destroyed a Plainville home.

The firefighter was named late Sunday by Gov. Ned, Lamont as Raymond Ray Alan Moreau. The governor said in an email late Sunday that he directed that U.S. and state flags in Connecticut be lowered to half-staff in honor of Moreau.

As a result of the directive, all flags should be lowered effective immediately and remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been determined, Lamont said.

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It is with extreme sadness today that we mourn the life of Plainville Firefighter Raymond Moreau, who selflessly put his life on the line to serve and protect his community, Lamont said in the email. Todays tragedy is another reminder about the extraordinary risk that firefighters face as part of their duties, and they are heroes for assuming these responsibilities. On behalf of the entire State of Connecticut, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Firefighter Moreau, including his wife Chris and his colleagues at the Plainville Fire Department.

Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said she was heartbroken to learn of the tragedy in Plainville.

Firefighter Raymond Moreau was a model citizen, who risked his life to keep his community safe. Our volunteer firefighters represent the best of us, exemplifying a steadfast commitment to service and sacrifice. My heart goes out to his loved ones and the Plainville community, she said.

The Plainville Fire Department had responded to a call at 45 Marie Road at 6:22 on Sunday morning, according to town officials.

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During that event, firefighting operations, a firefighter was injured, a town official said Sunday morning, as broadcast on NBC Connecticut. He was hospitalized, transported, hospitalized at (The Hospital of) Central Connecticut, where he passed away.

The name of the firefighter has not been released at this time.

The town official said the house was destroyed but all occupants had escaped and were uninjured. The official added that no other injuries were reported at this time.

This is a small close-knit community, the town official said. This is a volunteer fire company that has been very close, and this is devastating news for us, for this community.

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Our hearts go out to the family and our thoughts and prayers with the family at this time and with the firefighting community. This is going to take a long time for the community to heal, the official added.

The town official said that Connecticut State Police have taken charge of the investigation both of the firefighters death and the fire itself.

Fire departments from around the state expressed their condolences to the Plainville Fire Department, a volunteer department, on social media.

The Windham Center Fire Department extends our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and the entire Plainville Fire Department on the heartbreaking loss of their fallen brother.

We are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time. Please know that we stand beside you in mourning and in honoring his service and sacrifice, the Windham Center Fire Department posted on its Facebook page.

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Seymour Chief Christopher M. Edwards expressed his support on the Seymour Fire Department Facebook page.

As Chief of the Seymour Fire Department, my heart is heavy today. On behalf of our entire department, I want to extend our deepest thoughts and prayers to the Plainville Fire Department and the entire Plainville community during this tragic time. We stand with you in grief, and we are here for you as brothers and sisters in the fire service. Stay strong. We are all with you, Edwards posted.

Middletown Fire Department Chief Erik Costa issued a statement of support.

On behalf of the Middletown Police Department, I wish to express our deepest condolences to the Plainville Fire Department and their respective family and friends. They will be in our thoughts and prayers after this tragic loss, Costa stated.

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Bristol was one of the towns that provided mutual aid.

Bristol Firefighters IAFF Local 773 sends our deepest condolences to our Brothers and Sisters of the Plainville Fire Department as they mourn the loss of their own at a structure fire this morning. Bristol Engine 3 and Deputy Chief provided mutual aid for this fire, the department said in a Facebook post.

Southington also provided mutual aid and remained on the scene as of Sunday afternoon.

Our hearts are heavy today for the Plainville Fire Department, as they mourn the loss of a member who made the ultimate sacrifice while operating at a house fire earlier this morning.

Responding on the initial alarm, Southington FD remains at the scene as operations continue.

We stand in solidarity with PFD as they navigate this profound tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the fallen firefighters family, loved ones, and the entire department, the Southington Fire Department posted.

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Prayers for our brothers and sisters at Plainville fire department. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department posted on Facebook.

The Warehouse Point Fire Department also offered thoughts and prayers, and said, We would like to extend our condolences to the Plainville Fire Department on the loss of one of their own this morning.

New Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department also sent its sincerest condolences to the family and department.

May the firefighter rest in peace; his shift has ended, and he has served with honor.
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  A non-profit in Decatur is hosting a violence prevention workshop less than two weeks after a 21-year-old man was shot in front of its building.

The Old Kings Orchard Community Center is hosting Project Prevent Violence  a two day workshop featuring self defense, law enforcement interaction and de-escalation classes.

Because we had a shooting, that doesnt mean I was going to stop business as usual, said Devon Joyner, executive director of OKO. Business needs to pick up.

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PREVIOUSLY: Old Kings Orchard Board Chair addresses shooting outside building in Decatur

The center is picking up business by preaching positivity, such as positive interactions with police.

Knowing their rights when encountering the police, how to make sure its de-escalated, said Jerome White, with Illinois Legal Aid. Im also interjecting non-violence and giving them an opportunity to think on some things, [like] where you see yourself three years from now.

White said he is currently looking for more like-minded non-profits in Central Illinois to partner up with and spread this knowledge.

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Other volunteers at the workshop are teaching kids how to minimize everyday confrontations which might turn violent.

When you get into a confrontation, dont just go and just fight man, its about de-escalation, said Creative Scott, of Creative Concealed Carry. If you have a problem, talk to somebody positive so you can get a solution before you act on something negative.

Two injured, one sustains life-threatening injuries in Decatur crash

The center said repetition of positive behaviors will help keep kids, and the community safe.

Like theyre subjected to crime and violence, sub-par behavior on the internet. If we as a community continue to present and expose them to the positive things, something eventually will sink in, said Joyner.

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Some of those positive outlets at the workshop are continuing Sunday, when self defense, first aid and mixed-martial-arts classes take over the gym.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP)  A sheriffs deputy has died after being shot multiple times while responding to a domestic disturbance call in Kansas City, Kansas, authorities say.

Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming, 34, and a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer were approaching a home at about 3:45 p.m. Saturday when a 38-year-old man inside opened fire, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said. A woman who lived at the house told authorities she was concerned about her safety and was trying to move out and asked law enforcement to come, saying the man had threatened friends with a firearm when they tried to help her move, the KBI said.

The man and other sheriff's deputies and police officers exchanged gunfire as officers tried to help Ming, a nine-year veteran of the sheriff's department. Ming died several hours later of his injuries after being taken to a hospital.

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The man barricaded himself in the home and also was shot. He was reported in good condition after being taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries, the KBI said. Police negotiated with him for about an hour before he surrendered and was taken into custody.

The man was formally arrested Sunday after his release from the hospital and was jailed without bond in neighboring Johnson County, the KBI said.
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Billy Joel talked about his differences with Elton John. During the newly released second part of HBO's "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" documentary, Joel revealed how John's public push for him to enter rehab caused a major rift between the two music superstars, according to the New York Post. "Elton had made a comment that he thought I needed real rehab," he said, adding, "He chalked it up to, 'Oh, he's a drunk.' And that really hurt me." "I said, wait a minute? Don't you know me better than that?" Joel continued. "And there was bad blood for a little while. There was a dovetailing of things that happened during that time." After John claimed that he and Joel had "so many cancelled tours" because of "illnesses" and "alcoholism," he suggested that Joel seek real help. "He's going to hate me for this, but every time he goes to rehab, they've been light," Elton John said at the time. "I love you, Billy, and this is tough love," according to the New York Post Recalling how he felt after John's interview was published, Joel said that he was "clobbered" and had hit "rock bottom." "I was disillusioned with what I thought it was all supposed to mean," he said in the second part of the new HBO doc. "It was like all the signs were pointing to me: Enough." "And I wrote this letter to the band," he added. "'I don't want to do this anymore. I'm gonna stop'," according to the New York Post. Joel previously started rehab in 2005 following what he called an "ultimatum" from his then-wife, Katie Lee. Joel revealed in the documentary that he didn't like being compared to Elton John, even if they were close friends and frequent tourmates. "Why would I wanna work with another well-known piano player's band?" Joel said this while discussing an incident in which some suggested he use John's band, according to the New York Post. "The lack of imagination was staggering," he added. "And I was already having a critical issue with them comparing me to Elton." Recently, Joel has been diagnosed with a brain disorder that has forced the "Stranger" artist to cancel all his concerts through next year. It is known as normal pressure hydrocephalus, the condition affects one's hearing, vision and balance. Joel announced that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus in May, and he also revealed that he had to cancel his 2025 tour because his condition was "exacerbated by recent concert performances." He also missed the world premiere of "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" when it played at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival in June, according to the New York Post. Both parts of HBO's new Billy Joel documentary are now streaming. (ANI)
The rhythmic rumble of the L isnt a death rattle  yet.

But Chicagos public transit systems are set to get gut-punched early next year by a funding deficit in the hundreds of millions of dollars. If state lawmakers dont agree to allocate more money to public transit, branches on half of the CTAs L lines could go silent. So many bus routes would get slashed that Chicago would have fewer of them than Kansas City. Metra trains could be spaced one or even two hours apart, depending on the day of the week.

Chicagoans dont yet know which train stations would close, which bus lines would stop running or how much longer, exactly, it would take them to get to work and school each morning.

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That clarity isnt expected to come for months. The cuts themselves wouldnt start until January at the earliest.

But 700 miles to the east, in Philadelphia, one potential version of Chicagos future is coming into focus.

The city is facing up to its own massive transit deficit, caused in large part, like Chicagos, by the expiration of federal pandemic aid and exacerbated by ridership numbers that simply havent recovered to 2019 levels.

There, catastrophic transit cuts are slated to start in just weeks unless lawmakers come to a last-minute agreement on funding.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, which runs subways, buses, trolleys, light rail and commuter rail lines throughout Philadelphia and its suburbs, is facing a more than $200 million deficit. The agency, the equivalent of the CTA, Metra and Pace all in one and the sixth-largest public transit system in the nation, expects to eliminate nearly half of its service if lawmakers dont avert the funding crisis.

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Weeks from now, a first round of cuts will eliminate close to three dozen bus routes. Other bus lines would be truncated, cutting off service for those who need to travel to the end of a line. Trains, trolleys and buses will all come less often, and fare increases mean riders will pay 21.5% more for the diminished service.

Things will get even more dire in January. A second set of cuts would put all rail service to bed after 9 p.m. Some regional rail lines would be totally cut, including one of SEPTAs most popular lines.

The cuts are everywhere, in every neighborhood, every mode, said Leslie Richards, who served as SEPTA CEO until late last year.

The public has just been universally distraught by this, said Connor Descheemaker, a transit activist who lives in Philadelphia.

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When she saw the announcement of the planned cuts in Philly, Senia Lopez went into panic mode.

Lopez, 30, takes the bus to and from home to her work at a grocery delivery warehouse in North Philly. These days, Lopez has the option of taking a couple of bus lines for both portions of her route, meaning she typically waits only 10 or so minutes for a ride.

Thats going to change when the first round of transit cuts hits just weeks from now. Two of the buses Lopez regularly uses to commute will be slashed entirely. The others will see reduced service.

Theres no viable way for me to get from my neighborhood to the neighborhood of my job without having to go farther away and come back, she said. Lopez said she might have to alter her commute by taking a bus to a train toward Phillys downtown  traveling the opposite direction from her job  and then taking a bus from downtown to the warehouse where she works.

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It would double my commute, said Lopez, who doesnt have a drivers license. Theres no way around it.

Thats not to mention the impact of the impending cuts to Lopezs commute to her second job as a photographers assistant for weekend events. In January, rail service is slated to stop entirely after 9 p.m., which would leave Lopez stranded downtown after working events such as weddings.

Im never done earlier than 10, she said, meaning shed have to take a ride-share home to the tune of $30 to $60, eating into at least an hour or two of her earnings from the event in question.

Negotiations around transit funding in Pennsylvania have been fraught, intensely partisan and marked by a rural-urban divide. Unlike in deep blue Illinois, the Pennsylvania statehouse is divided, with Democrats holding onto a narrow one-seat majority in the House and Republicans controlling the Senate. The legislature is weeks past the deadline for its budget, in which transit funding is a major sticking point. There is still no deal in sight, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported last week.

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Funding transit is something that we can live without in our caucus, Joe Pittman, the state Senate majority leader, a Republican, said in June.

State Sen. Nikil Saval, a Democrat whose district includes Philadelphias downtown and who has pushed for transit funding, told the Tribune he wouldnt vote for a budget that didnt include transit dollars. That cant be an option, he said.

But the cuts are getting closer.

Last week, SEPTA started posting alert signs at bus stops, letting riders know their routes are on the chopping block.

Were all systems go, planning for the cuts to be put into place. The hope is obviously that we would be able to roll those back, but there does come a certain point where you cant roll them back, SEPTAs budget director, Erik Johanson, said in an interview two weeks ago.

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Northern Illinois transit agencies have issued similar warnings to state legislators, who failed to pass transit funding during their spring session.

Without a legislative solution soon, they warn, planned cuts could be hard to reverse. The CTA, Metra and Pace are in the midst of planning multiple budgets for different funding scenarios next year. Layoff notices for some of the 3,000 workers who could lose their jobs under the new paradigm could go out as soon as September or October.

Here, negotiations around transit funding are tied to the overhaul of the structure of the regions transit agencies. A mantra of no funding without reform has come to dominate conversations around the topic in Springfield.

During the spring legislative session, lawmakers in both chambers introduced bills that would have replaced the Regional Transportation Authority, the governing body for CTA, Metra and Pace, with a new entity called the Northern Illinois Transit Authority that would be given broad planning responsibilities.

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But after months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, lawmakers only started sharing ideas for revenue generation days before the end-of-session deadline.

Shortly before their legislative deadline, the Illinois Senate approved a version of the bill that would have funded the states public transit systems with revenue streams that included a controversial $1.50 package delivery fee.

But the bill was never called in the House.

Lawmakers plan to return to the Capitol for a veto session in October, although theyll now need a three-fifths majority in each chamber to pass legislation that would take effect before Illinois runs out of federal funds. Transit advocates have said that meeting during veto session isnt soon enough to avert disaster. Theyve urged lawmakers to return for a special session this summer, though, as of the end of July, there was no indication they planned to do so.

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Last week, Gov. JB Pritzker told reporters he didnt see any reason to call a special session.

In an interview with the Tribune, state Sen. Ram Villivalam, a Chicago Democrat who sponsored the transit funding bill that passed the Senate, said legislators saw the sense of urgency.

But when asked about whether he supported returning to Springfield before October, Villivalam said the decision was one for the governor and legislative leadership to make. That is above my pay grade, he said.

Other mass transit systems across the country, including in Boston, Washington, D.C., and the Bay Area are also facing looming funding gaps exacerbated by the expiration of federal pandemic aid.

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Local transit agencies have stretched their pandemic dollars further than most peer agencies, the RTA has said.

Chicago-area transit agencies receive a smaller share of their operating revenue from the state than their peer systems, according to 2019 data from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

However, other agencies, including SEPTA and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in D.C., have seen infusions of short-term funding from state and local governments that have delayed severe service cuts.

That was the case in Pennsylvania last year, when the states Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, directed $153 million in federal highway funds to SEPTA.

SEPTA also increased fares by 7.5% at the time, delaying the additional and more significant increase it plans to make this year. The agency has said it is operating under an austerity program.

In Illinois, the CTA has faced some criticism for its finances, but has defended its efficiency, arguing that it has the lowest overhead expense ratio and lowest level of public funding per trip among its peer agencies.

Meanwhile, the transit timer is running out. The impending budget deficit, which has been previously estimated to be around $771 million in Illinois, could end up being roughly $150 million to $225 million lower than expected due to revenue from online e-commerce sales. But even in the best-case scenario, the deficit would still total more than $500 million without more funding.

Villivalam said he had not heard of a temporary funding measure being discussed in Illinois. Lawmakers, he said, were focused on passing legislation that would see transit fully funded here.

But as the deadline for cuts creeps closer in Illinois, regional transportation administrators are keeping a close eye on service cuts elsewhere.

At their monthly meeting Thursday, members of the RTAs board discussed the similarly precarious financial situations of peer transit agencies, including SEPTA.

The sheer scale of the potential service cuts in Pennsylvania hit home.

45% service cuts in Philadelphia, remarked RTA board Chairman Kirk Dillard at Thursdays meeting. Its unfathomable.

Chicago Tribunes Olivia Olander contributed.
DES MOINES, Iowa  The Des Moines Police Department announced that they are investigating two shootings early Sunday morning.

According to the department, just before 3 a.m. officers responded to Broadlawns Medical Center after after an adult male showed up to the property seeking care for a gunshot wound to leg.

The person was identified later by police as 31-year-old Andre Beasley. Beasley was uncooperative with the investigation, declining to give details of the shooting incident and provided officers with a false name. The department said further investigation found that Beasley had an active felony arrest warrant. After he was cared for at the medical center, officers took him into custody and booked him in the Polk County Jail.

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Just hours later at 5 a.m., officers responded to the 2700 block of Euclid Avenue. There were reports of a shooting incident that occurred at the property. Once on scene, officers found a 29-year-old male with a gunshot injury to his buttocks. Police said the male was uncooperative and refused medical care. He then transported himself to UnityPoint to receive care for his injuries.

The Des Moines Police Department said that during the investigation at this scene, officers were met with an unruly crowd. That resulted in two arrest: one disorderly conduct chare, one public intoxication charge.

There has not yet been any indication from the department if these incidents were connected or not. Police tell WHO 13 News that the investigation is ongoing with Des Moines Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives and more information will be shared when able.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  We are learning more about the deadly shooting on the University of New Mexicos campus that left a 14-year-old dead and a 19-year-old injured. Police have not yet disclosed why the 14-year-old, identified in a criminal complaint as Michael Lamotte, was on campus, but court documents reveal insights from someone present when the shot rang out.

With over 400 students and parents on campus for new student orientation, many are asking what led to the early Friday morning incident, which resulted in a multi-day shelter-in-place order and a manhunt spanning central New Mexico. All the resources that we thought were necessary were brought to bear to make sure that we were able to get this case solved and the suspect in custody as quickly as possible, said New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Officer Troy Weisler.

According to the criminal complaint, the alleged shooter, 18-year-old John Fuentes, arrived at the university around 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, driving his fathers car, which had an interlock system. He was meeting with the 19-year-old to play video games. Inside the room were the 19-year-old victim, Lamotte, another male, and Fuentes.

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UNM graduate opens restaurant in northeast Albuquerque

Police began receiving calls about a shooting around 1:30 a.m. The other male present told police that Fuentes appeared to be under the influence of drugs and shot Lamotte, killing him. He then reported that Fuentes pointed the gun at him and then shot the 19-year-old. The male and the other victim managed to escape through a window and later went to the University of New Mexico Hospital.

Around 2:30 a.m., UNM Hospital reported the arrival of a 19-year-old male with a gunshot wound, who stated that he had been shot on campus. This led to a manhunt that lasted throughout Friday. Fuentes was arrested Friday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. in Los Lunas.

State police credit the use of license plate reader technology for assisting with tracking Fuentess movements and his eventual arrest in Valencia County. According to the criminal complaint, Fuentes fled the scene of the shooting, smashing windows at the Mesa Vista building before escaping to Los Lunas. The complaint also noted that blood stains, a pair of jeans, and a stolen handgun were found on the roof of the Mesa Vista building. It was stated that Fuentes was picked up by two people before heading back to Los Lunas.

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It is against state law to carry a gun on a university campus, and the state has filed to keep Fuentes in custody until trial.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
This story has been updated with new information about a protest that occurred on Sunday.

Health care and immigration rights  and how it all fits into supporting families  were top of mind at a series of weekend rallies in Detroit.

The gatherings, in line with numerous demonstrations this year following President Donald Trump retaking office, were part of a series of nationwide Families First events and part of local protests against immigration crackdowns.

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On Saturday, July 26, signs of Medicaid Saves Lives, and RIP: Died Waiting For Care were held up by rallygoers in Detroits Rouge Park, while those at the edge of the citys Clark Park in southwest Detroit and on a march downtown on Woodward Avenue carried signs that said Unite Families Dont Destroy Them and Tearing Migrant Families Apart Is Tearing America Apart.

Roughly 100 people gathered at Rouge Park in the morning for a Families First rally organized by groups including the union SEIU Healthcare Michigan.

Some 20 people gathered midday with signs for an event publicized under the same Families First name at Clark Park.

And in the afternoon, as fans headed to the Detroit Tigers game snapped photos of the Spirit of Detroit statue, protesters gathered at its base calling for a stop to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions to capture and deport immigrants.

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More than 30 attendees then marched down Woodward and Michigan avenues to the Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building in the effort organized by groups including the Detroit Anti-War Committee.

At least one other local protest was planned on Sunday.

More: 'Good Trouble Lives On': Metro Detroit protesters invoke John Lewis in anti-Trump rallies

More: Catholics led march to Detroit ICE office in protest for immigrants

Not all the events fell under the Families First banner, but all echoed certain sentiments: that what Trump signed into law July 4  what he called the one big, beautiful bill  was really the big, bad bill and that his administrations work to deport a high number of immigrants in the country illegally was, in truth, tearing families apart.

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Republicans have said the bill  which includes stricter requirements for recipients to get public assistance  ensures that aid is better targeted. Nonprofits and Democrats have countered that it could push thousands off the rolls due to missed requirements.

Taught to help

Sydnie Veilleux, 25, of St. Clair Shores attended her first protest in memory in Clark Park with her aunt and boyfriend. Her aunt, Deb Drennan of Clinton Township, used to be a CEO of Freedom House Detroit, which supports refugees.

Veilleux said she was raised and taught to love and help other people.

We seem to have lost that as a nation, she said.

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Its sickening and disappointing to be an American in this government, she said.

Specifically of concern for her and Drennan is the immigration crackdown under Trump, and concerns that people are not getting their allowed due process rights after being arrested.

Drennan hoped that the groups presence in the southwest Detroit community, which has a high number of immigrants, relayed: We are allies.

From left to right, Kassandra Rodriguez, chair of the Detroit Community Action Committee, leads a chant as she walks alongside Jackson Harner, Avery Bolt, and Owen Frassetto, while they hold a banner during the Detroit Sanctuary City Now protest in downtown Detroit on Saturday, July 26, 2025. The banner reads End DPDICE Cooperation and Ni Una Mas Deportacion. The protest was part of a broader movement demanding protections for immigrant communities.

Anti-ICE protesters march in the streets

Downtown just a few hours later, protesters called on Detroit to become a sanctuary city and for the Detroit Police Department to end all cooperation with immigration enforcement agents.

In particular, speakers pointed to the local agencys arrest of protesters and use of pepper spray during an ICE arrest in the city this summer.

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At the time of the incident, police said theyd been called to keep the peace, that protesters interfered with law enforcement and that one damaged a vehicle.

In response to the call to end their cooperation, Detroit police issued a statement that its policy has worked well across the past four presidencies.

For the past 12 years, the Detroit Police Department has had a clear policy that recognizes immigration (enforcement) is entirely the job of federal authorities, not local law (enforcement). It also recognizes that when ICE issues a detainer for an individual already in the custody of local law enforcement on a criminal case, the local agency must honor that detainer . As it does anytime there is a potential for unrest in the community, Detroit Police Department will provide a presence to keep the peace and ensure public safety, regardless of who is requesting that presence.

Changes to Medicaid

Among the police departments naysayers at the downtown Detroit march was Jacob Smith, 33, of Detroit, who is with the Detroit Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

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He also spoke out against Trumps bill and the changes to Medicaid and food assistance.

It should go without saying that cuts to these programs will disproportionally affect Black, Latino, Chicano and indigenous communities, forcing them deeper into abject poverty for which it is nearly impossible to escape, he said.

Kimberly Crafton holds a sign that reads Families First! during a Families First protest at the Brennan Recreation Area in Detroit on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Earlier in the morning at Rouge Park, the Detroit family of Brooke Kimbrough, 28, and Gregory Frazier, 29, and their almost 5-month-old, Sage, were among those who looked on as health care workers, a Medicaid and Medicare recipient, politicians and political candidates spoke out.

Kimbrough recently got healthcare coverage through work, but before that, she had to use Medicaid, she said.

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It was essential in safely bringing precious Sage into this world, she said. Kimbrough had a C-section. She needed an epidural.

I wouldnt have been able to afford having my baby without it, she said.

Protests continue

Activists on Sunday, July 27, turned their attention to a topic they said was deeply tied to their various concerns: money.

Multiple of the local groups involved in the July 26 protests  including the Detroit Anti-War Committee, 50501 Michigan, We The People Dissent and Michigan United Action  were at it again for a March for Integrity organized by the Money Out of Politics coalition. Events under that banner were planned across the U.S. on Sunday.

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Money and politics have always been in bed together, said Lindsay White, 37, of Madison Heights, who serves as a captain for 50501 Michigans east side state efforts.

But now, it is worse than ever, White said.

Money Out of Politics seeks bans on congressional stock trading and lobbyist gifts to members of Congress, said Sean Schaefer, 26, of Rochester Hills, director of marketing and communications for the national effort.

The group also seeks a constitutional amendment to effectively overturn the 2010 Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United, which allowed unlimited corporate spending and brought forth Super PACS and an influx of dark money in politics.

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More than 60 people, including organizers and speakers, listened to group leaders and politicians rail on the issues in Detroits Roosevelt Park, in front of the recently reopened Michigan Central Station.

Meanwhile, some 20 people manned or visited booths from various groups seeking support for a family in war-torn Gaza, the petition for ranked choice voting in the state, and voter registration. Thereafter, a group of about 25 started marching down the sidewalk of Michigan Avenue toward the McNamara Federal Building.

Editor's Note: Sean Schaefer is the son of Free Press Executive Editor Jim Schaefer.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 'Families first' protests raise alarm on ICE, Medicaid under Trump
DENVER (KDVR)  A Saturday flight from Denver International Airport destined for Miami International Airport was stopped on a Denver runway due to a maintenance issue.

A DIA spokesperson confirmed to FOX31 that the flight was an American Airlines plane. The aircraft reportedly was stopped on the runway after DEN First Responders and the Denver Fire Department responded to a reported issue.

DIA also said that six total people were evaluated. One person evaluated at a gate was transported. The other people evaluated were not transported.

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At 5:10 p.m., DFD posted an update on X, saying that firefighters had extinguished a fire after responding to the aircraft.

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FOX31 reached out to American Airlines, which said that it was a maintenance issue that involved an aircraft tire. The airline company also stated:

American Airlines flight 3023 experienced a maintenance issue prior to takeoff at Denver International Airport (DEN). All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience.

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According to American Airlines, 173 passengers and six crew members were on board. Customers are said by the airline company to re-depart to MIA on a replacement aircraft later today.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
As scrutiny grows over how a little-known charity secured about $2 million from Florida and Miami-Dade County, theres a question that should be fairly easy to answer: How did the A3 Foundation spend its taxpayer money?

After more than a week of silence from the politically connected nonprofit, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has ordered her staff to try and find an answer to that question.

In a memo released Saturday, Levine Cava instructed county staff to audit the charity, which has a listed headquarters in a West Miami townhouse and a top official in the city of Miamis government as its director.

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The concerns raised regarding the A3 Foundations use of County funds and overall compliance with contract terms are warranted and require thorough answers, Levine Cava said in a memo to Carladenise Edwards, a top deputy to the mayor who serves as chief administrative officer for Miami-Dade.

A series of recent Miami Herald articles raised questions about how a foundation founded in late 2023 with no public track record of charity work could have such success securing government funding. County records show the County Commissions chairman, Anthony Rodriguez, used A3 as the clearinghouse for Miami-Dade funding for CountryFest, the annual rodeo that Rodriguez hosts each year in Tropical Park.

While Rodriguezs staff arranged for event company Loud and Live to put on CountryFest, nearly $1 million in county funds for the Tropical Park festival appeared to go first to A3. Multiple people familiar with the arrangement said A3 was the entity that paid Loud and Live for its CountryFest expenses.

The foundations director, Francisco Petrirena, told the Miami Herald in a brief interview on July 18 that he started earning an $80,000 salary this year for his foundation work. He works full time as chief of staff to Miami City Manager Art Noriega. Petrirena has not responded to Herald inquiries after that interview, including requests to release the charitys tax returns, which federal law requires be available to the public.

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Earlier this month, Levine Cava recommended commissioners approve a 20-year deal with Loud and Live that gives the Doral company rights to put on ticketed events at Tropical Parks equestrian center in exchange for paying at least $40 million in rent to the Parks Department.

The bidding documents for the contract included a requirement that the winner pay out $250,000 a year to a charity chosen by the County Commission, and the contract approved by commissioners on July 16 named A3 as the chosen nonprofit. Rodriguez sponsored the legislation.

This week, Levine Cavas longtime campaign manager, Christian Ulvert, confirmed hes paid by Loud and Live as a consultant.

Though hes not a registered lobbyist, Ulvert gets hired by developers and others seeking favorable decisions by Levine Cava and commissioners. On Saturday, Ulvert told the Herald he provides Loud and Live work related to community outreach and public relations and that he did not speak to Levine Cava or members of her administration about the companys contract.

The A3 Foundation faces scrutiny. Miami-Dades mayor wants an audit

On Wednesday, Levine Cava sent Loud and Live a letter saying she would not sign a contract that listed A3 as the beneficiary of the $250,000 yearly payment.

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The July 23 letter did not say if she planned to still require Loud and Live to make the payment to another charity. The Rodriguez legislation and contract said the charity payment comes out of Loud and Lives profits, so eliminating it entirely would boost the companys bottom line at Tropical Park.

Commission approval of the Loud and Live contract with the A3 payment requirement came a day after Levine Cava released a 2026 budget proposal with millions of dollars in cuts to charity grants and parks services. It also came about a month after the A3 Foundation secured $950,000 in funding in the Florida budget for charitable work related to education and agriculture. Almost half of the funding came from House Speaker Danny Perez, a Miami Republican who is friends with both Petrirena and Rodriguez.

Levine Cavas July 25 memo demanding an A3 audit followed a Miami Herald report showing her budget office vouching for $500,000 in county checks to A3 when accountants under the independent Clerk of the Court and Comptrollers Office flagged one $200,000 invoice for having no details beyond the phrase Payment for CountryFest2025.

Please help with the payment of this, David Clodfelter, the countys budget director under Edwards, wrote to the Clerks accounting division on the morning of July 4 to provide clearance for the $200,000 check. If additional information is really needed, I will reach out to the Chairmans Office.

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Clodfelter this week said backup material wasnt needed because county commissioners passed legislation sponsored by Rodriguez that waived purchasing oversight rules for CountryFest.

In addition to the A3 audit, Levine Cavas memo calls for stricter oversight of county charity grants. That includes mandated quarterly financial reports and annual audits.

I am calling for the development of new countywide safeguards and protocols to strengthen accountability, even if procurement, research, and bidding processes are waived by the Board of County Commissioners, Levine Cava wrote.

The mayor had included $125,000 for the A3 Foundation in the 2025 budget that commissioners approved last fall  money the charity requested for CountryFest field trips for 2,000 students and scholarships for students pursuing careers in agriculture, according to a funding application released through a records request.

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Clodfelter told the Herald the budget request came from Rodriguez but that a grant agreement was never signed with A3. That meant the money wasnt released, he said.

Rodriguez has not responded to recent Herald inquiries about the A3 Foundation. In an interview with the Political Cortadito blog , Rodriguez said the Loud and Live contract was good for Miami-Dade because it steers private money to a charity instead of having the county fund another charity payment.

Its 100% private money, he said. This is what the county should be looking at  how do we have private businesses that partner with the county support community benefits rather than it being paid by taxpayer dollars.
A beloved statue of a famous burro was heavily damaged in a wildfire that ripped through the tourist hub of Grand Canyon National Park's North Rim, park officials said.

Brighty lived in the Grand Canyon in the early 20th century and was featured in a 1953 children's novel by Marguerite Henry, "Brighty of the Grand Canyon," which would later be adapted into a movie, prompting the statue to be made in his honor.

The Brighty statue called the Grand Canyon Lodge its home for decades before the lodge was engulfed in flames the night of July 12. The lodge had been designated a National Historic Landmark in the late 1980s and was visited by tens of thousands of people each year.

Did the Brighty of the Grand Canyon statue survive?

Yes, the statue of Brighty of the Grand Canyon survived the Dragon Bravo Fire, which destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge and about 100 other structures, according to Grand Canyon National Park spokesperson Joelle Baird.

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While Brighty did not melt, he was "heavily damaged due to the fire," Baird said.

In the coming weeks, a specialized team will assess the grounds of the Grand Canyon Lodge, including the condition of the Brighty statue, she said.

Brighty's condition has been of such interest that the Grand Canyon National Park website has added a question about the statue to its FAQs about the fire's impact.

"Future plans for restoring or commemorating Brighty are being discussed as part of the North Rim recovery efforts," the site said. "The statue holds deep meaning for many visitors, and the park is committed to honoring that legacy in future planning."

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A photo of unknown origin posted on social media after the fire showed a damaged Brighty tipped over, with a hole in the statue's underside and missing back legs.

News alerts in your inbox: Don't miss the important news of the day. Sign up for azcentral newsletter alerts to be in the know.

Baird and the Grand Canyon Historical Society said that the hole in the hollow statue was present before the fire and was part of the casting process.

Baird said that it appeared from the photo that Brighty had lost a portion of his two front legs and one of his floppy ears.

Davy Crockett, vice president of the Grand Canyon Historical Society, said that the photo may look worse than reality.

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"His legs fell off because the joints werent bronze and melted. He fell over. A photo is circulating that shows a big hole in his hind end. That hole was there before, where he sat on the pedestal. As far as we know the rest of his body is intact, but we have only seen a photo that has a poor angle," Crockett said in an email.

Who was Brighty of the Grand Canyon?

Brighty was a real donkey who helped some of the Grand Canyon North Rim's first settlers establish camp by carrying water through rugged terrain, said Crockett, an author and Grand Canyon historian.

John Fuller, a herdsman who lived seasonally on the North Rim, found the lone burro on a journey to the future site of Phantom Ranch near Bright Angel Creek at the bottom of the Canyon, according to Crockett's book, "Grand Canyon Rim to Rim History." Brighty would become known for his gentle nature, Crockett said.

Brighty lived wild and would come and go as he pleased, climbing up to the North Rim in the summer, and back into the canyon in the fall, said Crockett.

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Brighty helped carry water from a spring to the Wylie Way Camp on the North Rim, making the trip as many as four to seven times a day, according to Crockett. It was more than half a mile each way and a 200-foot elevation change, according to Crockett's book.

In the 1960s, Henry's novel about Brighty was adapted for the silver screen, with Brighty played by a donkey named Jiggs, according to IMDb, an online movie database.

The Brighty statue was sculpted in the late 1960s by Peter Jepsen, who was commissioned by the movie's producer to create the statue as a promotional effort, according to a Facebook post by Grand Canyon National Park.

Hikers rubbed the nose of the Brighty statue as a ritual for good luck, Crockett said.

Grand Canyon Historical Society considering fundraiser for statue

Tom Sulpizio, president of the nonprofit Grand Canyon Historical Society, said he has seen an outpouring of concern for the fate of the statue, including from families connected with the story of Brighty, such as the family of Martha McKee Krueger, whose father worked with Brighty hauling water, and the family of Stephen F. Booth, the producer of the 1967 movie.

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"It's a cultural icon that captured the imagination of children and adults," Sulpizio said.

He said he had hope that a portion of the statue survived, even if badly damaged.

"Bronze doesn't melt at wood-burning temperature. So, if ponderosa pine burns at 800 degrees Fahrenheit, bronze doesn't even start melting until 1,200. But it gets sooty. It got darkened, the patina was affected," Sulpizio said.

The Grand Canyon Historical Society was considering a fundraiser to help preserve or restore the Brighty statue, once the fire is fully contained and it is safe to start recovery efforts, Sulpizio said.

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Rey Covarrubias Jr. reports breaking news for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email him at: rcovarrubias@gannett.com, and connect with him on Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and X (formerly Twitter) at @ReyCJrAZ.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Beloved statue of 'Brighty of the Grand Canyon' damaged by wildfire
This story previously aired on June 4, 2022. It was updated on Sept. 7, 2024.

On a night in September 2020, Ashley Benefield walked to her neighbor's house and said she shot her husband Doug Benefield in self-defense. But was it?

The former ballerina and bikini model was, some say, similar to the devious character in the theatrical film "Black Swan." Ashley and Doug Benefield knew each other for just 13 days before they got married. She was 24; he was 54 and a widower. Four years later it ended with one of them dead and the other charged with second-degree murder.

"To Doug  Ashley's this innocent, pure White Swan," says Stephanie Murphy, Doug Benefield's family attorney. "But underneath those white feathers she's an evil woman. She's the Black Swan."

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"Since 'Black Swan' came out, I think that's a lot of people's only window into ballet, which sucks," says dancer Athena Nikolakopulos." But this certainly does parlay into that narrative."

Over the time the Benefields were married, there were strained relationships, allegations of abuse, a failed ballet company for unconventional dancers, and the stories of family members left behind trying to make sense of it all in the wake of deadly gunshots.

A WHIRLWIND ROMANCE

Jim Axelrod: Do you remember your last conversation with your dad?

Eva Benefield:  He tried to call me  but I didn't pick up because I was at work  I said I'll call you later  I never called him. 'Cause I assumed everything would be all right. I'd get a Bible verse next morning and I'll call him, and everything would be OK.

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Eva Benefield got a Bible verse by text every morning from her father Doug. It was their daily ritual but on September 28, 2020, that Bible verse never came  a sign that everything was not OK.

Eva Benefield: I was  freaking out and I  I spammed him with text messages. I called him.

Out of desperation, she began Googling the names "Doug and Ashley Benefield" and "accident with Florida man." Later that day, Eva called an uncle who had texted her.

Eva Benefield: And I said, "What's wrong with my dad?" And he said, "There's been an accident." And I said, "She killed him, didn't she?" And he said, "Yeah, she shot him twice."

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Jim Axelrod: Hang on, those were the first words outta your mouth? Where was that coming from?

Eva Benefield: I just had a gut feeling.

Ashley Byers, 24, met Doug Benefield , 54, at a dinner in Florida in August 2016 and sparks flew immediately. The couple married 13 days later, in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. / Credit: Tommie Benefield

Eva Benefield: I drove a couple blocks down the road to my friend's house and they saw that I was crying  And they said, "What's wrong?" And I said, "Ashley killed my dad."

It was a tragic end to a relationship that began at a dinner in Florida back in August of 2016. Doug met Ashley and felt like he'd been struck by a thunderbolt.

Alice Robb: he just  immediately thought Ashley was the most beautiful, the most amazing person in the world.

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Writer Alice Robb wrote a piece about the Benefields for Vanity Fair. Doug was from Charleston, South Carolina  a consultant who worked with technology companies and defense contractors. The two had bonded over conservative values and guns.

Stephanie Murphy: The night that she met Doug for the first time  she had guns on her person, in her purse, in her bra.

Stephanie Murphy, Doug's family attorney, says that when Ashley first met Doug, she was working in the Sarasota campaign office of Donald Trump. Her job was to help galvanize the Evangelical vote and work the rallies.

Stephanie Murphy: you can see video of her on the internet where she's  throwing things into the crowd, getting people really excited 

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Aside from her work in politics, Ashley had also been a fledgling swimsuit model and a dancer with the Maryland Youth Ballet, where she was sometimes a featured performer.

Alice Robb: I've seen  videos of her dancing; she was definitely  a good, well-trained dancer.

Days after they met, Doug left the country on a short business trip and, by the time his plane was landing back in the United States, the heart emojis were flying fast and furious.



Alice Robb:  they were saying "I love you" to each other within, I think, a week or so.

Doug was deeply religious, and his friends believe he wanted to marry Ashley before he was intimate with her.

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Jim Axelrod: What did he say to you?

Trip Cormeny: "Will you marry us?"

Trip Cormeny was one of Doug's closest friends and happened to be an ordained Episcopal pastor at the time. Just 13 days had passed since the couple had met. Trip wasn't thrilled but agreed to perform the ceremony.



Trip Cormeny: I was being loyal to my friend.



Doug invited almost no one to the wedding, not even his teenage daughter.

Jim Axelrod: He loves this girl, his 15-year-old daughter  he goes and gets married and doesn't even tell her.



Tommie Benefield: Yeah.

Tommie Benefield is Doug's cousin.

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Tommie Benefield: It's bewildering  I would've talked him out of it. Eva certainly would've talked him out of it.

Doug didn't tell Eva, his 15-year-old daughter from his previous marriage, that he and Ashley had married. Eva's mother Renee had died of an undiagnosed heart ailment nine months earlier. / Credit: Facebook/Renee Benefield

Eva was stunned  still dealing with an unspeakable trauma. Nine months earlier, Eva's mother  and Doug's wife 56-year-old Renee Benefield had died. Eva had discovered her mother's body.

Eva Benefield: I couldn't get in through the front door. And she wasn't answering the doorbell or the knock. So, I crawled through these bushes  The blinds were open  the lights weren't on or anything. And then I could kinda see her silhouette, so I went to the door and to my neighbor.

The neighbor kicked in the door. There Renee was  dead from an undiagnosed heart ailment. In the aftermath Doug was right there for his daughter.

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Eva Benefield:  after my mom died, he really took, kind of, a motherly role along with a fatherly role.

Jim Axelrod: Wow.

Eva Benefield: He made sure  I could go to him with boy problems, with school drama, with anything. And he would take care of it 

But nine months later, Eva discovered Doug had a new woman in his life.

Eva Benefield: I was upstairs, and he said, "Eva, we  you need to come down and talk to me and Ashley."  and I said, " the only thing that you would need to tell me about y'all's relationship is if y'all  if you proposed." And as soon as those words came outta my mouth he said, "We're married."

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Jim Axelrod: That's a lot.

Eva Benefield: It is a lot.

Doug encouraged Ashley to try and mother a reluctant Eva who was only 9 years younger.

Eva Benefield: He basically told her that I needed somebody  I needed a motherly role in my life. And I didn't think that I needed that.

The situation became even more complicated when Doug and Ashley allowed Eva's friend Sydney to move into the house. Two teenage girls and a new young wife were a combustible combination and during one heated argument with Ashley, Doug cracked.

Stephanie Murphy: And in a terrible m  moment  he discharged the gun into the ceiling of his house.

His best friend Trip Cormeny says that Doug was filled with regret.

Trip Cormeny: In his words he said, "I did the dumbest thing I've ever done in my life."

But that did not end the relationship. Just the opposite. Two days after the gun incident, Doug and Ashley threw themselves a formal wedding reception complete with guests this time.

The newlyweds also forged ahead with Ashley's grand plan to create an inclusive ballet company.

Stephanie Murphy: The idea of it was really great.

But implementing it was something else entirely.

CHAOS AND CONFUSION

Eva Benefield: Once Ashley started causing trouble and stress, that's when he started to realize how I was feeling.  He promised me that things  things were going to be OK eventually.

Ashley, a dancer once with the Maryland Youth Ballet, wanted to create an inclusive ballet company. Doug wanted to make Ashley happy, friends say, and he was determined to make her dream a reality. / Credit: Jim Chatwin

Even though there was a growing tension at home between Ashley and Eva, Doug went ahead with helping Ashley follow her dream: establishing a ballet company in Charleston with a unique mission.

Michael Wise: Being more inclusive, having dancers of every shade, color, body type. Things  those are all things that I'm a big believer in.

Ashley and Doug hired Ballet Master Michael Wise to train the dancers. They talked a big game about big money he says: $10 million they promised they'd secured from backers and boldly named their new company the American National Ballet, or ANB.

Jim Axelrod: When you first met Doug, what kind of guy did he strike you as?



Michael Wise: Kind, a very serious businessman, and had a very methodical approach to a lot of what he did.



Jim Axelrod: Did he know anything about ballet?



Michael Wise: No.  And he was very open about that  I was supposed to be working with Ashley to get her to understand how a company should be run.



Jim Axelrod: What was your first impression of Ashley?



Michael Wise: Young.  Ambitious  we were all hoping that she would rise to the occasion.

The American National Ballet in Charleston would be a more inclusive home to dancers who were considered unconventional. / Credit: Doug Benefield

In the summer of 2017, Ashley and Doug were there as ANB held auditions.

Emmana Hemsley: I definitely thought that it was something that I wanted to be a part of.

Dancer Emmana Hemsley hoped ANB would be her chance to prove herself.

Emmana Hemsley: Being a Black female dancer  it's so challenging to audition for other companies where you don't fit the mold exactly  So, I thought this would be a great fit for me.

Athena Nikolakopulos: If you're in the ballet community, you know there's a lot of crap that needs to change.

Athena Nikolakopulos interviewed with Ashley and loved what she heard about her vision.

Athena Nikolakopulos: It sounded like she was genuinely excited to get this new company going and that they were going to try and do things a little bit differently.

Michael Wise: The majority of her dancers were individuals that were very much like her, had the drive, had the want, but hadn't necessarily been given an opportunity.

Dancer after dancer proudly posted to social media they'd joined the ANB family. But that wasn't the only family Ashley had in mind.

Stephanie Murphy: On top of starting a ballet company, Ashley also wanted to get pregnant.

And in the midst of putting together the ballet company, that's exactly what happened.

Jim Axelrod: How did that sit with you?

Eva Benefield: It didn't sit well at all  so this kinda felt like another stab in the back  there was a lotta stress.  'Cause now they basically have two teenage daughters and a little girl on the way.

At the end of the summer in 2017, some 40 dancers from all over the world began arriving in Charleston to work with Ashley. From the first meeting they realized what they'd been promised at ANB wasn't what they'd be getting.

Athena Nikolakopulos: We get there and we're like, 'where is she?' And Doug announces that she is bedridden with a really difficult pregnancy and she wasn't going to be there for the first however many months.

Michael Wise: It was explained to me that they were going to be developing this state-of-the-art facility in downtown Charleston.  day one, when we're ready to start up, they were like, "Can we use your facility?"

Athena Nikolakopulos:  each day  something would happen  that just made us feel even more unsettled.

On top of all this chaos and confusion, the dancers were having trouble getting paid. Their checks were often late if they arrived at all. Doug was scrambling to meet the company's obligations.

Emmana Hemsley: We would ask him, "Hey, where's the money for our shoes? Or our paychecks?" And he would go to the bank and just pull out cash and give people cash.

Jim Axelrod: Paying you out of his own pocket in cash is not the kind of thing that's going to inspire confidence

Athena Nikolakopulos: No. No. Confidence had gone a long time at this point, that was very long gone  we really thought  we're like well, when Ashley comes back, like, that might be what fixes all of this.

While they were building the ballet company, Ashley became pregnant. She began to suffer from nausea and returned to Florida so her mother could take care of her. / Credit: Jim Chatwin

But Ashley wasn't coming back. At the end of August, citing her difficult pregnancy, Ashley went back to Florida to live with her mother, while Doug tried to make the ballet work in Charleston.

The rumblings about trouble in the Benefield's marriage grew louder.

Emmana Hemsley: It seemed like it was something that was going to crash and burn very shortly.

Very shortly. In September, while Doug was at an event for the ballet, Ashley and her mother drove from Florida to the house in Charleston and dropped a bombshell: the marriage was over

Stephanie Murphy: She came to Charleston  and packed up her things and then left Doug this scathing note about all the reasons why she didn't wanna be with him anymore.

In the note, Ashley called him "possessive" and "controlling." She wrote the incident when he'd fired a gun into the ceiling as well as other unsafe behavior had left her "fearful for her life and the safety of her unborn child."

In September 2017, Ashley and her mother returned to Charleston. She packed up her belongings and left a scathing note. Ashley called Doug

Eva Benefield: I could see the look in his face when he read it.  I could just tell his heart was broken.

But Ashley's note was just the beginning.

Stephanie Murphy: He had this family that he thought was going to be perfect and happy and faithful, and it fell apart in the most spectacular way.

It wasn't long before the relationship would become truly toxic.

Stephanie Murphy: She thought Doug may have poisoned her.

POISONING ALLEGATIONS

Alice Robb: This is a pretty long letter.  She says at the end, "do not harass or try to follow me or I will call the police."  She does not seem like someone who's open to getting back together.



Ashley's scathing note to Doug left little doubt about her feelings.

Stephanie Murphy: I really think that Ashley thought that that was gonna be it.  just pack up her stuff, leave a note, and it was gonna be over 

But Doug wasn't ready to give up. He sent Ashley text after text, begging her to reconsider. One of them read: "I am on my knees and face before God asking you to forgive me."

But Ashley was not in a forgiving in mood. She decided to call the authorities on Doug.

Eva Benefield: Cops showed up at my house after she left my dad and he wasn't home. I had to answer the door.  she got Child Protective Services involved from Florida. I hadn't even seen her in months.

Ashley told police that Doug had anger issues and all about the day he fired his gun inside the house. Investigators interviewed Eva.

Eva Benefield: I was constantly having people come up to my door and questioning if my dad was a good dad. And it just made me so angry because he was. And I just kept having to repeat myself. "My dad is a good dad. He's never done anything to hurt anyone. He wouldn't hurt anyone."

Doug was subjected to a CPS investigation and was ultimately cleared.

Trip Cormeny: He'd been evaluated by a  psychologist  a full psych evaluation, who said, "There's nothin' wrong with this guy.  He's not dangerous."

Doug was struggling on another front, overwhelmed by handling the ballet company.

Michael Wise: By mid-October  we were notified that Ashley was stepping down.

Jim Axelrod: Did she jump or was she pushed?



Michael Wise: Pushed.



Jim Axelrod: Why?



Michael Wise: Because there needed to be leadership and Ashley was not being a leader.

Wise was in the room when Doug got a call from Ashley, who was more than a little upset.

Michael Wise: The phone rang. He picks it up. And you hear Ashley screaming, "You took my ballet company away from me."

With Ashley gone, Doug brought in new leaders, who made drastic changes. On October 23, 2017, a group of dancers were called into a meeting, told to sign non-disclosure agreements... and fired. Emmana Hemsley was one of them.

Jim Axelrod: And Doug was of no help here?

Emmana Hemsley: No.  Doug was...yeah, nowhere to be found that day.



Just like that, half of the company's dancers were gone. Two days later, Ashley posted on the ballet's social media pages: "I am completely devastated by what has been done." And "The new leadership has destroyed all that we worked so hard to build."

In October, Ashley left the ballet company and new leadership fired half of the dancers. Ashley posted on the ballet's social media pages that she was devastated, and that the new leadership destroyed all that they worked so hard to build.

Athena Nikolakopulos: What happened hurt. It helped to know that  someone was on our side there and that, you know, this was never the intention.

It seemed like a beautiful idea had gone up in smoke. Within months, the American National Ballet was done. Doug was out more than $100,000. His ballet nightmare was over, but his friends say a new one was just beginning. Ashley now had questions about Doug's first wife, Eva's mother, Renee, and how she died. Ashley texted Doug:

ASHLEY: "Wait what did she die of again?'

Doug told her that Renee had a 75% artery blockage.

ASHLEY: "I thought I have heard you say something about medications or something? Like bad drugs ?"

Tommie Benefield: I've read the autopsy report. It's clear. Died of a heart attack, essentially.

It soon became clear why Ashley was so interested in how Renee died. She told Doug's cousin Tommie she thought Doug had poisoned Renee even though Doug was out of town.

Jim Axelrod: What was your reaction? You must've been, like, "What?"



Tommie Benefield: It  it's out of left field. I'm  I'm really confused by that.

The local police say they closed the case in 2016 after they got the coroner's report. But Ashley talked to writer Alice Robb, shared her theory about Renee, and made another shocking allegation.

Alice Robb: She said that, you know, as a dancer she'd always known her body well, and that  she really felt like she  was even more nauseous than she would've expected as a pregnant woman.  And she said that  she had been  poisoned.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley believed that Doug has been poisoning her while she was pregnant with their daughter. They were both big tea fans  and she hearkened back to the times that Doug was bringing her tea in bed. Because she didn't want to get out of bed.

Doug, still hoping for a reconciliation and apparently having no idea about Ashley's suspicions, sent her a birthday gift at the end of November 2017.

Stephanie Murphy: He had purchased a lovely teapot and teacups and saucers and this specialty tea  that was supposed to be for pregnant women.

Ashley unleashed a number of accusations against Doug. Among them, she claimed he was poisoning her with tea while she was pregnant. Her claims were investigated but nothing was found to substantiate the charges. / Credit: Tommie Benefield

The gift fed Ashley's growing concerns about Doug.

Tommie Benefield: She  takes it to the police department  as hazardous materials and claims that it's how he's poisoning her.



Jim Axelrod: What do the police make of that?



Tommie Benefield: They treat it as hazardous materials that day. They test it and prove out  it's not any poisonous materials.

Ashley also sent her hair to an independent lab for testing to determine if she'd been poisoned. The report said her hair showed higher than normal levels of aluminum, zinc, and other metals. But Doug's lawyer disputes those findings.

Stephanie Murphy: She had gotten plenty of lab work done because she was pregnant.  Her medical records in South Carolina  her labs all came back normal.

Three weeks before her due date, without Doug knowing, Ashley checked herself into the hospital.

Alice Robb: I don't think she was poisoned, but that doesn't mean she doesn't think she was poisoned.

Stephanie Murphy: She was at Tampa General Hospital  claiming  the child had been exposed to heavy metals in utero because her husband had poisoned her.

Ashley also claimed, without any proof, that Doug was physically abusive and had held her prisoner back in Charleston. And she said he had been stalking her in Florida.

With no way to know if what Ashley told them was true the hospital took precautions for her safety and assigned her a new name: Christina. Three days later the doctors performed a C-section. The baby girl was healthy, but Ashley continued to worry her baby had been poisoned.

Robert Cederoth: Both Ashley and her daughter were here every single day, receiving treatments.

NEW ACCUSATIONS

The news that Ashley had given birth to a baby girl in March 2018 took more than a month to reach Doug, says his lawyer Stephanie Murphy.

Stephanie Murphy: The baby was born about three weeks early. Doug had no idea.

Baby Emerson did not have Doug's last name and Doug was not listed as the father on the original birth certificate. No one was.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley wanted to raise her daughter with her mother, alone  she didn't want to co-parent.

And she kept pursing her accusation that Doug had killed Renee. Eva says that, at one point, Ashley and her mother Alicia even pulled Eva aside.

Jim Axelrod: And they suggest to you that your father had a part in your mother's death?

Eva Benefield: Right.

Jim Axelrod: What exactly did they say to you?

Eva Benefield says at one point, Ashley and her mother even pulled Eva aside to suggest Doug had a part in her mother's death. / Credit: CBS News

Eva Benefield: They said  "We're concerned about your safety  Your dad's a bad guy. He does bad things " I just told them to get away from me.

But mother and daughter did not go away. Months later, Eva says they renewed their accusations.

Jim Axelrod: And what did they say that time?

Eva Benefield: "Your dad poisoned your mom."

Jim Axelrod: How'd you react to that?

Eva Benefield: I said, "No, he didn't. I was there  I found my mom and that caused a lot of emotional trauma  My dad wouldn't do that. He loved my mom.

Jim Axelrod: I wanna be clear about something  Was Doug ever charged with any crime?



Tommie Benefield: No, sir  none of the allegations were true.

But she appeared convinced that she and her 3-month-old baby had been poisoned. In her search for help, Ashley signed them up for 26 consecutive days of treatment in a hyperbaric chamber.

Robert Cederoth: It can detox the body of heavy metals and other toxins 

Safety Director Robert Cederoth says Ashley and her daughter spent 40 hours in the 12-person chamber that looks more nautical than medical.

Robert Cederoth: We call them dives because it's  we're almost simulating diving, like when the divers go down 

Ashley's daughter was the youngest patient ever treated here. Adults wear a plastic hood while inside the chamber, but with a baby, things got a bit tricky.

Robert Cederoth: [demonstrates] Ashley's daughter was really small, you know, at that time  So, we ended up taking this  ring and we put it around her waist. It was like  she was like a little ballerina  and so half of her body was actually inside of the hood.

In the summer of 2018, the poisoning allegations came to a head when the Benefields squared off in a Bradenton, Florida, courtroom. Doug wanted to see his daughter and Ashley was requesting an injunction to keep him far away. An audio recording was made of the proceeding.

Here, Stephanie Murphy questions Ashley about the state of her pregnancy:

COURT AUDIO |SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 STEPHANIE MURPHY: You also told Lakewood Ranch OBGYN that, um, the pregnancy had been uncomplicated, correct? ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Is there a page you'd like me to reference? STEPHANIE MURPHY: I'm just asking you. Is that what you told them? ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I wouldn't say it was uncomplicated. My entire life has been complicated for about two years. STEPHANIE MURPHY: OK  the OB, wrote right in her report 'the pregnancy has been uncomplicated.' Was that inaccurate? ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I'm not responsible for what the doctor or the nurse writes.

STEPHANIE MURPHY: OK. STEPHANIE MURPHY: you have accused your husband of poisoning you ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Yes  it is heartbreaking that somebody you would trust would do something to you.

But the judge was not persuaded by two days of testimony and the lab test results Ashley had submitted:

JUDGE DIANA MORELAND [Court audio]: There is not a single scintilla of credible evidence that Ms. Benefield has ever been poisoned or suffered from any illness of any poison.

That ruling cleared the way for Doug to finally see his daughter. Days later, he and Ashley met outside the sheriff's office to exchange the baby. To Stephanie's surprise, Ashley was suddenly very accommodating.

Stephanie Murphy: She then immediately went right up to Doug, handed the baby over, nice as she could be, very cordial.

She even suggested that that the three of them  Doug, Ashley and the baby  spend time together.

Stephanie Murphy:  and Doug said, "OK, sure" because Doug wanted to make the transition as easy for his daughter as possible because to her, he was a stranger.  And I talked to Doug. I said, "OK. That's fine, of course. Please be careful."

For the better part of the next year, Doug, Ashley and their daughter seemed happy, at least according to Doug. Doug even moved to a nearby apartment in Florida.

Stephanie Murphy: Doug thought they were back together, that they were doing what they were supposed to do in the beginning, which was to slowly get to know each other  be a family  I thought everything was gonna be OK.

But, in August 2019, when he met Ashley to pick up his daughter, Doug was stunned to see what he thought was an engagement ring on Ashley's finger.

Stephanie Murphy: Doug hired a private investigator to find out what was going on.

The private eye told Doug that Ashley was seeing another man and in November 2019, Doug filed for divorce. Soon after, Ashley began lodging complaints against Doug.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley accused Doug of sexually abusing his daughter  she accused him of a whole litany of things.

Doug vehemently denied harming his daughter and authorities agreed there was no evidence. Doug then wrote an email in March 2020 to the sheriff's office accusing Ashley of having a "split personality."

But a few months later, Doug did something that seemed unthinkable. In a head-spinning move, he announced that he and Ashley were going to try again to be a family and were relocating to Maryland.

Jim Axelrod: Tommie  I know we keep circling back to the same question, and I'm sorry it's just any viewer of this hour is going to also be asking. What did Doug need to see before he would say, "Time out. We're done"?

Tommie Benefield: he is still believing he can rescue and save and have a marriage, a loving marriage 

Jim Axelrod: After somebody says you're sexually abusing your daughter, don't you cut and run? Don't you say I tried?

Trip Cormeny: Right.

Jim Axelrod: I'm out.

Trip Cormeny: Right  Yes, most people do. But not Doug 

Tommie Benefield: she's still presenting to him and to others that they're gonna put all this back together again.

Friends held their breath but hoped, for Doug's sake, that a miracle reunion was about to happen. Trip says he knew better than to even try to talk Doug out of reconciling with Ashley.

Trip Cormeny:  there's nothing I can say that could possibly turn him around on this. He's gonna do this if it kills him.

SELF-DEFENSE OR MURDER?

Eva Benefield: He said that their relationship was going really well, and he was just excited for a fresh start.

On September 27, 2020, Doug Benefield was preparing to begin his new life. He was moving with Ashley, their young daughter and Ashley's mother Alicia from Florida to Maryland.

Stephanie Murphy: So, it's Sunday night and Doug is over at Ashley and Alicia's house  And Doug  is filling up the U-Haul  Alicia decides to take the baby for a walk down to the neighborhood park.

Ashley stayed behind with Doug. Soon after, a neighbor heard screams and called 911.

911 CALL: I heard some - somebody screaming outside.

Then Ashley walked to a different neighbor's house, carrying her .45 caliber handgun.

Tommie Benefield: She walks next door, gun in hand  tells the neighbor  "I shot Doug in self-defense." The neighbor calls 911.

NEIGHBOR TO 911: [It was] right next door to me. She just came over. Her estranged husband attacked her, and she says she shot him].

Ashley can be heard sobbing in the background.

Stephanie Murphy: When the ambulance arrives, Doug was still breathing.

Police and EMT's assisted Doug who had been shot twice in his right leg and arm. Police noted that the bullet from his arm traveled into his chest cavity. Doug lived for an hour but died at nearby Doctors Hospital.

Ashley was not arrested that night as detectives began investigating her claim of self-defense. But they'd have to do it without her.

Stephanie Murphy:  she didn't speak to detectives at all.

But Ashley's mother Alicia told the detective that she and her daughter were victims of domestic abuse and had been living in fear of Doug for three-and-a-half years. She claimed that they had "tried to get help but no body [sic] would help them."

And Ashley's lawyer Faith Brown told the detective that Ashley was creating an escape plan to get away from Doug once and for all.

Brown told the detective: "Ashley was in danger, has a psychologist, two attorneys and a 'burner phone.' Ashley also had a safe location and a rental car set up."

"Ashley was expected to implement the plan" the very next day because, as Ashley's lawyer told a detective, "she was very concerned Doug was 'getting wind' of the plan."

But, as detectives investigated, Ashley's claim of self-defense became problematic. A detective noted that Doug had no guns or weapons "on his person or near him."

Stephanie Murphy: She shot an unarmed man.

In the days and weeks after the shooting, Ashley did not reveal what happened in that moment. In November of 2020, Ashley Benefield was charged with second-degree murder. The arrest warrant noted, it appears that Ashley had exhausted all legal means of keeping the child away from Doug before the shooting. She pleaded not guilty.

And perhaps most troubling of all, the forensics determined that: "It does not appear that he was facing Ashley when she began shooting." Ashley's new lawyer says he will challenge those forensics at trial.

Ashley Benefield was arrested on November 4, 2020, and charged with second-degree murder. She posted bond a few weeks later and is awaiting trial. She pleaded not guilty. / Credit: Manatee County Sheriff's Office

Alice Robb: I don't know what Ashley believed 

Writer Alice Robb says it's difficult to know if Ashley was a victim or a master manipulator.

Alice Robb: Was she genuinely afraid, and  just trying to protect her baby and save herself? Or was she trying to  get Doug out of her life  just out of spite just 'cause she hated him?

Eva Benefield: I feel like she  part of her wanted to believe that my dad was a good guy but then there was also a part of her that was scared of him and I think that that part took over.

Jim Axelrod: Why was she scared of him?

Eva Benefield: I think all the allegations she made, just  she started to believe thema little too much.

Ashley's mother Alicia Byers has custody of her grandchild. While awaiting trial, Ashley was out on bond and reportedly saw her daughter frequently.

Jim Axelrod: Do you ever think about her, Ashley?

Eva Benefield: All the time.

Jim Axelrod: What do you think?

Eva Benefield: I just wanna  know  why would she take away my father, my best friend, knowing that I don't have another parent?

Doug and Eva on a trip to Phoenix

EVA BENEFIELD [on TikTok]: I knew something was wrong one day when he didn't send me a good morning text. Um, and then a couple hours later I got a call that she  that she had shot and killed him 

Eva has been exploring her feelings on TikTok, using her unique sense of humor to soothe her pain.

She posts frequently under the name "evathefreakindiva" where she jokes that her brand is "the girl with the dead parents."

Eva Benefield: I use dark humor. I  I just, I don't know, I guess it's the way my brain's wired. But I'd rather not sit and sulk. I'd rather just make light of a situation.

These days Eva cherishes her time with Sully, the dog who once belonged to her father.

And she and Tommie still go to the beach at Sullivan's Island where her father's ashes were scattered.

Jim Axelrod [at the beach with Eva]: When we stand out here now  all these months later, any peace?



Eva Benefield: I don't think I'm going to get peace until after the trial's over.

Jim Axelrod: Do you ever dream about your dad?



Eva Benefield: A few times



Jim Axelrod: What happens in the dream



Eva Benefield: We're in this big house and he enters the room through the  a door. And he says, "I've been in hiding and I need you to help me." And then I run with him and there's a tunnel. And then I wake up.

On July 30, 2024, Ashley Benefield was found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm in the shooting death of her husband Doug Benefield. Click here to read about her trial - and what she said when she took the stand in her own defense.

Produced by Paul LaRosa and Dena Goldstein. Tamara Weitzman is the development producer. Michael Loftus is the associate producer. Richard Barber is the producer-editor. Grayce Arlotta-Berner and Gary Winter are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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TUPELO  Residents of Mississippi District 16 will get a chance to have their voices heard with a special election to decide their state House Representative.

Democrat Brady Davis is hoping to unseat incumbent Democrat Rickey Thompson with the upcoming special election primary for Mississippi House District 16, set for Aug. 5. Thompson first took the seat in 2019.

District 16 encompasses Chickasaw, Lee, Monroe and Pontotoc counties and includes portions of Tupelo, Verona and Shannon. Following recent redistricting, District 16 took in much of southwest Pontotoc County, northwest Chickasaw County and expanded further south of Monroe County.

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This redistricting caused the special election.

Thompson defeated former State Rep. Steve Holland for his first election and ran unopposed in his second term, which was interrupted by the redistricting special election.

Because the race features neither Republican nor third-party candidates, the position will be decided through the August primary.

The Daily Journal recently met with both candidates to ask about their plans, if elected. Both spoke on the importance of health care and education, and both said theyve enjoyed canvassing the district and speaking with potential voters.

Davis sees position as progression of lifelong civil service

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While not a Mississippi native, Davis, who was born in Nashville, said he immediately fell in love with the state when he moved to it while studying at the University of Southern Mississippi for his master's degree.

A job with the Chickasaw Nation as an archaeologist and historian brought him to Tupelo. In 2019, Davis became the CEO of the Chickasaw Inkana Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works with the tribal nation to preserve First American history in the Chickasaw homeland.

I look at this opportunity running for office as being the culmination of years of developing relationships and learning about people, understanding people, he said. Ive had the opportunity to be of service in Tupelo, and this is an opportunity to be of service to a larger community.

Davis platform is broken into five points: education and workforce development, health care, community development, accessibility of local officials and tourism. He said individuals often get locked into just the concepts in his points without thinking of ways to work on solutions.

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I do not like buzzwords. Roads, bridges, education and health care, he said. Buzzwords are useful when theres substance that comes behind it  When someone creates a platform, it is a set of ideas that someone wants to implement or to at least work on.

Education, Davis said, was important to him, noting that his wife, Cristina, is a public school teacher. He said he wants to look into ways to increase funding to school districts throughout the state and in the area, develop more adult education opportunities, and better support students. Davis pointed to a Mississippi Economic Council study that showed only 12% of Mississippi employers strongly agreed that our education system prepares students for the workforce. He also noted that while the state ranks highly among states with high school students who move on to college, its postsecondary education retention rate typically falls behind most states.

While test schools are important, Davis said, it is crucial the curriculum focus on teaching skills and building knowledge rather than teaching to a test, meaning preparing students for a test rather than teaching them material. He said it is the responsibility of a childs family to teach ideals, but it is also the school systems responsibility to do more than create an academic person.

My wife has been teaching in the public school system for 13 years  I spend a lot of time listening to teachers, Davis said. Ive had the opportunity to speak with a number of people in the education system across the board and in workforce development about not only the need for better academic education but also life skills, critical thinking, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence and these things.

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On health care, Davis said his goal would be to create a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in the state. PACE is an offshoot program of Medicare and Medicaid the states surrounding Mississippi have already adopted.

Along with a PACE program, he said he wants the state to invest more in rural and mental health care.

When I put my mind to something, and I want to learn something, I do it, he said. I am a trained researcher; I am a trained critical thinker; I am a trained problem solver; I am a trained communicator. All those skills I acquired through my education and my 14 years of experience of work in the government and nonprofit sector.

Community and accessibility go hand-in-hand, Davis said, noting that he will prioritize being reachable to his constituents. He noted he already does this through a host of volunteering and civic clubs, including the Rotary Club, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Mississippi board, the Link Centre board and the executive board of Heale Counseling.

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Public service is not new to me, he said. Helping other people has always been important  Ive got about 14 years of experience working with tribal, federal, state and local governments in addition to nonprofits across the spectrum.

Thompson runs on record, continued progress

Thompson, a nurse, was born in Shannon and has lived in Northeast Mississippi his entire life. He said he has always been interested in politics and is proud to have been elected twice previously.

To Thompson, education and health care are his biggest concerns for the district, noting that improving both will improve other aspects of the district, both in quality of life and economically. He also said community safety was an issue, noting the potential changes to retirement systems and pay scale for officers.

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I have served almost six years, and I want to continue what Im doing, he said. You can look at my track record as far as making sure Im casting the votes for the people in my district  I have done a lot of things in the background (that) the community is not aware of, like infrastructure (and) grant money.

This discussion of expanded educational and health care services is underpinned by the recent move pushed by Gov. Tate Reeves to phase out the states income tax, reduce its grocery tax, and raise both its gas and special fuels taxes. On a federal level, the Trump Administration has made significant cuts to education through the Department of Government Efficiency and the potential dismantlement of the Department of Education.

On a state level, we are top-heavy on federal funds, so there is going to be a shortfall, he said. The thing weve got to look at (is) ... where are they going to get the money from. Education is something we are going to have to pay attention to.

Thompson said with the recent redistricting, it was important that he speak with residents who live within the new district lines so he can understand their needs.

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You have to get with the community, see exactly what I can bring from Jackson to make things do well, he said. Weve got grants out there they may not be aware of, and (Im) working with my other legislators to bring things back to north Mississippi.

In Chickasaw County, he said, one goal he has for his portion of the county will be to facilitate the expansion of broadband in rural towns. This can be done, he said, through coordinating with municipalities and power cooperatives that are already establishing fiber optics in unincorporated areas of counties.

Over the past term-and-a-half, Thompson said, he has built relationships with other legislators and elected officials both locally and in Jackson, adding he was proud of what he has accomplished in that time.

In the last legislative session, the state approved a 3% restaurant tax levy for Verona to use on tourism and recreation in the city. Thompson was listed as a co-author of a bill that allowed an assessment for convictions in Lee County. The state will appropriate money based on the number of convictions to use for renovations of the old Lee County Courthouse.

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The previous session included multiple actions Thompson spearheaded, including a bill to expand gas distribution in Shannon and a bill to create a fentanyl abuse education, prevention and cessation program.

As for Lee County, he said there needs to be a focus on the south end of the county to accommodate growth.

Lee County is the hub, but you have these small towns like Verona and Shannon. They are too close (to Tupelo) to not see some of the benefits of a thriving community, Thompson said. From the years Ive been there, I can see progress on the southern end compared to the northern end. Its been a slow process, but as we know, things dont happen overnight.

Thompson said hes proud of the work hes done, but he knows theres much left to do.

Were still working on a lot of things to bring the community forward. It is an ongoing process, he said. Im going to continue to work on issues that Ive always been working on  Its been a progressive move all the way.
ChatGPT may be driving people to psychosis as millions of people turn to artificial intelligence (AI) for friendship and advice, NHS doctors have warned.

Psychiatrists from the health service and university researchers say there is growing evidence that AI chatbots might contribute to the onset or worsening of psychotic mental health conditions.

In a new academic paper, a dozen doctors and other experts say AI chatbots have a tendency to mirror, validate or amplify delusional or grandiose content  which could lead mentally ill people to lose touch with reality.

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In particular, chatbots tendency to agree with users could worsen delusions in the mentally ill. OpenAI, whose ChatGPT has been downloaded 900m times, has admitted its chatbots have engaged in sycophancy and heaping unnecessary praise on users.

Dubbed ChatGPT psychosis, dozens of people on social media have claimed that loved ones have had a mental health breakdown after becoming addicted to ChatGPT.

Symptoms of psychosis can include difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is not and a belief in bizarre delusions.

Dr Tom Pollak, a lecturer at Kings College London and one of the authors of the paper, said reports of ChatGPT psychosis have included individuals embracing a messianic mission or claiming to have been taken to some next stage of human evolution.

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He said: I am not sure in those cases whether it is ChatGPT that has got them worse. But it was enough to make me comment that maybe they need to ease up on this. Rather than getting home and having mind-expanding conversations, perhaps it is time to close your laptop.

All we know at the moment is there are people experiencing the onset of delusional thinking, and that happens around the same time as they start increasing their use of AI.

Dr Pollak added in a post on Substack that psychosis rarely appeared out of nowhere but that heavy AI use could be a precipitating factor in people with underlying conditions.

Tip of the iceberg

There have been increasing reports linking chatbots with mental health episodes.

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In April, a man was shot and killed by police in the US after threatening officers with a butchers knife. His father later claimed he had become obsessed with ChatGPT and Claude AI, creating a digital girlfriend called Juliet whom he believed OpenAI had killed.

The concerns come amid a push by tech giants to use their chatbots as an alternative to therapy despite evidence they could worsen conditions. A paper from Stanford University found many therapy bots provided bad advice to patients showing signs of delusions and only answer appropriately about 45pc of the time.

Sren Dinesen stergaard, a professor at Aarhus University Hospital, in Denmark, wrote a paper in 2023 saying AI chatbots could generate delusions in those at risk of psychosis.

We may be facing a substantial public mental health problem where we have only seen the tip of the iceberg, he said.

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An OpenAI spokesman said: We know people are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for guidance on sensitive topics. With this responsibility in mind, weve carefully trained ChatGPT to respond empathetically and sensitively and to recommend professional help and resources when appropriate.

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Legendary actor Anupam Kher said that he was honoured to meet with Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who briefed the media during Operation Sindoor, and present her with his latest book. Taking to his Instagram handle, Kher shared a picture with Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and wrote in the caption, "OPERATION SINDOOR: I was extremely HAPPY and deeply HONOURED to meet Col. #sofiyaqureshi recently and present her my fourth #SelfHelp book #DifferentButNoLess! She epitomise grace, valour, dignity and bravery of #IndianArmy. Thank you Col. Qureshi for your warmth and appreciation! Jai Hind! #Proud" https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMmS_iVCWYO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link In June, Kher had announced that he is coming out with his fourth book titled 'Different But No Less.'Best known for his inspiring journey both on and off screen, Kher took to his Instagram to share the news. The actor posted a video, calling the book "very special." The book is based on his real-life experiences. Kher, who has earlier penned 'The Best Thing About You Is You,' 'Lessons Life Taught Me Unknowingly,' and 'Your Best Day Is Today,' described 'Different But No Less as another self-help and motivational book."My motivational books come from my own experiences of life...What my life experiences teach me is what I put in a book," read a part of his caption. The book shares the story behind his film Tanvi The Great, and how he faced several challenges while making it. "This book is not about storms. It's about sailing through them. It's about not letting anyone else get affected by your own predicament," Kher said in the video. Kher added, "It's about putting your faith in your own self to the test. It's about optimism and hope. It's about finding your way through the chaos. It's about following the greatest GPS God has gifted us--our heart." https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKYv2JKCkXc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Recently, his film 'Tanvi The Great' was released in theatres. Centred on the Indian Army and autism, 'Tanvi The Great' tells the story of a young girl (Shubhangi Dutt) who lives with her mother and grandfather (Anupam Kher). Inspired by her late father, she is determined to join the armed forces. The film also features Boman Irani, Jackie Shroff, Karan Tacker, Arvind Swami, Nasser, and British actor Iain Glen. Produced by Anupam Kher Studios along with NFDC, the film has received global accolades during its festival run in Cannes, New York, London, and Houston. It also earned standing ovations at special previews held at the National Defence Academy and the Southern Command in Pune. (ANI)
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD)  The National Weather Service in Charleston issued an extreme heat warning for much of the Lowcountry on Sunday and Monday. Heat index values  or that feels-like temperature  could reach 115 degrees during the afternoon.

What does an Extreme Heat Warning mean? Take action.

According to the National Weather Service, an extreme heat warning is issued when extremely dangerous heat conditions are possible or occurring.

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Local NWS offices collaborate with local partners to determine when an alert should be issued for that warned area, really depending on what that region is used to. For instance, residents of Florida are much more prepared for 90F+ weather than residents in Alaska, the NWS said in an example.

This graphic is provided courtesy National Weather Service/NOAA

Forecasters and health officials say that when this happens, you should avoid outdoor activities, especially during the heat of the day; however, if you must be outside, you should drink plenty of water and take numerous breaks in the shade.

Stay in an air-conditioned room as much as possible and check on family and neighbors; do not leave children or pets in unattended vehicles.

LIST: Cooling centers open in Charleston

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We are heading into the hottest part of the summer, with temps potentially reaching 100 degrees on Sunday and Monday, said Storm Team 2 Meteorologist Brant Beckman. If we reach 100 on Sunday, it will tie a daily record high.

The extreme heat warning is in place through 8 p.m. Monday. Download the Storm Team 2 app to monitor temperatures and to receive heat-related alerts on your phone.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
There's a new supermodel in town. She's striking, stylish... and not real.

In August's print edition of Vogue, a Guess advert features a flawless blonde model showing off a striped maxi dress and a floral playsuit from the brand's summer collection.

In small print in one corner, the ad reveals that she was created using AI.

While Vogue says the AI model was not an editorial decision, it is the first time an AI-generated person has featured in the magazine.

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The advert has been met with controversy and raises questions about what this means for real models who have fought for greater diversity, and for consumers - particularly young people - already struggling with unrealistic beauty standards.

Seraphinne Vallora is the company behind Guess's controversial advert.

Its founders, Valentina Gonzalez and Andreea Petrescu, tell the BBC they were approached by Guess's co-founder, Paul Marciano, on Instagram and were asked to create an AI model as part of the brand's summer campaign.

"We created 10 draft models for him and he selected one brunette woman and one blonde that we went ahead and developed further," Gonzalez says.

Andreea and Valentina, both 25, met while training to become architects and have been running Seraphinne Vallora for two years [Seraphinne Vallora]

She explains there's often a misconception that AI image generation is simple, saying it is actually a complex process.

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The company has five employees who create AI models, and it can take up to a month from idea inception to the completed product. The pair say they charge anywhere up to low six figures for a client like Guess.

'Disheartening'

But Felicity Hayward, a plus-size model who has been in the industry for more than a decade, says using AI models in fashion campaigns "feels lazy and cheap".

"Either Guess is doing this to create a talking point and get free publicity or they want to cut costs and don't think about the implications of that."

She describes Vogue's decision to include the advert as "very disheartening and quite scary", and worries it could undermine years of work towards more diversity in the industry.

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The fashion world was making real progress to be more inclusive in the 2010s - the decade saw Valentina Sampaio become the first openly trans model to walk for Victoria's Secret, Halima Aden was the first hijab-wearing model in global campaigns, and brands like Savage x Fenty featured plus-size models on the runway.

But in recent years, Hayward believes, the industry has slipped backwards because "these people are just not getting booked any more".

And the use of AI models is "another kick in the teeth, and one that will disproportionately affect plus-size models", she warns.

Felicity Hayward has been in the industry since 2011 [Getty Images]

Gonzalez and Petrescu are adamant they don't reinforce narrow beauty standards.

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"We don't create unattainable looks - actually the AI model for Guess looks quite realistic," Petrescu says. "Ultimately, all adverts are created to look perfect and usually have supermodels in, so what we are doing is no different."

The pair admit the AI images on their company's Instagram page are lacking in diversity and promote unrealistic beauty standards. They say they have tried to be more inclusive, but it's the users who don't engage much with those posts.

"We've posted AI images of women with different skin tones, but people do not respond to them - we don't get any traction or likes," Gonzalez tells the BBC.

"At the end of the day, we are a business and use images on Instagram that will create a conversation and bring us clients."

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The company is yet to experiment with creating plus-size women, claiming "the technology is not advanced enough for that".

Gonzalez says she has experimented with creating more diverse AI models on Instagram but users don't engage as much with those posts [Seraphinne Vallora]

An ad campaign by Dove in 2024 was designed to highlight the biases in AI. In the advert, an image generator is asked to create the most beautiful woman in the world and produces virtually indistinguishable women who are young, thin and white, with blonde hair and blue eyes. The images generated look similar to the Guess AI model.

Hayward worries that seeing these unattainable images could have an impact on people's mental health and negatively affect their body image.

Concern around unrealistic beauty standards and the damaging effects they can have is nothing new. But unlike traditional airbrushing, which at least began with a real person, these AI models are digitally created to look perfect, free from human flaws, inconsistencies or uniqueness.

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While some high-profile figures such as Ashley Graham, Jameela Jamil and Bella Thorne have spoken out against image editing and refuse to have their pictures Photoshopped, the use of AI sidesteps such conversations entirely.

Seraphinne Vallora created two AI models for Guess's summer collection [Seraphinne Vallora]

Vogue's decision to include an AI-generated advert has caused a stir on social media, with one user on X writing: "Wow! As if the beauty expectations weren't unrealistic enough, here comes AI to make them impossible. Even models can't compete."

Vanessa Longley, CEO of eating disorder charity Beat, tells the BBC the advert is "worrying".

"If people are exposed to images of unrealistic bodies, it can affect their thoughts about their own body, and poor body image increases the risk of developing an eating disorder," she says.

'Exceptionally problematic'

Adding to the issue is the lack of transparency - it is not a legal requirement to label AI-generated content in the UK.

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While Guess labelled its advert as AI-generated, the disclaimer is small and subtle. Readers may overlook it and, at a glance, the image appears entirely lifelike.

Sinead Bovell, a former model and now tech entrepreneur, wrote an article for Vogue five years ago about the risks of AI replacing modelling.

She tells the BBC that not labelling AI content clearly is "exceptionally problematic" because it could have a detrimental impact on people's mental health.

"Beauty standards are already being influenced by AI. There are young girls getting plastic surgery to look like a face in a filter  and now we see people who are entirely artificial," she says.

Sinead Bovell wrote an article about how AI would replace her as a model for Vogue five years ago [Sinead Bovell]

Aside from the impact AI models could have on a consumer, especially if unlabelled, what about the impact of this technology on those working in the fashion industry?

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Sara Ziff is a former model and founder of Model Alliance, an organisation that aims to advance workers' rights in the fashion industry.

She says Guess's AI campaign is "less about innovation and more about desperation and need to cut costs".

More broadly, the former model thinks AI in the fashion industry is not inherently exploitative, but can often come at the expense of the people who bring it to life because there are many more staff involved in a photoshoot than just the model and the photographer.

"AI can positively impact the industry, but there need to be meaningful protections for workers," she explains.

'Supplement not replace'

Seraphinne Vallora rejects the notion that it is putting people out of work, and says its pioneering technology "is supplementary and not meant to replace models".

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"We're offering companies another choice in how they market a product," Petrescu explains.

The pair add that they have created jobs with their company, and part of the process of creating AI models requires them to hire a real model and photographer to see how the product looks on a person in real life.

However, its website lists one of the benefits of working with them as being cost-efficient because it "eliminates the need for expensive set-ups, MUA artists, venue rentals, stage setting, photographers, travel expenses, hiring models".

Vogue has come under fire for including the advert in its print edition, with one person on X saying the fashion magazine had "lost credibility".

Bovell says the magazine is "seen as the supreme court of the fashion industry", so allowing the AI advert to run means they are "in some way ruling it as acceptable".

The BBC approached Vogue and Guess for comment. Vogue said it was an advert, not an editorial decision, but declined to respond further.

So, what does the future of the modelling industry look like?

Gonzalez and Petrescu believe that as their technology improves, they will be even more in demand by brands looking to do things differently.

Bovell thinks there will be more AI-generated models in the future, but "we aren't headed to a future where every model is created by AI".

She sees positives in the development of AI in the industry - predicting that anybody could "start to see ourselves as the fashion models" because we will be able to create a personal AI avatar to see how clothes look and fit.

However, she adds that we may get to the stage of "society opting out, and not being interested in AI models because it's so unattainable and we know it's not real".

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A pet adoption event featuring dogs in need of homes will take place Sunday, July 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jamaican Bay Inns Beachside Restaurant and Bar in Marina del Rey, according to event organizers.

The event, titled Brunch and Pups, is being hosted by Dogs Without Borders, a Los Angelesbased nonprofit dog rescue organization. The group operates as a foster-based rescue, pulling small breed dogs from local shelters and partnering with international rescues to help rehome dogs in need. Since its founding, Dogs Without Borders says it has placed over 8,000 dogs and continues to rely on donations, fosters, and volunteers.

This event is all about giving these wonderful dogs a second chance at a loving home, said Chloe Lawrence, CEO of Dogs Without Borders. Each adoption makes a huge difference in reducing shelter overcrowding and spreading joy to families!

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Some of the dogs expected to attend include:

Ozzy (Dogs Without Borders) Ozzy (Dogs Without Borders) Ozzy (Dogs Without Borders) Ozzy (Dogs Without Borders)

Ozzy is a spunky pup rescued from euthanasia with an old leg injury that required amputation. Now a happy, three-legged dog, Ozzy gets along well with people and other dogs. Hes expected to be a large dog once fully grown and has a playful, loving personality.

Schnouzie (Dogs Without Borders) Schnouzie (Dogs Without Borders) Schnouzie (Dogs Without Borders) Schnouzie (Dogs Without Borders)

A terrier mix with a calm and affectionate demeanor, Schnouzie is house-trained, intelligent, and very responsive to training. He does well with both people and dogs and enjoys a mix of playtime, training, and naps. Hes described as a dream companion with an adaptable nature.

Dream (Dogs Without Borders) Dream (Dogs Without Borders) Dream (Dogs Without Borders) Dream (Dogs Without Borders)

Dream is a low-maintenance dog who gets along with children and other dogs. She is potty trained, knows how to sit, and can be left alone when needed. Equally content lounging at home or strolling through the neighborhood, Dream is considered a well-balanced fit for most families.

Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders) Gidget (Dogs Without Borders)

Sweet and spirited, Gidget is affectionate with everyone she meets and is known for her adorable oinks while sleeping. Though she needs ongoing leash training, Gidget is crate and potty trained and enjoys off-leash play. Her playful, protective personality makes her a devoted and entertaining companion.

Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders) Petunia (Dogs Without Borders)

A gentle and loving Frenchie, Petunia is affectionate and enjoys calm walks and cozy naps. She is working on basic obedience and potty training. Due to a slightly misaligned spine and hip, she will need an adopter willing to manage her long-term physical needs. She does best with older children.

Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders) Tuxedo (Dogs Without Borders)

Tuxedo is a black-and-white Chihuahua mix weighing around 12 pounds. Hes affectionate, playful, and curious, though initially shy with strangers. Tuxedo loves dogs but prefers to be the alpha. Hes house trained, learning basic commands, and improving with leash use. He thrives on human companionship and dislikes being crated.

Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders) Rusty (Dogs Without Borders)

Rusty is the largest of his litter and is known for his goofy, affectionate nature. Hes mellow, food motivated, and loves belly rubs. Abandoned at a shelter with his littermates, Rusty is now gaining strength and growing steadily. Hes expected to be medium-sized when fully grown and is described as easygoing and trainable.

Tommy (Dogs Without Borders) Tommy (Dogs Without Borders) Tommy (Dogs Without Borders) Tommy (Dogs Without Borders) Tommy (Dogs Without Borders) Tommy (Dogs Without Borders) Tommy (Dogs Without Borders) Tommy (Dogs Without Borders)

Tommy is a young puppy with a calm temperament and an eagerness to learn. Hes making good progress with potty training and sleeps through the night. While playfulespecially with his brother, TravisTommy is gentle, shares well, and bonds easily with people. Hes considered well-rounded and suitable for many types of homes.

Travis (Dogs Without Borders) Travis (Dogs Without Borders) Travis (Dogs Without Borders) Travis (Dogs Without Borders) Travis (Dogs Without Borders) Travis (Dogs Without Borders)

Travis is energetic, playful, and affectionate. Like his brother Tommy, he was rescued without a mother and is thriving in foster care. He loves wrestling, fetch, and cuddling. Though initially shy, he forms deep bonds with people and is learning quickly, including potty training and toy sharing.

Jellybean (Dogs Without Borders) Jellybean (Dogs Without Borders) Jellybean (Dogs Without Borders)

A 6-month-old puppy with a sweet and curious nature, Jellybean enjoys cuddles and has a lot of energy. She is still working on her leash, obedience, and potty skills, but is fully vaccinated, spayed, and microchipped. Shes ready for a home that will continue her training and give her lots of love.

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Organizers note that the list of dogs attending is subject to change depending on adoption status. Those interested in adopting should come prepared with a completed adoption application and a video tour of their home in order to be eligible for an in-person interview.

Kim Weinstein, the organizations foster coordinator, said the event aims to bring people and pets together in a joyful, relaxed setting. Were so excited to bring our community together in Marina del Rey to celebrate these amazing pups and help them find their perfect match, she said.

Dogs Without Borders cautions that adoption is highly competitive across Southern California, and placement decisions are made with the dogs best interests in mind. Response times to applications or emails may take up to four business days due to current demand.

The Marina del Rey brunch event offers a relaxed waterfront setting to meet adoptable dogs while enjoying a meal outdoors.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11)  A dog that was set on fire this week in South Ozone Park is dead, according to the ASPCA.

Police are still searching for the man accused of dragging the motionless dog, then lighting it on fire and running away, according to the NYPD. The incident happened near 128 Street and 116 Avenue around 4:45 a.m. on Thursday.

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It was not immediately clear when the dog died.

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The ASPCA has the dogs remains and is conducting a necropsy to determine the cause of death, a spokesperson told PIX11 News.

Police have released surveillance camera photos of the man they are searching for.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

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The Department of Government Efficiency has deleted more than a thousand federal regulations using a new artificial intelligence tool.

With limited human oversight, the DOGE AI Deregulation Decision Tool identifies regulations not required by law and drafts submissions for their removal, according to The Washington Post.

A PowerPoint presentation obtained by the Post touts the fact that it has already been used to strip away 1,083 regulations at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

DOGE, the Trump administrations cost-cutting initiative, is using AI to delete federal regulations. / Anna Moneymaker/Getty

The presentation, dated July 1, predicts that there are 100,000 regulations worthy of removal and suggests that doing so will save the U.S. trillions in compliance costs and budget reductions.

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It claims that applying AI to the regulatory requirements will reduce the man-hours involved in the deregulation process by 93 percent. It is not clear how the authors arrived at this figure.

There are legal questions about the extent to which Trump has the authority to unilaterally repeal federal regulations. However, the DOGE presentation also assures that the AI tool is vetted and endorsed by DOGE lawyers.

A spokesperson at HUD, which the presentation says has been a case study for the AI tool, declined to share specific information with the Post.

The AI tool was created by engineers brought into the government under Elon Musk, who left DOGE in May. / Samuel Corum/Getty Images

We are not disclosing specifics about how many regulations are being examined or where we are at in the broader process, the statement said.

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However, the spokesperson emphasized that the intent of the developments is not to replace the judgement, discretion and expertise of staff but be additive to the process.

Employees at HUD told the Post that the AI deregulation push began three months ago. Staff were asked to assess the AIs recommendations and mark where they disagreed.

One unnamed staffer told the Post that the AI made several errors.

There were a couple places where the AI said the language was outside of the statute, the person said, and actually, nothe AI read the language wrong, and it is actually correct.

The White House and HUD did not immediately return the Daily Beasts requests for comment.

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The tool was developed by engineers brought into the government by DOGE founder Elon Musk, who departed his role at the cost-cutting initiative at the end of May and proceeded to suffer a brutal break-up with President Donald Trump.

Since Musks departure, DOGEs profile and influence have diminished, but its work to shred the federal bureaucracy has continued.
I dont know how they do it: Sand Sculptures Leave Spectators in Awe at Revere Beach Festival

Muscle tanks move over. More than a dozen massive, sand sculptures took center stage at Americas first public beach for the Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival in its 21st year.

This year, the three-day event carried the theme America 250, which honored the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. To mark the occasion, a gigantic sand sculpture commemorating Paul Reveres midnight ride served as the festivals main feature.

This sculpture ultimately stood amid 15 others that were carefully crafted by artists over the course of four days. These artists came from all over the world to compete.

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Abe Waterman of Canada took home first place and $5,000 for the Sculptors Choice and Peoples Choice awards for his piece named Delicate Balance.

Oh my gosh. Its incredible. I dont know how they do it, said Pam Kline, who was remarking about the sand sculptures Sunday morning.

Melineige Beauregard from Quebec, Canada, has an answer to that question. She has been a sculptor since 2001 and has earned countless awards along the way. She said the process is physically demanding, Its just a pile of sand, and then we have to shovel like 15 tons of sand into forms.

The sand used by the competitors is brought in from a quarry in New Hampshire. It contains more silt, which makes it easier for artists to carve and shape.

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Beauregard said the sand sculptures are sprayed with a coating of sorts to preserve and protect them from the elements such as rain. The free event also had more than 75 food vendors, food trucks and exhibitors. Fireworks and amusement rides were also part of the family-friendly fun.

Nonprofit Revere Beach Partnership organizes the annual event.

Learn more about the Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival, visit their website here: https://www.internationalsandsculptingfestival.com/

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  With the new school year starting soon, our partners at Keiki O Ka Aina are making sure keiki are ready.

Laulima Giving Program hosting Back 2 School drive

On July 26, the Laulima Giving Program and Shriners Childrens Hospital were out collecting school supplies at the Kapolei Walmart.

We help a lot of children in Title One schools, those who have a higher enrollment of low-income families, said Michael Wong, Laulima Giving Program Manager. Theres some schools that we help that 80% of their student population come from homeless shelters.

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The programs goal is to help struggling families in Hawaii.

So were so happy to go out to schools on this side of the island, and the teachers are happy because they dont have to pay for it. The principals are happy because now they can help their students be successful, Wong added.

Just last year, the Laulima Giving Program helped 3,000 public school students across Oahu.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

Although this event has ended, the program is still accepting donations. Visit their website to donate.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
The downtown area of Bellevue, Iowa, in Jackson County was evacuated Sunday, July 27, after a bomb threat, according to a news release from the Bellevue Police Department.

(OurQuadCities.com)

Shortly after 10:30 a.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to the 100 block of South 2nd Street for a possible threat. The downtown area was evacuated and shut down to investigate the threat.

In conclusion of this investigation, no suspicious devices were found, and the downtown area was reopened to the public. Currently, authorities have confirmed the area is safe, with no active threats, the release says. The investigation continues.

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Bellevue Police were assisted by the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, Jackson County Emergency Management, Bellevue Fire Department, Bellevue Ambulance Service and Iowa State Fire Marshals Office.

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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  A new family-friendly event is happening in Youngstown.

Sunday was the first day of the Carnival Brunch Series for Kids at Penguin City Brewing. Included are games, prizes, food and fun for all ages.

There will also be a hunt for a golden ticket, in which one lucky winner each week receives a free mimosa.

You can collect stamps each week with a brunch loyalty card for a chance to win a birthday brunch for 10 guests.

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It builds that sense of community. You can get your nieces and nephews down here and hang out with siblings for a long time, or something like that. Its just a common meeting ground, Bradley Miller said.

The Carnival Brunch Series for Kids will take place every Sunday through the end of August. Each one runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
On credible inputs of its intelligence wing, the Border Security Force troops apprehended four people and recovered pistols, heroin and pistol parts in multiple operations along the Punjab border. On Saturday morning, subsequent to observation of a drone movement near village Bachiwind in Amritsar, the alert BSF troops apprehended one smuggler hiding in a brick field and seized one pistol with two magazines and 10 live rounds from his possession, according to a release issued by the BSF. The apprehended smuggler belongs to the village of Gandhiwind, and the recovered articles seem to have been dropped by a drone. Acting on a credible input, BSF troops on Saturday nabbed three drug peddlers from a farming field adjacent to the village of Naubheram in the Ferozepur district. Further, on their disclosure, one packet of suspected heroin (Gross Weight- 500 Grams) was recovered from a nearby farming field. The packet was wrapped in yellow adhesive tape. On Saturday morning, the vigilant BSF troops on duty recovered a plastic packet containing pistol parts and one magazine in the area ahead of the border fence adjacent to the village of Dal. On Friday, following the revelation of smugglers apprehended by the BSF a day earlier, a joint search operation by the BSF and Punjab Police resulted in the recovery of a packet containing a pistol from a farming field adjacent to the village of Dal, Tarn Taran. The pistol was wrapped with yellow adhesive tape. Precise intelligence, swift actions, and flawlessly coordinated operations by the BSF troops with Punjab Police highlight the resolute commitment of security forces in decimating any nefarious plans of anti-national elements to spread terror and drug abuse among the law-abiding residents of Punjab, the BSF said. (ANI)
ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now)  A man suspected of being under the influence was taken into custody after driving into two parked cars on Saturday evening, according to authorities in Arlington.

The Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) said officers were dispatched minutes before 7:30 p.m. to the intersection of Washington Boulevard and 7th Street N. There, they learned a man was driving south on the boulevard when he struck two parked cars, one of which was occupied.

Multiple people rescued after car swept into Arlington creek

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The driver who was struck sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

The man driving the striking vehicle stayed at the scene and also reported having minor injuries, ACPD noted.

Police said alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash and the driver was taken into custody.

Washington Boulevards southbound lanes were shut down as ACPD investigated. As of 9 p.m., all lanes have been reopened.

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Social networks reported that drones struck a substation near the railway in the village of Oktyabrskyi in Volgograd Oblast of the Russian Federation on the night of 26-27 July.

Source: Exilenova+, Astra, Supernova+ and other Telegram channels; Russian media

Details: The Russian news outlet Astra quotes local residents who allegedly stated that in Oktyabrskyi, Volgograd Oblast, drones targeted an electric substation near the railway.

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Governor of Volgograd Oblast Andrei Bocharov reported that "as a result of drone debris falling, the power supply to the contact network of the railway in the Oktyabrsky district was disrupted."

Additionally, Rosaviatsia (Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency) announced restrictions on aircraft landings and departures at Volgograd airport.

Quote from Exilenova+: "Systematic efforts continue to disable critical railway connections of the enemy, used for military logistics."

Quote from Astra: "Geolocated footage from the fire scene after the attack has already been shown on X (Twitter) and it was concluded that it is likely the power substation supplying electricity to the railways is ablaze."

Updated: Later, Russian media reported that passenger trains are delayed in Volgograd Oblast "due to the drone attack".

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ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- On Thursday, July 24th, the Ector County Courthouse was forced to close for the day because of a water and sewer leak. Today operations are back up and running, but it has been an ongoing problem for years.

We asked Judge Dustin Fawcett on how they will continue to operate in a disrepair courthouse while they are waiting for the new courthouse to be built, which will take a few years.

Our goal is to not let this facility fall apart, not have health concerns, not have shutdowns, Judge Fawcett said. But also, we know that we dont want to put too much money into this facility, knowing that were going to be knocking it down in four years.

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yesterday was not the only time the building has had problems. They have had water leaks and sewage leans, and it is an ongoing issue for them. To the point where it is not a surprise.

Yesterday it was entirely a sewage leak, and it is as gross as it sounds. There was at least a 40-pound backup that was in some of the pipes, which was causing a lot of these concerns, Judge Fawcett said. We had some cracked pipes in a number of different locations. It affected all three floors. We had sewage dripping in departments late yesterday, and it was for health reasons, of course, for the health of the employees, we had to close.

The incidents that are happening is why Judge Fawcett and his team pushed for a new Courthouse.

This is a large reason why we went after a new courthouse, Judge Fawcett said. We weighed the cost benefits of the amount of costs of having to upkeep this facility, the elevator repairs, the water repairs, the electric, the HVAC, and all of the plumbing. So we made that calculated decision.

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Judge Fawcett said that they do have a building maintenance team that is working frequently trying to maintain the Courthouse.

The Commissioners say they are ready and excited for the new Courthouse to be built. But while they wait, they are in fear of potentially losing important documents from leaks that will most likely happen again. This is another reason why why wanted the new Courthouse.

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Editors note: This editorial originally ran in fellow CNHI paper the Oneonta Daily Star.

We get stark reminders, from time to time, about how fortunate we are to have volunteer firefighters in the many small communities in our region. We got a pair of those reminders July 18.

In Otsego County, volunteers were called out early Friday morning to a large fire that destroyed four buildings in the heart of Milford. The blaze gutted the buildings at the corners of South Main and West Main streets in the village. While the loss of buildings in the business district is substantial, it could have been much worse. Firefighters  volunteers who take it on themselves to respond to such disasters  responded. They kept the flames from spreading farther and rescued a person who lived above one of the businesses that was lost.

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Think about that. These folks arent getting paid, but theyve spent their own time training to take on dangerous work. When the time came to put that training to use, they did it. They left their homes and their beds in the middle of the night to help neighbors. Firefighters from neighboring communities answered the call to help, as well. And not a single one of them was obligated to do so.

Several departments in Otsego County and the Pindars Corners department from Delaware County battled the blaze. Milford resident Jakub Dukacezewicz, who lives at 59 South Main St. said he was awoken a little after 2 a.m. by the fire alarm going off at the firehouse across the street. He said he didnt think much about it until he heard crackling and looked outside and saw flames shooting into the air from the fire at the Milford Corner Store at 69 South Main St. and Sybils Yarn Shop at 65 South Main St.

Dukacezewicz said he was concerned the fire might spread to his house, so he made sure his daughter got up and he collected important documents to save in case it did spread. He showed videos he took of the firefighters battling the blaze and said at one point the ladder trucks lost water pressure. Water was brought in by tankers and put in pools on the street for firefighters to use. They did a great job, he said of the firefighters.

They did. and they do it all the time. Not every call is as spectacular and devastating as the blaze in Milford, but the volunteers are called on most days  for car crashes, trees down on roadways and all sorts of other emergencies.

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Our other Friday reminder of the invaluable sacrifice of volunteer firefighters came from southwestern Delaware County, where Assistant Chief Jason McGlone of the East Branch Fire Department died in the line of duty while responding to a car crash on state Route 30.

State police said McGlone, 51, was responding at about 9:30 p.m. Thursday in a rescue pumper truck to a report of a vehicle that had struck a utility pole on Route 30 in the town of Hancock. A preliminary investigation determined that a low-hanging electrical wire was in contact with the top of the fire truck. When McGlone exited the vehicle and made contact with the metal door and the ground, he was electrocuted.

A volunteer, going out into the night to help others, did not come home to his family as a result. Think about that.

Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statement on McGlones death:

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Chief McGlones 25 years of service within East Branch, including 15 years as an assistant chief, embodied the courage, commitment and selflessness that define New Yorks volunteer firefighters. He represented the very best of what New Yorkers give to their communities in the name of public safety.

He did, and his colleagues from departments everywhere do, all the time.

Such tragedies are rare, fortunately, but they happen. Lets remember what these people mean to our communities and thank them whenever we get a chance.
Does a university degree lower your chances of being unemployed in Europe?

Yes. Across all EU countries, the unemployment rate is lower for university graduates than for the general population.

However, it is still not possible to say yes for all countries because there is one exception among 33 European countries as of 2024: Turkey. University graduates face a higher unemployment rate than the overall population in Turkey, according to Eurostat.

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Both the unemployment gap and the unemployment ratio between graduates and the total population vary widely across Europe. So, in which countries does higher education make the biggest difference?

In 2024, among 33 countries, including EU member states, EU candidates, and EFTA countries, the unemployment rate for people aged 1574 ranged from 2.6% in Czechia to 11.4% in Spain. These figures reflect the overall population, without considering education levels. The EU average was 5.9%.

At the top, Greece (10.1%), Turkey (8.8%), Serbia (8.6%), and both Finland and Sweden (8.4%) followed Spain, reporting unemployment rates above 8%.

At the bottom of the list, together with Czechia, Poland (2.9%), Malta (3.1%), Germany (3.4%), Iceland (3.6%), as well as the Netherlands and Slovenia (both 3.7%), recorded unemployment rates below 4%.

University graduates and unemployment: The countries with the highest rates

Among university graduates, defined as those with tertiary education, according to the ISCED classification, unemployment rates in 2024 ranged from 1.4% in Czechia and Poland to 9.2% in Turkey. The EU average stood at 3.8%.

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After Turkey, the highest unemployment rates among university graduates were recorded in Greece (7.3%), Spain (6.9%), Serbia (6.5%), and France (5%).

Related

Unemployment gap: Overall population vs university graduates

When comparing unemployment rates between the general population and university graduates, Turkey was the only country in 2024 where the rate was higher for university graduates than for the overall population. The difference was 0.4 percentage points (pp).

It is indeed unusual for the unemployment rate among tertiary education graduates to be greater than others in the workforce, OECDs Turkey desk told Euronews.

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The largest gap was recorded in Spain by 4.5 pp. The unemployment rate was 11.4% for the overall population compared to 6.9% for university graduates in Spain. The EU average was 2.1 pp (5.9% vs 3.8%).

Since unemployment rates vary significantly across countries, absolute differences may not fully reflect the extent of the gap. To better compare countries, the ratio between the unemployment rate of the general population and that of university graduates can be useful.

A ratio below 1 indicates that the unemployment rate is higher among the tertiary-educated than the general population. A ratio of 1 means there is no difference between the two groups. The higher the ratio goes above 1, the more significantly unemployment is higher among the general population than among university graduates.

EU: General unemployment 55% higher than among graduates

Turkey is the only country with a ratio below 1, at 0.96, while the EU average stands at 1.55. This means that, in the EU, the unemployment rate among the general population is, on average, 1.55 times that of university graduatesor 55% higher.

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The ratio is also 1.23 in Cyprus, 1.26 in Switzerland, and 1.31 in Germany, and 1.32 in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Serbia. This suggests that unemployment rates among the general population and university graduates are relatively close in these countries.

Romania (2.84), Slovakia (2.65), Bulgaria (2.63) and Hungary (2.50) have the highest ratios, meaning university graduates have significantly lower unemployment rates than the overall population.

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No other country has ever shared Turkeys case

Is 2024 an exception? What about other years? Euronews Business also looked at the period from 2004 to 2024.

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Over these 21 years, Turkey was the only country where university graduates faced a higher unemployment rate than the general population. This fact occurred in 12 different years, starting in 2011. No other country recorded this even once during the entire period according to the data available from Eurostat.

The line chart also shows a downward trend in the EU, indicating that the unemployment gap between the tertiary-educated and the overall population is narrowing.

In 2022, Turkey had the third-lowest share of tertiary graduates in Europe, following Romania (17.4%) and Italy (18.5%). In Turkey, 20.6% of the population aged 2574 held a university degree according to Eurostat.

University boom in Turkey

However, this picture may change for Turkey. In 2019, Turkey had the highest rate of university students relative to its population, with 95 students per 1,000 peoplemore than double the EU average of 38, according to Eurostat.

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According to Turkeys Higher Education Board, there were 53 public universities in 2003. This number rose dramatically to 129 by 2018. As of 2024, Turkey has 129 public universities and 75 private, foundation-based universities, bringing the total to 204.

This rapid expansion was, in part, due to a government policy to establish a university in every province, OECD told Euronews.

According to OECDs Turkey desk, as in many countries, the quantity of tertiary-level graduates has grown faster than the number of jobs that require a degree. As a result this has eroded the previous benefits of having a university degree  ease of getting a job and higher wages.

In Turkiyes case the erosion has been extreme, notably as regards rates of unemployment, OECD officials told.

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OECD: Time to prioritise the quality of tertiary education

OECD explained that rapid expansion of the university sector has made it difficult to uphold the quality of tertiary courses, aggravating the decline in labour-market returns to students.

As our surveys point out, the governments tertiary education policy needs to now prioritise the quality of tertiary education and the relevance of courses for the labour market."

OECD also noted that there seems to be a large gap between the skills demanded by the labour market and the skills acquired by students in universities in Turkey. Their survey points to Turkeys relative low share of graduates in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects.
Taiwans opposition party scored a major victory Sunday after 24 of its China-friendly lawmakers survived an extraordinary effort to remove them from office, deepening political gridlock.

The recall campaign, unprecedented in its scale, targeted legislators accused of undermining Taiwans national security in favor of Beijing, which has ramped up its military and political pressure on the island.

The votes failure marks a setback for President Lai Ching-te, who has adopted a tougher stance toward China and hoped to use the recalls to gain a parliamentary majority.

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Some Taiwanese academics argued the outcome suggests that one-size-fits-all, anti-China messaging is losing favor with voters who are more concerned about quality-of-life issues like rising costs, the Taipei Times reported.
This article was originally published in Stateline.

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.

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.

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At the same time, legislators introduced 76 bills in 32 states to protect library services or affirm the right to read, the report found.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.
El Paso, Texas (KTSM)  El Pasoans and West Texas residents will have a chance to share their feedback on a mid-decade redistricting effort that is happening during the Legislatures special session that is going on right now.

The Texas Senate Redistricting Committee will host a virtual regional hearing at 8 a.m. MDT/9 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 29. The meeting will be held via Zoom.

State Sen. Cesar J. Blanco, D-El Paso, is urging West Texas residents to participate and be heard.

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State legislators, at the behest of Gov. Greg Abbott, are considering redrawing congressional districts in Texas. Blanco said it is important for the public to participate.

The Texas Legislature is taking up a rare mid-decade redistricting session, and this is your opportunity to be involved in the process of apportionment to ensure your voice and community are represented fairly in Congress. I encourage everyone to make your voices heard and register to testify for this virtual hearing, Blanco said in a news release.

Blanco will be present at the committee hearing to listen to testimony directly from constituents.

Those interested in testifying must register by 8 p.m. Monday, July 28 MT. You can click here to register.

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State. Rep. Vince Perez, D-El Paso, said he will host two public community meetings on Saturday, Aug. 2 to provide updates and get public input on congressional redistricting efforts.

These meetings will be at 10 a.m. Aug 2 at the Valle Bajo Community Center and Library, 7380 Alameda Ave. and at 12:30 p.m. that same day at the Pat ORourke Recreation Center, 901 N. Virginia St.

While no official maps or redistricting plans have been drawn or shared with the public at this time, these sessions will provide important context on how potential map changes could affect representation in Congress, particularly for Latino and minority communities across Texas, Perezs office said in a news release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  The Oconee County Sheriffs Office said a woman previously reported missing has been found safe.

80-year-old Sandra Gassaway was reported missing Saturday and after leaving Oconee Memorial Hospital.

The sheriffs office said Gassaway was located in Georgia is is safe.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inspected road widening work from Prem Bari Pul to Singalpur village in the North-West district of Delhi on Saturday. She said that her work is working 24/7 for the development of the capital city. "Development work is going on continuously in Delhi. The government is working 24/7... Today, road widening work is underway," the Chief Minister said after inspecting the road widening work. "There is a DDA park here, a PWD road, and this is the land of Haryana Irrigation. All the agencies are ready to provide convenience to the public. The trees that are coming in the way will be transplanted, so there is no compromise with the environment and greenery of Delhi," she said. On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the Chief Minister saluted the soldiers and thanked them on behalf of Delhi. "When our soldiers stand at the border and protect the country, we can live peacefully in our homes and work in our offices. I salute the soldiers and thank them on behalf of Delhi," she said. "Homage... to those brave souls who chose the nation and dedicated their all at the feet of Mother India for her protection," the chief minister also posted on X. As the nation marks the 26th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, the Indian Army commemorated it with solemnity, pride, and nationwide participation, honouring the valour and supreme sacrifice of soldiers during the 1999 Kargil War. According to a release of Ministry of Defence, the central event was held at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras over two days and was attended by Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Labour & Employment and Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports; Sanjay Seth, Minister of State for Defence; Kavinder Gupta, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh; and General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). The occasion witnessed tributes by senior military and civil dignitaries, the lighting of 545 lamps in memory of fallen heroes, and the felicitation of Veer Naris and Next of Kin. In a poignant gesture of inclusion, the Army reached out to families of all 545 martyrs across India and Nepal. The COAS General Upendra Dwivedi inaugurated legacy projects, including the Indus Viewpoint, e-Shradhanjali portal, and a QR-based Audio Gateway. A Capability Display showcased cutting-edge indigenous technologies in mobility, surveillance, and firepower, underscoring the Army's drive towards modernisation and self-reliance. Cultural performances, religious prayers, and interactive outreach programmes reflected the nation's undying gratitude and deep emotional connection with its soldiers. (ANI)
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Across both state lines, law enforcement agencies and public officials are paying tribute to fallen Wyandotte County Sheriffs Deputy Elijah Ming, who was shot and killed in Kansas City, Kansas, while responding to a call on Saturday.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) said that at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Ming had been called to the area of South 30th Street and Shawnee Drive for a civil standby.

Wyandotte County deputy killed in KCK shooting; suspect identified

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According to investigators, a woman requested that a law enforcement officer accompany her as she moved out of her home because of safety concerns.

Ming and a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer responded to the scene. When they approached the front door, KBI said a man, later identified as 38-year-old Shawn Harris, began firing at the officers from inside the house.

The KCKPD officer was uninjured; however, Ming was struck by the gunfire. He was later taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Public Officials Offer Support and Unity

Since news broke of Mings death, agencies in both Missouri and Kansas, as well as officials, have expressed their deepest condolences.

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As of Sunday morning, well-wishes online extended as far west as Finney County, Kansas, about 375 miles from the Kansas City metro, and as far east as Johnson County, Missouri.

These well wishes included notable state and city-wide politicians, like Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran and Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas, who each shared a post online, expressing their deepest condolences and prayers for the fallen deputy and his family.

Its a sad day for the Wyandotte County Sheriff Department as they mourn the loss of one of their finest  Deputy Elijah Ming  who was killed in the line of duty, Sen. Moran shared on Facebook Sunday morning. My prayers are with his family and loved ones as they mourn this loss and for the safety of all our brave law enforcement men and women.

Kansas Task Force 1 returns home from Kerr County, Texas

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In addition, Mayor Lucas shared a statement and a tribute to both his personal and professional profiles online.

Mayor Lucas said, Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming is a good man from a good family who should have been able to get home to see them tonight. His loss is senseless in every way.

On his personal account, he added, Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming is a good man from a good family who should have been able to get home to see them tonight. His loss is senseless in every way. My condolences to all who loved him and served with him.

Arguably, one of the more heartbreaking statements came from the Wyandotte County Sheriffs Office. The Facebook post read:

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Thank you to all of the agencies who have sent condolences and who helped us today. We are grateful to have such a strong community around us. We kindly ask for prayers for Deputy Mings family and the rest of the agency at this time.

Our agency will forever be grieving this loss. While it is especially raw, we will be grieving in silence, and our social media will reflect that for the time being.

A Loved Member of the Agency

In addition to the sheriffs office statement, Sheriff Daniel Soptic, Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner, and KCKPD Chief Karl Oakman held a news conference following Mings death.

While at the podium, they described the circumstances leading up to the shooting and the suspect, as well as Mings history with the sheriffs office.

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According to Soptic, Ming had served Wyandotte County for nine years and was a loved member of the agency.

He added, Deputy Ming gave his life serving Wyandotte County and all of its residents. I would ask that everyone be respectful of Deputy Mings family during this time and give them an opportunity to grieve privately.

Following Soptics statement, Mayor Garner added a few words of encouragement and sympathy to the community.

To say that today has been the hardest day for me as the mayor of Kansas City, Kansas Unified Government is an understatement, he said. This is truly a painful moment for Wyandotte County, and an extremely painful moment for our community.

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Rescue crews return to Indian Creek after reports of possible drowning: KCFD

I want to encourage our law enforcement professionals to please know that no matter what you may hear, this community loves you. We sincerely appreciate you. We respect you, and we value your service to our great community. May God comfort the Ming family, our sheriffs department, and any and everyone who calls Kansas City, Kansas, but more importantly, Wyandotte County, home, Mayor Garner concluded.

Lastly, Chief Oakman shared his condolences and prayers, adding that KCKPD will continue to offer its support to the sheriffs office, as well as the victims family.

Were here with you, he said. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, as well as the Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department, will be there by [Sheriff Soptics] side to offer whatever support that we can offer.

Suspect Arrested following Standoff

Following the shooting, the suspect, Harris, barricaded himself inside the home for several hours. During the standoff, gunfire was exchanged between him and responding law enforcement agents, resulting in Harris being shot.

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He eventually surrendered and was arrested before being taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

At this time, there is no word on whether Harris has been charged or transferred to the Wyandotte County Detention Center.

Memorial and Funeral Arrangements

Additionally, neither the family nor law enforcement has released information about a future memorial, funeral or procession for Deputy Ming. However, FOX4 will share the latest details as they are released.

Stay tuned to FOX4 News for the latest updates and 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Despite the Wisconsin DNR conducting a more than four-year long environmental review and issuing permits confirming the Enbridge Line 5 relocation project will comply with environmental laws and regulations, and the U.S. EPA concluding claims the relocation will impact the Bad River Reservations water quality are without supporting data or evidence, extreme activists continue to push to shut down this vital energy artery.

The project is so important to our states economy and families that a diverse group of organizations representing labor unions, farmers and small businesses have come out in support of the Line 5 relocation. Lets be honest, these arent groups that often agree on issues, but in this case, everyone with common sense understands we cant pull the energy rug out from under our states businesses, farmers and families.

Look, the radical environmentalists arent going to support anything that doesnt lead to higher prices at the pump. Their opposition isnt about Line 5, its about forcing their ideology on all of us. Its time to ignore the fringe and move forward with this commonsense project.

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Matt Sama, Waukesha

Opinion: Commanders and Guardians don't need to revert to racist names to be great again

Letters: We're supposed to report anyone failing to emphasize beauty of Apostle Islands?

Tips for getting your letter to the editor published

Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state:

Please include your name, street address and daytime phone.

Generally, we limit letters to 200 words.

Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter.

Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing.

Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person.

We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions.

We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters.

Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months.

All letters are subject to editing.

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Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Enough with baseless allegations to stop Line 5 project I Letters
LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced on Sunday that two inmates were apprehended in Versailles on Sunday after escaping from the Blackburn Correctional Complex.

Just before 9 p.m. Saturday, July 26, state police said 32-year-old Michael Reynolds of Russellville and 30-year-old Jonathon Mullins of Somerset couldnt be found by prison staff.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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KSP said in a news release around 4:10 p.m. on Sunday that Mullins and Reynolds had both been apprehended in Versailles and lodged in the Woodford County Detention Center. They were each charged with second-degree escape and are being held on a $20,000 bond.

Authorities thanked the public for helping with the search.

Deputies with the Jackson County Sheriffs Office wrote on social media around 4 p.m. Sunday that Versailles police apprehended Reynolds. Jail records indicate that Mullins was arrested by KSP.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Ever since Raphael Lemkin heard Winston Churchills August 1941 broadcast on the BBC, in which the prime minister declared, The whole of Europe has been wrecked and trampled down by the mechanical weapons and barbaric fury of the Nazis ... As his armies advance, whole districts are exterminated. We are in the presence of a crime without a name, the Polish lawyer became transfixed by one singular mission: to find a word that replaced barbarity and vandalism to describe the actions of Adolf Hitlers Nazi regime.

Since 1933, writes Samantha Power in her pioneering book A Problem From Hell, Lemkin had sought a term that would describe the assault on all aspects of nationhood  physical, biological, political, social, cultural, economic and religious.

Mass murder failed to connote the full scale of Hitlers Final Solution: mass deportation, starvation, suppression of the intelligentsia, the control of mass media and the singular motive behind the perpetration of the crime.

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Coining the word genocide from the Greek word genos (race, tribe) and the Latin root of cide (killing), Lemkin ushered in a new era, in which the crimes of the past, present and future finally had a name.

In 1944, writing in response to what was occurring in Europe, the Jewish-born Lemkin wrote in his book, Axis Rule in Occupied Europe, that genocide meant a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves.

The act of genocide, according to Lemkin, deprives a group of people personal security, liberty, health and dignity. He continued:

Genocide has two phases: one, destruction of the national pattern of the oppressed group; the other, the imposition of the national pattern of the oppressor. This imposition in turn, may be made upon the oppressed population which is allowed to remain, or upon the territory alone, after removal of the population and colonization of the area by the oppressors own nationals.

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In sum, Lemkin meant that a group does not have to be physically exterminated to experience genocide. To be stripped of all cultural traces of their identity, in his view, amounted to the act.

For Lemkin, redefining Churchills words of barbarity and vandalism was personal. While he himself was able to escape the horrors of the Holocaust, managing to leave Warsaw, Poland, in September of 1939, he lost 49 family members to the Final Solution, with only his brother, Elias, surviving from Lemkins immediate family.

To coin the name only meant so much to the lawyer. The act of criminalizing it was the natural next step.

His indefatigable efforts for making it so has since fundamentally altered international law, geopolitics and the study of history. It has, writes the National World War II Museum, transformed the way we understand mass violence in the modern world.

Lemkins quest

Since he was a child, Lemkin had been keenly fascinated by the subject of atrocity.

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Born on June 24, 1900, on a small farm near the Polish town of Wolkowysk, the Jewish-born Lemkin was very aware of antisemitic pogroms occurring in his home nation, in which 70 Jews were killed and 90 were seriously injured in the massacre in the Bialystok region in 1906.

By the age of 12, Lemkin had read Henryk Sienkiewiczs Quo Vadis? in which the author recounted the Roman emperor Nero throwing Christians to the lions. By his own account, Lemkin would often question his mother surrounding events such as the sack of Carthage, the Mongol invasions and the persecution of Huguenots.

I was an impressionable youngster, leaning to sentimentality, Lemkin later wrote of himself. I was appalled by the frequency of the evil  and, above all, by the impunity coldly relied upon by the guilty.

While studying linguistics at the University of Lvov in 1921, Lemkin learned about the trial of Soghomon Tehlirian, the Armenian survivor who assassinated Mehmed Talaat. Talaat, the former Turkish interior minister, had presided over the killing squads that bayoneted, bludgeoned and starved over one million Armenians.

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Talaat had gone unpunished  a fact that Lemkin could not understand. According to Lemkin, one of his professors told him that there was no law under which Talaat could be arrested.

Is it a crime for Tehlirian to kill a man, but killing more than a million people for a dictator is not considered to be one? Lemkin later wrote. This is a most contradictory thing.

Appalled, Lemkin soon thereafter switched his degree from philology to law, committing himself to drafting an international law that would commit Poland, as well as other nations, to stopping the targeted destruction of ethnic, national and religious groups.

In an interview with CBS in 1949, Lemkin said: I became interested in genocide because it has happened so many times; it happened to the Armenians, who were treated very harshly at the Versailles Peace Conference because the criminals guilty of committing their genocide were not punished.

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They [the Armenians] created a terrorist organization that took justice into its own hands. The assassination of Talaat Pasha in Berlin is very instructive. A man [Soghomon Tehlirian], whose mother was killed during the genocide, killed Talaat Pasha. ... As a lawyer, I thought that a crime should not be punished by its victims, but by a court under international law.

Lemkin submitted a proposal to the 5th International Conference on Criminal Law in Madrid in 1933 to create laws defining crimes of barbarism and vandalism. However, these early attempts at defining mass atrocity went unheeded by the legal community.

A word becomes law

Throughout the interwar, war and post World War II period, Lemkin received pushback from those in government, the legal community and Holocaust survivors themselves.

Survivors of the Nazi regime often conveyed that attempts to put the Holocaust into words failed to encapsulate its horrors.

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Was it like a red-hot iron in my shoulder writes Holocaust survivor Jean Amery. And was this like a blunt wooden stake driven into the base of my head?  a simile would not only stand for something else, and in the end we would be led around by the nose in a hopeless carousel of comparisons.

Pain was what it was, Amery continued. Theres nothing further to say about it. Qualities of feeling are incomparable as they are indescribable. They mark the limits of languages ability to communicate.

Yet Lemkin pushed forward, and his tireless efforts paid off.

Participating in the Nuremberg Trials, Lemkin was instrumental in making sure the term genocide was included within as many indictments as possible. While no defendant was tried for genocide  its legal term was still in its infancy  the legal precedent for holding perpetrators of mass violence accountable soon became synonymous with the term of genocide.

Lemkin, left, and Ricardo Alfaro of Panama (chairman of the Assembly's Legal Committee) in conversation before the plenary meeting of the General Assembly at which the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide was approved. (United Nations Archives and Records Management Section)

In 1948, the lawyers nearly two-decade quest to codify the term genocide with international law came to fruition with the passage of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

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Article 2 of the Convention states:

According to the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

a) Killing members of the group;

b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;

c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Presently, 153 nations have ratified the convention and agreed as a matter of law by the principle that genocide is a crime prohibited under international law.

A problem from hell

Despite this legal precedent, the world has not escaped genocidal violence since the end of the Second World War, with the United Nations and its signatories repeatedly failing to intervene to stop genocides that are in progress.

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Loopholes and shortcomings have increasingly plagued the modern world in dealing with nations and groups perpetrating acts of genocide.

Accusations of genocide have been refuted on the technicalities that targeted groups not named by the Convention, such as groups defined by political leanings, gender, or sexual orientation writes the National World War II Museum.

Proving legal intent has been equally difficult.

As the UN website states, The intent is the most difficult element to determine. To constitute genocide, there must be a proven intent on the part of perpetrators to physically destroy a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.

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Cultural destruction does not suffice, nor does an intention to simply disperse a group, the website reads. It is this special intent, or dolus specialis, that makes the crime of genocide so unique. In addition, case law has associated intent with the existence of a State or organizational plan or policy, even if the definition of genocide in international law does not include that element.

The conventions signatories are additionally hamstrung by its inability to persecute genocide.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), established in 1998, operates independently of the UN. At this time, the ICC is the only court that has the authority to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, collectively known as atrocity crimes.

However, the court has no police force to make arrests and cannot retroactively try crimes occurring before its establishment on July 1, 2002, and countries that are not members of the ICC are not subject to its jurisdiction unless they accept it ad hoc or are referred to the ICC by the UN Security Council, according to the museum.

Since its creation over two decades ago, the court has issued only 60 arrest warrants, tried 32 cases and issued 11 convictions.

Atrocities have and continue to be perpetrated in clear view of the world. The term never again writes David Rieff, might be best defined as Never again would Germans kill Jews in Europe in the 1940s.

If the term and mechanisms behind never again was actually applied, there would be no Cambodia, in which the communist regime known as the Khmer Rouge set in motion a four-year campaign of genocide that would wipe out 2 million people  a quarter of the countrys population.

There would be no Rwanda, in which the Hutus could systematically slaughter 8,000 Tutsi a day for 100 days without any interference.

There would be no Bosnia, in which 100,000 people were killed over the course of three years from 1992 to 1995, including the genocide of 8,000 Bosnian Muslims from Srebrenica.

There would be no Darfur, in which the government of Sudan carried out mass atrocities against the Fur, Zaghawa and Masalit communities, resulting in the deaths of over 300,000 civilians and the displacement of roughly 2.7 million people.

And finally, while the charge of genocide has not been legally applied to Palestine, a December 2024 report from Amnesty International decried it as such. Since Oct. 7, 2023, more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed.
US President Donald Trump sets a new deadline of "10 or 12 days" for Putin to agree to a Ukraine deal, and says he will make an official announcement "tonight or tomorrow"
The United Nations Environment Programme has issued a report on the dangers of the warming cryosphere, or the Earth's frozen regions, which make up over half of the world's land surface.

What's happening?

Warming temperatures caused by air pollution have put cryospheric regions at risk. As ice melts, dormant fungi, bacteria, and viruses have the potential to reactivate.

This poses a major public health risk to people who live in these areas and billions more whose water sources originate from frozen regions.

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Some of these organisms may survive while others may not. The latter case can lead to a loss of microbial diversity, which is essential to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. It may also enhance existing pathogens and increase antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans.

Why is the warming cryosphere important?

Melting ice poses various threats to residents living in cryospheric regions. In addition to causing extreme weather events such as flooding, thawing of ancient bacteria and fungi can change the local environment. It can even lead to the release of more carbon into the atmosphere, exacerbating the warming planet.

For example, as a study published in the journal Current Opinion in Genetics & Development explained, the thawing of carbon-rich permafrost soils can lead to a loss of soil carbon due to microbial activity. The soil carbon turns into carbon dioxide and methane, which contribute to the accumulation of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.

Additionally, microbial diversity is important to humans because it impacts our AMR, making it harder for us to treat pathogens. As AMR becomes a more urgent issue, advancements in medical treatment and technology become less effective. The World Health Organization has said AMR makes infections harder to treat and standard procedures, such as chemotherapy, riskier.

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The cryosphere is home to 670 million people across the Alps, the Andes, Greenland, Hindu Kush Himalaya, Siberia, and the Tibetan Plateau, according to Meteored, which noted that there are "billions more who live in areas with water originating from those frozen areas."

What's being done about the warming cryosphere?

The United Nations has issued guidance on how to slow warming. The organization emphasized the reduction of black carbon pollution.

Black carbon particles absorb more heat, which accelerates glacial melting. They stem from appliances and products that use dirty energy, such as diesel engines and cook stoves.

It's important to learn about critical climate issues to better understand how to combat warming.

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For instance, people can swap out their dirty energy appliances and help decrease black carbon pollution. They can explore electric vehicle options or next-gen home appliances, both of which save money in the long run.

Switching to solar is another effective way for homeowners to curb carbon pollution and save money. EnergySage is a free and easy tool that compares quotes from vetted local installers and can help users save up to $10,000 on solar installations.
Warm weather is bringing some hungry beetles out of hiding.

What's happening?

Invasive Japanese beetles have an enormous appetite, and they're out of control in Kansas.

The small, shimmering scarab beetles are native to Japan and considered highly invasive in the United States and Europe. Their eggs are laid in the soil, and larvae eat roots underground until temperatures rise. Once they emerge, the beetles voraciously consume leaves.

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While some invasive species fixate on one plant, this hungry beetle doesn't discriminate. They feed on "more than 300 different types of plants, such as Virginia creeper, linden, crabapple, roses, American elm, and willow, along with crops like corn and soybeans," according to KSNT.

Why are the beetles concerning?

Despite their small size, these beetles have a devastating impact on agriculture. Roots are destroyed by their larvae, and leaves and fruit are eaten by the mature beetles  the entire crop is lost.

"When an insect is out for three months, they're gonna eat everything they can," Kansas State University professor Raymond Cloyd told KSNT.

It's not just Kansas's crops at risk. Other states lose millions or billions in agricultural income.

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Invasive species are one of the main drivers of extinction, along with habitat loss. Invasive species outcompete native ones for resources, alter habitats, and even introduce new diseases.

What's being done to stop the beetles?

These beetles are extremely difficult to get rid of. Many traditional pheromone traps attract beetles, but they aren't as successful in capturing or killing them. A college student at the University of Minnesota developed their own Japanese beetle trap, and it looks promising.

Without traps, residents use insecticides on their plants and soil to kill beetles and their grubs. For those who are hesitant to use pesticides on their plants, the beetles can be picked off by hand and dumped in warm, soapy water to kill them.

Conservationists are constantly developing new ways to combat invasive species, from releasing wasps to fight fruit flies to eating invasive crawfish.

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.
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and J&K Legal Service Authority, in collaboration with the Tribal Affairs Department, organised a Mega Tribal Mela in Srinagar on Saturday. Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal attended the event. The NALSA, in collaboration with the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) and Ladakh and the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority, also launched the Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana 2025. "Today (Saturday), we conducted two programmes here. The first programme was for our defence personnel, our jawans of paramilitary forces, who protect us on the country's borders and are posted in far-flung areas with their families," Justice Surya Kant told ANI. "If any case is filed against them or they have to file a case, then where should they go for their legal rights?... We have launched a scheme to provide them with their legal rights," he added. Justice Kant said that under the scheme for the tribal people, NALSA's paralegal volunteers will reach out to them to help them avail the benefits of the schemes. "Our second programme was for tribal people. NALSA launched a scheme in 2025, under which we took responsibility for providing the legal and constitutional rights of tribal people... The schemes about which tribal people are either unaware or, if they become aware, they do not know how to avail themselves of the benefits, for them, we have devised a scheme under which our paralegal volunteers will reach out to them," he said. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that more than 12,000 people have received help through various legal aid schemes of the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority in 2025. LG Sinha was speaking at the North Zone Regional Conference on "Reaffirming the Constitutional Vision of Justice for Defence Personnel and Tribals" held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. He said that apart from the poor, soldiers and tribal communities also deserve strong legal support. "The Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority and the National Legal Services Authority have launched four new schemes... Many people are benefiting from this. If we look at the figures, more than 12,000 people have benefited from the various assistance schemes of the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority in 2025. I believe that apart from the deprived sections, there are two other groups that need this, soldiers and members of the tribal community, who are part of our country, for whom whatever is done in terms of providing legal aid and ensuring justice is never enough," J-K LG Sinha said while addressing the conference. (ANI) ,
Good morning KELOLAND! A very hot forecast is ahead for KELOLAND with an extreme heat warning in effect this afternoon much of the east. Well talk more about that in moment, but those clouds on our Aberdeen are making for a nice skyline.

A few scattered storms developed last evening in central SD, but most of the storms moved into North Dakota overnight.

The list below shows the wind and hail reports from yesterday. A storm near Belvidere produced winds near 90mph.

For today, the extreme heat is the top story. The map below shows the heat warnings and advisories in effect.

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Take a look at the heat index forecast for both today and tomorrow. The highest numbers will be East River.

The Sioux Falls planner shows plenty of 90s this afternoon with partly cloudy skies.

Could the day end with storms? We are watching the chances of severe weather north of Sioux Falls. The risk is highest in SW MN, but a few cells could develop in eastern SD this evening as well.

You can see the development of the storms on Futurecast below. Well be watching the cold front this afternoon, with the chances of isolated or widely scattered storms East River. The most likely scenario is for more storms to develop late this evening in far northeast SD or western MN. Those storms would likely take a track to the southeast, with damaging winds and large hail the main threat. On Monday, be watching the forecast for more storms central and east late in the afternoon. All modes of severe weather are possible as extreme heat and humidity will collide with a strong cold front. Please monitor the latest forecasts tomorrow later today and tomorrow for more details.

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The Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk outlook for the area highlighted in yellow below.

While storms are in the forecast, dont forget about the cooler weather on the way. Much of the northern plains will drop into the 70s by midweek, with several days in the 70s expected across the region.

Here are the details of the forecast.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP)  The extremist rebels of al-Shabab seized control of the central Somali town of Mahaas on Sunday after an assault involving explosions and a ground offensive, according to witnesses.

Mahaas, in the central region of Hiraan, is located about 350 kilometers (220 miles) north of the federal capital, Mogadishu. The town is a key government outpost and a critical center in the fight against al-Shabab, which for years has been fighting to overthrow the federal government and impose Islamic law.

The rebels entered the town after federal and local forces withdrew, according to residents and local officials.

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There were multiple suicide blasts just outside the town early this morning, and heavy gunfire followed," said Ahmed Abdulle, an elder in Mahaas, speaking to local media.

Government troops and allied militias, known as Maawisley, pulled back shortly before al-Shabab fighters entered the town, he said.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack on Mahaas through its affiliated media channels, saying it was now in control there.

There was no firm word on casualties, but a provincial representative of the National Intelligence and Security Agency was among the victims, Isse Abdi Wayel, the district commissioner of Mahaas, told reporters. The federal government has yet to release an official statement.

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The capture of Mahaas underscores the resilience of al-Shabab, which faces a renewed offensive from federal troops and others. The U.S. routinely carries out airstrikes targeting al-Shabab, and African Union troops back up government troops in different parts of the Horn of Africa nation.

Still, al-Shabab has been losing ground in recent months, facing a campaign of total war declared by authorities. Somali forces have recaptured several towns and villages in remote areas over the past year.

Mahaas had been under government control for more than a decade and served as a so-called forward operating base in offensives targeting al-Shabab strongholds in parts of Hiraan and neighboring Galgaduud.

Its loss is expected to raise questions about coordination among Somali security forces and the sustainability of recent military gains.
Video above: This Nexstar Media video explains Starlink satellites.

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif.  (FOX 5/KUSI)  SpaceX is gearing up for back-to-back rocket launches from Californias Central Coast, with not one but two Falcon 9 Starlink missions scheduled to roar into the skies from Vandenberg Space Force Base over the coming week.

The countdown begins Wednesday, July 30, during a four-hour launch window between 8:39 a.m. and 12:39 p.m. According to SpaceX, this mission isnt just another satellite delivery  it marks the 27th flight for the well-traveled Falcon 9 booster, a remarkable feat in reusable rocket technology.

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This seasoned first stage has previously launched an impressive lineup, including classified payloads like NROL-87 and SARah-1, Earth science missions like SWOT, and more than a dozen previous Starlink satellite deployments. After stage separation, the booster will again attempt a pinpoint landing on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, floating in the Pacific.

As the rocket climbs toward the edge of space, residents in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may be treated to a rare sonic boom  or even multiple  depending on weather and atmospheric conditions.

Theres a tree in California thats older than the Egyptian pyramids

If you miss Wednesdays launch, dont worry  SpaceX has a second show scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 2, between 7:05 p.m. and 11:05 p.m. This evening launch could create a breathtaking twilight display as the Falcon 9 cuts through the fading sunlight, an increasingly popular phenomenon for skywatchers across Southern California.

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This flight will carry 24 more Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, adding to SpaceXs ever-expanding constellation aimed at delivering global high-speed internet. It will also be the ninth flight for this particular booster, previously seen launching government missions like NROL-126 and SPHEREx, along with four earlier Starlink runs.

Like its July 30 counterpart, this booster will aim for a droneship landing, once again aboard the Of Course I Still Love You, stationed off the California coast.

How to watch

Cant make it to the Central Coast? No problem. SpaceX will livestream both launches starting about five minutes before liftoff, on their official X account (@SpaceX) and the new X TV app.

Whether youre a rocket enthusiast, a student of the stars, or just someone looking for a reason to step outside and look up  this week is your moment.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Claim:

Three girls were found alive inside a hollow tree more than a week after the July 2025 Texas flash floods.

Rating:

Rating: False

After the deadly July Fourth floods in Texas, a viral social media story surfaced about rescue crews supposedly finding three missing girls alive in a hollow tree.

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.

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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.

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.

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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."

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.)

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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."

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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.

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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/.

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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.
Did President Donald Trump post a meme of him and Vice President Vance in police cars chasing Barack Obama in a white Bronco on a freeway? Yes, that's true: The meme was created from a real photo of Los Angeles police chasing O.J. Simpson on a freeway on June 17, 1994. It was altered to include Obama's head in place of Simpson's, Trump's head replacing the driver of the police car directly behind the Bronco, and a caricature of Vance. The president's son Donald Trump Jr. posted the image four days earlier on his Instagram account.

The meme (archived here) appeared on President Trump's Truth Social account on Saturday, July 26, 2025, while Trump was vacationing in Scotland. It included no caption.

Users on social media only saw this title, description and thumbnail:

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This is what the post looked like on Truth Social at the time of writing:

Source: screenshot of Truth Social by Lead Stories

President Trump accused former President Obama of treason during an Oval Office event on July 22, 2025. Donald Trump Jr. posted the meme (archived here) that same day.

The original photo (archived here) was taken during the famous June 17, 1994, police chase of O.J. Simpson by Los Angeles Times photographer Al Schaben.
GREENVILLE, Ky. (WEHT)  The Muhlenberg County community is coming to remember one of their own. Family and friends gathered along Main Street in Greenville for a procession of honor for a fallen airman.

The town was silent and the only thing that could be heard were the sounds of the cars driving past the crowd for the procession of Brayden Lovan.

We always talked about the great kid that he is, said family friend Mischelle Nelson. And he would have had a great future. We always felt that. And when they told us that he was going to the Air Force, we were very excited.

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Lovan was a Greenville-native that entered the Air Force in 2023 after graduating from Muhlenberg County High School. Officials say Lovan died during an on-duty incident at a Wyoming air force base.

Tiffany Harper has known the family since she was fifteen years old. When it came to talking about Lovan, she says emotions are still high but was able to write her thoughts in the form of a letter.

He left an imprint on anyone that crossed paths with him and without a doubt, I know that he is still smiling down on us, Harper said. You will forever hold a space in our hearts. Rest easy, kid.

For Mischelle Nelson, Lovan was very close to her granddaughter and her fiance.

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He would have been the best man, Nelson said. He was like a brother to them. He just had a heart of gold and a smile that would light up any room he walked in.

Throughout the day, the community has been chatting amongst themselves and keeping track of updates for when Lovan and his family would be returning home.

Its wonderful to see how the community has come together and mourned this happened to Brayden, Nelson said. He was just an overall good kid.

Although Harper cant imagine going through the same tragedy she wanted to help coordinate the communitys involvement for Lovans return.

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I contacted the police department, Central Dispatch, Central City Fire Department for the flag, Greenville Fire Department, Harper said. We just kind of came together and said, Were going to do this. Thats what we do. We show up.

Despite the summer heat Harper says its heartwarming to see the community show up for a man shes known for years.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A large group of demonstrators rallied outside the San Diego County Administration Building on Saturday as part of a nationwide Families First day of action, calling on the Trump administration to reverse policies they say undermine healthcare, education and support for migrant communities.

The protest, organized by frontline healthcare workers, educators and community leaders, was one of several held across the country. Organizers said the events were aimed at drawing attention to what they described as harmful federal cuts and policies disproportionately affecting vulnerable families.

Right now, our public schools are under attack, said Kyle Weinberg, president of the San Diego Education Association. Donald Trump and his administration have cut school-based health services like nurses, cut special education teachers for students with disabilities and cut meals for hungry students. These are cuts that will hurt our most vulnerable families and communities.

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District 1 County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre criticized what the president has touted as his Big, Beautiful Bill, which was recently signed into law.

Its a $4.5 trillion theft, Aguirre said. Its robbing us of Medicaid, SNAP, public schools and childcare, all while the ultra-rich keep getting rich and communities are under attack by ICE.

Several attendees said they fear for their families futures.

Are you worried about your daughters future? I am. I am very, very worried about all of the things that are happening in our country  the new policies, all of the cuts, said Tien Phan, a San Diego resident.

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I think the solution is for the people to stand up and fight back against corruption and greedy billionaires, added Vinh Tran, another protester. We just want fairness  for those people to pay their fair share.

Protesters said they plan to continue organizing and making their voices heard ahead of next years midterm elections.

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A family cleaning out a deceased relatives home brought a box of what they believed were military ordnance to an LAPD station in Pacoima on Saturday afternoon, prompting a bomb squad response and a joint investigation with the U.S. military.

The incident began around 2:30 p.m. at LAPDs Foothill Station on Osborne Street, where two individuals arrived with a plastic container of items they had found and turned them over to officers, according to LAPD Public Information Officer updates.

Officers inspected the container and discovered several items believed to be military ordnances. The departments Bomb Squad responded and used a robot to capture images of the devices.

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Because the items appeared to be military-grade, LAPD collaborated with explosive ordnance disposal experts from the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton. Officials determined the items were safe to move, and the LAPD Bomb Squad packaged them for transport to a secure storage site. The U.S. military is expected to collect them at a later date.

LAPD emphasized that the devices were not brought into the station lobby and remained inside the individuals vehicle during the response. No injuries or evacuations were reported.

Earlier in the day, LAPD Media Relations confirmed the call came in at 2:32 p.m. regarding a suspicious item, and bomb squad personnel were dispatched to the scene.

Police activity prompted temporary transit disruptions in the area. LADOT Transit said DASH Pacoima buses were rerouted in both directions, with service suspended at several stops along Osborne Street between San Fernando Road and Telfair Avenue.

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The incident comes a week after a deadly explosion involving military-style grenades killed three Los Angeles County Sheriffs deputies during a training exercise in East L.A. on July 18. That blast involved ordnance recovered from a Santa Monica storage unit and has since led to an ongoing investigation by federal and local agencies.

The fallen deputies served a combined 74 years with the department. Among the three of them, they leave behind 16 children, along with devastated friends and family members.

Authorities have made no connection between the two incidents, but both highlight recent encounters with military-grade devices being discovered in non-military settings.

The individuals who turned in the items Saturday were not considered suspects.

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Vernon Dahmer Jr., eldest son of slain civil rights leader Vernon Dahmer Sr., was an icon and revered figure within his family and his community.

Dahmer Jr. died Thursday, July 24, after a lengthy illness, his brother Dennis Dahmer reported late Friday night. Dahmer Jr. was 95.

"My oldest brother lived his life in the path laid out by his two greatest life influences, his father Vernon F. Dahmer Sr., and his grandfather, George Washington Dahmer," Dennis said. "He was a genuinely good person that was always ready to help his fellow man, and expected nothing in return. He exhibited character, commitment and perseverance in his daily life. It was who he was."

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Most anyone who knew Vernon Jr. described him as a "gentle" man, one whose words were spoken softly but carried a lot of weight.

"He was the definition of a 'gentleman," said Jeff Steinberg, founder of the Sojourn Project. "He was a 'gentle' man. He had a moral integrity second to none."

The Sojourn Project is an immersive history experience for people of diverse backgrounds to better understand the civil rights movement and continuing need for social change.

Participants travel to the South to meet, interact with and learn from the people who were part of the movement and the adversity they faced.

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The project has brought many students, members of law enforcement and other participants to Hattiesburg to meet with the Dahmer family, of which Vernon Jr. was a key figure.

"He helped shape my life," Steinberg said. "I owe him so much."

Attorney: 'We got hung juries and acquittals' in 1960s Mississippi civil rights murder

Vernon Jr. continued his father's legacy of civic activism in his native Hattiesburg, along with his brothers, sister and stepmother, Ellie Dahmer, Vernon Sr.'s third wife.

"I was doing that because that was the way I was raised, that was the way I grew up," Vernon Dahmer Jr. said in an earlier story. "Caring for our fellow man and our neighbors is not an option, it's a responsibility."

Vernon Dahmer Jr. was selected the 2020 Veteran of the Year for Hattiesburg.

Vernon Jr. was a role model and hero, a man who never gave up on finding justice for his father, many people who knew him said.

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"A man who had reason to hate and be angry against white people  he did not," Steinberg said.

One of the lessons Steinberg said he learned from Vernon Jr. was his philosophy of "Hate only destroys the hater." He said it was something Vernon Jr. told one of the men who murdered his father.

"That's an incredible life's lesson," Steinberg said.

Vernon Jr.'s children and grandchildren have embodied their patriarch's quiet strength, Steinberg said, and continue fulfilling the Dahmer family legacy.

Education: Illustrated book on Vernon Dahmer teaches children about Mississippi civil rights history

The Rev. Kenneth Fairley, who worked with Vernon Jr. to persuade one of the klansmen to come forward and testify at the trial of Sam Bowers, leader of the White Knights who ordered the killing of Vernon Dahmer Sr. Bowers was convicted in 1998 and sentenced to life in prison.

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Fairley called Vernon Jr. a true pillar of strength for his family and his community.

"I don't know anyone who was more tenacious than he was," Fairley said. "He focused on bringing justice for the family. I have the greatest admiration for such a warrior. He had such a warrior spirit."

Retired Circuit Court Judge Bob Helfrich, who previously worked in the Forrest-Perry District Attorney's Office, worked with Vernon Jr. and the Dahmer family when the office investigated and successfully prosecuted some of the men who orchestrated and carried out Vernon Sr.'s murder.

"We lost an icon," Helfrich said. "He followed in his father's legacy in trying to help folks. He was a good man, a good friend."

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Forrest County Supervisor Rod Woullard said he's known the Dahmer family most of his life. He said Vernon Jr. was an admirable man who emanated integrity and had the fortitude needed to never give up on bringing his father's murderers to justice.

"It's hard to talk about him without talking about his family," Woullard said. "With the tragedy that happened to their father and the restraint that they showed  the resolve that they had to never let it go, not to let it make them bitter but to make them better."

Eddie Holloway, longtime dean of students at the University of Southern Mississippi, said Vernon Jr. was a quiet man with an unwavering character.

"Mr. Dahmer to me was a shining example of quiet strength and purpose," Holloway said. "After his father's death and his military service, he came back here and built a reputation for himself in terms of community service. He was highly respected."

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Vernon Sr. died Jan. 10, 1966, from burns he sustained when his house in the Kelly Settlement was firebombed by members of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Vernon Sr. kept the klansmen at bay while his wife and children escaped.

Vernon Dahmer: Remembering a Hattiesburg civil rights icon on the anniversary of his death

It was Vernon Jr. who persevered and never gave up one seeing his father's killers convicted of their crimes.

"It took my family 10 years to finally get the head of the Klan back in a court of law," Dennis said. "Those 10 years were not easy, sometimes things looked bleak."

Vernon Jr.  "Bo" or "Bo Bo" to those who were close to him  remained positive, motivating others to get involved, Dennis said. He never gave up.

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"Without his presence, encouraging words and guidance, my family would not have been successful in getting the 34-year-old murder case of Vernon F. Dahmer, Sr. reopened and the successful prosecution of the Klan leader that ordered our Dad's murder," Dennis said.

Vernon Sr. was a successful businessman who worked to get Black residents registered to vote during a time when most Black people in Mississippi were not allowed to vote or were prevented from registering because they could not pass a test with unanswerable questions.

His mantra, "If you dont vote, you dont count," has persevered long after Vernon Sr.'s death and is part of a sculpture that sits outside the Forrest County Courthouse, where Black residents were once kept from registering to vote.

Vernon Jr., like the other members of his family, was dedicated to serving his community, Woullard said.

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"He was a great guy all around," Woullard said. "The community is going to miss him."

Vernon F. Dahmer Jr. was named Hattiesburg's 2020 Veteran of the Year. He is pictured in this undated Air Force photo.

Among Vernon Dahmer Jr.'s many accolades are:

He was named Hattiesburg's Veteran of the Year in 2020 to honor his 20 years of service in the Air Force. He served from 1951 to 1971, during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

He served as a founding member of the African American Military History Museum and district committee member for the Boy Scouts of America.

He received the Boy Scouts' Silver Beaver Award in 2004 for his many contributions to scouting, the community and his church.

He continued his family's legacy of encouraging voter turnout and voter registration, persuading others to follow his father's mantra, If you dont vote, you dont count.

He helped more than a dozen Black families maintain ownership of their family properties through his passion for preserving African American land ownership in his community.

He was presented the Jesse L. Brown Community Service Award by former Mayor Johnny DuPree for a lifetime of service.

He served as chairman of the board of directors for the Grants Child Care Center in Eatonville which supports parents and guardians through day care services for children too young to be left alone or too young to attend school.

Funeral service

A funeral service for Vernon Dahmer Jr. will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, at Shady Grove Baptist Church, 101 Warren Mott Parkway in the Kelly Settlement.

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The service will also be livestreamed on Shady Grove's YouTube channel at youtube.com/@sgbchburg.

Family viewing will begin at 9 a.m. Public viewing will follow at 10 a.m.

Lici Beveridge is a reporter for the Hattiesburg American and Clarion Ledger. Contact her at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on X @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.

This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Civil rights leader Vernon Dahmer Jr. of Hattiesburg, MS died at age 95
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has criticized the resumption of larger aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip.

In a post on X, Ben-Gvir described the move as a slap in the face for Israeli soldiers.

The delivery of humanitarian aid is tantamount to "keeping the enemy alive," Ben-Gvir also wrote.

In the post, he addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly and called for the latest aid deliveries to be stopped.

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Ben-Gvir is considered a right-wing hardliner in Netanyahu's conservative government. He is also in favour of the idea of completely capturing the Gaza Strip and expelling the Palestinian population.

In January he left the government in protest against a temporary ceasefire with the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas. After the resumption of fighting, he was given his post back.

Israel has largely blocked independent aid deliveries for the suffering population in the Gaza Strip for months and has been subjected to massive international criticism as a result.

Now, for the first time, larger aid deliveries have reached the Gaza Strip again.

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On Sunday, a convoy of around 100 lorries carrying goods travelled to the sealed-off coastal area, where around 2 million Palestinians live.

Following the resumption of aid deliveries, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel remains committed to achieving its declared war aims. Israel is making progress "in the battle and in the negotiations," he said.

Nevertheless, the delivery of "minimal humanitarian aid" into the Gaza Strip must be permitted, Netanyahu continued.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said he felt deeply honoured to have been described as a 'cow devotee' by Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand, calling it a significant spiritual recognition and a matter of collective pride. Speaking about a past event organised by the Shankaracharya in Mira Bhayander during his tenure as Chief Minister, Shinde recalled, "When I was the Chief Minister, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand had organised an event in Mira Bhayander... He had said that my name would be written in their scriptures as a cow devotee, and this is a matter of great fortune for me." Shinde described Shankaracharya's remark as a "blessing" and said such words from a spiritual leader of high stature carried great significance. "This is not only my pride but also the pride of the entire Maharashtra," he added. Meanwhile, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj supported the remarks of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale, who demanded reconsideration of the terms 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Maharaj said that the word secular does not align with the nature of the Indian Constitution. He said, "The word secular was not there in the Constitution originally, it was added later. That is why the word 'dharmnirpeksh' (secular) does not align with the nature of the Indian Constitution, and this issue is repeatedly raised. Dharma means to think about right and wrong and to adopt the right and to reject the wrong. To become secular means that we have nothing to do with right or wrong. This cannot happen in anyone's life. So this word is also not right..." Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on June 27 came down heavily on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying that it doesn't want the Constitution but the Manusmriti. Intensifying his attack, Gandhi said that RSS intended to violate the rights of the marginalised and the poor while enslaving them. "The mask of RSS has come off again," he added. "RSS-BJP doesn't want the Constitution. They want Manusmriti. They aim to strip the marginalised and the poor of their rights and enslave them again. Snatching a powerful weapon like the Constitution from them is their real agenda," the Congress leader posed on X. Earlier on June 26, addressing a program on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale remarked that during the Emergency, terms like "Socialism" and "Secularism" were forcibly inserted into the Constitution, a move that needs to be reconsidered today. (ANI)
Farmers in rural America were recently dealt another curveball.

Out of nowhere as far as many were concerned, the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled an important application window for its Rural Energy for America Program, which could send thousands of small farms and business owners scrambling.

Canary Media reported that this wasn't some scheduling hiccup; it was the last chance many had to finance clean energy projects this year, and the future of the program remains uncertain.

What's happening?

On June 30, the USDA announced it would not accept new REAP applications from July through September, citing a backlog. The agency said it anticipates reopening submissions in October, according to Canary Media, but farmers need to decide in advance whether to proceed with projects, not knowing if they will be paid back.

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REAP has long helped farmers and rural businesses afford solar, wind, and other energy upgrades. It offers loan guarantees and grants, according to the report, and the grants are issued through reimbursement. Successful grant applicants front the money and are later paid back a portion of project costs, with reasonable confidence in past years that a strong application would be awarded and that the government would honor its commitments.

This year, though, that trust was shaken. Bruce Everly, who has worked with REAP for decades, told Canary Media, "This year, since Jan. 20, has been incredible levels of stress for people who did not understand if they would ever get paid for work where they have already put down millions of dollars on projects."

Over the years, Everly has worked on grants for projects that brought added cash flow or savings to families. These included manure-to-biofuel systems and energy-efficiency upgrades for poultry barns that were "desperately needed," he told the news outlet. Support for such projects is now in question.

Then there's this: A USDA agenda document stated the program would now "disincentivize funding for solar panels on productive farmland."

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That's a huge shift, as solar has been REAP's most common use case, per the news report.

Why is REAP important?

For farmers already walking a financial tightrope, REAP can make or break a project.

Everly's firm, which helps with applications, logged over 3,000 staff hours preparing for the now-canceled July window. No payments, no reimbursements. For smaller farms, that can mean shelving projects that could lower bills or even keep the farms afloat.

"This program has been key to helping people who don't have a lot of assets make a change and provide some cash flow for their family," Everly noted in the Canary Media report.

Cuts and freezes tied to REAP funding mirror wider federal staffing rollbacks. In one story, cuts at the USDA were described as "wiping out an entire ... commodity" system. In another, a former Environmental Protection Agency advisor called the firing of thousands of federal workers "completely reprehensible."

What's being done about it?

There has been pushback. Three Minnesota lawmakers wrote to the USDA demanding answers. A judge ordered the USDA to pay out existing clean energy contracts. But the future still feels shaky.

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Everly has a wish list: Restore full REAP funding, clarify deadlines, and rebuild trust. As he put it to Canary Media, farmers get about 40 shots at a harvest in their lifetime. "One mistake and you've lost multiple generations of wealth," he said.

For now, many are waiting, hoping the next update isn't another letdown. When you're on a farm, timing matters  and missed seasons don't come back around.

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.
DES MOINES, Iowa  The Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market is celebrating its 50 year anniversary.

The market extended its hours from 7 a.m.  Noon, to 7 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. on July 26 to celebrate the occasion. When the market opened in 1976, it had 15 vendors and roughly 200 shoppers. Now, over 300 vendors line the streets of the Court District and draw in 30,000 visitors each Saturday from May to October.

One of the original 15 vendors was Thills Produce. They have attended every year of the market since it opened and have expanded with the market. Brenda Waddle, co-owner of Thrills produce, says that their booth has grown with the market

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Weve really expanded. We started out, my parents did green beans and sweet corn is how they started 50 years ago. It was all produce then, Waddle said. And then we expanded to baked goods and then we added some craft things we do T-shirts, screen printing. So we just weve kind of grown with that, with the market.

Another vendor at the farmers market is Edara Wellness owned by Jelani and Yinka Cole. They sell natural herbal teas and mushroom coffee. Yinka is an Olympian and competed for team Nigeria in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Her love for herbal teas and natural wellness started when her mom would give her similar products when she was a child. Yinka says that her business started when she was giving out her products for free.

So before I started selling the teas, Id make it and just give it to people for free, Yinka said. And people started texting me and giving me a good, positive feedback. And Im like, Oh, I think I should start this business. So I turned that into a business and thats how it started.

Edara Wellness has been operating for two years and already has over 10,000 customers worldwide. Her husband Jelani said that he lost 25 pounds in three weeks from drinking their mushroom coffee, and stopped snoring after Yinka started giving him their hibiscus herbal tea. A link to their website can be found by clicking here.

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The Downtown Farmers Market will be open every Saturday through Oct. 25 from 7 a.m.-Noon in the Court District.

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Moshe Sheli, father of late Major Ben Sheli, addressed the urgent need for a broader military draft across the Israeli population during an interview, stating, Our role is to make sure it happens.

Moshe Sheli, father of the late Major Ben Sheli, reiterated the urgent need for a broader military draft across the Israeli population, specifically the Haredi sector, in an interview with 103FM on Friday morning.

Major Sheli served as unit commander in the IDF's 669 Airborne Rescue Unit. He fell in the northern Gaza Strip on December 12, 2023.

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Ben was 26 and a half when he fell. He was serving in his third company commander position, commanding in Golani, Egoz, and 669, Sheli said.

He described the dire situation in the army: Theres a very large number of casualties among those who lead from the front. I know the command echelon that was around Ben, and unfortunately, I know quite a few names of people of that rank whove fallen. The very best have been hit.

These are numbers we havent seen since the Yom Kippur War, unless you count the War of Independence. When discussing this, we must understand the root of the issue. The IDF has been significantly downsized over the past 15 years, which created an unbearable burden, in complete disregard of the growing threats surrounding us.

Major Ben Sheli (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)

Call for broader enlistment to IDF

He reiterated the call for a broader military draft across the Israeli population: The IDF has the greatest recovery button in the world because we recruit soldiers every four months. But there are quite a few sections of the population that dont enlist.

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I enlisted in 84. Did you know that back then, the army was almost three times the size of what it is today? Im talking about both regular and reserve service. Back then, there were four and a half million residents, half of what there is today. These figures must be viewed realistically."

"I believe everyone must carry the burden, and whats happening in this war requires all sectors of Israeli society to step up. Especially the Haredim.

All that said, the scope of IDF recruitment allows the system to bring in new blood. The IDF officers training school produces significantly more officers than any other army in the world, and we must place larger amounts of high-quality combat potential into the ranks," he said in conclusion. "Our job is to make sure that happens. In the Engineering Corps, the answer is yes. Most of our field units today see good levels of voluntary enlistment. There are challenges in units like the Armored Corps, whose contribution to this war has been extraordinary.

Achiad Luk, 103FM, contributed to this article.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted a cryptic message to X on Saturday after losing a far-too-public fight with Attorney General Pam Bondi over her handling of the infamous Jeffrey Epstein files.

During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening, he said in the puzzling post.

During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening.



The Director and I are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization  Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) July 26, 2025

Bongino awkwardly retreated mid-July, tail between his legs, after losing a battle with his boss over the release of information pertaining to the late sex offender. He failed to show up to work one day and threatened to resign over Bondis management of the case.

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White House insiders at the time said that President Donald Trump was secretly enraged at Bongino for setting off a MAGA meltdown, forcing the president to defend Bondi as confusion over Trumps ambiguous past grew.

Bonginos vague post seemed to suggest something insidious without saying much at all. He started by saying that he and FBI Director Kash Patel are committed to stamping out corruption. But he also implied that he had somehow taken The Matrixs red pill and awakened to the harsh truth of reality.

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino wrote a cryptic post on X Saturday, saying:

What I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core, he said. We cannot run a Republic like this. Ill never be the same after learning what Ive learned.

Bonginos post comes as a key House committee launches a full investigation into the Epstein files. They are currently working to subpoena the Department of Justice for the files in the case, as well as depose Epsteins former right-hand woman Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking young girls for sex.

President Donald Trump and late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein were friends for at least 15 years. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Davidoff Studios Photography/Getty Images

We are going to conduct these righteous and proper investigations by the book and in accordance with the law, Bongino said on X. We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not my truth, or your truth, but THE TRUTH.

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Bongino added: God bless America, and all those who defend Her, he said.

Trump has downplayed any close connection with Epstein, even as key outlets like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal published damning reports about his 15-year friendship with the sex trafficker.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has been in the hot seat over her handling of the Epstein files, with some MAGA members calling for her to step down. / Alex Wong / Alex Wong/Getty Images

Trumps 2024 campaign promise was to release the Epstein files, and far-right conspiracy theorists believed that Democratic lawmakers would be on Epsteins supposed client list. But earlier this month, the president made an abrupt U-turn and began dismissing and even scolding his own MAGA base for their continued suspicions. He began calling his supporters stupid and weak for their interest in learning the truth about Epsteins misdeeds.

Bondi reportedly told Trump in May that his name appears repeatedly in the files.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary is getting lobbied by the MAHA movement to restrict food dyes and ultra-processed foods, as well as by the food, agriculture and pharmaceutical industries to reduce government oversight.

We want to go bold and there are a lot of things to do, Makary tells POLITICOs Dasha Burns. But we also want to find common ground and work incrementally.

At the same time, he says, The amount of pressure I feel from industry or other branches of government is zero. Makary also discusses how the agency is addressing womens health and access to mifepristone, what he calls a child vaping epidemic, and explains the rationale behind FDA staffing cuts as well as some controversial hires.

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Plus, White House reporter Jake Traylor joins Burns to discuss the mood inside the White House amid the fallout over the Jeffrey Epstein story, why President Trump is itching to get back on the campaign trail ahead of the 2026 midterms and whether GOP candidates in swing districts will welcome him.

Listen and subscribe to The Conversation with Dasha Burns on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
CHEYENNE  For the past 72 years the Thunderbirds have been showing the people of Cheyenne exactly what the U.S. Air Force and its fighter pilots are made of.

Its one way we can not only recruit, but also give back to the public, Col. Terry Holmes, 90th Missile Wing commander, said. This is Americas Air Force.

On Saturday, the Thunderbirds performed their annual Wings over Wyoming airshow. In a series of highly technical maneuvers, six pilots and a team of approximately 130 supporting service members work to not only demonstrate the pilots capabilities but inspire the next generation.

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Our mission is to recruit, retain and inspire, Thunderbirds Public Affairs Officer Maj. Krystal Jimenez said. So the demonstration is just a piece of what our team brings to each community.

In 1953, F.E. Warren Air Force Base was the site of the Thunderbirds first-ever show; theyve come nearly every year since.

This air show is steeped in tradition, Holmes said.

Holmes noted that the event also strengthens the bond between the state of Wyoming, specifically the city of Cheyenne, and the men and women of the 90th Missile Wing.

Our history is inextricably linked, Holmes said. Weve got a symbiotic relationship, and this is just another way to continue growing and keeping those bonds really tight.

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The Thunderbirds have been in town since Tuesday, flying over the rodeo at Cheyenne Frontier Days and connecting with the Cheyenne community.

Were really glad to be back in Cheyenne, Jimenez said. It kind of feels like home after your first year. And the community is always so welcoming, and we really appreciate that.

Though Cheyenne holds a special place in the heart of the Thunderbirds, the team performs across the country.

Among the hundreds of people gathered to watch the Thunderbirds fly was Debora Fishpaw, a longtime fan of the Thunderbirds.

Fishpaw has seen Thunderbirds and similar performances from the Blue Angels and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds all across North America. Purely by coincidence, she began to see shows in the early 2000s and has been hooked ever since.

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At one show in New Jersey, we were sitting and the two planes were right in front of me, Fishpaw said. ... I was right there, and I cant get that out of my head.

The pure skill it takes to navigate the sky and have the F-16s come so close to each other has always amazed Fishpaw. This year was her first show in Cheyenne.

Though the adults, like Fishpaw, can appreciate the show, its the herds of young kids running around the base who are awestruck by the pilots and their dizzying loops through the air.

The hope is that those kids are inspired, whether it be to become a pilot one day or simply to appreciate all the armed forces do for this country.

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I remember when I was around 8 or 9 seeing an air show in New Jersey, Wings over Wyoming Air Show director Maj. Andrew Carpenter said. Thats why Im here today. I thought that was super cool.

Seeing the kids eyes light up when they see the Thunderbirds is a real highlight of these events. The show also gives people a unique opportunity to get out on base and engage with not only the Air Force, but each other.

You might meet somebody youre sitting next to that you never knew before, Carpenter said. So people come out here for a common cause, and it just really helps the Thunderbirds and all of us kind of recruit and inspire.
Despite US President Donald Trump's calls for a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, fighting continued on Sunday morning in the border region between the two countries.

The Foreign Ministry in Bangkok quoted a military spokesman as saying that Cambodia had opened fire in the morning and hit civilian homes. According to the Thai newspaper Khaosod, the attack took place in the Phanom Dong Rak district in the north-eastern border province of Surin.

Cambodia, however, accused Thailand of opening fire early in the morning.

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The Cambodian newspaper Phnom Penh Post cited a spokeswoman for the Defence Ministry saying "Thai forces resumed shelling" in the border area in the early hours of Sunday.

"In all combat zones... Thai forces have used artillery, drones and aircraft to launch heavy shells, bombs and cluster munitions on Cambodian soil," spokeswoman Mali Socheata was quoted as saying in a Sunday press briefing.

According to the Cambodian ministry, two well-known Hindu temples have also been targeted.

Since Thursday, the South-East Asian neighbouring states have accused each other of triggering an escalation in a border conflict that has been simmering for decades.

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After phone calls with the two countries' leaders on Saturday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that they "have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE."

In a separate post, Trump said that "we happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting  And I have told them so."

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a statement that his country had agreed to Trump's proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. He thanked the US president for his initiative and mediation.

Thailand's interim Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said his government agreed "in principle" with a ceasefire. However, he said the Cambodian side must first show serious intentions to make peace.

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The central issue of the conflict between the neighbours is the location of the border, which was drawn in colonial times and is interpreted differently by the two countries.

According to government figures, more than 130,000 people have fled Thailand, while the Cambodian Defence Ministry put the number of displaced people in Cambodia at 80,000. More than 500 schools in the border area are closed due to the fighting.
PLAINVILLE, Conn. (WTNH)  A firefighter died in the line of duty on Sunday in Plainville, according to fire officials.

The firefighter, identified as Raymond Ray Moreau, 60, sustained a catastrophic injury after a piece of an apparatus broke free and struck him in the leg, according to officials.

WATCH: Body of fallen Plainville firefighter escorted to funeral home

Moreau was rushed to the Hospital of Central Connecticut, where he died from his injuries during surgery, state police said. The cause of his death was blunt trauma of head, neck, torso, and extremities, and the manner of death was an accident, according to the chief medical examiners office.

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On Monday, state police and other first responders escorted his body from the medical examiners office to the Plainville Funeral Home.

Moreau was a firefighter for 35 years, and he served with dignity and honor, according to the Plainville Town Manager Mike Paulhus. State police said Moreau was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Ray Moreau

The fire happened around 6:30 a.m. on Maria Road, state police said. Departments from Bristol and Farmington provided mutual aid.

Officials in CT share support for Plainville community

Its always emotional when one of your friends gets sent to the hospital, Dave Simard, the deputy chief of the Bristol Fire Department, said. Its just like a family member getting rushed to the hospital.

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The homeowners were uninjured but have been displaced due to the fire. The Red Cross is providing assistance to the family.

Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville on July 27, 2025. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville on July 27, 2025. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville on July 27, 2025. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville on July 27, 2025. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville on July 27, 2025. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville on July 27, 2025. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville on July 27, 2025. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville. Crews respond to a house fire on Maria Road in Plainville on July 27, 2025.

The fire is under investigation by Connecticut State Polices Central District Major Crime and Fire Explosion Investigation units, along with the Collision Analyst and Reconstruction Squad.

State police said they are collaborating with OSHA and State Attorney Christian Wattson at New Britain Superior Court for the investigation.

Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Conn.) announced that flags will be lowered to half-staff in honor of Moreau. They will remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment.

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A memorial has also been steadily growing at the Plainville Fire Department.

Firefighter Moreau was a consummate professional, dedicated servant, and will be missed dearly by his friends, family, and community, state police and Plainville police said in a joint press release Sunday night.

Officials provided updates on Sunday evening at a press conference. Watch the full press conference below.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Firefighters spent hours Friday night battling a fire on Lookout Mountain that started due to fireworks.

Foothills Fire and Rescue in a Sunday morning Facebook post said crews responded to reports of a brush fire the Tiers of Zion trailhead on the front side of Lookout Mountain at around 9 p.m. Friday night. They arrived to find an active fire moving at a moderate rate.

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Genesee Fire and Golden Fire also responded, and the fire was eventually extinguished by midnight.

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This incident serves as a strong reminder of the importance of fire restrictions and the risks fireworks pose in our wildland areasespecially during dry conditions, fire officials said.

the fire department said the cause was confirmed to be by fireworks.

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Smoke and flame rise as firefighting teams respond from the air and on the ground to a forest fire that broke out in Krioneri near Athens, Greece on July 26, 2025. Credit - Costas Baltas2025 Anadolu

Residents in suburbs of the Greek capital Athens were ordered to evacuate their homes as wildfires ravaged several parts of southern Europe over the weekend, including not only Greece but also Turkey, Bulgaria and Montenegro.

According to government authorities in Greece, the country has quelled some of the firesespecially those nearing Athensbut firefighters were battling five major blazes on Sunday amid a severe heatwave. The extreme temperatures, which reached 44 degrees C (111F) on Sunday, are forecast to continue.

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The state mechanism was called to engage in a titanic battle, simultaneously responding to dozens of wildfires across the country. Today, the situation appears improved, but the fight continues with all available resources, noted Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a statement released Sunday morning, according to the Guardian. To those who saw their properties destroyed by the fury of the fire, know that the state will stand by your side.

Over 200 firefighters have been battling the blaze near Athens, supported by aircraft, where six firefighters have been hospitalized. There were also major fires on the islands of Kythira, Evia, and the holiday resort island, Crete.

Greece has also officially requested the help of their European Union (EU) allies and though there are reports that the fires north of Athens have been quelled by Sunday, other fires in the Peloponnese area near Messinia are not yet contained.

The situation in most areas of operations has improved at this time, after the firefighters' all-night battle, stated fire department spokesperson Vasilios Vathrakoyannis. He noted active fronts in Kythira and Polythea, Messinia, where helicopters, aircrafts, and dozens of firefighters are working to quell flames. He continued, We remind you that today is also expected to be a difficult day with a very high risk of fire, almost throughout the territory.

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The Greek Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protections shared that six regions are still at a very high fire risk (risk category 4) for Monday, showing an improvement from Sundays 11 regions with such a designation.

The Associated Press also reported that flames have been blazing in Turkey for weeks now threaten the countrys fourth-largest city, Bursa, as the forested mountains around the city became engulfed, forcing over 1,700 civilians to evacuate on Sunday.

Orhan Saribal, a member of the Turkish Parliament wrote on social media that there are currently 3,000 fires blazing in over 50 places, and blaming the current Turkish governments response for the severity of the fires impact.

Earlier this month, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) shared that Western Europe was being influenced by a strong high-pressure system, which traps dry air from northern Africa and leads to extreme heat. The WMO added that this extreme heat would lead to elevated air pollution and wildfireswhich has come to fruition this weekend. Europe had its hottest June on record this year.

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The fires come after the WMO confirmed in January that 2024 was the warmest year on record, based on six international datasetsthe first calendar year in which the global mean temperature was more than 1.5C above the 1850-1900 average.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Zirakpur Police in Punjab on Saturday busted a flesh trade racket being run in the premises of Hotel Ambani, located above Canara Bank on Patiala Road and AK Grand. The raid was conducted after receiving a tip-off that the hotel operators were running a prostitution business and were charging huge amounts of money from the customers. Pramod Tiwari, son of Leeladhar, resident of Derabassi, was arrested, accused of running a prostitution racket. Station House Officer of Zirakpur, Inspector Satinder Singh said that the police arrested the hotel owners and rescued several girls who were being forced into prostitution, and a case has been registered under sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act. According to the police, a video of the said hotels had also gone viral on social media, showing the suspects involved in illegal activities. The owners of the said hotels, Saddam and Pramod Tiwari, are accused of running a prostitution business and human trafficking. The police have started a thorough investigation into this illegal act. Efforts are being made to reunite the rescued girls with their families. The Zirakpur Police have appealed to anyone with information about such illegal activities in the area to report it to the police. In a major crackdown on Saturday, Amritsar Police arrested four drug smugglers and recovered 6.106 kg of heroin, the Amritsar Police said on Saturday. Among the arrested, Sarabjeet Joban has been identified as the kingpin of the network, with direct links to a notorious Pakistani smuggler named Rana."We have arrested four major smugglers and recovered 6.106 kg of heroin from them. Sarabjeet Joban has emerged as the kingpin. He was dropping consignments on the Indian side by identifying various locations for a long time," said Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar during a press briefing. The police investigation revealed that Sarabjeet had been actively involved in identifying drop locations for smuggling operations near the India-Pakistan border, particularly in the Ajnala sector. (ANI)
Jul. 27After a loss of federal dollars for loanable internet hotspots, the Flathead County Library Board of Trustees is exploring ways to save the program.

A church and a few patrons have expressed interest in donating to keep the program going, Chair Dave Ingram said at the board's Thursday meeting.

"[This way,] there won't be a taxpayer impact," Ingram said, "if we can work with the various entities who have offered to support this program."

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The hotspots, portable devices that provide wireless internet access, first became available in 2020 via a Digital Competitive Grant from the National Telecommunication and Information Administration. The Montana State Library started the hotspot program in July of that year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 54 counties in Montana participated in the program over the past five years and, according to the Montana State Library, 37 libraries  54% of those currently participating  planned to continue the program after federal funds dried up on June 30.

Drawing on the grant, the Flathead County Library had around 50 hotspots to give out to patrons. Library Director Teri Dugan said that all units were regularly checked out with a consistent wait list for use.

At the board's June meeting, trustees Carmen Cuthbertson and Doug Adams opposed continuing the service, saying it struck them as a form of welfare.

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Speaking during the public comment portion of the July 24 meeting, Kalispell resident Valeri McGarvey chided the board about its hotspot discussion last month.

"A library board should be eager and excited about serving the public," McGarvey said.

Cuthbertson said on Thursday that the hotspots, although a good idea during the Covid-19 pandemic, are no longer useful since they can only be loaned in two-week increments and the constant waitlist means patrons cannot plan for when they will have access to them.

"Us administering hotspots doesn't actually work," she said.

But Trustee Jane Wheeler deemed the program a success, citing a full wait list and multiple comments from patrons supporting the program's continuation.

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"It's their decision about whether or not it's useful for them. It's not our decision," Wheeler said.

Ingram ended the discussion by saying that he would explore other funding options that have potentially become available and have more to discuss at a future meeting date.

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) has been awarded a two-year Gable Grant from the Lowes Foundation, receiving $390,000 to address the skilled trades worker shortage in America.

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The grant will enable FSCJ to enhance training programs for aspiring electricians, construction professionals, and HVAC technicians, thereby strengthening communities and improving access to high-demand trades careers.

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Thanks to the Lowes Foundation Gable Grant, FSCJ will transform access to high-demand careers through an innovative construction training initiative called EmpowerEd by Lowes, which was developed to bring educational and training opportunities directly to those who need it most, said College President John Avendano, Ph.D.

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This program is more than job training and workforce development; its an opportunity to restore lives while also strengthening our community both now and far into the future.

The funding is part of the Lowes Foundations initiative to expand its network of Gable Grants recipients to 60 organizations nationwide, each focused on creating scalable pathways into trades careers.

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Since the launch of the Gable Grants program in 2023, the foundation has committed $43 million across 28 states, intending to train 50,000 trades professionals over five years.

The grant will also support the recruitment of skilled instructors and provide necessary educational materials, spaces, and equipment, addressing workforce needs for large construction projects in the service area.

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ELIZABETHTOWN  Former Essex County Fair treasurer Bridget Brown appeared in Essex County Court on Friday afternoon and was sentenced to probation and restitution for stealing almost $90,000 from the fair and the town of Willsboro.

Brown, 41, of Willsboro took $60,000 from the fair and $29,000 from the town when she was Willsboro town clerk.

Hamilton County Judge Tatiana Coffinger, specially presiding, ordered Brown to pay full restitution plus a 10% surcharge, making her total payback $97,600.

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Brown was also placed on probation for five years. She had pleaded guilty in May to felony second degree grand larceny and third degree grand larceny as well as public corruption for the Willsboro theft.

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli praised Franklin County District Attorney Elizabeth Crawford for prosecuting the case brought by New York State Police.

Bridget Brown abused the trust of multiple communities and treated public money in her care as her own to fund her lifestyle. Now she is a convicted felon and has been ordered to repay the money she stole, DiNapoli said in a release. This case should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can steal from their community and get away with it.

Brown took $60,000 from the Essex County Agricultural Society, which operates the fair, by padding her paychecks, making ATM withdrawals and using the societys bank account to make personal purchases. She concocted phony business records in an attempt to cover her crimes, DeNapoli said.

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She took an additional $29,000 from Willsboro by pocketing residents cash payments for taxes, licenses and landfill fees.

Franklin County Executive Assistant District Attorney Alyxandra Stanczak was the prosecutor assigned to the case.

This case is a clear example of how public corruption erodes trust and harms the very communities public servants are sworn to serve, James said in the release. Ms. Brown betrayed that trust for personal gain, but thanks to the thorough investigative work and strong interagency cooperation, she is being held accountable. 

Brown was fair treasurer from from 2013-19. She also served as Willsboro town clerk and tax collector from 2014 to 2021. She was defeated in her bid for reelection as town clerk by a write-in candidate.

The thefts were discovered after Brown left as fair treasurer and a new treasurer noticed abnormalities in accounts and reported it.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  At a sold-out, high-profile Raleigh dinner that will gather political leaders from all over the country Saturday, the spotlight is on one particular former governor.

THE LATEST: VIDEO  Former NC Gov. Cooper hints at run for US Senate in 2026

Roy Cooper, who was the governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025, is one of the speakers listed at the Unity Dinner hosted by the North Carolina Democratic Party.

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Other speakers at the event include Keynote Speaker Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, N.C. Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, Senator Sydney Batch, Representative Robert Reives and NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton.

PREVIOUS: Roy Coopers decision on Senate run to be made in coming days

The dinner is the first public appearance since there have been talks of a possible U.S. Senate campaign by Cooper.

CBS 17 previously reported that former governor Cooper could announce whether or not he will run for the U.S. Senate within the next coming days. Senator Thom Tillis announced just last week that he will not seek reelection, leaving for a highly anticipated senatorial race.

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Aside from Cooper, there have been other names suspected of running for Senate that has roused up both the Democratic and Republican parties. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native, and Lara Trump, his former RNC co-chair and President Donald Trumps daughter-in-law, were both speculated to have been considering a run.

Although Trump decided Thursday not to enter the race, Whatley announced he will run with the blessing of President Donald Trump.

RNC Chairman Michael Whatley to launch campaign for Senate in North Carolina after Lara Trump rejects run: Sources

For several months, Democrat and former U.S. congressman Wiley Nickel has put his hat back into the ring to run. However, sources close to the former congressman told CBS 17 on Friday that his campaign for the Senate seat will be suspended next week with plans to fully endorse Cooper.

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Nickels camp said Friday he will run for Wake County District Attorney.

Although the North Carolina Democratic Party does not endorse primary candidates, which would be Coopers position with an announcement coming within the next few days.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
The Bradford County Sheriffs Office says four suspects have been arrested in connection with a string of residential burglaries.

Detectives had been investigating several break-ins over the past few weeks and noticed a pattern.

Read:Columbia County Sheriffs Office warns of new phone scam targeting residents

On Tuesday, while conducting surveillance, they say they caught Johnny Gunter and Stacie Bentley in the middle of a burglary.

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Investigators later learned it was the third time the same home had been targeted.

After making those arrests, deputies tracked down a third suspect, Jordan Bresee, and say they found stolen items inside his home.

A fourth suspect, Jonathan Deese, was arrested after a search warrant at his home turned up more stolen property and drugs.

Johnny Gunter is charged with three counts of burglary, grand theft, drug possession, and dealing in stolen property.

Stacie Bentley is also facing three burglary charges, along with grand theft, illegal possession of a firearm, and dealing in stolen property.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

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Jonathan Deese is charged with drug possession, possession of paraphernalia, and dealing in stolen property.

Jordan Bresee faces a long list of charges, including burglary, grand theft of firearms, trafficking in stolen goods, and drug possession.

Detectives say their ongoing surveillance and investigative work led to the arrests and recovery of stolen items.

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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Four people are injured after a stabbing overnight in South End, according to Medic.

Around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday, a stabbing was reported on Fairwood Ave. off of South Tryon Street.

19-year-old arrested for murder after shooting in Clover: Sheriff

Medic said one person was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, and three others were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

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Police have not said what led to the stabbing or if anyone is in custody.

This is a Developing Story . Check back for updates

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FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Lauderdale County Coroner identified the body of a missing swimmer that was found Sunday.

The coroner identified Joshua Lee Chaney, of Russellville, as the missing swimmer. He was in his mid-40s.

The Florence Police Department took to social media around 12:46 p.m. to say that the body of a missing swimmer had been pulled out of the Tennessee River.

On Saturday, FPD said several state and local agencies were on the scene at McFarland Park due to a possible drowning. The department also asked citizens to avoid the area to prevent congestion.

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FPD said there are no additional details to share at this time.

Stick with News 19 to find out the latest information when it becomes available.

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The French government expects Arab countries to condemn the Palestinian militant organization Hamas at a high-level UN conference in New York on Monday on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said.

The call comes days after Paris said it intends to recognize Palestine as a state. It would be the first such condemnation of the militant organization and would seal the final isolation of Hamas, Barrot said in an interview with Sunday's edition of the French newspaper La Tribune.

Chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, the two-day conference is due to discuss a possible two-state solution to the conflict.

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Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Following the Hamas attack on Israel and the massacre of civilians on October 7, 2023, Israel's army launched a military operation to dismantle the organization.

Barrot went on to say that European countries would reaffirm their intention to recognize Palestine as a state in New York.

"Half of the European countries have already done so. All the others are thinking about it," he asserted.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France - as the first state in the Group of Seven (G7) leading nations - would recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The UK and Germany did not initially follow suit.

"We will launch an appeal in New York to persuade other countries to join us," Barrot said.
Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav criticised the Nitish Kumar-led double-engine government in the state over the prevailing law and order situation. He said that there have been 97 cases of murder in the past seven days. "97 murders in 1 day in Bihar. Prime Minister, Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers all useless, criminals are the real government," Yadav, also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Bihar legislative assembly, posted on X. Citing several incidents of murder in various districts of Bihar, the RJD leader alleged that criminals were thriving in the state because the "government is sick". "Murder of a prisoner in Samastipur. Murder of a businessman in Saran. Murder of a sarpanch in Samastipur. Murder of a trader in Begusarai. Murder of an ITBP jawan on leave. Murder of a businessman in Muzaffarpur. Kidnapping and murder of an elderly person in Gaya. Woman shot dead in Patna. Hail of bullets on two brothers, one murdered," Tejashwi Yadav said. On Friday, Yadav launched a scathing attack on the ruling NDA alliance in the state, alleging that "one engine is engaged in crime, another in corruption." Taking a swipe at the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan said on Saturday that he is "saddened to support such a government," which is unable to curb the rising crime rate. The union minister said that he does believe that reports of incidents of rising crimes such as murders, looting and more are a "conspiracy" to defame the government ahead of the assembly elections. He also said that the responsibility ultimately lies with the state government itself to control law and order. The Bihar Assembly elections are expected later this year, tentatively in October or November, though the ECI has yet to announce official dates. (ANI)
The French government expects Arab countries to condemn the Palestinian militant organization Hamas at a high-level UN conference in New York on Monday on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has said.

The call comes days after Paris said it intends to recognize Palestine as a state. It would be the first such condemnation of the militant organization and would seal the final isolation of Hamas, Barrot said in an interview with Sunday's edition of the French newspaper La Tribune.

Chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, the two-day conference is due to discuss a possible two-state solution to the conflict.

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Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Following the Hamas attack on Israel and the massacre of civilians on October 7, 2023, Israel's army launched a military operation to dismantle the organization.

Barrot went on to say that European countries would reaffirm their intention to recognize Palestine as a state in New York.

"Half of the European countries have already done so. All the others are thinking about it," he asserted.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France - as the first state in the Group of Seven (G7) leading nations - would recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

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The UK and Germany did not initially follow suit.

"We will launch an appeal in New York to persuade other countries to join us," Barrot said.

Against the backdrop of the Gaza war, the EU countries Spain, Ireland and Slovenia recognized the state of Palestine last year. In addition to France, Malta is also planning to recognize it.

The UN conference on the two-state solution in New York was originally scheduled to take place at the end of June, but was postponed due to the conflict between Israel and Iran.

It was also downgraded to a ministerial meeting, whereas Macron, for example, had previously announced his intention to attend.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (DC News Now)  Police are urging anyone with information to come forward after several shots were fired Saturday night in Fredericksburg, damaging nearby property.

At around 10:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 900 block of Railroad Ave. for the report of shots fired. At the scene, police recovered multiple cartridge casings, but those involved had already left the area, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department.

Memorial park honors fallen firefighter Trevor Brown

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No injuries were reported; however, police said they received several reports of damaged property.

As a result, investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity or those with security camera footage from 9:40 to 11:40 p.m. on July 26 to contact Detective Mejia at 540-373-3122, ext. 5755.

Tipsters can also submit information anonymously by texting FPDtip followed by a tip to 847-411.

The police department is offering a $1,000 cash reward to anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest.

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French authorities are trying to establish whether a group of young French citizens was removed from a plane bound for Paris from Spain this week because they are Jewish.

The airline, Vueling, has denied the claims.

Several dozen French passengers on Wednesday were kicked off a flight leaving the Spanish city of Valencia for Paris, for what Spanish police and the airline described as unruly behavior.

French authorities are trying to establish whether a group of young French citizens was removed from a plane bound for Paris from Spain this week because they are Jewish. AFP via Getty Images

Frances ministry for Europe and foreign affairs said in a statement on Saturday that the minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, contacted the CEO of Vueling, Carolina Martinoli, to express his deep concern about the removal of a group of young French Jews from one of the companys flights.

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Barrot also requested more information to determine whether these individuals had been discriminated against on the basis of their religion.

A similar request has been made to the Spanish ambassador to France.

Ms. Martinoli assured Mr. Barrot that a thorough internal investigation was underway and that its findings would be shared with the French and Spanish authorities, the ministry said.

Vueling previously denied reports that the incident, which involved the removal of 44 minors and eight adults from flight V8166, was related to the passengers religion.

Several dozen French passengers on Wednesday were kicked off a flight leaving the Spanish city of Valencia for Paris, for what Spanish police and the airline described as unruly behavior. AP

Some Israeli news outlets reported that the students were Jewish and that their removal was religiously motivated, a claim that was repeated by an Israeli minister online. Spains Civil Guard said the minors and adults were French nationals. A Civil Guard spokesperson said the agents involved were not aware of the groups religious affiliation.

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A Vueling spokesperson said the passengers were removed after the minors repeatedly tampered with the planes emergency equipment and interrupted the crews safety demonstration. A Civil Guard spokesperson said the captain of the plane ordered the removal of the minors from the plane at Valencias Manises Airport after they repeatedly ignored the crews instructions.

On Thursday, the Federation for Jewish Communities of Spain expressed concern about the incident. The group said that Vueling needed to provide documentary evidence of what happened on the plane.
A former French intelligence officer has been charged and imprisoned in eastern France on suspicion of ordering child rapes in Africa, particularly in Kenya, prosecutors said Saturday.

The man was arrested on Monday and was remanded in custody on Friday, Strasbourg public prosecutor Clarisse Taron told France's AFP news agency.

The 58-year-old man, who is retired from the military, was charged with "aggravated human trafficking," "rape and sexual assault of minors," and "capture, import, and dissemination of a pornographic image of a minor," according to the daily newspaper Le Parisien, which first reported the case.

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He is suspected of having ordered the rape of children in Africa, particularly in Kenya, which he visited for work, and "of having paid for and remotely orchestrated sexual abuse, filmed scenes that he then consumed to satisfy his criminal urges," the newspaper said.

The videos were spotted online by a US-based foundation fighting child sex crimes, which then alerted the French police.

There has been a recent rise in live-streamed child abuse in which children are sexually exploited at the request of clients, often based in Western countries. Scenes are broadcast in real time or recorded for online consumption.

Last month a 55-year-old Frenchman suspected of commissioning online pedophile crimes in Colombia was arrested and charged in France.

Frenchman charged with commissioning online pedophile crimes in Colombia

(with AFP)
A French naval giant is investigating a potential cyber attack after hackers claimed to have obtained sensitive data about the countrys nuclear submarines.

Naval Group, a state-owned ship maker that traces its origins back almost 400 years to the reign of Louis XIII, said it had immediately launched technical investigations after cyber criminals threatened to publish files on the dark web.

The company builds and maintains key ships and submarines for the French Navy, including aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines. These include Frances Barracuda fleet of nuclear missile-armed submarines.

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In a post on a dark web forum, hackers claimed to have uncovered top-secret classified data for submarines and frigates.

Hackers gave the company 72 hours to respond to the leak, with initial documents published online allegedly including source code for submarine weapon systems.

The attackers have so far published around 30 gigabytes of data, although they claim to have far more information still to be disclosed.

Naval Group has responded by insisting it had found no intrusion into our IT environments, and described it as a reputational attack.

A spokesman said: Naval Group has noticed being the target of a reputational attack with the claim of a cyber-malice act. We immediately launched technical investigations.

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All teams and resources are currently mobilised to analyse and verify the authenticity, origin and ownership of the data as quickly as possible.

At this stage, no intrusion into our IT environments has been detected and there has been no impact on our activities.

The alleged hack comes amid a wave of cyberattacks against companies and governments.

Last week, Microsoft admitted to a major flaw in its SharePoint document-sharing system, which is believed to have been exploited by hackers with links to China.

Among the organisations targeted were the US National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains Americas nuclear arsenal, although no sensitive files were reported to have been taken.

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Naval Group is Frances largest shipbuilder, employing more than 15,000 people with revenues of more than 4.4bn. The French government owns almost two-thirds of the business, with he remainder owned by Thales, the French defence giant.

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Thirty minutes into a routine appearance Thursday on Floridas Gulf Coast, Gov. Ron DeSantis abruptly turned his fire on a fellow Republican, accusing a veteran state lawmaker of betraying the partys voters.

Hours later, President Donald Trump endorsed that same lawmaker, Joe Gruters, to become the next chairman of the Republican National Committee.

For DeSantis, the episode reinforced a pattern: picking fights that come back to haunt him.

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Trumps inner circle was already full of people who have no love lost for the Florida governor  a reality that has isolated DeSantis within his home state ever since he ended his 2024 presidential campaign. Now, the most powerful official post in the Republican Party is likely to be filled by another foe, further clouding the political ambitions of both DeSantis and his wife, Casey.

Ron DeSantis, who has kept the door open to another White House bid, could find himself running in a presidential primary partially controlled by an RNC chairman he has repeatedly spurned. Casey DeSantis, meanwhile, has taken steps toward succeeding her husband in Tallahassee next year in a race that would pit her against Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican backed by both Trump and Gruters.

The elevation of Gruters to lead the RNC blindsided Gov. DeSantis, according to people close to his political operation. With Trumps support, Gruters had previously filed to run for chief financial officer of Florida in 2026, a statewide position, and the RNC reelected the current party chairman, Michael Whatley, to another term in January following the GOPs successes last fall. While Gruters was RNC treasurer, a promotion seemed unlikely anytime soon.

It also appeared as though DeSantis and Trump had largely buried the hatchet after their contentious presidential primary last year. They stood side-by-side earlier this month for the opening of a new migrant detention center in the Everglades known as Alligator Alcatraz, where they showered each other in compliments.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, President President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tour "Alligator Alcatraz" in Ochopee, Florida, on July 1. - Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

You are my friend, and youll always be my friend, and we may have some skirmishes, even in the future. I doubt it, but I will always come back, because we have blood that seems to match pretty well, Trump said.

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But the political playing field changed rapidly Thursday, when Trumps daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, decided not to run for Senate in North Carolina. Whatley, a former party chair in the Tar Heel State, then made clear that he would run instead with Trumps backing, leaving an opening atop the party.

By then, DeSantis had spent weeks trying to take down Gruters. He appointed state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a close ally, to become the states CFO and immediately backed him in the GOP primary against Gruters. In appearances around Florida, he shrugged off Trumps endorsement while bashing Gruters conservative credentials.

If George Washington rose from the dead and came back and tapped me on the shoulder and said, Will you appoint Joe Gruters CFO? My response would be, No, DeSantis said earlier this month. I cant do that without betraying the voters that elected me to lead this state in a conservative direction.

The criticism continued Thursday when DeSantis appeared just outside Gruters district to pile on more attacks. But that evening, Trump threw his support behind Whatley for US Senate and Gruters for RNC chair in a post on social media. The ramifications of DeSantis maneuvering against Gruters quickly crystalized.

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The governor did not see this coming at all, a person close to DeSantis acknowledged. He fumbled this 1,000%.

A spokesperson for DeSantis political operation did not respond to questions from CNN. Gruters declined to comment. A person familiar with Gruters thinking told CNN that he hopes to lead the party through the 2028 presidential cycle.

Joe Gruters delivers remarks during the first day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 15, 2024. - Jasper Colt/USA Today Network/Imagn Images

DeSantis has long earned a reputation in Florida for burning bridges on the way to the top. At first, the approach paid off.

In 2018, DeSantis flouted the party establishment by running for governor and knocking off the preferred Republican thanks to Trumps support. He then unceremoniously jettisoned the operatives who helped him win, including veteran Republican strategist Susie Wiles and top adviser James Blair. As he amassed political clout, he stepped over other Republicans in the state, including many in the congressional delegation, who grumbled at their lack of relationship with the states pugnacious leader.

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For a time, it appeared DeSantis could be the future of the party, and he ran for president over the objections of Trump, his former friend.

But as DeSantis presidential campaign floundered, the enemies he made along the way resurfaced. Many of those members of Congress endorsed Trump over their home-state governor. Wiles became Trumps co-campaign manager. Trump ridiculed DeSantis en route to defeating him.

After his November victory, Trump named Wiles his chief of staff and Blair to oversee his political operation from the White House. Chris LaCivita, Trumps other campaign manager who feuded with DeSantis during the presidential primary, is spearheading the GOPs midterm efforts. Other Floridians more loyal to Trump than DeSantis have been handed key roles, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

DeSantis has yet to course correct as he regroups in Florida. He continues to recruit candidates to go up against Donalds  one of those Republicans who endorsed Trump over the governor  if Casey DeSantis doesnt run. He has publicly clashed with state lawmakers from his own party for blocking his agenda, lobbing personal attacks.

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Still, few people in Florida politics once close to the governor could comprehend why Ron DeSantis didnt appoint Gruters as CFO to extend a low-stakes olive branch to Trump. Now, they said, he may pay a price.

His blind spot is he doesnt have a magnanimous bone in his body, a veteran Republican fundraiser in Florida said. Once he has a negative opinion of someone, he cannot pivot even out of political necessity.

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Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard hit back at former President Barack Obama after he dismissed her claim that his administration cooked up intelligence on Russian election interference in a treasonous conspiracy against President Donald Trump.

On July 17, Gabbard released a report alleging that Obama and his top national security officials conspired to manipulate intelligence to link Trump to Russias meddling in the 2016 election, calling for him and other officials to be prosecuted. Through a spokesperson, Obama issued a rare response dismissing her claims as a weak attempt at distraction from the Jeffrey Epstein story.

Gabbard went on the offensive on Fox & Friends.

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President Obamas very carefully worded response that came from his office, again, deflects away from addressing any of the truth that was revealed, Gabbard said Saturday. They would have to admit and actually address the details of their complicity in this or their absolute failure in conducting the most basic responsibilities of, again, asking, where is this intelligence coming from?

Former President Barack Obama's office called Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard's claims a

Gabbards allegations come as the presidents supporters have revolted over a July 6 report from the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) finding that discraced financier Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019, rather than being murdered, and that no client list of wealthy co-conspirators existsconspiracies Trump has promoted and now fallen victim to.

Obamas spokesperson, Patrick Rodenbush, said last week that the claims represented the constant nonsense and misinformation that stemmed from the Trump administration.

The 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, he said. These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio.

Gabbard's accusations come as the Trump administration has been embroiled in a MAGA report over the Epstein files. / Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images

Rodenbush declined to comment on Gabbards latest retort.

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Gabbard has described the Obama administrations intelligence findings as seditious and treasonous, releasing documents that she said prove Russia did not interfere with the 2016 election and that Obama officials relied too heavily on a dossier outlining Trumps ties to Russia.

The Obama administrationand the first Trump administrationdid not claim Russia changed any votes in 2016 but instead launched an influence campaign designed to sway voters to support Trump.

Still, Gabbard has urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate and charge government officials such as former FBI Director James Comey, former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan, and Obama himself.

Gabbard has asked the Justice Department to investigate claims the Obama administration cooked up intelligence on Russian election interference to hurt President Donald Trump's campaign. / Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Trump has urged reporters to investigate Gabbards claims and amplified the case on Truth Social, sharing a nearly nine-minute segment on Saturday from Mark Levins Fox News show that attacked Obama.

Meanwhile, as the Epstein saga continued to consume his administration, Trump has deflected questions and told reporters on Friday to look at other friends of Epstein, including former President Bill Clinton.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Two people who were apprehended in a special multi-agency operation fighting child sex crimes have been sentenced by a judge Friday.

According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Darryl and Carmen Foley were both sentenced to 25 years for dozens of charges involving the sexual assault and pornography distribution of children. Both pleaded guilty to the following charges:

Darryl Edwin Foley: 7 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, 10 counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, 3 counts of statutory sex offense with a child by an adult and 2 counts of first-degree statutory rape.

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Carmen Delia Foley: 13 counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, 2 counts of statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult and 2 counts of aid and abetting first-degree statutory rape.

16 arrested across North Carolina for child sex crimes: NC SBI

The couple was arrested in February 2024 amongst 14 others in an investigation dubbed Operation Winter Guardian. The special task force had 44 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including NC SBIs Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Gaston County Police Department and the Garner Police Department.

During their investigation, agents found that the child victims ranged in age between 1 and 12 years old. Agents went undercover, pretending to be children, to participate in online chats with suspects who sought to meet children for sexual activity. After the task force executed search warrants at several locations throughout North Carolina in known distribution points of child pornography, arrests were made  including the Foleys.

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According to court records, both Foleys were charged with disturbing graphic sexual materials of children engaging in sexual activities. Court records also showed that Darryl Foley engaged in sexual activities with children as young as 2 years old.

The SBI is extremely proud of the hard work of our agents and the partnership with the Garner Police Department to bring these people to justice.

In addition to the 25-year prison sentence, both Foleys are ordered to be registered sex offenders and to wear satellite-based monitoring for life.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Walls, tall and deadly, line three sides of Gaza. On the fourth lies the sea, stretching out to the horizon.

Its waters, and the fish within them, have long nourished Gazans isolated from the outside world.

Today, its beaches offer no respite and little shelter for the displaced, with the fishermen that once plied the shores now banned from the Mediterranean, stripping people of another desperately-needed food source.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reiterated a security order banning Gazans from even swimming off the coast earlier this month.

And, as Israeli forces patrol the shore with deadly force, only the truly desperate brave the waves to try and fish another days survival.

Salvation just out of reach

As the world reels from images of skeletal Palestinian children and Israels conduct faces growing international criticism Gazans are focused on finding the next meal.

The sea has become one of the sole sources of food  albeit one now prohibited by Israel  for people on the brink of famine.

Despite the risks posed by Israeli naval forces, some fishermen prefer to risk the water rather than the fatal gunfire in the shadow of aid points.

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We dont have any other source of food but this one, fisherman Ziyad Abu Amira told CNN. If I dont bring it to my children today I die.

I will not go run after (aid) trucks, this is my way, he said.

Ziyad Abu Amira speaks with CNN. - CNN

Even scraps of fish have become meals for some. Seven-year-old Fayzas voice is tiny as she proffers the morsels shes scavenged from fishing nets.

I wait for the fishermen to come out of the sea and give me some, I come every day and take a little bit and head back, she told CNN.

Further along the beach, Hussam Saadalla, 8, is an unlikely breadwinner for his nine relatives.

With a net he fashioned with a friend, he casts out into the shallows, catching the occasional tiny fish, a haul barely large enough to fill one of the childs hands. Im throwing the net because we want to eat, he told CNN.

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Im always afraid of the naval boats, if we come a bit deeper there the naval ships shoot.

Waves as walls

Gazans entering the water risk death from Israeli boats and aircraft, as the humanitarian crisis reaches new lows.

Even before 2023, fishermen risked being killed, shot at and detained by Israeli forces for straying too far from the coast.

Since Israels war with Hamas started more than 21 months ago, most fishing boats have been destroyed and Palestinians fishing just meters from the shore have been targeted, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The UN has stated that Gazas fisheries industry is now working at just 7.3% of its pre-war production capacity. - Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters

After the IDF announced the latest edict on Palestinians not entering the sea, we came back after two days, fisherman Ziyad Abu Amira told CNN as he tended to his nets. We cant see our children hungry.

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For years, Gazans havent had free access to this precious natural resource. Israeli limits on fishing activities have fluctuated with tensions with Hamas, with limits of just three nautical miles and even previous total bans on fishing imposed at times.

These limits on navigation had a direct correlation on the quality of catch available to Gazan fishermen in deeper waters.

According to the United Nations, Gazas fishermen produced some 4,660 tons of catch annually prior to the October 7 attacks.

Fishing supported local communities economically, providing a critical source of protein for the Gazan population and (contributing) significantly to poverty alleviation and resilience against food insecurity, the UN said in a report from May 2025.

Palestinian fishermen sell the day's catch at the port Gaza City. - Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images

Today, after Israeli forces have almost completely destroyed the Gazan fishing fleet and fish farm infrastructure, that yield is now a mere 60 tons, with fish farms completely out of operation, according to Gazas agriculture ministry.

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The UN has stated that Gazas fisheries industry is now working at just 7.3% of its pre-war production capacity.

The Mediterranean has also been the site of some of the most high-profile international efforts to intercede on Gazans behalf. In 2010, a convoy of aid-laden civilian ships from Turkey attempted to break the blockade.

Israeli commandos raided the vessels, killing nine Turkish activists and spurring an onslaught of global criticism. Earlier this year, climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained by Israeli forces in a largely symbolic attempt to reach the Gazan coast in an aid boat.

Yet the waters still hold little solace for Gaza.

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Ismail Al Amoudi, 16, comes from a family of fishermen. He now looks at the waves differently.

Everyone is afraid when they go into the sea, he told CNN. We see death before our eyes.

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The Government is closely monitoring the Subarnarekha, Jalaka and Baitarani rivers after the incessant rainfall has created a flood-like situation in the areas of Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur district of Northern Odisha. The Baitarani river has crossed the danger mark at Akhuapada, prompting the administration to issue a flood warning for Jajpur and Bhadrak districts. Speaking with ANI, Chief Engineer of Water Resources Lingraj Gaur said, "The catchment of the Baitrani river experienced heavy rainfall on Friday. We got rainfall of around 150mm to 200 mm for three days in some places. There is definitely a flood-like situation." "Akhuapada danger level is 18.33, and now the present level is 18.8. We are observing that increase of 12mm per hour. So it might go upto 19 or more than that. A flood-like situation is there, but not a heavy flood," he added. On the other hand, floodwaters from the Jalka river have inundated several areas in the Basta block, prompting the government to vacate four blocks. The government has begun rescue and relief work in the area, providing food to around 260 people and rescuing 22 people and 15 animals, according to Additional Collector Sudhakar Naik. "There is a flood in the Jalka river today. As a result, the Basta block has been affected. Four areas of the block are being vacated... Cooked food was provided to around 260 people. Three fire brigades and two Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force have been deployed there. 22 people and 15 animals have been rescued. There has been no loss of life or property... The water of the Jalka River is not expected to increase tomorrow." Additional Collector Naik said. Additional Collector Naik further said that the administration is anticipating a flood in the Subarnarekha River today. "We are anticipating a flood in the Subarnarekha River today. It could reach the danger level... We are prepared for it," he said. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) have issued a yellow warning for Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj for Sunday. (ANI)
Germany's Green Party is calling on Chancellor Friedrich Merz to launch a European initiative for a political process towards a peace solution in Gaza, against the backdrop of a looming hunger crisis in the embattled territory.

"Given the dramatic and unacceptable humanitarian situation in Gaza, the German government must finally move from the sidelines of commentary to action," party co-leader Franziska Brantner told dpa in Berlin.

"A ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages can only be the first step. Above all, a European initiative for a political process is urgently needed, as this cannot be left solely in Trump's hands," she said, referring to the US president.

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This process must secure Israel's right to exist as well as ensure the Palestinians' survival in dignity and self-determination with their own state, Brantner said. This could realistically only be achieved with the Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, she said.

"The necessary capitulation of Hamas would massively accelerate the recognition of Palestine," she added.

Serious pressure on Israel is needed

The Green party co-leader said Israel must face serious pressure, including "a halt to arms exports for use in Gaza, the suspension of trade facilitations and sanctions against Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir." The two far-right politicians support, among other things, the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Merz should lead such an initiative, together with the European Union, France and the United Kingdom, Brantner said.
Germany's Green Party is calling on Chancellor Friedrich Merz to launch a European initiative for a political process towards a peace solution in Gaza, against the backdrop of a looming hunger crisis in the embattled territory.

"Given the dramatic and unacceptable humanitarian situation in Gaza, the German government must finally move from the sidelines of commentary to action," party co-leader Franziska Brantner told dpa in Berlin.

"A ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages can only be the first step. Above all, a European initiative for a political process is urgently needed, as this cannot be left solely in Trump's hands," she said, referring to the US president.

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This process must secure Israel's right to exist as well as ensure the Palestinians' survival in dignity and self-determination with their own state, Brantner said. This could realistically only be achieved with the Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, she said.

"The necessary capitulation of Hamas would massively accelerate the recognition of Palestine," she added.

Serious pressure on Israel is needed

The Green party co-leader said Israel must face serious pressure, including "a halt to arms exports for use in Gaza, the suspension of trade facilitations and sanctions against Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir." The two far-right politicians support, among other things, the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

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Merz should lead such an initiative, together with the European Union, France and the United Kingdom, Brantner said.

On Saturday, Merz once again coordinated with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the dramatic situation in the Middle East.

The chancellor later declared: "In the coming days, we will take the next steps in very close coordination."

The British government said that Starmer, Merz and Macron had discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, which they described as appalling.

They emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, as well as the necessity for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid so that Gaza's suffering population could be supplied with food.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has welcomed the agreement reached in the customs dispute between the European Union and the US.

"With the agreement, we have succeeded in averting a trade conflict that would have hit the export-oriented German economy hard," Merz said in a government statement issued on Sunday evening.

This applied in particular to the automotive industry, where the current tariffs of 27.5% have been almost halved, he added.

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Merz emphasized that it was good that an unnecessary escalation in trans-Atlantic trade relations was being avoided.

"The unity of the European Union and the hard work of the negotiators have paid off," he asserted.

Merz thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic.

"The European Commission has my full support in the upcoming negotiations on the details of the agreement," Merz added. Further work was needed to strengthen trade relations with the US, he said.

Merz also pointed out that Europe had been able to safeguard its core interests, even if he would have liked to see further facilitation in trans-Atlantic trade.

"Everyone benefits from stable and predictable trade relations with market access for both sides - on both sides of the Atlantic, companies and consumers alike."
Jul. 27Glacier Medical Associates has opened a new clinic on U.S. 2 in Evergreen with the aim of providing access for more patients in the Flathead Valley.

"We want to take care of you and we want to be in your community. That's why we're here," said Dr. John Kalbfleisch, Glacier Medical Associates' senior physician and medical director of the Evergreen location.

While Glacier Medical Associates' original location is in Whitefish, the clinic expanded to include a Columbia Falls location in 2020 to offer services to more residents. The latest expansion, in Evergreen, is in hope to continue to meet people where they are at through providing primary and walk-in care.

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"We've talked about it for years, but we got serious about it recently. It was just really appreciated in Columbia Falls. It was a way for us to come to our patients, rather than them having to come to us. We wanted to see that happen again," said Kalbfleisch.

The Evergreen clinic features seven exam rooms with potential for growth.

Glacier Medical Associates was established in 2001. The medical clinics offer primary care, acute care, and pediatric care, with a focus on family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and geriatrics.

Expanding into Evergreen made sense for Kalbfleisch, he said, as it is one area that continues to grow quickly in the valley.

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"Evergreen is growing. It's a great community and it's greatly underserved," he said of the available medical resources.

In light of the expansion, Dr. Jonathan Anderson, a Kalispell local who has practiced for over two decades in the community, was brought onto the team.

"We value really competent community-based care and that is him to a tee," Kalbfleisch said, pointing at Anderson.

Anderson previously worked at Logan Health. He will be at the new Glacier Medical location Mondays through Thursdays.

"Primary care covers the whole lifespan of someone and their families," Anderson said. "We have a hometown doctor feel with staff here that can help you."

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Ben Pate, a physician assistant, will join the team in the fall. Megan Groh, also a physician assistant, and Laura Jones, a family nurse practitioner, are also on the team.

"We have very, very competent medical providers and an amazing staff. We want to be an advocate and help you get your health care, not be a barrier to that," Kalbfleisch said.

In this new role, Anderson looks forward to connecting with families, Evergreen residents and others in the area, whether that be at the grocery store or in the exam room. The best part about internal medicine practices is that doctors get invited into people's lives, sometimes throughout their whole life. It's rewarding, he said.

From certifying someone for their Montana Department of Transportation physical to stitching a laceration to taking off a cast, Glacier Medical Associates is simply there to help the community, Kalbfleisch said.

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Glacier Medical Associates in Evergreen, located at 2310 U.S. 2 East, is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clinic is open to walk-ins and urgent care visits.

While the Evergreen clinic is closed on weekends, the urgent care at the location in Whitefish is open.

To learn more, visit glaciermedicalassociates.com.

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4450 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.

Dr. John Kalbfleisch, left, and Dr. Jonathan Anderson, right, at the new Glacier Medical Associates Location in Evergreen. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)

Dr. Jonathan Anderson stands in a Star Wars themed exam room at Glacier Medical Associates in Evergreen. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier Medical Associates in Evergreen. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
Elise Plunk/Louisiana Illuminator

As the planet gets hotter and its reservoirs shrink and its glaciers melt, people have increasingly drilled into a largely ungoverned, invisible cache of fresh water: the vast, hidden pools found deep underground.

Now, a new study that examines the worlds total supply of fresh water  accounting for its rivers and rain, ice and aquifers together  warns that Earths most essential resource is quickly disappearing, signaling what the papers authors describe as a critical, emerging threat to humanity. The landmasses of the planet are drying. In most places there is less precipitation even as moisture evaporates from the soil faster. More than anything, Earth is being slowly dehydrated by the unmitigated mining of groundwater, which underlies vast proportions of every continent. Nearly 6 billion people, or three quarters of humanity, live in the 101 countries that the study identified as confronting a net decline in water supply  portending enormous challenges for food production and a heightening risk of conflict and instability.

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ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.

The paper provides a glimpse of what the future is going to be, said Hrishikesh Chandanpurkar, an earth systems scientist working with Arizona State University and the lead author of the study. We are already dipping from a trust fund. We dont actually know how much the account has.

The research, published Friday in the journal Science Advances, confirms not just that droughts and precipitation are growing more extreme but reports that drying regions are fast expanding. It also found that while parts of the planet are getting wetter, those areas are shrinking. The study, which excludes the ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland, concludes not only that Earth is suffering a pandemic of continental drying in lower latitudes, but that it is the uninhibited pumping of groundwater by farmers, cities and corporations around the world that now accounts for 68% of the total loss of fresh water in those areas, which generally dont have glaciers.

Groundwater is ubiquitous across the globe, but its quality and depth vary, as does its potential to be replenished by rainfall. Major groundwater basins  the deep and often high-quality aquifers  underlie roughly one-third of the planet, including roughly half of Africa, Europe and South America. But many of those aquifers took millions of years to form and might take thousands of years to refill. Instead, a significant portion of the water taken from underground flows off the land through rivers and on to the oceans.

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The researchers were surprised to find that the loss of water on the continents has grown so dramatically that it has become one of the largest causes of global sea level rise. Moisture lost to evaporation and drought, plus runoff from pumped groundwater, now outpaces the melting of glaciers and the ice sheets of either Antarctica or Greenland as the largest contributor of water to the oceans.

The study examines 22 years of observational data from NASAs Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment, or GRACE, satellites, which measure changes in the mass of the earth and have been applied to estimate its water content. The technique was groundbreaking two decades ago when the studys co-author, Jay Famiglietti, who was then a professor at the University of California, at Irvine, used it to pinpoint where aquifers were in decline. Since then, he and others have published dozens of papers using GRACE data, but the question has always lingered: What does the groundwater loss mean in the context of all of the water available on the continents? So Famiglietti, now a professor at Arizona State University, set out to inventory all the land-based water contained in glaciers, rivers and aquifers and see what was changing. The answer: everything, and quickly.

Graffiti covers a pipe that once pulled water from the Mississippi River at Algiers Intake Station 2. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator)

Since 2002, the GRACE sensors have detected a rapid shift in water loss patterns around the planet. Around 2014, though, the pace of drying appears to have accelerated, the authors found, and is now growing by an area twice the size of California each year. Its like this sort of creeping disaster that has taken over the continents in ways that no one was really anticipating, Famiglietti said. (Six other researchers also contributed to the study.) The parts of the world drying most acutely are becoming interconnected, forming what the studys authors describe as mega regions spreading across the earths mid-latitudes. One of those regions covers almost the whole of Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and parts of Asia.

In the American Southwest and California, groundwater loss is a familiar story, but over the past two decades that hot spot has also spread dramatically. It now extends through Texas and up through the southern High Plains, where the Ogallala aquifer is depended on for agriculture, and it spreads south, stretching throughout Mexico and into Central America. These regions are connected not because they rely on the same water sources  in most cases they dont  but because their populations will face the same perils of water stress: the most likely, a food crisis that could ultimately displace millions of people.

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This has to serve as a wake-up call, said Aaron Salzberg, a former fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center and the former director of the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina, who was not involved with the study.

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Research has long established that people take more water from underground when climate-driven heat and drought are at their worst. For example, during droughts when California has enforced restrictions on delivery of surface water to its farmers  which the state regulates  the enormous agriculture enterprises that dominate the Central Valley have drilled deeper and pumped harder, depleting the aquifer  which the state regulates less precisely  even more.

For the most part, such withdrawals have remained invisible. Even with the GRACE data, scientists cannot measure the exact levels or know when an aquifer will be exhausted. But there is one foolproof sign that groundwater is disappearing: The earth above it collapses as the ground compresses like a drying sponge. The visible signs of such subsidence around the world appear to match what the GRACE data says. Mexico City is sinking as its groundwater aquifers are drained, as are large parts China, Indonesia, Spain and Iran, to name a few. A recent study by researchers at Virginia Tech in the journal Nature Cities found that 28 cities across the United States are sinking  New York, Houston and Denver, among them  threatening havoc for everything from building safety to transit. In the Central Valley, the ground surface is nearly 30 vertical feet lower than it was in the first part of the 20th century.

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When so much water is pumped, it has to drain somewhere. Just like rivers and streams fed by rainfall, much of the used groundwater makes its way into the ocean. The study pinpoints a remarkable shift: Groundwater drilled by people, used for agriculture or urban supplies and then discarded into drainages now contributes more water to the oceans than melting from each of the worlds largest ice caps.

People arent just misusing groundwater, they are flooding their own coasts and cities in the process, Famiglietti warns. That means they are also imperiling some of the worlds most important food-producing lowlands in the Nile and Mekong deltas and cities from Shanghai to New York. Once in the oceans, of course, groundwater will never again be suitable for drinking and human use without expensive and energy-sucking treatment or through the natural cycle of evaporating and precipitating as rain. But even then, it may no longer fall where it is needed most. Groundwater is an intergenerational resource that is being poorly managed, if managed at all, the study states, at tremendous and exceptionally undervalued cost to future generations.

That such rapid and substantial overuse of groundwater is also causing coastal flooding underscores the compounding threat of rising temperatures and aridity. It means that water scarcity and some of the most disruptive effects of climate change are now inextricably intertwined. And here, the studys authors implore leaders to find a policy solution: Improve water management and reduce groundwater use now, and the world has a tool to slow the rate of sea level rise. Fail to adjust the governance and use of groundwater around the world, and humanity risks surrendering parts of its coastal cities while pouring out finite reserves it will sorely need as the other effects of climate change take hold.

Wilburn Harris pointed at the low water level of a pond on his farm in Drexel, Missouri, Sept. 16, 2024. Last year, he had to compensate for drought by hauling water onto his farm. (Harshawn Ratanpal/KBIA)

If the drying continues  and the researchers warn that it is now nearly impossible to reverse on human timescales  it heralds potentially staggering and cascading risks for global order. The majority of the earths population lives in the 101 countries that the study identified as losing fresh water, making up not just North America, Europe and North Africa but also much of Asia, the Middle East and South America. This suggests the middle band of Earth is becoming less habitable. It also correlates closely with the places that a separate body of climate research has already identified as a shrinking environmental niche that has suited civilization for the past 6,000 years. Combined, these findings all point to the likelihood of widespread famine, the migration of large numbers of people seeking a more stable environment and the carry-on impact of geopolitical disorder.

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Peter Gleick, a climate scientist and a member of the National Academy of Sciences, lauded the new report for confirming trends that were once theoretical. The ramifications, he said, could be profoundly destabilizing. The massive overpumping of groundwater, Gleick said, poses enormous risk to food production. And food, he pointed out, is the foundation for stability. The water science center he co-founded, the Pacific Institute, has tracked more than 1,900 incidents in which water supplies were either the casualty of, a tool for or the cause of violence. In Syria, beginning in 2011, drought and groundwater depletion drove rural unrest that contributed to the civil war, which displaced millions of people. In Ghana, in 2017, protesters rioted as wells ran dry. And in Ukraine, whose wheat supports much of the world, water infrastructure has been a frequent target of Russian attacks.

Water is being used as a strategic and political tool, said Salzberg, who spent nearly two decades analyzing water security issues as the special director for water resources at the State Department. We should expect to see that more often as the water supply crisis is exacerbated.

India, for example, recently weaponized water against Pakistan. In April, following terrorist attacks in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suspended his countrys participation in the Indus Waters Treaty, a river-sharing agreement between the two nuclear powers that was negotiated in 1960. The Indus system flows northwest out of Tibet into India, before turning southward into Pakistan. Pakistan has severely depleted its groundwater reserves  the region is facing one of the worlds most urgent water emergencies according to the Science Advances paper. The Indus has only become more essential as a supply of fresh water for its 252 million people. Allowing that water to cross the border would be prejudicial to Indias interests, Modi said. In this case, he wasnt attempting to recoup water supply for his country, Salzberg said, but was leveraging its scarcity to win a strategic advantage over his countrys principal rival.

Whats needed most is governance of water that recognizes it as a crucial resource that determines both sovereignty and progress, Salzberg added. Yet there is no international framework for water management, and only a handful of countries have national water policies of their own.

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The United States has taken stabs at regulating its groundwater use, but in some cases those attempts appear to be failing. In 2014, California passed what seemed to many a revolutionary groundwater management act that required communities to assess their total water supply and budget its long-term use. But the act doesnt take full effect until 2040, which has allowed many groundwater districts to continue to draw heavily from aquifers even as they complete their plans to conserve those resources. Chandanpurkar and Famigliettis research underscores the consequences for such a slow approach.

Arizona pioneered groundwater regulations in 1980, creating what it called active management areas where extraction would be limited and surface waters would be used to replenish aquifers. But it only chose to manage the water in metropolitan areas, leaving vast, unregulated swaths of the state where investors, farmers and industry have all pounced on the availability of free water for profit. In recent years, Saudi investors have pumped rural water to grow feed for cattle exported back to the Arabian Peninsula, and hedge funds are competing to pump and sell water to towns near Phoenix. Meanwhile, four out of the original five active management areas are failing to meet the states own targets.

They like to say, Oh, the managements doing well, Famiglietti said, but looking out over the next century, the trends suggest the aquifers will continue to empty out. No one talks about that. I dont think its an exaggeration to say its an existential issue for cities like Phoenix.

Both California and Arizona grow significant portions of Americas fruits and vegetables. Something has to give. If you want to grow food in a place like California, Famiglietti asked, do you just bring in water? If we deplete that groundwater, I dont think theres enough water to really replace what were doing there. The United States might not have much choice, he added, but to move Californias agriculture production somewhere far away and retire the land.

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Chandanpurkar, Famiglietti and the reports other authors suggest there are ready solutions to the problems they have identified, because unlike so many aspects of the climate crisis, the human decisions that lead to the overuse of water can be speedily corrected. Agriculture, which uses the vast majority of the worlds fresh water, can deploy well-tested technologies like drip irrigation, as Israel has, that sharply cut use by as much as 50%. When California farms reduced their take of Colorado River water in 2023 and 2024, the water levels in Lake Mead, the nations largest reservoir, jumped by 16 vertical feet as some 390 billion gallons were saved by 2025. Individuals can reduce water waste by changing simple routines: shortening showers or removing lawns. And cities can look to recycle more of the water they use, as San Diego has.

A national policy that establishes rules around water practices but also prioritizes the use of water resources for national security and a collective interest could counterbalance the forces of habit and special interests, Salzberg said. Every country needs such a policy, and if the United States were to lead, it might offer an advantage. But the U.S. doesnt have a national water strategy, he said, referring to a disjointed patchwork of state and court oversight. We dont even have a national water institution. We havent thought as a country about how we would even protect our own water resources for our own national interests, and were a mess.

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Data source: Hrishikesh. A. Chandanpurkar, James S. Famiglietti, Kaushik Gopalan, David N. Wiese, Yoshihide Wada, Kaoru Kakinuma, John T. Reager, Fan Zhang (2025). Unprecedented Continental Drying, Shrinking Freshwater Availability, and Increasing Land Contributions to Sea Level Rise. Science Advances. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adx0298

Visual editing by Alex Bandoni. Additional design and development by Anna Donlan.
Promoting President Donald Trumps tax-and-spending bill over the past few months, Trump and Congressional Republicans have repeatedly cited waste, fraud, and abuse as the reason for cutting Medicaid by billions of dollars nationally in cuts that could reach $880 billion over 10 years.

But in Connecticut, officials say that fraud is not widespread.

State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, a West Hartford Democrat who co-chairs the legislatures human services committee, said the Connecticut statistics do not show widespread fraud.

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Of course, there will always be fraud in most programs or any policy we pass, Gilchrest told The Courant in an interview.

But the data does not illustrate what the Republicans in Congress make it out to be. What were seeing federally is that the Trump administration and those in Congress are trying to make cuts to the Medicaid program by blaming it on fraud, waste, and abuse when thats not the case.

The issue of fraud largely is related to medical providers like doctors and therapists who have been prosecuted rather than low-income patients seeking health coverage.

Certainly there is a difference between patient fraud and provider fraud, Gilchrest said. I think whats being painted is this picture as if there are many individuals who utilize Medicaid for their health care and are doing it fraudulently, and thats just not the case.

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Medicaid is a gigantic program that spends $9 billion annually in Connecticut alone. It covers money for hospitals, nursing homes, prescriptions, home care for the elderly and dental coverage for adults and children, among other services for more than 1 million people.

Rep. Tammy Nuccio, the ranking House Republican on the budget-writing appropriations committee, said Democrats are overreacting to the federal cuts that will not take place for another 18 months and downplaying the amount of fraud.

For them to minimize it is just disturbing, Nuccio told The Courant in an interview. Any fraud is bad fraud. I dont think there is an acceptable level of fraud. There is definitely fraud at the provider level.

Certain aspects of the Republican-written bill, she said, will be helpful, including creating a federal database that is designed to catch anyone claiming Medicaid benefits in multiple states.

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How do CT Republicans feel about Trumps Big Beautiful Bill? Heres what they said

I dont find that crazy, Nuccio said of the new database. That was one of the big things. How are we going to know if somebody has also registered in Massachusetts for Medicaid? At the federal level, with creating the database, theyll be able to identify that. That is fraud.

Noting that children and those with physical and mental disabilities will not lose their benefits, Nuccio said she has no problems with making sure that those who are eligible will remain eligible and those who are not.

I dont see why everybody is worried about tightening and making sure people arent doing something fraudulently, Nuccio said. I dont see any of this as bad. Oversight, transparency, and ensuring that the people who need these services are getting these services is not a bad thing. I dont think they should be getting it if they dont qualify.

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The federal matching database must be created under the law by October 2029, and a social services spokeswoman said that the state already uses another system that checks and matches out-of-state duplicates.

Both at the state Capitol and in political campaigns, Medicaid fraud has been an issue of concern.

Democrat Jack Perry, who has pledged $500,000 of his own money in a Democratic primary campaign against U.S. Rep. John B. Larson of East Hartford, said that Republicans have overstated the matter.

That breaks down to be fear-mongering, Perry said in an interview. Medicaid is something that were going to have to continue to fight for. Health care is a human right. Lets call it what it is: Its going to affect the working and middle class and those who are retiring.  Thats the standard political case  fear-mongering. Im sure that anybody could find something. The question is is it a sizable amount or is it very small bits and pieces. You dont want one or two to ruin it for millions.

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He added, Obviously, if you find proof, you can find how its being abused, and then you can fix that. Thats how you fix a problem, not just getting rid of it and cutting it. Its an excuse to get rid of a problem.

Connecticut cases

In Connecticut, 79% of the families aged 18 to 54 who are on Medicaid are currently working, said Andrea Barton Reeves, the states social services commissioner. That goes against the stereotype that the recipients are lazy or not working or simply want to get free health coverage, she said.

While fraud cases collectively have involved millions of dollars, officials say the cases are a relatively small percentage of a multifaceted program involving $9 billion annually.

Prosecutors have handled cases through the years involving doctors, dentists, counselors, and various medical providers.

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The U.S. Attorneys office handles federal cases, while the Chief States Attorneys office operates a Medicaid fraud control unit that prosecutes state cases. In addition, the state attorney generals office oversees civil cases, and the state social services department runs a specialized unit that also investigates individual recipients. The state agencies collect millions of dollars each year in cases under their jurisdictions.

The following are among the cases :

 Suhail Aponte, 38, who worked in the governors budget office from May 2022 until November 2024, pleaded guilty on April 30 in a case with a co-conspirator that cost the state $1.8 million and involved submitting fraudulent claims for applied behavior analysis services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. Aponte, of Wethersfield, and her co-conspirator, Ramon Appellaniz of Middletown, were not licensed providers. Aponte has not been sentenced, but Appellaniz was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison and was released last year. Apellaniz conspired with Aponte and ran the company under a pseudonym, including while he was incarcerated in state custody, prosecutors said.

 Bobby R. Kato, 47, was sentenced on July to serve one year in prison after pleading guilty to three felony charges in a case involving $1.3 million for more than 14,000 fraudulent Medicaid claims for psychotherapy sessions that were not performed. He was ordered to pay full restitution in the prosecution by the chief states attorneys office.

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 Michael B. Pines, a 75-year-old psychologist from Avon, was sentenced last year to 27 months in federal prison and ordered to make full restitution of $1.6 million to Medicaid after pleading guilty in the case.

Specifically, Pines submitted claims for dates of service when no services of any kind had been provided to the Medicaid clients identified in the claims, including when he was traveling, on vacation, recovering from surgery, or otherwise not working, prosecutors said. He also submitted claims when an appointment had been canceled, when the claimed client was in the hospital, when he had stopped treating the claimed client, and when the claimed client had never been his client. In addition, when Pines treated multiple Medicaid clients in the same family at the same time, he billed Medicaid for the group visit as multiple individual claims, a practice that he knew was not permitted by Medicaid.

 Gregory C. Banks, 50, of Brookfield was sentenced in federal court in Hartford in 2023 to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $1 million as a behavioral health clinician that involved fraudulent health care claims.

Banks submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for counseling services that were purportedly provided to Medicaid clients, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Specifically, Banks submitted claims for dates of service when no services of any kind had been provided to the Medicaid clients identified in the claims.

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During an audit by the state Department of Social Services in 2021, Banks sent an email to DSS in which he falsely represented that one of the files DSS requested was destroyed by a water leak above his office when, in fact, no such water leak had occurred, according to federal prosecutors.

 State Attorney General William Tong reached a $4.9 million False Claims Act settlement in 2020 with a husband-and-wife couple who were both doctors.

Crispin and Antonieta Abarientos ran what amounts to a long-term double-billing scheme that defrauded Connecticut taxpayers of millions of dollars, Tong said at the time. This major False Claims Act settlement holds the couple accountable for the damages they caused the state. Working in close collaboration with our state and federal partners, my office will aggressively protect our taxpayer-funded healthcare programs.

Crispin Abarientos was sentenced to serve 37 months in prison after pleading guilty in federal court. His wife cooperated in the investigation and did not face criminal charges.

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Tongs annual General Assembly Medicaid joint report for the 2024 fiscal year showed that 82 investigations were opened  more than one per week  with 31 cases opened by the Department of Social Services, among others. The attorney generals office also had 488 false claims civil cases pending at the end of the 2022 fiscal year and 373 pending cases at the end of the 2024 fiscal year.

At the social services department, statistics for the 2024 fiscal year show that 351 medical providers were audited and $17.4 million in overpayments were recovered from dentists, hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, pharmacies, and therapists, among others.

The chief states attorneys office said it opened 48 new cases for investigation during the federal fiscal year that ended March 30, 2025, compared to 54 in the previous reporting period. The Medicaid fraud unit made 10 arrests that led to 10 convictions. The unit had 161 pending cases and made $8.18 million in civil and criminal recoveries combined.

The criminal and civil recoveries were $3.67 million in the 2024 fiscal year and $21.1 million in the 2023 fiscal year  meaning that $33 million was recovered over the past three years. Those involved in the investigations included doctors, dentists, clinical social workers, speech pathologists, personal care attendants, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, among others.

Undocumented immigrants coverage

Another slice of the Medicaid program is money spent on undocumented immigrants. Republicans and Democrats have clashed sharply at the state Capitol over the numbers as Republicans called for budget cuts of $116 million over two years by ending Medicaid coverage for illegal immigrants. But state social services commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves and the legislatures nonpartisan fiscal analysts say the cost is about $40 million per year.

House Republican leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford recently questioned the ongoing costs of the program.

Whether its $40 million or $100 million, should the state of Connecticut or any state be providing health insurance to illegal immigrants? Candelora asked. The state of Connecticut is providing a Cadillac plan to illegal immigrants. Our federal government cant keep giving everything away.

The undocumented health benefits go to a relatively narrow category of recipients in Connecticut as they are limited to children up to the age of 15, along with pregnant and postpartum women. An able-bodied, 35-year-old undocumented male, for example, would not qualify, officials said. If the male arrives at a hospital emergency room, he would need to be treated under the law, but he would not be covered under Medicaid for non-hospital care, officials said.

White House view

Nationally, Medicaid serves as the chief health program for 83 million low-income people across the country and covers about 20% of all health care spending, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Medicaid is administered by the states but is jointly financed with the federal government.

While Democrats have repeatedly blasted Trumps big bill for cutting Medicaid, the White House has said the legislation will end up protecting Medicaid for American citizens who need it for their health care.

This strengthens Medicaid for Americans who rely on it  like pregnant women, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families  while eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse, the White House said.

At a televised press conference earlier this year, House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said, Medicaid is hugely problematic because it has a lot of fraud, waste, and abuse. Everybody knows that. We all know it intuitively. No one in here would disagree.

Johnson added that the fraud nationally amounts to an estimated $50 billion per year.

Those are precious taxpayer dollars, Johnson said. Everybody is committed to preserving benefits for those who desperately need it and deserve it and qualify for it. What were talking about is rooting out the fraud, waste, and abuse. It doesnt matter what party youre in. You should be for that because it saves your money, and it preserves the programs so that it is available for the people who desperately need it.

In Connecticut, the Medicaid cuts will directly impact a series of nonprofit organizations that hold state contracts to deliver services, such as group homes, at a price that is often lower than those offered by state employees who generally have higher salaries and pensions.

Vulnerable kids and adults in Connecticut get Medicaid-funded services from nonprofits to address mental health and substance abuse, autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as basic physical health care, said Gian Carl Casa, a former state budget official who is now president of the Connecticut Community Nonprofit Alliance. Reducing eligibility for health care doesnt make need go away. It doesnt cut waste, fraud or abuse. It just means fewer people who need services will get help, and more will turn to far more costly emergency rooms.

The state legislature, Nuccio said, should not make any quick moves because the budget cuts will not take effect for more than a year. During that time, she said, state officials should try to help able-bodied recipients who might lose their benefits. They could be placed in community colleges or join programs to learn to be truck drivers, machinists or many other positions, she said.

We have until 2027 to figure this out, Nuccio said. We have every program in place to do it. These Medicaid changes are not taking effect for 18-plus months. We have time to sit here and to seriously figure out who are the people, how we can help them and how do we get them where we need them to be.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
Division between Republican lawmakers over the Jeffrey Epstein files continued to intensify even as President Donald Trump and his administration seeks to redirect scrutiny toward the presidents political foes and the 2016 election.

Signs of mounting pressure to respond to calls for transparency appeared last week when a GOP-majority House Oversight subcommittee voted to subpoena the Department of Justice for files related to Epstein. House Oversight Chair James Comer has also subpoenaed Epsteins accomplice and former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, for a deposition.

Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence in Tallahassee, Florida, for sex trafficking of minors also met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Thursday and Friday for questioning.

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Those developments come as some Republicans question the DOJs handling of the files and others urge the administration to share unreleased information with the public.

Missouri Republican Rep. Eric Burlison on Sunday called it a political mistake for the administration to have raised expectations about new revelations related to Epstein.

I think that part of this problem is that there were some false expectations that are created, and thats, thats a political mistake, Burlison told CNNs Manu Raju. I think that saying that youre going to be able to deliver when you havent even looked at all of the files and whats available was probably a misstep.

Burlison has also said that a large percentage of the calls his office has received in recent days are related to the Epstein case, with many concerned the government might be keeping secrets from them. Now that House lawmakers are back in their districts for August recess, theyll likely be fielding questions about this directly from constituents.

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On Friday, another GOP representative, Mike Kennedy of Utah, who is a practicing physician, compared the files to a festering oil-infected wound with pus underneath that could get worse if not treated properly.

In the case of this Epstein stuff, absolutely let it out, he said.

Kennedy pledged to push for full transparency in the matter and that he would vote immediately to get all that released, permitted that the identities of victims are concealed.

GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna are trying to bypass House Speaker Mike Johnson and force a vote on a separate bill calling for the release of the files. Massie, a Kentucky lawmaker who broke with Trump over the presidents sweeping agenda bill, will need a majority of House members to sign on to their discharge petition to force a floor vote.

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For his part, Johnson has repeatedly said he supports transparency. On Sunday, the Louisiana Republican defended his handling of the efforts to release Epstein-related information as he faces a split conference.

Let me be absolutely clear. As we have been from the very beginning, House Republicans insist upon the release of all credible evidence and information related to Epstein in any way, he said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press.

Massie and Khannas petition, he insisted, was reckless in the way that it is drafted and presented, arguing that it did not include adequate protections for victims. He also pushed back on claims he adjourned the House early for August recess to avoid the petition, pointing out the petition would not ripen until Friday when the House was already scheduled to be out.

Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin told CNNs Jake Tapper on Sunday that Congress does not have the ability to force the release of the files, and that judges have to decide to release grand jury evidence, pointing toward a Florida federal judge declining to release additional grand jury documents last week.

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(Attorney General) Pam Bondi has called on the judges to release it. Trump has called on them to release it, and Congress has called on them to release it. But we cant, because there is a true co-equal branch of government so we cant force a judicial branch to do anything, he said.

The grand jury testimony the department seeks to release, however, is only a small portion of the thousands of documents related to the Epstein investigation and criminal case. Many of those documents are already in DOJ custody and may not have been presented to the jury.

Judges have already released hundreds of documents in the Epstein saga. The majority of those held back were deemed unsuitable to be released because of federal laws that protect the privacy of Epstein victims and people not charged with crimes.

This all comes as Trump continues a five-day trip to Scotland, where he announced Sunday that the United States and the European Union reached a framework for a trade deal after talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

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When asked by a reporter at press conference if part of the reason for getting the deal done was to distract from the Epstein-related uproar, Trump said, Youve got to be kidding me. No. It had nothing to do with it.

The president has deflected questions on the topic, claiming limited knowledge on the investigation, even though reports have emerged that he was told in May by Bondi that his name appeared in the files.

Over the weekend, Trump also expanded his calls for the prosecution of political enemies. On Sunday, citing no evidence of wrongdoing, the president took to social media to call for the prosecution of former Vice President Kamala Harris and several prominent celebrities, including Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey, accusing them of illegally receiving payments in exchange for endorsing Democratic candidates, including Harris.

CNN has fact-checked the Beyonce claim, and found it did not happen.

CNNs Hannah Rabinowitz, Kara Scannell, Aileen Graeff, Christian Sierra and Sarah Davis contributed to this report.

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BOSTON (WWLP)  The National Governors Association (NGA) has elected Governor Maura Healey to its Executive Committee, which supervises the associations functions and priorities.

Governor Healey was elected to the committee on Saturday among eight other members. The Executive Committee is elected annually, serving as guidance for the entire NGA on all policy issues and identifying key issues to address at the state, national, and global levels.

Rural and volunteer fire departments in Mass. receive state funding

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The NGA is comprised of the leaders of the countrys states, territories, and commonwealths, working together to determine how best to serve their communities. The Executive Committee has authority and primary jurisdiction over issues involving federalism, homeland security, the federal budget, and federal tax policy.

Joining Governor Healey on the committee are NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, NGA Vice Chair and 2026-2027 Chair-elect Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, Indiana Governor Mike Braun, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. Colorado Governor Jared Polis will also be serving on the committee as Past Chair.

The leadership of Governors has never been more important than in this moment. We are working every single day to deliver for our residents on the issues that matter most in their lives  affordability, jobs, housing, education, health care, and public safety, said Governor Healey. Im honored that my colleagues have placed their faith in me to take on this leadership role on NGAs Executive Committee. I look forward to working with Chair Stitt, Vice Chair Moore and the other members of the Committee to learn from one another and advocate for our states.

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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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Sources say two prominent Democrats are stepping away from a national bipartisan organization that brings together the chief executives of all 50 states, citing a lack of pushback to Trump administration policies and to some recent threats to state funding and operations.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association (DGA), will be leaving the National Governors Association (NGA) at the end of the month, a source familiar with her thinking told ABC News.

She will actively step back from the organization, not only by not paying dues but also by withdrawing from promoting or taking part in any NGA-associated work, the source said.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the former DGA chair, is also cutting ties with the NGA and will stop paying dues to the organization next year as he is "reassessing" his membership, another source told ABC News.

Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images - PHOTO: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks at a campaign rally in Cobb County, Ga., Nov. 3, 2024.

MORE: Trump says calling Walz after Minnesota shootings would be 'waste of time'

The two governors are stepping away at a time when the association appears to engage in fewer bipartisan initiatives and advocate less for states as they face uncertainty around some of the Trump administration's policies and Congress' recent cuts to federal funding, according to the second source, who called that a departure from the group's past work to champion local issues.

The NGA is "not living up to the most fundamental aspect of its mission statement" while Congress and the Trump administration are "dismantling solutions-based governance," said the source familiar with Kelly's thinking.

What the NGA says

The National Governors Association is a bipartisan organization that brings together the nation's governors to work on state and local issues and to liaise with the federal government. Every year, the leadership of the organization alternates between Democrats and Republicans. The current chair is Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, of Colorado.

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Asked about the departure of Walz and Kelly, NGA spokesperson Eric Wohlschlegel said the organization "continues to see strong engagement from governors across the country, with record attendance at recent convenings and bipartisan participation across all major initiatives."

The second source said some governors and their staff feel frustrated because they feel the group hasn't pushed back enough on Trump administration policies that directly impact their states.

That source said that there is a "a shocking lack of willingness to speak out on states' rights and federal overreach. Silence on the one set of issues that all governors should agree on."

The source added: "There are a lot of ways governors coordinate on a bipartisan basis and this is simply too great an expense to taxpayers for the value we get in return right now."

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Kelly would be "open" to staying in the organization should it return to work on bipartisan, local-focused issues, according to the source familiar with her thinking.

Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images - PHOTO: Incumbent Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly speaks to volunteers and supporters during a "Get Out The Vote" canvassing event at Shawnee County Democrats office, Nov. 7, 2022, in Topeka, Kansas.

MORE: Trans youth care ban vetoed by Kansas governor again

Kelly, the leader of the Democratic governors' group, is not advocating for her peers to follow her direction in leaving the NGA.

What other governors say

Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, of Maryland, the incoming vice-chair of the NGA, told ABC News Friday that he counts Kelly and Walz among his friends. He said he's heard similar frustrations about the group, and finds them totally understandable.

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"I've definitely heard it. And I think a lot of the frustration is justified, because I don't think this organization has really moved with a sense of urgency on some of these topics that they needed to," said Moore, who added that the group's silence on Trump's public spat with Maine Gov. Janet Mills "can never and should never be tolerated again."

The source familiar with Kelly's thinking also cited silence from the group when Congress passed a recissions package earlier this month, which cut a chunk of critical federal funding that Kansas relies on, as well as silence from the group when Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles in response to the protests over immigration enforcement. The Guard is typically authorized by governors.

Still, Moore said he believes the NGA provides value in having a direct line to bipartisan collaboration, and that the "virtue of this organization is one that's worth fighting for.

"I respect the frustration that some of my colleagues have, I also know that I feel like we have a responsibility to actually work to fix it and address it," said Moore.

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Moore said he believes that Walz and Kelly could come back into the fold after he takes the helm and pushes the leadership on improving.

"I think they also know that I hear their frustrations, and I plan on addressing their frustrations," said Moore.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, is the incoming NGA chair.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images - PHOTO: Oklahoma Town Of Barnsdall Hit By Deadly Tornado

He said while he's friends with Walz and Kelly, he thinks their decision to walk away isn't the right one.

"I don't think you should take your ball and go home," Stitt told reporters Saturday. "Working together for all 50 states in the benefits of our country, and our states, it's hard and it's messy and we should be able to debate what is the right policy. But let's not take our ball and go home. Let's sit here and let's talk about what is the best thing that we can do for America."

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New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who chaired the NGA from 2022-2023, told ABC Saturday morning that he hadn't heard of the concerns from Democrats until recently. While he is a "huge fan" of both Kelly and Walz, Murphy said he doesn't agree with the decision to pull back from the organization.

"I respect their decisions. I just don't agree with that," he said. "I think the NGA is a very valuable entity. Does that mean everybody we're going to hear from today be inviting over to my house for dinner? No, for sure. But the fact of the matter is, we come together in common cause to try to find common ground. I think it does a very good job of that, is it perfect? No, and it's also a very personal reason for me, in the sense of you get to walk in the other guy's shoes, hear different perspectives."

Murphy continued: "I don't care if I'm sitting next to a Republican governor or a Democratic governor, we're there, as they say, to find common ground, to get to know each other. I think that has great value."
As the Dragon Bravo Fire climbed toward Grand Canyon Lodge, I tried to remember how many times Id stood beside it. Was it five or six?

I visited the North Rim as a boy, took my kids there and returned after they moved away. The lodge was both way station and gateway to 277 miles of intricately exposed rock.

I felt impossibly small beside it.

I hugged my wife and children there in 2001 before running down to the Colorado River and lumbering back up.

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I took solace from the pandemic there in 2020 before hiking rim-to-rim.

Most visitors to the North Rim went no further than the lodge. They never set foot on Bright Angel Trail or North Kaibab.

They didnt have to. For better or worse, Grand Canyon Lodge democratized Arizonas northern wilderness. The very young and the very old took part. Im certain the lodge is featured in millions of family photo albums.

To learn more about its history, I invited author Tom Zoellner to write a eulogy of sorts. A former staff writer at The Republic, Zoellner wrote Rim to River: Looking into the Heart of Arizona, a remarkable literary exploration of the Grand Canyon State.

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While I'd had some significant conversations in the Sun Room and some nice suppers in the dining room, I didn't really get to know the lodge until I walked southbound on the Arizona Trail in 2019, Zoellner told me. I spent the evening of my 51st birthday camping just to the west of the lodge in preparation for a hike through the Canyon, and woke up to one of the finest views in the whole of the American West after a four-day slog down from Buckskin Mountain on the Utah border.

Remembering the lodge: Fire destroys North Rim Lodge, but not its singular place in the Grand Canyon's story

Fire is no stranger to Grand Canyon

Ive felt the same rush of blood and emotion waking up at the bottom of the Canyon.

Though the settlement on the North Rim is sparse, it looked as dense and inviting as Hong Kong after even a short time spent alone in the pine and aspen woods, Zoellner said. It was easy to see why so many experienced Canyon travelers vastly preferred it to the South Rim.

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Since a lightning strike on July 4 ignited Dragon Bravo, Republic journalists have chronicled efforts to direct its course and limit its damage. Weve mined National Park Service records and data to publish interactive illustrations and a series of insightful stories from The Republics talented climate and environment desk.

Some of the first onsite reporting of the lodges burned-out shell was done by reporter Stacey Barchenger and photographer Joe Rondone on a tour with Gov. Katie Hobbs and federal and state fire officials.

Readers have responded in extraordinary ways, sharing memories and photos with photo editor Michael Meister and associate news director Steve Kilar. With help from readers, weve published outtakes from nearly 100 years of family visits to the North Rim. All of the coverage can be found at azcentral.com.

Fire is no stranger to this sacred space. One of my favorite videos of the Dragon Bravo Fires progress was captured by photographer Michael Chow. With contributions from reporters Perry Vandell and Rey Covarrubias Jr., breaking news editor Michelle Cruz gave readers a look behind the lens in a story about Chows painstaking preparation.

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Fire is natures reordering. Were watching it take place in real time. Thanks to Tom Zoellner, we can reflect on the Canyon lodges past before learning more about its future.

Greg Burton is the executive editor of The Arizona Republic.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Dragon Bravo Fire burned the Grand Canyon Lodge, but not its legacy
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh took a jibe at the Centre over US President Donald Trump "for the 26th time" claiming to have brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Sharing President Trump's X post on Saturday, Ramesh mentioned that while mediating between Cambodia and Thailand, Trump again claimed that the US arbitrated between India and Pakistan. "President Trump is now mediating between Cambodia and Thailand and is using the opportunity to make the claim - for the 26th time - on a US-brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan," Jairam Ramesh wrote. As the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia enters its fourth day, US President Donald Trump, once again jumping on his trade bandwagon, called for a ceasefire after holding calls with the heads of state of both nations, while drawing parallels to the India-Pakistan conflict. According to a series of posts on Truth Social on Saturday (local time), the US President has once again leveraged trade negotiations in order to broker a ceasefire and peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand. He drew an analogy, remarking that this conflict "very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt." Jairam Ramesh's remarks come amid Congress' continuous attack against the Centre over the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. Earlier on Saturday, Ramesh lashed out at the Modi government, alleging "failure" of Indian diplomacy, and said that the Prime Minister's friendship with US President Donald Trump was "proving to be hollow". "The PM's clean chit to China on June 19, 2020, has already cost India heavily. His much-boasted friendship with President Trump is now proving to be hollow," Ramesh, Congress (General Secretary) incharge of Communications, posted on X. "The abject failure of Indian diplomacy, especially in the past two months, is revealed most tellingly by four facts. These expose the tall claims made by the Prime Minister and his drum-beaters and cheerleaders. Since May 10, 2025, President Trump has claimed 25 times that he personally intervened to stop Operation Sindoor, threatening India and Pakistan that if they didn't bring the war to a halt, they would not have a trade agreement with the USA," Ramesh said. (ANI)
The Greek government has requested assistance from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help fight the fires raging in various parts of the country.

"We have requested six firefighting aircraft," fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis told Greek radio on Sunday. He said two aircraft were expected to arrive from Italy in the afternoon.

Fires have broken out in several parts of Greece due to prolonged drought and strong winds. On Saturday, firefighters battled blazes in northern Athens, on the islands of Crete, Kythira and Euboea, and on the Peloponnese peninsula.

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The fires in northern Athens were brought under control. The fire brigade said the situation is also improving in other regions but the danger persists.

Due to the long period of drought, even a single spark is enough to cause a wildfire, meteorologists have warned.

Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fires.
Credit: Reuters

Wildfires raged through Greece for a second day with several popular tourist islands among the worst-hit areas.

Firefighters battled five fires on Sunday across the islands of Evia, Kythira and Crete, as well as in the Peloponnese area, west of Athens, as temperatures reached highs of 40C.

Giorgos Komninos, the deputy mayor of the island, told ERT News channel: If air assets dont come here, we will burn.

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He spoke of unimaginable destruction and claimed there had been delays in the aerial response, with flames now threatening monasteries and tourist areas.

The Canadair came, they dropped for an hour and left, he said. Houses, beehives, olive trees have been burnt.

The blaze in Kryoneri was mostly contained by Sunday morning - Costas Baltas/Anadolu

Czech firefighters and Italian aircraft have been deployed to assist Greek emergency services in battling the blazes, which have been worsened by strong winds.

Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a fire department spokesman, said on Sunday that the situation had improved after an all-night battle, though the risk of new fires still remained very dangerous.

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While forecasters predicted the high winds would die down across much of Greece on Sunday, they continued to warn of worrying conditions on the popular tourist island of Kythira, which has around 3,600 inhabitants.

Dozens of firefighters were supported by three helicopters and two aircraft to tackle the fire in Kythira, which erupted on Saturday morning and forced the evacuation of a popular tourist beach.

Firefighters and volunteers try to put out a fire in a house - Yannis Kolesidis/Shutterstock

In Evia, teams worked through the night to repair serious damage to the islands electricity network, while some villages faced issues with their water supply.

Giorgos Kelaiditis, the deputy governor of the island, said the flames had ripped through a livestock unit, killing some 3,000 animals, including 1,000 sows and 2,000 piglets.

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It was an absolute disaster. We have suffered great damage, which we still cannot calculate. We are trying to save the remaining animals, he told APE-MPE.

Fighting the wildfires on Saturday was a titanic struggle, according to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister of Greece - Yannis Kolesidis/Shutterstock

Evacuation messages were sent to those living and staying on the island , which lies off the south-easten tip of the Peloponnese, early on Sunday.

Officials have reported 11 regions of Greece still face a very high fire risk.

It was reported that fires in the south of Crete, which broke out on Saturday afternoon and destroyed four houses and a church, had been largely contained.

In Kryoneri, north of Athens, police were reportedly bolstering security amid fears that looters could target houses abandoned by residents fleeing a fire that erupted on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday the blaze was mostly contained.

Greece called on its EU allies to fight the flames in Kythira - Stamatina Tamvaki/Reuters

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister of Greece, wrote on social media that anyone who lost possessions should know that the state will be by their side.

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He said Saturday was a titanic struggle but the picture today looks better and the battle continues with all available resources.

Greece has endured heatwave conditions for almost a week, with temperatures passing 40C in many areas.

On Saturday, the temperature reached 45.2C in Amfilohia, in western Greece.

The extreme heat is expected to die down from Monday.

Last month, fires on Greeces fifth-biggest island Chios in the northern Aegean Sea, destroyed 4,700 hectares (11,600 acres) of land, while in early July, a wildfire in Crete forced the evacuation of 5,000 people.

Credit: Anadolu Agency

On Saturday, Turkeys environment ministry said that meteorologists had registered a reading of 50.5C in the south-east of the country, a nationwide record.

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The record temperature was registered on Friday in the south-eastern city of Silopi, the ministry said.

Across the country, 132 weather stations had registered record temperatures for the month of July, the statement added.

Turkey is also in the grip of a heatwave and fighting fires across a number of regions - Onur Yurtsever/AFP

Firefighters have been struggling for four days to contain one in the northern Karabuk province, forcing the evacuation of several villagers.

On Wednesday, 10 people perished fighting a fire in the western Eskisehir province.

The heatwave, which is expected to last several days more, has forced some local authorities to announce restrictions on water consumption, including the seaside resort of Cesme, near Izmir on Turkeys west coast.

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Grizzly bear sightings are among the top highlights for visitors to Alaskas Denali National Park and Preserve.

This is especially true when the bears become curious or playful, such as the young grizzly in the accompanying footage.

Grizzly bear plays with traffic cone.

The footage, featured this week by ViralHog, shows the bear picking up one of two traffic cones marking a sink hole and dropping the cone into the hole. (Click here if video player does not appear below.)

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The cone vanishes and the bear looks as though it had just lost its favorite toy, as laughter erupts among the tour group.

ALSO: Discovery of 'enormous' shark fin a sign of foul play in Atlantic

As the bears head disappears into the hole, one tourist remarks, Oh, hes gonna go in for it. Oh my god!

The outcome is unclear but it appears as though the bear did not retrieve its toy, and the sink hole was left marked with only one cone.

An estimated 300 to 350 grizzly bears inhabit the north side of the Alaska Range within Denali National Park and Preserve. Sightings are not guaranteed, but bears are often spotted from or even on the parks main road.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Grizzly bear makes traffic cone vanish to delight of Denali tourists
At least one police officer was killed and 14 fighters detained after a gun battle erupted in Iraqs capital with members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a state-sanctioned paramilitary umbrella that includes groups loyal to Iran.

The violence on Sunday broke out in Baghdads Karkh district when PMF fighters stormed a Ministry of Agriculture building during the appointment of a new director, the Interior Ministry said.

The gunmen disrupted an official meeting, stirring panic among staff and an emergency police response team. Police responding to the scene came under fire, also resulting in injuries among security personnel.

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The ministry said it would not tolerate any party attempting to impose its will by force and threaten state institutions.

INTERACTIVE-COST OF WAR-The human cost of US-led wars Afghanistan Iraq Syria Yemen-1750770943

Group does not want to escalate

The PMF, known locally as Hashd al-Shaabi, is composed mainly of Shia paramilitaries formed to fight ISIL (ISIS), but has since been formally integrated into Iraqs armed forces. Several of its factions maintain close ties to Tehran.

Security sources and witnesses inside the building said the fighters aimed to block the replacement of the former director. Hospital and police officials confirmed one officer was killed and nine others were wounded in the clash.

A statement from Iraqs Joint Operations Command, which reports to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said the detained gunmen were referred to the judiciary. Those involved belonged to PMF brigades 45 and 46, units widely linked to Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraqs most powerful Iran-aligned militias.

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An unnamed member of Kataib Hezbollah told AFP news agency that a fighter from the group was killed and six others were wounded. The group does not want to escalate and will allow the judiciary to take its course, the group member said.

In response to the escalation, al-Sudani ordered an investigative committee to look into the events.

The PMFs continued influence in Iraqi politics and its armed confrontations with state institutions have raised concerns over the fragility of Iraqs security apparatus, and the blurred lines between formal authority and powerful militia.

Battle for influence

Over the years since the 2003 United States invasion of Iraq, a battle has played out in the country between Iran and the US for government influence. Among those working in alignment with Iran are a number of members of the PMF, which emerged in 2014 to fight ISIL.

In 2017, the PMFs legitimacy was codified into law against the wishes of the Iraqi Ministries of Interior and Defence, and was brought under the oversight of Iraqs national security adviser.




BOSTON (SHNS)  After several days of fielding criticism about the move behind the scenes, Gov. Maura Healey on Friday named the states top hospital lobbyist to a position at the regulatory agency that oversees virtually all major health care decisions  including those directly affecting his clients  in Massachusetts.

Healey appointed six people to the Health Policy Commissions board of directors, including Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association President Steve Walsh, punctuating a flood of hand-wringing from business leaders, health care advocates and other segments of the industry worried about a potential conflict of interest.

The Healey administration defended the selection of Walsh, saying he fulfills a statutory requirement for a member of the HPCs board to come from a hospital background. Other board seats intended to represent segments of the health care world went to a Biogen executive and the former chief financial officer of two major insurers parent company.

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Walsh, who played an integral role in creation of the Health Policy Commission when he was a state representative, acknowledged in a disclosure form that hospitals and provider organizations with business before the HPC pay dues to his trade group to advocate on their behalf.

He wrote that he would be internally walled off from MHA matters that are expected to come before the HPC for final approval. Walsh intends to recuse himself during HPC meetings on any matters involving material change notices, determination of need applications, and performance improvement plans submitted by MHA members. He said he also plans to work with the agencys general counsel to determine if other steps are necessary to deal with competitively sensitive information.

In an interview, Walsh said he certainly appreciate[s] and respect[s] the concerns that some stakeholders raised about his appointment.

Hopefully, the disclosure that I filed will alleviate some of those concerns. Im privileged to be appointed by the governor to this role as an individual to bring my perspective on health care from all of my various experiences in my career, he said. We have an opportunity right now to shape the future of health care and make a system thats more affordable and accessible.

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Healey also named five other people to the HPC board, including reappointing Chair Deborah Devaux and 1199 SEIU Massachusetts Division senior policy analyst Jamie Willmuth. She newly picked former Codman Square Health Center CEO Sandra Cotterell, Biogen senior vice president Christopher Leibman and former Point32Health  the parent company of Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care  Chief Financial Officer Umesh Kurpad.

Steve Walsh conflict of interest disclosure

But the Walsh selection by far generated the most interest.

In the days leading up to Healeys announcement, Beacon Hill was abuzz with speculation about the impending move. Multiple figures with an interest in the health care sector said they reached out to Healeys office before Friday to voice concerns.

Greater Boston Interfaith Organization President Phil Hillman and Rev. Burns Stanfield, the groups prior president, wrote a letter to Healey on Wednesday arguing that existing conflict of interest law makes it impermissible for Steve Walsh to serve as a[n] HPC Board member while he remains the MHA President.

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We think hes very thoughtful and with great skills, and could even imagine him on the commission someday, but right now, with the position he has, thats a conflict of interest. We want the integrity of that provision respected, Stanfield said in an interview. Its not about Steve personally. Its just about protecting that wall, that concern around conflict of interest.

Several people interviewed by the News Service said despite Walshs extensive knowledge and experience, they think his job lobbying on behalf of virtually all hospitals across the state should render him ineligible for a post at the state watchdog agency.

As a registered lobbyist for the industry, Steve Walshs appointment is a blatant conflict of interest and problematic to the employer community, said Eileen McAnneny, president of the Employer Coalition on Health. I hope [the governor] rethinks the decision in light of these concerns.

Walsh said he thinks recusing himself from most matters involving hospital transactions or costs should allay concerns, while leaving plenty of other work to tackle.

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All ideas are on the table as regulators set out to reduce costs and boost access, he said, including value-based care, AI tools and other technological innovations.

The Health Policy Commission was created to really change the way our system delivers care, so that it works better for patients and for consumers. Most of what the HPC does is not about transactions between hospitals or relationships between providers and payers or other stakeholders, Walsh said. Its about how to build a better system that is in desperate need of reform.

In response to the criticism, the Healey administration pointed to Walshs pledge to recuse himself from any decisions that could represent a conflict.

Massachusetts is home to the best hospitals in the world. They are at the heart of our health care system. Its essential for someone to bring the perspective and expertise of our hospital system as a commissioner to the HPC, Healey spokesperson Karissa Hand said. Steve Walsh is uniquely qualified to bring that expertise to the work of the HPC  with his deep understanding of the current challenges facing hospitals, his work with 70 community hospitals across the state, and his experience as a legislator and policymaker.

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Walsh has led the industry group representing hospitals since 2017. Before that, he spent six terms in the House, where he co-chaired the Health Care Financing Committee, played a key role in creation of the regulatory agency whose board he is set to join, and developed a strong bond with the Democrat who leads the chamber today.

Walsh was the top House negotiator in 2012 on a landmark cost-containment bill that launched the HPC, and his number-two in those conference committee talks was now-Speaker Ron Mariano. (At the time, then-Speaker Robert DeLeo praised Walsh for the energy and intellectual curiosity needed to tackle the issue and called Mariano the Michael Phelps of health care.)

At this point in my career, to return to try to perfect it in some way  is really exciting, Walsh said.

The press release from Healeys office included quotes in support of the six appointees from Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and from Mariano.

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The reforms that were made to the structure of the Health Policy Commission last session were designed to ensure that every sector of the health care industry would be represented on the board, a prerequisite for establishing a multifaceted approach to reducing health care cost growth for our residents, the speaker said in a statement provided by Healeys office. The appointments that are being announced today will help to ensure that industry leaders, across each sector of the Commonwealths health care system, will have their voices heard, united by the common goal of delivering quality, affordable health care to every Massachusetts resident.

Healeys office did not include any remarks from Senate President Karen Spilka or other Senate Democrats. A Spilka spokesperson declined to comment on the HPC appointments.

New HPC membership faces chronic problems

HPC Board membership as of July 25, 2025

The new and returning board members already have a massive workload in an industry that, as Sen. Cindy Friedman put it in March, is falling apart.

Many providers have been warning for years about staffing shortages and burnout. Some community leaders worry hospital expansions are crowding out smaller, more affordable local options. Health care costs continue to rise sharply  up 8.6% from 2022 to 2023, more than twice the 3.6% benchmark that represents the states goal for reasonable growth  and regulators have struggled to alter the trajectory of the trend.

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Walsh has been an outspoken critic of that benchmarking process.

The statutorily required discussion thats taking place right here today at this moment is a relic of the past and it no longer serves our patients, he said at a hearing about the cost growth benchmark in March 2024. Lets work together to create a transformative, sustainable patient-centered system for the future.

For years, the HPC has urged the Legislature to empower it with additional regulatory muscle and teeth so it could more forcefully limit spending growth.

A hospital oversight law Healey signed in 2024 reshaped membership of the board at the HPC, which is responsible for reviewing hospital expansions and mergers, reining in health care-related spending, and tracking key industry trends.

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The law newly calls on the governor to appoint one member with expertise in representing hospitals or hospital health systems and another member with expertise in health care innovation, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or medical devices. It also eliminated seats that were previously designated to a primary care physician and a purchaser representing business management positions.

Retailers Association of Massachusetts President Jon Hurst said hes concerned about those underlying changes to the panels makeup.

We need to have actual premium-paying and taxpaying advocates on that HPC board, as opposed to the industry, whether its hospitals or pharma or a union rep being from the health care industry, Hurst said. It just goes to show that, really, the political bias and priority is toward the industry, the receivers of our premium dollars and our tax dollars, as opposed to the payers.

The boards prior membership expired June 30, and the new makeup took effect July 1. However, the appointments were not made by that point, leaving the board essentially vacant for much of the month  including on Thursday, when HPC officials initially planned a board meeting that was eventually canceled  except for two positions automatically held by Cabinet secretaries.

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Attorney General Andrea Campbell reappointed Dr. Alecia McGregor and Martin Cohen on Wednesday, according to an HPC spokesperson. Campbell still has one more member to select, a health economist, before the board achieves full membership.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described Umesh Kurpads role. He is the former, not current, CFO of Point32Health.

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The State of Georgia is honoring a state trooper who was killed during a chase on Interstate 85 in Gwinnett County last year.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp designated the Gravel Springs Road Bridge over I-85 in Gwinnett County: the Trooper Jimmy Cenescar Memorial Bridge.

Trooper Cenescar was killed when his patrol car hit an embankment during a chase.

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He was trying to stop a motorcycle for a traffic violation on I-85 near Old Peachtree Road in January 2024.

Cenescar had been with the Georgia State Patrol since 2023 and spent three years with the Atlanta Police Department before then.

In 2021, Cenescar was honored for rescuing someone whose car drove off a bridge.

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IDF soldiers are suffering from sleep disturbances, concentration issues, anxiety, mood swings, decreased appetite and more.

IDF soldiers are not only dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, but also suffering from sleep disturbances, concentration issues, anxiety, mood swings, decreased appetite, and more, according to Col. (Dr.) Yaakov Rothschild, head of the IDFs Mental Health Division.

In an interview with Walla, Rothschild provided a comprehensive overview of how the military is addressing soldiers psychological needs amid the ongoing war. He discussed what soldiers are revealing behind closed doors, how mental health professionals identify distress, and the role of artificial intelligence, which has already been integrated into therapy rooms and is expected to expand further.

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He also highlighted a significant shift in how the IDF addresses mental health, particularly the breakdown of stigma surrounding mental health officers (Kabanim), and a newfound openness in discussing suicide once a taboo topic within the military.

Every such case is investigated, Rothschild said. As the body responsible for mental health in the IDF, we treat every incident with the utmost seriousness. We are dealing with matters of life and death.

A dramatic transformation since October 7

The transformation within the IDFs mental health system since the start of Operation Iron Swords has been dramatic, he said. Access to Kabanim has risen significantly for combat troops, support personnel, and rear units alike. This is due in large part to the enlistment of approximately 1,000 Kabanim since October 7.

IDF soldier talks with doctor at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza, February 16, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESMANS UNIT)

Many of these professionals are treating soldiers on the front lines, sometimes under fire, providing real-time psychological support during combat operations.

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Reservists, Rothschild added, face unique psychological challenges not experienced by regular service members. Transitioning repeatedly between civilian life, military duty, and back to being a family member or employee often over the course of nearly two years creates a kind of loop, he explained. This requires targeted mental preparation both before entering and after exiting combat zones.

The military has adopted a more proactive approach to emotional readiness, with efforts to make information accessible, reduce the fog of war, and focus on both individual and group resilience. This allows us to identify soldiers who may need professional attention, Rothschild said. All IDF personnel, including commanders, are trained to recognize signs of psychological distress and to encourage peers to speak up when they see a problem.

Unprecedented investment in mental health

The IDF Medical Corps has invested heavily in the mental health system, an area once treated as a secondary concern. Since the war began, more than 1,000 Kabanim have been active 800 of them reservists. Currently, five Kabanim are stationed in every observation battalion and brigade.

Soldiers requesting a mental health consultation are now guaranteed to receive one within 24 hours.

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In a historic development, Kabanim have entered Gaza and southern Lebanon 80 times since the start of the war to help frontline units process traumatic events during active combat.

The IDF has also launched a new reserve training track for future Kabanim, introduced a new position Mental Health Diagnostic Specialist and has handled over 3,000 new mental health cases since October 7.

The Taatzumot day clinic has treated 800 soldiers and service members in its intensive therapy programs. According to Rothschild, 86% of those undergoing intensive treatment remained within military frameworks following therapy a significant indicator of the programs success.
Heavy rainfall lashed parts of Mumbai on Sunday. The weather department has issued a 'yellow alert' for Maharashtra's capital. The India Meteorological Department has issued a 'yellow alert' for Mumbai today, forecasting 'generally cloudy sky with heavy rain.' The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a 'yellow alert for Maharashtra's Mumbai, Palghar, and Thane districts for Sunday. The Met department has issued an 'Orange' alert for Raigad on Sunday. Earlier, Mumbai experienced a heavy downpour on Saturday, with an average rainfall of 6.80 mm recorded in Mumbai City from 8 am to 10 pm, 11.53 mm in the eastern suburb, and 7.42 mm in the Western suburb, according to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). On Saturday, a red alert was in place for Palghar district, and an orange alert was in place for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad. Meanwhile, on Saturday night, the Jogitikariya bridge on the Dindori to Jabalpur route in Madhya Pradesh was submerged in water due to heavy rainfall, causing the Narmada River to overflow. The State Disaster Response Force team was present at the spot. Satish Dwivedi, Sub-divisional Police Officer, Dindori, told ANI that the river is flowing over the Jogitikariya bridge, and as a result, traffic from both sides has been diverted. "The Narmada River is in spate. The river is flowing over the Jogitikariya bridge. Traffic from both sides has been diverted... Adequate security arrangements have been made here. Police, Home Guard, and SDRF teams are deployed," Dwivedi told ANI. On Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa, warning of extremely heavy rainfall in these regions. "The Depression over east Madhya Pradesh and north Chhattisgarh moved nearly westwards with a speed of 12 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 2330 hrs IST of today, the 26th July over the same region, near Lat. 23.3N and Long. 81.0E, about 30 km south-southeast of Umaria (Madhya Pradesh), 110 km east of Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and 170 km east-southeast of Damoh (Madhya Pradesh). It is very likely to continue to move westwards across Madhya Pradesh and weaken gradually into a well-marked low-pressure area by tomorrow, the 27th July, 2025," the IMD said in a post on X. A red alert has been issued for the districts of North Seoni, Mandla/Kanha, South Khandwa, and South Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, as well as for Nanded, Parbhani, and Hingoli in interior Maharashtra, indicating the likelihood of heavy rainfall accompanied by a high probability of cloud-to-ground lightning activity. Parts of east Madhya Pradesh, east Rajasthan, south Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, south Kerala, south Chhattisgarh, southeast Uttar Pradesh (Kanpur), south Punjab, south Haryana, Gangetic West Bengal, are under an orange alert for moderate rainfall and potential cloud-to-ground lightning. (ANI)
A heartless monster was caught on video allegedly dragging a motionless dog to a Queens street before dousing the helpless pooch in a flammable liquid and setting him on fire, officials said Saturday.

The brindle pit bull, left to burn, was found on 128 Street and 116 Avenue in South Ozone Park at 4:45 a.m. Thursday, cops said.

A necropsy is being performed to determine if he was burned to death or killed in another way first, a source said.

Police released surveillance screen grabs that show the alleged dog killer casually walking through a bodega.

When police arrived, they found the tiger-striped doggie lying in the street dead, a police source said.

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Cops scoured for video to figure out what happened and released surveillance photos of the villain.

They plan to charge the brute with arson, cops said.

A surveillance photo shows the alleged doggie burner walking past a white gate.

Police say the man poured some kind of flammable liquid on the pitbull before lighting him on fire.

The alleged dog killer was last seen wearing a maroon sweatshirt with a Polo logo in tan lettering across the chest, gray pants and a light brown designer MCM backpack, which sells for between $500 and $1,000, cops said.

The surveillance photos show him in a nearby bodega and walking past a white iron fence.

The incident happened near a homeless shelter on South Conduit Ave. KEVIN C DOWNS

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crimestoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips.
Showers and storms continue into the evening hours with an isolated damaging wind threat before the sun goes down. Overnight, we drop back into the mid 70s with a few storms, mainly early in the night. Tomorrow, another hot and humid one with highs around 90 degrees, and a chance of isolated storms in the morning, and scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. That trend will continue Monday with a chance of scattered afternoon storms, and highs around 90 degrees. It gets even muggier on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the mid 90s, and heat index values in the triple digits. With a cold front moving in Wednesday, there will be a chance for storms, then overnight Canadian air moves into the Buckeye State, dropping highs over the second half of the week to 80 degrees. The weekend features cool temperatures.

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It was a hot start to the weekend, and our heat wave gets even hotter in the coming days.

In inland areas, a few showers will be possible through mid-evening, but most will stay dry. It will stay warm overnight, with morning lows in the upper 70s.

Even hotter temperatures are expected for Sunday. A Heat Advisory is in effect, with heat indices above 105 likely. Highs will push into the mid- and upper 90s, with just a few isolated PM showers.

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Our hottest day will likely be on Monday. Highs will push into the upper 90s for much of Metro Orlando and inland areas, with heat indices above 108 possible. A few PM showers will again be possible.

Slightly cooler weather returns for midweek, as moisture and rain chances increase. Well see scattered PM storms on Tuesday, with temps still in the mid-to-upper 90s.

Even higher rain and storm chances are likely late week, with highs back down to the mid-90s.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has found a new money pot to fund President Trumps Qatari-backed Air Force One project.

The Pentagon has transferred $934 million from the Sentinel, a $77.7 billion project dedicated to modernizing the U.S. ground-based nuclear missiles, to fund a classified project, according to The New York Times, and Air Force officials said at least some of the funds will go toward renovating a Qatari-funded Boeing 747-8 to Trumps liking.

Sentinel began in 2020, and delays have pushed the projects cost to more than $125 billion. A Pentagon estimate last year found the projects cost could grow to $160 billion.

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The Defense Department revealed it had dipped into funds for the over-budget, behind-schedule project but only said the money would go toward a classified project, according to the Times.

The Defense Department moved $934 million in recent weeks from a nuclear-modernization project to what appears to be the renovation project for the $400 million Qatari jet set to become Air Force One. / Anna Moneymaker/Getty

The Pentagon did not respond to an immediate request for comment.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said in June the cost to renovate the new plane, which Qatar delivered to the U.S. in May after weeks of controversy over the potential conflicts of interest involved in Trumps decision to accept the vessel, would be less than $400 million.

However, the administration has refused to discuss anything else related to the plane, claiming the information is classified. Aviation experts told NBC News in May that the cost would likely exceed $1 billion and take years to completeaside from the $4 billion the U.S. is paying Boeing for new planes to serve as the presidential jet.

A living room on the upper deck of the Boeing 747-8 features an L-shaped couch, built-in bookshelves, and built-in big-screen TV. / AMAC Aerospace

Trump heralded the administrations acquisition of the jet earlier this year, brushing off a bevy of bipartisan criticism that said the U.S. should not accept the gift.

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I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer, Trump said in May. I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, No, we dont want a free, very expensive airplane.

The $400 million plane would function as Trumps Air Force One, then be transferred to Trumps presidential library once he leaves the White House.

Other gifts to his presidential library include a $16 million payment from Disney to settle a defamation lawsuit Trump brought last year over a George Stephanopoulos interview and a $16 million payment from Paramount to settle another Trump defamation lawsuit.
People of any age are susceptible to falling, but older adults are especially at risk.

Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury death for people over the age of 65 and were responsible for nearly 3 million emergency room visits for older adults in 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control.

No matter your age, its important to take falls seriously, emergency room physician Dr. Joe Whittington told HuffPost.

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Whether its a young person who brushes off a fall or someone older who thinks its just a part of aging, its important to understand that falls can lead to complications like infections or long-term disability, said Whittington, who runs the Dr. Joe MD TikTok account. Prevention is key. Keeping up with regular physical activity, making environmental adjustments and knowing what to do after a fall can significantly reduce risks.

We asked Whittington and other ER physicians what theyd advise people to do after a fall, including tips to help prevent this type of incident. Heres what we learned:

First, do a full-body check for injuries.

Related: Kids Today Have No Idea What These 23 Now-Obsolete Items Were Used For, So I'll Be Impressed If You Can Even Identify Half Of Them

Luza Studios / Getty Images

Before you even attempt to get up, do a full-body check for pain, particularly in the head, neck, or spine, as well as possible fractures or dislocations, Whittington said.

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You should also look out for abrasions, significant swelling, severe pain or the inability to move any part of your body, ER physician Dr. Jordan Wagner told HuffPost.

This step is crucial to avoid worsening a potential fracture, dislocation, or internal injury by moving too quickly, said Wagner, also known as Doctor ER on YouTube. If you notice any sharp pain or have difficulty moving, stay there and call for emergency help if a phone is nearby.

Move slowly.

Antonio Suarez / Getty Images

Related: "It's Incredibly Hard To Diagnose": Medical Professionals Are Revealing The Medical Mysteries That've Yet To Be Solved, And Some Of Them Might Surprise You

Sudden movements can worsen hidden injuries like sprains or fractures, Wagner said. Other serious fall-related injuries like internal bleeding or concussions may not be apparent right off the bat.

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If you feel dizzy, nauseous or in significant pain, stay still and call for help. Getting up too quickly can worsen an injury, Whittington said.

If you hit your head, seek medical care ASAP.

Boggy22 / Getty Images

If you hit your head during the fall, get evaluated by a medical professional immediately  even if you feel OK at first, Wagner advised.

Symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, headaches, or nausea could indicate a concussion, brain bleed, or a more serious injury, he explained. Brain bleeds, in particular, can be life-threatening and often develop at different rates, so you might not notice severe symptoms right away. Head injuries are tricky and can escalate quickly, so its always better to be safe than sorry.

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Know that falls can be especially dangerous for those taking blood thinners, as these medications can increase the risk of potentially life-threatening bleeding, especially after head trauma, former emergency medicine physician Dr. Jessica Singh, founder and CEO of Sukhayu Wellness, told HuffPost.

If youre experiencing other concerning pain or symptoms in general, you should seek immediate medical care, she added.

Treat any minor injuries at home.

Related: "I Hate That Women Have To Go Through This": Men Are Sharing The Subtle And Small Gestures They Do On A Daily Basis To Help Women Feel Safer

Jorge Aguado Martin / Getty Images

If theres no immediate sign of a serious injury, take deep breaths and apply ice to any sore areas, Wagner said. Ice helps reduce swelling and prevents further damage.

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Dont try to tough it out, he added. Its important not to push through pain or discomfort after a fall.

If youve injured a limb, elevate it to minimize swelling, Whittington advised.

For example, if youve twisted your ankle or injured your knee, keeping it elevated above your heart helps the healing process, he said. Dont ignore what seems like a minor injury. Early care can prevent more serious issues later.

Afterward, reflect on factors that led to the fall.

Koldunov / Getty Images

After a fall, set aside some time to figure out the root cause of the incident, taking into account both personal and environmental factors.

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For instance, was the fall a result of slipping on ice or a wet surface, a missed step, an accident primarily caused by someone else, a lack of appropriate balance, support, and/or safety precautions, or an external situation? Singh said. What other external factors, including medications, alcohol or substance use, may have contributed to the fall?

Think, too, about the reasons that may have contributed to such as a health condition or whether you were rushing, distracted or multitasking when the fall occurred, Singh said.

She also pointed to research showing that while falls often occur after slipping or tripping, external factors are seldom the sole cause of an elderly patients fall. In almost all cases, patients comorbidities and health status are involved, according to a 2015 study.

Assessing the entire situation will help you get appropriate medical care and have better safety measures in place moving forward, Singh said.

Reduce fall hazards in your home.

Related: 17 "Bad" Habits That Are Seriously Harming Your Health, Straight From Doctors And Scientists

Adam Gault / Getty Images

Making some adjustments to your living space  such as decluttering  could save you a trip to the emergency room, Wagner said.

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Keeping a clean and organized living space, especially in high-traffic areas, is essential, he said.

Other common tripping hazards include loose rugs and cords, pets, walkers, canes and stairs.

Many people trip on stairs because theyre moving too quickly, not paying attention to their footing, Wagner said.

Making sure your home is well-lit is one of the most overlooked ways to prevent a fall, Whittington said. Many falls happen at night or in dimly lit areas. Adding night lights or brighter bulbs in key areas, especially in hallways, bathrooms, and stairs, can drastically reduce the risk of a fall.

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Proper footwear with slip-resistant soles and assistive devices (such as grab bars, reaching tools and fall alarms) can also improve health and safety, Singh said.

Small changes like these can make a huge difference, especially for older adults or people with limited mobility, Whittington added.

Stay active.

Ronnie Kaufman / Getty Images

In the wake of a fall, you may become overly cautious and scared of it happening again, which can make you more sedentary. But its so important to stay active and to continue doing the things you enjoy.

Immobility is associated with deconditioning and greater fall risk. Research has shown that fear is commonly experienced after a fall, leading to reduced physical activity and increased risk of falling, Singh said.

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Whittington also highlighted the importance of staying active and working on your balance via practices like yoga or tai chi, which can greatly reduce the risk of falls, he said.

As we age, we lose muscle strength and flexibility, which affects our balance. Strengthening muscles and practicing coordination helps your body respond better to slips or trips, potentially preventing a serious fall.This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  One local Terre Haute church is making a big difference when it comes to getting students a head start on this upcoming school year.

Highland Church, located in Terre Haute, gave more than 200 backpacks away on Saturday, as part of their mission to help prepare children for back-to-school time and reduce the stress for parents, Highland Church held a fun-filled event for the eighth year.

The local church gave away backpacks, free food, and even offered free haircuts.

They say the whole goal of the event is to bring together the community to help support each other.

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Its really important that we be able to reach out and meet this community need and I think its also important to let parents that we are here to support. So, kids are going back to school, its a busty time and its an exciting time, it also can be a time that can be hard on families, said copastor of Highland Church, Summer Thomas.

Follow them on Facebook to stay updated on their events at Highland-Church.

Highland Church also now has an Indiana accredited school, grades K-12. To learn more about their school visit Highland Academy Charter School / Highland Academy Charter School Homepage.

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HOLYOKE  A 17-year-old who was wounded by police during a shootout in the regions largest mall Friday afternoon was accused of shoplifting twice in two days from the JCPenney store.

It is unclear when the teenager will be arraigned, and Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gullunis Office has not returned a request for information about the shooting and the charges that the suspect faces.

He underwent surgery and is still in the hospital, Police Chief Brian Keenan said Sunday. The teenager is expected to recover from his injuries.

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The suspect, whose name has not been released because of his age, is a Springfield resident and was under the supervision of the Department of Youth Services for previous crimes before the shooting, he said.

He is known to police in Springfield, said Keenan, who served as a Springfield Police Department captain and head of its Firearms Investigation Unit before taking over as Holyoke police chief six months ago.

The shooting, which took place around 4:30 p.m., started when a security guard at JCPenney spotted the 17-year-old allegedly shoplifting, he said.

The same employee spotted the teen a day before and believed he was stealing again, so he followed him and saw him concealing goods. The second time, the guard was able to alert a pair of Holyoke police officers, who were patrolling the mall, Keenan said.

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When the two officers confronted the teenager on the first floor near Round1 Bowling & Arcade, he pulled out a gun and started firing at police. The officers returned fire, and one struck the suspect at least twice, Keenan said.

Police provided first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. They also recovered a semi-automatic pistol that the suspect fired, Keenan said.

The officer who hit the suspect is out on personal leave, as is protocol after a police-involved shooting. Massachusetts State Police under the Hampden District Attorneys Office and Holyoke police are investigating to determine if the shooting was justified, but Keenan said a preliminary look shows that officers followed procedure.

They reacted as trained, and they did a good job, he said, adding he was relieved no bystanders were injured.

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Police are working to trace the origin of the gun that the 17-year-old used. The teenager did not have a firearm permit, Keenan said.

State law prohibits anyone under 21 from purchasing a handgun legally.

The shooting left people running for exits, and the chaos was exacerbated by a pulled fire alarm. The mall was later evacuated for the night while police investigated, he said.

Holyoke police and state police provided extra security to the mall for the weekend, and Keenan said that will continue for the foreseeable future.

During a press conference Friday night, Keenan and Mayor Joshua Garcia called the shooting an isolated incident and said the mall continues to be a safe place to shop.

Read the original article on MassLive.
NAPLES, N.Y. (WROC)  A 70-year-old man from Honeoye has died following a motorcycle crash in Naples on Saturday afternoon.

The Ontario County Sheriffs Office, Naples Fire Department, and New York State Police responded to the scene of County Road 36 at 3:14 p.m. for a personal injury crash. Upon arrival, authorities discovered that the crash involved a single-occupant motorcycle.

Pedestrian struck by vehicle on Lake Avenue hospitalized

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An investigation into the matter found that the victim, identified as Randy P. Wheaton, had lost control of the motorcycle he was riding and was thrown from it. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
The Honolulu Police Department officers have arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree terroristic threatening in Waikiki.

Officers responded at about noon Wednesday to a call from hotel security regarding the man, who was reported to be yelling on the beach while holding a metal stick.

Hotel security approached the 32-year-old male regarding a possible missing room key,  said HPD in a social media post. During the interaction, the male threatened security personnel with the stick before fleeing into the ocean. He swam approximately 200 feet from shore.

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HPD said with help from Honolulu Ocean Safety and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, the suspect was safely escorted back to shore. Police arrested him on suspicion of terroristic threatening as well as for an outstanding warrant.

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Two students of Class 5 were injured after a ceiling plaster collapsed in a classroom of a primary school in Hapur, officials said. The incident occurred on Saturday, during school hours. The sudden peeling off of the plaster caused panic among the students. The injured were given the necessary medical care and are now in a healthy condition. Speaking with ANI, District Magistrate of Hapur, Abhishek Pandey, said, "On July 26, at around 11.30 am, we received information that a portion of the ceiling plaster had fallen in a Class 5 classroom of a primary school. This injured two children, who were given first aid. Both children are healthy." Following the incident, the administration has launched a probe and is identifying individuals who issued a fitness certificate to the school. The District Magistrate assured that appropriate actions would be taken against the responsible person. "To identify the individuals who issued a fitness certificate to this school and to determine why information regarding the plaster was not provided, an investigation committee comprising the local magistrate and engineers from the Public Works Department will be formed," Abhishek Pandey said. The administration has also initiated a fitness audit of all the schools in the district as a precautionary measure after the incident. "Learning a lesson from this incident, a fitness audit of all the schools of the district is being conducted again," he said. This comes after the school roof of Piplodi Primary School collapsed in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district on Friday, claiming the lives of seven children and leaving many other injured. Following the incident, the Rajasthan government has decided to prioritise the repair of dilapidated school buildings, government institutions, and Anganwadi centres across the state. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced that the permissible allocation under the Dang, Magra, and Mewat Regional Development Plan for the repair of government institutions, including school buildings and Anganwadi centres, would be increased from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. (ANI)
HORNELL, N.Y. (WETM)  Two healthcare providers in Hornell have announced they will be joining forces starting in August.

Rochester Regional Healths Canisteo Valley Family Practice (CVFP), located at 111 Loder St Ste A, will merge with Oak Orchard Health, located at 7309 Seneca Rd N Suite 112, on Friday, August 1, Oak Orchard Health and CVFP explained in a release.

With both providers becoming one, Oak Orchard Health will be able to expand services to CVFP patients, as well as serve the community in a local health facility with patient-centered care, the release emphasized. CVFP patients will be seen at the Oak Orchard Health location at the above-listed address in Hornell starting Friday, August 1, the release emphasized.

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Tour De Keuka honors charitys co-founder in 20th anniversary ride

Oak Orchard Health is looking forward to welcoming the patients from Canisteo Valley Family Practicethey are our top priority, said Dr. Danielle Renodin-Mead, Pediatrician and Chief Medical Officer, Oak Orchard Health. Our commitment to quality care, coupled with the medical expertise of the Canisteo providers, will have a positive outcome for patients, Dr. Renodin-Mead exclaimed.

Starting Friday, CVFP patients will have access to primary care, pediatric services, dental care, and behavioral health services as Oak Orchard Healths Hornell Health Center has been offering these services in the area since 2015, the release noted.

How CVFP patients contact their provider will not be changed, and people can continue to use the same phone number, (607) 324-5404, they have been using even after the merge, the release said. Oak Orchard explained that all CVFP providers and staff are being welcomed during the merger.

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With ten locations across Western New York, including Hornell, Oak Orchard Health serves more than 34,000 patients, the release noted. For more information or any questions, people are asked to reach out to Oak Orchard Health by calling (607) 590-2424.

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'Horrific' Deadly Car Accident Outside Major U.S. Campus originally appeared on The Spun.

One person is dead and two others are injured following a "horrific" crash outside of a major U.S. college campus.

The crash, which took place right by Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, claimed at least one life, while injuring a couple of others.

A 17-year-old is reportedly dead, while two other teenagers are injured. The car reportedly went airborne, hit a tree and overturned.

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The car was reportedly traveling at a high speed. From the report:

State Highway Patrol confirmed that a car with three teenagers was driving down Chalk Road at an excessive speed. WRAL is working to confirm the exact time that the crash happened. SHP said the car went airborne, hit a tree and overturned. The driver, who was 17 years old, died on the scene. Two other teenagers, ages 17 and 18, were taken to the hospital in stable condition. They are both expected to recover physically.

Car accident. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)Steve Russell/Getty Images

Everyone involved in the crash was reportedly wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Our thoughts are with the friends and family members of everyone involved.

'Horrific' Deadly Car Accident Outside Major U.S. Campus first appeared on The Spun on Jul 27, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
NEW YORK (AP)  When world leaders, diplomats, business leaders, scientists and activists go to Brazil in November for the United Nations' annual climate negotiations, poverty, deforestation and much of the world's troubles will be right in their faces  by design.

In past conference cities  including resort areas and playgrounds for the rich such as Bali, Cancun, Paris, Sharm El-Sheikh and Dubai  host nations show off both their amenities and what their communities have done about climate change. But this fall's conference is in a high-poverty city on the edge of the Amazon to demonstrate what needs to be done, said the diplomat who will run the mega-negotiations in Belem known as COP30, or Conference of Parties.

What better way to tackle a problem than facing it head on, however uncomfortable, COP30 President-designate Andre Correa do Lago, a veteran Brazilian diplomat, said in an interview with The Associated Press at United Nations headquarters.

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"We cannot hide the fact that we are in the world with lots of inequalities and where sustainability and fighting climate change is something that has to get closer to people, do Lago said. That's what Brazilian President President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has in mind, he said.

When people will go to Belem, you are going to see a developing country and city with considerable infrastructure issues still with, in relative terms, a high percentage of poverty and President Lula thinks its very important that we talk about climate thinking of all the forests, thinking of poverty and thinking of progress, do Lago said. He wants everybody to see a city that can improve thanks to the results of these debates.

The rich and powerful  as well as poorer nations, activists and media  are already feeling a bit of that discomfort even before getting to Belem. Even with two years of notice, Brazil is way behind in having enough hotel rooms and other accommodations for a global conference that has had 90,000 attendees.

The official United Nations COP30 website says Brazil would have an official booking portal by the end of April. But specific plans weren't announced till last week when Brazil said it arranged for two cruise ships with 6,000 beds to help with lodging, saying the country is ensuring accommodation for all countries and starting a system where 98 poorer nations have the option to reserve first.

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Skyrocketing lodging costs are a problem, do Lago conceded. Some places have been charging $15,000 a night for one person and activists and others have talked of cutting back. But he said prices are already going down, even as local media report otherwise.

Do Lago said it will be a local holiday so residents can rent out their homes, adding "a significant supply of apartments.

Big year for climate negotiations

This is a significant year for climate negotiations. The 2015 Paris climate agreement required countries to come up with their own plans to reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas and then to update those plans every five years.

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This year nearly every nation  the United States, the No. 2 carbon dioxide emitter and historically biggest polluter, withdrew from the accord earlier this year  has to submit their first plan update. Most of those updates are already late, but the United Nations wants countries to complete them by September when world leaders gather in New York. That would give the United Nations time to calculate how much they would curb future climate change if implemented  before the COP six weeks later.

UN Secretary-General Antonio-Guterres, in an interview with AP, reiterated what officials want in those plans: that they cover each nation's entire economy, that they include all greenhouse gases and that they are in line with efforts to limit long-term human-caused warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. That target is the Paris agreement goal. And it's tough since the world is only a couple of tenths of a degree away and last year even temporarily shot past the 1.5 degree mark.

Do Lago said he expects the countries' plans will fall short of keeping warming below the 1.5 degree mark, so tackling that gap will be a crucial element of negotiations.

Some big things aren't on agenda, like $1.3 trillion for poorer nations

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Some of the negotiations' most important work won't be on the formal agenda, including these plans, do Lago said. Another is a road map to provide $1.3 trillion in financial help to poorer nations in dealing with climate change. And finally, he said, Brazil wants very much to talk about nature, about forests.

The nearby Amazon has been an important part of Earth's natural system to suck large amounts of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, but deforestation is a major threat to that. At times, parts of the Amazon have gone from reducing carbon dioxide in the air to increasing it, a 2021 study found.

On Wednesday, the United Nation's top court ruled that a clean and healthy environment is a basic human right, a decision that may bolster efforts to come up with stronger action at the November climate conference, some activists said.

Failure of a state to take appropriate action to protect the climate system ... may constitute an internationally wrongful act, court President Yuji Iwasawa said during the hearing.

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Do Lago said the challenge for countries is to think of these emission-reduction plans not as a sacrifice but as a moment to change and grow.

One of the objectives of this COP is that we hope we will be remembered as a COP of solutions, a COP in which people realized that this agenda is creating more opportunities and challenges, do Lago said.

___

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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  A U.S. House subcommittee held its first field hearing at the Chez Veterans Center on the University of Illinois campus.

The House Subcommittee on Technology Modernization  whose ranking member is Rep. Nikki Budzinski of Illinois  is trying to make sure rural veterans get easy access to healthcare.

Veterans are our heroes, Budzinski said. One of the things I wake up every day going to work thinking about is, how do we make sure that access to healthcare, access to the VA, how do we we ensure that they get the access to the services they rightly deserve?

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C-U Public Health District handing out free meals to kids

The subcommittee said former service members in these areas experience barriers to treatment like long drives to Veterans Affairs clinics and lost medical records.

Christina Schauer  a veteran herself  said those barriers can sometimes be harder for women.

We have women that experienced military sexual trauma decades ago that are just now getting care, Schauer said.

With the rise of online medical services, the subcommittee and Schauer said a potential solution to these problems could be an expansion of telehealth.

But, Budzinski said even telehealth has its downfalls.

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Urbana firefighters participate in fire suppression training drills

57% of residents in Illinois still today dont have the internet speeds to actually support telehealth, said Budzinski.

The Congresswoman said the subcommittee is trying to figure out ways to expand internet connectivity to rural areas.

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Terre Hautes First Hungarian Working Mens Benefit and Death Society will hold its summer rummage sale on two days, Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Hungarian Hall, 2049 North 22nd Street (one block south of Maple).

Doors will open at 8 a.m. both days and close at noon. New rummage will be set out for Saturday, so be sure to mark your calendar to attend both days.

Besides the wide assortment of household items, electronics, tools, books, toys and clothes, Hungarian cookbooks will also be available as well as the Handmade in Hungary whimsical cat and dog figures. These stuffed felt figures crafted in longstanding Hungarian tradition will make a unique gift for that special person.

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For further information, call (812) 234-5326 and leave a message.

The Hungarian Lodge was established July 30, 1909 with the purpose of helping immigrants from Hungary adjust to life in America. An important function of the society in its early years was to provide sick and death benefits for immigrants thousands of miles from family support. It has continued to provide a gathering place for the Hungarian community with a stated mission of preserving and strengthening the Hungarian culture and heritage.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has once again opposed Ukraines accession to the EU, arguing it would bring war into the European Union.

Source: website of the Hungarian government, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Hungarian prime minister cautioned that the likelihood of a world war is steadily rising and Hungary must prepare to remain outside the conflict.

He noted that the previous world war was preceded by indicators such as heightened rivalry among major powers, a surge in armed conflicts and an intensified arms race. Hungary needs silence, peace and strategic calm, Orban stressed.

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"Ukraine should not be admitted to the European Union  which would also bring war  even if all of Brussels turns upside down," Orban was quoted as saying on the Hungarian governments website.

"The limits of Hungarys diplomatic and power influence are clear. We must therefore prioritise regional peace. We need to forge peaceful alliances with everyone possible," Orban emphasised.

He added that to stay out of war, Hungary must cultivate strong relations with all global power centres.

"It is essential that all great powers have economic and financial stakes in Hungarys success, ensuring no one benefits from its destruction or weakening. A prerequisite for avoiding war is our ability to defend ourselves. There is still work to be done here, though defence spending already amounts to HUF 1.75 billion (4.3 billion)," he said.

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Orban underscored the need for a national consensus that Hungary cannot be confined to any bloc. "We are part of the Western alliance system, but we must also engage in the Eastern economy," he added.

Background: Earlier, Orban stated that his country is proposing "strategic cooperation" to Ukrainians rather than full integration into the European Union due to fears of the EU being drawn into the war.

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It's been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina reshaped the city of New Orleans.

Spike Lee examined the disaster with two big HBO documentaries, the 2006 "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts," just a year after the event, and a 2010 sequel, If God Is Willing and Da Creek Dont Rise" and he is involved with a new work for Netflix, "Katrina: Come Hell and High Water," arriving in late August. Other nonfiction films have been made on the subject over the years, including "Trouble the Water," winner of the grand jury prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, Nova's "Hurricane Katrina: The Storm That Drowned a City," "Hurricane Katrina: Through the Eyes of the Children," and "Dark Water Rising: Survival Stories of Hurricane Katrina Animal Rescues," while the storm also framed the excellent 2022 hospital-set docudrama "Five Days at Memorial." As a personified disaster with a human name and a week-long arc, it remains famous, or infamous, and indelible.

In the gripping five-part "Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time," premiering over two subsequent nights beginning Sunday at 8 p.m. on National Geographic (all episodes stream on Hulu and Disney+ on Monday), director Traci A. Curry ("Attica") necessarily repeats many of Lee's incidents and themes. But she finds her own way through mountains of material in the series that is at once highly compelling and difficult to watch  though I suggest you do.

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Though there are many paths to take through the story, they lead to the same conclusions. Curry speaks with survivors, activists, scientists, officials and journalists, some of whom also appear in archival footage, but her eye is mainly on the victims: the people who lost their homes, people who lost their people, those unable to evacuate, for lack of money or transportation or the need to care for family members. If the storm itself was an assault on the city, most everything else  the broken levees, the flooded streets, the slow government response, the misinformation, the exaggerations and the mischaracterizations taken as fact  constituted an attack on the poor, which in New Orleans meant mostly Black people. ("The way they depicted Black folks," says one survivor regarding sensational media coverage of the aftermath, when troops with automatic weapons patrolled the streets as if in a war zone, "it's like they didn't see us as regular people, law abiding, churchgoing, hard-working people.")

Effective both as an informational piece and a real-life drama, "Race Against Time" puts you deep into the story, unfolding as the week did. First, the calm before the storm ("One of the most peaceful scariest things that a person can experience," says one 8th Ward resident), as Katrina gained power over the Gulf of Mexico. Then the storm, which ripped off part of the Superdome roof, where citizens had been instructed to shelter, and plunged the city into darkness; but when that passed, it looked briefly like the apocalypse missed them.

Then the levees, never well designed, were breached in multiple locations and 80% of the city, which sits in a bowl between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, found itself under water. Homes drown: "Youre looking at your life, the life that your parents provided for you, your belongings being ruined, your mother's furniture that she prided is being thrown against a wall." Residents are driven onto roofs, hoping for rescue, while dead bodies float in the water. This is also in many ways the most heartening part of the series, as neighbors help neighbors and firefighters and police set about rescuing as many as possible, going house to house in boats running on gasoline siphoned from cars and trucks. A Coast Guardsman tears up at the memory of carrying a baby in her bare arms as they were winched into a helicopter.

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And then we descend into a catalog of institutional failures  of governance, of communication, of commitment, of nerve, of common sense, of service, of the media  which, camped in the unflooded French Quarter or watching from afar, repeated rumors as fact, helping create a climate of fear. (Bill O'Reilly, then still sitting pretty at Fox News, suggests looters should be shot dead.) More people escaping the flood arrive at the Superdome, where the bathrooms and the air conditioning don't work, there's no food or water and people suffer in the August heat, waiting for days to be evacuated. Instead, the National Guard comes to town along with federal troops, which residents of this city know is not necessarily a good thing.

Many speakers here make a deep impression  community organizer Malik Rahim, sitting on his porch, speaking straight to the camera, with his long white hair and beard, is almost a guiding spirit  but the star of this show is the eminently sensible Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore (now retired), a Louisiana Creole who was finally brought in to coordinate operations between FEMA and the military. (We see him walking through the streets, ordering soldiers to "put your guns on your back, don't be pointing guns at nobody.") Honore, who is free with his opinions here, had respect for the victims  "When you're poor in America, you're not free, and when you're poor, you learn to have patience"  but none for foolish officialdom, the main fool being FEMA director Michael Brown, mismanaging from Baton Rouge, who would resign soon after the hurricane.

When buses finally did arrive, passengers were driven away, and some later flown off, with no announcement of where they were headed; family members might be scattered around the country. Many would never return to New Orleans, and some who did no longer recognized the place they left, not only because of the damage, but because of the new development.

The arrival of this and the upcoming Lee documentary is dictated by the calendar, but the timing is also fortuitous, given where we are now. Floods and fires, storms and cyclones are growing more frequent and intense, even as Washington strips money from the very agencies designed to predict and mitigate them or aid in recovery. Last week, Ken Pagurek, the head of FEMA's urban search and rescue unit, resigned, reportedly over the agencys Trump-hobbled response to the Texas flood, following the departure of Jeremy Greenberg, who led FEMAs disaster command center. Trump, for his part, wants to do away with the agency completely.

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And yet Curry manages to end her series on an optimistic note. Residents of the Lower 9th Ward have returned dying wetlands to life, creating a community park that will help control the next storm surge. Black Masking Indians  a.k.a. Mardi Gras Indians  are still sewing their fanciful, feathered costumes and parading in the street.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
IBERIA PARISH, La. (KLFY)  As hurricane season progresses, Iberia Parish President Larry Richard said the parish is more prepared than ever but urges residents to do their part.

We take hurricane season and emergencies very seriously in Iberia Parish, Richard said. Weve gotten better every year. From FEMA to the National Guard, hospitals to fire departments, its a full team effort to be ready for whatever a storm brings.

Emergency planning in the parish is not limited to a few months of the year. Richard said his team works year-round with state and federal agencies, including FEMA, the Louisiana National Guard, the Department of Health, and the National Weather Service.

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One of the biggest challenges Iberia Parish faces, even outside of named storms, is flooding.

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We live on the coast. You can have a beautiful day, but with a 14-mile-per-hour wind from the south, some people already have water in their yards, Richard said. If the tides coming in, the water just cant go out.

To help with that, the parish has been investing in flood control structures aimed at reducing water buildup in low-lying areas like Admiral Doyle Drive. Richard said while ditches and channels are regularly cleaned, drainage can still be blocked when tides are high.

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The parish also uses an emergency alert system called Iberia Pins, which can notify residents by phone, text, or email about storms, evacuations, and other emergencies.

It takes maybe three minutes to sign up on our website, Richard said. Even when Im out of town, I get updates instantly.

Currently, Iberia Parish does not have hurricane shelters rated to withstand major storms, but temporary shelters will be announced if needed. Richard said residents should make a plan ahead of time, including gathering medicine, food, pet supplies, and identifying evacuation routes.

Hurricane preparation information, including shelter plans and emergency alerts, can be found on the Iberia Parish Government website at iberiaparishgovernment.com.

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According to the IDF announcement, the ceasefires relate to the al-Muwasi central-southern Gaza coastal area, Deir al Balah central Gaza, and Gaza City northern Gaza areas.

The IDF on Sunday announced localized ceasefires from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in portions of Gaza in order to expand food aid distribution to the civilian population.

Although the IDF message tried to present the announcement as a very limited issue andnot a broader ceasefire, the implications are likely a relatively broad ceasefire, and at a point where Hamas has given no new concessions to Israel.

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According to the IDF announcement, the ceasefires relate to the al-Muwasi central-southern Gaza coastal area,Deir al Balah central Gaza, and the Gaza City northern Gaza areas.

These areas alone make up around 25% of Gaza and where nearly all of the civilian population and Hamas currently reside.

Put differently, Israel will not be able to target the vast majority of Hamas, and any other Hamas fighters who move to these areas will be safe.

The IDF's announcement of localized ceasefires from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in portions of Gaza in order to expand food aid distribution to the civilian population. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Questioned by The Jerusalem Post about the length of the ceasefires, which was not mentioned in the announcement, the IDF said "until further notice" - meaning it could go on for weeks or even months.

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However, the significance is even larger, and the ceasefire will be even larger.

To arrive at this 25% of Gaza, the IDF has enlarged corridors for international food aid groups to arrive at these disparate areas.

These areas will also, out of necessity, need to be no-fire zones for the IDF.

Majority of Gaza in a ceasefire

Whether this means 35% or 50% of Gaza is not in a state of ceasefire is unknown, but the bottom line could be a majority of Gaza in a ceasefire - and this without Hamas giving up a single hostage.

The dramatic reversal of Israeli policy in many ways goes backward to the January-March ceasefire when the sides were negotiating over more hostage deals as Israel continued to facilitate food aid, and comes after massive global criticism of Israel regarding alleged starvation in Gaza, about which the IDF has rejected, but agreed that the food security situation has gotten to a dangerous point.

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Also on Sunday, the IDF announced that 28 aid packages, containing food for the residents of both the southern and northern Gaza Strip, were airdropped.

The airdrops were in accordance with the directives from the political echelon and as part of the cooperation between Israel, the UAE, and Jordan.

IDF Chief Spokesman Brig. Gen. Efi Deffrin also vehemently denied any starvation charges at a press conference he held in southern Gaza near humanitarian aid convoys.

He did admit that the recent food situation is more dire than at other times during the war and said that this was why Israel was taking extra measures to allow more humanitarian aid in and with less oversight than the slower and more policed aid which the IDF has allowed in in recent months.
Ahead of the National Space Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted India's growing capabilities in space sector, mentioning the achievement of IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's recent journey to International Space Station, successful launch of Chandrayaan 3, which created an ambience for science in the country. Speaking about Shubhanshu Shukla, who was one of the four crew members of the Axiom-4 mission, PM Modi, in his 124th 'Mann Ki Baat' episode, said, "We shall touch upon the successes of the country; the achievements of the countrymen." PM Modi said when Shubhanshu Shukla landed back on earth, a "wave of happiness rippled through every heart," filling every citizen with pride. "Recently, there was a lot of discussion in the country about the return of Shubhanshu Shukla from space. As soon as Shubhanshu landed safely on Earth, people jumped with joy, and a wave of happiness ran through every heart. The whole country was filled with pride," PM Modi said. PM Modi also highlighted how the success of ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 mission created an atmosphere of curiosity in the country for space and science-related endeavours. "I remember, when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed in August 2023, a new ambience was created in the country. A new curiosity also arose among children about science, about space. Little children now say, we will also go to Space; we will also land on the moon -we will become space scientists," PM Modi said. Noting India's growing capabilities, PM Modi specifically mentioned the 'INSPIRE-MANAK Abhiyan,' which promotes innovation among children by providing them with a platform to develop innovative ideas rooted in science. "You must have heard the name of the INSPIRE-MANAK Abhiyan. This is a campaign aimed at promoting innovation among children. Five children are selected from each school. So far, lakhs of children have joined INSPIRE-MANAK Abhiyan, and after Chandrayaan-3, their number has doubled," PM said. PM noted a rise in India's space startups, noting that the number has almost quadrupled in the last five years. "Indian start-ups are also growing rapidly in the country. Five years ago, there were fewer than 50 start-ups. Today, there are more than 200," he said. Further noting the upcoming National Space Day on August 23, PM Modi said, "How will you celebrate it..., do you have any new ideas? Do send me a message on the NaMo App" PM Modi also mentioned the recent achievements of students in the science and mathematics fields, giving a shout-out to the brightest minds. "In 21st-century India, science is progressing with a renewed energy. A few days ago, our students won medals in the International Chemistry Olympiad. India has also strengthened its image in the world of mathematics. In the International Mathematical Olympiad held in Australia, our students won 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal," PM Modi said. PM also announced that an Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad is going to be held in Mumbai next month. "Next month, the Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad is going to be held in Mumbai. Students from over 60 countries will participate in this event. Scientists, too, will be there. This will be the biggest Olympiad to date. In a way, India is now moving ahead for both the Olympics and the Olympiads," he said. (ANI)
Credit: Freedom Flotilla Coalition

Israeli special forces have raided a new freedom flotilla boat trying to deliver food and baby formula to Gaza.

The Handala, organised by pro-Palestinian activists, was met by IDF forces approximately 40 nautical miles offshore and brought to the port of Ashdod, in Israel.

Footage shows an Israeli commando jumping onto the vessel as activists wearing life jackets sit on deck with their hands up.

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The incident is the second in recent months in which activists have tried to breach Israels blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of food to raise awareness of famine and starvation in the Strip.

The first attempt saw Greta Thunberg and other activists intercepted on a different boat and later deported.

The Handala attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza - Anadolu/Getty

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the voyages, said on Sunday that 21 activists and journalists had been detained by the Israeli military.

The Handala was carrying baby formula, food and medicine, the group said.

Israel has strongly condemned attempts to breach its blockade  in place since shortly after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip nearly 20 years ago  branding the previous expedition as the selfie yacht.

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However, the human rights group Adalah, which was trying to assist the crew, said the interception breached international law.

It said its lawyers were in Ashdod demanding to speak to the occupants of the vessel, including two French parliamentarians and two Al Jazeera journalists.

Israel Foreign Ministry

The flotilla never entered Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so; it was headed toward the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognised under international law, Adalah said in a statement. Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority over the international waters in which the vessel was sailing.

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Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, regarding two Italians on board, Israels foreign ministry said in a statement. Mr Saar indicated that if they dont agree to leave the country immediately, they would be forcibly repatriated over the next three days.

Also on board were seven US citizens, including a human rights attorney, a Jewish US war veteran and a Jewish-American activist, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

It comes as Israel faces increasing international scrutiny about hunger levels in Gaza, with the United Nations and multiple foreign governments accusing it of failing to allow in adequate aid.

The Handala was carrying activists, including several politicians and journalists - Anadolu/Getty

In recent days, Israel has blamed the UN for failing to distribute aid that has been allowed through, claiming that around 1,000 trucks worth is sitting waiting to be handed out.

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However, the international body says Israel places multiple practical restrictions on delivery.

Airdrops taking place

The Israeli Air Force also airdropped humanitarian aid over Gaza for the first time since the beginning of the war.

Until now, other countries such as the UAE and the UK have airdropped food over the Strip during periods of the conflict, but Israel has not taken direct part in such operations.

On Sunday, two Jordanian and one Emirati plane dropped 25 tonnes of humanitarian aid over the Gaza Strip, the Jordanian army said in a statement.

The IDF said its aid distribution was carried out in co-ordination with international organisations and led by COGAT (Co-ordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories). The airdrops included seven packages of aid containing flour, sugar and canned food.

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(Texas Scorecard)  Officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the arrest of an illegal alien in Houston on charges of kidnapping and assault after video evidence from a doorbell camera showed him abducting a woman off the street.

Jose Armando Carcamo-Perdomo, who is unlawfully present in the U.S. from Honduras, was arrested by local law enforcement and is believed to be part of a sex-trafficking ring.

Reports indicate that the abducted woman was found by deputies with the Harris County Sheriffs Office on July 14 after a 911 call reported a woman screaming for help from a trailer house.

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Upon questioning her, law enforcement discovered that she was left locked in a room without food and water for five days. She also reported being punched, tied up, and sexually assaulted.

After an attempt to escape, she was locked in a bedroom closet for three days before law enforcement found her.

This accused kidnapper and suspected sex trafficker was just one of the countless criminal illegal aliens who inexplicably had their removal proceedings terminated by the Biden Administration and were allowed to remain in the country, said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Noem, criminal illegal aliens are being locked up and will no longer be allowed to terrorize American communities. Our message is clear: criminals are not welcome in the United States, she added.

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According to DHS, Perdomo entered the U.S. in 2020 and was released by the Biden administration after his removal proceedings were terminated in September 2023.

In accordance with the Laken Riley Act, signed by President Donald Trump soon after taking office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a detainer upon Perdomos arrest to ensure he will not be released back into American communities.
(NewsNation)  Researchers are beginning to learn more about a type of severe weather known little about: hailstorms.

Northern Illinois University scientists are taking on the challenge of improving forecasts and mitigating hail damage by participating in the largest hail study in history.

They returned from a six-week field expedition, collaborating with 17 other institutions on a massive new study about hail. Meteorologist Max Tsaparis spoke with the head of the project, Dr. Victor Gensini, getting an exclusive look at specialized hail-hunting vehicles.

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Theres never been a research project like this one  scientists driving headfirst into the worst storms imaginable to learn as much as possible about the least studied type of severe weather.

Inside an $11M research of hail: studying severe weather

How does the hail form in a storm, what is its impact at the surface and how can we build a better, resilient society? Gensini explained the guiding questions of the initiative.

Hail causes $10 billion in damage nationwide every year, so when Gensini was awarded an $11 million grant from the National Science Foundation, he knew that would put a dent into his quest.

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Hes the professor in charge of over 100 researchers driving 30 vehicles and covering 15,000 miles of the Great Plains. They set up equipment to surround the storm, getting a 3D look within the clouds to see how hailstones develop. This helps improve computer model forecasts.

The scientists are also working with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety to test different types of roof shingles to see which ones work best against the worst Mother Nature has to offer.

Weather Headlines Owner, dog reunited after Texas flood thanks to GPS collar

Its a race against the clock, as theres only a matter of minutes to collect the hail samples before they melt away.

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Youd go out, youd gather the hail, wed measure the hailstone. We put the hailstone into the bag, and then it would go into the cooler, Gensini said.

The largest the field team found was more than 5 inches across  the size of a cantaloupe  which could be deadly if caught in a storm.

There is a lot of pressure to make sure that youre not only keeping everybody safe as priority No. 1, but No. 2 that youre actually executing the mission and getting the best possible data, and thats not easy, Gensini said.

Analyzing the data collected could take up to a decade to complete.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WMBD)  With the Illinois State Fair right around the corner, they are teaming up with the Illinois State Police to provide stronger security measures.

The state fair, which will begin on Aug. 7, will have more advanced safety features, including a ban on the following items, according to a release from Lori Harlan, a fair spokesperson:

Firearms (concealed carry is prohibited)

Weapons of any kind (including but not limited to knives, pepper spray, stun guns, brass knuckles, batons, bats)

Illegal substances Drones or laser pointers

Fireworks or flammable materials

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While the fair is set to have enhanced security, so is entrance to the Grandstand, including metal detectors and bag checks, Harlan said.

Country star Brad Paisley set to perform at Illinois State Fair again

New this year are metal detectors and bag checks at all Grandstand entrances. No backpacks, duffle bags or bags/purses larger than 14x8 are allowed into the Grandstand, she said.

Any mobile ticket purchase must be downloaded to the Ticketmaster app prior to arrival to avoid delays from Wi-Fi issues, and large professional-style cameras on tripods will not be allowed in the Grandstand, she said.

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The last measure being taken is the same as it was in 2024, and any drinks bought in the Grandstand will be opened once purchased. Drinks sold on the track in the standing room only will be poured into plastic cups; bottles, cans and other containers are not allowed on the track.

Any outside drink containers are also not allowed inside the Grandstand, she said.

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This article was originally published in Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Fewer than 52% of Indiana high school graduates from the Class of 2023 went directly to college, according to the latest data quietly released by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Thats the states lowest rate in recent history and a continued decline from its previous plateau.

Just 51.7% of 2023 graduates, about 39,000 students, enrolled in college within a year of finishing high school, data showed. Thats down from a steady 53% between 2020 and 2022, and far below the states peak of 65% a decade ago.

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Around 36% of all graduating seniors enrolled in one of Indianas public four-year institutions, followed by 8% who chose a private college or university.

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Another 7.6% went to a school outside of Indiana, according to the data.

The figures, posted to the agencys website earlier this month, reflect concerns state leaders have long expressed about Indianas declining college-going culture, especially as the state shifts focus toward career credentials and work-based learning.

The startling drop in our college-going rate yet again can be credited to the lack of two things: money and morale, said Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, in a statement released Wednesday.

While our governor has been taking a victory lap for getting our state universities to freeze tuition, he has failed to guarantee that his move will not decrease financial aid and scholarship opportunities, DeLaney continued. Any lack of opportunity for tuition support will lead to more Hoosiers not being able to afford college and being forced to choose a different path.

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The 2023 numbers come just six months after the higher education commission approved sweeping changes to Indianas high school diploma, set to take effect statewide in 2029, that emphasize work-based learning and career readiness over traditional college preparation.

High schoolers will be required to earn at least one diploma seal to graduate, including options for employment or postsecondary readiness. While some seal options are specifically geared toward college-bound students, graduates will no longer be required to complete all the coursework or meet other criteria typically expected for college admission.

Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis, sits in the House Education Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

DeLaney maintained that Republican leaders have been devaluing the opportunities that our colleges and universities can offer students.

At the same time, the supermajority has made attacking colleges and universities the centerpiece of their culture war agenda  from policing what can be taught in the classroom, to forcing institutions to eliminate hundreds of degree options, to creating an entirely new high school diploma that emphasizes the path directly into the workforce, the lawmaker said.

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Trying to bury this report in a website and not send a press release is a telling sign that the Commission on Higher Education knows this does not look good, and does not act to fix it, DeLaney added. It simply isnt important enough to them. They are busy eliminating college courses and creating new tests. This is what the legislature has asked them to do.

CHE has not issued a press release on the latest data and did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Indianas college-going rate has dropped more than any other state tracked by the National Center for Education Statistics over the past 15 years.

Previously, Indiana reached a college-going rate of 65%.

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We set a goal to get it back when it slumped, DeLaney recalled. Now, it doesnt seem like we care to address the issue. That is a shame for our students, a shame for our economy, and a shame for our state.

Earlier this year, Republican lawmakers passed additional legislation requiring public colleges to eliminate low-enrollment degree programs. So far, Indianas public colleges and universities have collectively cut or consolidated more than 400 academic degree programs.

The supermajority has been in power for 20 years and this is their achievement, DeLaney said. At some point we have to ask ourselves: is a declining college-going rate not the result they want?

By the numbers

According to the numbers published on CHEs online college-going dashboard, the vast majority of 2023 grads who continued their education earned some form of college credit while still in high school: 85.6% of college-goers took and passed an Advanced Placement exam; 64.6% earned dual credit; 90.7% earned the Indiana College Core diploma, which comes with a block of 30 general education credits that can be transferred to and accepted at colleges across the state; 86.3% earned as associates degree; and 63.6% earned another type of credential.

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A quarter of postsecondary enrollees, 25%, are seeking STEM-related degrees, while:

17.8% enrolled in business and communications programs

16% enrolled in health programs

11% enrolled in social and behavioral sciences and human services programs

9.9% enrolled in arts and humanities programs

7.4% enrolled in trades programs

5.8% enrolled in education programs

7% were undecided

College-going among male students dropped to 45%, compared to 59% for female students  widening an existing gender gap.

Among racial groups, Asian and white students had the highest college-going rates, at 70.7% and 54%, respectively. The college-going rates among other racial groups lagged, though, at 45.5% for Black students, and 41.7% for Hispanic students.

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The rate for students from low-income backgrounds  as measured by eligibility for free or reduced lunch  was 38.7%, compared to about 60% for their higher-income peers.

More than 78% of college-bound graduates from the 2023 cohort were part of Indianas 21st Century Scholars program, according the the new data. The scholarship fund covers full tuition and fees at Indiana colleges and universities for low-income students, who enroll in the 8th grade.

Also previewed in the data was an update on the Class of 2022.

The CHE dashboard showed 53% of the 2022 cohort that enrolled in a postsecondary program within a year after high school graduation met all three early college success benchmarks: they did not need remediation; they completed all courses they attempted during their first year of enrollment; and they persisted to their second year of schooling.

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According to the latest numbers, 77.5% of the 2022 cohort that enrolled in a postsecondary program persisted to the second year.

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com.
Jul. 26WILKES-BARRE  Many people who benefit from social services are older adults, living on fixed incomes, or managing disabilities or chronic health conditions, according to Jill Avery-Stoss, president of The Institute.

She said the social services landscape in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wayne counties reflects the needs of the region's population.

These services  ranging from healthcare and food assistance to childcare and senior support  are vital safety nets for individuals facing physical, economic, or social challenges.

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Government programs, nonprofit organizations, and private donors collectively work to provide essentials to those in need, yet demand remains high and support systems are under increasing strain.

"Older adults comprise more than 20 percent of the region's population, and that share continues to grow," Avery-Stoss said. "There is a significant network of support available to these individuals. Senior centers provide social and wellness programming, for example, and there were 27 active centers in the tri-county area as of 2023. The demand for services will increase alongside the demographic."

Families with limited incomes also rely on social services as they navigate rising costs for necessities such as housing, utilities, and food. These challenges extend to working families.

Although wages have improved somewhat, Avery-Stoss said they often fall short of covering basic living expenses. Additionally, parents seeking employment often struggle to access childcare. They face high costs and lengthy wait-lists due to a shortage of care providers.

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"The quality of early childhood education in NEPA appears strong, however," said Avery-Stoss. "The Keystone STARS program rates childcare centers from one to four stars. From 2020 to 2024, the number of STAR 3 and STAR 4 centers increased in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties."

Avery-Stoss said childhood poverty remains a concern for social service organizations. Among Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne counties, Luzerne reports the highest percentage of children living below the poverty level, while Lackawanna and Wayne show fluctuating rates.

"Statewide, there has been a gradual decline since 2020," Avery-Stoss said. "These conditions contribute to long-term cycles of poverty, affecting educational access, housing stability, and future employment opportunities."

Avery-Stoss said nutrition assistance through SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) supports over two million Pennsylvanians. From 2020 to 2022, the number of SNAP recipients remained steady across the region. In 2023, a slight increase was observed in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties  Luzerne consistently has the largest share of households receiving food stamps.

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Cash assistance, such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), serves fewer households, but plays a crucial role in providing for basic needs, Avery-Stoss said. Wayne County's share dropped from 5.4% in 2020 to 2.8% in 2023. Lackawanna County saw a slight increase, while Luzerne County experienced a minor decline.

Tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit also function as forms of social assistance. Avery-Stoss said around 15% of tax returns in the region claimed the EITC in 2022. Although average credit amounts from a pandemic-era high in 2021, these supports continue to bolster household financial stability as well as the local economy.

"Together, these indicators paint a detailed picture of the region's ongoing social service needs," Avery-Stoss said. "Some trends show progress, but challenges related to affordability, accessibility, and equity remain front and center."

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
He was indicted for severe sexual assault against four complainants, including the orchestration of the rape of a boy who was 15 years old at the time.

An indictment was filed against Shomrim CEO Chaim Rotter in the Tel Aviv District Court on Sunday on suspicion of widespread acts of sexual assault, rape, and verbal and physical threats.

In an investigation that shocked Bnei Brak and the rest of the country, Rotter, 38, was named as the suspect earlier this month.

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He was indicted for severe sexual assault acts against four complainants, including the orchestration of the rape of a boy who was 15 years old at the time.

Rotter served as the CEO of Shomrim, a Bnei Brak security patrol, for 15 years. According to the indictment, he used his position of power to assault his victims from 2009 until 2024.

Rotter would recruit volunteers for Shomrim to patrol Bnei Braks streets. He also had a long-standing close working relationship with the local police precincts.

Chaim Rotter arrives to a court hearing at the Magistrate's Court in Tel Aviv, July 2, 2025 (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90)

A figure of power among the haredim

This made him a notable and known public figure of power and influence among the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) residents in Bnei Brak. It also enabled him to carry out the attacks and escape justice for so long.

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After Rotter was arrested on July 2, his detainment was repeatedly extended as the investigation continued. On Sunday, the prosecution requested that he remain in detention.

The full indictment was not cleared for publication to protect the identities of the victims.

The police received a complaint accusing him of sexual assault on June 12, but Rotter had flown out of Israel one day earlier. He was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport upon his return.

The case against Rotter consists of 15 different accusations. Most of them were not included in the indictment due to the statute of limitations, which for minors is 10 to 15 years from the attack, depending on the severity, Ynet reported.

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One of the male victims provided testimony to the FBI, which was taken by the Israel Police about two weeks ago.

Soon after Rotters arrest, a special task force was created to manage the case.

When his name was cleared for publication, several victims came forward on social media and to the press with their stories and experiences. One of the victims said he had filed a complaint against Rotter about a decade ago, but it was closed by the police.
Tim, a doctor in Atlanta, was reviewing new clinical research into psilocybin when he decided to try shrooms for himself. A hallucinogen derived from mushrooms, psilocybin was making its way through the drug approval process, and medical professionals viewed its mind-and mood-altering properties as a promising treatment for everything from PTSD to end-of-life anxiety. Tim was hoping to get more involved in the emerging field of psychedelic medicine. "If I'm going to operate this roller coaster," he recalls thinking, "I should ride it at least once so I know what it's like."

To take his first dose of mushrooms, Tim went to the EAST Institute, an organization in Atlanta that described itself as a center for psychedelic healing. Run by a local tech founder named Jeff Glattstein and his wife, Lena Franklin, a social worker and Yoga Magazine cover star, EAST promoted "personal healing and transformation" through a combination of plant medicine, meditation, and "vibrational sound therapy." Similar facilities have been sprouting up across the country, part of an entrepreneurial shroom boom spurred by the growing movement to legalize psilocybin for use in therapeutic settings, and a belief that these drugs could be the future of mental health treatment.

Tim found his first trip, in 2022, life-altering. It helped him let go of his feelings of shame about his sexuality and to heal the trauma from a sexual assault he had suffered years earlier. "It sounds trite, but I felt so connected to everything," he recalls. "I felt this light burst out from me in the form of these rainbow bullets. They pushed the predator away. I felt bathed in this light and energy and power that was simply beyond my own agency, beyond my own personal narrative, and beyond my own body."

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Toward the end of the session, Tim looked over at Glattstein, who'd been facilitating the trip. In his 60s, wearing a woven poncho and a dazzling array of giant turquoise rings, the older man struck Tim as a guru, a healer who could deliver him from his guilt and pain. Still experiencing the trip's euphoric afterglow, he dubbed Glattstein the Light Keeper. "I was ready to latch on to a savior at that moment," Tim recalls. (He and other trainees spoke on the condition that they be identified with pseudonyms, since they could suffer professional consequences for using illegal drugs outside a clinical setting. Glattstein declined to comment for this story.)

To get a head start in the exciting new field of hallucinogenic healing, Tim paid $25,000 to enroll in EAST's signature offering: a six-month course to train students to serve as facilitators of psilocybin-assisted therapy. During the sessions  which included weekend ceremonies in which trainees would take turns tripping on high doses of mushrooms  Tim developed what he called an "eternal bond" with his fellow students and EAST's staff. He imagined a future where they would all take care of one another's children. ("It was the mushrooms talking, of course," he says.)

Halfway through the training, Tim's personal life imploded when his boyfriend of four years broke up with him. In his fragile state, he told two EAST employees that he thought he should take the weekend off from taking mushrooms. But when Glattstein handed him a high dose, Tim says, he took it. "There was always this feeling that they must know something I don't know," he says.

Centers for psychedelic medicine, part of an entrepreneurial shroom boom, have been sprouting up across the country. The market for psychedelic medicine could hit $10 billion by 2028. Deena So Oteh for BI

Later that night, and while he was still under the influence of the mushrooms, Tim says he was sexually assaulted by Scott, an EAST staff member responsible for ensuring that trainees got home safely from the ceremony. (Business Insider is referring to him by a pseudonym; he was never criminally charged. He denies Tim's allegation.)

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Tim says he hoped to work with EAST to develop an ethics policy and roll out better safeguards. He set up a Zoom meeting with Glattstein and Franklin, and asked two of his closest confidants in the training council, Beth and Lisa, to join the call. "I knew I had been taken advantage of by someone who was supposed to take care of me," says Tim. "I was very concerned with ensuring something like this didn't happen again."

Initially, according to an audio recording of the meeting reviewed by Business Insider, the two founders said they "believed" Tim. But when Beth suggested that the incident represented an institutional failure at EAST, Glattstein jumped in. "As far as EAST being culpable," he said, "we had a person on our staff who stepped over the line."

Glattstein and Franklin hired a law firm to conduct an independent investigation, and Scott was ultimately fired. Franklin declined to share the resulting report with Business Insider. But in an email to the council, she wrote that the report concluded that EAST had "no culpability in the alleged events."

This is a new field, and there are no real regulations. It's sort of the Wild West phenomenon where the most kind of aggressive, entrepreneurial people can take advantage of that. Dominic Sisti, an associate professor of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania

But things at EAST were about to get even more complicated, as multiple women came forward to accuse Glattstein of touching them inappropriately during healing sessions  accusations he denies. And such accusations aren't isolated to EAST.

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Over the past few years, as drugs like MDMA and mushrooms have turned into a lucrative business, accusations of abuse have begun to surface at a host of leading centers for psychedelic medicine. In the wake of decriminalizing psilocybin, cities and states have implemented few ground rules to govern the sudden explosion of "consciousness medicine." And the same properties that make mushrooms so effective in repelling destructive thoughts can also render users highly suggestible, making them vulnerable to the cultlike dynamic that has long pervaded the world of psychedelic healing. As a result, a growing number of people who have signed up to get care or serve as caregivers in the budding new industry say they've been harmed while taking the very drugs whose healing powers they were being taught to harness.

"This is a new field, and there are no real regulations," says Dominic Sisti, an associate professor of medical ethics at the University of Pennsylvania who has researched the ethical dilemmas involved in psychedelics. "It's sort of the Wild West phenomenon where the most kind of aggressive, entrepreneurial people can take advantage of that."

Humans have been getting high on magic mushrooms for almost as long as there have been humans. Popularized in the United States during the 1960s, psychedelics came under fire during the Nixon administration's "war on drugs." In 1970, they were classified as Schedule 1 substances, rendering possession illegal, even for research purposes.

Then, in 2000, scientists at Johns Hopkins University received permission from the Food and Drug Administration to conduct research into psilocybin. As studies began to show that the substance had significant benefits for patients with chronic mental illness, voters started to see it more as medicine than menace. From Burning Man to luxury retreats, experimenting with psychedelics has become common among tech founders and executives like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who credit the drugs with quieting their nerves, boosting productivity, and allowing them to better harness their creativity. The global market for psychedelic medicine could hit $10 billion by 2028, according to the Business Research Company.

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Oregon and Colorado have legalized psilocybin for therapeutic use, and more than 20 cities have decriminalized it. With the hope that federal regulators will follow suit, venture capital firms have been financing shroom startups, and scores of training programs have sprung up to meet the growing demand for psychedelic facilitators who can administer the drugs in a safe environment. In the San Francisco area, where psychedelics have a long and checkered history, at least six training programs now operate, even though psilocybin remains illegal for medicinal use.

Regulations have not changed with the psychedelic gold rush. In Oregon, there's little government or medical oversight of the 20 training programs authorized by the state. Those certified to administer psychedelics are required to receive 160 hours of training  compared with the 625 hours mandated for licensed massage therapists.

Franklin had an aesthetic perfectly suited to psychedelic medicine in the Instagram era. Glattstein, once a tech entrepreneur, had reinvented himself as a shaman.

EAST  short for Entheogenic Assisted Spiritual Transformation  was founded in the fall of 2021. Located on the ground floor of an office park in northwest Atlanta, its ceremonial space had the look of an ashram outfitted from an Anthropologie catalog. White sheepskin rugs were arranged in a circle; Buddhist statues adorned an altar lined with candles and a large geode. The veneer of curated calm was periodically pierced by the racket coming from Insight Virtual Ballistics, a bar and "virtual shooting" arcade next door.

The initial draw for many of the trainees at EAST was Franklin, who ran a therapy and mindfulness business in Atlanta before meeting Glattstein. An ethereal beauty with long, dark hair and a radiant smile, Franklin has an aesthetic perfectly suited to psychedelic medicine in the Instagram era. Her look  a seemingly endless rotation of hand-dyed silk dresses and turquoise jewelry  was at least partially attainable: A gift shop in EAST's entryway sold brightly hued dresses and robes for hundreds of dollars a pop.

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If Franklin, 40, was the draw, it was Glattstein, 65, who ran the show. He spent years in the up-and-down world of tech startups. In 1997, he cofounded an internet services company called Virtual Resources that raised $25 million in venture capital, only to sell for $6 million two years later. In 2018, after several subsequent startups also flopped, Glattstein turned the page. Instead of pitching companies, he was now pitching his own rebirth.

The story, as he's told it in various interviews, is that he had fallen terribly ill  with what, he doesn't say  and despite being given "all of the Western medical treatments, all the therapies, all the drugs," his mysterious condition only got worse. "They had given me three months to live," he recounted on the "Psychedelic Conversations" podcast. "All my systems were shutting down."

All that changed, he said, when he heard a voice command him, "Heal yourself." Glattstein says he stopped his medications, cut ties with his doctors, and started practicing with a shaman. His hair grew back and his body grew fit: His illness was gone. He started teaching, and Franklin was one of his early students. The two became a couple, bound by a passion for Eastern medicine and, they've said, their shared feeling as outsiders in Atlanta  Glattstein, the child of New York Jews in a predominantly Southern Baptist area; Franklin, whose mother was Vietnamese. They soon began hosting mini "medicine" retreats with friends at a cabin in the woods outside Atlanta. "It was just a small group of us doing mushrooms," said a friend who asked not to be identified for fear of professional repercussions.

After founding EAST, Glattstein and Franklin proved to be gifted promoters of their new venture. Latching on to reality TV as a pulpit for their psychedelic gospel, they appeared as spiritual healers on Lifetime's "Little Women: Atlanta" and Bravo's "Real Housewives of Atlanta" spinoff, "Porsha's Family Matters." They trademarked the "EAST Method," which they said provided "profound healing benefits for depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, compulsive conditions, pain management, and end-of-life demoralization"  though it's never been proven to be a treatment for any condition.

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Once they welcomed their first "council" of facilitator trainees, Glattstein  now calling himself a "world-renowned shaman"  took on the roles of teaching classes, sourcing the medicine, and setting the doses.

Before long, Glattstein was surrounded by a following of true believers. His supreme self-confidence, Beth says, made it hard to resist his instructions. "There were moments where I did feel connected to him," she says, "because of the drugs."

On ceremony weekends at EAST, Friday and Saturday nights were reserved for psilocybin "journeys." On the first night, half of the council would take a high dose of mushrooms of up to 4.5 grams, according to six of the trainees. The other half would be given a relatively low dose, up to 1.5 grams, so they could help facilitate the others' experiences, they say. Franklin says that the doses were lower: 3.5 grams "was at a much higher end," she told Business Insider, while the low dose would be "up to one gram."

The next night, they'd swap roles. As the students waited for the drugs to take effect, Franklin and the other lead facilitators would don dresses and ceremonial robes, play music, and dance.

"I will always regret not saying, 'Wait a minute, Jeff, she's telling you that her intuition, her body, her spirit, is saying that she shouldn't do this. Why would we override that? We're here to learn how to be facilitators."

The next day, the trainees would talk about their experiences from the night before. Glattstein would also lead sessions on topics like neuroscience and shamanic healing. The trainees, some of them healthcare professionals, said they found the lectures light on science. "Jeff gave some very basic information about the limbic system," recalls Sarah, a trainee in the third council. "I was like, 'Are we not going to get into serotonin receptors and how psychedelics interact with the brain?'" There was also no discussion about the boundaries between the facilitator and the subject, trainees say. "There was never anything about ethics, or what we should do as facilitators if we found ourselves attracted to somebody who was doing the medicine work with us," says Beth.

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As psychedelics move into the fields of medicine and therapy, the training in how to handle them is, in many cases, being conducted by spiritual healers who are intensely critical of Western medicine. Trainees say Glattstein could be openly hostile to the medical establishment. Zoe, a former employee of EAST, says she started to see a shift in the center's attitude that she wasn't comfortable with. "Their messaging was becoming increasingly, explicitly anti-mental-health treatment," she says. "Like, how you shouldn't go to therapy, and take mushrooms instead."

At one ceremony in February 2023, a psychologist named Joan, who was part of Tim's council, was experiencing what she described as "serious insomnia and unrelenting anxiety." She says she asked Glattstein if she could skip the mushrooms that weekend and stick to facilitating. But Joan says Glattstein insisted she go ahead with the ceremony as planned, and she ultimately agreed. Two trainees recalled the interaction and say they wish they'd spoken up for Joan at the time. "I will always regret not saying, 'Wait a minute, Jeff, she's telling you that her intuition, her body, her spirit, is saying that she shouldn't do this," says Beth. "Why would we override that? We're here to learn how to be facilitators."

Franklin says she knew Joan was struggling, but denies Glattstein pressured her to take mushrooms. As the course progressed, Joan's symptoms got worse. By the time it was over, she was a wreck. "I couldn't sleep. I couldn't work," she says. "I stopped doing pretty much anything." Her husband admitted her to the hospital, and she remained in the psych ward for two weeks.

The same weekend that Joan asked to skip the mushrooms, Tim also tried to scale back his dosage after his bad breakup. Ahead of the ceremony, he says he went to two of EAST's employees, one of whom was Scott, and told them, "It may not be appropriate for me to take a high dose of psilocybin this weekend." When Glattstein proceeded as normal, Tim agreed to take the high dose. He remembers his trip that night as healing, helping him to view the breakup as "just a blip in our cosmic story." He was filled with a sense of "overwhelming love" for his ex, and was certain they would meet again in future lives. As the ceremony wound down, Tim was still tripping.

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Trainees say this was a common issue at EAST. The medicine ceremonies ended after three hours, and the effects of a high dose of psilocybin might last up to eight hours. It took so long to come down that trainees would make arrangements for someone to drive them home.

Tim came to believe that EAST had taken his money and put him in the care of someone who took advantage of him while he was in a suggestible state. Deena So Oteh for BI

Tim and Scott knew each other from years earlier, when they'd gone on a few dates, but both say it never turned sexual. That night, Scott was already due to give Tim a ride home from the ceremony, along with another trainee who was staying at Scott's home that weekend. Now, Tim says that Scott suggested Tim stay over, too. Wouldn't that be better, he said, than returning to the home Tim shared with his ex-boyfriend?

Oh, Tim thought as he stared out the window, gazing at the passing lights amplified by the psilocybin. How lovely that this person would offer me a place to sleep. After several months of psilocybin use, he felt a deep affection for everyone involved with EAST, including Scott.

Since the other trainee would be staying on the couch, Tim says Scott suggested that they could share his bed. (The other trainee did not respond to requests for comment.) Still feeling the effects of the psilocybin, Tim agreed. But as Scott crawled into bed with him, the feeling of love and connection Tim had felt on the ride home dissolved into confusion.

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He "kind of turned into this archetype of a tiger," Tim recalls, "with the growling and these half-closed eyes." As Tim recalls it, Scott tried to undress him and physically force him to perform oral sex. "I put my underwear back on at least three times," Tim says. Finally, Tim says he gave up trying to resist.

In a telephone interview with Business Insider, Scott denied having "any sexual contact" with Tim.

According to Tim, they wound up having one more sexual encounter with another man, though Scott says he was present but didn't participate. Business Insider has reviewed text messages between Tim and Scott, in which they exchanged friendly banter and, on one occasion, Scott sent Tim an explicit photo.

A few months after the alleged assault, and after Tim had opened up to his therapist, Tim says he came to believe that EAST had taken his money and put him in the care of someone who took advantage of him while he was in a suggestible state.

In retrospect, he puts much of the blame for what happened on Glattstein and Franklin. After all, they were the ones who put Scott in charge of getting him home safely. "How," he began to wonder, "are these people running a training program?"

The lack of clear guidelines is a widespread problem in facilitator training. The gold standard for centers like EAST is a manual developed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, the country's leading psychedelic and research advocacy organization. But the guidelines provided by MAPS are murky at best. For example, the manual states that facilitators must "always ask for permission regarding any kind of physical contact." The guidelines don't address the fact that a person under the influence of psychedelics may not be in a position to consent.

Suggesting physical contact with someone who is on psychedelic drugs, by its very nature, fosters an environment that is ripe for abuse. "It goes against everything we know about therapeutic boundaries and ethics when the facilitator or therapist leans heavily into touch," says Nese Devenot, a researcher at the Project on Psychedelics Law and Regulation at Harvard. "And when the client is on these suggestible substances, that touch creates a feeling of intimacy that can be exploited."

Betty Aldworth, the director of communications and education at MAPS, said the organization's guidelines are clear. She says the MAPS manual stresses that touch is optional and that consent for touch can be revoked at any time and in different ways, including nonverbally. She added that proper training and sound clinical judgment are crucial to the process.

200 psychedelic practitioners and advocates have signed an open letter calling for accountability and transparency in the psychedelic community.

In 2019, MAPS acknowledged that Richard Yensen, an unlicensed therapist in one of its clinical trials, "substantially deviated" from its manual while treating Meaghan Buisson, a trial participant who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder stemming in part from sexual abuse. Video footage of the treatment showed Yensen and another therapist cuddling, hugging, and aggressively restraining Buisson while she was on MDMA. In a lawsuit, Buisson alleges that following the treatment, Yensen continued to act as her therapist and repeatedly sexually abused her for more than a year after the initial incident. After Buisson sued him for sexual abuse, Yensen argued in a legal filing that the relationship was consensual and, because his therapy license had lapsed, he was not under a "duty of care" as a medical professional. The case was settled out of court.

In 2022, California's Board of Behavioral Science brought eight "causes for discipline" against Eyal Goren, a therapist who trained with the Center for Consciousness Medicine. The claims included sexual misconduct, gross negligence, and emotional harm against trainees who had taken psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca. Goren denied the allegations, but agreed to surrender his license for at least three years. Goren declined to comment.

In 2021, 200 psychedelic practitioners and advocates signed an open letter calling for accountability and transparency in the psychedelic community. A healthcare blog published by Harvard Law School, and co-authored by Devenot, concluded that the accounts of abuse throughout the rapidly growing ecosystem of psychedelic medicine "align with the familiar social dynamics that make up destructive cults."

Franklin says EAST did consider ethics when setting up the program, but she concedes they could have done more. "EAST was not perfect, obviously, and there's a lot of growth area for sure," she says. "But we definitely did our best." Still, she adds, the institute can't be blamed for what happened outside its training. "What people did when they stepped outside of the doors, we just don't have control over that," she says.

Members of Tim's council were shell-shocked by his allegations. As they debated what to do, more allegations surfaced  this time about Glattstein. In October 2023, two women from EAST's first facilitator training sued Glattstein, alleging that he had sexually abused them during private "energy healing" sessions. One of the women, Mica Davis, said Glattstein would touch her breasts and vagina over her clothing, ostensibly to help clear her "root chakra"  energy that resides in the groin area. Doing so, he told her, would "make her husband happy." The second woman, Jacqueline Wigder, who had come to EAST in part to work through trauma stemming from childhood sexual abuse, said that Glattstein would press his hands on her pubic bone and reach under her bra to run his hands between her breasts. Her sexual energy, he allegedly told her, was "like a caged tiger that needed to be released."

Glattstein and EAST have denied the allegations. In a blog post on his personal website, Glattstein says the women signed informed consents specifically for "hands on" energy work. "The reputation of an incredibly gifted healer that has dedicated his life to helping humanity was severely damaged," he wrote. The case is still pending.

In December, EAST filed for bankruptcy. The EAST website is now blank, and all posts have been deleted from the group's social media accounts. Franklin, meanwhile, has migrated some of EAST's offerings to her personal website. Earlier this year, she offered a six-day trip to Egypt called "The Awakening," which she advertised as a "reclamation journey of the powerful Priestess within" that will unlock "dormant cellular DNA." Today, she says, her goal is "to share what it really means to be an impactful, courageous, conscious leader in the healing and psychedelic spaces."

As for Tim, he hopes for a day when psilocybin therapy is fully professionalized, with credentials and oversight boards. In a sense, it's not that different from the process that Western medicine underwent at the turn of the 20th century. Back then, medical schools were required to implement standardized curricula and training requirements to counteract widespread public dissatisfaction over snake-oil salesmen and other medical "quacks." Properly regulated, Tim believes, shrooms and other psychedelics could one day be as commonplace as talk therapy  a trusted treatment for the traumas and anxieties of modern life. Getting there will mean establishing appropriate boundaries between patients and practitioners, ensuring proper oversight, and moving beyond the field's anything-goes roots in the New Age counterculture.

"I still believe this is the future of medicine," Tim says. "But you can't just have some tech guy walk in and call himself a shaman."

Katie MacBride is a freelance writer.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Love for the land and for public service broke Jacob Malcoms heart on Valentines Day 2025. That Friday, Feb. 14, he was ordered to terminate probationary employees at the U.S. Department of the Interior as part of sweeping layoffs throughout the federal government. In response, he resigned in protest.

Malcom, who led Interiors Office of Policy Analysis, has since founded a new group, Next Interior, whose mission is to build public awareness of Interiors many roles and support the agencys past and present employees.

[Editor's Note: This article was originally published by "High Country News." Used with permission. All rights reserved.]

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Longer term, past the Trump administration, were thinking very much about reconstruction, he said. Were not going back to Jan. 19, 2025, as the target for what Interior is. Instead, were asking what Interior looks like in the future.

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Shaun Griswold: Tell us about your career at Interior. What did you find most satisfying about it, and why did you decide to leave?

Jacob Malcom: The people who make Interior run are just a joy. Given my background in natural resources, in particular with wildlife, I just loved the mission. Thats why I wanted to work there and provide policy analysis to support broad decision-making that affects how our natural and cultural resources are managed and protected. It was exactly the kind of thing I enjoy engaging ion, with people who are dedicated to serving the country.

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Why did I leave? In the days leading up to Valentines Day, it was clear that there was going to be a push to terminate a bunch of staff from across the federal government.

On the morning of Valentines Day, the senior political official I reported to gave us the rundown: We were going to be carrying out the terminations that day. About 7 p.m., I got the paperwork. The paperwork said that these people had not been performing, or their skills werent in line with the departments needs.

There was no evidence of either of those things. For several of them, I happened to know their work and know that they were among the best performers that were in these offices. There was no opportunity to provide any factual feedback. We were given the direction that we would execute these letters that evening.

All that I could do was to include a note in the files for these staff to say that there was no evidence that this was true, and that we just had to carry out the terminations at the direction of political leadership.

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I decided that evening that I was going to resign. Monday was a holiday. I cleaned out my office and resigned the next day.

SG: In the 30 days after you left, what did you learn?

JM: The changes that were happening, that I could see from the inside  no senior career folks had any say in trying to shape those decisions. Those just continued apace.

During that second 30 days, there were days when there were as many as five secretarial orders, orders that focused largely on energy dominance and resource extraction and use. Those started to go into implementation.

Its still unclear how some of these policies are going to play out. We need to keep an eye out and understand: When theres an executive order and a secretarial order  first from the president, second from the secretary  to unleash Alaskas resources, what does that mean for people who live in Alaska?

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I think a lot about the Office of Subsistence Management. Their job is to help ensure that Alaskans who live off the land have plants and wildlife available across the landscape. How are (those Alaskans) going to be impacted if priority is placed on other activities that could harm those plants and wildlife? I dont think we know yet.

SG: How do you view the department today?

JM: I view it in a couple of different ways. On the positive side, I think about my former colleagues, the career staff of the department, who make it work.

I think a lot about their dedication, their ability to continue charging ahead and doing the work that theyre asked to do. Even if, in many cases, its undoing previous work that they had done at the behest of previous administrations. Their ability to keep that work going in the face of all of these changes is pretty amazing.

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Its a testament, I think, to the strength of the civil service and why we need a dedicated civil service.

The flip side to that is, you know, theres just been this continuing effort to degrade public service and public servants, who are the ones that make our departments, our agencies and our federal government work.

The departments leaders say they support parks, but theyre going to aim to cut park staffing and park resources and park programs to the bone and beyond. They say they support wildland firefighting, but then they disparage all of the civil servants who are out there and create an environment where its not the least bit appealing to go and work for the federal government.

How do they expect these things to work out? How do they expect to have parks that serve people, or address wildfire needs, or fulfill trust and treaty obligations to tribes?

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These require people. And if those people are all being run off, if theyre being forced out, if theyre being illegally terminated, theres not going to be any way to advance the departments mission. Theres a massive contradiction between whats being said and whats being done.

SG: Can you describe how public lands are being used to advance President Trumps policies?

JM: The big one is the boost of fossil fuels  the further subsidization of fossil fuels. The administration loves to deride renewable energy subsidies, never mentioning that the fossil fuel subsidies that have been enjoyed for decades continue today to the order of hundreds of billions of dollars a year.

Public lands are part of that, because if the public lands are put up for lease at unreasonably low rates and the taxpayers never benefit from the royalties, theyre being used to underwrite energy activity.

SG: Are public lands playing any role in President Trumps immigration policies?

JM: They are in a variety of ways. I worked for the Fish and Wildlife Service on the Arizona-Mexico border for several years, and chunks of those federal lands are being used to increase the militarization of the border and put up new walls, which have all sorts of effects on the landscape. The Alligator Alcatraz travesty out in Florida is located (within Big Cypress National Preserve).

HCN: Any more examples of Homeland Security using public lands to advance President Trumps agenda?

JM: Most likely, were just going to see past practices on steroids. The REAL ID Act of 2005 allowed the waiver of all sorts of environmental and historical laws by the Border Patrol and other agencies. Were just going to see this allowed to continue.

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Theyll use the authorities of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to say, Were authorized to do whatever we want, and well just waive whatever we want. Well use our public lands in any manner we want for immigration and other purposes.

SG: How does Next Interior see its role in the public lands debate under the Trump administration?

JM: One of the big challenges facing the Department of the Interior is that there is no set of people ready to advocate for Interior  for all of it.

Most people dont know what Interior does. Most probably dont realize that it provides for our parks and our wildlife. Its responsible for water and energy development in all forms. It produces science and other forms of knowledge that people depend on to identify natural hazards and manage ecosystems. The Department of the Interior also has particular responsibilities to tribes through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education.

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We have to educate people about what the department does, and how things like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act intersect with what Interior does. Part of the act rescinded about $250 million from the National Park Service that was supposed to be used to pay for rangers or other staff who help manage resources. I dont know how many people know that rescission happened, but it did. Part of Next Interiors job is to educate people about those kinds of changes and advocate for Interior.

Most people dont know what Interior does.

Another piece thats especially important during the Trump administration is supporting public servants. A lot of people, thousands and thousands, are leaving the department. Theyre looking for the next phase in their careers or their lives. Having additional support is going to be valuable. Former Environmental Protection Agency staff can turn to the (nonprofit) Environmental Protection Network for support. We need something like that for the people of Interior, so were working on that as well.

Longer term, past the Trump administration, were thinking very much about reconstruction. Were not going back to Jan. 19, 2025, as the target for what Interior is. Instead, were asking what Interior looks like in the future.

Our vision is a strong and supportive Department of the Interior thats really serving current and future generations. Thats a big task. So, well start working on it now.

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This story is part of High Country News Conservation Beyond Boundaries project, which is supported by the BAND Foundation.

Shaun Griswold, a sovereign citizen from the Pueblos of Laguna, Jemez and Zuni, does journalism from the high-desert elevation deserts in New Mexico. He servess as the senior reporter for Native News Online's "Culltivating Culture" Project.

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
"Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected," posted the Office of the Prime Minister of India on X.

https://x.com/PMOIndia/status/1949353250785812806?t=raeXaLs-sTUX_QUOa9za5w&s=19

Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also expressed deep distress over a stampede on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, where six people died in a stampede.

Dhami shared on X, "It is extremely distressing to receive news of a stampede on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar. @uksdrf, local police, and other rescue teams have reached the site and are engaged in relief and rescue operations."

Local police and rescue teams are engaged in relief operations. The situation is being closely monitored by the local administration. CM Dhami is in constant contact with the authorities to ensure timely assistance.

"I am in constant contact with the local administration regarding this matter, and the situation is being closely monitored. I pray to Mother Goddess for the safety and well-being of all devotees," he added.

The stampede occurred due to a large crowd on Sunday. Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey confirmed the deaths.

He said to ANI, "I am leaving for the spot. A detailed report of the incident is awaited."

Visuals from the site showed the injured being rushed to the hospital in ambulances. More details awaited. (ANI)
Jellyfish arrive at the Delaware beaches every year around this time, but this year, it feels like a full-on invasion.

Delaware Online/The News Journal reached out to Delaware beach patrol captains to find out what they're seeing. This year, in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach and at Delaware State Parks, jellyfish arrived earlier and in bigger numbers than usual, the captains said.

It's especially a problem in Lewes. Beach Patrol Captain Strohm Edwards has seen more jellyfish this year than any other.

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"Correspondingly, we've experienced a sharp rise in stings," Edwards said. "Our numbers have more than tripled compared to last year, with the majority of cases occurring within just the past four weeks."

A lion's mane jellyfish on the oceanside beach at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Last year, the Lewes Beach Patrol treated about 270 jellyfish stings. This year, by July 25, they had treated nearly 900, Edwards said. The uptick is caused by warmer water, according to Edwards, which explains why Lewes appears to be most affected. The Delaware Bay's water is warmer than the Atlantic Ocean.

Which beaches are affected?

If Lewes has it the worst, though, other Delaware beaches aren't far behind. Rehoboth Beach Patrol Captain Jeff Giles said his guards are treating over 100 beachgoers a day for jellyfish stings.

"(Jellyfish stings) usually start in mid-July as the waters warm and the southern current increases," Giles said. "This summer it started earlier, at the beginning of July."

A moon jelly.

Delaware State Parks officials don't keep jellyfish sting statistics, but Beach Patrol Captain Bailey Noel said his guards have seen a significant increase, as well. They're responsible for Cape Henlopen, Delaware Seashore, and Fenwick Island State Park beaches.

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Dewey Beach bucked the trend: Beach Patrol Captain Todd Fritchman said the number of jellyfish there is normal for this time of year.

Rehoboth Beach: No protest, only counter-protest, at Goolee's Grille

What kind of jellyfish are in Delaware waters?

According to a Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control social media post, Delaware beachgoers are most likely to find moon, lion's mane and nettle jellyfish.

Moon jellyfish are transparent and white, identifiable by four distinct circles at the top of their bell. DNREC rates their sting as "mild."

Vacationing?: Everything you need to know this week at the Delaware beaches

Lion's manes are the largest known jellyfish species in the world, according to DNREC, with the largest recorded bell spanning 7.5 feet. The ones you see at the Delaware beaches are typically smaller, between 2 and 6 inches in diameter, and they're often streaked with maroon or magenta. DNREC rated their sting as "strong to severe" and called it "intensely painful," though not fatal.

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There are two types of nettle jellyfish, bay and sea, corresponding to their location. Recently, former University of Delaware biologist Keith Bayha's research determined the nettle in the Delaware Bay are a species distinct from those in the Chesapeake Bay. Nettle is typically whitish, sometimes with maroon or purple spots or steaks, and DNREC rated their sting "strong to severe."

Bay nettle.

DNREC also mentions sea walnuts. They look like tentacle-less jellyfish, but they're actually harmless comb jellies. You likely won't notice them unless you go looking. They're fist-shaped and sized and can appear bioluminescent, but it's just light refracting off their cilia.

When will the jellyfish go away?

Delaware waters will only get warmer in August and September, so the transparent, tentacled creatures won't likely be leaving anytime soon, Noel said.

Is there any way to avoid being stung?

"Unfortunately, no," Noel said. "Jellyfish are in the ocean and with the increase in numbers its almost inevitable that a sting will happen during your swim."

A sea walnut.

Edwards recommended wearing a rash guard, and Giles recommended a wetsuit to minimize the risk.

How should I treat a jellyfish sting?

Delaware Beach patrol captains have various recommendations for treating stings: vinegar, shaving cream and meat tenderizer. If it's particularly bad, Benadryl can help, some said.

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And no, folks, urine doesn't help a jellyfish sting.

Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Invasion of the jellyfish at the Delaware beaches: What to know
A nighttime on-ramp closure may slow down commutes for those driving on Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation.

When is the Iowa DOT closing an I-80 on-ramp in West Des Moines?

The Iowa DOT is closing the on-ramp that goes from northbound Jordan Creek Parkway to eastbound Interstate 80 in West Des Moines for pavement work. The left lane on the ramp is already closed for other construction work.

The closure will start at 9 p.m. Monday, July 28, and last until 5 a.m. Tuesday, July 29.

What is the detour when the Iowa DOT closes an I-80 on ramp?

A nighttime closure will take place going northbound on Jordan Creek Parkway.

There will be a digital sign to direct drivers to continue north on Jordan Creek Parkway past the closed ramp until University Avenue. Drivers will turn right and travel on University Avenue until they reach the on-ramps for I-80/35 at Exit 124.

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The Iowa DOT asks drivers to follow posted speed limits in work areas and remain alert.

Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa DOT closing an I-80 ramp in West Des Moines for overnight work
LONDON (AP)  Iran said Sunday it has executed two members of the exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq after convicting them of carrying out attacks on public and civilian infrastructure.

The judiciarys official news website, Mizan Online, reported that Behrouz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani were hanged on Sunday morning after being found guilty of using improvised mortar launchers to target residential areas, educational institutions and government buildings.

In January, rights group Amnesty International had issued an appeal for Eslamlou and Hasani, saying the two had been interrogated without the presence of lawyers and had been subjected "to torture and other ill-treatment, including beatings and prolonged solitary confinement, to extract self-incriminating statements.

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The Mojahedin Organization of Iran, also known as the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, issued a statement decrying the executions and said both men had been subjected to savage torture.

Calling for international condemnation of the executions, the group said another 14 people have been sentenced to death in Iran for alleged membership in the organization and are at imminent risk of execution.

Iranian courts charged the two men with several offenses, including waging war against the state, conspiracy, sabotage and membership in a terrorist organization. Prosecutors accused them of plotting to destabilize national security and damage public property.

The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, once a Marxist-Islamist group that opposed Irans monarchy, backed the 1979 Islamic Revolution but later broke with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis government. It carried out a series of deadly bombings and assassinations in the 1980s and supported Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war  stances that still provoke widespread resentment within Iran. The group is now largely based in Albania but claims to operate a clandestine network inside Iran.

The last known execution of Mujahedeen-e-Khalq members took place in 2009, following their conviction in connection with an attempted bombing in Tehrans central Enghelab Square.
DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran executed two members of the banned Mujahideen-e-Khalq group for attacking civilian infrastructure with homemade projectiles, the judiciary news outlet Mizan said on Sunday, amid criticism from Amnesty International over a "grossly unfair" trial.

Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani-Eslamloo, identified as "operational elements" of the MEK, were sentenced to death in September 2024 - a verdict upheld by the Supreme Court, which denied their request for a retrial, Mizan said.

"The terrorists, in coordination with MEK leaders, had ... built launchers and hand-held mortars in line with the group's goals, fired projectiles heedlessly at citizens, homes, service and administrative facilities, educational and charity centres," the report said.

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Maryam Rajavi, who leads the National Council of Resistance of Iran of which the MEK is the main force, paid tribute to the pair.

"Honour to these steadfast Mojahedin who, after three years of unwavering resistance under torture, pressure, and threats, fulfilled their solemn pledge to God and the people with pride and dignity."

The defendants were indicted with "moharebeh" - an Islamic term meaning waging war against God - destroying public property and "membership in a terrorist organisation with the aim of disrupting national security."

Amnesty International said that Ehsani-Eslamloo and Hassani were arrested in 2022 and maintained their innocence during a trial which the rights group called "grossly unfair and marred by allegations of torture and forced confessions.

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"According to informed sources, agents interrogated them without lawyers present and subjected them to torture and other ill-treatment, including beatings and prolonged solitary confinement, to extract self-incriminating statements," it said in January.

According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, the number of people executed in Iran rose to at least 901 in 2024, the highest number since 2015.

The MEK, known in English as People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran, was a powerful leftist-Islamist group that staged bombing campaigns against the shah's government and U.S. targets in the 1970s but ultimately fell out with the other factions of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Since then, the MEK has opposed the Islamic Republic and its leadership in exile has been Paris-based. The group was listed as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. and the European Union until 2012.

(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by William Mallard; Jamie Freed and Clelia Oziel)
The report didn't say whether the defendants' actions took place during last month's war with Israel, during which Tehran accused opposition groups like MEK of providing support to Israel.

Iran executed two members of the outlawed Mujahideen-e-Khalq opposition group for targeting civilian infrastructure with homemade projectiles, the judiciary news outlet Mizan reported on Sunday.

Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani-Eslamloo, "operational elements" of the MEK, were sentenced to death in a verdict upheld by the Supreme Court, Mizan said.

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"The terrorists, in coordination with MEK leaders, had set up a team house in Tehran, where they built launchers and hand-held mortars in line with the group's goals, fired projectiles heedlessly at citizens, homes, service and administrative facilities, educational and charity centers, and also carried out propaganda and information-gathering activities in support of the MEK," the report said.

The defendants were indicted with "moharebeh," an Islamic term meaning waging war against God, destroying public property, and "membership in a terrorist organization with the aim of disrupting national security."

Reported explosion in the city of Qom, south of Iran, July 14, 2025. (credit: SCREENSHOT/X/VIA SECTION 27A OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT)

The report did not say whether the defendants' actions took place during last month's Israel-Iran war, during which Tehran accused opposition groups like MEK of providing support to Israel from within Iran.

MEK previously staged bombings against shah's government, US targets in the 1970s

The MEK, known in English as People's Mujahideen Organization of Iran, was a powerful leftist-Islamist group that staged bombing campaigns against the shah's government and US targets in the 1970s but ultimately fell out with the other factions of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Since then, the MEK has opposed the Islamic Republic, and its leadership in exile has been Paris-based. The group was listed as a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union until 2012.
The clash broke out in Baghdad's Karkh district after a group of fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) stormed a government building.

A gun battle erupted in Iraq's capital of Baghdad on Sunday between police and fighters from a state-sanctioned paramilitary force that includes Iran-backed groups, killing at least one police officer and leading to the arrest of 14 fighters, authorities said.

The clash broke out in Baghdad's Karkh district after a group of fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) stormed an Agriculture Ministry building as a new director was being sworn in, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

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The PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, is an umbrella group of mostly Shi'ite paramilitary factions that was formally integrated into Iraq's state security forces and includes several groups aligned with Iran.

PMF fighters storm Iraqi government building

According to the Interior Ministry, the PMF fighters burst into the building during an administrative meeting, causing panic among staff who alerted police.

Security sources and three employees at the scene said the fighters had wanted to stop the office's former director from being replaced.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi attends a military parade for the members of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) marking its eighth anniversary, in Diyala province, Iraq July 23, 2022. (credit: IRAQI PRIME MINISTER MEDIA OFFICE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS)

A statement from the Joint Operations Command, which reports directly to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, confirmed that the detainees were PMF members and had been referred to the judiciary. At least one police officer was killed and nine others were wounded, police and hospital sources said.

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Sudani ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the incident, the command said.

The arrested fighters belong to "PMF brigades 45 and 46," the statement added. Both brigades are affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group, according to Iraqi security officials and sources within the PMF.
The Irish Spice Bag at a Minneapolis distillery is having a moment originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

The Spice Bag, a staple late-night bite in Ireland, is having a moment in the Twin Cities courtesy of O'Shaughnessy Distilling.

The Minneapolis distillery is serving up the Irish Spice Bag, a mix of fragrant, fried foods jumbled up in a paper bag.

The bag hits tables in a cloud of aromatic spices. It's packed with French fries, popcorn chicken, Irish cheddar cheese curds, pickled onions, Keeper's Heart Irish and Bourbon pickled fresnos, scallions, chili threads, and a Szechuan spice blend.

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On the side is an Irish curry sauce for dipping.

Irish Spice Bag at O'Shaughnessy DistillingPhoto by Dustin Nelson

O'Shaughnessy claims to be the first spot in the state serving the spice bag, though they've put a Midwestern twist on it by tossing in cheese curds. (Or is that a Canadian twist, bringing it a little closer to poutine?)

Either way, that's not how it's traditionally served.

Earlier this year, "spice bag" was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), codifying it as a bag filled with French fries, shredded deep-fried chicken, fried onions, red and green peppers, chili peppers, and jalapeno peppers, served with a curry sauce.

It's a phenomenon that has been traced back to the Dublin Chinese restaurant Sunflower, which loosely began serving the bags in 2006, according to the Irish Times. Though, as the publication notes, there's debate about its exact origins and the date of its creation.

O'Shaugnessy DistillingPhoto by Dustin Nelson

Whatever its roots, the Midwestern twist is clicking at O'Shaughnessy Distilling.

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When I went to give it a try, almost every table had a torn brown paper bag. That isn't a coincidence.

The bag was added to the menu on July 1 and "has quickly become a favorite," Halee Bernard, Digital Marketing Manager at O'Shaughnessy, tells Bring Me The News.

Head Chef Will Selin says they've served as many as 76 in a single night and that it has accounted for more than a quarter of its whiskey lounge sales some nights.

That's popular enough that Bernard says it's already passed up "special" status and will stay on the menu.

O'Shaughnessy has even begun planning to include miniature Irish Spice Bags as a midnight snack during weddings held in its private event space.

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It's not hard to understand how it's become an instant favorite. The presentation  again, a brown paper bag with grease spots  is fun, as is ripping into the bag and watching the collection of fried foods fall out.

It erupts with a steamy burst of spicy scents and delivers flavors that are as boisterous as the smell, which hangs throughout the distillery's lounge. The pickled onions and fresnos offer a little acidic bite that cuts through the spice.

Despite the fact that it's sticking around, the Irish Spice Bag is new enough that it's still presented as a special inside the distillery on a menu insert, running $18 per bag. Additionally, in the tradition of spice bags, it's the only item on the menu that's available for takeout.

Related: New steakhouse to open in downtown Minneapolis next week

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) 

The Israeli military has intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship seeking to break the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory, detaining 21 international activists and journalists and seizing all cargo, including baby formula, food and medicine, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said Sunday.

The coalition that operates the vessel Handala said the Israeli military violently intercepted the ship in international waters about 40 nautical miles from Gaza, cutting the cameras and communication, just before midnight Saturday.

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All cargo was non-military, civilian and intended for direct distribution to a population facing deliberate starvation and medical collapse under Israels illegal blockade, the group said in a statement.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Israel's Foreign Ministry posted on X early Sunday that the Navy stopped the vessel and was bringing it to shore.

It was the second ship operated by the coalition that Israel has prevented in recent months from delivering aid to Gaza, where food experts have for months warned of the risk of famine. Activist Greta Thunberg was among 12 activists on board the ship Madleen when it was seized by the Israeli military in June. In May, the coalition's civilian aid ship Conscience sustained a drone attack off Malta that disabled the vessel.

The ship's interception comes as Israel faces mounting international criticism over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with concern growing over rising hunger in the territory amid Israeli restrictions on aid.

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A regional human rights group, Adalah, said the raid on the vessel violated international law. It demanded the immediate release of the 21 activists, including lawmakers and human rights campaigners, from 10 countries.

Adalah said the vessel has arrived at the Israeli port of Ashdod, but that its lawyers have been denied access to the detained activists.

The flotilla never entered Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so; it was headed toward the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognized under international law," Adalah said in a statement. Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority over the international waters in which the vessel was sailing.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, regarding two Italians on board, the Foreign Ministry said in a statment. Sa'ar indicated that if they don't agree to leave the country immediately, they would be forcibly repatriated over the next three days, the ministry said.

Also on board were seven U.S. citizens, including a human rights attorney, a Jewish U.S. war veteran and a Jewish-American activist, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has said it would implement "humanitarian pauses" to allow the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip on Sunday morning.

The pause would apply to "civilian centers and in humanitarian corridors" in Gaza, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on X late on Saturday.

Despite fierce international criticism, Israel has been allowing very little aid into the coastal strip.

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The ministry went on say that, while "Israel has continued to facilitate the entry of aid trucks into the Gaza strip," the United Nations "failed so far to collect and distribute the large amount of aid trucks that are stored in designated areas inside of the Gaza strip."

The Israeli ministry said that the UN now would "collect and distribute the large quantities of aid, without any further delay or excuses."

"Israel rejects the false accusations of 'starvation' propaganda initiated by Hamas which manipulates pictures of children suffering from terminal diseases. It is shameful," the ministry said.

The UN has been contradicting the Israeli claim that the organization was refusing to distribute food.

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"We are not trying to prevent all these people, including our own people, from getting food. They're being held up by different obstacles, including those placed by the Israeli authorities," UN spokesman Farhan Haq said on Thursday.

Haq added that the multi-stage approval process by the Israeli military was very cumbersome, with significant delays, often resulting in nightfall before the reloaded goods could set off.

Earlier on Saturday evening, the Israeli military said that it wanted to resume airdrops of aid supplies over the Gaza Strip and also wants to enable the delivery of food and medicine by the UN via humanitarian corridors.

The Israeli military also said that a drinking water treatment plant in the Gaza Strip has also been reconnected to the Israeli power grid.

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At the same time, Israeli authorities said that fighting would continue in order to free all hostages and defeat Palestinian militant organization Hamas.

The first airdrop of relief supplies was due to take place on Saturday night, but it only involved seven pallets of relief supplies, including flour, sugar and tinned food, according to COGAT, the Israeli military authority responsible for approving and coordinating aid transports.

The operation is to be carried out in coordination with international aid organizations.

But volunteers point out that delivery by air is considered the most expensive and ineffective form of humanitarian aid delivery - also because it usually involves relatively small quantities.

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Before the military's announcement that Israel would resume airdrops, United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said his country would resume air drops "immediately."

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical and unprecedented level," the minister said in a post on X.

"We will ensure essential aid reaches those most in need, whether through land, air or sea. Air drops are resuming once more, immediately. Our commitment to alleviating suffering and providing support is resolute and unwavering."

Around 2 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, most of whom are in urgent need of aid.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a deadly hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip. Numerous other aid organizations are also warning of this.
LONDON, TEL AVIV and GAZA -- The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday it would begin a scheduled "tactical" pause of its military activities in three areas in Gaza, as it opens aid corridors to allow food and medicine into the enclave.

A suspension in military activity was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Al Mawasi, Deir al Balah and Gaza City, according to Avichay Adraee, an IDF spokesperson. The suspension was to begin Sunday and continue every day until further notice, he said in a statement on social media.

The decision was made in coordination with the United Nations and other international aid groups, according to COGAT, the Israeli body that manages the flow of aid into the territory. The 10-hour pauses would begin in areas where "the IDF is not operating," the Israeli military said.

Jehad Alshrafi/AP - PHOTO: Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy that reached Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 26, 2025.

MORE: 'They're losing hope': What doctors, aid workers are seeing in Gaza amid hunger crisis

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Reacting to the announcement, officials with the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health said the pause must be used to take immediate measures to save lives by evacuating the wounded and allowing the entry of food and medical supplies, including baby formula, antibiotics, and high-protein and high-calorie nutritional supplements.

The IDF had announced changes Saturday in humanitarian aid procedures in Gaza amid ongoing international pressure as the malnutrition crisis worsens.

Israel said Sunday morning that "secure" aid corridors would be opened daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., allowing convoys from the United Nations and other international aid groups to deliver food and medicine within the Strip.

Abdel Kareem Hana/AP - PHOTO: Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 26, 2025.

MORE: IDF says it will conduct aid airdrops in Gaza as hunger crisis deepens

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The news comes as Israel over the weekend again insisted that "there is no starvation in Gaza," according to an IDF post on X that listed what the post said were "new steps to improve the humanitarian response in Gaza."

"The IDF emphasizes that there is no starvation in Gaza; this is a false campaign promoted by Hamas," the post said, in part. "Responsibility for food distribution lies with the UN & international aid organizations. Therefore, the UN and international organizations are expected to improve the effectiveness of aid distribution and to ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas."

The Gaza media office said 600 relief trucks are required for the Strip daily, adding that about 250,000 cans of infant formula are required each month. The Hamas-run office called for the immediate opening of crossings into the territory.

The Israeli army also began airdropping food parcels overnight into Sunday. Several Arab countries in the region, including Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, also said they will also conduct airdrops.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notice on a plea from The Citizens Foundation, which alleges widespread non-compliance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, by manufacturers of gutkha, pan masala, and tobacco products. The petition claims that banned plastic packaging materials are still being used and calls for strict enforcement of existing regulations. This includes the closure of units violating the rules and the recovery of environmental compensation. A judicial bench led by Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. A. Senthil Vel has issued notices to relevant authorities, including the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), seeking their responses. Counsel for the petitioner pointed out that, despite the CPCB's earlier directives, issued on October 22, 2021, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to 25 manufacturers to halt operations unless they adopted eco-friendly packaging, these directives remain unimplemented. The CPCB had instructed the defaulting companies to submit a timeline for switching to sustainable materials and to pay Environmental Compensation (EC) with interest for any delays. The plea highlights violations of Rules 4(f) and 4(i) of the 2016 Rules, which prohibit the use of plastic sachets and specific polymers in packaging gutkha and related products. CPCB's previous reports suggested that such non-compliance could result in stern penalties, including seizure of goods, shutting down of factories, and levies of Rs 5,000 per ton of plastic used. Repeat offences could attract additional fines of up to Rs 20,000 per ton. The applicant also cited a CPCB report from January 2021, which outlines enforcement under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regime. According to this, delayed EC payments could be penalised with annual interest ranging from 12 per cent to 24 per cent. Delays exceeding three months could lead to factory closures and criminal prosecution under Section 15(1) of the Environment Protection Act. Recognising the gravity of the environmental concerns raised, the NGT has scheduled the next hearing for September 26, 2025. The applicant must serve notices on the remaining respondents and file an affidavit of service one week prior to the scheduled date, as stated by the Tribunal. (ANI)
Israel announced a tactical pause in military activity in several parts of Gaza to allow humanitarian aid in following pressure from the international community to avoid mass starvation.

The Israeli military said that in order to increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Strip, a local tactical pause in military activity will take place for humanitarian purposes from 10am to 8pm local time on Sunday.

The pauses will be in place every day until further notice in the southern coastal area of Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and Gaza City in the northern part of the enclave.

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However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said these are areas where it was not currently operating significantly in the first place.

It is understood the pause may relate to a cessation of troop movements and raids in these areas, which contain large numbers of civilians.

The military also designated secure routes that will be in place permanently from 6am to 11pm to enable the safe passage of UN and humanitarian aid organisation convoys delivering and distributing food and medicine to the population across the Gaza Strip.

The move comes as Palestinian media reported civilian casualties following an Israeli air strike on the Al-Zaytoun area of Gaza City, in the north of the Strip.

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Sir Keir Starmer is expected to push Donald Trump, the US president, to restart Gaza peace talks. The US and Israel withdrew its negotiating teams on Friday.

The Prime Minister is facing pressure to follow Emmanuel Macron, the French president, in announcing the recognition of Palestine as a state, a symbolic move that would risk the ire of both Israel and Mr Trump.

Airdrops taking place

The Israeli Air Force also airdropped humanitarian aid over Gaza for the first time since the beginning of the war.

Until now, other countries such as the UAE and the UK have airdropped food over the Strip during periods of the conflict, but Israel has not taken direct part in such operations.

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The IDF said the aid distribution was carried out in co-ordination with international organisations and led by Cogat (Co-ordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories). The air drops included seven packages of aid containing flour, sugar and canned food.

There have been worries about the amount of aid getting into Gaza - AP/Jehad Alshrafi

The Israeli Air Forces provision of aid, however, has been criticised for endangering Gazans when they hit the ground, and for being ineffective.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNs Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, said: Driving aid through is much easier, more effective, faster, cheaper and safer. Its more dignified for the people of Gaza.

Cogat and Israel Electric Corporation also connected the power line from Israel to the desalination plant in Gaza.

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The IDF said the move is expected to supply approximately 20,000 cubic metres of water per day, up from the 2,000 cubic meters supplied until now, to serve about 900,000 residents in the area.

The UN and Israel have blamed each other in the past week for aid not getting into Gaza.

Israel invited international journalists to the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing earlier this week to see nearly 1,000 trucks worth of aid piling up and waiting to get picked up.

Israel said it regularly updated the UN on which routes are safe to use when picking up aid and that the IDF had extended operating hours at the border crossings.

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Stephane Dujarric, a UN spokesman, said that Israel is imposing tremendous bureaucratic impediments and tremendous security impediments.

He said: Frankly I think there is a lack of willingness to allow us to do our work.

On Friday, the UNs Office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs released a detailed list of 11 key practical impediments it claims Israel is putting in the way of proper aid delivery. These included alleged regular denials or delays.

It said: Resources are regularly wasted as convoys spend hours waiting for the green light to move, only to be denied.

It added that in the south of the Strip, which is a maximum of 7.5 miles wide, a round trip for an aid truck typically takes 20 hours.

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The UN claims that when routes become insecure the IDF provides a lack of authorised alternatives.

Both Israel and the UN have blamed the other for the lack of aid getting into Gaza - Getty Images/Ali Moustafa

While Israel has admitted that theres food insecurity in Gaza it refused to acknowledge that starvation is taking place.

This is a false campaign promoted by Hamas. Responsibility for food distribution to the population in Gaza lies with the UN and international aid organisations, the IDF said on Sunday morning.

Israel has accused Hamas of looting aid to control the population and profit from the crisis. Israeli officials told The New York Times on Saturday, however, that there is no evidence of systematic looting of UN aid in particular.

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But Hamas has been accused of carrying out similar practices on smaller aid agencies. Scenes of civilians looting aid trucks has also become familiar as the crisis has worsened.

The Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which claimed to have distributed more than 92 million meals in Gaza since it began operating in May, has also claimed to have reached out to the UN to offer their assistance with picking up and distributing aid from border crossings.

The UN has refused the offer so far but Tom Fletcher, UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator, responded to GHFs letter on Friday, saying that his team is ready to meet with GHF to start a dialogue.

GHF stands ready to assist your teams in safely and rapidly moving the aid that is currently warehoused and immobilised inside Gaza, and we are open to flexible models of collaboration that protect the neutrality of aid and the dignity of those receiving it, GHF said in response to Mr Fletchers letter.

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More than 1,000 Gazans are said to have been killed trying to access aid distributed by the controversial GHF scheme, which uses private military contractors.

As Israel announced tactical military pauses in Gaza, two Israeli soldiers were killed when an explosive device hit the armoured personnel carrier they were in.

The blast took place in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The soldiers were identified as Captain Amir Saad, 22, from the Israeli Druze village of Yanuh-Jat, and Sergeant Inon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon in northern Israel.

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Israel announced it would pause fighting in some parts of Gaza each day to allow Palestinians to access aid, amid growing international condemnation over the territorys humanitarian crisis.

The establishment of humanitarian corridors comes as The New York Times reported Israels military found no proof Hamas stole United Nations-provided aid.

The decision to also allow food airdrops was made hastily and in a state of panic, Haaretz reported: Israels government realized it is no closer to a hostage deal  the US ditched ceasefire talks in Qatar last week  while accounts of starving Palestinians have turned global public opinion further against Israel.

The UK and Germany are weighing toughening their stance on the conflict after France moved to recognize a Palestinian state.
Hamas has reportedly expressed willingness to show flexibility on its previous demands, with international pressure expected to help restart talks.

Hamas has reportedly informed mediators that it seeks to reach a resolution on disputed issues in hostage and ceasefire negotiations, sources told Saudi channel Al Hadath on Sunday.

The sources added that international pressure is expected to help restart the talks this week, and emphasized that Hamas has expressed willingness to show flexibility on its previous demands, according to the report.

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"Is the UN, New York Times, and Hamas all happy now? I'm sure Hamas is. Their lies & propaganda destroyed cease-fire deal, tried to discredit safe and functioning GHF effort, emboldened Hamas & will result in this complete balagan! Most sad for hostage families-grief prolonged," US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee wrote on X/Twitter on Sunday.

On Friday, Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post that Israel still believes Hamas is ultimately interested in a deal, but theyre trying to squeeze every possible advantage, provoking and appeasing all the extremist factions within Gaza."

According to the official, Hamas has yet to provide a formal and serious response to Israels latest proposal. Instead, it has resorted to delaying tactics, reintroducing previously resolved issues, and making "outlandish" demands, chief among them, the release of dozens of living prisoners in exchange for each murdered hostage.

Palestinians gather to collect aid supplies after trucks loaded with aid entered from Israel through central Gaza, in Gaza City, July 22, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Khamis Al-Rifi)

IDF announces localized ceasefires on Sunday morning 'until further notice'

The IDF on Sunday announced localized ceasefires from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in portions of Gaza in order to expand food aid distribution to the civilian population.

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Although the IDF message tried to present the announcement as a very limited issue and not a broader ceasefire, the implications are likely a relatively broad ceasefire, and at a point where Hamas has given no new concessions to Israel.

According to the IDF announcement, the ceasefires relate to the al-Muwasi central-southern Gaza coastal area, Deir al Balah central Gaza, and Gaza City northern Gaza areas.

Put differently, Israel will not be able to target the vast majority of Hamas, and any other Hamas fighters who move to these areas will be safe.

Questioned by The Jerusalem Post about the length of the ceasefires, which was not mentioned in the announcement, the IDF said "until further notice"  meaning it could go on for weeks or even months.

Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.

This is a developing story.
Israeli forces intercepted the Handala, a Gaza-bound ship carrying aid and activists, within 70 nautical miles of its intended destination on Saturday night.

The occupation has disabled our cameras and all communication has been lost, a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) told CNN in a message.

A YouTube livestream showed armed personnel boarding the ship, while the activists on the deck, all wearing life jackets, held their hands in the air in surrender. One of the helmeted personnel appears to manipulate the camera streaming on the deck, turning it around. The stream ended soon after that.

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Israels foreign ministry confirmed in a statement on X that the Israeli navy has stopped the vessel Navarn from illegally entering the maritime zone of the coast of Gaza, using the Handalas original name.

The vessel is safely making its way to the shores of Israel. All passengers are safe, the statement continued. Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts.

The Handala, named for a famous Palestinian cartoon character, is part of the FFC, which has attempted numerous times to break Israels blockade on Gaza via sea and deliver aid to Palestinians there.

Two members of the French and European parliaments are aboard, according to FFC, as well as Christian Small, a US trade unionist.

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The unarmed boat was carrying life-saving supplies when it was boarded by Israeli forces, its passengers abducted, and its cargo seized, the FFC said in a statement issued soon after the live stream ended.

The statement added that the supplies included baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine.

A few hours before the ship was intercepted, the FFC released a statement saying that the Handala was steering towards Egypt in an effort to avoid being boarded.

The end of Handalas journey towards Gaza comes a little over a month after another ship from the Freedom Flotilla, the Madleen, was similarly intercepted on its way to the enclave.

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That ship, crewed by a group that included climate activist Greta Thunberg, was also laden with aid. Israeli authorities towed their ship to Ashdod, and all aboard were deported from Israel afterwards.

On Sunday, the crew arrived at the port of Ashdod, according to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, the Palestinian initiative that organized the voyage.

The committee added that diplomatic representatives and lawyers were awaiting permission to access the crew.

Violation of international maritime law

Earlier on Saturday evening, crew members on the deck of the Handala were seen donning reflective life jackets after Australian volunteer Tania Safi told CNN in a voice note the ship was being circled by Israeli Heron drones.

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CNN is unable to verify the claim and has reached out to Israeli authorities for comment.

Everyone here has prepared for almost every possible scenario that Israel could put us through, Safi said on Saturday afternoon. If they intercept us, it would be a violation of international maritime law.

The FFC states on their website that the 19 activists and two journalists on the Handala came from numerous countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, and others. Norways Ministry of Foreign Affairs told CNN they are aware that a Norwegian citizen was aboard the ship.

According to the FFC, four aboard the Handala are US citizens. CNN has reached out to the US State Department for comment.

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On Thursday, a State Department spokesperson called the activist aid ship a selfie flotilla, dismissing the endeavor as a stunt. The latest selfie flotilla should end the stunts, the spokesperson said. The real story is the serious people who put their lives on the line to get food and aid to the people of Gaza without it falling into the hands of terrorists.

The spokesperson added that the State Department has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens and referred to the government of Israel for more information.

CNNs Dalia Abdelwahab and Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.

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(NewsNation)  A humanitarian pause in parts of Gaza is underway, Israel announced early Sunday morning.

The Israeli military has halted operations in three parts of the region for 10 hours each day and will create new permanent routes for aid deliveries, it said. It will also resume airdrops of food.

The people of Gaza awaiting those deliveries have said its not enough and are calling for a full ceasefire and more substantial aid. This comes two days after American and Israeli officials walked away from ceasefire talks, saying Hamas appeared to not actually want a deal.

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This is the first time since October that Israel has dropped humanitarian aid from the air, Middle East correspondent Jotam Confino told NewsNations Morning in America with Hena Doba.

All need to come back: Siegel on remaining Hamas hostages

The World Food Programe said they have enough humanitarian aid either in the region or on the way to the region to feed the entire population of Gaza for three months, but the aid hasnt been reaching them.

Israel identified three areas to drop aid where a lot of people are already gathered and where it believes there will be no military actions, despite Hamas potentially being there, Confino said.

Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy that reached Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the American backed non-governmental organization, is distributing between roughly 2 and 3 million meals a day in Gaza, but the issue is to distribute it in a safe way.

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Some of the delivery trucks have ben looted as soon as they crossed into the city centers, and the overwhelming need for food has resulted in stampedes. There was a large protest in Tel Aviv on Thursday for a ceasefire and hostage returns.

The frustration in Israel is immense, said Confino, who has reported on the ground throughout the war.

US pulls out of ceasefire negotations, blames Hamas

Mass hunger in Gaza

The starvation in Gaza is a dire, dire situation, Doctors Without Borders project coordinator Caroline Willeman said as Israel resumes airdrops. She says there is nothing humanitarian about the food distributions, given the densely populated area and dangers of stampedes.

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Every single day people are being shot and killed at those sites, Willeman said. People who desperately go there. Looking for food have basically just as much chance to come back with a food parcel as to get a bullet in their head.

Palestinians carry sacks of flour unloaded from a humanitarian aid convoy that reached Gaza City from the northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Doctors Without Borders runs a primary healthcare clinic here in Gaza City and conducted malnutrition screenings for children under 5 last week. Willeman said 25% of them were malnourished.

We have a fourfold increase of patients in our malnutrition program since May, so the sheer scale that will be needed in terms of food support for the people of Gaza is enormous because people have been deprived on purpose from food.

Even her colleagues are starving.

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My own colleagues who have a salary have trouble feeding their families because so little is available in the market. The few things that are available are so expensive that even for people with a salary, its virtually impossible to buy food.

Jean Guy Vataux, Doctors Without Borders emergency coordinator in Gaza, told Newsnation that, Airdrops are notoriously ineffective and dangerous. They carry far less supply than the more than 20 tons you can get on a truck.

At the moment, 2 million people are trapped in a tiny piece of land, which makes up just 12 percent of the whole Stripif anything lands in this area, people will inevitably be injured. On the other hand, if the airdrops land in areas where Israel has issued displacement orders, people will be forced to enter militarized zonesonce again risking their lives for food.

The World Food Programme reports that 100% of people in Gaza face acute levels of food insecurity.

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On behalf of my Palestinian colleagues, on behalf of our patients, they are desperate for this pause, but also really what they need is a sustained ceasefire.

Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians over northern Gaza Strip, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Jotam Confino and NewsNations Hena Doba 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.
A civilian ship carrying aid to Palestinians in Gaza was intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters on Saturday, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirmed.

The Handala flotilla was carrying baby formula, diapers, food, and medicine. The passengers were detained and the cargo was seized. The coalition said the boat was intercepted in international waters outside Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, in violation of international maritime law.

Israel has no legal authority to detain international civilians aboard the Handala, Ann Wright, a member of the Freedom Flotillas steering committee, said in a statement. This is not a matter of internal Israeli jurisdiction. These are foreign nationals operating under international law in international waters. Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end.

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This week, the United Nations World Food Program said the famine in Gaza has reached new and astonishing levels of desperation, with a third of the population not eating for multiple days in a row. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, there have been 40 hunger-related deaths this month.

More than 100 aid agencies and rights groups have warned of a mass starvation across Gaza.

There is no one in Gaza now outside the scope of famine, not even myself, Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, who leads the pediatric ward at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, told The New York Times. I am speaking to you as a health official, but I, too, am searching for flour to feed my family.

There were 21 civilians from 12 countries on the flotilla, including Christian Smalls, the former president of the Amazon Labor Union; European Union Parliament member Emma Fourreau; human rights attorney Huwaida Arraf; and two Al Jazeera journalists. The crew members said they would go on hunger strike if they were to be abducted.

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Israeli officials have ignored the International Court of Justices binding orders that require the facilitation of humanitarian access to Gaza, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a statement. The continued attacks on peaceful civilian missions represent a grave violation of international law.

Arraf was among a group of activists who sought to travel on an aid flotilla to Gaza last spring, when the population was already considered to be at imminent risk of famine.

We cant sit by and let it happen, Arraf told Rolling Stone at the time. People have been marching in the millions around the world, and still our governments are not listening to the people. And so were taking that protest to the sea and were directly challenging Israels closure policy  the siege, the blockade, which are unlawful.

During that attempt, Turkish port authorities blocked the ships from leaving.

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Since the deadly Hamas-led attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has led a brutal siege on Gaza and a near-total blockade.

Israel has tightly restricted the flow of humanitarian aid, arguing that Hamas had been stealing aid provided through the U.N. According to a Times report on Saturday, military officials admitted that Israel had no proof for such claims. The U.S. Agency for International Development, the foreign aid bureau shuttered by President Donald Trumps administration, similarly found no evidence that Hamas was regularly stealing assistance to Gaza, according to ABC News.

In recent months, Israel has been accused, in several instances, of indiscriminately firing on Gazans attempting to get food at operations run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a recently created aid group backed by Israel and the Trump administration.

Israels military said Saturday it would begin airdropping aid into Gaza and implementing humanitarian pauses for the delivery of aid this weekend. However, the Israeli military has killed more than 1,000 people trying to get food since May, mainly near aid sites, according to the United Nations.

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This is a deliberate and human-made disaster, Joseph Belliveau, executive director of MedGlobal, a charity working in Gaza, told NPR. Those children died because there is not enough food in Gaza and not enough medicines, including IV fluids and therapeutic formula, to revive them.

In June, the Israeli military intercepted another humanitarian aid ship from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Among those captured were climate activist Greta Thunberg and European Parliament member Rima Hassan. Thunberg was deported the next day. Hassan spent three days in Israeli custody, including time in solitary confinement.

Over the years, Israel has tried various methods to stop us, Arraf, the human rights attorney, told Democracy Now on Friday. It has been very violent, from attacking, beating, abducting, arresting, jailing and even killing our volunteers. In 2010, a flotilla that I was on, Israel killed 10 of our volunteers. But that did not stop us. And its not going to stop us now.

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At least 11 Palestinians have been injured due to aid airdrops in northern Gaza as one of the pallets fell directly on tents where displaced people are living, medical sources say.

The Israeli military on Saturday announced that it carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.

But local sources in Gaza told Al Jazeera some of the aid pallets hit tents near al-Rasheed Road, a main road that runs along the coast of the enclave from north to south.

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Many other pallets were dropped in areas far from the displacement sites in northern Gaza and close to where the Israeli military is stationed.

Meanwhile, after months of international pressure, the Israeli military on Sunday began a daily tactical pause of its operations in parts of Gaza and established new aid corridors.





The Palestinian group Hamas said it considers Israels airdrop operations and limited humanitarian corridors in Gaza a symbolic, deceptive move aimed at whitewashing its image before the world.

In a statement on Sunday, Hamas said Israel is deflecting international demands to lift the siege and end the starvation campaign against Palestinians, calling it part of a calculated policy to manage famine, impose coercive realities, and subject civilians to danger and humiliation.

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The arrival of food and medicine to Gaza is not a favour, it is a natural right and an urgent necessity to stop the catastrophe imposed by the Nazi-like occupation, Hamas said.

Hamas also held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for policies that have led to mass civilian deaths, calling his handling of aid and the starvation deaths of Palestinians clear-cut war crimes.

Al Jazeeras Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said airdrops carried out in the past in Gaza were not effective, they did not reach enough people, let alone the chaos and violence they have caused.

The airdrops confirm what we have reported in the past  that Gaza has turned into a testing lab and the Israeli military is experimenting with every attack, every policy, he said.





Aid agencies said they are deeply sceptical that airdrops could deliver enough food safely to tackle a deepening hunger crisis facing Gazas more than two million inhabitants while also calling it a grotesque distraction.

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A number of Western and Arab governments carried out airdrops in Gaza in 2024 when aid deliveries by land also faced Israeli restrictions, but many in the humanitarian community consider them ineffective.

Airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on Saturday. They are expensive, inefficient and can even kill starving civilians.

But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the idea last week, promising to work with Jordan to restart airdrops. The United Arab Emirates also said it would resume airdrops immediately.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has gravely deteriorated in recent days, and more than 100 NGOs warned that mass starvation was spreading in Gaza.

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Israels military claims it does not limit the number of aid trucks going into Gaza and alleges that UN agencies and relief groups are not collecting aid once it is inside the territory.

But humanitarian organisations accuse the army of imposing excessive restrictions while tightly controlling road access within Gaza.
Ron Feiner looks philosophical as he points to where the bullet struck the side of his helmet, knocking him off his feet.

Just a few millimetres difference and he would have been killed, like six of his comrades were when they walked into a house in southern Lebanon last October, believing  wrongly  that it had already been checked for terrorists.

It was a really horrible day, the 26-year-old recalled. They opened the door, and behind the door were two Hezbollah fighters who immediately started firing with their rifles. Four soldiers died immediately.

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Mr Feiner, a captain in Israels 933rd Nahal Brigade, acquitted himself well, picking himself up and dragging wounded colleagues to safety as the battle raged for five hours.

Palestinians at an aid point in Gaza City - Getty/Khames Alrefi

It was his destiny, having dreamed of becoming  like his father  an infantry officer for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) since he was a child. It is a role that carries elite status in Israel and has been the foundation stone for many a stellar business or political career.

But he now chooses a different path. He is refusing to report for another stint of reserve duty and a potential deployment to Gaza, in disgust at the ongoing war that has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

He said: When the bombing of Gaza started again, it became clear to me that our government wants to make this war as long as they can  they dont want to end it.

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I knew then I cant go back to serving in this war.

Sentenced to 25 days in jail by Israel for refusing to serve, Mr Feiner is believed to be part of a growing wave of young Israeli reservists who feel they can no longer participate in their countrys war in Gaza.

The majority are not showing up to call-ups, either forgetting to check their emails or pleading medical or family emergencies. Mr Feiner believes the images of starving children inside Gaza will mean fewer soldiers will turn up.

Ron Feiner was sentenced to 25 days in jail by Israel for refusing to serve the IDF - Matan Golan

Immense pressure has been building on Israel over the dire humanitarian conditions inside the strip, with aid agencies warning of mass malnutrition and widespread hunger. France on Thursday said it would move to recognise Palestine as a state. On Sunday, the IDF said it was introducing a tactical pause in fighting in some areas of Gaza.

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Mr Feiners opinion on the futility of the conflict appears to be shared by a rising number of serving and retired senior officers who are turning against Benjamin Netanyahus war.

Gen Assaf Orion, the former head of strategic planning at the IDF, said while there were clear strategic goals in the Israel campaigns against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, there was no longer any clear military imperative for the continuation of military operations in Gaza.

He told The Telegraph: In Gaza, I suspect that the strategic train of ends, ways and means was kidnapped by ulterior motives.

I think the main reason for a prolonged war in Gaza is political expediency.

Somoud Wahdan and her child wait for aid trucks to arrive - AP/Abdel Kareem Hana

Eran Etzion, a former deputy head of Israels national security council, was even blunter.

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He said: By now it has long been clear to most Israelis that the main reason the Gaza campaign lingers on is because of Netanyahus political, personal and judicial interests, and he needs the war to go on in order to sustain and even enhance his grip on power.

Many believe Mr Netanyahu fears his government will collapse if the war ended as ultra-nationalist parties in his coalition would abandon him.

Thats the main reason. It has nothing to do with Hamas and everything to do with Netanyahu.

If even some of the spate of leaks from Israels security cabinet are to be believed, the scepticism is not confined to retired generals.

Gen Assaf Orion believes the main reason for a prolonged war in Gaza is political expediency. - Telegram/IDF

Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, the IDFs chief of staff, is said to have argued that there is little more to be gained by continuing the campaign  particularly without risking the lives of the approximately 20 remaining living hostages.

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Although degraded into a series of, in effect, independent guerrilla units, Hamas continues to fight amid the rubble, sending a stream of IDF body bags back to Israel.

Mr Netanyahu insists that Hamas must not just be broken as a military and governing force, but eradicated entirely, arguing at the same time that the best way to secure a hostage deal is to fight even harder.

Israels negotiating team returned home from Doha empty-handed this weekend, amid widespread pessimism that a deal will be agreed any time soon.

The Jewish states reputation on the international stage is in crisis, with traditional allies such as Britain, France, Canada and Australia queuing up to condemn the escalating reports of starvation.

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Professional servants of democratically elected leaders, like Lt Gen Zamir and those under him, are caught in the middle.

This was perhaps best demonstrated this month by his opposition to a scheme of Israel Katz, the defence minister, to order the entire civilian population of Gaza into a so-called humanitarian city built on the ruins of the southern city of Rafah.

The military chief was reportedly anxious to protect his officers from potential complicity in a war crime, amid outrage that the zone  described by former prime minister Ehud Olmert as resembling a concentration camp  could be a precursor to forced population transfer.

It would also put his troops, who would ultimately police the perimeter and facilitate the entry of aid, under significant practical pressure.

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The military was further worried that Hamas would interpret the humanitarian city as a signal that Israel wanted to restart fighting after the proposed initial 60-day ceasefire, thus threatening a potential deal.

0907 IDF Gaza control

The IDF leadership earned the ire of Mr Netanyahu by reporting the project could take a year and cost $4bn.

While the Israeli prime minister demanded a shorter, cheaper, more practical plan, it is not clear whether the initiative will ever take place.

The scheme may have been too much for senior generals who are already deeply unhappy about the position their troops have been placed in under the new US-backed aid system.

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The UN accuses the IDF of killing more than 1,000 civilians near the new aid distribution sites in Gaza.

According to multiple videos and eyewitness testimony, crowd flow in and near these sites is extremely poor, and Israeli soldiers, who provide an outer ring of security for the American contractors, open fire if Palestinians come too close.

In one heated security cabinet exchange, Lt Gen Zamir reportedly forced an ultra-nationalist minister to watch a video of an incident showing how close aid seekers came to his soldiers.

Credit: Social media

The IDF has now captured 75 per cent of the Gaza Strip  the goal when it began Operation Gideons Chariot, which started in May.

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Last week, it pushed into the town of Deir Al-Balah, the first time it is thought troops have deliberately sought to seize an area where intelligence indicated a high likelihood that hostages are being held.

Mr Netanyahu and his allies argue that leaving even remnants of Hamas intact in the Strip would eventually precipitate another October 7-style massacre. They have so far rejected Arab proposals for an interim government to administer the enclave in the event of a permanent ceasefire.

We are past the culmination point

Gen Orion said: The Gaza war is a long way past its culmination point.

Every military operation, like many human endeavours, has the rule of diminishing returns.

At some point, great successes meet growing resistance and lose their efficiency. The costs rise and the benefits are lower. In Gaza, we are way past that point.

Although the true figures are closely guarded, some campaign groups and politicians believe the rate of attendance could be as low as 60 per cent.

The majority are so-called grey refusals, who are people who plead medical problems, family issues, or who simply go abroad during the call-up window and forget to check their emails.

Refusals on explicit political grounds are rarer but increasing, reflected in the growing number of public letters signed by reservists denouncing Mr Netanyahus conduct of the war, and subsequent reprimands and dismissals.

Accounts have emerged of officers frantically reaching out to reservists on social media, begging them to turn up, because their ranks are so depleted.

At the same time, the acrimonious issue of Haredi conscription rumbles on, with Mr Netanyahu expected to give in on promises to force ultra-orthodox Jewish young men to turn up for military service.

Mr Feiners prison sentence was considered a relatively harsh penalty for refusal, given the maximum is 30 days. But he only served one night, as the prison was largely evacuated when Iran started firing ballistic missiles at Israel in June.

Waiting to see if he will be recalled to jail, he believes the pictures and videos of whats happening in Gaza will further decrease the rate of call-up response.

He said: There are always a lot of people who are not sure if they are willing to go and every little thing can affect them.

Maybe if they are sitting with their family on a Saturday evening watching the news and see the pictures and the video of whats happening, they will decide they cant.

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This highlights the significance of this for these countries and other Arab states. The UAE is a member of the Abraham Accords. Some have assumed that Saudi Arabia might join in the future.

Aid trucks have begun moving toward Gaza from Egypt, according to Arab News in Saudi Arabia. Al-Ain in the UAE contained the same report. Both reports topped their news coverage on Sunday.

This highlights the significance of this for these countries and other Arab states. The UAE is a member of the Abraham Accords. Some people have assumed that Saudi Arabia might normalize relations with Israel in the future.

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Both countries, along with their partners in the region, want to see an improvement in the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The UAE, for instance, has played a role in supporting aid drops and also medical support for Gazans since the war began.

Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News (Cairo News Channel) reported that aid trucks were moved toward Gaza from Egypt, according to Arab news. This followed "months of international pressure and warnings from relief agencies of starvation spreading in the Palestinian enclave, the report said.

Al-Ain news said something similar, noting that early Sunday morning, aid trucks left Egypt for the Gaza Strip. Convoys of trucks were seen moving from the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian side, heading to the Gaza Strip.

Empty UNRWA and World Food Program trucks head to the Kerem Shalom crossing to collect limited humanitarian aid and fuel, in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2025 (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)

The reports say the trucks will then arrive at the Kerem Shalom crossing. It states that this location is approximately 3 kilometers from the Rafah border crossing and that trucks will be inspected before entering Gaza.

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The movement of the trucks coincides with Israels decisions to enable air drops of food and also humanitarian pauses in fighting. The current plan is that the pauses will include around a quarter of Gaza, mostly areas near the coast. The pause in fighting, a de facto ceasefire, will take place during the day.

Arab News noted that international aid organizations say there is mass hunger among Gazas 2.2 million people, with food running out after Israel cut off all supplies to the territory in March, before resuming it in May with new restrictions.

The same report noted that Israels announcement on airdrops came after indirect ceasefire talks in Doha between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas were broken off with no deal in sight. It is unclear if the two issues are connected.

The same report says that the UN has said it will scale up humanitarian assistance. In addition, a power line has been connected to a desalination plant expected to supply daily water needs for about 900,000 Gazans.

IAF approves UAE desalination facility, pipeline

The IDF and COGAT approved the United Arab Emirates' initiative to advance a water pipeline project connecting the desalination facility in Egypt to the Al-Mawasi area along the Gaza coastline, the military said on Sunday.

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The water pipeline is expected to serve approximately 600,000 residents in the area and will operate independently of Israel's water supply lines, the military said.

On Sunday, representatives from the UAE began transferring equipment for the project from Egypt, under supervision and following a security inspection via the Kerem Shalom crossing.

According to the IDF and COGAT, construction of the pipeline is expected to commence in the coming days and is anticipated to take several weeks to complete.

The reasons behind Israel's position shift on Gaza aid

The shift in Israels position is clearly seen as an achievement for the Gulf states. They want Gazans to receive aid. Other issues, such as the power connection for the desalination plant, appear so specific that this was likely a request.

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The shift raises questions about the effectiveness of the decision to cut off aid in March, when the first phase of the ceasefire came to an end. The Gulf states and many other countries want the war to come to an end. Pressure on Israel is building in Europe in this regard.

The widespread reporting on the movement of aid is an indication of how important this issue is seen in the region. Hamas doesnt appear to have changed its position over the last year and a half, despite changes in policy regarding aid.

This appears to illustrate that the issue will continue to be viewed as of great importance in the region, regardless of Hamas' stance and the changes on the ground.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
ROME (Reuters) -Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni welcomed the fact that a trade deal has been reached between the European Union and the United States but said that she would be seeking more details.

Washington struck a framework trade deal with the EU imposing a 15% import tariff on most EU goods.

"I consider it positive that there is an agreement, but if I don't see the details I am not able to judge it in the best way," Meloni told journalists on the sidelines of a meeting in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

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Italy is one of the biggest European exporters to the U.S., with a trade surplus of more than 40 billion euros ($46.70 billion).

The Italian government, led by a nationalist coalition, had urged its European partners to avoid a direct clash between the two sides of the Atlantic.

In a statement, Meloni said that the agreement "ensures stability", adding that the 15% "is sustainable, especially if this percentage is not added to previous duties, as was originally planned."

On Monday, she said "a number of elements are missing", referencing key details on "particularly sensitive sectors", such as pharmaceuticals and the automotive industry.

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She also emphasised the importance of clarifying potential exemptions for certain agricultural products and gaining a clearer understanding of provisions relating to investments and gas purchases.

Italy is ready to activate support measures at the national level for the sectors that will be particularly affected, and it will ask that they also be activated at the European level.

Sunday's statement was also signed by the leaders of the other two coalition parties: Antonio Tajani of Forza Italia and Matteo Salvini of the League.

($1 = 0.8565 euros)

(Reporting by Sara Rossi, Giselda Vagnoni and Cristina Carlevaro, editing by Diane Craft, Nick Zieminski and Hugh Lawson)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the historic 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' initiative for the digitisation of ancient manuscripts on Sunday. In the 124th episode of the monthly radio show Mann Ki Baat aired today, the PM stated that under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, a National Digital Repository will be created after the digitisation of the ancient manuscripts, where students and teachers around the world would be able to connect with the country's knowledge and tradition. "Inspired by the thought of expanding our ancient knowledge, the Government of India has announced a historic initiative in this year's budget, 'Gyan Bharatam Mission'. Under this mission, ancient manuscripts will be digitised. Then a National Digital Repository will be created, where students and researchers from all over the world will be able to connect with India's knowledge tradition," the PM said in today's episode of Mann Ki Baat. The mission aims to digitise, conserve, and make accessible over one crore manuscripts scattered across the country and was announced in the Union Budget earlier this year, on June 9. Making an appeal to all in making the best of the initiative, the PM stated that the manuscripts were the "chapters of India's soul." "These are not just manuscripts, these are the chapters of India's soul, which we have to teach to the coming generations," he further stated. This mission is envisioned as a national endeavour to safeguard India's intellectual legacy and create a centralised, structured approach to knowledge preservation. The Union Government, in its 2025 Budget, significantly increased the financial allocation for the manuscripts initiative, from 3.5 crore to 60 crore. The Gyan Bharatam Mission comes at a time when India is actively investing in civilizational narratives, language revitalisation, and heritage infrastructure by focusing on manuscripts; this mission bridges cultural pride with contemporary digital access. It also supports the broader 'Viksit Bharat' vision by reclaiming and repurposing India's traditional knowledge systems for future generations. The PM further hailed the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) move to recognise 12 Maratha forts as World Heritage Sites in the episode and highlighted that every fort was part of a historical event. "UNESCO has recognised 12 Maratha forts as World Heritage Sites. 11 forts are in Maharashtra, and one fort is in Tamil Nadu. Every fort has a page of history attached to it, and every stone has witnessed a historical event," PM Modi said in the 124th episode of his monthly radio show, Mann Ki Baat. Lauding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Maratha forts, PM Modi added, "Salher Fort, where the Mughals faced defeat. Shivneri, where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born. A fort so secure that the enemy could not breach it. Khanderi Fort, a marvellous fort built in the middle of the sea. The enemies tried to stop him, but Shivaji Maharaj made the impossible possible." (ANI)
ITHACA, N.Y (WETM)  An Ithaca man was arrested for murder on Saturday, relating to a stabbing incident that left a man dead on Thursday, according to a release from the Ithaca Police Department.

Autreyu L. Massaline, 25, of Ithaca, was arrested on Saturday, July 26, on the charge of murder in the second degree (class A-1 felony), the release stated. Massalines charge comes after the report of a stabbing near the 200 block of Elmira Road on Thursday, July 24, that later left Edward J. Warren, 54, dead, the release said.

Previous story: One dead after stabbing in Ithaca, investigation ongoing

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Around 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, Massaline was arrested for the murder of Warren by members from the Ithaca City Police Department Investigations Division and the New York State Police Major Crimes Unit, the release explained.

As a result, Massaline was charged with murder in the second degree, processed in court, and sent to the Tompkins County Jail without bail, the release noted.

An active homicide investigation remains ongoing, police emphasized. Anyone with information that could help police in the investigation is asked to contact the Ithaca Police by any of the

below listed means:

Dispatch: 607-272-3245

Administration: 607-272-9973

Tipline: 607-330-0000

Anonymous Email Tipline: www.cityofithaca.org/ipdtips

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CHICAGO (WGN)  Its not often when we find a young man so willing to help others, but for 17-year-old Jahkil Jackson, its been his lifes work.

WGN-TV first met Jahkil nine years ago when he was eight years old, and he had just started out by giving back, making what he called blessing bags. The blessing bags were filled with essentials for people experiencing homelessness.

More than 200,000 blessing bags have been given away over the years.

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Last month, Jahkil graduated high school and did his final blessing bag event last week before going to college.

RELATED: Teen author and philanthropist graduates high school after impacting over 200K lives

Its definitely an exciting time. Its nerve-wracking not being sure on the next steps into adulthood, but just knowing I have so many routes I can go down, it makes me hopeful and keeps me on my toes I guess, Jahkil said.

The routes Jahkil has already taken are impressive.

Hes authored three books, been featured in a Marvel Comic Book and his Project I Am foundation has expanded into several states and three other countries.

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Young people are the future leaders, so were going to have to start now so we can be more prepared when we get to those roles, and thats my main mission  to influence youth to start now because we dont have to wait to be great, Jahkil said.

His mother said the work he started as a boy quickly became a whole family effort.

Its been way more than I anticipated as a parent, Jahkils mother Na-Tae Jackson said. We just made sure that we backed him up and supported him in everything he wanted to do.when I look at him now, I see a young man whos representing Chicago very well and it just made us so proud.

Jahkils grandmother Phyllis Smith is also feeling the positive impact of her grandsons work.

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Helping him work his way through different situations and the growth that he has done, the impact hes had on other kids is really just awesome, Smith said.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

She added that impact will continue with the Next Up Service Club, teaching other young people how to give back where they are, as Jahkil remains active with that and whatever else he comes up with next as the final blessing bags of this chapter are handed out.

To be able to do this for so many years is really exciting. Just to see the impact Ive been able to make over the short amount of time at a young age and makes me more excited for the work I plan on doing in the future, Jahkil said.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) lashed out Sunday at CNNs Jake Tapper, who did not allow Mullin to freely spew erroneous claims about the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The contentious discussion came as the handling of files related to the disgraced financier is under renewed scrutiny. It also arrived after a judge denied releasing federal grand jury transcripts from 2005 and 2007 in an Epstein investigation.

During the interview on State of the Union, Mullin had incorrectly claimed that former President Barack Obama was in office when Epstein was granted a controversial no-prosecution deal about a decade before his death. In that deal, Epstein agreed to plead guilty to state-level prostitution charges and serve prison time in exchange for federal prosecutors ending their investigation.

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Remember, there was a plea deal that was struck in 2009, way before I was in office, way before [President Donald] Trump was even considering to be in office, way before [Attorney General] Pam Bondi was in office, way before Kash Patel was [FBI] director  2009, there was a sweetheart plea deal that was made underneath the Obama administration with Epstein, Mullin said. And that sweetheart has not been exposed.

Obama was in office from January 2009 to January 2017. The deal, a 2008 nonprosecution agreement that shielded any potential co-conspirators of Epstein, actually occurred under George W. Bushs administration.

Tapper attempted to correct Mullin, who remained steadfast in his counterfactual claims for the remainder of the interview.

It was 2008, Tapper said. The U.S. attorney at the time was a guy named Alex Acosta. He was a Bush appointee. He went on to become President Trumps secretary of labor. It all took place in 2008.

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A 2020 Justice Department review found that former U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta used poor judgment with the deal.

After cross-talk and a back-and-forth ensued, Tapper tried to shift the conversation to Ghislaine Maxwell, a known Epstein associate who authorities are looking to for additional information related to Epstein: Will it be a mistake for President Trump to pardon Maxwell? And do you think that shes credible?

Mullin, however, was stuck on the previous question.

I dont know enough about Maxwell or the conversation to even weigh in on that, Mullin said. But I will go back to what youre saying about it wasnt true. The case was sealed in 2009. Thats absolutely true. It was heard in 2008. It was sealed in 2009.

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Tapper concluded the interview shortly after Mullin continued to double down.

OK. People can look it up. The sweetheart deal was [made in] 2008 during the George W. Bush administration, Tapper said. But I always appreciate your coming on the show, Sen. Mullin. Thanks for joining us.

Earlier in the interview, Mullin had claimed that Democrats are using the Epstein hoax to distract from their awful record.

But lets just take a step back here. The reason that were here where we are is because, for years, President Trump and the MAGA base and Trumps allies have been calling for the release of the Epstein files, Tapper responded.

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Mullin also claimed that the Trump administration is not able to release any additional information regarding Epstein because a judge declined to release transcripts from the grand jury investigation into Epstein and Maxwell last week. But Tapper pushed back on that notion, as well.

Theres troves of information that the administration could release tomorrow if they wanted to, and they have been promising to, and they havent, he said. Grand jury hearings and transcripts, the judge has control over, absolutely. That doesnt mean that everything that went into the grand jury is therefore locked from the public. It does not work that way.

Related...
NEW YORK  City animal shelters, bursting at the seams because of an unprecedented influx of animals, have been given an additional $1 million from the city to tackle their critical capacity issues, The New York Daily News has learned.

My commitment to serving all New Yorkers truly means ALL! New York City Mayor Eric Adams wrote on his @ericadamsfornyc X account. And that includes New York Citys pet population. This is why my office has announced a $1 million investment to Animal Care Centers of New York City. Their work ensures no animal is left behind and is essential to protecting animals across New York.

On his official account, Adams said that the money would be used to hire 14 new staffers and increase capacity to better care for our pets.

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In the concrete jungle, we take care of all our animals, he wrote on his office account, encouraging New Yorkers to adopt an animal.

The city agency responsible for homeless pets was happy to receive the additional finances.

We are grateful to have extra funding to hire more staff to care for more animals, a spokeswoman for Animal Care Centers of NYC said Saturday.

Last week the agency announced it was caring for more than 1,000 shelter animals at one time and wouldnt be able to take in any more pets.

Citing a critical capacity issue, the ACC suspended general intake, but said it would remain open for adoptions, plus drop-offs of animals that require emergency medical care, are a public safety risk or are dropped off by government agencies, officials said.

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Its the worst its ever been, an ACC source told the Daily News of the capacity crisis.

The 1,000th pet taken in was a dog named Rocky, who had lived with his family for the past seven years, but his owners had to give him up.

Rocky was among 382 adult dogs in ACCs care, along with 13 puppies, 383 cats, 163 kittens, 47 rabbits, 12 guinea pigs and several birds. ACC also currently has 290 pets in foster care, with 180 available for adoption directly from their foster homes, agency officials said.

The cause of one of every three pets being given over to ACC this year is housing insecurity, with their owners having to relocate to a smaller place and unable to take care of their pet or moving out of the city due to the high cost of living and being unable to take their pet with them, according to ACC studies.

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Mayor Adams, in announcing the move on his office and mayoral campaign X accounts, turned the financial boost into an election issue that Republican Mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa has sunk his teeth into.

The Guardian Angels founder, and known cat lover, on Friday scoffed that the investment is a drop in the bucket.

The city has completely ignored animal welfare, he wrote. ACC has a 34-year contract worth over $1B  and yet our shelters are overcrowded, surrenders are paused, and animals are suffering.

In addition to adopting pets, ACC is urging pet owners to re-home their animals if they can no longer care for them  and also to just try to figure out a way to keep your pet.

Amid the ongoing animal shelter crisis, ACC is encouraging New Yorkers to adopt pets, which they can view on NYCACC.org.
Jul. 26James Bonnell July 22, 1939- July 17, 2025 James E. (Jim) Bonnell, age 85 died on 07, 17, 2025. From pioneering Otero County families, Jim was born in Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 22, 1939, to Charles E. Bonnell and Edith Ogle Bonnell. After graduating from Alamogordo High School in 1957, Jim's education included a Masters in Music Education (plus 45 credit hours) which included a Certificate of Administration and Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico. His graduate and post-graduate work, in addition to UNM, included Eastern New Mexico University, Western State College of Colorado, New Mexico State University, Eastman School of Music-University of Rochester, and Indiana University. He began his teaching career in Artesia, NM, where he met his lifelong beloved collaborator, Paula Diane Thompson, from Trumann, Arkansas. They were married in 1964 and recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. After a career in New Mexico public schools in Artesia, Las Cruces, and Albuquerque which spanned almost thirty years, Mr. Bonnell retired in 1989 from Albuquerque Public Schools where he served in various positions including Instructor, District Specialist, District Coordinator, and District Director (Acting) of Music Education. In 1989, Mr. Bonnell began a second career in the non-profit field working with both the Boy Scouts of America and then with Jan Hosea & Associates, LLC, in April of 2002. He served as Chief Operations Officer for Madden Hosea & Associates. Jim held leadership positions in numerous community and professional organizations and was recognized in 2019 with the New Mexico Platinum Music Award "for extraordinary lifetime achievement". He was currently Vice Chair of the University of New Mexico's John D. Robb Musical Trust Board of Directors, and an Advisory Board member of the New Mexico Performing Arts Society of Santa Fe. He previously served as Education Vice President, Program Vice President, Strategic Education Chair, and Ethics Education Chair, for the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals, and was a past president and member of the Advisory Council of the Albuquerque Arts Alliance. Other affiliations have included Board of Directors, UNM College of Fine Arts Alumni Chapter (Past President), the New Mexico Music Educators' National Conference (Past President, Hall of Fame), the 1992 Arts Education Conference, and Arts Attack! Creating the Future, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra Musicians (Past President), Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque Board of Trustees, and ACE Committee of Albuquerque Public Schools (Co-Chairperson). He represented the Great Southwest Council/Boy Scouts of America in many community roles including the District Advisory Council for Safe and Drug Free Schools, The Educational Success Alliance (Past President), the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Career Guidance Institute K-12 Committee and Blue Ribbon Outstanding Students and Educators Awards Committee, and the Advisory Council for TASA (Team Against Substance Abuse in APS). As a professional musician, he performed as a violist in many Southwestern organizations including the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Opera Southwest, the El Paso Symphony, the Roswell Symphony, the Albuquerque Civic Symphony, the New Mexico Chamber Orchestra, and retired in 1997 as principal viola of the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque. He conducted various orchestras in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program: Valley Junior Orchestra, Heights Junior Orchestra, Albuquerque Junior Symphony, and Albuquerque Youth Symphony. He was also active as a church musician having either served as organist and/or choirmaster at St. Matthew's and St. Michael and All Angel's Episcopal in Albuquerque, St. Andrew's Episcopal (substitute) in Las Cruces, and St. Paul's Episcopal in Artesia. Mr. Bonnell filled the role of conductor, adjudicator, and clinician on many occasions in Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho, Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. He also was a presenter on several topics for professional education conferences in the Southwest and served as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles and Grace Bonnell and James N. and Dessie Ogle; his parents, Charles and Edith Bonnell, and his sister, Betty Jean Bonnell Artz. He is survived by his wife, Paula Diane Thompson Bonnell, and family members including: Sue McAdams, Karen and Howard Slinkard, David and Judy Thompson, Jack Artz and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Jim and his wife Diane, also a retired public school music educator and a professional arts administrator, most recently with the UNM Music Prep School, are members of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Albuquerque. Services will be held on August 5th (A Music Tribute at 1:30 and service at 2:00) at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Albuquerque, NM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Music Program at the Cathedral Church of St. John (318 Silver Avenue SW, Albuquerque), The Diane Bonnell Scholarship Endowment for the UNM Music Prep School (UNM Foundation), the UNM Robb Musical Trust (UNM Foundation), The Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program, or The International Myeloma Foundation.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, at the center of 2028 election speculation, asked North Carolina Democrats whether they were ready to fight back against MAGA Republicans on Saturday, July 26. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker spoke like a presidential candidate in waiting in his keynote address at North Carolina Democrats Unity Dinner fundraiser Saturday evening, outlining his vision for a post-Trump America.

When we emerge from this, and we will emerge from this, our Democratic agenda must be bold and our ideas fearless. We will have no time to waste: America needs us, Pritzker said. We must deliver on an agenda centered on working families who truly make America great.

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In a 25-minute speech, Pritzker issued sharp condemnations of President Donald Trump and his cabinet and outlined his vision for how Democrats can regain voters trust on kitchen table issues. He also sketched out an agenda for the next Democratic administration that includes rebuilding social services, bringing down cost of living for working and middle class Americans, and developing a cohesive policy approach to artificial intelligence.

Our democracy is on the line, and Americans are wondering, who is going to fight for them? Pritzker asked. North Carolina Democrats, I have a question for you: Are you ready to fight?

Pritzkers remarks followed speeches by former Governor Roy Cooper and state Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls, at the center of the state partys 2026 election hopes. Democratic Party officials and supporters also heard from North Carolina House Democratic Leader Robert Reives and Senate Democratic Leader Syndey Batch.

Ive been to this movie before

Pritzker, a Duke University graduate who served as legislative aide to Democratic Senator Terry Sanford, took on a pugilistic demeanor as he skewered Trump and denounced his administration in his remarks.

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Its wrong to snatch a person off the streets of America and ship them to a foreign gulag with no chance to defend themselves in a court of law, Pritzker said. Theyre literally arresting U.S. citizens in broad daylight, and then green card holders, people who have never committed any crime in their lives and who dream someday of becoming American citizens  theyre being swept up and deported. So are babies and children and teenagers.

Launching into an explanation of habeas corpus, the legal right to due process of law for those detained, Pritzker quoted Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, underscoring their commitment to that principle and their abhorrence for tyrants who would violate it.

Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton  they were talking about Donald Trump, Pritzker said. Standing for the idea that the government doesnt have the right to kidnap you without due process is arguably the most effective campaign message in history.

In charting a course for new Democratic leadership, Pritzker evoked his own experience taking over the state former Governor Bruce Rauner, a Republican  an analogy that would seem to pitch Pritzker as the antidote to the Trump era.

Anderson Clayton and Roy Cooper watch JB Pritzkers keynote address. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

Theres a way out of this mess  I know, because Ive been to this movie before when I was elected governor in 2018 to replace a very destructive Republican chief executive. He defunded the government, slashed health care for the poor and for people with disabilities, racked up massive deficits, and plunged our states finances to worst in the nation, he said. Does that sound familiar? Thats what happens when you elected a chief executive whos hell-bent on shaking things up without any idea how to fix what hes broken.

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Pritzker, the billionaire scion of the family that owns the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has served as Illinois governor since 2019. While he announced in June he would seek a third term in 2026, his cross-country speaking engagements have fueled expectations that he will seek the presidency in 2028.

Besides North Carolina, Pritzker headlined a New Hampshire Democratic Party fundraiser in April and gatherings of Wisconsin, Virginia, and Iowa Democrats in 2024. He was also a high-profile surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harriss 2024 campaign, including appearance in Arizona and Nevada.

He urged Democrats to say what we mean and mean what we say in his speech Saturday, while jettisoning poll-tested language and decades of stale decorum. At times, his blunt condemnations of Trump and his associates were reminiscent of the presidents own barbs.

Autistic kids dont deserve to be stigmatized and targeted by a weird nepo baby who once stashed a dead bear in the back seat of his car, Pritzker said. Our great soldiers dont deserve to be told by a washed-up FOX TV commentator who drank too much and committed sexual assault before being appointed Defense Secretary that they cant serve this country simply because theyre Black, or gay, or a woman.

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He also took aim at Homeland Security Secretary Kristie Noem, saying she likes to play dress-up as ICE Barbie, and Attorney General Pam Bondi who protects the President from scrutiny about his close friendship with a pedophile, referencing Jeffrey Epstein.

No more self-dealing by the President of the United States. No more gifts from foreign nations. No more unvetted Russian assets in key government positions, Pritzker said. Its disgusting and its got to change. If it sounds like Im becoming contemptuous of MAGA Republicans, its because I am contemptuous of MAGA Republicans.

You didnt give up the fight

While Pritzkers speech centered heavily on national politics, North Carolina leaders largely focused their remarks on judicial elections, storm recovery, and veto overrides.

Delivering a video address in absentia  away attending the National Governors Association conference in Colorado  Governor Josh Stein praised the state party for its successes in 2024, including in the elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Superintendent, and Secretary of State. And he thanked supporters for backing Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs amid an outrageous Republican attempt to steal her seat.

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He condemned the Trump administration for causing unprecedented chaos and an economic roller coaster while eroding due process and freedom of speech. And he criticized Republicans in the General Assembly for putting forward bills that make our state less safe and less strong. So far, Stein has issued 14 vetoes, none of which have been overridden, though state Republicans aim to do so in the coming week.

Rep. Dante Pittman (D-Wilson) speaks at the Democratic Party Unity Dinner on July 26, 2025. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

Rep. Dante Pittman (D-Wilson), the only House Democrat to vote in favor of a sweeping anti-trans bill the Governor blocked, appeared to signal he would stand with Steins veto of it at the dinner. Without Democratic assistance, Republicans cannot override Steins veto after losing their supermajority in the lower chamber of the General Assembly in the 2024 election.

When I was sitting at my chair and I saw our governor come up on the screen, my resolve was hardened, Pittman said before delivering the Salute to the Flag of North Carolina. When it comes to the veto overrides, weve got your back.

Cooper, Steins predecessor, also condemned Republicans in the state legislature, though most of his speech centered on dysfunction in Washington as he alluded to his upcoming Senate bid. Here in Raleigh, the Republican legislature has left town, he said. No budget, no badly needed funding for healthcare, no teacher pay raise. Just passing bills to increase your electric bill and stoking the culture war fires. Its not right.

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Reives, the House Democratic Leader who represents Chatham County, urged attendees to accept the nature of a big tent party and tolerate disagreements with one another.

There are going to be people that you dont like in this party. There are going to be some people running for office that youre not that crazy about, Reives said. I got a guy running in District 54 in Chatham County, I dont know if I agree with him all the time. But you know what I do know? I need him so we can get our state back.

Associate Justice Anita Earls said she would never forget the attempts to overturn the results of the 2024 Supreme Court race. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

Gearing up for her the Supreme Court race in 2026, Earls said she would never forget that four of her Republican colleagues on the bench ruled in favor of Judge Jefferson Griffins effort to throw out overseas and military ballots that did not include voter ID even though those voters fully complied with the law as it existed at the time they voted.

I also will never forget that Justice Riggs and the North Carolina Democratic Party stood up for the voting rights of all North Carolinians when they argued that every vote should count, Earls said. We are the party willing to win fair and square. You stood up for our rights. You didnt give up the fight.

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Batch, the Senate Democratic Leader, called on audience members to continue fighting and organizing and not give up hope. She attacked Republicans for shifting funds from public education to private schools, rolling back reproductive rights, and putting Medicaid expansion at risk while cutting taxes for the wealthiest people in the state.

There has never been a time in the history of this country that it has been safer and easier to do the right thing, Batch said. Nobodys unleashing fire hoses at voter drives. Nobodys hanging strange fruit from trees because we marched. The steepest price well pay is sore calves from knocking doors, a raspy voice from speaking the truth, or a bruised ego because someone told you to sit down.

Fired up and ready to go

After the speeches, Democrats at the dinner said they felt optimistic and invigorated ahead of the next wave of electoral battles in the state.

They were terrific, Id like to say fired up and ready to go, said Brenda Pollard, President of the Durham County Senior Democrats. They were right on point, and thats where we need to be, and were going to fight.

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Pollard said she was especially pleased with Coopers remark hinting at his upcoming Senate announcement. Hes still standing, so I mean, that was music to my ears. Im ready and the Governor will make a wonderful U.S. Senator, she said.

Pritzkers remarks also drew praise from those in attendance, including state party leadership. Clayton said she was pleased with what she saw tonight from every person up on that stage in terms of a willingness to be direct with voters and those in power. She said she would hope to see those traits in future presidential candidates.

Id like to see somebody whos willing to stand up there and go toe-to-toe with a Republican and not afraid to talk to them exactly how they talk to us right now, Clayton said. Youre willing to get down in the nitty-gritty, but youre also willing to speak truth to power.

Of his blunt style, Batch said people are exhausted with appearing that Democrats roll over, something shes tried to address in her own interactions with Republicans. Im showing up like he does every single day with the fight. Im not going to start a fight, but I sure as hell wont walk away from one.

I am so forever grateful for the amount of energy that you have all given to us, Clayton said, closing out the dinner. And I want to take this energy that you have now and give it back to your neighbors, your friends, your community members. Talk to folks, knock on doors with us, make the calls, tell you story  help us write the next chapter of North Carolina.
By Lisa Barrington, Heekyong Yang and Dan Catchpole

SEOUL (Reuters) -A Jeju Air plane that crashed in December during an emergency landing after a bird strike could have kept flying on the damaged engine that was still working after pilots shut down the other one, according to an update from South Korean investigators.

The Boeing 737-800 instead belly-landed at Muan airport without its landing gear down, overshot the runway and erupted into a fireball after slamming into an embankment, killing all but two of the 181 people on board.

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Investigators have not yet produced a final report into the deadliest air disaster on South Korean soil, but information about the plane's two engines has begun to emerge.

According to a July 19 update prepared by investigators and seen by Reuters but not publicly released following complaints from victims' family members, the left engine sustained less damage than the right following a bird strike, but the left engine was shut down 19 seconds after the bird strike.

The right engine experienced a "surge" and emitted flames and black smoke, but investigators said it "was confirmed to be generating output sufficient for flight," in the five-page update, which included post-crash photos of both engines.

No reason for the crew's actions was given and the probe is expected to last months as investigators reconstruct the plane's technical state and the picture understood by its pilots.

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Experts say most air accidents are caused by multiple factors and caution against putting too much weight on incomplete evidence.

MORE QUESTIONS

So far, public attention has focused on the possibility that the crew may have shut down the less-damaged engine, rekindling memories of a 1989 Boeing 737-400 crash in Kegworth, England, where pilots shut down a non-damaged engine by mistake.

The disaster led to multiple changes in regulations including improvements in crew communication and emergency procedures.

A source told Reuters on Monday that the South Korea-led probe had "clear evidence" that pilots had shut off the less-damaged left engine after the bird strike, citing the cockpit voice recorder, computer data and a switch found in the wreckage.

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But the latest update on the crash also raises the possibility that even the more heavily damaged engine that was still running could have kept the plane aloft for longer.

It did not say what level of performance the operating engine still had, nor what extra options that might have given to the plane's emergency-focused crew before the jet doubled back and landed in the opposite direction of the runway from its initial plan with its landing gear up.

Both engines contained bird strike damage and both experienced engine vibrations after the strike. The right engine showed significant internal damage, the Korean-language update from South Korea's Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) said, but it did not describe the damage found in the left engine.

The update did not say how the left engine was operating nor the state of systems connected to either engine, said former U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Greg Feith when shown the document translated by Reuters.

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It contains some new facts but omits far more, resulting in a "cryptic" document, he said.

ARAIB, which plans to issue a final report next June, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Safety experts say it is common for early reports to contain sparse facts and limited analysis while investigations continue.

A preliminary report released in January said feathers and blood stains from ducks were found in both engines.

The engines - made by CFM International, jointly owned by GE and France's Safran - were examined in May and no defects or fault data were found beyond the bird and crash damage, the report said.

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Families of those who died in the disaster were briefed on the engine findings but asked investigators not to release the July 19 report, saying that it appeared to apportion blame to the pilots without exploring other factors.

The report was withheld but Reuters and South Korean media obtained copies. Boeing and GE referred questions about the crash to ARAIB. Safran did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jeju Air has previously said it is cooperating with ARAIB and is awaiting publication of the investigation.

Under global aviation rules, civil air investigations aim to discover crash causes without assigning blame or liability.

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The Jeju Air pilots' union said ARAIB was "misleading the public" by suggesting there was no problem with the left engine given that bird remains were found in both.

A source who attended the briefing told Reuters that investigators told family members the left engine also experienced a disruptive "surge," citing black box data.

The pilot union and representatives of bereaved families have asked that evidence be released to support any findings.

Relatives say the investigation also needs to focus on the embankment containing navigation equipment, which safety experts have said likely contributed to the high death toll.

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Global aviation standards call for any navigation equipment in line with runways to be installed on structures that easily give way in case of impact with an aircraft.

South Korea's transport ministry has identified seven domestic airports, including Muan, with structures made of concrete or steel, rather than materials that break apart on impact and has said it will improve them.

Designs for the new structures are in progress, a ministry official told Reuters last week.

(Reporting by Lisa Barrington and Heekyong Yang in Seoul and Dan Catchpole in Seattle; Additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in Seoul; Editing by Jamie Freed)
CHICAGO (WTVO)  A government building in Downtown Chicago has been renamed to honor one of Illinois longest-standing officials, Jesse White.

The building that is located at 115 South LaSalle Street has been renamed the Jesse White State of Illinois Building to honor his efforts as a public servant to the state.

White is best known as Illinois longest-serving Secretary of State, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for 16 years, the Cook County recorder of deeds for 6 years, and a school teacher.

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The 91-year-old said,  Its an honor beyond description. Never in my life did I think there would be a building in downtown Chicago named after yours truly.

White hopes to inspire the youth to follow his lead as a public servant.

I hope that the Jesse White State of Illinois Building will inspire future generations of all backgrounds to serve with honor and excellence, White said.

The building is home to 15 state agencies and constitutionals, as well as 2,300 government employees.

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The polio that afflicted him as a boy never left John Gleeson, but it never held him back.

"He's someone who just never let anything bring him down," Gerry Gleeson II said Saturday, July 26, adding that the disease essentially paralyzed his father for two years of his childhood.

Polio caused some life-long mobility challenges  though no one could blame the disease for Gleeson's penchant for wearing black Gold Toe socks with shorts  but it also contributed to a resiliency that made an impression on his family.

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"There was no obstacle  nothing was going to hold him back from whatever he was going to achieve," his son said.

Gleeson, who earned a law degree at night while working as a teacher, became a beloved raconteur known for welcoming a constellation of engaging conversationalists into his West Bloomfield home long before he died July 18 at the age of 86.

While Gleeson loved being a lawyer  "he liked the intellectual challenge, he liked being in court, he liked being before a jury," his son said  he also loved holding court at home.

Gleeson and his wife Mary Ellen, who died in 2018, hosted dinner gatherings in which the conversation flowed along with fine wine.

John Gleeson and Mary Ellen Gleeson in an undated photo.

"In addition to all his other fine qualities, he was a wine connoisseur," said Steve Fishman, a prominent defense attorney who got to know him through Gerry Gleeson who, like his father, became an attorney.

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Gleeson, Fishman said, had "an unbelievable wine cellar."

The Gleesons' passion for the grape led them to spend many winters in Napa Valley, the region in northern California known for hundreds of vineyards.

Gleeson, known to his granddaughters as "Papa," also savored spending time with family.

Attorney John Gleeson, who passed away at 86 on July 18, 2025, surrounded by his granddaughters (from left to right) Sydney, Madeleine and Margaux in a 2022 family photo.

Gerry Gleeson said that even though his father was a "fiercely competitive" attorney (he specialized in environmental law and represented businesses), "he'd make a point to be home early to be with family."

Even though Gleeson favored the conservative Fox News network, his experience with polio made him an early proponent of the COVID-19 vaccine, his son said, adding that his dad was "first in line" when it became available.

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Reflecting on his father's life and the time they spent together, Gerry Gleeson said one of the things he'll miss most is "sitting around the grill shooting the breeze."

Gleeson's survivors include son John and granddaughters Madeleine, Sydney and Margaux.

Visitation will be Monday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Holy Name Catholic Church, 630 Harmon, Birmingham, followed by a funeral mass at 10 a.m.

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: John Gleeson, attorney and resilient polio survivor, dies at 86
Donald Trump always bore with him the seeds of his own defeat.

Perhaps even his own destruction.

In some ways, we all do. The ancient Greeks were on to something when they intuited that ones greatest strengths also can be ones greatest weaknesses.

In large personalities such as Trumps, that schism is even more exaggerated.

All his life, Trump has existed immune from consequence. No matter how badly he failed or how much trouble he got into, his wealth, his family connections, his growing celebrity and his undeniable personal charisma allowed him to evade responsibility for anything bad hed done or said.

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This encouraged a bravado on his part that his fans and followers found inspiring and endearing  and others found first irritating then maddening.

He believed he could brazen or buffalo his way through anything with blustering and bullying. He believed this because no one stopped him or called him on it.

No one  not his family, his friends, his business associates, other politicians, his millions of supporters, or even the law itself  held him accountable.

The lesson he learned was that, whenever a mess of his own making blocked his path, the solution to the problem was to get mean and then meaner.

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And the obstacle always disappeared.

But theres a danger in thinking that the rules of existence that govern every other human being just dont apply to you.

Trump has been sustained through episodes of bad behavior and outright criminality by the devotion of his political base, the millions of Americans who have placed their faith with him and made him the dominant historical figure.

They stayed with him even when he elevated his interests above theirs  giving himself and other billionaires massive tax cuts rather than building the wall his supporters wanted or rebuilding the nations crumbling infrastructure. They hung in there even when he fed them one fib after another, stacking lie upon lie as if he were building a five-story structure of deceit. They clung to him even when his mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic meant Americans died at five times the rate of people in other industrialized nations and thousands upon thousands of grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles died before their time.

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Thats because he never turned on them.

He never treated them the way he treated everyone who disagreed with him or, God forbid, tried to hold him morally responsible for something awful hed done.

Until now.

Thats the significance of the tawdry Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

I cant say with certainty that Epstein, a sexual predator of children, killed himself or was murdered. I also dont know if he or anyone else kept a list of his clients or friends who were fellow degenerates.

But I do understand why Trumps clumsy attempts at escaping scrutiny for his relationship have  finally  driven a wedge between him and his base.

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The world in which Epstein seems almost designed to offend the moral sensibilities of middle America. Epsteins world was one in which privilege allowed a person to dispense with consideration for anyone elses humanity and violate innocence with impunity.

Trumps friendship with this despicable man  and the presidents recorded comments saying he knew something about Epsteins vile proclivities while he was chumming around with him  have created a problem for him with his base.

And hes begun to react the way he does whenever he has a problem.

He snarls. He belittles. He threatens.

Mostly, he rages.

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In short, hes showing to his base the face hes always shown the rest of us when we question or disagree with him.

He doesnt grasp  or doesnt want to grasp  that even people who support him want to know how Epstein could molest and abuse children for so long while in the company of and under the eye of people who should have known better.

Such as Donald Trump.

Because Trump always has relied on brazening his way through any difficulty, hes ill-equipped to meet and deal with this challenge.

He helped create a political universe in which lies are treated with the same veneration as the truth and where a lack of proof is just seen as evidence of an even deeper and more all-encompassing conspiracy.

His denials, when theyre grounded in fact, bounce off the force field of unreality and irresponsibility thats saved and sustained him through his life.

Once it protected him.

Now, though, it doesnt.
Acting on a tip-off, the police detained seven individuals and seized quantities of narcotic substances and liquor, a hukkah from the spot.

According to police officials, the raid was conducted by a team from the Crime Branch and the anti-narcotics units, with assistance from senior officers. "The property, situated in a residential complex, was being used to host the party without obtaining the necessary permissions".

"Based on reliable intelligence, a raid was carried out around midnight. We have detained seven persons, including both men and women. We have also recovered drugs, weed, and other banned substances," said a senior officer from the Pune City Police, who is part of the investigation team.

In preliminary investigations, medical tests of the detained individuals are also being conducted to check for drug consumption. Among the detained, a relative of senior politicians is also being named in the case.

The process of registering a case is also underway; further details are awaited. (ANI)
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the images of people, including children, starving in Gaza disturbing and heartbreaking, but he insisted that Hamas has stolen the food, despite reports from the Israeli military that there is no proof that the Palestinian militant group had systematically stolen aid.

Johnson, during an interview on NBCs Meet the Press, was shown images emerging out of Gaza of children starving and was asked about Israels decision to enact a tactical pause on the fighting amid mass starvation concerns. He noted that Yechiel Leiter, Israels ambassador to the U.S., and other Israeli officials told him that Hamas has stolen a huge amount of food since the start of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.

The images are disturbing and heartbreaking, he said. We all want peace there in that region.

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I will tell you that I have spoken to my Ambassador Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. and to other Israeli officials, Johnson added. This is important to note: Israel, since this war began, has supplied over 94,000 truckloads full of food. Its enough food to feed 2 million people for two years trying to get that into Gaza. But Hamas has stolen the food, a huge amount.

He also criticized the system, calling it broken, adding that beginning tomorrow, the Israeli military will open new channels of distribution to get it [food] to those people who are desperately in need.

The U.N. needs to work with Israel to make sure that the food is getting to the people that need it most, he said.

Meet the Press host Kristen Welker pushed back on Johnsons claim, citing a New York Times article that reported that the Israeli military never found proof that Hamas systematically stole aid from the United Nations, which is the largest supplier of emergency assistance to Gaza.

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Over the weekend, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) criticized President Trump over his handling of Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire, more aid to the territory and the freedom of all hostages held by Hamas.

The starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable, he said.

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JOPLIN, Mo.  Concerned citizens hosted a protest and school supply drive along 32nd Street Saturday, advocating for families in need.

With Families First, I wanted to be able to amplify our voices as well as actually help the community with school supplies. With the current economy situation, school supplies will probably be very hard for some families to get, said Bradley Bos, Indivisible Joplin Event Coordinator.

Bos says the Families First protest was held outside of Congressman Eric Burlisons office  to get his attention.

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Hes just not really showing the voice of everybody in this area or his district and were part of that voice that hes not representing, so were really wanting to hopefully bring his attention to us, said Bos.

Protestors today telling local lawmakers, they disagree with their actions on Capitol Hill.

This is not what Missouri represents. We are not for ICE, we are not for anti Medicare, we are not for anti Social Security. This is not what Missouri stands for. Thats why Im here fighting and showing my support, said Matthew DeClairmont, a concerned citizen.

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Its an issue that Bos says is important to him as a parent.

I feel like as a father and as a citizen, its my job to come out here and kind of show that Im not just sitting down, said Bos.

Saturdays demonstration was also about supporting local families facing economic hardship by collecting school supplies for the fall.

We have teamed up with Bright Futures and most of our donations will be going to them. And then were also working with other educators, said Bos.

Its for families and to support families. We want to give back to our community and show that we are supportive of families, said DeClairmont.

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Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have parachuted aid into the Gaza Strip as the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory deepens.

Israel said on Sunday that it would halt military operations each day for 10 hours in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors into the strip. Israel has been facing growing international criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomed the pause but said it was long overdue and called for land routes to be opened urgently, warning that air drops alone cannot alleviate the needs of those desperately suffering in Gaza.

An aircraft drops humanitarian aid packages over the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel (Reuters)

Military activity will stop from 10am to 8pm until further notice in al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area that stretches along the coast, as well as in the central city of Deir al-Balah, and in Gaza City, to the north.

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The military said designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will also be in place between 6am and 11pm, starting from Sunday.

Jordan and the UAE delivered 25 tonnes of aid by parachute in the first airdrop in months. Palestinian health officials in Gaza City said at least 10 people were injured by falling aid boxes.

The Egyptian Red Crescent also said it was sending more than 100 trucks carrying 1,200 metric tonnes of food to southern Gaza.

Aid groups have warned of mass hunger among Gazas 2.2 million people, and international alarm has grown.

The United Nations food agency welcomed the steps to ease aid restrictions, but said that a broader ceasefire is needed to ensure that the goods reach everyone in need. Unicef called it an opportunity to save lives.

Israel has faced growing calls to deal with the aid crisis (Reuters)

The World Food Programme said the pause could allow a surge of urgently needed food aid. It added on X that it has enough food already in or on its way to the region to feed Gazas population for almost three months.

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Dr Muneer al-Boursh, the director general of Gazas health ministry, called for a flood of medical supplies and other goods to help treat child malnutrition.

This [humanitarian] truce will mean nothing if it doesnt turn into a real opportunity to save lives, he said. Every delay is measured by another funeral.

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said staff would step up efforts to feed the hungry during the pauses in the designated areas.

Our teams on the ground ... will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window, he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City (AP)

Meanwhile, health officials at al-Awda and al-Aqsa Hospitals in Gaza said Israeli firing had killed at least 17 people and wounded 50 people waiting for aid trucks on Sunday. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Dozens of Palestinians have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to officials in the Hamas-run territory. The Gaza health ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total number of deaths from malnutrition and hunger to 133, including 87 children.

Israel is facing increased international pressure to end the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, after US-led peace talks in Qatar were cut short on Thursday.

Washingtons special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of having a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.

The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages, and the remains of 18 others, in phases, in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

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Aid supplies would be ramped up under the deal, and the two sides would negotiate towards a lasting truce.

Israel, which halted aid in March before partially reopening it in May under new restrictions, insists it must control shipments to prevent them from being diverted by militants.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  On Saturday, in the Town of Geneva, one juvenile sustained injuries severe enough to be airlifted via Mercy Flight after being ejected from their electric bicycle.

According to the Ontario County Sheriffs Office, two juveniles had been traveling on the shoulder of State route 5 and 20, both on e-bikes, when one attempted to turn around in front of the other. One of the riders who was not wearing a helmet was ejected on to the road nearby Dennys.

After being airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital, the individual is reported to be in a satisfactory condition.

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BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD)  It has been 15 years since the Kalamazoo River was devastated by one of the worst inland oil spills in U.S. history. On Saturday, advocates gathered near the site, marking the anniversary to reflect and call for change.

In July 2010, an Enbridges Pipeline 6-B ruptured, sending more than a million gallons of crude oil into Talmadge Creek, near Marshall. It polluted nearly 40 miles of waterway, uprooted ecosystems, and became the costliest inland oil spill in U.S. history.

The river is a place for recreation again, but this weekends gathering wasnt just about looking back and celebrating how far theyve come. It was to raise alarms over Enbridges next project.

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A spill takes a minute but recovery takes years if not decades, Executive Director of Michigan Climate Action Network Denise Keele said. That is the quintessential environmental problem because what we can prevent is so much more powerful than what we can clean up.

Enbridge is planning to build a tunnel for its Line 5 pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac, a project they say would make the aging pipeline safer. However, environmentalists say they should shut down the Line 5 pipeline.

Were not looking to further perpetuate fossil fuel use, which is exactly what this tunnel will do, said Ericka Bouldin, the Michigan Climate Action Network engagement coordinator who facilitated the event. We know that there are other solutions outside of that light cleaner energy that we can use.

Bouldin says Enbridges track record speaks for itself, making the project too risky.

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We also hold lots of concerns because weve had an oil bill here and theyre responsible for two of the largest inland oil bills in US history, both of which happened in the Midwest, she said.

Everyone at the event was not in agreement.

When the tunnel is completed, it will be a complete and total asset to everybody, said Jesse Jacox, who worked for Enbridge as a community engagement consultant. Enbridge has invested a ton of money up there to make sure nothing like that happens ever again.

Enbridge paid more than $1 billion for the cleanup and reached a $75 million settlement with the state. The U.S. government also ordered the company to pay a $61 million penalty for the spill.

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In a statement, Enbridge said the 2010 spill transformed how they operate and that the company has since invested $14.5 billion in safety.

While we greatly regret and accept responsibility for what happened near Marshall, we are extremely proud of what has been done to improve the environment and safety since then, the company wrote.

The state says the river has largely recovered, but environmental advocates say cleanup should never be the backup plan.

Theres a whole ecosystem that was changed and that takes sometimes generations to heal, said Bouldin.

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A 34-year-old Kansas sheriff's deputy was killed on Saturday when he was shot while responding to a domestic violence call, authorities said.

Wyandotte County Sheriff's Deputy Elijah Ming was gunned down as he approached a home in Kansas City, Kansas, after a woman, concerned for her own safety, requested a deputy to accompany her as she moved out of the residence, officials said. Prior to the shooting, the woman informed police that a man with a gun inside the house had earlier threatened her and her friends when she first attempted to move out, according to officials.

Deputy Ming gave his life serving Wyandotte County and all of its residents, Wyandotte County Sheriff Daniel Soptic said at a news conference on Saturday, also noting that Ming was a 9-year veteran of the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office.

Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office - PHOTO: Wyandotte County Sheriffs Deputy Elijah Ming, 34, was fatally shot on July 26, 2025, by a gunman while responding to a domestic violence call in Kansas City, Kansas, authorities said.

The shooting occurred at around 3:45 p.m. on Saturday in southwest Kansas City, according to Chief Karl Oakman of the Kansas City Police Department.

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Deputy Ming and an officer from the Kansas City Police Department went to the home to assist the woman move when a man inside opened fire on them without warning, striking Ming, Oakman said. The Kansas City Police officer was not injured, he said.

Other officers raced to the house upon hearing of the shooting, according to Oakman.

"As the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department was responding, the individual continued to fire on the responding officers, who then returned fire," Oakman said.

MORE: Officer dies after gunman opens fire in 'ambush attack' in Ohio: Police

Oakman said the suspect, later identified by law enforcement as 38-year-old Shawn Harris, was wounded in the gunfight and retreated back into the home, where he barricaded himself.

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Police negotiators spent about an hour talking to Harris over the phone before he surrendered, Oakman said.

Harris was taken to a hospital to be treated, Oakman said, and was listed in good condition as of Saturday night.

MORE: Shooting suspect ID'd in Santa Monica police officer 'ambush': Officials

After visiting with Ming's family at the hospital, Kansas City Mayor Tyrone Gardner requested the community to pray for them. "There are no words or comfort that can ever ease the pain of losing someone you love to senseless violence," said Gardner.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe into the shooting and will present its findings to the Wyandotte County District Attorney's Office to decide what charges to file against the suspect, according to officials.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas Task Force 1 (KS-TF1) is finally returning home after more than two weeks of search and rescue efforts in Kerr County, Texas.

Since being deployed on Saturday, July 12, KS-TF1 has been in Kerr County, helping local law enforcement agencies and first responders with ground and water rescue efforts in the aftermath of the July 4 deadly floods.

Wyandotte County deputy killed in KCK shooting; suspect identified

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The task force was requested by Texas as part of an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)  a multistate, mutual aid agreement that facilitates interstate assistance in response and recovery operations during a disaster.

KS-TF1 consists of two Type 3 swift water search and rescue teams, which are coordinated through the Kansas State Fire Marshal Search and Rescue Program.

The task force is comprised of individuals from the Kansas State Fire Marshal, Olathe Fire Department, Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Chanute Fire Department, Sedgwick County Fire District 1, and Shawnee, Kansas Fire Department.

While in Kerr County, KS-TF1 was assigned to several missions, inclduing one that the Kansas Fire Marshal described on Facebook Sunday morning.

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According to the post, on Wednesday and Thursday last week, KS-TF1 and Texas Task Force 1 took part in one of the most intense search efforts of the deployment.

K9s had alerted emergency response teams of potential human remains on a specific part of the creek, resulting in crews being assigned to the area.

The task force squads did not use boats to search for the remains, but instead walked the creek by foot alongside multiple Swiftwater techs. At its deepest depth, the fire marshal said the creek was about 5 feet deep.

Man dies weeks after being shot; KCPD now investigating homicide

After the team manually searched the area, a track hoe excavator cleared as far as it could reach, in an arc about 15 feet from shore, the post said.

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The following day, on Thursday, Texas Task Force 1 brought out an amphibious excavator that could swim the creek and had a boom that could reach about 42 feet.

The squad spent their entire workday on the shore studying every bucket that was lifted and dumped on shore to check for any remains, the fire marshal said. At times, some of the squad members were in the water probing between buckets of debris. In the end, after 15 hours of searching, no human remains were discovered.

On Friday, KS-TF1s last working day in Texas, crews were assigned to other targeted search areas that had been detected by K9s for human remains; however, no remains were found before their search efforts ended.

KS-TF1 departed Texas on Saturday and are expected to be back in Olathe by about 1 p.m. Sunday.

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According to recent reports, the death toll from the Texas floods has reached at least 136 people.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation in his 124th 'Mann Ki Baat' episode, focusing on the importance of 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan' in ensuring cleanliness and waste management. "Sometimes a task comes across as impossible to some people. They wonder, would this even be possible? But, when the country comes together on one thought, even the impossible becomes possible. 'Swachh Bharat Mission' is the biggest example of this. Soon, this mission will complete 11 years. But, its strength and its need is still the same," an official release quoted PM Modi as saying. As the Swachh Bharat Mission nears its 11th anniversary, PM Modi stated that more than 4,500 cities and towns across the nation have joined the cleanliness movement this year. "In these 11 years, 'Swachh Bharat Mission' has become a mass movement. People consider it their duty, and this is real public participation. The Swachh Survey, conducted every year, has lifted this feeling further. More than 15 crore people participated in it. This is not an ordinary number. This is the voice of Swachh Bharat," PM Modi said. Apprising the listeners of efforts made by people in Uttarakhand's Kirtinagar, the PM said that they have set a new example of waste management in the hills. "When it comes to cleanliness, our cities and towns are working in different ways according to their needs and surroundings. And their impact is not just limited to these cities; the whole country is adopting these methods. The people of Kirtinagar in Uttarakhand are setting a new example of waste management in the hills," PM Modi said in his address. He said that organic waste management was being done with the help of technology in Karnataka's Mangaluru. The PM also highlighted the efforts of locals in Arunachal Pradesh's Roing in managing waste by creating a park from recycled waste. "There is a small city called Roing in Arunachal. There was a time when waste management was a significant challenge to the health of the people. The people there took responsibility for it. 'Green Roing Initiative' was started, and then an entire park was created from recycled waste. Similarly, many new examples of water management have been set in Karad and in Vijayawada. The cleanliness at the River Front in Ahmedabad has also caught everyone's attention," PM Modi said. The PM praised the 'Sakartmak Soch' team working in Bhopal, comprising 200 women, who not only clear but also change mindsets. "A team in Bhopal is called 'Sakaratmak Soch'. It comprises 200 women. They don't just clean, they also change mindsets. Cleaning parks in the city together, distributing cloth bags, every step of theirs is a message. Owing to such efforts, Bhopal has now come a long way in the Swachh Survey. It is also important to mention the Gomti River team of Lucknow. Every Sunday for the last 10 years, tirelessly, without stopping, the members of this team are engaged in the cleanliness work," PM Modi said. "The example of Bilha in Chhattisgarh is also great. Here, women received training in waste management, and together, they transformed the city's landscape. The example of Panaji city in Goa is also inspiring. There, waste is divided into 16 categories, and that is also being led by women. Panaji has even received the President's award. Friends, cleanliness is not a one-time, one-day task. Only when we accord priority to cleanliness every day, every moment of the year, will the country remain clean," he added. (ANI)
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A kayaker was rescued from the Mississippi River in Tipton County, Tennessee on Sunday.

The Tipton County sheriff said on social media around 1:30 that the person was separated from his kayak around Duvall Landing.

Fire/Rescue personnel have pulled the subject from the river and he seems to be doing fine, Sheriff Shannon Beasley said.

The Tipton County Fire Department and Munford Fire Department assisted, Beasley said.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KSNW)  A Wyandotte County sheriffs deputy has died after a shooting Saturday afternoon that led to a standoff in Kansas City, Kansas, WDAF-TV reported.

It happened near S. 30th Street and Shawnee Drive. Police said the deputy was there to keep the peace while someone moved out of a home. Another person inside came out, argued with the mover, and shot the deputy.

Shots fired after fight in Wichita, one critically hurt

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The suspect also fired at officers when they arrived, then barricaded themselves inside the house.

After about two hours, the suspect came out and was taken into custody. Police said the suspect had been shot but was able to walk out.

The deputy was taken to the hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. The case is still under investigation.

Kansas elected officials expressed support following the shooting.

Praying for the Wyandotte County Sheriffs Deputy who was injured in the line of duty and for all the KCK law enforcement on duty tonight, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran said in a social media post. Im grateful for the law enforcement men and women who work to keep our communities safe and am praying for their safety.

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Senator Roger Marshall also shared a statement, writing, Laina and I are praying for the Wyandotte County Deputy Sheriff who was shot in the line of duty this evening. Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line to protect our communities. We pray the Deputy makes a full recovery and are keeping their family in our hearts tonight.

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Kemi Badenochs announcement that the Conservatives would ban strikes by doctors represents a clear break with the consensus of the recent past. It is a determined response both to the Governments slow progress with NHS reform and to the Employment Rights Bill, which will make it much easier for unions to call damaging public sector strikes.

At present the right to strike  formally an immunity, dating from 1906, from being sued for breach of contract  is almost universal amongst UK employees. The only significant exceptions are the Armed Forces, the police and prison officers. The military are banned from industrial action in every country in the world, and police strikes have been banned here since 1919. Prison officers have at various times had the freedom to strike, but since the 2008 Criminal Justice and Immigration Act, brought in by the last Labour government as it happens, that right has been removed.

Many countries have wider restrictions on strikes. Civil servants, university staff and many teachers are banned from striking in Germany, for example. Air traffic controllers, fire and rescue workers cant withdraw labour in Czechia. No federal employee can strike in the US, or even belong to a union which asserts the right to strike.

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We know that the current Government has made a fetish of international human rights legislation, but the International Labor Organization  to which we are signed up  specifically permits strike bans in those services whose interruption would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the population. This would certainly seem to include our militant resident doctors.

In practice complete bans on striking by doctors  not always and everywhere the most militant of unionists, to be fair  are confined to authoritarian countries such as Saudi Arabia and China. But many more liberal jurisdictions place considerable constraints on the right to strike. In some US states  including New York, Florida and Texas  doctors in public hospitals cannot strike. The same applies in several Australian states, while any industrial action in other states must go through complicated Fair Work Commission procedures. Where doctors strikes are permitted there are usually requirements for notice and for minimum service levels  the latter is being abolished here by the Employment Rights Bill. In Canada, doctors in some provinces may be obliged to submit to binding arbitration.

Mrs Badenoch justifies her headline-grabbing proposal by pointing to the frequency of resident doctors strikes and their intransigence in demanding another extraordinary pay settlement despite the government stuffing their mouths with gold last time round. The BMA is out of control she claims. That may also be true of some other militant unions  the RMT is gearing up for more action on our newly-nationalised railways, for example  but they do not generally threaten lives.

In practice, I rather doubt that a new Conservative government would completely ban doctors strikes, an action which would provoke massive opposition from the trade union movement as a whole and no doubt provoke the now-inevitable explosion of lawfare.

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But it would certainly be possible to clip the BMAs wings by tightening ballot requirements and reintroducing the power to impose binding arbitration, something which British governments used in the past. More important, however, would be reform to break up the monolithic structure of the NHS. This would have the side-effect of introducing a genuine market for the services of doctors rather than the current bilateral monopoly.

Of course, the prospect of a Conservative government in the near future seems as likely as snow in August. Nevertheless Kemi Badenoch has performed a useful service in opening up debate about the future conduct of industrial relations in the health service, while putting Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting firmly on the spot. Reform should join in the action: we have yet to hear anything of significance about their position on the doctors strike.

Labour needs to abandon its ineffectual bleating about the moral responsibilities of doctors and get tough with these strikers, who do not have massive public backing: nobody is bashing pans outside their doors these days. Another capitulation to the demands of the BMA will only produce knock-on demands from other NHS workers, threatening both the prospects for genuine health reforms and the countrys dire fiscal position.

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When most people are asked about the purpose of county 4-H fairs, the responses should not be a surprise.

The answers will focus on young people displaying their talents in several areas including the raising and care for farm animals and pets.

Photographs and baked goods are judged, along with other talents that focus on the environment and farm life.

At every 4-H fair that I have attended in several Indiana counties, there is always an area where businesses can display their wares and services to those in attendance.

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There are also normally booths for the local Republican and Democratic parties.

These booths are generally meant as a way for elected officials or potential candidates to meet with voters, and normally there is little discussion of local political issues.

At this years Madison County 4-H Fair, which wraps up this weekend in Alexandria, there are the traditional booths of the two political parties.

But something new has been added this year. Two booths have been rented to highlight criticism of county elected officials on several topics.

Since all the elected officials in Madison County government are Republicans, issues being discussed include a septic problem in Monroe Township, a proposal to form a regional utility district, and the county park boards efforts to build a trail or two parks along the White River west of Anderson.

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One booth includes the newly formed GOP group CARE (Calling All Republicans Everywhere), which at the time it formed indicated it was willing to work with the traditional party structure.

But the booth has become a venue for a nightly posting on social media that is critical of the current elected Republicans in office.

Being critical of actions being taken by a local government units are legitimate concerns of residents and should be encouraged, not discouraged.

Im not sure the annual 4-H Fair is the proper venue for political discord. But the opposing booths by different factions of the Republican Party indicate a split in the party as the 2026 midterm elections draw near.

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Will the CARE group field a list of candidates in the May primary next year to challenge the current elected officials?

There is already talk of challenges to several members of the Madison County Council and sheriff, and others will be encouraged to run.

With Madison County leaning more Republican with each passing election cycle, it would seem that a split in the party would benefit local Democrats.

While Democrats at all levels are working to rebuild the partys political base, a split in the GOP ranks could benefit the oppositions efforts.
The future will show that both our military & scientific advancements will move forward with greater momentum than before toward lofty horizons, Irans supreme leader told the crowd.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a somber and defiant address to the Iranian nation on Friday morning, marking the 40th day since what was probably the most devastating blow to the Islamic Republics leadership since its founding in 1979.

Framed as a tribute to martyrs, Khameneis message praised the memory of top military commanders and nuclear scientists killed in what he described as a criminal Zionist attack  the Israeli attacks of June 13 that began the 12-day conflict between the two countries and a strike that decimated the upper echelons of Irans strategic apparatus.

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While the regimes narrative since then has invoked resilience, martyrdom, and divine justice, the speech raised a larger question that reaches far beyond Tehran: Is this a moment of national sacrifice or the beginning of a structural collapse?

The men Iran lost

Among those mourned in Khameneis address were eight of the most senior figures in Irans military and scientific hierarchy, men whose influence extended beyond the battlefield into the heart of the regimes ideological and nuclear ambitions.

Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was widely seen as the architect of Tehrans broader military doctrine, overseeing coordination between the regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). A veteran of the Iran-Iraq War, Bagheri had become a central figure in shaping Irans regional deterrence strategy and served as a key bridge between the supreme leader and the military establishment.

A demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, June 20, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)

Maj.-Gen. Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the IRGC, was the regimes most public military face. Known for his fiery speeches and direct threats against Israel and the United States, Salami had been instrumental in expanding Irans military footprint across the region, from Syria to Yemen.

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Brig.-Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who led the IRGC Aerospace Force, was responsible for Irans vast ballistic missile program, a pillar of the countrys deterrence and a point of constant tension with the West. He had previously claimed responsibility for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet in 2020, and was also believed to be heavily involved in Irans drone operations and satellite launches.

Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, commander of the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, held one of the most strategically sensitive roles within the armed forces.

He coordinated joint operations across various branches of the military and was tasked with preparing for any large-scale regional conflict. Often described as a strategic brain of Irans military planning, his death is considered a crippling loss to the regimes command structure.

Gholamreza Mehrabi, the deputy head of Intelligence for the General Staff, and Mehdi Rabbani, the deputy head of operations, represented the regimes deep state, overseeing counterintelligence and operational planning across both domestic and foreign theaters.

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Their assassinations suggests a major breach in Irans internal security mechanisms and have raised fears of further intelligence unraveling.

The loss was not limited to military command. Fereydoon Abbasi, a former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and a senior nuclear physicist, had survived one previous Israeli assassination attempt in 2010. He remained a key figure in Irans nuclear establishment and was believed to still be involved in covert weapons related research.

Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, a nuclear scientist and chancellor of Islamic Azad University, was considered a close ideological ally of Khameneis. His academic and political influence helped mold the next generation of regime loyalists, and he was deeply involved in advancing Irans civilian and dual-use nuclear capacities.

Together, these men formed the regimes brain trust in the military, scientific, and ideological realms.

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Their deaths, while eulogized by Khamenei as sacred martyrdom, leave a yawning gap in the Islamic Republics chain of command, and it remains uncertain whether their successors will be able to fill that void.

This blow was inflicted by the ruling evil, criminal Zionist regime, Khamenei said. But the foolish, shortsighted enemy failed to achieve its goal... Our military and scientific advancements will move forward with greater momentum.

Delivered in the classical rhetorical style of the Islamic Republic, Khameneis address praised the lofty aspirations of the dead, elevating them to near-mythical status. Their deaths were framed as a spiritual triumph.

In this tragic event, he told those gathered, Islamic Iran has once again demonstrated the strength of its foundations. Irans enemies are hammering on cold iron [their actions are useless]. With Gods grace, Islamic Iran will grow stronger day by day, God willing.

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The speech was as much a call to arms as it was a memorial. Khamenei assigned duties to each segment of society. Speakers and writers were instructed to safeguard the dignity and honor of the country, scientists to accelerate the speed of progress in science and technology in all sectors, military commanders were tasked with ensuring national security, clerics were expected to provide spiritual guidance, and youth were expected to maintain revolutionary fervor.

Absent from the address, however, was any meaningful detail on how the regime plans to respond to the devastating loss of its top decision makers  or how it would rebuild the fractured command and control systems that held its missile, nuclear, and regional power strategies together.

The future will show that both our military and scientific advancements will move forward with greater momentum than before, toward lofty horizons, Khamenei stated.

Outside Iran, analysts described the deaths as a decapitation strike. While the exact circumstances of the assassinations remain murky, according to regional security analysts, several of the deceased officials had long been considered high-value targets due to their roles in Irans missile program and regional operations.

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Inside Iran, however, the messaging is different. Khameneis emphasis on national unity and spiritual strength has already been echoed across state-aligned media outlets.

Posters bearing the images of the martyred commanders have appeared across Tehran and Qom. Friday sermons across the country referenced the slain men as heroes of the resistance front.

Still, even the regimes narrative betrays a sense of unease. Khamenei spoke of spiritual fortitude and resilience within the IRGC, acknowledgments that suggest a real fear of disarray and potential defection.

In recent weeks, reports have surfaced of mid-ranking commanders seeking to defect or resign, fearing purges or further strikes.

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Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi told a crowd of Iranian opposition figures in Munich on Saturday that, A large number of IRGC members are looking for a way to jump ship.

The 40th day since those deaths has also reignited speculation around succession. With Khamenei aging and reportedly in poor health, the IRGC plays the role of kingmaker in any transition. With its senior command chain in tatters, Irans power vacuum now extends beyond the military.

Khameneis speech may rally the usual faithful, but for many Iranians, particularly the younger generations, it will sound like a eulogy for a dying republic.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Sunday said Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of the late, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, should not be pardoned, adding pressure to release more information from Epsteins criminal files.

During a joint interview with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) on NBCs Meet the Press, Khanna said he was growing concerned about Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche meeting with Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of the disgraced financier.

Im concerned that the Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is meeting with her supposedly one-on-one, Khanna said. Look, I agree with Congressman Massie that she should testify. But shes been indicted twice on perjury. This is why we need the files. This is why we need independent evidence.

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He added that the only person who suffered political pain in this whole thing is Congressman Thomas Massie for telling the truth.

Hes got the presidents entire team, who got the president reelected coming down on him in his district. And its just made him stronger, he said.

His comments follow Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) announcement last week that the lower chamber would not vote on a resolution calling for the release of certain documents related to Epstein before the August recess, which Khanna criticized.

He knows that the resolution would pass. I mean, the reality is, we have 11 Republicans: Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Nancy Mace, Tim Burchett, of course, Thomas Massie, whos been courageously leading this, Khanna said.

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President Trump said Friday he hasnt thought about pardoning Maxwell, telling reporters, I certainly cant talk about pardons.

Its something I havent thought about. Im allowed to do it, but its something I have not thought about, Trump told reporters when asked about a pardon or clemency for Maxwell before his trip to Scotland.

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Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said Sunday that there have been Democrats pushing for the release of files related to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein since 2019.

In an interview on ABC Newss This Week, Khanna pushed back on the suggestion that his party only began calling for the documents to be released recently  now that the issue is politically fraught for President Trump.

Why are Democrats suddenly interested in the Epstein case? ABC Newss Jonathan Karl asked the California Democrat. I mean, did you ask the Biden Justice Department to release these files?

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Its not a sudden interest. Actually, the former chair, Elijah Cummings, had an investigation starting in 2019, Khanna said, referring to the late civil rights activist and Maryland Democratic House member, who chaired the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee at the time.

And I have tweeted out supporting that, back in 2019, Khanna added. We have been pushing for transparency. During the Biden administration, both in 2021 and 2024, the court ordered release of documents.

Khanna acknowledged the heightened scrutiny on the case in recent months.

But Donald Trump raised the stakes, Khanna said. And he did it in a way in the campaign that was justified. He said, Look, when I get there, Im going to release the files. Pam Bondi says theres a client list. Then she says, No, its just a file. Shes going to release them.

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I didnt criticize them at all those first few months, Khanna continued. But when they refused to release the files  when they said theres nothing more to see  thats when we said transparency demands the full release of the files.

Khanna has been a leading Democrat in Congress calling for the Epstein files to be released, and he is co-sponsoring a bill with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) that would force the release of the files.

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Festo Ivaibi couldnt escape.

He was on what was supposed to be a quick drive to clear his head near the waterside in Kampala, Uganda, when three cars suddenly surrounded him.

Five armed people came up to his car, some dressed in what appeared to be military uniforms.

They knocked on my car window. I tried to reach out to my phone, but I realized that probably they could shoot or something, Ivaibi said. I just didnt know what to do. I just started praying.

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The assailants blindfolded him and took him away in one of their cars.

Ivaibi in the area in Seguku, Uganda, where he was kidnapped in May. (Esther Mbabazi for NBC News)

I was in the back seat, and there were two people pressing my head down, the 36-year-old said. They were telling me they were from the army and they were taking me to a torture house.

His captors said they were seeking a ransom  but not cash.

We know you have been doing cryptocurrencies and you have a lot of money, and we want you to transfer $500,000, Ivaibi, the founder of the cryptocurrency educational hub Mitroplus Labs, remembers his kidnappers saying.

They took two of his iPhones, which gave the perpetrators access to $120,000 worth of the stablecoin tether and $18,000 worth of Mitroplus Labs meme coin, afro token. He got glimpses of his captors when they would remove his blindfold and use his full face to unlock his phone and access his crypto accounts.

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The gun was, most of the time, pointed near my thigh, and sometimes at my head, he said.

After a little over five hours, the perpetrators left him about 11 miles from his home. Stranded just after midnight with no money, no phone and no car, Ivaibi was able to stop a motorcycle taxi and pleaded for the man to help him.

I just didnt know what to do. I just started praying, said Ivaibi. (Esther Mbabazi for NBC News)

Ivaibi had been the victim of a classic crime with a modern twist: crypto kidnapping. Its been around for nearly a decade but has become increasingly common in recent years as the value of cryptocurrencies has soared and facial recognition technology has allowed assailants easy access to victims phones.

In a review of news reports and legal documents, NBC News identified 67 incidents of crypto kidnapping involving a target or their family member in 44 countries, on every continent except Antarctica.

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Crypto-related abductions increased every year since 2019, the NBC News analysis found. In 2024, NBC News identified 17 instances of cryptocurrency-related kidnappings, the highest reported number in the last decade. 2025 has already seen that many reported cases.

Crypto kidnappings attracted attention in the U.S. in May when two men were arrested for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a man inside his home in New York City in an attempt to steal his bitcoin.

The kidnappings are part of a wider category of incidents known as wrench attacks  when perpetrators attack their victims in the real world as a means of acquiring their cryptocurrencies. The term wrench attack comes from a comic where two figures talk about stealing someones cryptocurrency by hitting them with a $5 wrench.

NBC News identified over 150 alleged wrench attacks worldwide in the past decade and spoke to three individuals who shared their personal experiences. In these examples, perpetrators attempted to obtain the victims cryptocurrency through home invasion, extortion, blackmail, armed robbery, swatting, assault or even murder.

The rise of bitcoin and crypto attacks

When Rocelo Lopes received a call from an unknown number in the middle of his workday, he thought it was a scam. But when they called a second time, he picked up and heard his wifes voice through the receiver. He realized something was wrong.

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Lopes wife had been kidnapped in broad daylight in the Brazilian city of Florianopolis after dropping their daughter off at school. Her captors held her in an apartment in the East Zone of Sao Paulo, an area overtaken by the Capitals First Command, the largest criminal network in the country. They demanded that Lopes hand over his cryptocurrencies.

We dont want f-----g reais, they told Rocelo over the phone, referring to Brazils currency. We want it in coins, in cryptocurrencies, understand?

He appeared in local newspapers and television programs that said he made a fortune manufacturing bitcoin, which he now believes put a target on him and his family.

Most people in the cryptocurrency space, with the intention of making everyone use it, with the intention of promoting it, end up making a very serious mistake, Lopes said, and that is to expose themselves.

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His wifes kidnapping coincided with a monumental year for bitcoin. The cryptocurrency had hit what at the time was an all-time high of $20,000 and debuted on CME, the worlds largest futures exchange. A single bitcoin was worth about $117,000 as of Friday.

Marilyne Ordekian, a doctoral candidate at University College London who co-authored a study on wrench attacks, said her research found a direct correlation between the number of attacks and the rise and fall of the price of bitcoin. A report from the blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis had similar findings.

The BBC reported in May that 20 people were arrested in France in connection with a string of cryptocurrency-related kidnappings. This year, David Balland, a co-founder of the French crypto-wallet firm Ledger, was kidnapped along with his wife.

As the price of bitcoin continues to reach all-time highs, hitting over $120,000 this month, more attacks are projected to come.

The Brazilian city of Florianopolis. (Dircinha Welter / Flickr Vision via Getty Images)

The Chainalysis report found that 2025 could potentially have twice as many physical attacks as the next highest year on record, based on the projected rise in the price of bitcoin. The report also noted that the number of previous attacks may be even higher than recorded, as many go unreported.

The characteristics of a wrench attack

Ordekians study revealed several defining characteristics of wrench attacks. One is that perpetrators often dont act alone, and that the more violent attacks usually involve two or more people.

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One possible reason is the need for different roles in a single attack. Some perpetrators may be responsible for the physical component of the attack, and others may be responsible for using their knowledge about cryptocurrency in order to carry out a successful transaction.

Lopes felt that this was the case with his wifes kidnapping.

Right at the end, the kidnapper said, No, I dont want it in bitcoin, because you can monitor the transaction, we want it in zcash, and we want it in monero, Lopes said. I mean, so the guys more or less had someone giving them a tip, to tell them exactly which cryptocurrency it should be.

All bitcoin transactions are recorded publicly, but users can protect their identities. Zcash and monero are privacy coins that allow users to shield details of their transactions, making them harder to trace than some other coins and cryptocurrencies.

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Two people were charged in the alleged cryptocurrency-related abduction in New York in May. Both men, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, appeared to have come from cryptocurrency backgrounds  Woeltz was once known as the Crypto King of Kentucky.

New York police arrest John Woeltz on May 23. (Kava Gorna / AP file)

John Woeltz and William Duplessie appear in Manhattan criminal court on cryptocurrency-related kidnapping charges on June 11. (Kylie Cooper / Reuters file)

They were also allegedly involved in the physical aspect of the attack, accused of torturing their victim with waterboarding, headbutting, beating and the use of electric wires, according to court documents. Woeltz and Duplessie were granted bail on Wednesday, according to court records, after they had pleaded not guilty on all charges. Their lawyers did not respond to a request for comment.

Muhammad Arsalan, a 23-year-old crypto influencer from Pakistan, said he was kidnapped in December. He told NBC News that around eight people were involved in his abduction. Similar to Ivaibis case, Arsalan said he was taken into a vehicle and extorted for his tether (USDT) holdings.

They stopped the car and told me, Show your account. I said, I have nothing. I have nothing, Arsalan said. So they told me, You have 40,000 USDT. Can you please show us? Otherwise we will kill you. We have a gun. We have rifles.

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On the day he was kidnapped, Arsalan was forced to surrender $340,000 worth of tether. When he got home to check his Binance account, he stared in awe after seeing that his wallet was wiped clean.

I had no options left. This is my whole life savings. This is all my lifes money, Arsalan said. I have no words to tell you what I feel at that time.

Muhammad Arsalan, a 23-year-old crypto influencer from Pakistan, was kidnapped in December. (Asim Hafeez for NBC News)

Ordekian said that in most cases, perpetrators are successful in taking money from their victims. Lopes case was an outlier. His wife was held captive for four days while there were deliberations over the ransom amount, and the authorities were eventually able to rescue her before he had to give up any money.

Police located Lopes wife in a three-story building in Sao Paulo, according to Anselmo Cruz, who works for the anti-kidnapping division of the civil police in the Brazilian state where Lopes wife was abducted.

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Cruz added that when police broke into the building, they arrested at least one person and removed Lopes wife, finding that she did not sustain any physical injuries. A spokesperson for Sao Paulos Public Safety Department said in a statement to NBC News that four other people were later indicted in connection with the crime.

Lopes said it was later revealed that the people who had kidnapped his wife had been planning the abduction for nine months.

They wanted a stratospheric amount. They wanted an amount that didnt exist, Lopes said.

Lopes said his wifes captor had misunderstood the amount of crypto Lopes had. Lopes had previously transacted with one of his wifes captors and sent him bitcoin, he said, but the interaction gave that person the wrong impression about how much money Lopes actually had.

The guy didnt understand because he thought that the bitcoin I sent him was mine, Lopes said. They got confused  one thing whats in my wallet, another thing whats in a brokerage firms wallet.

Ordekian says perpetrators familiarity with their victims is another characteristic that is common in these cases, especially for figures like Arsalan, Lopes and Ivaibi who have built a strong online presence.

Like in Lopes case, the other people affected by crypto kidnappings who spoke to NBC News had connections to some of their assailants.

Arsalans perpetrators had messaged him on Instagram about purchasing tether from him prior to his abduction. Ivaibi said that one of the people involved in his kidnapping was a family friend. Woeltz and Duplessie are alleged to have known their victim personally for several years, according to prosecutors.

Life after a wrench attack

How a case is handled depends a lot on what country a victim resides in.

Ordekian noted there is currently no definition of a wrench attack in legislation or academic work, which can make it difficult to form legal protections against this specific form of attack.

In Pakistan, the current legal state of cryptocurrency is fluid, making Arsalans case difficult to navigate. Pakistans government has been critical of cryptocurrency but has also taken some steps that recognize its increasing legitimacy.

Arsalan eventually filed a complaint with Karachi police, despite having been threatened with murder by his captors if he were to go to the authorities. The alleged perpetrators were arrested within three days after Arsalan filed a complaint.

The case is still active.

Pakistani systems are very slow and very lazy, and they also dont know about how crypto works, Arsalan said. They are just confused about this all, and right now Im waiting for seven months.

On the day he was kidnapped, Arsalan was forced to surrender $340,000 worth of tether. (Asim Hafeez for NBC News)

Uganda similarly has a lack of regulation around the use of cryptocurrency. Despite this, Ivaibi said he had support from the authorities, who placed at least one perpetrator in custody, according to a Mitroplus Labs press release.

Ugandas Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has said that cryptocurrency would be unregulated in the country and advised citizens to be wary of its use in criminal transactions.

Brazil currently has a number of laws and regulatory bodies tasked with overseeing the use of cryptocurrency. One is the Internal Revenue Service of Brazil, which Lopes said had launched an investigation into him to impose a possible fine based on the amount of money the perpetrators had requested from him during his wifes kidnapping.

The Brazilian IRS said in a statement to NBC News that it would not be able to disclose any information about the investigation due to tax privacy laws.

In the wake of their kidnappings, the victims who spoke to NBC News said theyve adjusted some of their protocols and practices.

Lopes said that after his incident, he has made sure that all his crypto trading follows what are known as know your customer (KYC) procedures, which require users of cryptocurrency platforms to provide personal information, including addresses and financial data.

With more data about participants who are involved in crypto transactions, law enforcement can potentially identify individuals who might be involved in wrench attacks.

We have been able to track the funds, and those funds were formed in a certain Binance account, and we were able to contact Binance through the Uganda police intelligence, and they sent us the KYC, Ivaibi said.

Lopes said he has also taken measures in the real world, like making sure that his family is accompanied by security personnel, in order to avoid another attack. Ivaibi said that he also has police patrolling his home every day.

But he says these arent the only measures that should be adopted.

The authorities were not prepared  no one was prepared, Lopes said. I told people, There should be a team, a team, whether from the federal police, the civil police, I dont know which department, but there should be a team ready for this type of action.

We know you have been doing cryptocurrencies and you have a lot of money, and we want you to transfer $500,000, Ivaibi remembers his kidnappers saying. (Esther Mbabazi for NBC News)

And while many victims work to change their daily lives following their attacks, many still carry fear from their experiences.

The trauma that comes thereafter is what is really more torturing, Ivaibi said. You feel like everything is insecure out there.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Before John Walsh was the host of America's Most Wanted, he was a devastated father desperately searching for answers in the disappearance  and subsequent murder  of his 6-year-old son.

Forty-four years ago, on July 27, 1981, Adam Walsh vanished from a department store with his mother nearby. "[Losing him] broke my heart; it almost killed me," John told PEOPLE in 1996. "Believe me, you never get over it." Two weeks later, Adam's head was found in a drainage ditch.

The case, which wasn't closed until 27 years later, haunted John and his wife, Reve, who harnessed their grief into action.

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"The pain is a huge wound that scabs over, and certain things set it off: birthdays, memories, pictures. You're not supposed to bury your children," John previously told PEOPLE. "They're your legacy. But I would never have accomplished the things I have, such as the Missing Children's Act, which brings the FBI immediately into cases involving missing children, if it wasn't for Adam and my love for him."

John and Reve also helped create the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 1984, as well as the Code Adam program and spearheaded the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, which was signed into law in 2006.

In 1988, John became the host and the face of America's Most Wanted, which ran for 23 years on Fox and had a brief revival on Lifetime in 2012. The series was brought back once more in 2021 with Elizabeth Vargas hosting, and in December 2023, John and his son, Callahan Walsh, took over as co-hosts. The dad is also the host of In Pursuit with John Walsh.

Here is everything to know about the killing of Adam Walsh and how it inspired his dad, John Walsh, to advocate for missing children and host America's Most Wanted.

What happened to John Walsh's son Adam?

AP/REX/Shutterstock Adam Walsh.

On July 27, 1981, Adam, then 6 years old, went shopping with his mother, Reve, at a Sears department store in a mall near their Hollywood, Fla., home. Reve left Adam in the toy section with a group of boys playing a video game and went looking for a lamp, per the police report. When she returned, Adam had disappeared.

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A store security guard allegedly ordered the group of boys to exit the store and mistakenly thought Adam was with them, so the Walshes believe he may have been outside when he was abducted, per Missing Kids.

After an in-store search and police investigation proved fruitless, a mutual friend helped John reach then-Good Morning America host David Hartman. The anchor then showed Adam's photo on air.

Two weeks after Adam disappeared, John and Reve flew to New York to appear on the morning talk show, when they received horrifying news: Adam's severed head was discovered in a canal in Vero Beach, Fla., about 120 miles north of the mall where the boy first went missing, per Florida Today.

"I started screaming and trashed the hotel room. I didn't believe that someone could kill this beautiful little boy," John recalled to PEOPLE. "The most horrible thing was telling Reve. It was unbearable."

Who killed Adam Walsh?

AP Photo Ottis Elwood Toole. Ottis Elwood Toole.

Serial killer Ottis Toole  partner of one of history's most prolific serial killers, Henry Lee Lucas  confessed to murdering Adam before later recanting his testimony.

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According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Toole said he abducted Walsh and subsequently started hitting him when he wouldn't stop talking. Despite being insistent that he had killed Adam, Toole later recanted.

Toole had reportedly previously confessed to and then recanted his words about several crimes, including Adam's murder, but both police and Adam's parents consistently believed him to be Adam's killer. In a taped interview with Texas Rangers, Toole said Adam was the youngest victim he ever had, per ABC News.

Toole died in prison in 1996 while serving life sentences for other crimes. In 2008, police closed the investigation and announced that they fully believed Toole was Adam's killer, though he was never charged in the case.

"Who could take a 6-year-old and murder and decapitate him? Who?" John said at the time. "We needed to know. We needed to know. And today we know. The not knowing has been a torture, but that journey's over."

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Still, some theories have emerged since: In March 2010, a report suggested that witnesses actually saw serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer with Adam on the day the boy went missing. While all of Dahmer's confirmed slayings took place in or near Milwaukee, at the time of Adam's abduction, Dahmer was living in Miami Beach, about 20 miles from the Hollywood, Fla., mall where Adam was last seen alive. The Miami Herald reported that Dahmer denied involvement in Adam's killing.

Did police ever find Adam Walsh's body?

AP Photo/Mark Foley Ottis Elwood Toole appears in court on Oct. 25, 1983 in Jacksonville, Florida. Ottis Elwood Toole appears in court on Oct. 25, 1983 in Jacksonville, Florida.

The rest of Adam's remains have still never been recovered, according to The New York Times.

John told Nightline that in 1988, Toole wrote him and Reve a letter asking for $5,000 in exchange for telling them where the rest of Adam's remains were located.

The dad also claimed that the Hollywood, Fla., police department didn't take the missing persons case seriously enough when Adam was abducted, and mishandled the murder investigation, calling it "one nightmare after another."

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Given Toole's confession, police planned to test his car and blood-stained vehicle carpet, but they could never locate the items in their storage, per NBC News. When the case was officially closed in 2008, Hollywood Police Chief Chadwick Wagner apologized to John and Reve and acknowledged the pitfalls of the department's investigation.

What is Code Adam?

AP Photo/Kathy Willens John Walsh, the father of 6-year-old Adam Walsh talks with newsmen on Oct. 22, 1983 at the Police Department in Hollywood, Florida. John Walsh, the father of 6-year-old Adam Walsh talks with newsmen on Oct. 22, 1983 at the Police Department in Hollywood, Florida.

Inspired by the terrifying loss of Adam, John and Reve helped create Code Adam, a program to help businesses, parks and other busy or public areas and their staff help locate children who get lost or go missing on or from their grounds.

As of 2001, Code Adam was used in at least 20,000 establishments, including Walmart, Lowe's, ShopRite and more. John told The New York Times of the initiative at the time, "There are contingencies for protecting shoppers from fire and tornadoes, and now with 'Code Adam' all retailers can fight an even more frightening problem -- missing children."

Read the original article on People
New Delhi [India], July 27 (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday commended the first-ever grassland bird census held in Assam's Kaziranga National Park, which identified 43 bird species, including endangered species. The census, said the Prime Minsiter, illustrates how human effort and technology can do wonders in furthering nature conservation. "It is very interesting to know what species of birds live around us. Recently, one such grand effort has been made in the Kaziranga National Park of Assam," PM Modi said in the 124th edition of his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' programme. "If you are asked how many kinds of birds there are, around you - what will you say? Perhaps that I see five to six birds everyday - some are familiar, some are unfamiliar," he said. The hidden world of rare and endangered birds quietly thrives in the area famed for its one-horned rhinos, royal Bengal tigers and elephants. "For the first time, a Grassland Bird Census has been conducted here. You will be happy to know that on account of this Census, more than 40 species of birds have been identified. These include many rare birds. You must be wondering how so many birds were identified! Technology did wonders in this," Prime Minsiter Modi detailed in his address. He said that the team conducting the census installed sound recording devices, which were analysed on the computer. "Artificial Intelligence was used. The birds were identified just by their sounds - that too without disturbing them. Imagine! When technology and sensitivity come together, understanding nature becomes so easy and deep." "We promote such efforts so that we can recognise our biodiversity and connect the next generation to it," Prime Minister Modi urged listeners. After the conclusion of PM Modi's Mann ki Baat address, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Kaziranga Grassland Bird Survey had found 43 bird species living in the grasslands of Assam's national park, highlighting its rich biodiversity. "Searching for small birds amidst the vast swathes of grasslands is akin to finding a needle in a haystack, but human determination coupled with tech has made this possible at the first Grassland Bird Survey in Kaziranga," the Assam CM said in a post on his social media X account. "As Adarniya PM Narendramodi ji described in his Mann Ki Baat today, Kaziranga's beauty is unparalleled and safely houses species which are endangered worldwide," Sarma said. "Gratitude to Hon'ble Prime Minister for appreciating the survey and letting the nation know about Assam's efforts in wildlife conservation and its natural beauty," the Assam Chief Minister said. Between March 18 and May 25, this year, wildlife researchers surveyed 185 grassland sites across Kaziranga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the Once critically endangered (Bengal florican), two endangered (Finn's weaver locally known as tukura chorai and the swamp grass babbler) , six vulnerable (including the black-breasted parrotbill, marsh babbler, swamp francolin, Jerdon's babbler, slender-billed babbler and bristled grassbird), and one near-threatened species were recorded. (ANI)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Frank McKay is no longer a household name in Grand Rapids, but he was in the first half of the 20th century. No one held more influence in local politics  and no one has a more tainted legacy.

His story started on Grand Rapids West Side around the turn of the century. McKay was a high school dropout from a lower-class family. He left school to work at a furniture factory. But he wasnt there too long.

Seeing lower-class struggles firsthand, McKay launched a business empire that helped Polish and Lithuanian immigrants. His ventures eventually grew in several directions, starting with a money exchange and expanding into an investment firm that also helped people fund and build their own houses.

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It was his support from the citys West Side that pushed McKay into power locally. Within a decade, his connections and ability to traverse the political system landed him in Lansing. He was appointed state treasurer in 1924 and won two more terms. But by 1930, his reputation had been tarnished and he chose not to run again.

He was tied to all sorts of accusations, ranging from cronyism to outright fraud. It was no secret that McKay had connections throughout the state government and it became increasingly clear he used those connections to line his own pockets.

Exhibit A: After McKay left office, state officials discovered a warehouse full of obsolete and defective tires from General Tire Company, purchased by the state for an unknown reason. The owner of General Tire? Frank McKay.

Even without a formal government position, McKays influence continued to grow. The rumors never really died down, but every criminal investigation fell short of charges  until 1940, which would prove to be a notable year for McKays legacy.

From left, State Rep. Edward Walsh, State Sen. Leo Wilkowski, special prosecutor Kim Sigler, State Rep. Joseph Kaminski and State Rep. William Buckley look at a piece of evidence connected to the 1944 graft investigation. (Courtesy Michigan State Archives)

A TRIO OF INDICTMENTS

Charges were finally filed in November of 1940 in three separate cases. One of them involved Edsel Ford, then-president of the Ford Motor Company, who accused McKay of defrauding him out of nearly $10,000 related to campaign contributions. Another accused the former state treasurer of defrauding the city of Grand Rapids with municipal bonds.

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Tensions rising: What led up to the 1911 furniture worker strike

The third was much larger in scale and involved the State Liquor Commission. Fifteen people were named in all, identified by a special grand jury that met for several months to review an investigation led by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Essentially, investigators accused McKay of building a system of kickbacks that forced 16 nationally prominent distillers to donate $500,000 over the course of five years to in exchange for giving their brands preferential treatment. Moreover, distillers that refused to pay were discriminated against, according to press reports.

Fred Ehrmann, the secretary of the State Liquor Commission and former director of purchasing, was allegedly the middleman of the operation. At least one press report referred to him as McKays right-hand man. Other partners, including former Flint Mayer William McKeighan, also played a role in the system. McKeighan was accused of meeting with distilling officials using fake aliases.

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1883: The logjam that nearly sank Furniture City

The grand jury also accused members of the ring of submitting bids themselves using shell companies, forcing distillers to lower their prices. Some bidders reportedly left the price blank so that state officials could fill it in and ensure it was the winning bid.

Despite plenty of evidence, McKay was acquitted in all three cases. His attorneys argued the charges were part of a political vendetta from U.S. Attorney General Frank Murphy, who lost a second term as Michigans governor to McKays preferred candidate, Frank Fitzgerald.

Frank McKay, then the Republican National Committee representative for Grand Rapids, shakes hands with his attorney, Eugene Garey, right, after being acquitted in 1942. (Courtesy The Grand Rapids Press/NewsBank)

THE BIG ONE

The first three indictments were a sign of things to come. By 1940, prosecuting attorneys and journalists had turned up the pressure in Lansing, hunting down rumors of backroom deals at the Capitol.

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According to Bruce Rubenstein and Lawrence Ziewacz, two historians who thoroughly investigated McKay, 130 people from the Lansing inner circle had been arrested between 1940 and 1943. Of those 130, 62 were convicted, including 12 state senators, 11 state representatives, lobbyists and even one former lieutenant governor. Still, McKay slipped free.

McKays fourth and final criminal indictment also is rooted in 1940. The same year as his first three indictments, a bill was introduced in the Legislature to deregulate horse racing. McKay was against it and allegedly went to great lengths to make sure it didnt pass.

The other mounds: Lost history is a part of West Michigans story

The influential Republican offered bribes to lawmakers to ensure the bill never advanced out of committee  including state Sen. Warren Hooper, who allegedly received $500 for his cooperation.

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By December 1943, special prosecutor Kim Sigler had also found Hooper and finally got his big break. With the Albion Republican in the fold, Sigler had a lawmaker willing to testify against McKay and be a key piece in finally netting a conviction.

In their book Three Bullets Sealed his Lips, Rubenstein and Ziewacz detailed some of the testimony that Hooper shared with prosecutors.

The Senator confessed (that) McKay had summoned (Hooper) to his room at the Olds Hotel, the historians wrote. McKay said, (state Rep. William) Green, (sports promoter Floyd) Fitzsimmons and I dont want that pending horse racing bill out of committee. You get busy on it. Bill or Fitz were supposed to see you on it. They have some money for you.  Youll get it when the bill is killed.

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Warrants were served to McKay and Fitzsimmons on Dec. 2, 1944, and through the grapevine, they quickly learned who was on the prosecutions side. Most historians believe that, from then on, Hoopers days were numbered.

A crime scene photo of the interior of State Sen. Warren Hoopers car. Hooper was shot and killed in the front passenger seat before the car caught fire. (Courtesy Michigan State Police/University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library)

THE INMATE THEORY

On Jan. 11, 1945  four days before he was set to testify against McKay and Fitzsimmons  Sen. Warren Hooper was found dead on the side of M-99. It was the route he drove nearly every day from the capital to his home.

State Sen. Warren Hooper was assassinated on Jan. 11, 1945, days before he was set to testify in a corruption case. (Courtesy Michigan History Center)

Investigators found him in the front passenger seat of his own car with three bullet wounds to the head. The car had also caught fire, likely after his lit cigarette fell onto his clothes.

Investigators certainly didnt miss the timing of the assassination. And without it, prosecutors once again failed to convict McKay.

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Despite years of digging, Sigler never managed to find a way to implicate Boss McKay in the killing. Four men, all members of Detroits Purple Gang, were convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in Hoopers death, but no one identified the actual killer and couldnt be traced back to McKay.

Historians, however, with decades of hindsight and a little more leeway than what is afforded to prosecutors, believe they have connected the dots.

In Three Bullets Sealed his Lips, Rubenstein and Ziewacz laid out what they called the inmate theory, which explains how the assassination was conducted and how it could be traced back to McKay.

In the 1980s, the two historians poured over court records discovered in the State of Michigan Archives, reading through the affidavits from every witness interrogated by the grand jury following Hoopers death. They argued that the inmate theory was also supported by Attorney General John Dethmers and Michigan State Police Capts. Edward Cooper and William Hansen.

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The theory ties together several loose ends, but also incorporates some intrigue that was unveiled by Dethmers in the months after the killing. According to Rubenstein and Ziewacz, it was known that Jackson Prison Warden Harry Jackson and his deputy, D.C. Pettit, were granting special favors to members of the Purple Gang, including gang leaders Raymond Burnstein and Harry Keywell, who were locked up on murder charges.

According to the historians, Jackson and Pettit allowed the gangsters to assemble a coterie of armed robbers and murderers to listen to a proposition for a contract killing. Keywell and Burnstein reportedly rejected a $15,000 offer and countered, asking for $25,000. After trading messages with a middleman using the alias John Wake and getting proof of the financing, a deal was made.

Rubenstein and Ziewacz cited prison records that showed Burnstein and Keywell received several visitors in the days following the alleged deal. Among them were John Wake and Frank McKay.

Wake emphasized again the importance of the job to McKay and reminded them that the Grand Rapids financier could help them in the future if they befriended him in his present hour of need, they wrote.

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Pettit, the deputy warden, was accused of doing virtually everything but the dirty work, according to the inmate theory. Those supporters believe Pettit not only secured the weapons, transportation and a bogus license plate for the hit squad, but even volunteered his own car for the job  a maroon coupe, the same color found in scratches on Hoopers car.

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Shortly after the 3:30 afternoon dinner bugle blared, (Burnstein and Keywell) drove away from the prison yard in the deputy wardens maroon automobile. Close behind in a red car, possibly that of Pettits wife, came at least two other accomplices. Interestingly, all prison records for official car use for that day were found to be mysteriously missing, they wrote.

Burnstein and Keywell allegedly went to the targeted location on M-99, about 18 miles from the prison, while the accomplices tracked down and tailed Hooper. The theorists believe that as they approached, Burnstein and Keywell, who were parked on the shoulder, lurched into the lane, forcing Hooper to swerve and skid to a stop. The tailing accomplices then parked behind him, preventing any escape.

After the execution, Burnstein and Keywell allegedly returned to Pettits home, changed back into their prison garb and helped their accomplices destroy evidence of the crime, including the gun, gloves and a phony license plate. Then they returned to prison, alibi still neatly intact.

A 1947 file photo of then-Gov. Kim Sigler. (Courtesy Michigan History Center)

UNRESOLVED

So if historians and other authorities believe they cracked it, why couldnt Sigler? Rubenstein and Ziewacz argued his political ambitions hampered justice.

The primary reason he was focused on McKay was to use that success to springboard for a higher office. It was no secret that he had ambitions of being governor and even president of the United States. But the inmate theory would be an indictment of the states prison system  a feather in the cap for Dethmers, who had already been championing the issue.

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Also, Sigler had no leverage against the alleged assailants who were already serving life sentences in prison. Rubenstein and Ziewacz say Sigler did his best to get other Purple Gang members to flip, but instead they stayed silent and served their prison sentences.

The case ultimately fell by the wayside when Sigler was able to take the next step. Even without McKay, Sigler was able to drum up enough public support. He was voted in as Michigans next governor in 1946.

When Three Bullets Sealed his Lips was first published in 1987, it presented enough evidence and made a strong enough argument that Michigan State Police reopened the investigation. However, those investigators ran into the same problem: not enough hard evidence and no convincing testimony.

Now 80 years since Warren Hoopers assassination, we still dont know who pulled the trigger, and we likely never will. Frank McKay went 4 for 4 on beating criminal indictments, but his influence in Michigan political circles would soon face a challenge that could finally unseat him.

EDITORS NOTE: This is the second part of a three-part series on the legacy of Frank McKay. The final piece will be published next 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 WOODTV.com.
LETCHER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), Letcher County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) and KSP Post 13 Hazard are investigating a trooper-involved shooting, according to a social media post from KSP Trooper Gayheart.

The shooting happened on Saturday at 7:39 p.m. on KY-160 in Whitesburg.

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According to the post, a preliminary investigation revealed that a deputy from LCSO and a trooper from KSP responded to a report of a domestic disturbance involving suspected gunshots at a residence off KY-160.

The officers encountered Julian Smith, 25, from Jeremiah, Kentucky. When Smith saw officers, he allegedly fled into a nearby wooded area and brandished a pistol, according to Gayheart.

The officers then discharged their weapons, striking Smith. Both officers rendered medical aid until EMS arrived, the post said.

Smith was taken to Johnson City Medical Center, where his condition was reportedly stable, according to the post.

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The officers sustained no injuries during the incident.

The social media post said the following:

KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSPs standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts have been gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case. Kentucky State Police Trooper Gayheart

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Rescue crews hoisted an injured hiker to safety on Saturday morning after she suffered what officials described as a serious leg or ankle injury in a remote section of Scholl Canyon Fire Road near the Eagle Rock and Glendale border.

Because of the difficult terrain and the severity of her injuries, the Los Angeles Fire Department deployed two rescue helicopters.

A flight paramedic was lowered to the scene to assess and stabilize the woman before both were hoisted into a helicopter for continuing in-flight care during direct air transport to an area hospital.

Footage shows a rescue in progress for a severely injured hiker near Glendale. July 2025. (Citizen.com)

Officials confirmed there was no wildfire in the area, possibly in response to inquiries given the helicopter activity. Multiple ground and air units worked together to carry out the complex rescue.

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Video shared via the Citizen app showed a helicopter hovering over the mountain, using a rope system to evacuate the injured hiker.

No other injuries were reported as a result of this incident.

Luis Zuniga and Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Kupuna are invited to the Lanakila Meals on Wheels open house on Aug. 1, where seniors can learn about the free Kupuna Wellness Summer Session.

The open house will be at Leeward Community Church in Pearl City, with the session running from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

85-year-old fulfills skydiving dream, honors late husband

Kupuna will learn about the program and be able to take a sneak peek at upcoming activities, designed to help seniors stay active, healthy and social.

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The wellness summer session runs from Aug. 4 to Sept. 30, and will feature fun classes, games, movies, health education, excursions, meals and more.

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Each activity for the kupuna wellness session will run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Leeward Community Church.

While the program is free to participate in, registration is required to participate. To register, call Lanakila Meals on Wheels at (808) 356-8521 or visit Leeward Community Church during an in-person sign up session during the following days:

July 27 from 7:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church lobby

July 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the fellowship hall

July 31 from 9 a.m. to noon at the ohana hall

For more information on Lanakila Meals on Wheels, visit lanakilapacific.org.

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WILL COUNTY, Ill. (WGN)  The Illinois landlord convicted of killing a 6-year-old Muslim boy and injuring his mother in a brutal hate crime attack in October 2023 has died in custody just months after he was sentenced to more than 50 years in prison.

73-year-old Joseph Czuba died Thursday while in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, officials from the Will County Sheriffs Office confirmed Saturday.

Earlier this year, Czuba was found guilty of killing 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and wounding his mother, Hanan Shaheen, after he attacked them over their Islamic faith.

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Mother stabbed in alleged hate crime attack is first witness in case against landlord

Czubas death comes less than three months after a judge handed him a 53-year sentence for the deadly attack.

Back in February, Czuba was convicted on murder and hate crimes charges.

Court sketch on Feb. 26, 2025 showing Joseph Czuba, 73,who is charged with and on trial in the fatal stabbing of a Palestinian American boy Will County Deputy Victoria Janovyak testifies in the trial against Joseph Czuba on Feb. 25, 2025.

In court, prosecutors said the attack was a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which had escalated greatly following the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

Bloody crime scene photos play key role in trial of man accused in Palestinian American boys death

Czuba had been renting rooms to the pair in his home at the time of the attack.

Wadee al-Fayoumi and his mother, Hanan Shaheen The mother and son were Joseph Czubas tenants in this home in unincorporated Plainfield township

Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated for less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.

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Authorities have not provided details on Czubas cause of death.

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JOLIET, Illinois  A landlord sentenced to decades in prison after he killed a Palestinian American boy and wounded his mother has died.

Three months ago, Joseph Czuba was sentenced to 53 years behind bars for the attack. He was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of the boys mother, Hanan Shaheen.

The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which started days earlier.

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Czuba died Thursday in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to a statement from the Will County Sheriffs Office.

Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations Chicago office, said in a statement on Saturday that this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.

Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.

The family had been renting rooms in Czubas home in Plainfield, about 40 miles from Chicago when the attack happened.

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Central to prosecutors case was harrowing testimony from the boys mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim. Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czubas wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the childs body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadees relatives.

The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadees funeral drew large crowds, and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.




Latvia has refused entry via its land border to a group of Czech citizens who were attempting to return from Russia.

Source: a spokesperson for the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs Daniel Drake, cited by Radio Prague International, as reported by European Pravda,

Details: Roman Roun, a representative of the Communist Party, stated that the group consisted of four members of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia. They are still in Russia and awaiting an opportunity to return.

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"Four members of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia were on a private trip to Russia to visit memorial sites dedicated to the heroism of the Red Army and the peoples of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War [as the Russians call WWII, primarily the conflict between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany  ed.]. On their way back, they were denied entry to Latvia. They have since returned to Russia and are negotiating a transit route back to Czechia," Roun said, without specifying the individuals involved.

The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of the situation and noted in a statement that options for providing consular assistance are currently limited.

The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia is known for its pro-Russian stance.

Background:

Last year, Katerina Konecna, the partys MEP, voiced outrage over a visit to Prague by soldiers of Ukraines 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and former members of the Azov unit.

Also in 2023, Czech police filed criminal charges against a member of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia who displayed a Russian flag with the letter Z  a symbol of Russian aggression  at an event in the town of Nymburk.

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LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56)  Deputies with the Laurel County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) are searching for two people who broke into a smoke shop north of London in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Deputies said in a news release that just after 2 a.m. on July 26, two people broke into the Royal Smoke Shop, a mile and a half north of town.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Anyone with information about the smoke shop break-in is asked to contact the LCSO at (606) 864-6600 or email g.acciardo@laurelcountysheriff.gov.

A broken window of a Laurel County smoke shop after two people broke in. (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) Security camera footage shows two people inside the Roal Smoke shop on North Laurel Road around 2 a.m. on July 26. (Laurel County Sheriffs Office) (Laurel County Sheriffs Office)

The investigation remains ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56)  A former police chief with Laurel County Public Schools is no longer employed by the district after being arrested Friday night and accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

According to court documents, Daniel J. Smoot, 65, was allegedly found sitting in the hallway of a hotel on the 200 block of Alamo Drive when officers went there to carry out a welfare check just after 4 p.m. on Friday.

According to the London Police Department, investigators could smell alcohol on Smoot, who was allegedly unsteady on his feet and slurring his words.

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The LPD wrote in an arrest citation that Smoot was allegedly driving a vehicle while under the influence just before 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the area of Waco Drive.

Emergency personnel reportedly told law enforcement that Smoot originally appeared to be having a medical issue.

Smoot was arrested on Waco Drive and charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcoholfirst offense. He was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center and released just after 5:45 a.m. on Saturday.

Wayne County school district, team leaders mourn passing of student: He will be missed beyond words

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Laurel County Public Schools announced on social media around 3 p.m. on Saturday that Smoot was no longer employed with the district after being notified about the DUI investigation by London police. Officials said he was not on duty at the time of his arrest.

The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority, and we are committed to upholding the trust of our parents and community, school leaders said. Laurel County Public Schools will continue to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for all students, ensuring our teachers and staff serve as positive role models.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker and Congress leader Meira Kumar expressed "hope" and said that it is the duty of the Election Commission of India to fulfil its responsibility of conducting free and fair polls in the country. "Our Constitution has entrusted the responsibility of conducting elections to the Election Commission. Whether at the national or state level, it is their solemn duty to conduct fair elections and to do so in a manner that ensures the complete trust of the country's people. The Constitution has given the Election Commission the responsibility to maintain this trust. I hope they will work towards this," Meira Kumar told reporters while speaking on Special Intensive Revision being carried out in Bihar. The Election Commission of India is conducting a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections in the state. The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar has erupted a massive row in the country, with the opposition INDIA bloc alleging that it will delete a significant chunk of voters. Earlier today, Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev on Saturday hit out at the Union Government and the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls being conducted in Bihar. Dev termed it a "match fixing" between ECI and BJP and an attempt to "exclude" voters rather than include them. The Election Commission of India is conducting a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar later this year. Dev asserted that whenever an electoral revision happens, it is intended that more voters are included in the voter list as many voters turn 18; however, in Bihar, people are being "excluded" within a short period. "This is an exercise done to exclude voters, not include them. When the revision occurs, it is intended to include more voters who have turned 18; however, people are being excluded within such a short period, in one month", Sushmita Dev told ANI. On July 25, several opposition parliamentarians in the Rajya Sabha moved Suspension of Business notices, urging a discussion on the SIR during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. (ANI)
Laurel: Veteran Cara Sweeney is slated to receive a renovated home in Johnstowns Coopersdale neighborhood through the Polacek Veteran Home Initiative. Volunteers started gutting the house Tuesday as part of a complete remodel. Meanwhile, a brand-new house is scheduled to be constructed for Navy veteran Darren Hill on Somerset Street in Johnstown through the initiative.

Laurel: Four students from Cambria Heights High Schools Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter took Top 10 spots in this years national competition in Orlando, Florida. Nathan Mislevy placed third; Emma Lewis, fourth; Ellie Kerfonta, fourth; and Grace Hock, sixth. The national competition provides students with experience in strengthening leadership skills, encouraging meaningful connections with peers and building career readiness.

Barb: A decision by a major pharmacy benefit manager could make it more expensive for patients to fill prescriptions at their local Martellas Pharmacy. Martellas Pharmacy has been notified by Express Scripts that it is being terminated from the companys network effective Aug. 18. All of Martellas locations are contesting the termination, said Kathleen Martella-Zucco, director of operations. Pharmacy benefit managers decide what drugs an insurer will cover, how much money patients will pay for treatments and which pharmacies are preferred to fill a prescription.

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Laurel: TeeTees Play Place, a playground at Peniel Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, was officially unveiled last Friday. The playground is named in memory of Peniels founder, Marion TeeTee Spellman. Kids have a lot of energy, said the Rev. Emily Cooper, director of Peniels womens and children program. This playground gives us the opportunity to give space for them to run off that energy.

Laurel: Work by Indiana University of Pennsylvania students at a World War II plane 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 has been accounted for, according to the U.S. Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. That progress stemmed from work at a field school organized by IUP professors Andrea Palmiotto and William Chadwick, who for the past five years have led students to study the crash site of a B-17 that the group helped identify as Fuddy Duddy. Leverett was the pilot of that plane.

Barb: Bryan Kohberger, who broke into a rental house and stabbed four University of Idaho students to death in 2022, declined to shed light on his motives Wednesday as he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Given an opportunity to speak at his sentencing hearing, Kohberger, formerly of Pennsylvania, told the judge, I respectfully decline. Investigators said after the hearing that exhaustive efforts failed to find any connection between Kohberger and his victims, and the judge acknowledged that the motive may never be known.

Laurel: With help from an anonymous donor, the Humane Society of Cambria County has acquired 12 acres of land in Richland Township to build a new animal shelter. The announcement followed the Richland Township Zoning Hearing Boards February approval for the Humane Societys planned state-of-the-art shelter at the corner of Oakridge and Jari drives. When complete, the new facility will replace the 50-year-old shelter at 743 Galleria Drive Extension.

Laurel: Community members celebrated the opening of the Cambria County Backpack Projects new south site last week at the rear of Greater Johns-town School Districts former Garfield Middle School. We are super-excited, project Coordinator Jenna Stancombe said. Were right here in the community. The food-based nonprofit was located along the 2000 block of Bedford Street with The Learning Lamp almost since its inception, but has outgrown that space. Now, the program has a total of 1,900 square feet to operate and easier access for distribution.
NEWFIELD, N.Y. (WETM)  Officials are currently investigating a two-car crash that happened on Saturday morning in the Town of Newfield, according to a release from the Tompkins County Sheriffs Office.

Around 10:35 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, deputies from the Tompkins County Sheriffs Office were called to a two-car personal injury crash at the intersection of Main Street and Elmira Road in the Town of Newfield, the release stated.

One dead after single-vehicle rollover crash in Tompkins County

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Upon arrival at the scene and as a result of an investigation, deputies learned that a grey 2009 Ford Escape was driving south on Elmira Road, and a grey 2020 Honda CR-V didnt yield the right of way to the Ford Escape, which resulted in the crash, the release explained.

The people who were in the Honda CR-V both had serious injuries following the crash and were taken to Robert Packer Hospital for medical attention, the release said. The person in the Ford Escape was checked out at the scene but declined further medical treatment, the release noted.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, the release explained. New York State Police, Newfield Fire Department, Bangs Ambulance, and Trumansburg Ambulance also helped the Tompkins County Sheriffs Office at the scene, the release emphasized.

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This story has been updated to include additional information.

Authorities plan to seek terrorism and assault with intent to murder charges against a 42-year-old man arrested as a suspect in the weekend stabbing spree at a Walmart near Traverse City  a violent attack that left 11 people injured and made northern Michigan the latest site of mass violence at a U.S. retailer.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea announced the requested charges during a news conference Sunday, July 27, the day after the attack. He identified the suspect as Bradford James Gille, of Afton, a small, unincorporated community near Indian River in Cheboygan County.

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While Shea said a motive behind the attack remains unknown, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg explained the rationale behind the plan to seek a terrorism charge, in addition to 11 counts of assault with intent to murder for each of the injured victims.

A terrorism charge fits when there is a mass incident that appears to be a random act of violence that seems done "to put fear in the entire community," she said. Moeggenberg said her office anticipates authorizing charges on Monday, July 28, and expects the suspect to be arraigned that day or the next. A terrorism charge is punishable by life imprisonment, Moeggenberg said.

"Mr. Gille's history shows prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations," Shea told reporters.

He declined to comment on Gille's mental health history, but he didn't rule out the possibility that mental health may have played a role. "I think its fair to say that any time that you have someone that commits an incident or an act like this, there is some sort of mental health issue involved," he said.

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The stabbing rampage began late afternoon on Saturday, July 26, with the first 911 call coming in at 4:43 p.m., according to police.

The assailant used a folding knife to injure 11 people before onlookers subdued him, authorities said. Law enforcement credited those citizens for stopping further harm.

"I will tell you they were absolutely instrumental in preventing further injuries, potential casualties," Shea told the Free Press Sunday.

"It's not very often that we have citizens that are willing to step up and take action," he later said during the news conference. "What they did was amazing."

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One of the citizens who intervened to stop Gille was armed with a pistol, according to Shea.

An officer was at the scene within three minutes of police receiving the first 911 call, Shea said during a Saturday night news conference.

The stabbings began near the checkout area, according to Shea.

A video posted by Grand Rapids TV station WZZM 13 shows what appear to be onlookers intervening to thwart the suspect outside the Walmart. "Drop the knife," one man shouts in the video, which shows several men, one who appears to be holding a handgun, surrounding another man between cars in the parking lot. "Throw it away," another man yells.

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The suspect was placed in custody after the attack and was being held at the Grand Traverse County Jail, according to Shea.

All of the injured were sent to Munson Medical Center. Six of the patients were initially in critical condition and five were in serious condition. Three of the injured required surgery. But by Sunday morning, patients had shown "encouraging signs of recovery," according to Munson Healthcare. One patient has since been released, according to Dr. Tom Schermerhorn, chief medical officer at Munson. Among the 10 remaining patients, two were in serious condition and the others had progressed to fair condition, he said.

The victims include six males and five females, according to Shea. Their ages range from 29 to 84 years old, he said. One Walmart employee was among the victims, he said.

Walmart spokesperson Kelly Hellbusch said in an emailed statement on Sunday: "We're focused on supporting our associates and being there for our Traverse City community. We're continuing to pay all associates while our store remains closed, assist the police investigation and have set up an Associate Resource Center locally that will include counseling services. Our thoughts remain with those recovering."

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All of those injured in the attack are expected to survive, said Schermerhorn.

In recent years, some high-profile incidents of mass violence in the U.S. have occurred at retail locations. A 2019 shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, killed 23 people. In 2022, a shooter killed 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. Experts called that rampage part of a trend of mass shootings at retail establishments. Criminal justice professors Jillian Peterson and James Densley of Hamline University and Metropolitan State University, respectively, tracked mass public shootings and found that only one incident in their data prior to 2019 took place at a supermarket, and noted multiple shootings at grocery stores that occurred before the one in Buffalo.

Public officials condemned the attack at the Michigan Walmart.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and community reeling from this brutal act of violence," said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a Facebook post.

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State Rep. Betsy Coffia, D-Traverse City, whose district includes the Walmart where the mass stabbing took echoed Whitmer. "Hug your loved ones. This is a moment to pull together as neighbors and as a community," she said on Facebook. State Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor Springs, who represents the area called July 26 "a tragic day" for the Traverse City community in a Facebook post, and described the attack as a "random and senseless act of violence."

'Sad state of affairs'

When Traverse CIty resident Yvonne Brinks first heard the news, she said her mind jumped to her shopping trips with her 2-year-old son and how she could protect him.

"I was thinking, 'What if I was there?'" she said.

Brinks and her husband, Jon Brinks, moved to Traverse City seven months ago.

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"When I moved here, I thought, it's a cool city, and calm. I am safe here," she said. "I couldn't expect something to happen here in Traverse City."

Yvonne Brinks said Walmart is one of her sister's favorite stores.

"I called my family and told them something happened here like in the movies  someone came in Walmart and was stabbing," she said.

Jon Brinks said it's hard to know why events like this happen.

"It's just shocking," Jon Brinks said. "You never know what caused it," he said, saying the suspect may have had a mental health condition. "I feel for people impacted by it and wonder if the guy who did this had enough support in his life or if he was going through anything."

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Janice Denny Archer, who also lives in Traverse City, said she wasn't so shocked.

"It's a sad state of affairs," she said. "I knew it would come here sooner or later, and I am happy that nobody was killed."

Jonathan Limehouse and Bart Jansen of USA TODAY contributed with previous reporting.

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Terrorism charge sought for Bradford James Gille in Walmart stabbing
July 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson said on Sunday that he would have "great pause" if President Donald Trump pardoned Ghislaine Maxwell, but said it was Trump's decision.

But Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said that "whatever they need to do to compel [Maxwell's] testimony, as long as it's truthful, I would be in favor of," on Meet the Press Sunday.

Maxwell is the convicted associate of the late child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail.

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Maxwell, with her attorney, met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche for two days last week, which sparked the conversation around a potential pardon. She has served five years of a 20-year sentence. There have been growing calls from Democrats and Republicans for Trump to release files on the Epstein case.

"If you're asking my opinion, I think 20 years was a pittance. I think she should have a life sentence at least. I mean, think of all these unspeakable crimes," Johnson told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker.

"It's hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing. So again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would."

When Welker pushed directly on whether Johnson favored a pardon, Johnson deferred to Trump.

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"Obviously, that's a decision of the president. I won't get it in front of him. That's not my lane," he said.

Welker conducted a joint interview with Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who are working together to push Trump to release the files.

Khanna disagreed. "No, I don't" believe that Maxwell should be pardoned or have her sentence commuted. He said he is "concerned" about her meeting with Blanche.

"Look, I agree with Congressman Massie that she should testify, but she's been indicted twice on perjury. This is why we need the files," Khanna added.

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Khanna and Massie are co-sponsoring a bill that would force the Trump administration to publish "all unclassified records" on Epstein.

"Politics is the art of the doable," Massie said Sunday. "There's enough public pressure right now that we can get 218 votes and force this to a vote on the floor."

Nearly a dozen members of the House Republicans have signed on to back Massie's joint measure with Khanna. Some Democrats, including Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., also signed on.

Massie also went on ABC News' This Week, and said "Well, I think we should get a lot more than just the (birthday) book. Let's get the financial records of the estate. Where is it -- follow the money, as they say up here," Massie told co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

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"We should look at the plea bargain. Open that up. See what was the deal? What was the deal that was cut? I think there's a lot more than just that letter."

He told Karl about the bill.

"It would force a full release of the files. It has the force of law," Massie said on This Week. "It's not a subpoena. It's not a 'Pretty please, would you release the files?' It's the force of law and it's got protections to redact victims' names and to prevent, you know, release of child pornography."

Khanna added that Democrats' interest in the case is not new.

"We have been pushing for transparency during the Biden administration, both in 2021 and 2024, the court ordered release of documents, but Donald Trump raised the stakes and he did it in a way in the campaign that was justified. He said, 'Look, when I get there, I'm going to release the files,'" Khanna said.
A federal judge in Miami is expected to hear arguments Monday from attorneys who say the Trump and DeSantis administrations are holding detainees at Alligator Alcatraz without charges and without access to immigration courts in violation of their constitutional rights.

Questioning the very legality of the state-run detention center, the attorneys said in a legal filing Friday that immigrants held at the site are unable to challenge their detention because there is no federal immigration court overseeing their cases  even though the complex of tents and trailers has been operating for nearly a month.

The plaintiffs, which include the American Civil Rights Union Foundation and Americans for Immigrant Justice, said judges at Krome Immigration Court in Miami are canceling court hearings because the court does not have jurisdiction over detainees at Alligator Alcatraz. They said ICE officers are also saying they arent responsible for detainees at the facility, which the DeSantis administration erected in eight days on a remote airfield in the Everglades.

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This is an unprecedented situation where hundreds of detainees are held incommunicado, with no ability to access the courts, under legal authority that has never been explained and may not exist, they argued.

The outcome of Mondays hearing before District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II could shed light on a question that attorneys have been asking since the Trump administration began sending immigrant detainees to Floridas pop-up detention center on July 2: Who is in charge of detainees and their cases? The answer to that question could have wide-ranging implications as the Trump administration tries to replicate Alligator Alcatraz in other parts of the country.

The plaintiffs are asking Ruiz II to force the Department of Homeland Security to identify an immigration court that has jurisdiction over detainees and to produce any agreements that explain and prove the Trump and DeSantis administrations legal authority to hold immigrant detainees at the facility.

Florida cannot operate an independent immigration detention system without federal supervision, they wrote. It cannot hold people without charge and without access to immigration courts.

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The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management, which has said it will offer on-site legal services to detainees for the first time on Monday , could not be immediately reached for comment.

A legal black box

Attorneys made their case for a court intervention on the same day that Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the federal government had begun flying hundreds of immigrant detainees out of the detention camp to be deported

Clarity on these questions is urgently needed, plaintiffs wrote in a court filing.

One attorney, Anna Weiser of Smith and Eulo Law Firm, said a Krome Immigration Court judge cancelled a bond hearing for her clients, Hari Koneru and Gonzalo Valdez, both of whom entered the United States on valid visas.

Gonzalo Valdez

When she asked for a reason, she was told the court did not have jurisdiction, and to contact DHS for more information. She said the ICE office of Chief Counsel in Miami instructed her to email the Alligator Alcatraz facility directly. She did, but there was no response.

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We are in limbo status, Weiser said in an interview with the Herald/Times. Were running around in circles  Its designed, in my personal opinion, to delay and to stall and to wear them out until theyre begging to leave.

The Herald/Times verified that one of her clients, Koneru, has been flown out of Alligator Alcatraz. He is in an ICE staging facility in Louisiana. DeSantis said detainees who have been transferred to another facility are en route to being deported.

Another attorney, Zareefa Khan, has faced similar struggles with legal access.

She filed a bond hearing on behalf of a Guatemalan man with no criminal history and a pending asylum case. The client, who is identified in the lawsuit as G.T.C., ended up at Alligator Alcatraz after Florida Fish and Wildlife officers stopped him while he was fishing in the Everglades.

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U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers detained him even though he showed officers a copy of his pending asylum form that shows that he is already in immigration proceedings and should not be detained, court records show.

Khan filed a bond motion on his behalf and he was set for a hearing on July 24. But the meeting did not happen. Khan was later told that the immigration court had no jurisdiction over cases of people held at Alligator Alcatraz, and that G.T.C. was in state, not federal custody.

I do not understand what the basis of their custody is at Alligator Alcatraz, Khan wrote in a signed declaration, under penalty of perjury, if ICE is stating that they are not in federal immigration custody, and if their cases cannot be adjudicated by the federal immigration court.
At Least 11 People Hospitalized After 'Horrible' Walmart Stabbing Attack originally appeared on The Spun.

A day of weekend shopping in a U.S. city became a site of terrible tragedy after a stabbing incident took place.

According to ABC News, at least 11 people were stabbed in an attack at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan. 11 people are confirmed to have been taken to Munson Medical Center, but it's unclear if more have been taken elsewhere or if they've reported injuries.

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The extent and seriousness of the injuries is also not currently known. There is speculation online that some of the injuries were "serious," but there are no confirmed fatalities as of writing.

Per the report, a suspect is currently in custody.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino pledged to offer any and all support he can to local law enforcement.

"FBI personnel are responding to provide any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart," Bongino wrote on X.

FBI personnel are responding to provide any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart.  Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) July 26, 2025

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has offered her thoughts and prayers while also staying in contact with the police investigating the crime.

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"Im in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City. Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect," Whitmer wrote on X.

"I will continue monitoring the situation closely."

DUNCAN, OK - NOVEMBER 18: A police officer maintains a security line after a shooting in a Walmart parking lot on November 18, 2019 in Duncan, Oklahoma. A gunman killed two people in a car in the parking lot outside an Oklahoma Walmart before fatally shooting himself. (Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images)J Pat Carter/Getty Images

As for Walmart, corporate spokesman Joe Pennington told ABC News via email that the retail titan would be working with police and defer questions to them right now.

Our hearts go out to the victims and their loved ones.

Related: 25-Year-Old Killed In 'Awful' Crash, Unlicensed Driver Arrested

At Least 11 People Hospitalized After 'Horrible' Walmart Stabbing Attack first appeared on The Spun on Jul 27, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.




NEED TO KNOW

A double-decker bus carrying more than 60 people crashed after falling over a slope in Peru on Friday, July 25

The accident resulted in the death of at least 18 people, with 48 others injured

Video taken after the crash shows rescue workers attempting to maneuver inside the wreckage of the overturned vehicle





A double-decker bus crashed and landed upside down after careening over a slope, killing at least 18 people and injuring 48.

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Clifor Curipaco, a health director in Peru, told reporters that the bus was traveling from Lima towards the countrys Amazon forests, specifically in the Junin region, on Friday, July 25, when the tragedy occurred, according to the Associated Press.

The bus, owned by the company Expreso Molina Lider Internacional, was carrying more than 60 people when it crashed into a ravine, per DW News. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident, according to the outlet.

Video of the aftermath of the crash shows police and rescue workers sifting through wreckage and attempting to maneuver themselves inside the overturned vehicle. The footage shows the bus split in two in the wake of the fall.

This is not the first major fatal bus crash in Peru this year. A bus crashed into a river in January, killing six people and injuring 32 others. A previous bus accident in April 2024 resulted in the death of 24 people, making it the deadliest crash in the country in several years.

10 News/Youtube Bus crash in Peru on July 25 kills at least 18 people Bus crash in Peru on July 25 kills at least 18 people

A report from the countrys Attorney Generals office stated that recklessness and excessive speed are the leading causes of vehicular accidents in Peru, per the AP.

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In 2024 alone, approximately 3,173 people died as a result of traffic accidents in the country, per official records, cited by the AP.

PEOPLE has reached out to Peru's Ministry of Health (MINSA) for updates on the crash.



Read the original article on People
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  At least two people were injured in a shooting near Highland Road and Lee Drive on Sunday, July 27.

Emergency medical services confirmed that two people were taken to the hospital in serious condition.

This is a developing story. Louisiana First News has reached out to the Baton Rouge Police Department for more information.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday offered prayers at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple on the occasion of the Chola emperor's birth anniversary, Rajendra Chola I. The Prime Minister wore traditional attire and was welcomed by the local pandits in the temple. He was wearing a white veshti (dhoti), a white shirt, and an angavasthram worn around the neck while attending the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival. Earlier in the day, PM Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, held a roadshow in the Tiruchirappalli district. His convoy received a warm welcome from the commoners gathered to witness his arrival. The police made security arrangements and other preparations ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur. On the final day of his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in the commemoration of 1,000 years since the maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola I to Southeast Asia, as well as to mark the commencement of construction on the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple. BJP and AIADMK flags have been placed on either side of the road, while flex boards and banners bearing images of Raja Raja Chozhan and messages welcoming the Prime Minister are seen along the route. According to an official press release, Prime Minister Modi will release a commemorative coin honouring one of India's greatest emperors, Rajendra Chola I, during a public event at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple to celebrate the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival. Earlier on Saturday, PM Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated and dedicated to the nation development projects worth over Rs 4,800 crore in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi. A series of landmark projects across multiple sectors that will significantly enhance regional connectivity, boost logistics efficiency, strengthen clean energy infrastructure, and improve the quality of life for citizens across Tamil Nadu, as per a release. On the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas, PM Modi paid tributes to the brave soldiers of Kargil and saluted the valiant warriors and offered heartfelt homage to the martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. Rajendra Chola I (1014-1044 CE) was one of the most powerful and visionary rulers in Indian history. Under his leadership, the Chola Empire expanded its influence across South and Southeast Asia. He established Gangaikonda Cholapuram as the imperial capital after his victorious campaigns, and the temple he built there served as a beacon of Shaiva devotion, monumental architecture, and administrative prowess for over 250 years. Today, the temple stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its intricate sculptures, Chola bronzes, and ancient inscriptions. The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also celebrates the rich Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition, fervently supported by the Cholas and immortalised by the 63 Nayanmars--the saint-poets of Tamil Shaivism. Notably, Rajendra Chola's birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), begins on July 23, making this year's festival all the more significant. (ANI)
Numerous riders got stuck mid-air when a ride at Knotts Berry Farm malfunctioned this weekend.

In a video shared on the community safety site Citizen on Saturday, July 26, at least 20 park guests can be seen stranded on the Sol Spin ride at the Buena Park, Calif., theme park.

The ride, which opened in 2017, is described as a thrilling adventure that spins guests 60 feet above the ground, per the parks official website.

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Guests must be at least 4 feet, 5 inches to ride, according to Knotts Berry Farm.

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Getty Knott's Berry Farm Knott's Berry Farm

In a statement to PEOPLE, a representative for Knotts Berry Farm said the ride was stopped for approximately five minutes."

The spokesperson added that "everyone exited the ride safely" and the ride received a full safety inspection and reopened shortly after."

The Knotts Berry Farm representative also told PEOPLE, "The safety of our guests is a top priority."



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https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

This isnt the first time that the Sol Spin ride, which rotates riders in multiple directions while swinging them high above the ground, has malfunctioned recently.

Back in November 2024, 22 park guests were left stuck on the ride for hours when it stopped mid-cycle.

They were eventually evacuated after park officials followed the ride manufacturers and Knotts emergency procedures to safely get everyone off the ride, a spokesperson for the park told PEOPLE at the time.

Out of an abundance of caution, two female guests were transported to the hospital for further evaluation, the rep added.



In footage taken from the 2024 rescue effort, a large crane could be seen slowly bringing officials over to the guests as they assessed the ride.

Read the original article on People
GOMA, Congo (AP)  Islamic State-backed rebels attacked a Catholic church in eastern Congo on Sunday, killing at least 34 people, according to a local civil society leader.

Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, in the Ituri province, told The Associated Press that the attackers stormed the church in Komanda town at around 1 a.m. Several houses and shops were also burnt.

"The bodies of the victims are still at the scene of the tragedy, and volunteers are preparing how to bury them in a mass grave that we are preparing in a compound of the Catholic church, Duranthabo said.

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Video footage from the scene shared online appeared to show burning structures and bodies on the floor of the church. Those who were able to identify some of the victims wailed while others stood in shock.

At least five other people were killed in an earlier attack on the nearby village of Machongani.

They took several people into the bush; we do not know their destination or their number, Lossa Dhekana, a civil society leader in Ituri, told the AP.

Both attacks are believed to have been carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) armed with guns and machetes.

Lt. Jules Ngongo, a spokesperson for the Congolese army in Ituri, confirmed at least 10 fatalities in the Komanda church attack. However, U.N.-backed Radio Okapi reported 43 deaths, citing security sources. The attackers reportedly came from a stronghold about 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Komanda and fled before security forces arrived.

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Duranthabo condemned the violence in what he said was a town where all the security officials are present. He called for immediate military intervention, warning that the enemy is still near our town.

Eastern Congo has suffered deadly attacks in recent years by armed groups, including the ADF and Rwanda-backed rebels. The ADF, which has ties to the Islamic State, operates in the borderland between Uganda and Congo and often targets civilians. The group killed dozens of people in Ituri earlier this month in what a United Nations spokesperson described as a bloodbath.

The ADF was formed by disparate small groups in Uganda in the late 1990s following alleged discontent with President Yoweri Museveni.

In 2002, following military assaults by Ugandan forces, the group moved its activities to neighboring Congo and has since been responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians. In 2019, it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

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The Congolese army (FARDC) has long struggled to contain the group, especially amid renewed conflict involving the M23 rebel movement backed by neighboring Rwanda.

___

Adetayo reported from Lagos, Nigeria and Saleh Mwanamilongo contributed to this report.
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) -Islamic State-backed rebels killed 38 people on Sunday in an attack on a church in eastern Congo, city officials said.

The assault in Komanda, a city in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, is believed to have been carried out by ADF rebels, wielding guns and machetes, officials told Reuters.

Jean Kato, an official in the city administration, said worshippers were taking part in a night mass when the rebels stormed the church in the early hours of Sunday morning.

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Thirty-eight people were dead, 15 injured and several others were still missing, officials said.

Christophe Munyanderu, a human rights activist present at the scene in Komanda, said shots were heard overnight but people at first thought it was thieves.

"The rebels mainly attacked Christians who were spending the night in the Catholic church," said Munyanderu.

"Unfortunately, these people were killed with machetes or bullets."

The United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DR Congo has condemned a recent resurgence in violence in the province where this attack happened.

(Reporting by Devika Nair in Bengaluru, Congo Newsroom; writing by Kopano Gumbi in Johannesburg; editing by Giles Elgood)
Seven men were taken to local hospitals after a two-car crash in Dayton early Sunday morning, according to a Dayton Police Department crash report.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The crash occurred near the intersection of Arlene Avenue and Owens Drive around 4:15 a.m.

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The report indicates that medics took seven men to either Kettering Health or Miami Valley Hospital with minor injuries.

A preliminary investigation found that a 22-year-old man was driving a Ford F-150 south on Arlene Avenue.

Three other men, ages ranging from 21 to 30, were inside the pickup truck when the crash happened.

The man was apparently driving at an excessive rate of speed, the crash report said.

When he turned left onto Owens Drive, he reportedly lost control and crashed into a parked Nissan Pathfinder.

The report indicates that the Nissan was legally parked and facing east on Ownes Drive.

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Two 19-year-old men and an 18-year-old man were inside the Nissan when the crash occurred.

The driver of the Ford was cited for failure to control, according to the report.

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At least 38 people have been killed and 15 others injured in an attack on a church in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The attack, carried out by suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) wielding guns and machetes, took place at the church in Ituri provinces Komanda city early on Sunday.

The ADF, with ties to ISIL (ISIS), is a rebel group that operates in the borderland between Uganda and the DRC, and has routinely conducted attacks against civilian populations.

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Several houses and shops were also burned down, and many people remain missing after the attack, which happened while Catholic Christians were attending a prayer vigil at the church, run by the Caritas charity.

The rebels mainly attacked Christians who were spending the night in the Catholic church, said Christophe Munyanderu, a human rights activist present at the scene in Komanda. Unfortunately, these people were killed with machetes or bullets.





DRCs Radio Okapi reported the death toll as 43, blaming it on the ADF. More than 20 victims were killed with bladed weapons during a prayer vigil in a church, the radio said. Other bodies were found in burned houses nearby.

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What we know this morning is that there was an incursion by armed men with machetes into a church not far from Komanda, DRC army spokesperson Jules Ngongo said.

A civil society leader told The Associated Press news agency that people were shot dead inside and outside the church, adding that they found at least three charred bodies.

But the search [for bodies] is continuing, Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator in Komanda, told AP.

We are truly disappointed because it is incredible that such a situation could occur in a town where all the security officials are present, Duranthabo said, adding that some people fled the area and moved to Bunia town.

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We demand military intervention as soon as possible, since we are told the enemy is still near our town.

The United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC has condemned a recent resurgence in violence in Ituri. Earlier this month, ADF killed dozens of people in the province in what a UN spokesperson described as a bloodbath.

The ADF was formed by disparate small groups in Uganda in the late 1990s following alleged discontent with President Yoweri Museveni.

In 2002, following military assaults by Ugandan forces, the group moved its activities to neighbouring DRC and has since been responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians. In 2019, it pledged allegiance to ISIL.

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The ADFs leadership says it is fighting to form a hardliner government in the East African country.

The DRC army has long struggled against the rebel group, and it is now grappling with a complex web of attacks since renewed hostilities with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.




Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours killed at least six civilians and injured 20 more, regional authorities reported on July 27.

Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 83 drones overnight, 78 of which were taken out by air defenses.

In Sumy Oblast, Russian forces conducted nearly 70 attacks on 33 settlements, using guided bombs, FPV (first-person-view) drones, and drone-dropped explosives. Two civilians were killed by a landmine in the Esman community, while two others were injured in drone strikes across Hlukhiv and Sumy communities, the regional military administration said.

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At least four municipalities reported infrastructure damage, including damage to administrative buildings, markets, and houses.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces shelled and drone-bombed over 30 towns and villages, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Eight people were injured, including a child, due to strikes on residential areas and infrastructure.

On the morning of July 27, an additional three civilians were wounded in separate Russian attacks. Damage was reported to several houses, apartment buildings, vehicles, and agricultural structures.

In Donetsk Oblast, two civilians were killed and at least three were injured in the Pokrovsk and Kramatorsk districts, Governor Vadym Filashkin confirmed. Russian attacks damaged houses, shops, and industrial facilities in multiple towns.

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In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, four people were injured after Russian forces attacked the Nikopol district with heavy artillery, Grad rockets, and drones. Residential houses and power lines were damaged, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian troops launched 810 strikes on 12 settlements, including 26 airstrikes and hundreds of FPV drone and artillery attacks, Governor Ivan Fedorov said. Two civilians were found dead under the rubble of a destroyed house in Stepnohirsk, where a rocket strike had triggered a fire.

Read also: Invisible prisoners  the struggle to free thousands of Ukrainians in Russian captivity

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At least six people have been killed and dozens injured in a crush after a large crowd gathered at a popular Hindu temple in northern Indias Uttarakhand state.

The incident at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar city occurred on Sunday after a high-voltage electric wire reportedly fell on a temple path, triggering panic among the large crowd of devotees.

The sight of the wire falling caused immediate panic, and a desperate scramble to escape led to the stampede, local police official Ritesh Saha told The Times of India newspaper.

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Vinay Shankar Pandey, a senior government official in Uttarakhand, confirmed the deaths. Hospital officials said one person was electrocuted, while others died in the ensuing stampede, Indian media reports said.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene after the incident and launched a rescue operation. Nearly 35 injured people were transported to a nearby hospital, officials said.

The situation is now under control, Pandey told The Associated Press news agency by phone from Haridwar. But the panic led to tragic consequences.

Relatives outside a hospital as the injured are brought, in Haridwar, India, July 27, 2025 [AP]

Authorities are investigating what caused the overhead wire to collapse and whether proper crowd management protocols were in place. The temple town draws millions of visitors each year.

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It is extremely distressing to receive news of a stampede on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhands Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X.

Crowd surges at religious gatherings are not uncommon in India, where massive groups often congregate at temples or pilgrimage sites, sometimes overwhelming local infrastructure and security measures.

In June, a sudden crowd surge at a Hindu festival in the coastal state of Odisha triggered a stampede that killed at least three people and injured several others. The previous month saw six people crushed to death in the western state of Goa after thousands gathered for a popular fire-walking ritual.

In January, at least 30 people were killed in an early morning crush at the Kumbh Mela, a Hindu mega-festival in Uttar Pradesh states Prayagraj district.
This story previously aired on Sept. 7, 2024. It was updated on July 26, 2025.

After nearly four years, the trial of Ashley Benefield, the former ballerina charged with second-degree murder for shooting her estranged husband Doug, began in the summer of 2024. In the lead-up to the trial, a small group appeared near the courthouse to support Ashley's claims of self-defense.

STREAM NOW: The Case of the Black Swan (Part 1 and Part 2)

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Among the supporters was Ashley's mother Alicia and Ashley and Doug's 6-year-old daughter Emerson, who stopped to speak to a reporter.

Emerson: It feels like I'm standing up for the right thing and that I'm doing the right thing for her.

Emerson's public show of support caught the attention of her half-sister, Doug's daughter Eva Benefield. Eva, known as "evathefreakindiva" on TikTok, let her half million followers know just how she felt.

EVA BENEFIELD (On TikTok): So, I think that we should probably stop shoving cameras in 6-year-old's faces when they have no idea what's going on 

A JURY CONSIDERS: DID ASHLEY BENEFIELD KILL IN SELF-DEFENSE OR WAS IT MURDER?

Lead prosecutor Suzanne O'Donnell said she believes Ashley killed Doug to guarantee she'd always be No. 1 in Emerson's life.

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Suzanne O'Donnell: I think Ashley wanted sole custody of her child and was very afraid that she was going to lose custody altogether.

In her opening statement to jurors, O'Donnell outlined the state's theory of the case.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): This was a custody battle that this mother was going to win at all costs. And the cost was the life of Doug Benefield. And that is murder.

Defense lawyer Neil Taylor made his argument that Ashley shot Doug in self-defense after he physically assaulted her.

NEIL TAYLOR (in court): Douglas Benefield was a violent abuser. Ashley Benefield's efforts to placate him was absolutely consistent with what abused women do.

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For the first time ever, Ashley would tell a jury what she says happened that night.

The trial took place in Bradenton, Florida, near where Ashley was living with her mother when she killed Doug. It was the culmination of a long and complicated relationship.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court):  and it goes all the way back to when they met, back in 2016.

In 2016, Doug was living in Charleston, South Carolina, and was a consultant for technology companies. At 54 years old, Doug was 30 years older than Ashley but, as she told the jury, she was still smitten with him.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): He was funny. Very smart. Charming. We just instantly clicked.

Ashley Byers, 24, met Doug Benefield , 54, at a dinner in Florida in August 2016 and sparks flew immediately. The couple married 13 days later, in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. / Credit: Tonnie Benefield

The couple met at a political dinner. At the time, Ashley was working in the Sarasota campaign office of Donald Trump and sometimes helped stir up the crowds at his rallies.

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Ashley also had done some swimsuit modeling and for a time had danced with the Maryland Youth Ballet. Just 13 days after meeting, they married.

Stephanie Murphy is Doug's civil attorney.

Stephanie Murphy: A lot of people ask  why on earth did they get married so fast? I mean, come on  when Doug first met her, she was every single bit as beautiful as those modeling photos will show  She was a knockout!

NEIL TAYLOR (in court): Describe the man you thought you'd married.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: He was very loving and attentive We laughed a lot and (crying) he made me feel very special and loved.

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Doug invited almost no one to the wedding, not even his teenage daughter Eva.

Jim Axelrod | "48 Hours" contributor: He loves this girl, his 15-year-old daughter  he goes and gets married and doesn't even tell her.

Tommie Benefield: Yeah.

Tommie Benefield is Doug's cousin.

Tommie Benefield: it's bewildering  I would've talked him out of it. Eva certainly would've talked him out of it.

Eva was still dealing with an unspeakable trauma. Nine months earlier, her mother, Doug's then-wife, had died. It was Eva who discovered the body of 56-year-old Renee Benefield in their home, dead from an undiagnosed heart ailment.

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Eva Benefield:  after my mom died, he really took, kind of, a motherly role along with a fatherly role.

Jim Axelrod: Wow.

And he made his daughter a promise.

Eva Benefield: And I said, "are you gonna remarry, are you gonna start dating?  Are you gonna have other kids?" Like, "what's gonna happen?" and he said, "No, Eva. I'm here for you. I don't plan on doing any of that."

But just nine months later, Doug told his daughter he had married his new girlfriend.

Jim Axelrod: That's a lot.

Eva Benefield: It is a lot.

Doug encouraged Ashley to try and mother a reluctant Eva who was only 9 years younger.

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Eva Benefield:  he basically told her that I needed somebody  I needed a motherly role in my life. And I didn't think that I needed that.

Ashley would later tell jurors there was tension in the house and just months into their marriage the couple had a major argument about Eva.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): He pulled the gun out and hold it to his head. He said that he is gonna blow his f------ brains out and I was gonna have to watch him. And then he pulled the trigger and he shot a hole in the ceiling in the kitchen.

Doug's friend Trip Cormeny remembers Doug being embarrassed when he told Cormeny that he fired a gun in the house.

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Trip Cormeny: In his words he said, "I did the dumbest thing I've ever done in my life."

But Ashley didn't leave Doug after that incident. Instead, two days later, Doug and Ashley went ahead with a formal wedding reception. The newlyweds were also planning for the future. Ashley had a grand plan to create a national ballet company.

Trip Cormeny: I don't know that Doug could spell ballet before he met Ashley.

And they wanted to start a family.

Trip Cormeny: You know, when you love somebody, what do you wanna do? You wanna make her happy.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD'S LETTER TO HER HUSBAND AND AN ALLEGATION OF POISON

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Even though there was a growing tension at home between Ashley and Eva 

Eva Benefield : He promised me that things  things were going to be OK eventually.

 Doug went ahead with helping Ashley follow her dream  establishing a ballet company in Charleston with a unique mission. Athena Nikolakopulos interviewed with Ashley and loved what she heard about her vision for the new company, the American National Ballet.

Athena Nikolkopulos: She didn't want a cookie cutter company  She wanted girls that were tall, girls that were short.

Ashley, a dancer once with the Maryland Youth Ballet, wanted to create an inclusive ballet company. Doug wanted to make Ashley happy, friends say, and he was determined to make her dream a reality. / Credit: Jim Chatwin

As they worked to get the company off the ground, Ashley focused on her other dream of becoming a mother. There was one problem. Doug had a vasectomy, but he agreed to have it reversed. Then before long, Ashley was pregnant.



Jim Axelrod: How did that sit with you?

Eva Benefield: It didn't sit well at all.  He said he wasn't planning on doing any of that  so this kinda felt like another stab in the back.



In the summer in 2017, some 40 dancers from all over the world began arriving in Charleston to work with Ashley. But Ashley was nowhere to be found.

Athena Nikolkopulos: We get there and we're like, "Where is she?" And Doug announces that she's bedridden with a really difficult pregnancy.

At the end of August, Ashley went back to Florida to live with her mother, while Doug tried to make the ballet work in Charleston.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): We decided together. He said that he couldn't take care of me. He was too busy and that my mom could take care of me better, so I was happy to go.

But one September evening when Doug was out, Ashley and her mother came back to the house in Charleston. Ashley would tell the jury about that night.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): I had decided I was going to leave him and so I went back to get my things.  I left him a letter saying why I was leaving.

In September 2017, Ashley and her mother returned to Charleston. She packed up her belongings and left a scathing note. Ashley called Doug

In the letter, Ashley called Doug "possessive, controlling and manipulating." She wrote about that incident where he'd "shot a hole in the ceiling in the kitchen" and wrote that his behavior "has left me fearful for my life and safety as well as that of my unborn child." She told the jury why she was so afraid of him.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): He would throw things or break things or smash things. He would come at me like he was gonna hit me. He told me I was lucky that he punched walls instead of me.

Nearly a year after Doug's death, "48 Hours" spoke to his family lawyer Stephanie Murphy about the letter Ashley left Doug.

Stephanie Murphy: I really think that Ashley thought that that was gonna be it. Just pack up her stuff, leave a note, and it was gonna be over.

But the letter didn't deter Doug. He sent text after text, begging Ashley to reconsider. Instead, she reported Doug to the authorities.

Eva Benefield: She got Child Protective Services involved from Florida.

Ashley told police that Doug had anger issues and was violent. Investigators interviewed Eva.

Eva Benefield: I was constantly having people come up to my door and questioning if my dad was a good dad. And it just made me so angry because he was.

After an investigation, Doug was cleared. But Ashley also began asking questions about the death of Doug's previous wife  Eva's mother Renee.

Ashley texted Doug: "Wait what did she die of again?"

Doug replied that Renee had a 75% artery blockage.

Ashley texted back: "I thought I have heard you say something about medications or something? Like bad drugs?"

Doug's cousin Tommie says Ashley told him she thought Doug had poisoned Renee.

Jim Axelrod: What was your reaction? You must've been, like, "What?"

Tommie Benefield: It  it's out of left field.  I've read the autopsy report. It's clear. Died of a heart attack, essentially.

But Ashley, who said she was more nauseous than she would have expected as a pregnant woman, was suspicious.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley believed that Doug has been poisoning her while she was pregnant with their daughter. They were both big tea fans  and she hearkened back to the times that Doug was bringing her tea in bed.

After she left him, Doug sent her a package of tea for her birthday.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court) When I opened it, there was an overwhelming smell, like a real strong chemical smell and I got like an instant headache.



NEIL TAYLOR: Did you report it to the police?



ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Yes.

According to a detective, it was determined that "the substance that was mailed to the victim was just tea."

NEIL TAYLOR (in court): What was the result?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: No charges.

By the start of 2018, Doug closed the ballet and was out of communication with Ashley. But he wanted to be part of his new baby's life and asked Stephanie Murphy to send Ashley a letter allowing him to be there for the birth. Instead, the next day, Ashley checked into the hospital without telling Doug. It was three weeks before her due date.

Stephanie Murphy: She was at Tampa General Hospital  claiming  the child had been exposed to heavy metals in utero because her husband had poisoned her.

Ashley told hospital staffers that when Doug learned she was pregnant, he hit her and locked her in a room back in Charleston. She also said he had stalked her in Florida. No charges were filed, but the hospital took precautions and registered her under her middle name: Christina. Three days later, doctors performed a C-section and Ashley gave birth to a baby girl. Doug was not notified.

Stephanie Murphy: I think that Ashley's proposal from the very beginning was, "You'll have nothing to do with this child."

BENEFIELD VS. BENEFIELD

The news that Ashley had given birth to a baby girl in March 2018 took more than a month to reach Doug. Ashley said she still believed he had poisoned her and the baby, so she signed them up for 26 consecutive days of treatment in a hyperbaric chamber.

Robert Cederoth: It can detox the body of heavy metals and other toxins.

Safety Director Robert Cederoth says Ashley and her 3-month-old daughter Emerson spent 40 hours in total in the chamber. She was the youngest patient ever treated here.

Robert Cederoth: Ashley's daughter was really small  And so, we ended up taking this  ring and we put it around her waist. It was like  she was like a little ballerina  and so half of her body was actually inside of the hood.

In the summer of 2018, the poisoning allegations came to a head when the Benefield's squared off in a Bradenton, Florida, courtroom. Doug wanted to see his daughter and Ashley was requesting an injunction to keep him far away.

An audio recording was made of the proceeding. Ashley accused Doug of poisoning her and told the judge about that incident when Doug fired a gun into the ceiling.

Doug admitted to firing the gun and explained to Ashley's attorney that during an argument, he wanted Ashley to stop speaking.

ATTORNEY: So, at this point, you decided that the next way you're going to do to keep her from talking about anything is to shoot the gun?

DOUG BENEFIELD: Yeah  there's not a lot of great ways to  to figure out what I was thinking. It was definitely to put a stop to the conversation.



But Doug denied poisoning Ashley. In September 2018, the judge ruled in Doug's favor, granting joint custody. She said she didn't believe anything Ashley had to say.



JUDGE DIANA MORELAND [Court audio]: There is absolutely not a single scintilla of credibility that I'm attaching to anything that was testified to  at least in this hearing of Ms. Benefield.

Days later, Doug and Ashley met at the sheriff's office so he could see his 6-month-old daughter for the first time. Murphy says Ashley suggested that the three of them  Doug, Ashley and Emerson  spend time together.

Stephanie Murphy: And Doug said, "OK, sure" because Doug wanted to make the transition as easy for his daughter as possible because, to her, he was a stranger.

Over the next year, the three of them were together frequently.

Doug and Ashley began sharing custody of their daughter when she was 6 months old. / Credit: Tommie Benefield

Stephanie Murphy: Doug thought they were back together, that they were doing what they were supposed to do in the beginning, which was to slowly get to know each other  be a family  I thought everything was gonna be OK.

But things were not OK and Doug was in for a big surprise, Murphy says. In August 2019, Doug found out Ashley was dating another man. Doug filed for divorce and Ashley lodged a new round of accusations about him.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley accused Doug of sexually abusing his daughter  she accused him of a whole litany of things.

Doug vehemently denied the allegations and the sheriff's office seemed to agree. They investigated and closed all of the cases regarding allegations of abuse without filing charges.

Jim Axelrod: I wanna be clear about something  Was Doug ever charged with any crime?

Tommie Benefield: No, sir.

In the summer of 2020, Ashley made plans to move to Maryland with her mother and daughter. Despite the difficulties in their relationship, Doug chose to join them.

Doug told friends he still wanted to be a part of his daughter's life and continued to hope he could reconcile with Ashley and have a fresh start in Maryland.

Trip Cormeny: There's nothing I can say that could possibly turn him around on this. He's gonna do this if it kills him.

It was September 27, 2020, the day the turbulent relationship between the Benefields finally boiled over. Doug arrived at Ashley and her mother Alicia's home to help pack for the move.

Stephanie Murphy: Alicia decides to take the baby for a walk down to the neighborhood park.

Ashley stayed behind with Doug. It was shortly thereafter, when Ashley ran to her next-door neighbor, sobbing, and carrying her .45 caliber gun. And he called 911.

JOHN SANT to 911: [It was] right next door to me. She just came over. Her estranged husband attacked her and she says she shot him.

Doug had been shot in the leg and chest. He lived for an hour but died at nearby hospital. Ashley's attorney met her at the sheriff's office. Detectives began investigating Ashley's claim of self-defense, but they'd have to do it without her



Stephanie Murphy: She didn't speak to detectives at all.

But after a month of investigation, in November 2020, Ashley Benefield was charged with second-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty. After 17 days in jail, Ashley posted $100,000 bond.

It was nearly three years later, in July 2023, that there was a key hearing in the case that brought everyone together, including Doug's daughter, Eva.

EVA BENEFIELD (On TikTok | June 28, 2023): Next week is her first in-person hearing which means I'm gonna see her in person for the first time since  she killed my Dad.

Ashley's team had asked for the case to be dismissed, claiming she had shot Doug in self-defense. And prosecutors were fighting it.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court 2023): Did you do the autopsy of Doug Benefield



DR. RUSSELL VEGA | Medical Examiner: Yes, I did.

Eva wasn't fully prepared to hear the details of her father's death.

DR. RUSSELL VEGA: The projectile path went through the chest wall on the right side and then it hit the right lung

Eva Benefield (Sobs)  it's talking about my dad in a way that doesn't feel very humane. They referred to the  the murder, the shooting as the incident and. (Sobs) they  they pulled up pictures of his body and, you know, they referred to my dad as the victim.

EVA BENEFIELD: (Sobs) It's been difficult for me to kind of grasp what's going on and then hearing about it over again and over again and over again. It's just  it's a lot.

The judge denied Ashley's motion to dismiss the case. Ashley would have to stand trial for killing Doug. And that's when Ashley would tell the jury her version of what happened that night.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court 2024) I said, "I'm done and you need to leave now." (crying)  He said, "you can't f------ leave me."

ASHLEY BENEFIELD EXPLAINS WHY SHE SHOT DOUG

One of the first witnesses at Ashley's murder trial was Doug's 23-year-old daughter.

Eva Benefield had lived with Doug and Ashley when they were newlyweds and saw firsthand how they interacted.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): Did you ever hear your dad at any time yell at her?

EVA BENEFIELD: No.



SUZANNE O'DONNELL : Did you ever see or hear your dad threaten her?

SUZANNE O'DONNELL : Did you ever see or hear your dad get physical with her?

EVA BENEFIELD: No

Prosecutors next called John Sant to the stand. He is the neighbor Ashley ran to after shooting Doug. His 911 call was played for the jury.

JOHN SANT TO 911: Calm down honey, calm down. (Ashley can be heard crying in the background) She's with me now, quite upset, the weapon is here.  She says he attacked her, and she shot him.

Prosecutors asked Sant if he had noticed any bruises on Ashley that night.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): At any time during this interaction with Ashley, did she appear to have any injuries?

JOHN SANT: No.

The next morning, prosecutors called Ashley's mother Alicia Byers to the stand. She swore that Ashley had never discussed with her details of the shooting.



SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): To this day you've never talked about it?

ALICIA BYERS: No.

Prosecutor Rebecca Freel found that curious.

Rebecca Freel: She never said mama, he beat me  or he was coming at me or any of those things  we thought that was important to show that the person who's probably the closest to her in the world was unaware of those things.

To show how Ashley behaved when she did not get her way, prosecutors called Det. Chris Gillum of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office to the stand.

Gillum testified that Ashley once demanded that he arrest Doug in court before a sitting judge, for contacting her when he was not supposed to. Gillum refused.

DET. CHRIS GILLUM (in court):  her tone turned from the crying to very aggressive and she said, "you will effing arrest him in front of the judge. And I will make sure you do it."

SUZANNE O'DONNELL: And what did you say to that?

DET. CHRIS GILLUM: I said, "it's not going to happen"  She started crying again and came out with a comment like um, "I can't believe you're willing to allow Doug to kill me and the baby."



The prosecution presented a video found on Doug's phone to show that Ashley was never afraid of Doug. It was taken just one week before the shooting. Doug is recording himself playing a game with Ashley, her mother and Emerson and they are all laughing.

But maybe the prosecution's most important witness was medical examiner Dr. Russell Vega.

DR. RUSSELL VEGA [looking at projection in court]: That's the chest injury to the right side of the right nipple.

He testified about the two bullets that hit Doug in the leg and chest.

REBECCA FREEL (in court): Would you be so kind as to stand up and kinda point on your body to where the entrance wound would be?

DR. RUSSELL VEGA (stands and points to his chest): Certainly (stands and point to his chest).

Because prosecutors say Doug was shot in the side, they theorize that he was likely turning to run away when he saw Ashley point the gun.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): Your honor at this time, the state rests.

It was defense lawyer Neil Taylor's turn. He called Ashley to the stand and asked about the times she was afraid of Doug.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court):  sometimes he would drive really scary, yelling and screaming at me and like running up on curbs. One time he almost hit a tree.



ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): He would get in my face. He'd yell at me. He'd come at me like he was gonna hit me.

And Ashley said Doug once punched the family dog Sully.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court):  he punched him in the face so hard that he knocked him out. I thought he had killed him.

At an earlier hearing, Doug was asked about Sully.

ATTORNEY: You also punched the dog, the day you discharged the firearm?

DOUG BENEFIELD: He jumped up  he's a big dog, and he jumped up in my lap, and yeah, I admit I hit him, I didn't hit him like you would hit a punching bag or anything, but I hit him.

Taylor asked Ashley to tell jurors her version of the night she shot and killed Doug. Ashley testified that, as the couple packed for their move to Maryland, Doug became agitated because Ashley had insisted Doug get his own apartment.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): I tried to change the subject. I could see how upset he was getting 

Ashley told jurors that Doug bumped into her and pushed a box into her side. She said he hit her in the face when she tried to leave. Then, she said she ran into a bedroom where Doug followed her and that is when she grabbed her nearby .45 caliber gun  one of three that were in house.

Ashley Benefield takes the stand in her trial for the murder of her estranged husband Doug Benefield. / Credit: Pool/Bradenton Herald

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): I  I just held the gun like in front of me and I  I said, stop, and he like turned and he got into this like almost like a fighting stance. (crying) He started like moving his arms and his hands around 

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court): He started coming towards me and then he lunged at me. (crying) And I just start pulling the trigger.

NEIL TAYLOR: Tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury, why you shot Doug?



ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I was scared to death. (crying) I thought he was gonna kill me.

NEIL TAYLOR: As you sit here today, Ashley, how do you feel about what happened?



ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Horrible. He's the father of my child. (crying) And someday I'm going to have to explain it all to her. (crying)

After a break, Ashley returned to the stand. Taylor then produced an old text from Doug's previous wife Renee. It was undated, but Ashley said she found it on an old cellphone. He read aloud what Renee wrote to Doug.

NEIL TAYLOR (in court): reads: "I was deeply disappointed that you distorted the truth about who you really were when I married you. I loved you through finding out you weren't really what you pretended to be  you kicking me so hard on New Year's Eve on our honeymoon, because you were having trouble functioning in certain areas  you holding a gun to your head twice in my home 

Matt Tympanick:  when you hear that text message  it  helps Ashley Benefield's case.

Criminal defense lawyer Matt Tympanick, who attended and followed this trial, says he feels that text supports Ashley's contention that Doug was abusive.

Matt Tympanick: This isn't the first woman he has potentially abused.

Doug's divorce attorney Stephanie Murphy says she once asked Doug about that text, and he confirmed Renee had sent it to him.

Stephanie Murphy: Doug said that, yes, they had some struggles and, yes, there was an incident during their  honeymoon, but it was not at all as Renee was describing it.

Ashley's lawyer ended her direct testimony. Ashley now would have to go head-to-head with lead prosecutor Suzanne O'Donnell who had a surprise in store.

THE DEFENSE PUTS DOUG BENEFIELD ON TRIAL

Ashley Benefield walked back into courtroom 6A after a lunch break. She'd spent two hours that morning testifying about the alleged abuse at the hands of her husband Doug.

But now, as she took the stand again.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): I would like to just start with a couple of issues.

It was prosecutor Suzanne O'Donnell's turn. And Ashley admitted Doug never physically abused her before he allegedly hit her the night of the shooting

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): I would like to just start with a couple of issues.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL: Doug Benefield never punched you ever, correct?



ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Um, yeah, I would say that's correct.



SUZANNE O'DONNELL: Doug Benefield never choked you ever?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Uh, no.



SUZANNE O'DONNELL: He never kicked you?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: No.

The prosecutor called Ashley down from the witness stand to demonstrate what happened that night.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD (demonstrating Doug's movements): I held the gun out in front of me and I said stop. (Crying) He got into this, like, fighting pose. He like turned sideways. And he was like moving around with his like arms and his hands. And he started like inching forward towards me.

Suzanne O'Donnell: I think it's invaluable in a case like this  that the jury see what her version of events is.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): So, he's standing there. He turns to like this and starts moving his arms around?



ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Not like that.



SUZANNE O'DONNELL: Well, show me. What was he doing?



ASHLEY BENEFIELD (demonstrating Doug's movements): And, like, I know he got like this, I mean, was like making, like, fighting motions. I don't I don't know, I'm not a fighter, I don't know.

Suzanne O'Donnell: I don't know that it came off as genuine as she expected it to.  We have to look at what she said versus the physical evidence and see if it matches.

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: And he lunged at me he came very quickly.

SUZANNE O'Donnell: OK, so he lunged, was his fist up when he lunged?



ASHLEY BENEFIELD (crying) I don't remember.

The state insists Ashley's story didn't match with the medical examiner's testimony that Doug was shot in the side. Doug's cousin Tommie agrees.

Tommie Benefield: If Doug was really lunging at her the way she said, he would've been presenting the front of his body. That's not how he was shot.

Stephanie Murphy: She's the kind of person who eventually believes her own lies  but  just because someone believes what they're saying doesn't make it true.

But the defense continued to portray the idea that Doug was abusive.

Tommie Benefield They made this all about Doug. They cast Doug in the worst possible light.

They called Dr. Jason Quintal, a trauma counselor who worked with the couple in the months before the shooting.

DR. JASON QUINTAL (in court): Doug occurred as someone who was, um, domineering and  at times would be super controlling.

NEIL TAYLOR: Did you conclude whether there was an intimidation issue present?

DR. JASON QUINTAL: Ashley stated that she was scared of Doug.

Ashlet Benefield took the stand at her trial for the murder of her estranged husband Doug Benefield. / Credit: Pool/Bradenton Herald

Domestic violence expert Bruce Ferris met with Ashley after the shooting and said her behavior was consistent with having suffered abuse. He addressed that video of Ashley, her mother and Doug laughing just a week before she killed him.

Ferris said victims of domestic violence often appease their abusers to keep the peace.

BRUCE FERRIS (in court): We've all heard the term walking on eggshells, they're trying to avoid aggression by their partner because they've grown to believe there's a threat here.



Taylor says Ashley was only pretending to get along with Doug so he wouldn't harm her or Emerson.

Jim Axelrod: Are you saying to me that Ashley  was like, I'll just sort of keep him happy  so that he doesn't get violent with me."

Neil Taylor: That's exactly what I'm saying to you.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): Domestic violence is absolutely a real problem. People that feel like they cannot get out. They have no way to get out. That is not this defendant.

But in closing arguments, Prosecutor O'Donnell told the jury Ashley was not afraid of Doug  not the day of the video, and not the day she killed him.

SUZANNE O'DONNELL (in court): She did not have to shoot him. She had an agenda and it worked for what she wanted, and she got what she wanted.  Sole custody of the child. And that's murder. Thank you.

But in his closing, Ashley's attorney reminded the jury Ashley spent years trying to get authorities to protect her and Emerson from Doug.

NEIL TAYLOR (in court): She filed complaint after complaint after complaint calling Doug Benefield's behavior to the attention of the authorities, with no result.

He insisted Ashley only shot Doug because her life was in danger that night.

NEIL TAYLOR (in court): I've presented to you everything that I possibly could to show you  what Ashley knew about Doug at the time they took place to show you that her action in using deadly force was reasonable.  We're confident you'll return a verdict of not guilty in this case.

The jury began deliberating in the afternoon and continued late into the night. After nearly seven hours, lawyers, friends and family returned to the courtroom to hear the jury's decision.

COURT CLERK: The defendant is guilty of manslaughter, a lesser-included offense.

Guilty of manslaughter, but not second-degree murder.

Matt Tympanick: Murder two requires some kind of intent  Manslaughter doesn't require that, it's more of heat of passion  The jury's essentially saying, we don't think she pre-planned this, but we also don't think she was justified in doing it.

Any conviction that will put Ashley in prison comes as a welcome relief to Doug's family and friends.

Tommie Benefield: The highlight of the trial for me personally was hearing the verdict read out loud  The second-best thing was hearing the click of the handcuffs.

Eva updated her followers about the verdict.

EVA BENEFIELD (on TikTok): "My dad got the justice that he deserves."

She's hoping one day to play a role in the life of Emerson, who is still being raised by Ashley's mother Alicia.

Eva and Doug Benefield

Eva Benefield (after the verdict): I hope that one day she'll grow into a strong, young woman and I'll be able to get to know her and explain to her who her father was and  and show her all the pictures and videos and just really tell her how  how life should have been.

Ashley faces up to 30 years in prison. State Attorney Ed Brodsky, who runs the prosecutor's office, says they will ask the judge to sentence her to the maximum.

Ed Brodsky This was an example of someone that  wanted to take the law into her own hands.  And that was the bridge that she crossed too far.

Stephanie Murphy: As the years have gone by and the colors fade, you see that she's actually the Black Swan and always has been.

In December 2024, Ashley Benefield was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years probation for the shooting death of Doug Benefield.

Produced by Paul LaRosa and Dena Goldstein. Richard Barber is the producer-editor.Tamara Weitzman is the development producer. gary Winter, Grayce Arlotta-Berner and Marcus Balsam are the editors. Jordan Kinsey is the field producer. Elizabeth Caholo is the associate producer. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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SWEIDA, Syria (Reuters) -Hatem Radwan stared at the bloodstained floor and cushions in the Al-Radwan guest house in Syria's Druze city of Sweida, still wondering how he survived the shooting spree more than a week ago that killed his relatives and friends.

"I'm not sleeping. I wish I would have died; it would have been better for me," the 70-year-old told Reuters, saying two of his sons-in-law and his daughter's father-in-law were killed when armed men stormed into the guesthouse on July 16.

Hundreds of people were killed in days of sectarian violence in Syria's Sweida province, where government forces were sent to quell clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin tribes.

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Syria's defence ministry on July 22 said it would investigate reports of an "unknown group" in military fatigues committing "shocking and gross violations" in Sweida, and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The interior ministry condemned "the circulating videos showing field executions carried out by unidentified individuals in the city of Sweida," and also pledged to conduct a probe.

Residents, monitoring groups and reporters in the province said the violence intensified after security forces deployed, reporting several cases of execution-style killings.

One of the most gruesome was the Al-Radwan guesthouse.

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Radwan said armed men entered the guesthouse on July 15 as he was gathered there with Druze friends and relatives. The fighters smashed up the room, took the keys of a car that was parked outside and turned to leave.

Radwan said he then heard one fighter say, "let's kill them so they don't recognise us." He collapsed onto the floor as the shooting started.

GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO THE CHEST

"I don't know whether it was a bullet or what that hit me, but I fell down. I thought, 'it's over, I'm going to die,'" he told Reuters.

A video posted online and verified by Reuters as being in the Al-Radwan guest house showed more than a dozen bodies, several with gunshot wounds to the chest, slumped over one another. Reuters could not verify the date the video was filmed.

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Reuters reporters at the guest house on Friday saw bullet holes in the walls and bloodstains on red-striped cushions and on the concrete floor.

Nearby, another family was still grieving their loss. Members of the Saraya family spoke in hushed tones in their home, its walls pockmarked by bullet holes. Older women dressed in black except for white headscarves sat in silence.

Seven of their relatives were killed with an eighth friend in an execution-style killing in Tishreen Square after being taken from their homes last week by armed militants, according to relatives and friends.

One of them, Hosam Saraya, was a 35-year-old Syrian-American citizen who had lived in Oklahoma.

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Videos verified by Reuters showed eight men in civilian clothes walking in a single file accompanied by armed militants. Reuters was able to identify the location as west of Tishreen Square, in the heart of Sweida, but could not independently verify the date the video was filmed.

A separate video shows militants opening fire on the same unarmed men kneeling in the dirt of the roundabout in Tishreen Square. Reuters verified the video's location from the statue in the square.

A friend of the family, Moatassem Jabahi, said the fate of the men was unknown until he received a phone call from someone who saw the bodies in the square.

"We called everybody we know and went to Tishreen square and we saw them. Their bodies were torn with bullets. It was not a normal killing. It was a criminal killing," he told Reuters.

(Reporting by Khalil Ashawi, Mahmoud Hasano and Yamam al-Shaar; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
EBENSBURG, Pa.  A phone book from a 1975 time capsule unearthed in Ebensburg Borough reminded Nadine Revesz of phone booths and simpler times.

Its nice to see things from when we grew up, she said. Life was so different and easier. Now everything is on computers and iPads.

She was a junior at Blacklick Valley High School at the time the time capsule was buried.

A knit cap buried with the time capsule reminded Andy Shoff of a childhood classmate who had tossed the cap into the hole, even though the mayor told him that he wasnt allowed to include it.

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Shoff, of Ebensburg, laughed when he saw it.

The cap was displayed with a card reading: Teenager Doug Breen asked Mayor Mike Tsikalas if he could add his hat into the time capsule. Mayor Mike told him it was too late. So, just before the first scoop of dirt was shoveled onto the capsule, Doug tossed his cap into the hole.

The fluorescent orange cap survived 50 years underground because it is made of acrylic yarn. It was one of the few items that endured nearly whole, while more fragile items were unrecognizable because the time capsule had disintegrated.

The contents of the time capsule, excavated from the boroughs Veterans Park of Cambria County, were displayed Saturday at the Cambria County Historical Society as part of the annual Ebensburg Homecoming.

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Heavily deteriorated paper items buried in the capsule, including the phone book and various letters, were accompanied by reproductions provided by the Cambria County Historical Society.

Cambria County Historical Society Vice President Dave Huber said his favorite item, aside from the tossle cap, is a letter from American astronaut Neil Armstrongs assistant, saying that Armstrong wishes the borough well, but is too busy to write back himself.

In another letter, the late U.S. Rep. John Murtha wrote about his vision for the borough in 2025 when the time capsule would be opened.

For the area, I predict that by 2025, a new economic prosperity will have come to Ebensburg and Cambria County with a diversified industry and a strong economy, he wrote, decades before he helped steer U.S. defense manufacturing to the county, which remains among its top industries today.

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More than 100 people visited the Cambria County Historical Society at 615 N. Center St., Ebensburg, to view the time capsules contents.

Huber said another time capsule is planned to be buried in September at Veterans Park of Cambria County, 201 N. Center St. That capsule would be excavated 50 years from now, in 2075.
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari expressed grief over the Jhalawar school roof collapse incident that claimed the lives of seven students. She said that all government buildings were being reviewed to prevent such incidents from recurring. "This is a tragic accident. I pay my tributes to our deceased students and express my condolences to the affected families. Immediately after this incident, the Chief Minister held meetings. This matter is being taken very seriously, and all government buildings, regardless of the department to which they belong, are being reviewed. This issue is being addressed with priority. We are fully focused on ensuring such accidents do not happen again," Kumari told ANI. As the celebrations for the festival of Teej begin, the Deputy CM said that a 'Maha Aarti' will be organised at Chhoti Chaupar in Jaipur, and a two-day fair will be organised where female entrepreneurs will handle the stalls. "We are organising the procession of Teej on a large scale in Jaipur. A Maha Aarti will be organised in Chhoti Chaupar. Governor and CM are invited to this. A 2-day fair will be organised, where female entrepreneurs will handle the stalls. This is a special festival for women. It is celebrated throughout Rajasthan. Proper sitting arrangements have been made for the tourists. Safety and security have also been taken care of. We have invited many ambassadors from the Embassies," Kumari said. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday assured that action would be taken against those found guilty in the Jhalawar school roof collapse incident that claimed the lives of seven students. He informed that the Rajasthan government has given direction to conduct audits of public buildings, including schools, to prevent such incidents from recurring. "Action will be taken against those found guilty. The issue is that we should assess all such schools and public buildings and conduct audits to prevent such incidents in the future. The Rajasthan government has directed the concerned authorities to conduct such audits of all government schools in the state," Shekhawat told ANI. The roof collapse happened at Piplodi Primary School in Jhalawar district on Friday morning. Following the incident, the Rajasthan government has decided to prioritise the repair of dilapidated school buildings, government institutions, and Anganwadi centres across the state. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced that the permissible allocation under the Dang, Magra, and Mewat Regional Development Plan for the repair of government institutions, including school buildings and Anganwadi centres, would be increased from 15 per cent to 20 per cent. (ANI)
The Likud statement claimed that the reasoning for opening the investigation against Milwidsky was largely due to this timing.

The next steps necessary to officially appoint MK Hanoch Milwidsky as the chairperson of the Knessets Finance Committee on Tuesday remain in place, despite requests of MKs to hold off on the appointment amid an investigation opened against him into sexual misconduct and obstruction of justice.

The Likud party slammed the decision to open an investigation into sexual offenses against Milwidsky, of the same party, on Sunday, calling it an unrestrained witch hunt led by the attorney general against Israel.

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Milwidsky was summoned for questioning at the police Lahav 433 unit on Friday for suspicion of obstructing justice and sexual misconduct charges, which include rape and witness tampering. While there have been reports of women testifying against him, Milwidsky has rejected all accusations.

MK Pnina Tameno-Shete, head of the Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, sent a letter on Saturday night to prevent Milwidskys appointment due to the investigations against him.

Someone who is under the heavy shadow of suspicion and disgrace regarding allegations of rape cannot serve in one of the most powerful and influential roles in the Knesset and in the country, the letter read.

Attorney general Gali Baharav Miara attends a Constitution, Law and Justice Committee leads a committee meeting in the Knesset in Jerusalem. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

So long as these suspicions have not been disproven, any such appointment is unacceptable, the letter continued.

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The opening of the investigation against Milwidsky came two days after the Likud chose him to be the chairperson of the Knessets Finance Committee.

The Likud statement claimed that the reasoning for opening the investigation against Milwidsky was largely due to this timing.

It is clear to everyone that the timing [of the investigation] is no coincidence and is driven by improper political motives, the Likud statement read.

The statement also emphasized that the investigation was an example of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miaras attempts to obstruct the work of the government in every possible way and launch wild investigations against coalition members since the government announced its intention to dismiss her. A cabinet meeting for her dismissal has been set for next week on Tuesday (August 4).

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Although Milwidsky was appointed by Likud, he still must go through two more stages before he can officially take on the position. Both are expected to take place this week on Tuesday (July 29).

The stages require that Milwidsky first be officially recommended by the Knessets House Committee. Once this occurs, a subsequent vote by the Finance Committee itself is expected, which would provide final approval for Milwidskys appointment.

There is not expected to be a change in the plans to go ahead with the process on Tuesday, an MK and another source from the Likud both told The Jerusalem Post.

Although the Knessets summer recess began on Sunday, committees continue to meet during the break, also allowing the process to continue.

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Milwidsky initially was the leading contender to be the chairperson of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee last week. However, ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu selected Milwidsky to temporarily fill the position of chairperson for the Finance Committee instead.

The position is temporary for Milwidsky because it would be returned to United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni in the event that Gafni rejoins the coalition after recently leaving.

Gafni left the coalition because of the fallout in the negotiations regarding the haredi bill that is expected to exempt a large number of ultra-Orthodox men from IDF service.

This fallout is also the reason why the position of chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee became vacant.

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Tameno-Shete and MK Naama Lazimi of The Democrats party further called for Milwidskys appointment to be put on hold at the start of a Sunday Knesset committee meeting they held on the topic of the numerous testimonies against organized ritual sexual abuse, along with the response of state authorities.

Tameno-Shete emphasized that there must be no favouritism toward Knesset members concerning investigations against themmeaning that until proven innocent, Milwidsky should not be appointed.

The Israeli Knesset must send a very, very clear message that anyone who is suspected of and being investigated for such serious and grave offensessexual offenses, extortion, obstruction of justice, investigation, or however one chooses to label itshould not be given a powerful role or appointment, to put it plainly, Tameno-Shete stated.

Knessets Finance Committee is very powerful

Tameno-Shete further underscored that the Knessets Finance Committee is very powerful and that the dignity of the Knesset and the publics trust should not be damaged by taking him on for such a role until his innocence is proven.

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In a later interview, Tameno-Shete said that she was appalled by the allegations she had heard against Milwidsky.

Lazimi stated in the opening remarks of the committee meeting that there is no way the Knesset can ignore the investigations.

It is very bothersome that not one person from the coalition said anything regarding this matter, she added.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday charted a new strategy for Israel in its war with Hamas, with the chances of a diplomatic solution to the conflict appearing increasingly remote.

"I think Israel's come to conclude that they can't achieve a goal of ending the war with Hamas that would be satisfactory to the safety of Israel and that they're going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin," he told NBC's Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press," referencing the end of World War II.

"Take the place by force then start over again, presenting a better future for the Palestinians, hopefully having the Arabs take over the West Bank and Gaza."

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Graham's comments come as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached crisis levels. Roughly a quarter of the exclave's population is facing famine-like conditions, a U.N. World Food Programme official said last Monday. Democrats, international partners and even podcaster and comedian Theo Von are imploring both the U.S. and Israel to substantially increase the flow of aid into Gaza.

Israel's military on Sunday paused fighting in three major population centers inside Gaza to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid. Airdrops of aid have also resumed in the area.

"Israel is going to work with the U.N., the World Food Programme, to get some food into these people, who need it," Graham told Welker.

But even against that backdrop, the likelihood of a negotiated peace appears murky. The White House exited diplomatic talks with Hamas last week, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff concluding that the U.S.-designated terrorist group "does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith."

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"I think they want to die," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Friday.

Israel occupied Gaza, which had been an Egyptian territory, in the 6-Day War of 1967, and it had retained forces there until June 2005; since then it has periodically sent forces into the territory in response to incursions from Hamas or to prevent them.

Graham said he agreed with the president that talks with the militant group Hamas were futile.

"I think President Trump has come to believe, and I've certainly come to believe, there's no way you're going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization who is chartered to destroy the state of Israel," he told Welker. "They're religious Nazis."
SOCASTEE, S.C. (WBTW)  Hundreds of deployed soldiers across the world are set to receive a care package thanks to a group of local military mothers,

The Blue Star Mothers of Coastal Carolina, a local chapter of Blue Star Mothers of America, looks to support each other and U.S. troops. Throughout the year, the group plans to pack Hero Boxes five times a year for major holidays.

Caral Dion, President of the group, said they received a special request for the summer.

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We were approached by Surfside Bowling, and they wanted to do a summer box, Dion said. And so they had an event for us. We did a Bowl for a Box, and we collected probably three-quarters of what we passed out today.

Dion said the money raised through the event made the summer box happen.

We have to plan on $25,000 to $30,000 every year for all of our packing throughout the year to pay for the postage, she said. So we limit how many boxes we can send out. But we got enough to pay for this packing.

On Saturday morning, members of the group, alongside volunteers from other local veteran organizations, assembled around 125 boxes to send out.

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Joe Czapla, President of American Legion Post 40 in Socastee, where the event was held, said his involvement began when his wife joined the Blue Star Mothers. But now, the boxes hold a more personal meeting.

My son-in-law is now in the Air Force, deployed, Czapla said. My sons best friend is in the army. Hes also deployed. So it actually hits home for us.

Czapla said the summer event serves as a reminder that deployment is ongoing.

Like our kids, our spouses, theyre deployed all year round, Czapla said. Theyre not just deployed on Christmas.

Inside the boxes were snacks and treats, as well as mini-squirt guns.

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They can have a little summer fun and maybe put a smile on their face, wherever they may be, she said.

Patrick Richard was once on the receiving end of the boxes during his time in Iraq. He brought his daughter to help prepare the boxes for his fellow soldiers.

It was important for me to bring my daughter down here so she can see how its done, Richard said. And that its important to support the men and women overseas, across the world. Just that it makes their day better to receive a box like this.

Although his deployment ended, Richard said he wants to do what he can to support those still serving.

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Those are my brothers and sisters over there, he said. Were one team. And Ill do what I can. I wanted to be here so I can help out.

Dion said hearing from the recipients makes all the effort worth it.

All I need to do is get one thank you,' she said. And thats it. It makes it all worthwhile.

Information about the Blue Star Mothers of Coastal Carolina can be found on their Facebook, or on their website.

* * *

Madi Codispoti is a multimedia journalist at News13. Madi is a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and most recently worked at WJHL in Johnson City, Tennessee. She graduated from Emory & Henry University in May 2023. You can keep up with Madi on Facebook and read more of her work here.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
The IDF admits there is a dangerous food situation in Gaza, even if short of the claimed mass starvation, and an awful public relations situation there.

Its easy for the pro-Israel crowd to cry foul about global media accusations of mass starvation in Gaza  being made knowingly or naively in the service of Hamas  given that there is a dangerous food shortage, and there are likely individuals who are starving, but no one has been able to actually prove mass starvation.

And its easy for Israeli critics to condemn Israel for more genocides over the situation.

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But the brutal truth is that the IDF admits there is a dangerous food situation in Gaza, even if short of the claimed mass starvation, and an awful public-relations situation there  all of this because of several Israeli policies that some in the defense establishment warned about but that were overruled by the political echelon.

The polices were loudly completely blocking food aid from March to May, taking over 75% of Gazas territory, launching the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) at a time when food was scarce, and playing a tug of war with international aid groups over how they distribute aid to try to cut Hamas out of the picture.

For much of 2024, or after US President Donald Trump took office in 2025, some elements of the political echelon  with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu eventually joining them sometime late last year  started to pressure the IDF to make radical policy changes to break Hamass control of food in Gaza. This was one major element of undermining not only its military power but also its political power.

Humanitarian aid is airdropped over Gaza as seen from northern Gaza Strip, July 27, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)

These same elements, again, with support from Netanyahu, eventually pressed for the IDF to take over large portions of Gaza to break Hamass political control over the civilian population.

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What else could have been done other than just giving Hamas everything it wanted on a silver platter?

Former IDF chief of staff Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Herzi Halevi and former defense minister Yoav Galant had pressed to try out much smaller versions of the GHF project as early as 2024 in northern Gaza, although not in southern Gaza.

They wanted to try to have small areas in Zeitoun, Beit Hanun, and other parts of northern Gaza receive food from a humanitarian entity other than the standard United Nations-sponsored entity, which was allowing Hamas to take control of the food aid.

Halevi and Gallant said Netanyahu and some of his hard-right coalition partners had blocked the initiatives as far back as in early 2024. They did not want to carry out any activities that smacked of a postwar Gaza period.

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Netanyahu wanted to crush Hamass battalions in Rafah, which only happened in mid-2024. After that, he wanted to prevent Hamas from trying to return to various Gaza areas from which it had been routed by the IDF.

His coalition partners wanted to keep the war going and were hoping to eventually find an opening to resettle Gaza with Israelis.

Before taking larger responsibility for a larger number of Palestinians, a smaller-scale GHF-style experiment to test its potential would have been able to work through some of the issues in building a radical new and untested non-UN alternative to providing food aid.

Also, this would have happened in a time period when the Palestinians had relatively more food saved in inventory storage areas, i.e., if there were hiccups with a few food deliveries, the Palestinian civilian population would not be in any immediate danger.

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In contrast, the current Israeli policy since March was to loudly and proudly block all new food aid until May to try to pressure Hamas, and then open GHF in a framework when Palestinian civilians were already at one of the worst food shortages of the war (even if not at a point of mass starvation).

While GHF took over food aid for southern and central Gaza, the IDF allowed UN groups to continue to handle food aid in northern Gaza.

Part of the time, Hamas continued to control the northern Gaza food aid, and part of the time, the IDF tried to get the international aid groups to hew close to standards and tactics that would prevent Hamas from controlling the food.

Humanitarian aid project in Gaza difficult to operate on practical level

Halevi and Gallant had warned that such a sudden, ambitious Gaza-wide food-control project would be very difficult to operate successfully on a practical level.

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They had also cautioned that such a Gaza-wide project, especially wrapped in with a policy of taking over the majority of Gazas territory, could lead to the IDF and Israel being stuck with paying for and delivering the food aid to the Palestinians, while also giving Hamas the prize of being able to easily mark Israel as causing starvation.

Halevi and Gallant had urged both smaller pilot GHF-style, food-aid programs as well as handing Gaza over, e.g., to Egypt, the UAE, and some foothold for the Palestinian Authority.

This initiative might have failed back then for many reasons, but we will never know.

Netanyahu and his coalition partners had hoped that with IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir now in charge, taking over 75% of Gazan territory, blocking food aid from March until May, and then rolling out the GHF and new limits on food-aid groups in May, that Hamass political power would be wrecked.

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If successful, this would have the near-term benefit of compelling Hamas to return more hostages in exchange for another IDF ceasefire and withdrawal. In the long term, this could have the benefit of permanently ending Hamass political power in Gaza.

Maybe Netanyahu still has an outside shot at achieving his goal. Maybe continued IDF control of 75% of Gaza and the threat of the military taking over additional areas will finally get Hamas to return more hostages on Netanyahus terms.

But on Sunday, it seemed like the policies had come crashing down.

Israel has dropped many of its registry tactics to try to keep Hamas from controlling the food in Gaza.

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It has greatly increased the number of trucks of food aid per day that it is approving for entry into Gaza, which will likely allow Hamas to start storing more aid for future months.

And it still cannot claim that Gaza is flush with food aid, focusing on 600 trucks ready to go to Gazans, being that from January to March, 600 trucks were going into Gaza every day.

Israel is also providing a localized ceasefire and trying to present this as a non-ceasefire, which only covers 25% of Gaza.

But for the food to get to that 25%, a much larger portion of Gaza will need to be under ceasefire status  maybe even the majority of Gaza.

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Moreover, all or nearly all of the Hamas terrorists are hiding in the 25% of humanitarian areas where the localized ceasefire is holding securely in place, and some of their smaller numbers in other places can now make their way to those areas to obtain immunity.

Hamas getting most of what they want

All of this means that Hamas is getting most of what it wants: a ceasefire and a return to increased control of food  without having returned any hostages to Israel.

This could also make Hamas less likely to rush toward a formal ceasefire and hostage deal if it is getting much of what it needs unilaterally by having successfully used the world and Israels own strategic errors to pressure Jerusalem into giving up much of its leverage.

Or it might agree to a deal, having achieved much of what it wanted with global media pressure on Israel.

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Of all of the Israeli errors, the costliest and seemingly least beneficial was the March-May 2025 period of completely blocking food aid.

It does not matter that there was no mass starvation then, because so much aid had entered between January and March that there was stored inventory.

It also does not matter that food aid was restored in May before any mass starvation took place.

By taking such a position, Israel made it hard to have credibility with the global community afterward when trying to campaign for the GHF as a legitimate way to replace the old way of food distribution controlled by Hamas.

And it made it hard to get the world to believe that Israel was not trying to starve Gaza. (It also does not help that some Israeli ministers are publicly in favor of starving Gaza.)

The GHF may still have some successes.

Soon, it will likely have handed out more than 100 million meals in Gaza.

But all of these other original sins, along with logistical and tactical failures by the mixed IDF-GHF coordination, have made it very hard to promote GHF as a success globally.

Ultimately, Halevi and Gallant warned early about how some of these well-intentioned policies, seeking to break Hamass political control, could blow up in Israels face. It is looking more and more like their warnings were spot on.
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP)  Following Fridays shooting at the Holyoke Mall, a juvenile is in custody and recovering from a gunshot wound.

The Holyoke Mall is back open for normal business hours starting Saturday, just a day after a juvenile was caught shoplifting and carrying a gun. Holyoke police said that just after 4:30 p.m. Friday, a mall security guard spotted the juvenile shoplifting.

Officer-involved shooting at Holyoke Mall; No bystander injuries reported

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Security then contacted Holyoke officers at the mall, who approached the suspect near the Round 1 entrance. Thats when officers say the juvenile pulled out a gun.

The suspect and officers both exchanged gunfire. However, an investigation is underway. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia spoke out about the incident Friday evening.

Holyoke Mall shooting (WWLP-22News) (WWLP-22News) (WWLP-22News) (WWLP-22News) (WWLP-22News) (WWLP-22News)

Although this incident is extremely unfortunate to have happened, thats why we train, thats why we prepare, Mayor Garcia said. So we can respond and mitigate the issues, so when they do, we are able to respond quickly, safely, and secure public safety.

Locals told 22News they plan to return to the mall, while others would like to see more security.

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The Holyoke Mall might take a hit, especially the businesses, said Shawn Gervickas of Holyoke. Theyre going to lose money because people arent going to want to go there.

A bit more police presence at the mall would be reasonable, Roniel Taveras of Holyoke added. Metal detectors might seem like a bit too much.

Holyoke police say their officers were not hurt, and no bystanders at the mall were injured. The juvenile was shot in the leg by Holyoke police and is expected to recover. Police stated that there is no threat to the community at this time, but to expect an increase in police presence at the mall going forward.

Shoppers said that when they heard gunshots, they hid in RVs in the parking lot. Others took shelter in the back of stores, and many ran.

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Theres been shootings everywhere, as you know, all over the place, Gervickas said.

Just two years ago, a shooting at the Holyoke Mall killed one person, an innocent bystander. Concerns are now growing, with questions being raised about whether changes will be made to the malls day-to-day operations and security.

The Holyoke Mall has a Parental Escort Policy on Fridays and Saturdays from 4:00 p.m. to closing. Anyone under the age of 18 is required to be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is at least 21 years old. These guardians are permitted to supervise up to five children or teens. They must also carry valid identification, such as a drivers license, state identification card, passport, military ID, or visa. The policy does not apply to stores with exterior entrances, such as Target, Macys, JCPenney, and Round 1.

Spokesperson James Soos of Pyramid Management Group, the developer that owns the Holyoke Mall, sent 22News the following statement on Monday:

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The safety and well-being of our guests, tenants, and employees remain our highest priority at Holyoke Mall. We are committed to providing a secure and welcoming environment, and we continue to take proactive steps to strengthen safety protocols throughout the property. In close collaboration with local law enforcement agencies, these measures are continually reviewed and enhanced to meet evolving safety needs, including our Parental Escort Policy, which has been in place for several years. In addition, Holyoke Mall regularly conducts emergency preparedness drills, training sessions, and risk assessments to ensure our team is equipped to respond swiftly and effectively in any situation. We also encourage guests to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to mall security or local authorities. We remain steadfast in our efforts to foster a safe, family-friendly environment for all who visit, work, and shop at Holyoke Mall.

The Hampden DAs office will also be releasing additional details on the incident and Holyoke residents in the meantime say they will not let fear win. Dont be afraid, says Andrea Desjardins of Holyoke.No one is guaranteed tomorrow. You just cant live your life like that. You have to continue to do what you need to do. You need to go to the mall? Go to the mall.

22News will provide details from the district attorney as soon as they become 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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO)  Heres a first look at meetings of South Dakota state governments boards and commissions, as well as one committee of the Legislature, that are open to the public during the new week starting Monday, July 28, 2025.

Click on the name (highlighted in blue) for meeting details. Please note that any could be postponed because of adverse weather or other reasons.

Monday, July 28

Parenting Time Guidelines Commission, 9 a.m. CT, teleconference.

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Open Meetings Commission, 10 a.m. CT, teleconference and 523 E. Capitol Avenue, Pierre.

Teacher Compensation Review Board, 10 a.m. CT, teleconference and 800 Governors Drive, Pierre.

Health and Educational Facilities Authority, 2 p.m. CT, teleconference and 330 S. Poplar Avenue, suite 102, Pierre.

Tuesday, July 29

Record Destruction Board, 10 a.m. CT, room 412, Capitol.

Fort Sisseton Commission, noon CT, Library, 11907 434th Avenue, Lake City.

One Call (811) Board, 2 p.m. CT, teleconference.

Wednesday, July 30

Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission, 9 a.m. CT, teleconference.

Juvenile Services Commission, 10 a.m. CT, teleconference.

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Technical Education Board, 6 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. CT, social hour and reception, Minervas, 2111 N. Lacrosse Street, Rapid City.

Thursday, July 31

Technical Education Board, joint meeting with Western Dakota Technical College Board 8:30 a.m. MT / 9:30 a.m. CT, followed by business meeting, 10 a.m. MT / 11 a.m. CT, 800 Mickelson Drive, Rapid City.

Medical and Osteopathic Examiners Board, Emergency Medical Services Council, noon CT, teleconference.

Legislature, State-Tribal Relations Committee, 1 p.m. CT, Tribal Council Chambers, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Headquarters, 12554 BIA Highway 711, Agency Village.

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Plumbing Commission, 1:30 p.m. CT, teleconference and 217 W. Missouri Avenue, Pierre.

Friday, August 1

No public meeting is scheduled.

Monday, August 4

Workers Compensation Council, 2 p.m. CT, teleconference.

KELOLAND Capitol Bureau Reporter Bob Mercer in Pierre finished assembling this information on Friday, July 25, 2025. State law requires state government boards and commissions to post public meeting notices 72 hours in advance, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and official state holidays. The Legislature isnt subject to that public notice law.

*Please check boardsandcommissions.sd.gov and sdlegislature.gov for any meetings of state boards and commissions and legislative meetings that were posted after this weekly listing was assembled. Livecasts of some meetings are available at sd.net. Many meetings are available by teleconference. Check agendas and sd.net for audio availability.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Jul. 27Buffaloes have invaded Downtown Albuquerque.

But these buffalo appear on a 19-foot tall by almost 120-foot wide mural on the west side of the El Rey Theater.

Artists Thomas Christopher Haag and Jesse Littlebird recently finished the project that pays homage to the bison.

The main idea is to show "what Route 66 looked like before Route 66," Littlebird said.

On the mural are three buffaloes looking toward Central Avenue. One is painted in blues and black, another is multicolored, while a third is in a white checkered pattern, an allusion to a symbol of hope and rebirth in Native American traditions.

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"It's tremendously important and an honor for me," said Littlebird, who is from Laguna and Kewa pueblos and lives in Albuquerque. "A lot of Indigenous artists definitely pull from that inspiration and subject."

The mural is part of the city's upcoming Route 66 Centennial celebration that includes an art-fueled road trip-themed project that "invites locals and visitors alike to explore (Route 66's) legacy through murals, sculptures and augmented reality experiences," Tanya Lenti, Albuquerque Department of Arts and Culture spokesperson, said.

"Travelers will discover large-scale public art installations and site-specific digital activations that reflect the stories, traditions and people that have helped to shape Albuquerque," she said.

The city partnered with Meow Wolf and Refract Studio on the project.

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Lenti said she hopes to release a list of the artists and locations soon.

Haag said he is happy to have worked with the city and Littlebird to "beautify the city I love."

"It's going to change the visual arena for the eastbound 66 traffic," Haag said. "Hopefully, we're responsible for turning somebody's head and making them enjoy our town a little bit more."

For Haag, a Wichita, Kansas, native, the buffaloes represent "what the West was," he said.

"Instead of just doing, you know, antique cars and that kind of thing," Haag said, "we wanted to show that this (road) was a trail for things way before humans and cars.

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"It was a trail for animals and the buffalo was big around here," he said.

The murals also represent something deeper to Haag.

"When a storm is coming, a buffalo doesn't run," he said. "They don't seek shelter. They turn their heads and face the storm, and then they plod in through the storm because, somehow, they know they will get through it.

"And I think that's really a good kind of lesson for us to learn right now."
Had he lived, Paul Ostler would be 35 this year. But he is frozen in the minds of those who loved him: a boy of 15 his mother described even before his death as full of light.

What a quirky kid, Teresa Ostler told Deseret News this week. He could be a little persnickety. A little cranky. And stubborn as the day was long. If everyone else in the family wanted to go to one movie, he wanted to go to something different. Wed just laugh about it.

He was also a teenager of uncommon kindness and concern for others, those who still love him mightily agree. He loved books to an extraordinary degree, especially Harry Potter books, but his range was vast. In school, he had a friend who didnt like to read, which was unfathomable to Paul.

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Mom, can you imagine what life would be like if you didnt like to read? he asked his mom. So he thought about it a while and picked the book he thought the friend might like from the hundreds hed already amassed: Orson Scott Cards Enders Game. He was tickled pink when his friend said hed enjoyed it. He knew if he could pick the right book, he could turn his friend around.

Books and Paul Ostler are inextricably linked in the minds of his friends and his family, including nieces and nephews who never met him but feel like they know him because of the stories his parents and three older brothers tell.

And his best friend, Matt Edwards, now the father of two very young children himself, figured that books would be the right way 20 years later to honor the memory of the boy he spent so much time with and loved so much as they were growing up.

Matt Edwards is launching a childrens book drive and asking for donations that can be shared with other children to help them grow their own love of books. Books can be dropped off at Kings English Bookstore, where Paul Ostler spent many happy hours growing up. Edwards said new books will benefit Granite School Districts Santa program, while teachers will be able to pick from gently used donations to bolster their classroom libraries.

The day Paul died

Teresa Ostler believes the last day of Pauls life  Aug. 2, 2005, which was also his parents 25th wedding anniversary  was nearly perfect for her youngest son.

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He was at a Scout camp in the high Uintas. The soon-to-be sophomore at East High School in Salt Lake City had already earned his Eagle Scout award, but he wanted to go to camp with Edwards. They were inseparable, Teresa Ostler said.

Edwards describes the day. The two pals picked up supplies for a basketweaving class. Right before dinner, they had a canoeing class and ran into some other friends from school. It was fun. After dinner, we were playing cards, but the cards blew everywhere. It was too windy to go out.

The storm that came up sent the boys from Troop 56 to their cabins, in this case three-sided Adirondacks, the front open. Paul was lying on his bunk when lightning struck a tree six feet away, then skipped inside. Four boys were injured including Paul. Paul was the only one who didnt recover. He died instantly.

His mother describes it as a tender mercy for us because we knew that he died in a place of absolute beauty. He was with his best friend and he was having so much fun. And he didnt suffer.

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She was a nurse at Primary Childrens Hospital at the time and said a tender mercy especially for her was that two very skilled doctors were just steps away and tried valiantly to save Paul. She never once had to wonder what would have happened if help arrived quicker. It was right there.

If he was meant to live, he would have lived, she said. The doctors successfully resuscitated another boy, but Paul was gone.

That wedding anniversary is a tricky thing, she notes. Her marriage to Brent, Pauls dad, marks the beginning of their family. But it also marks their hardest day. She and Brent are still together, which isnt always the case when a couple loses a child. As a family, she said, they all just drew closer.

When the Texas floods happened two weeks ago, I was reading about them. And I thought, how awful to send your child to camp and have them die there. Then I thought, Oh. Thats what happened to us. My heart goes out to those poor parents."

Left to right Paul Ostler, Spencer Edwards, Greg Ostler (in the back) and Matt Edwards. Paul died in 2005 when lightning hit his cabin at Scout camp. His friend Matt is holding a book drive in his honor to remember him 20 years later. | Ostler family photo

Ostler was crying when she said a quote by Washington Irving has provided solace over these two decades: There is a sacredness in tears. They are not a mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than 10,000 tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.

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How much we love him, she said. I am sad for you that you have to listen to my tears. But when you have someone you love so very much, its the price of love. You miss them. Paul was such a different creature.

Pauls pass-along book exchange

Books were at the heart of the way his family, too, chose to honor the Scout, who often read under the covers with a flashlight long into the night.

Pauls brothers Jeff, Peter and Greg are all grown with their own kids and have given Brent and Teresa 11 grandchildren between them. Pauls parents moved several years ago to Asheville, North Carolina, after Teresa Ostler and her sister decided to start a wellness retreat called Skyterra Wellness.

Paul didnt just read books; he had loved to pass them along to friends he thought would enjoy them. After he died, they kept celebrating his birthday. Children were invited to a big birthday party with balloons and hundreds and hundreds of books with a little nameplate in them with Pauls picture. Guests were invited to pass the books along, to donate one or take one or both to celebrate reading and the boy who loved to do so.

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We still hear about books that are traveling, Teresa Ostler said. A couple of weeks ago we heard of one that made it to The Netherlands. Its been a neat way to keep him alive in our hearts.

And in Edwards heart, too. The idea for the book drive came recently when Edwards, who is a chief financial officer for a company, was reading to his kids, ages 2 and 4. We still have some of Pauls pass-along books. I guess Im not good at passing them along. Theyre sentimental.

His kids were fascinated by the photo of Paul and the short biography on the name plate. It gave Edwards the idea to honor his pal on the 20th anniversary.

We were basically brothers, he said. Our dads worked together and were friends, plus we lived close. The Ostler and Edwards families were unrelated, but like kin, each with boys the same age who were great friends. Pauls older brother Jeff had already grown up, but his brother Peter was the same age as Matts brother Aaron. His brother Greg was the same age as Spencer Edwards. And, of course, Matt Edwards and Paul were friends. With those paired ages and the friendships that produced, the families went camping together, did church activities, rode bikes, walked to and from school and did Scouting activities. Edwards dad, Doug, was one of the Scout leaders on the fateful trip.

Books can be dropped at The Kings English Bookstore, 1511 S. 1500 East in Salt Lake City between now and Aug. 15. Theyll be donated to children in Granite School District as a jumpstart to what Edwards hopes will be a lifelong love of reading. And a fitting memorial for the boy who loved books and the enduring power of friendship.
New York City, better known as the city that never sleeps, can never have too many coffee shops. Thats simply a fact. The Big Apple continues to be at the epicenter of an ongoing caffeine war as coffeehouses, both large and small, establish their storefronts across the five boroughs. As of June 30, 2025, a new chain has entered the villa.

Luckin Coffee, the fast-growing Chinese coffee chain that bested Starbucks in domestic sales, opened its first two U.S. locations in New York City. The stores are located in Greenwich Village, a quick walk from the New York University campus, and in Chelsea. Founded in Beijing in 2017, Luckin became known for its technology-driven retail model, appealing to a young consumer base with its app-focused ordering, cashless payments, loyalty programs, deep discounts and promotions. Speed and convenience are the coffeehouses forte, which is underscored by its grab-and-go model and lack of indoor seating.

I visited Luckins Greenwich Village location this week, which was packed with eager patrons ordering  and waiting for  their drinks. As part of its opening promo, Luckins drinks were between 50 to 69 percent off, meaning some drinks cost as low as $1.99. Inside, customers were glued to their phones, while the baristas were hustling behind the counter, hurriedly making drinks or warming up food. The space itself was small with only a few tables and chairs available. It was missing that welcoming community coffeehouse feel that Starbucks is best known for.

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Luckins menu includes cold brews, lattes, hot coffee, matcha and fruit-focused drinks called Refreshers. They also offer pastries, like a chocolate chip brownie, sausage egg & cheese croissant and a banana yogurt loaf.

Heres everything I tried:

01 Iced Velvet Latte

As someone whos vehemently lactose intolerant, I was pleased  no, elated  to see that Luckin offers not one, but three different options for non-dairy milk: Coconut, Oat and Almond. Their Iced Velvet Latte is typically made with whole milk, which I swapped out for coconut milk, along with two shots of Dark roast espresso and Velvet Milk, made with a blend of sweetened condensed milk, heavy cream, whole milk and an ice cream milk mixture that gives the drink its milkshake-like texture. I didnt realize that Velvet Milk has dairy in it until after I ordered my drink. So if youre looking for a completely lactose-free, vegan beverage, perhaps opt for a regular latte.

That being said, the Iced Velvet Latte was incredibly delicious. The coconut flavor from the milk was mild and the drinks overall sweetness was perfect, not saccharine in the slightest. As for its texture, the drink wasnt thick like traditional American milkshakes, but more so a hybrid of an iced coffee and a milkshake  smooth and fluid with a subtle creaminess.

02 Raspberry Cold Brew

During a recent trip to Japan, I tried my very first iced espresso lemonade, which made me fall in love with the rather unconventional flavor combination. Never did I think to combine coffee with cold citrus or fruit juice. Luckins Raspberry Cold Brew may sound a bit eyebrow-raising at first, but its worth giving the drink a chance. Raspberry and coffee are already a perfect pairing. Mix fresh raspberry juice with cold brew and youve got a refreshing drink thats both bold and robust with a hint of tartness.

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If youre looking for a more citrus-heavy option, Luckin also offers a Blood Orange Cold Brew.

03 Pink Sunrise

Made with coconut milk, two shots of mango juice and strawberry sweet cold foam, the Pink Sunrise is described as a mango coconut refresher that has a consistency similar to a fruit smoothie. Its creamy and incredibly fruity. The drink itself is also quite colorful, with shades of pink, orange and yellow, making it the epitome of summer in a cup.

Additional Refreshers include Ruby Ocean (a strawberry refresher) and Golden Summer (a pineapple refresher).

04 Solar Breeze

Similar to Starbucks signature Refreshers, Luckins Solar Breeze is more juice-heavy and features a citrus blend of blood orange and grapefruit juices. Its light, refreshing (as its name suggests) and mildly sour. I sipped on this drink during a midday walk and it kept me cool, quenched and satisfied.

05 Iced Matcha Coconut Latte

Craving a vegan, iced matcha lattee? Well, look no further than Luckins Iced Matcha Coconut Latte which touts a coconut milk base and three pumps of matcha sauce. The drink leans more sweet and doesnt have the prominent grassy or earthy flavor that seasoned matcha drinkers may prefer. But its still not as sweet as Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte or its Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha.

The post Luckin takes on Starbucks in New York City appeared first on Salon.com.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday participated in the valedictory function at the 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' Festival on the occasion of the birth anniversary of King Rajendra Chola I at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur. PM Modi also showered praise for the music composer Ilaiyaraaja who performed in a 20-minute concert. "In a way, this is Rajraja's land of faith. Ilaiyaraaja immersed us all in Shiv Bhakti. The month of Shravan, along with the efforts of Rajraja and Ilaiyaraaja, creates a wonderful environment. I am an MP from Kashi. When I hear 'Om Namah Shivaya', I get goosebumps," PM Modi said in his address. He said that he prayed at the historic Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple for the welfare of 140 crore Indians and for India's continued progress. "The energy of Shiv's (darshan) glimpse and Ilaiyaraaja's music and the chanting of mantras - this is a spiritual experience which makes the soul overwhelmed with emotion. I am privileged to be present and worship at the feet of Lord Brihadeeswara. I have prayed at this historic temple for the welfare of 140 crore Indians and for India's continued progress. I wish that everyone gets the blessings of Lord Shiva," PM Modi said. "The Chola kings significantly enhanced their diplomatic and trade relations with regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. It is just a coincidence that I returned from the Maldives yesterday, and today I am fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this programme," the Prime Minister said. PM Narendra Modi also released a commemorative coin honouring the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I. The Prime Minister donned the traditional attire a white veshti (dhoti), a white shirt, and an angavasthram worn around his neck. wore traditional attire. He was welcomed by the local pandits in the temple. Earlier in the day, crowds thronged to see the Prime Minister as he held a roadshow in the Tiruchirappalli district. His convoy received a warm welcome from the commoners gathered to witness his arrival. The temple a UNESCO World Heritage Site is famed for its intricate sculptures, Chola bronzes, and ancient inscriptions. The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also celebrates the rich Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition, fervently supported by the Cholas and immortalised by the 63 Nayanmars--the saint-poets of Tamil Shaivism. Notably, Rajendra Chola's birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), begins on July 23, making this year's festival all the more significant. (ANI)
The palpable sense of relief following the announcement that Israel has established humanitarian corridors to facilitate the flow of aid to Gaza will be short-lived so long as Hamas terrorists do everything in their power to block efforts to implement a lasting ceasefire.

Amidst the welter of controversy surrounding the Gaza crisis, one central fact seems to have been completely overlooked in the rush to blame the miserable plight of Palestinian civilians on Israel.

It was Hamas, not Israel, that was ultimately responsible for the collapse of the Trump administrations latest efforts to arrange a lasting ceasefire in the enclave.

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It is hopefully a point US President Donald Trump makes abundantly clear to Sir Keir Starmer when the two leaders meet in Scotland.

Downing Street says Starmer will use the meeting to press Trump to do more to end the war in Gaza, a move that is no doubt prompted by the mounting pressure the Prime Minister is under from naive and ill-informed Labour backbenchers to recognise a Palestinian state.

Hopefully, the American president will provide Starmer with a reality check on the challenges facing anyone seeking to bring peace to Gaza, the most prominent being the absolute insistence of Hamass terrorist leadership that it must remain in control of the enclave for any lasting cessation of hostilities to occur.

Allowing Hamas to retain any vestige of influence in Gaza is, understandably, anathema to Israel after the horrors it suffered during the October 7 attacks in 2023, which resulted in the cold-blooded massacre of 1,200 people  including women and children  at the hands of deranged Islamist fanatics.

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No sane government in the world would allow such an organisation to remain intact after the trauma its citizens have suffered. It is for this reason that, since the start of the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to waver from his insistence that, for there to be lasting peace in Gaza, Hamass terrorist infrastructure  including the political leaders who helped to mastermind the October 7 attacks  must be completely eradicated from the enclave before any serious consideration can be given to peace.

Netanyahu has stuck to this bottom line through numerous iterations of US-sponsored ceasefire talks, starting with the Biden administration and continuing through to the current attempts by Trump to end hostilities and free the remaining Israeli hostages still held captive by Hamas terrorists.

At the same time Hamas has been equally insistent in demanding the right to remain in Gaza, claiming that it represents the enclaves legitimate government, even though it clings to power by torturing and murdering any Palestinians who are brave or foolhardy enough to voice their opposition to the terrorist organisations brutal regime.

The Trump administrations deepening frustration with the negotiating tactics of Hamas, together with its backers in Qatar and Iran, was clearly evident in comments made by Steve Witkoff, Trumps Special Envoy to the Middle East, after he withdrew from last weeks ceasefire talks in Qatar claiming that they had collapsed because Hamas was behaving in a selfish way.

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While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza, Witkoff said in a statement issued when he abandoned the talks.

For the fundamental truth of the Gaza tragedy, one that the legions of anti-Israel protesters across the globe wilfully ignore, is that Hamas does not want peace.

The architects of this Islamist death cult seek martyrdom, and now that it has run out of fighters to sacrifice in its increasingly futile war against Israels superior military might, Hamas is using Palestinian civilians effectively as human shields in its quest to survive the conflict.

It has done this by trying to seize control of vital aid supplies and establishing a black market whereby only known Hamas sympathisers are provided with the basic necessities for life. As for the rest, they are left to starve, thereby providing the UNs sprawling network of aid agencies, which have an undistinguished history of collaborating with Hamas, with the ammunition they need to accuse Israel of genocide.

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In such circumstances it is almost obscene that prominent Western leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron should seek to salve their conscience by making grandstanding declarations about their intention to recognise a Palestinian state, even though a significant proportion of this supposed entity happens to be run by Islamist fanatics.

Trump, by contrast, has a far more realistic take on Hamass mindset, one it is hoped the president will share forcefully with Starmer if our prime minister is to be prevented from following Macrons morally bankrupt gesture.

As Trump commented after the collapse of the latest Doha ceasefire talks, Hamas didnt really want to make a deal. I think they want to die, and its very, very bad.

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MADISON, Ill.  The Major Case Squad has been activated to investigate one persons death in Madison, Illinois.

Around 1:15 p.m. Saturday, the Madison Police Department responded to a report of shots fired near Washington and Wayne Lanter avenues.

One victim, a male of an undisclosed age, was found lying in an intersection.

Autopsy complete in 3-year-olds daycare death but wont be released

Investigators have not yet disclosed the victims cause of death or what may have led up to the victims death. No suspect information is available at this time.

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Twelve members of the Major Case Squad are actively working on this case.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the Major Case Squad Command Post at 618-876-7182 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (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.
One of the top life insurance companies in the country says that over a million of its customers are at risk after a significant data breach.

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America says that it was subject to the breach on July 16, as a "malicious threat actor" infiltrated a cloud-based system.

"The threat actor was able to obtain personally identifiable data related to the majority of Allianz Life's customers, financial professionals, and select Allianz Life employees, using a social engineering technique," the company said in a a statement.

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"We took immediate action to contain and mitigate the issue and notified the FBI."

Allianz said that its investigation is still ongoing, but it has determined that its own systems were not accessed. The life insurance company is still determining exactly how many customers were affected, but it says that a majority of its 1.4 million customers are at potential risk.

Allianz reported the breach to several authorities, including the Maine Attorney General's Office. The state says the report was filed on July 17, the day the breach was discovered and one day after it happened.

In the wake of the breach, Allianz will offer customers two years of complimentary identity theft protection and credit monitoring.

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The incident only involves Allianz Life in the United States, and does not affect any of the parent company's insurance operations in other countries around the world.

Social engineering is a strategy used by hackers to obtain information. The hacker will pressure or influence the victim into revealing sensitive information like passwords or banking information. In many cases, the hacker will impersonate trusted company names or personal identities to trick the victim.

According to the New York Post, Allianz has also notified the FBI of the breach. If charged and convicted of identity theft at a federal level, offenders can face serious prison time. A single charge of identity theft can carry up to a 15 year sentence.

Allianz Life and the relevant authorities will attempt to determine the source of the data breach, and customers will attempt to protect themselves after the significant hack.

Major Life Insurance Data Breach Puts Over 1 Million at Risk first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 27, 2025
A 22-year-old man remains missing after disappearing from a New York beach this week.

On Friday, July 25, shortly after 6 p.m. local time, police responded to a report of a man who could not be found after he was last seen swimming at Rockaway Beach in Queens, a New York Police Department (NYPD) spokesperson told PEOPLE.

The man, whose identity has not yet been shared publicly, went missing as thunderstorms hit the area.

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The NYPD's Harbor, Emergency Service, Scuba and Aviation Units have been "actively canvassing for the male," the NYPD said, with the investigation remaining ongoing as of Sunday, July 27.

Rising Tide Effect nonprofit founder Kaitlin Krause told The Gothamist she was on the beach setting up a swim safety instruction when she found out the man had gone missing.

"I was literally setting up my handouts when I saw the firetrucks charging down the boardwalk," she said, adding that the man's family has contacted her for updates.

The swimmer, Krause told the outlet, was an immigrant from Niger who took his second day off work in two years.

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"All the locals know thats a treacherous spot. At the top, it looks calm, but under, it's moving," she said of the area where the man disappeared.

"It literally feels like time is set on fire, and you're burning it all up, because this kid has no oxygen," Krause added.

NBC News New York reported that severe thunderstorms hit the area on July 25, affecting sections of New York City, New Jersey and Long Island.

Krause said lifeguards raced into the ocean to locate the missing man the day he went missing.

The Gothamist shared footage of swimmers searching for him, and additional video shared on the Citizen app, as covered by WPIX, showed fire department and police personnel responding to the scene with boats and divers in an effort to find the man in the water.

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According to The Gothamist, NYC Parks said lifeguards have conducted 126 beach rescues so far this summer. If the man did indeed drown, he would mark the second person to do so this year.

Per the NYC Parks website, lifeguards are on duty at Rockaway Beach daily during beach season from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Swimming is prohibited in close sections and when lifeguards are off duty.



Read the original article on People
CHICAGO  A 71-year-old man died after being stabbed during an argument in Englewood on the citys South Side late Saturday night, and Chicago police say a male suspect is in custody.

Police say the two men were arguing around 10:15 p.m. in the 100 block of West 63rd Street when the offender produced a sharp object and stabbed the 71-year-old man. The victim sustained a puncture wound to the abdomen and was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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Meanwhile, police say responding officers took the offender into custody. Detectives are investigating the incident, and charges are pending.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police say a 19-year-old man accidentally shot his cousin in the head while playing with a gun.

Police were called at 11:30 Friday night to an apartment in the 800 block of Washington in the Medical District.

Memphis Murder Map 2025

They found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

His cousin, Jonathan Hill, told police that the two were outside playing with the gun when he pointed it at his cousin and accidentally shot him.

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Hill was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

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NEED TO KNOW

A man claimed he had a bomb  and made other eye-raising remarks, including "death to Trump" and "death to America"  while on an easyJet flight on July 27

Fellow plane passengers tackled the man mid-flight, and he was later arrested

The 41-year-old man "remains in custody," according to police





A man was arrested after he claimed he had a bomb  and made other eye-raising remarks  on a plane.

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The 41-year-old man was on an easyJet flight headed from London's Luton Airport to Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday, July 27, when he first called out, "Stop the plane," according to social media footage of the incident obtained by the Daily Mail and the BBC.

The man  whose identity has not yet been shared publicly  then said, "Find the bomb on the plane," before he yelled: "Death to America. Death to Trump."

He then screamed "Allahu Akbar," which translates to "God is great" in Arabic, several times, before another passenger appeared to tackle him and held him to the ground.

As another passenger joined in, sitting on the man and telling him, "Sit down. Don't move," the flight crew could then be heard announcing that the plane would be "landing very shortly," before other passengers began to question the man.

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"Do you have a bomb?" one person inquired, as others asked the man about whether he had been drinking or taking drugs.

Getty Passengers in an airplane (stock image). Passengers in an airplane (stock image).

Police Scotland told PEOPLE authorities boarded the aircraft once it arrived and arrested the man. The 41-year-old "remains in custody," police said.

In a statement to PEOPLE, a easyJet spokesperson confirmed that the incident took place and that the passenger was removed "due to their behavior onboard."

The representative continued, "easyJet's crew are trained to assess all situations and act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time."

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"The safety and well-being of our customers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority," the spokesperson for British airline added.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images An easyJet plane (stock image).

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Police Scotland told PEOPLE the investigation into the incident continues. "We are aware of videos circulating online, and these are being assessed by counter terrorism officers," authorities said.

At this time we believe the incident was contained and that nobody else was involved," police added.



It is not currently clear what charges the man faces or if he has legal representation to comment on his behalf.

Read the original article on People
PRICEVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  The Priceville Police Department said officers arrested a Somerville man for having drugs and other items in his vehicle during a traffic stop.

PPD said on July 26, around 6 p.m., officers stopped a vehicle on Point Mallard Parkway due to several infractions, including an expired tag dating back to 2020.

The department said the driver was identified as 40-year-old Daniel Vinson.

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Following the traffic stop, officers determined there was probable cause to initiate a drug investigation.

Officers reportedly found six ounces of Kratom, a number of Clonazepam pills, drug paraphernalia and a firearm in Vinsons possession.

(Photo: Priceville Police Department)

PPD said Kratom is known to produce effects similar to both opioids and stimulants. In May 2016, Alabama prohibited Kratom, classifying its active alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, as Schedule I controlled substances, thereby banning its sale, possession and use.

Vinson was arrested and taken to the Morgan County Jail, where he faces two separate charges of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

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The department said that due to Vinsons previous history of failing to appear in court, Morgan County Circuit Judge Jennifer Howell set his bond at $81,000.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
By Joseph Tanfani

(Reuters) -The U.S. Secret Service arrested a man after he climbed a gate at the U.S. Treasury building in Washington on Sunday at about 2:30 p.m., the agency said in statement.

Traffic in the area was blocked off as Washington's Metropolitan Police Departments bomb squad, out of an abundance of caution, examined a bag the man had left on the sidewalk outside the fence, according to the statement from a Secret Service spokesperson. It was not an explosive device, the spokesperson added.

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The Treasury building is located next to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. No Secret Service protectees were at the White House at the time, the statement said.

The suspect was charged with unlawful entry and in connection with an outstanding warrant and was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation, according to the statement.

(Editing by Leslie Adler)
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Sunday accused Union Minister Chirag Paswan of being greedy for power after his remarks against the rising crime rate in Bihar. Pramod Tiwari highlighted that Paswan contested the Lok Sabha elections under the NDA alliance and is also a Union Minister; however, he is now raising questions about crime in Bihar. "Chirag Paswan fought Lok Sabha Elections under NDA alliance, is a Union Minister, and now he is raising questions and criticising crime in Bihar... He should leave the greed of power." Earlier on Saturday, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president, Chirag Paswan, said that he is "saddened to support such a government," which is not able to curtail the rising crime rate. "I also believe that these incidents are being carried out as a conspiracy to defame the government ahead of elections. But even then, the responsibility of controlling it lies with the administration. Either the administration is in collusion with it, or the administration has become completely useless, and now it is beyond their power to keep Bihar and Biharis safe," the Union Minister told reporters in Patna. "I request the Bihar government to take action on this matter in a timely manner. I feel ashamed that I am supporting such a government, under which crime has gotten out of control," he added. Meanwhile, slamming the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for including Operation Sindoor in the textbooks, Tiwari said that suggestions should be taken from everyone, and the history should not be distorted. "When changes are made in NCERT, suggestions should be taken from everyone, including the opposition. True, history should not be distorted," he said. Taking a jibe at the Centre, he added, "It should also include statements of army chiefs. It should also include that when our forces were moving towards Pakistan, had the US President have announced a ceasefire in exchange for trade deals? The weakness of political leadership should also be described." (ANI)
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (WHNT)  A man who led law enforcement agencies on a nearly 20-hour-long manhunt in Scottsboro has been charged with attempted murder.

Daniel McCarn has been charged with attempted murder, according to Jackson County Jail records.

(courtesy: Scottsboro PD)

McCarn led officers on a multi-agency manhunt Saturday in Scottsboro, after police say he led officers on a chase that ended with him crashing, leaving his vehicle and shooting SPD Lt. Derek Porch.

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Scottsboro Police said Porch is still being treated at Huntsville Hospital, and his injuries are considered non-life-threatening.

Court records do not show when McCarn is set to appear in court.

Around 12:49 a.m. Saturday, the Scottsboro Police Department said it responded to a domestic incident on Ruth Street. When officers arrived, the department said McCarn drove off in a vehicle and started a police chase.

The chase ultimately ended in a crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 72 and County Park Road.

(Photo: News 19)

(Photo: News 19)

(Photo: News 19)

(Photo: News 19)

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The department said McCarn left the vehicle and began shooting at officers, and hit an SPD officer. He then ran away, and around 2:57 a.m., SPD said it was a multi-agency manhunt to find McCarn.

Porch was taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. The department said his injuries are not considered life-threatening.

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SPD said that heat during the day was a big obstacle in its search, as it made getting drones up for thermal aerial images difficult.

The department added that a family member of McCarn was the one who initially called SPD, which led to the incident. McCarn has no past criminal history before the manhunt.

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A statewide Blue Alert was issued by ALEA around 12:15 p.m., giving the public a description of McCarn as well as saying he was considered armed and dangerous.

Around 9:56 p.m., the department got a call from a business owner in the 2000 block of Old Larkinsville Road. The business owner reported seeing a male subject on their security camera matching the description of McCarn.

When officers approached the subject, they identified the subject as McCarn and took him into custody without incident.

(Courtesy of Scottsboro Police Department)

The following agencies helped in the manhunt for McCarn:

Jackson County Sheriffs Office

Madison County Sheriffs Office

Dekalb County Sheriffs Office

Marshall County Joint Special Response Team (Multi-Agency)

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Huntsville Police Department

ATF

FBI

SBI

U.S. Marshalls

Scottsboro Fire Department

Highlands Ambulance Service

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In addition to the help from law enforcement, SPD said several businesses and citizens helped all agencies with food, drinks, running errands and offering words of support.

[We] would like to thank you for keeping our officer, our agency, and our mission in mind!

There is no word on whether McCarn will be given any additional charges. He is being held at the Jackson County Jail on a $10 million 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 WHNT.com.
A man from the Columbus area considered armed and dangerous was arrested Saturday after escaping custody and evading authorities, authorities said.

Coweta County Sheriffs Department said 20-year-old Sacario Hill was arrested after a resident spotted him on Rolling Hills Lane.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Hill had earlier escaped custody. He has active arrest warrants from Columbus PD for six counts of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime.

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An alert to the community listed him as armed and dangerous.

Hill will be facing multiple charges in Coweta County before answering to his charges in Muscogee County. He is being held in the Coweta County Jail.

He fled from the sheriffs department units on Thursday and had been tracked in the area of Potts Road and Emmett Young Road.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out for more information on this story.

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A man is dead after participating in a Mount Everest-themed endurance challenge.

Slava Leykind died at age 43 on July 2 "from complications sustained" at the event, according to his online obituary.

Teton County Coroner Brent Blue told Jackson Hole News and Guide the cause of death was an electrolyte imbalance causing cardiac arrest."

Per the outlet, Leykind died at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where he was brought from Snow King Mountain in Jackson, Wyo. He was later buried near his home in Westport, Conn.

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Local authorities, event organizers and the county coroner did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Google Maps Snow King Mountain in Wyoming. Snow King Mountain in Wyoming.

The event that Leykind took part in before his death, 29029 Everesting, is named after the summit elevation of the Earth's highest peak.

Held from June 26 to June 29, hikers travel about 1,500 feet up the mountain, enough times to mimic the height of Mount Everest, which is located between China and Nepal.

According to Jackson Hole News and Guide, event organizers sent a message out to participants following the tragedy. Today is an incredibly sad day for our community, as a Jackson Hole participant has passed away, the message read, per the outlet.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In his obituary, Leykind  who moved with family from the Soviet Union to Minneapolis in 1988  was remembered as "a perfect soulmate for over two decades to Amy Keller Leykind, and superhuman father to Charlotte, Eloise and Jonah Leykind."

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"Despite his significant professional success at a young age, Slava's role as a husband and father was his greatest achievement, passion and pride," the tribute continued, referencing Leykind's role as a banking industry leader. "He fervently supported his children, bringing love and a sense of calm to the wonderful chaos of a full house."

Read the original article on People
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police in the District are investigating after a shooting in the Congress Heights area left one person dead and another injured late Saturday night.

Just after 11:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to a shooting in the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE. Once there, police found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

3 hospitalized after shooting in Dupont Circle; DC police investigating

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Responding officers noted that one of the men was not conscious or breathing. Medics rushed to the scene and tried to save him, but he was pronounced dead.

Responders took the other man, who was conscious and breathing, to the hospital for treatment.

Investigators urge anyone with information regarding the deadly shooting to contact MPD at 202-727-9099 or text 50411.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
CHICAGO  A 35-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run early Saturday morning on Chicagos West Side, police say.

According to the Chicago Police Department, the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. in the 1100 block of South Cicero Avenue in the citys Austin neighborhood.

The victim, identified as 35-year-old Patrick Beck, was standing outside when he was struck by a black sedan, police say. The driver fled the scene after the crash.

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Emergency responders transported Beck to Loyola University Medical Center, where later died.

No one is currently in custody. Anyone with information is urged to contact CPD.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Manhunt Underway After 2 People Are Found Dead On Popular Running Trail originally appeared on The Spun.

A manhunt is underway after two people were tragically found dead on a popular running and hiking trail.

Two people, aged 43 and 41, were found dead on a trail at Devil's Den State Park in West Fork, Arkansas on Saturday. The incident reportedly happened shortly after 2:40 p.m. on Saturday. A suspect is believed to be at large.

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A 43-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman were found dead on the popular running trail. A suspect, believed to be a white male wearing a dark tank top, dark shorts and weightlifting gloves, was seen driving toward the exit of the park in a dark sedan.

"The suspects vehicle may be a Mazda with a license plate covered by electrical or duct tape. It may have been traveling on State Highway 170 or State Highway 220 near the park," Arkansas State Police said.

The FBI is now getting involved.

"FBI Little Rock is in communication with Arkansas State Police during its investigation and is poised to assist, if needed," FBI Little Rock Office Public Affairs Officer Jessica Franklin said.

Police vehicles. (Photo by: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Getty Images

From the report:

Anyone with information about the possible suspect or his whereabouts, ASP asks you to contact Troop L at (479) 751-6663. 5NEWS was on the scene as ASP and other law enforcement agencies searched for the suspect. We first responded to a tip about a large police presence and investigation at Devil's Den around 4:30 p.m. on July 26. We immediately reached out to law enforcement, including the Washington County Sheriff's Office and ASP, but were repeatedly redirected or offered no information. While on the scene, 5NEWS reporter Beau Russell was told to leave by state troopers, and they too did not provide information on the reason for the law enforcement presence.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders released a statement.

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We are heartbroken by todays horrific news from Devils Den State Park and are in close contact with State Police and the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism as they work to apprehend the suspect. We are praying for the family and friends of the victims and know that law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.

Manhunt Underway After 2 People Are Found Dead On Popular Running Trail first appeared on The Spun on Jul 27, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Top BJP leaders, including chief ministers from several states, tuned in to the 124th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday. From Delhi to Raipur, Bhopal to Agartala, leaders lauded the programme for its role in highlighting grassroots innovations and inspiring citizens across the country. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai listened to the programme in the national capital and Raipur, respectively. Chhattisgarh CM Sai praised the programme for showcasing the achievements of individuals and innovations across India. He specifically mentioned that the Prime Minister's recent mention of Bilha, a town in Chhattisgarh that was awarded under the Swachh Bharat Mission, was a matter of "great fortune" for the state. While speaking to ANI, CM Sai says, "The Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat takes place on the last Sunday of every month, and in that, he works to bring to the country and the world the new innovations that are happening in the country. Through this, the country becomes aware of the innovations of such individuals, and the people of the country are also inspired by them. Today, it is a great fortune that the Prime Minister mentioned Bilha, which was recently awarded in the Swachh Bharat Mission. This is a matter of great fortune for Chhattisgarh. This year, Chhattisgarh has earned a good name in the field of cleanliness and the Swachh Bharat Mission. Many cities have been awarded by our President. Raipur has also been awarded for the first time..." Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who listened to programme in Guwahati, also lauded its impact. "Every time, we get a lot of inspiration from the Mann Ki Baat program because, through this program, the Prime Minister informs the nation about the steps taken by people across the country to ensure the nation's development and preserve its heritage... Mann Ki Baat is a very important program for the people of the country...", Sonowal told ANI. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav tuned in from Bhopal, while Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha participated from Agartala. (ANI)
A Marine veteran is getting a burial with full military honors next week after his body was hidden for months by a family member in a financial fraud scheme.

Michael S. Blankenship died last year from an illness at the age of 72 in his long-time home of Fairfield, New Jersey. A Marine veteran, he served during the Vietnam War. However his death was not discovered for eight months. According to authorities, his cousin Steven Blankenship did not disclose Michaels death, instead allegedly wrapping up and stashing his corpse inside a closet in order to take advantage of his benefits and credit card.

Steven Blankenship was indicted last week on multiple charges stemming from hiding his cousin Michaels body and exploiting the subterfuge. NJ.com first reported on the news on July 25. The cousin faces charges on second-degree desecrating human remains, third-degree charges of theft by deception and fraudulent use of a credit card, and fourth-degree tampering with evidence.

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Michael Blankenship died last year. In April 2025, cops went to the trailer park where he had lived to do a wellness check. They got no response but detected a strong smell consistent with decomposition. They found Blankenship inside a closet, dead, wrapped in plastic. According to a handwritten note found in the trailer, Steven Blankenship allegedly left his cousins body to sit there for two days before stuffing him into the closet. He then used the situation to collect Michaels benefits, stealing more than $10,000 over more than half a year, per NJ.com.

The cousin also reportedly used his late relatives credit card for multiple purchases.

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Culture Top Air Force enlisted leader apologizes for uniform slip-up Top Air Force enlisted leader apologizes for uniform slip-up By Jeff Schogol Culture An Army pilot and mechanic switched units for a week. Heres how that went. An Army pilot and mechanic switched units for a week. Heres how that went. By Patty Nieberg News Air Force Global Strike Command suspends use of M18 pistol after airmans death Air Force Global Strike Command suspends use of M18 pistol after airmans death By Jeff Schogol

According to Michael Blankenships obituary with the Freitag Funeral Home, he was born July 9, 1952 in Virginia, but lived in Fairfield Township for decades. He joined the Marine Corps and served during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1970. In the 1980s he started working as a forklift operator and retired in 2001 on disability.

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According to the note found inside his trailer, Michael Blankenship died on July 27, 2024, although his obituary lists his death as April 14, 2025, when his body was found. Blankenship is survived by several cousins and friends per his obituary.

His funeral is scheduled for the morning of Monday, July 28 and will include military honors. He will be buried next to his mother.
In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independents Anna Belokur breaks down the protests that swept Ukraine in response to the new controversial law  passed by Ukrainian parliament and signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 22  that effectively strips the independence of the countrys key anti-corruption agencies, carrying grim implications for Ukraines democratic future and integration into the European Union. Also, peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations resumed in Istanbul, Turkey  will they result in anything?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
At least 11 people are being treated after a mass stabbing at Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday, July 26, and a suspect is in custody, local authorities said.

Munson Healthcare in northern Michigan confirmed that "11 victims are being treated at Munson Medical Center" in connection to the incident. Six are in critical condition and five others are serious. Three required surgery. "As a result, our Emergency Department is currently experiencing a higher-than-usual volume of patients," it said.

More than 10 police cars sit in the Walmart parking lot in Traverse City, Michigan, after a mass stabbing incident left 11 injured.

The Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office is telling people to "please avoid the area as the investigation is ongoing." The FBI is also responding "to provide any necessary support," said Deputy Director Dan Bongino.

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Here's everything we know.

Sheriff: Suspect a Michigan resident, weapon a folding knife

The suspect, a 42-year-old Michigan resident, was subdued by bystanders at the store after he stabbed 11 people with a folding knife near a checkout counter, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said in a press conference Saturday evening.

Shea said the actions by the suspect seemed to be random and the victims did not seem to be predetermined. He said the ages of the victims are unknown, and none of the victims seemed to be Walmart employees.

The Michigan State Police crime lab is in route to processing the scene. Walmart will be closed until authorities complete investigating the scene, Shea said.

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Asked for advice in how to respond to this type of incident, Shea said to be vigilant. Know that no area is immune to this kind of activity, unfortunately. If you see something, please reach out. Call 9-1-1."

At around 8 p.m., more than 10 police cars sat in the parking lot of the Walmart, located in a strip mall south of downtown Traverse City. Cars and pedestrians could access other locations while the Walmart was blocked off.

More than 10 police cars sit in the Walmart parking lot in Traverse City, Michigan, after a mass stabbing incident left 11 injured.

Nearby employee describes 'chaotic' scene

Carrie Kidd, an employee at HomeGoods two stores down from Walmart, said she was working the register when people exiting Walmart started flooding the stores parking lot, which is adjoined with Walmart's, around 5 p.m.

She said it didnt feel scary, but did feel chaotic.

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We didnt know much. There was a lot of speculation, she said.

She said the store was slower than usual after the incident, and people couldnt get in or out of the Crossing Circle area, where the stores are located, for a period after the incident.

Gov. Whitmer thanks first responders after 'horrible news'

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a social media post that she is "in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City."

"Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect," Whitmer said.

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Whitmer said she will "continue monitoring the situation closely."

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who owns a home in Traverse City, also posted to social media: "Along with the whole Traverse City community, Chasten and I are shaken by the awful and senseless violence at Walmart earlier today. Were thinking of everyone affected and hoping and praying for speedy recovery for all those who were injured."

Walmart: 'Violence like this is unacceptable'

Walmart issued an additional statement saying the retailer would work closely with law enforcement during the investigation.

Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders," Joe Pennington, Walmart spokesperson, told USA TODAY.

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Pennington said the retail giant will "continue working closely with law enforcement during their investigation.

Where is Traverse City?

Traverse City, which the U.S. Census Bureau reports has a population of nearly 16,000, is in northern Michigan, about 150 miles north of Grand Rapids and 255 miles northwest of Detroit.

Jonathan Limehouse and Bart Jansen of USA TODAY contributed.

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Traverse City Walmart stabbing, 11 injured: What we know
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) on Sunday pushed back on claims that a full release of the Epstein files would hurt his victims.

"That's a straw man," Massie told host Kristen Welker on NBC's "Meet the Press" in reference to their efforts to get the material released, "Ro and I carefully crafted this legislation so that the victims' names will be redacted and that no child pornography will be released. So they're hiding behind that. But we're trying to get justice for the victims."

The Republican fiscal hawk and California progressive joined forces in July with their attempt to launch a discharge petition that would force the House to vote on giving Attorney General Pam Bondi 30 days to release a broad array of files from Epstein's case. They told Welker that failing to do so would further damage the relationship between voters and their elected leaders.

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The pair took particular issue with the Justice Department's statements that it was focusing on the needs of victims by declining to release more of the files.

"No one has asked the victims what they want," Khanna said. "They do want these files released for closure and for healing."

The GOP has been embroiled in controversy since the Justice Department in early July announced that a DOJ and FBI review had uncovered no evidence of an incriminating client list or history of blackmail from the disgraced financier, who authorities say died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019.

President Donald Trump's reported connections to Epstein, and the president's strategy of deeming the episode a "hoax" perpetrated by "Radical Left Democrats," have only further inflamed a core constituency of Republican voters.

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"You can't do anything constructive with government if you don't have trust in government," Khanna told Welker. "This is about trust in government. When John F. Kennedy was president, trust in government was 60 percent. Today it's in the teens."



With Republicans facing an onslaught of Epstein votes last week and a brewing rebellion from inside the caucus  Johnson sent the House home for its August recess early.

"If the pain he's talking about is that the legislators, when they vote, have to pick between protecting the embarrassment of the rich and powerful versus getting justice for victims, I don't really understand what he means by that," Massie said. "Why is it painful for Mike Johnson to call a vote on this? The American people deserve this, regardless of what the political ramifications are for the speaker."

This isn't the first time Massie and Khanna have teamed up on a stance against the president. In June, they introduced a House resolution to block American involvement in the since-quelled conflict between Iran and Israel. The duo then took to television to criticize Trump after he ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.

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Also on Sunday, Massie told ABC's Jonathan Karl that the pressure on House Republicans to get behind his and Khanna's Epstein effort is only going to build during the August recess.

"It would force a full release of the files," he said on "This Week." "It has the force of law. It's not a subpoena. It's not a pretty please would you release the files. It's the force of law."

And Trump's hoax talk isn't helping, he said.

"It's emblematic of the promise that President Trump brought with him to the White House, how he energized so many people who had checked out of the political system," Massie told Karl. "He was going to be the guy who holds all the rich and powerful and politically connected people accountable, and that's why there's so much disappointment right now."
The day Myrna Barbee-Lee had been dreading for months arrived Tuesday, when the state Department of Health confirmed a case of measles in Santa Fe County.

As Santa Fe Public Schools lead nurse, Barbee-Lee oversees a staff of nearly 50 registered nurses and nurse aides, promoting well-being at schools across the district and ensuring compliance with New Mexicos school vaccination requirements.

Since the start of New Mexicos measles outbreak in February, Barbee-Lee has been watching measles cases creep northward  from the southeastern corner of the state to Sandoval County to San Juan County. As of Thursday, the disease had resulted in 96 cases, seven hospitalizations and one death, with the most recent case occurring in an unvaccinated Santa Fe County child under 10 following international travel.

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Though it may be little comfort to Santa Feans concerned about the virus, the spread of measles is largely behaving as expected, with a long tail of sporadic cases like the one detected locally this week, said Dr. Chad Smelser, a medical epidemiologist with the New Mexico Department of Health.

Transmission within the state has mostly died down, Department of Health data shows; only 15 of the 96 cases were contagious more than 42 days ago, meaning its very unlikely theyve resulted in additional infections. But outbreaks ongoing elsewhere New Mexico, first in Texas and now in Chihuahua, Mexico, have likely contributed to cases in New Mexico, Smelser said.

As a result, he added, We could always get another introduction.

For Barbee-Lee, measles introduction in Santa Fe County wasnt a surprise  but it still brought nerves.

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Measles is one of the most contagious viruses on Earth, and Im worried about the potential health ramifications for children, and adults, too, in our community, she said.

Rate of New Mexicans over 18 with at least 2 measles shots

Rate of New Mexicans over 18 with at least two measles shots.

Nobody has a crystal ball to see the future of measles in New Mexico, but Smelser anticipated itll likely look similar to the recent pattern of cases.

What I imagine [what] we will see for the weeks, maybe months, to come are sporadic cases, and what we are going to work hard to do is prevent, when we do have a case, further spread in our communities, he said.

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He added the best way for ordinary people to help prevent the spread is to ensure theyve received two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions immunization schedule recommends a first dose of the MMR vaccine around a childs first birthday and the second when a child is 4 to 6 years old. The CDC also recommends the MMR vaccine for all adults who lack documentation of vaccination or lack evidence of immunity, with a few exceptions for pregnant, immunocompromised and some HIV-positive people.

One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective against measles while two doses are 97% effective, according to the CDC.

And while cases may be sporadic, heightened vigilance of the disease  by health care providers and patients  hasnt gone away, Smelser said.

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Were responding to calls every day from providers, the general public, other states, etc., who are asking us questions about measles or are worried about a particular illness, he said.

With Santa Fe Public Schools set to open campuses in just a few weeks, Barbee-Lee and her staff are certainly on the lookout.

Anybody with a rash of an unknown origin should not be coming to school, especially if theres a fever, she said.

While school nurses may be best known for handing out ice packs to injured students, they also play an important role in upholding New Mexicos school immunization requirements  which for the 2025-26 school year include two doses of the MMR vaccine by age 4.

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Part of that work is ensuring families have easy access to vaccines, Barbee-Lee said. The district, for instance, hosts its own federally funded childhood vaccine clinic with appointments available for no-cost vaccinations. While that responsibility would typically transfer to the state Department of Health, the clinic remained open all summer this year.

Our nursing staff spend thousands of hours reaching out to families and helping them to reduce barriers to getting vaccinated. ... We want to do everything we can to make these lifesaving immunizations accessible to all people in our communities, Barbee-Lee said.

Santa Fe Public Schools nurses also check each students immunization record to determine whether they are in compliance with the states school vaccination requirements. New students must achieve immunization compliance to start the new school year. Existing students must receive the required immunizations by November or they could be disenrolled.

In New Mexico, parents can file for a religious or medical exemption to the required vaccines, an annual process that involves submitting a certificate from a medical professional or an affidavit from a religious official or parent.

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Currently, Santa Fe Public Schools students are just under the 95% threshold for communitywide immunity, with certain schools having more exemptions than others, Barbee-Lee said.

Since 2019, weve seen a decline in the number of students who are coming to school fully vaccinated, she said. Weve seen an increase in the number of people seeking exemptions, and certainly thats a part of the reason why we are where we are right now.

Barbee-Lee added, We dont necessarily have that 95% in every population or every little pocket of our communities, and that makes a big difference.
By Ahmed Aboulenein

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should not fire an advisory panel that determines what cancer screenings and other preventive health measures insurers must cover, an influential doctors' group said on Sunday.

The American Medical Association sent Kennedy a letter on Sunday expressing its concern after the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday he planned to remove all of the panel's members. The Department of Health and Human Services said Kennedy had not yet made a decision.

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"On behalf of the physician and medical student members of the American Medical Association, I am writing to express our deep concern with the recent reports of your intention to remove all of the members of the United States Preventive Services Task Force," John Whyte, the AMA chief executive officer, wrote.

HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the AMA letter.

The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, had said Kennedy planned to dismiss all 16 panel members in what would be the latest in a series of far-reaching actions by Kennedy, a long-time vaccine skeptic, to reshape U.S. regulation of vaccines, food and medicine.

In June he fired all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of vaccine experts, replacing them with seven handpicked members, including known vaccine skeptics.

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"USPSTF members play in weighing the benefits and harms of preventive services such as screenings, behavioral counseling, and preventive medications, and making evidence-based recommendations for implementation in primary care settings," the AMA letter said.

"We urge you to keep the previously appointed USPSTF members and continue the task force's regular meeting schedule to ensure recommendations are put forth, updated, and disseminated without delay," it said.

The AMA passed an emergency resolution in June asking for a Senate investigation into the firing of ACIP members. The group also sent Kennedy a letter at the time calling for an immediate reversal of the changes.

(Reporting by Ahmed AbouleneinEditing by Ros Russell)
The mental health crisis is overblown and people often exaggerate their problems, according to a poll of public beliefs.

More than half (56 per cent) of the public believe mental health conditions are exaggerated, while three quarters (76 per cent) think some people mistake lifes normal ups and downs for mental illness, according to the survey of more than 2,000 adults by Electoral Calculus and Find out Now.

With the Government facing a backbench rebellion over its efforts to restrict welfare benefits, the survey also suggests that ministers  rather than their backbenchers  may have better judged the pulse of the nation.

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The poll showed more than half of voters (52 per cent) believed that it was too easy for people to claim benefits for mental health illnesses, against 35 per cent who thought it was too hard and 13 per cent who believed it was about right.

Last month, Sir Keir Starmer was forced to back down on controversial plans to slash disability and sickness benefits after more than 120 of his MPs threatened to vote against the proposals.

Although the public believe benefits are too readily available, they are evenly divided on whether it is too easy or too hard to prove a mental illness in the UK. Some 44 per cent said it was too easy, while 43 per cent said it was too hard.

However, Tory and Reform supporters were more likely to believe it was too easy to be diagnosed as suffering from a mental health condition, with 74 per cent of Conservative voters and 55 per cent from Nigel Farages party saying it was the case.

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It comes as the head of the Governments workplace review said that employees who have I hate my boss syndrome should not be signed off sick with a mental health condition.

Sir Charlie Mayfield said he was concerned some problems are being over-medicalised when they could be solved in the office.

The former John Lewis chairman has been appointed by Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, to come up with plans to stop workers leaving their jobs because of poor health. His report is due this autumn.

One in five people of working age have a health condition that affects their job and there are 2.8 million people inactive due to ill health  up from 2.1 million since before the Covid pandemic, although the numbers had been rising for several years.

1010 Mental health-related disability benefit claims have surged

Sir Charlie told The Sunday Times: The last thing I wish to do is trivialise [mental health conditions] but I agree that things do get over-medicalised.

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Half of those polled (49 per cent) agreed that society spends too much time talking about minor mental illnesses. This rose to 77 per cent of Conservatives and 62 per cent of Reform supporters compared with just 35 per cent of Labour voters.

Three quarters (74 per cent) said that social media often led to people thinking they had a mental illness when they did not.

However, despite the scepticism about over medicalisation of mental ill health, the public believe by five to one majority (68 per cent to 14 per cent) that there were not enough services available to meet the needs of people suffering from mental health problems.

Eight in 10 people believed that mental illness had been stigmatised for too long and that it was healthy for people to talk about it more.

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Seven in 10 also felt that people with serious mental illness are losing out because of the attention given to the growing numbers of people saying they have less serious mental illness.

Martin Baxter, the chief executive of Electoral Calculus, said: The public shows strong support for tackling stigma and being open about mental health, yet many worry that everyday challenges are being labelled as mental illness, risking the needs of those with serious conditions being overlooked.

Mental health policy looks set to become a key political battleground, and these findings suggest that politicians will need to tread carefully as they respond to growing public scepticism and a system that most feel isnt working.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
As Independence Day approaches, security agencies, including the Delhi Police, are on high alert to ensure a safe and secure celebration. The Delhi Police Dog Squad plays a crucial role in this effort, with its trained dogs and handlers working 24 hours a day to detect explosives and narcotics. Sub-Inspector Jitendra Dogra, in charge of the Delhi Police Dog Squad, said the dogs are now being trained to react silently when they detect explosives, as certain types of explosives can be triggered by loud sounds such as barking. "Now, we train our dogs to sit calmly and indicate the presence of explosives through gestures, such as wagging their tail or looking at their handler." The Delhi Police Dog Squad currently has 64 dogs--58 trained to detect explosives, 3 for narcotics detection, and 3 for tracking criminals. These dogs are deployed at various sensitive locations, including the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk area, to help maintain security during the Independence Day celebrations. The 64 dogs belong to four different breeds: 22 Labradors, 17 Belgian Malinois, 16 German Shepherds and 9 Golden Retrievers. Around 40 per cent of the squad's dogs are female and the remaining 60 per cent are male. The Delhi Police is also expanding its dog squad. A plan is underway to add 30 more dogs. In 2024, 13 dogs were already inducted. While some dogs come from the Army, many are purchased through private tenders. Last year, each dog cost around Rs 5 lakh. The dog squad functions 24/7. Handlers and dogs are always on call to respond to alerts, check unattended bags, and sweep key locations. The dogs are also deployed at large public events throughout the year, such as Ram Lila, Janmashtami, and Eid. There are 121 personnel in the squad, including 1 sub-inspector, 28 assistant sub-inspectors, 53 head constables, and 39 constables--all trained as dog handlers. The main headquarters of the squad is in Model Town, with nine district units spread across East, Southwest, Dwarka, Northwest, Central, North, New Delhi and NortheastDelhi. Each unit has kennels equipped with air coolers and washrooms to ensure the comfort and well-being of the dogs. Assistant Sub-Inspector Ashok Kumar, a dog handler with Delhi Police, said, "The dog has to be raised like a child; the behaviour of any dog depends on its mood, but we come to know if our dog has any problem or not. In the morning when we take it out of its kennel, it starts playing, which means it is happy; otherwise, we understand that its health is not good, after which we do its checkup. If needed, we take it to the hospital as well. Every day we train and practice with our dogs, clean them, and feed them, and if we get a call, we take them to the spot." (ANI)
It is always an honor to testify before Congress. I had that honor in late June when I spoke to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reforms Health and Financial Services Subcommittee in a hearing titled "Sacrificing Excellence for Ideology: The Real Cost of DEI." My brief testimonial argued that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives (DEI) have "undermined meritocracy and discouraged open dialogue." Ironically, the subsequent defense of DEI from politicians did just that; sincere and present open dialogue on the issue was undermined by grandstanding and a general emphasis on past harms. My hope for a good-faith dialogue on DEI never happened.

With my points about DEI - that there are better ways to uplift Americans considered "downtrodden" - thoroughly ignored, I found myself offended as a black man. However, I was also offended as a rhetorician - someone who studies the art of persuasion. I was offended because a rhetorical style with a lofty place in black American history was weaponized, ironically, to avoid a meaningful conversation.

The African American Rhetorical Tradition (AART) was born from the powerlessness of enslavement and the lack of first-class citizenship in the Jim Crow era. It arose from religious meetings among black slaves and reflected their plight. It is definitely a powerful example of how language can litigate for resilience, survival, and hope. It is a communal, performative, and spiritually infused form of communication that encompasses slave narratives, abolitionist speeches, and religious oratory. It is inherently countercultural, theological, and emancipatory - all things that make sense for an abased people.

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I wont go as far as to say AART is irrelevant; racism still exists in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. That said, to act like contemporary America still dishes out oppression matching the indignities of Jim Crow, not to mention bondage, is erroneous and part of the problem. I think AARTs continued use - or abuse - in socio-political situations locks its speakers and black listeners in the perennial role of a subjugated people that may or may not have the power to fight back.

This mindset has seeped into social justice activism in general. In "The Three Languages of Politics," Arnold Kling writes that "progressives" use a discourse framed in an "oppressor vs. oppressed" dichotomy and that "Progressives view most favorably those groups that can be regarded as oppressed or standing with the oppressed, and they view most unfavorably those groups that can be regarded as oppressors." AARTs influence on social justice rhetoric is apparent. One could say that AART, the rhetorical tradition attributed to, arguably, the most downtrodden group in America, is the primary ingredient in social justice parlance.

According to rhetoricians Keith Gilyard and Adam Banks, black Americans "drew tremendous force" from the position of the oppressed. If the bulk of ones identity derives from being oppressed, then not being oppressed can feel antithetical to that "tremendous force." Whats more, it can feel like a kind of erasure, a crisis of identity. So, the primary rhetorical strategy is to keep the oppressor/oppressed narrative alive and kicking; it provides a powerful platform from which to speak. The narrative lives on, even if it doesnt seem to reflect real life.

Most importantly, in any victim narrative, the protagonists must embody victimhood; it is the primary identity of anyone using AART to shape and perpetuate that narrative. In fact, whether it is a narrative of victimhood or a narrative of triumph, the starting point of AART is that of "the oppressed." To "triumph," one has to overcome something; in this case, white oppression. The role of "victim" has become an archetype in Americas social justice narrative, and people of color - especially black people - are seen as the embodiment of that archetype. But it doesnt have to be this way.

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The screens through which we see the world are an inevitable part of the human condition; we cant not have them. However, we can control the nature of those screens. We can reject the tragic outlook and choose one of triumph, heroism, and empowerment, not as conditions we acquire but as conditions we possess in the first place. There is hope. Scholars like Lindsey Stewart and Badia Ahad-Legardy are doing interesting work that rejects the reduction of black American life to tragedy and trauma. I hope this scholarly genre of empowerment continues to grow. Right now, the empowerment derived from disempowerment is doing more harm than good.

The African American Rhetorical Tradition is worth lauding, but weaponization in the "Sacrificing Excellence for Ideology: The Real Cost of DEI" hearing has much to do with the nature of contemporary racial justice activism. Sadly, I see it being used not to support and strengthen an oppressed group, but to perpetuate an unhealthy oppressed mindset.

Erec Smith is a research fellow at the Cato Institute and an Associate Professor of Rhetoric at York College of Pennsylvania. He is co-founder of Free Black Thought and a member of the board of advisors at the Prohuman Foundation.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his dismay following the train accident in the south-western state of Baden-Wurttemberg, which resulted in three deaths and several injuries.

"We mourn the victims. I extend my condolences to their relatives," the conservative politician wrote on the platform X.

"I am in close contact with the interior minister and the transport minister and have asked them to support the rescue forces by all means," Merz wrote further.

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A regional train derailed near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wurttemberg early on Sunday evening.

Current information from the police investigation is that three people lost their lives. Other travellers are said to be critically injured.

Rescue workers search for passengers in a derailed train. Several people have been killed and many others injured after a passenger train derailed in Biberach district between Zweifaltendorf and Zell in south-western Germany. Thomas Warnack/dpa

Rescue workers search for passengers in a derailed train. Several people have been killed and many others injured after a passenger train derailed in Biberach district between Zweifaltendorf and Zell in south-western Germany. Thomas Warnack/dpa
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has once again spoken by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and urged the Israeli leader to do whatever he can to alleviate the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"The chancellor expressed his deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. He called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to do everything in his power to immediately achieve a ceasefire," government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said on Sunday.

"The measures announced by the Israeli government must now be followed swiftly by substantial further steps," the statement from Berlin said.

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The German government plans to decide in the coming days, in coordination with the E3 countries, which also include France and the United Kingdom, other European partners, the United States, and Arab states, how it can contribute to improving the situation.

The E3 issued a statement on Friday calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and the unconditional release of all Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas. The European Union, the United States, Israel and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Kornelius repeated that recognizing Palestine is not currently on Germany's agenda. The German government continues to view it as one of the final steps towards achieving a two-state solution.
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE)  A new exhibit at the New Mexico Space History Museum in Alamogordo is taking museumgoers on a journey through the world of radio-controlled aviation. Skywired allows guests to now stand beneath the wings of history, and marvel at the creativity that helped shape the skies today.

Museum-goers can see The Big Guff, one of the first radio controlled models ever flown in the southwest, test their dexterity on the moon, or try their hand at RC flight themselves. The exhibit takes you from the development of rockets in the late 1800s to the current future of space exploration missions to understand other planets within our solar system.

It goes through the history of doing radios, radio transmitters, and receivers long distance. And then that evolved into remote controlled craft and then all the way to our current drones,  shared Olga Valanos, spokesperson for the NM Space History Museum.

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New interactive exhibit launches at New Mexico Museum of Space History

The 30 replicas and models on display pay homage to famed inventor and Army Air Corps Colonel George Vernon Holloman, a pioneer in aeronautical engineering research and development in the late 1930s.

From then, he kept developing other drones and the predecessor to the modern-day drones. He made so many innovations that were important for aerial weaponry and guided systems, shared Vallanos.

Although Holloman didnt live to see his dream of RPS being used successfully in combat, his visions for remotely piloted flight are the reasons programs like the Predator and the Reaper exist today.

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Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has called for Miriam Margolyess OBE to be stripped.

The Harry Potter actress, who is Jewish, claimed Adolf Hitler has won by making Jewish people like him during Israels recent occupation of Gaza.

The 83-year-old added that while she acknowledged the wickedness and cruelty inflicted on Jews by Nazi Germany during the Holocaust, the Israeli government was now doing the same to Palestinians in Gaza.

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She said in an interview with The Big Issue: I cannot bear to think that my people are doing exactly the same thing to another nation.

And the nation they are doing it to, the Palestinian nation, was not responsible for the Holocaust, it had nothing to do with it. That was a purely European pleasure.

So my heart is broken and I think the terrible thing I have to face is Hitler won. He changed us. He made us like him.

Miriam Margolyes said Adolf Hitler made Jewish people like him following the Israel-Hamas

Now a spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for the actress to be stripped of her OBE that she won for her performance in The Age of Innocence in 1993. The group added that the comparison between Nazi Germany and Jews was racist bilge.

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This must be the end of the road for Miriam Margolyes. The fact that she was born Jewish does not give her a licence to use her immense platform to spread anti-Jewish venom, the spokesman said.

Saying that Hitler converted the Jews into Nazis is flat out racist bilge and she must be shunned by the show business world that has fawned and bowed until now. This includes stripping her of her Bafta.

We will be writing to the Honours Forfeiture Committee to ask that her OBE be removed.

Margolyes touched on similar themes on social media earlier this week, saying Hitler had turned Jews from being compassionate and caring .. into this vicious, genocidal, nationalist nation.

Jewish and vile

The British-Australian actress has a history of making controversial comments about the war in Gaza, having also said she had never been so ashamed of Israel over its tactics in Gaza.

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She has previously called on Jews to shout, beg, scream for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In October last year, Margolyes was cleared over comments she made during a BBC interview in which she used the phrase Jewish and vile.

Despite a complaint to the Executive Complaints Unit, the BBCs highest complaints body, ruled that her comments were not racist.

Margolyess latest comments likening Jews to Hitler have been seized upon by pro-Palestinian supporters on social media.

More than six million Jews died at the hands of Nazi Germany during World War Two.

Jonathan Sacerdoti, a broadcaster and campaigner against anti-Jewish racism who submitted the complaint to the BBC, said Margolyes was known to make offensive comments about Jews.

Pressure on Israel

The opposition against Israels occupation of Gaza has grown in recent weeks following claims the Israeli government was blocking aid from the territorys two million residents.

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Pictures on social media of starving Palestinian children in Gaza in recent weeks have also helped increase pressure on Israel over the war in Gaza, which has been going on for a year and nine months.

Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, has backed a push by more than one third of Labour MPs for the UK to follow Emmanuel Macron and recognise the Palestinian state.

Sir Keir Starmer has so far resisted the pressure, amid fears Labour could lose 20 seats over the issue at the next election.

The Telegraph has contacted a representative for Margolyes for comment.

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The most important part of 28-year-old Brandon Hummels life was his two children, according to his mother.

I know in my heart hes probably not alive anymore because he never wouldve stayed away from those kids this long, or me, Deana Floyd said.

Floyd left Hummel, a Choctaw citizen, and her other son at home for a trip out of town in January 2024. Hummel stayed in Atoka while his brother reported going to the movies in Ada. When the family returned, Hummel had vanished.

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Yeah, he made mistakes, but through it all, he loved them kids, Floyd said. He was just a down-to-earth guy. Even when he got in trouble with the police before, they all liked him. It wasnt like he was a bad guy or anything, he just had some issues that he got in trouble for.

Hummel had a track record of leaving home without a lot of communication, so Floyd didnt contact authorities to report him missing until a month passed. What followed, she said, was a disorganized and lackluster performance from law enforcement resistant to cooperation.

The first organization involved in the search for Hummel was the Atoka County Sheriff's Office. Floyd said the agency initially responded, but passed the case to Choctaw Lighthorse police without further involvement. That was something new, Floyd said, because the sheriff helped the family before.

When [Brandon] was in his addiction, they didnt have a problem coming out and arresting him and taking him to jail, Floyd said. He was in their jail before.

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Things changed in Oklahoma after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the McGirt case. That 2020 decision drastically altered the states legal landscape, finding much of the eastern portion to be reservation land. As a result, cases that the state would have previously handled were scheduled for tribal or federal courts.

I think this law that they passed is ridiculous, Floyd said. They just want to shove everything over to the [Bureau of Indian Affairs] or the Lighthorse. If theyre Indian, they want nothing to do with it.

Atoka County Sheriff Kody Simpson was elected last summer, defeating the incumbent after Hummels disappearance. Simpson said relations between his office and the Choctaw Nation have improved, and its no longer policy that cases be sent without follow-up to the tribe.

I hate to say this, but its the truth: In the municipal police and the county sheriffs offices, it is a way to be lazy, Simpson said. Its absolutely what it boils down to, 100%. They dont want to deal with the call; they dont want to deal with any call. The municipalities and the county sheriffs offices that hand every call off, for tribal citizens, it is a way to be lazy.

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Under the purview of the Lighthorse police, Hummels case languished, Floyd said. They werent interested in helping because of Hummels criminal record. In a written statement, Lighthorse police denied negligence, saying it investigated and followed local leads diligently for a year before the remaining leads were identified to be individuals located out of the state.

Lighthorse eventually requested help from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the BIA. Floyd said the first BIA agent in charge left without an explanation. His successor, who is based in Tennessee due to a staff shortage in Oklahoma, has been scarce.

The BIA did not respond to requests for information.

Advocates note similar breakdowns in procedures and relationships. The Northeastern Oklahoma Indigenous Safety & Education advocacy network creates reports for cases it handles. Last year, the group was involved in the search for Trey Glass, a 19-year-old United Keetoowah Band member found dead in a well belonging to a former Kansas, Oklahoma police chief.

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In its report on Glass, NOISE noted a tangle of issues, including a delay before tribal authorities were notified of Glass disappearance by the family, not the police.

Much of the confusion could have been delayed, and more resources could have been deployed if the Kansas PD had some foundational knowledge of operating a police department within the exterior boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, the NOISE report stated.

The confusion was compounded by an intertribal dispute. Because Glass family is UKB, they chose to contact their tribe for help, but the UKB and the Cherokee Nation are at odds over a recent opinion that they legally share the same reservation. The initial search for Glass was a cluster, according to the report, as the UKB, the Cherokee Nation and the police tried to sort out who was in charge.

Chaos, apathy and uncooperative interagency behavior are not uncommon in missing or murdered Native cases such as Hummels and Glass. Thats according to Karrisa Newkirk, president and founder of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women Oklahoma, who said it can be difficult to get law enforcement at any level across the state involved, even in violent emergencies.

Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

Theres been many domestic violence cases, too, Newkirk said. So theres been many times when someone has called because of a domestic violence incident and the city police are like, Oh, youre tribal? Youre going to have to call tribal police. Even though theyre in the city limits. And when youre in a time of need, thats not something you want to hear.

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Newkirk, who also collaborates with the Department of Justice, said responses improve if a cross-deputization agreement is in place, but the responsibility for contacting tribal police often still falls on the shoulders of victims, which breeds distrust and confusion.

I cant tell you how many times I have been told, Well, they said this, but I was so flustered in the moment, I didnt do it. I called you, Newkirk said.

Newkirk advocates for a range of solutions, including greater resources for the BIA, continued involvement of a responding officer and a standardized approach to police notifying tribes of arrests.

They probably dont have a manual, but I really do think there needs to be some kind of workflow, she said. Like, Oh, this is a tribal member. How many hours do we have to contact the tribal authority?

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Newkirk also said agencies that work together should have biweekly check-ins, networking events and annual training.

A lot of these small PDs dont even have proper training in human trafficking, or missing children, or even murder cases, Newkirk said. It should not take 10 hours to issue an AMBER Alert when it meets all the criteria. Training is a necessity.

In the meantime, Deana Floyd and other families with missing loved ones wait.

Its a nightmare when you dont know where your child is, she said. At this point, I dont care about anything anymore, except for finding him.

Elizabeth Caldwell is a Tulsa-based journalist and contributor to Oklahoma Watch.

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Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Missing, murdered cases delayed as police struggle to collaborate
There can be no greater indicator of hopelessness in Government than the flailing around this weekend of Sir Keir Starmer and his ministers.

Even as the people of this country were protesting up and down the land from Glasgow to Diss in Norfolk our Prime Minister was fixated on a country far away, negotiating with the EU for a way to airdrop aid into Gaza.

Demonstrations have taken place all weekend against the occupation of migrant hotels even as more illegals found their way to our shores. Larger and larger crowds of demonstrators have been gathering to demand an end to the housing of asylum seekers and a shutting down of our borders.

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But if youd been monitoring the output from Downing Street, you might not know it.

With every international policy that emanates from the office of the Prime Minister  such as the promise to recognise Palestinian statehood at some point in the future  there is often a domestic act with far reaching consequences.

The latest betrayal of the British people is a plan to spend millions on repurposing housing with local councils in order to accommodate yet more asylum seekers. There are apparently 700,000 potential homes in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham. The Government would pay for councils to either lease or buy the properties and then renovate them en masse.

Not only has the proposed pilot scheme angered homeless campaigners but it will dismay many younger people who were promised the vote only last week. After all, what hope will teenagers have of ever buying their own home if the current supply, and even newer converted properties, are earmarked for new arrivals to the country?

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And to make matters worse an elite police squad has been set up to monitor anti-migrant posts on social media. Theyre going to be pretty busy.

Britain has never been more categorically in a state of disrepair. Yet it seems as though this Government and its ministers are determined not to acknowledge it. Instead it seems determined to downgrade our status ever further. Consider whats happened over the last few days. President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland with a warning that immigration was ruining not just this country but all of Europe.

We learnt that dozens of Taliban fighters are amongst the many thousands of Afghan refugees who came to the UK under the resettlement scheme. That terrorists from the Middle East have entered the country posing as asylum seekers. Weve also seen a rise in homeless foreigners sleeping on our streets. It is fostering resentment, and a mounting sense of unfairness. Sixth-formers might have the vote in 2029, but how many will support Labour against this backdrop?

As the anger deepens around the country over immigration and the way the government is failing to control it, Starmers proposal to bring Palestinian children to Britain will be met with further alarm. In a weekend poll, 27 per cent of Brits said they didnt sympathise with either side. We can perhaps read into this that it is not an issue of great importance to them.

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More and more people are telling me that they have had enough of being treated like second class citizens and they hold the Labour Government responsible. Who can blame them?

Mike Graham presents Morning Glory every weekday morning from 6am-10am on Talk

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  It has been mostly dry across almost all of New Mexico today, with the exception of a few spotty afternoon storms. This will be the same story on Sunday, but with a couple more storms in the southern and southeastern parts of the state.

Forecast Continues Below

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A surge of monsoon moisture will move back into New Mexico early next week. This will increase rain chances into the middle of next week. Most of New Mexico will see rain chances return, except for east-central and southeast New Mexico, where high pressure will keep things drier. Temperatures will also cool off for most with the increase in moisture and rain. The rain will also bring back a threat of flash flooding by the middle of next week.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the Chola Empire's role in bolstering ancient India's economy and military, describing it as a historical blueprint that serves as an "ancient roadmap" for modern India. PM Modi also emphasised that for India to build a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India), it must draw inspiration from the Chola Empire's powerful navy by strengthening its defence forces and exploring new opportunities. The Prime Minister was addressing the public at the valedictory function at the 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' festival on the occasion of the birth anniversary of King Rajendra Chola I at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple in Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur. PM Narendra Modi also released a commemorative coin honouring the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I. "The economic and military heights India reached during the Chola era continue to inspire us even today. Rajaraja Chola built a powerful navy, which he further strengthened. The Chola Empire is like an ancient roadmap for developed India. It tells us that if we have to make 'Viksit Bharat,' then we have to strengthen our navy and defence forces and explore new opportunities. Today, India is embracing the philosophy of Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi. Modern India takes great pride in its rich history and cultural legacy. Over the past decade, we have worked tirelessly in mission mode to protect and preserve India's heritage," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister donned traditional attire, consisting of a white veshti (dhoti), a white shirt, and an angavasthram around his neck. He mentioned that the country has recovered many ancient statues and artefacts that were stolen and sold abroad, and has successfully brought them back to the country in recent years. "Efforts have been made to recover ancient statues and artefacts that were stolen and sold abroad, and many of these priceless treasures have been successfully brought back to the country. After 2014, more than 600 ancient artefacts and statues have been brought back to India. Out of these, 36 are from the state of Tamil Nadu. The Shaivite tradition has greatly influenced India's cultural identity," he said, emphasising that the Chola emperors were important in building and preserving the heritage. Underscoring the cultural and historical importance of the southern state, Prime Minister Modi said that Tamil Nadu remains a centre where the rich traditions of the past continue to thrive. He also noted that the revered saints from the Shaivite Adheenams led the ceremony with spiritual grace during the inauguration of the new Parliament building. "During the inauguration of the new Parliament building, the revered saints from our Shaivite Adheenams led the ceremony with spiritual grace. The sacred Sengol, a symbol deeply embedded in Tamil culture, was ceremoniously installed in the new Parliament. Reflecting on that moment today fills me with immense pride. The Chola emperors had woven India into a thread of cultural unity. Today, our government is carrying forward the same vision of the Chola era. Through initiatives like the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and the Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam, we are strengthening these centuries-old bonds of unity," he added. He further mentioned that Rajendra Chola built the magnificent Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, which remains an architectural marvel admired worldwide. The Chola Empire's legacy also gave rise to the celebration of the Maa Ganga festival on the land of the sacred river Kaveri, the Prime Minister added. He was welcomed by the local pandits in the temple. Earlier in the day, crowds thronged to see the Prime Minister as he held a roadshow in the Tiruchirappalli district. His convoy received a warm welcome from the commoners gathered to witness his arrival. The temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famed for its intricate sculptures, Chola bronzes, and ancient inscriptions. The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also celebrates the rich Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition, fervently supported by the Cholas and immortalised by the 63 Nayanmars--the saint-poets of Tamil Shaivism. Notably, Rajendra Chola's birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), begins on July 23, making this year's festival all the more significant. (ANI)
The mom of a Bronx woman who police say was tortured and murdered by her brutal ex never thought the time they spent together in May would be their last Mothers Day.

Princesa Encarnacion-Sotos mother said the doomed 24-year-old was living with her in Rhode Island, where she grew up after moving from Puerto Rico 15 years ago, but ended up back in the Bronx less than two weeks before her death.

I never think this is the last time I see my daughter, said Jecebelle Soto, 39. I never think its the last birthday together and the last Mothers Day together. Sotos birthday is also in May.

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Police are still looking for the accused killer, Robert Strother, 26. Investigators believe he tortured Encarnacion-Soto for more than a week before she died inside the Grand Concourse apartment in Fordham.

Cops believe Strother tied her down to the bed  based on the bloody clothes, sheets and bungee cords discovered at the scene  and beat and cut her to cause her pain, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny has said.

Encarnacion-Sotos body was covered in bruises from hammer strikes, deep cuts and stab wounds. The bottoms of her feet were cut open, and a piece of a knuckle on her finger was missing.

Im so sad. Im so mad. Im so angry. I want everybody (involved) to go to jail, Jecebelle Soto said.

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Strother lives in the Fordham apartment with his mother, Naida Jorge, 54, who is accused of trying to clean up the murder scene to protect her son.

Jorge told police she found the body on the stairs outside the apartment, and had a neighbor call police, claiming at first she didnt know the victim, cops said.

She allowed cops to check her apartment, where they found the torture chamber, and smelled bleach on spots where Jorge was trying to clean up, Kenny said. Jorge became combative and tried to get police to leave the apartment, but she was taken into custody, and cops got a warrant to conduct a thorough search, he said.

Encarnacion-Sotos body was cleaned up, and garbed in fresh clothes when police found her on the staircase, Kenny said.

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Jorge was seen dropping off a black garbage bag near the buildings boiler room after the victim was discovered, neighbors said. Inside the bag were bloody clothes and cleaning supplies, according to neighbors.

She faces murder for rendering criminal assistance to her son, as well as manslaughter, hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse.

My daughter is beautiful, Jecebelle Soto said. My daughter liked dancing together, eating together, going to a picnic together. My daughter never disrespect me. My daughter is such a sweet person.

Encarnacion-Soto would often help homeless people when she saw them, giving them food and clothing. She wanted to become a certified nursing assistant, so she could take care of the elderly, the mom said.

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She met Strother on Instagram about two years ago, and the two were together on-and-off for about two years.

Strother has a history of 22 prior domestic violence incidents, but none of those calls involved Encarnacion-Soto, Kenny said.

Hes broken my heart because my daughter is not a bad person, the victims mom said of Strother. This my only baby daughter. This my twin. This my clone. This my everything.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include the cancellation of Russia's Navy Day parade and U.K. intelligence comments.



Russia canceled its annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg for the first time, citing security concerns amid a wave of drone attacks that disrupted airports and railways across western Russia overnight on July 27, local officials and Russian media reported.

The decision to cancel the Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg, an event traditionally held on the last Sunday of July, was announced by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on July 27, who said it was made "for security reasons."

Despite the cancellation, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly traveled to the city to mark the occasion.

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The United Kingdom's Defense Ministry said it is "almost certain" that Navy Day parades originally planned for July 27 were canceled across Russia due to force protection concerns. While the main naval parade in St. Petersburg was reduced in scale in 2024, this marks the first full cancellation since its inception in 2017.

Russia has reported a growing number of drone incursions into its territory in recent months. While Kyiv has been targeting infrastructure critical to Russia's war effort, Moscow has significantly intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, frequently targeting civilian infrastructure and causing numerous civilian casualties.

In Leningrad Oblast, dozens of flights were delayed at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg after local authorities reported a wave of drone interceptions in the early hours.

Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that drones were downed in several districts, with debris reportedly falling in residential and industrial zones.

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Read also: Investigation: Despite sanctions, American trucks are being used by Russia to launch kamikaze drones

Drozdenko claimed that Russian air defenses intercepted "more than a dozen" Ukrainian drones. In Lomonosovsky district, according to Drozdenko, debris from an intercepted drone injured one person.

In Russia's Volgograd Oblast, drone debris reportedly damaged a railway's overhead power supply system, disrupting electrical infrastructure.

Governor Andrei Bocharov blamed Ukraine for the attack but reported no injuries. Local Telegram channels shared footage suggesting a substation fire may have contributed to the outage.

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The Privolzhskaya Railway reported that train service was delayed at Zhutovo Station due to falling drone debris. Trains connecting southern resort towns and central Russian cities were affected by delays of over two hours.

Kaluga Oblast, located southwest of Moscow, was also targeted, with flights reportedly disrupted at the regional airport. Other affected airports included Volgograd and Pulkovo, where at least 70 flights were reportedly delayed.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted or destroyed a total of 99 drones overnight. Among them were 36 launched at Bryansk Oblast, 21 at Smolensk, 10 at Kaluga, and nine each at Volgograd and Rostov.

Additional drones targeted occupied Crimea, Voronezh, Kursk, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Tambov, and the Black Sea coastal area.

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Ukraine has not officially commented on the attack. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reports.

Read also: It hits their psyche hard  Ukraines drones throw Russias airports further into chaos

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Russia wants to resolve its war in Ukraine through "diplomatic and political means" but would continue military operations until its "goals" are achieved, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on July 27.

Responding to a question from Russian state-controlled news agency Tass, Peskov said that "the goals of (war) must be fulfilled before the principles of future relations with Ukraine can be determined."

Russia continues to push for the same core demands it outlined at the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022: a ban on Ukraine joining NATO, large-scale demilitarization of the country, and legal "guarantees" for the Russian language, culture, and Moscow-linked religious groups in Ukraine.

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The Kremlin has also demanded constitutional changes in Ukraine, including recognition of four Ukrainian oblasts as Russian territory, along with the Crimean peninsula, which it seized in 2014.

Peskov claimed Russia would "prefer" to resolve the conflict through dialogue, but said military operations continue because "opponents rejected the path of negotiations."

Kyiv has consistently supported negotiations but refused to accept Russia's maximalist conditions, which are essentially capitulation.

Ukraine has also consistently rejected all demands that involve ceding territory or weakening its military. President Volodymyr Zelensky and top officials have said any peace must begin with an unconditional ceasefire.

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Peskov's comments came days after the third round of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, where Ukraine reiterated its call for a full ceasefire and humanitarian agreements.

The latest round of peace talks between the two sides took place in Istanbul on July 23, marking the third formal meeting since negotiations resumed earlier this year after a long pause.

Ukrainian officials proposed a meeting between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin before the end of August, but the Russian side again declined the idea of a meeting between the two leaders.

Russia's delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, proposed creating three working groups to address political, military, and humanitarian issues. Moscow also offered to facilitate brief ceasefires to retrieve wounded soldiers and repatriate bodies and claimed it would return the remains of 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen through the Red Cross.

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The revived diplomatic push comes as the U.S. increases pressure on Russia to end the war. On July 14, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that he would impose "severe" tariffs on Russia unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days.

Read also: Zelenskys big Ukraine blunder, explained

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
All three suspects were denied pre-trial release. They have since been identified as the childs own mother, 22-year-old Angelique Mobley, her boyfriend, 33-year-old Lamon Weathers, and his cousin, 27-year-old Matthew Price.

CHICAGO (WGN)  A Chicago mother charged in the kidnapping of her own daughter made her first court appearance Saturday, along with the two men accused of helping her.

WGN-TV spoke with the childs paternal grandmother on Wednesday, the day of the kidnapping. She did not want to be identified for fear of her safety, but said Mobley did not have custody of the child and a judge had granted her an emergency order of protection against Mobley.

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So at this point, I just want my grandbaby, and I want her in jail because Im scared shes going to hurt my grandbaby, the childs grandmother said on Wednesday.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 2-year-old girl abducted from apartment during home invasion found safe: CPD

According to police, the three suspects broke into the grandmothers apartment in the 4800 bock of South Michigan Avenue. They then kidnapped the child, stole the grandmothers car and other property.

Police said the child was safely located at around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

During Saturdays court appearance, the judge was boggled after learning of some of the jobs the suspects had.

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Price was described as a full-time babysitter, while Weathers was described as an associated pastor at his church and also reportedly worked as a security guard. He had just pled guilty to felony assault earlier this month and has seven other felony convictions on his record, according to court documents.

RELATED: 3 arrested in connection with Chicago toddlers abduction

Meanwhile, Mobley was on pre-trial release for retail theft. There was also a warrant for her arrest on a second retail theft case, according to investigators.

Left to right: Angelique Mobley, Lamon Weathers and Matthew Price (Photos: Chicago Police Department)

Prosecutors said after the kidnapping, Mobley and Weathers took the child to Central Illinois and dropped her off at the Danville home of one of Weathers relatives.

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However, the relative later saw a news alert on the endangered child and called police.

Chicago police said Mobley and Weathers were arrested just before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 6300 block of South Kedzie Avenue in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, while Price was arrested just after midnight Thursday morning in the 1600 block of South Central Park Avenue in North Lawndale.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Prosecutors said Mobley tried to leverage the location of her child in order to be released, unaware she had already been located.

The suspects also reportedly left a trial of evidence behind, including a Facebook Live video where Mobley made statements that she planned to kidnap her daughter.

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Mobley has been charged with kidnapping, residential burglary and child abduction; Weathers has been charged with aggravated armed kidnapping and home invasion, while Price has been charged with aggravated armed kidnapping, home invasion and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW)  A man has died after a crash in Jackson Township, Stark County, Saturday afternoon.

According to a press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 1:20 p.m. on Frank Avenue near Mega Street.

Tom Hamilton earns Baseball Hall of Fame honor

According to the release, a 2000 Indian Chief motorcycle being driven by 58-year-old Larry Jeffries Jr. was heading south on Frank Ave. in the center lane.

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At the same time, a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado was being driven by 24-year-old Luca Stambaug, also heading south on Frank Ave.

According to the release, the Silverado tried to make a left-hand turn from the far right lane onto Mega Street. That is when, because of the improper turn, the motorcycle was hit on the drivers side of the Silverado.

According to the release, Jeffries Jr. was taken to Mercy Hospital in Canton, where he was pronounced dead due to internal injuries sustained in the collision.

Man dead after woman says she was held against her will: Police

According to the OSHP, Jefferies Jr. was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

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The crash remains under investigation.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD)  Culture, heritage, and history took center stage Saturday as hundreds gathered at Waterfront Park for the 21st Annual Sweetgrass Festival a celebration of Gullah Geechee traditions through art, music, food, and family fun.

From the moment the gates opened at 10 a.m., the park was buzzing with energy. Families, tourists, and locals came together to honor a culture deeply rooted in resilience, creativity, and ancestral pride.

Roots and culture of the sweet grass history all the way from West Africa, which I am proudly from and my ancestors are from  its just an honor to be here for this event, said attendee Bruce Ingram.

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The festival featured a wide variety of vendors showcasing handcrafted jewelry, vibrant fashion, and of course the iconic sweetgrass baskets that represent a longstanding tradition in the Lowcountry. Healthcare providers were also present to share resources, and local food vendors served up refreshing treats like Italian ice and ice cream alongside flavorful Gullah Geechee seafood.

Business owners say their mission goes beyond sales its about education and preservation.

Just knowing the culture and the history of the sweet grass baskets, I definitely think we should continue to pass that down so it doesnt become something that fades away, said Cynthia Brown, owner of HBC Grass Baskets. Its very important to continue to teach our kids  keep the generation going, keep our history and heritage alive.

For many Gullah Geechee natives, the festival is a powerful way to ensure their stories are heard and never forgotten.

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Theres only one world and we all have different stories, but its one country, Ingram added. Our history and everyone elses history must be told so we dont repeat some of the things that were done in the past.

If you missed this years celebration, dont worry the Sweetgrass Festival will be back next year, same time, same place

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jul. 26MORGANTOWN  On July 8already days into what would become a weeks-long water delivery emergency for the Clinton Water Associationthe Morgantown Utility Board was approached about the possibility of acquiring the association.

According to MUB, Clinton Water Association Board President Alan Wise initiated that meeting.

"Alan Wise contacted MUB on July 8 requesting a meeting at our office. During that meeting, held the afternoon of July 8, the possibility of MUB acquiring the Clinton Water Association was discussed in very general terms, " MUB Communications Director Chris Dale said. "The next day we learned that when the matter was put before the Clinton Water Association Board of Directors, it failed."

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According to information obtained by The Dominion Post, the issue never actually made it to a vote.

The Clinton Water Association Board of Directors did meet July 8 and convened in executive session, during which Wise ended up resigning his position on the board.

Wise did not respond to requests for comment in time for this report.

The Clinton Water Association delivery issues started bubbling up at the tail end of June, but began in earnest July 3, when some customers in the CWA service area woke to find little-to-no water available heading into the holiday weekend.

Over the next two weeks, association members experienced stretches of no service, low pressure, boil water advisories and conservation advisories, meaning essential use only.

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All the while, personnel with CWA and Carline Hauling and Excavationwhich signed a contract with the association in June to take on emergency repairsbegan trying to run down the problem with assistance from various local and state agencies.

Patrick Kirby with Carline Hauling and Excavating said a number of small leaks were detected in the early going, but nothing that would cause customers to go without water.

It wasn't until July 14, Kirby explained, that an issue was detected with the overflow system of a non-metered tank sitting on private property. Because of where the tank is located, the spillage wasn't detected until a visible amount of water had accumulated.

"There was no way to quickly identify it. It was on private property behind a fence. Based on the size of the pipe and the speed at which the water was coming out, once we got that closed on the 14th, the levels went back up pretty fast after that, " Kirby said. "If it's going down over a hill on private property and it's not facing anything public or anywhere people would have access to, how would you notice it until it gets to a point where it's saturating and becomes more visible."

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During this time, the additional strain on the CWA system highlighted the deteriorated capacity in the association's Atwood Pump Station, which it immediately moved to address by sending one of the two pumps off for repairs.

Operations Manager Kristi Dalton said the repaired pump was returned Friday and will be reinstalled early next week, once its rented replacement is retrieved. The association is also considering the purchase of a new pump for the station, which pulls in water purchased from MUB and pushes it out to customers.

Pressure issues at that exchange are a known issue.

In the fiscal year 2025 West Virginia Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan, a $2.1 million project was submitted by CWA to address the problem.

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The plan states, "Clinton Water was informed by Morgantown Utility Board of upcoming capital improvement projects that would reduce pressures going to the Clinton System. Clinton has been having issues with the Atwood Pump Station losing adequate suction pressure already and causing low pressures on the Route 73 branch of their system."

The proposed project, which was ultimately ranked 49th out of the 160 projects submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would construct a new storage tank that would allow "Clinton to control their own pressure throughout the system instead of relying on Morgantown Utility Board's pressures."

Dale said reducing water pressure to CWA isn't the focus of any upcoming MUB project, but may be a result of the forthcoming plan to replace and improve the 50-plus-year-old high service pump station at MUB's water treatment facility on Don Knotts Boulevard.

"One of the goals of the pump house project, which we hope to enter the design phase of this year, is to reduce the amount of time each day that our high service pumps are actively pumping. While the reduced runtime should lower electricity consumption, there is a possibility that it could slightly lower the overall pressure of the water leaving the treatment plant, " he said. "The Clinton Water Association has been informed of this possibility."
GARFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP/WOOD)  Multiple people were stabbed at a Walmart near Traverse City, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said Saturday.

The Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post that a 42-year-old man came into a Walmart in Garfield Township and used a folding knife to stab 11 people, whose ages have not been released. A deputy arrived within minutes and took the suspect into custody, according to GTCSO.

The sheriffs office says that shoppers in Walmart helped treat victims.

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Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea confirmed that 11 people were injured during a press conference on Saturday. He said the stabbing started near the check out area at the store and that the suspect is believed to live in the state.

It appears he was a Michigan resident, Shea said.

The sheriff also offered a message to people in the area.

Be vigilant, Shea said. Know that no area is immune to this type of activity unfortunately, and if you see something, please reach out. Call 911. And as I said, there was citizen involvement in this. And if we learn more about that, well talk more about it. But its very tragic, and nobody is immune to it unfortunately.

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Shea said that no authorities or first responders were injured.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said the Bureau is providing its support to the sheriffs office.

FBI personnel are responding to provide any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart, Bongino said in a post.

Munson Healthcare said it is treating victims at its local hospital in the area.

We can confirm that 11 victims are being treated at Munson Medical Center, the hospital said in a post. As a result, our Emergency Department is currently experiencing a higher-than-usual volume of patients.

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The hospital said that five victims were in serious condition and six were in critical condition, as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Saturday evening she was communicating with authorities in Traverse City.

Im in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City, Whitmer said in a statement. Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BJP Mandal President Jayanta Debbarma has claimed that over 50 Tipra Motha Party "goons" attacked a Mann Ki Baat event on Sunday in Tripura's Khowai district, injuring several party workers and damaging multiple vehicles. The incident took place at booth number 30 in Asaram Bari while Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat was being broadcast. According to Debbarma, the attackers arrived armed with sharp weapons, lathis and rods, and began hurling bricks and bottles at BJP workers. "Over 50 goons of the Tipra Motha Party attacked and disrupted the program. They vandalised my vehicle and also attacked the owner of the house where the Mann Ki Baat program was organised. They also vandalised 15 bikes and several other vehicles," Debbarma told ANI. He added that six BJP workers sustained injuries, with some hit on the head, mouth, and chest. "Around six karyakartas sustained injuries to the head, mouth, and chest. They brought daos, lathis, rods, and other weapons to attack us," he said. Debbarma accused the Tipra Motha Party of trying to instill fear and disrupt a peaceful community event held in honour of the Prime Minister's address. The Tipra Motha Party is currently allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is led by Chief Minister Manik Saha, the ruling party in the state. Earlier this month, Tipra Motha Party Chief Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barma raised concerns over Bangladeshi nationals allegedly buying tribal land in the northeastern state of Tripura, claiming that the state is losing "land inch by inch." While raising the issue of the alleged land sale, Pradyot Bikram hit out at both the Congress and the BJP, accusing certain people of doing politics for "short-term gains," while the state is losing land to outsiders. "I have just got documents today to prove a Bangladeshi national has purchased land in the tribal areas of Tripura, and the property was mutated in his name. I am aware that when I raise these issues, I am attacked by a few of my friends from Congress and also certain individuals who are today in the BJP for personal gains. Should I stay silent and see our state lose land inch by inch while people do politics of short-term gains?" he said. (ANI)
At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday  with six in critical condition  in what the sheriff said appeared to be a random act. A suspect was in custody, authorities said.

Eleven is 11 too many, but thank God it wasnt more, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea told reporters.

Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders were seen outside the store following the incident.

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Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles from Traverse City, said she was in the parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.

It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out, she said. This is something you see out of the movies. Its not what you expect to see where youre living.

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Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the regions largest hospital in northern Michigan. Spokesperson Megan Brown said all were stabbing victims. Six were critical and five were in serious condition late Saturday, she said.

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Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife. Earlier in the day, the Michigan State Police said the suspect had been taken into custody. Shea said the suspect is believed to be a Michigan resident but declined to share further details.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said: Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.

Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation.

Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders, the statement said.

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FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to provide any necessary support.

Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Two people died Saturday in what appears to be a murder-suicide shooting in the Oak Park neighborhood, authorities said.

Around 9:47 a.m., San Diego police received a call of a domestic violence shooting in the 5500 block of Timothy Drive.

When officers arrived on scene, they found a woman in her 50s suffering from a gunshot wound to her upper body, as well as a man in his 50s in a separate room dead from a gunshot wound to his head, according to police.

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Plumber rescues grandmother from bee swarm in Santee

First responders attempted to revive the woman, but she was also pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities believe the incident is a murder-suicide, and that the woman was killed in a domestic violence shooting.

The names of the deceased have not been released at this time.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Elon Musk ordered employees to cut Starlink service over areas of Ukraine in September 2022 during a counteroffensive by Kyiv to retake territory from Russia, Reuters reported.

The decision left Ukrainian forces in a communications blackout; surveillance drones went suddenly dark and long-range artillery units, which used Starlink to help aim, floundered. In making the call, Musk took the outcome of a war into his own hands, one source told Reuters.

SpaceX disputed the reporting.

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Previously, Walter Isaacsons biography of Musk revealed the tech mogul in 2022 had refused to allow Ukraine to use Starlink to launch an offensive against Russia in Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014.
Naked man breaks in to Senate Chamber at Minnesota Capitol originally appeared on Bring Me The News.

A naked man suffering an apparent mental health episode was found in the Senate Chamber at the Minnesota Capitol on Friday evening.

The unauthorized intrusion was confirmed in a memo sent to Minnesota lawmakers by the Minnesota House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms, which has been widely reported by local media.

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According to authorities, the man was found "disrobed" in the Senate Chamber and appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis, making statements "indicating a belief that he was the governor."

Capitol Security found the man nude and deemed him to be nonviolent. He was taken from Capitol premises to Regions Hospital, where he was later released after evaluation.

He then returned to the grounds  albeit not in the building itself  on Saturday morning. He was one again taken to Regions, and again released.

The Minnesota State Patrol says that just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the 36-year-old man returned to Capitol grounds a third time, at which point he was arrested.

The Minnesota State Capitol on May 3, 2022. Photo by Christine Schuster | Bring Me The News.

While the man was not considered a threat, the break-in has nonetheless sparked concern among lawmakers coming just six weeks after the political assassination of Rep. Melissa Hortman and husband Mark Hortman, and the shooting of another lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman.

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House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) claimed the intruder vandalized the Capitol, and said he should have been taken into custody earlier by police.

"Anyone who trespasses in any building  let alone the State Capitol  should be arrested and prosecuted for breaking the law, and I look forward to learning why this did not take place in this highly disturbing incident," she said.

The state patrol says the man is being held in connection with a warrant in Wisconsin, and is now awaiting extradition.

"The State Patrol continues to investigate how [the suspect] came to be in the Capitol after public hours Friday evening. The State Patrol will be conducting a comprehensive review to determine how this happened and make any necessary updates to Capitol security protocols," it said.

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"The safety and well-being of everyone who works at and visits the Capitol is our top priority, said Col. Christina Bogojevic, chief of the State Patrol. "We take this situation seriously and are committed to understanding how it occurred as well as exploring any potential security enhancements at the Capitol."

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
WASHINGTON  In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.

House Appropriations Committee Passes Funding for FY 2026 for Indian Country

On July 14, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill. It includes support for critical investments in Indian Country, including programs for Tribal public safety, justice, and the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, estimated at $550 million. Tribal Public Safety and Justice programs received $771.84 million, a 39% increase from FY 2025 enacted levels

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.

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The National Congress of the American Indians (NCAI) commended the efforts of Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and their colleagues in the House for ensuring tribal priorities and programs are supported in this spending bill. As the Senate continues its parallel appropriations process, NCAI calls on the Senate to conform its appropriations levels to those of the House.

This legislation is meaningful progress in honoring the federal governments obligations to Tribal Nations, said NCAI President Mark Macarro. The bottom line is that the House Appropriations Committee, under Chairman Coles and Ranking Member DeLauros leadership, kept their commitment to Indian Country and presented a budget that supports critical programs and reflects the priorities of tribal governments.

FCC Native News Update  July 2025

Chairman Carr 'A Build Agenda for America' Speech

Chairman Brendan Carr delivered the first major policy speech of his Chairmanship in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on July 2, 2025. In the speech, he outlined his Build America Agenda for the Federal Communications Commission.

Highlights from Chairman Carrs Build America Agenda: Unleashing High-Speed Infrastructure Build Restoring Americas Leadership in Wireless Boosting Americas Space Economy Cutting Red Tape and Modernizing FCC Operations Advancing National Security and Public Safety Strengthening Americas Workforce

>>>Watch the Recording

>>>Read the News Release

The FCC has released Agendas for Two Open Meetings

July 24th Open FCC Meeting

Chairman Carr announced that the following items are on the agenda for the Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 2025:

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OPEN COMMENT PERIODS

The FCC seeks comment from the public in its rulemakings, typically through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Visit the FCCs website at https://www.fcc.gov/, or go to Proposed FCC Rulemakings at https://www.fcc.gov/proposed-rulemakings for more information on open proceedings.

FCC Proposes Action to Improve Next Generation 911

On March 28, 2025, the FCC released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 25-21), under PS Docket Nos. 21-479 and 13-75, seeking comment on proposed updates to Commission rules to ensure the resiliency, reliability, interoperability, and accessibility of Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks. The FNPRM seeks comment on proposed requirements for reliability and interoperability that would apply to covered 911 service providers and proposed requirements for Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet) providers to support interoperability in the interstate transfer of 911 calls and data.

On July 8, 2025, the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued an order (DA 25-580) granting an extension of time for the comment and reply comment period to the following dates: Comment Date: August 4, 2025 Reply Comment Date: September 17, 2025



FCC Proposes Revision of the Commissions Rules to Establish More Efficient Spectrum Sharing between Non-Geostationary (NGSO) and Geostationary (GSO) Satellite Systems

The FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 25-23), under the SB Docket No. 25-157, seeking to develop a substantial technical record concerning modern and efficient spectrum sharing among NGSO fixed-satellite service (FSS) systems and GSO FSS and broadcasting-satellite service (BSS) networks in the 10.7-12.7, 17.3-18.6, and 19.7-20.2 GHz bands, while ensuring that any rule changes do not affect the continued protection of co-frequency terrestrial services. Comment Date: July 28, 2025 Reply Comment Date: August 27, 2025



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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
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  North Carolina is continuing to help those impacted by the ravaging Tropical Storm Barry downpour that caused significant flooding in southern Texas.

The NC State Bureau of Investigation reported Sunday that they are sending agents from central and western North Carolina to Kerr County in Texas to help in the recovery efforts caused by the storms.

NC SBI sent four K-9 teams to the Hill Country of Texas  which includes Kerr County, an area devastated by the storms flooding.

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Photos shared with CBS 17 from NC SBI show K-9s Vegas and Lola boarding a plane at RDU just before takeoff Sunday morning.

NC SBI K-9 at RDU (Courtesy: NC SBI) NC SBI K-9 at RDU (Courtesy: NC SBI) NC SBI heading to RDU flight to Texas (Courtesy: NC SBI) Lola and Vegas, NC SBI K-9s, waiting for flight to Texas (Courtesy: NC SBI) Lola and Vegas, NC SBI K-9s, take a photo with their planes pilot (Courtesy: NC SBI) NC SBI K-9 at RDU (Courtesy: NC SBI)

TEXAS FLOODS: Only 3 remain missing after July 4 flood in Texas county, authorities say

In a social media post from NC SBI, agent John Taylor, an agent in charge of the recovery mission, said that there are five personnel teams with four K-9 teams heading to Texas on Sunday morning.

We got two flying out of Asheville this morning, two flying out of Raleigh this morning, going to Kerr County, Texas, Taylor said in the video.

An official with NC SBI said their agencys director reached out to Texas to offer assistance.

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North Carolina has been devastated by hurricanes and other natural disasters in the past, and our friends from many other states have always come to our aid, NC SBI Director Chip Hawley said. Now its our time to step up and help them out. Its the right thing to do.

During their recovery assistance, NC SBI will have teams based in the Kerrville area.

TEXAS FLOODS: K-9 search and rescue duo from NC is heading to Texas to help find flood victims

This comes as the Nash County Sheriffs Offices deputy Jack Thorpe and K-9 Fiji returned home last week from their recovery efforts.

The duo was deployed to Texas for 10 days.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Julia Tate was headed to bed a few weeks ago when her daughter burst into their rowhouse screaming. Tates cousin, Devon LaSalle, had been shot.

The family had urged LaSalle to not come around the neighborhood so much, but he grew up in a now-closed part of the Cabrini-Green rowhouses. He still spent a lot of time there in spite of how much had changed since he was a kid on Mohawk Street.

At 41, LaSalle was one of many people who stuck around the rowhouses even as development exploded around the now-vacant lots where the infamous high-rises once stood.

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Old relationships persisted too, for better or worse. When LaSalle and another man were killed days apart on the same block in whats left of the original public housing development, authorities said both had known their alleged shooters for years.

Its been two decades since there were slayings so close together in the Cabrini-Green rowhouses, a patch of 146 public housing units ringed by new construction in the well-heeled River North area. Chicago Police Department sources and neighborhood violence interrupters say the killings likely came from personal history and were not tied to wider gang conflicts.

And they came at a time when a leader with his own links to Cabrini-Green is seeking to run the Chicago Housing Authority. Now-former Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., who stepped down from his City Council spot while angling for the post, grew up there and has long decried peoples tendency to hang out in their old neighborhoods,

Sue Popkin, a researcher who has tracked the impact of the CHAs Plan for Transformation across a number of now-demolished housing complexes, including Cabrini, said old residents and people with ties to the developments keep coming back and maintain social lives in their old neighborhoods long after theyve moved away.

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She offered another CHA development, the Ida B. Wells Homes, as an example. It took years for the homes to be dismantled, she said  but until it was entirely gone, former residents returned.

People go back to places after disasters, Popkin said. You cant get people to move away from the edge of the ocean, even after theres a flood. Theres a very powerful pull of home.

The connection

That pull was true for Devon LaSalle, his family said.

He came back often to spend time with his girlfriend and his cousins, who are Cabrini residents. LaSalle made an excellent plate of Spanish rice, they said, and would set up in a nearby park to cook and sell plates with a few friends.

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He had a lot of history on those blocks. Court records show he was arrested last year and charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm after he allegedly fired a gun down Cambridge Avenue into a group of people. That case was still pending at the time of his death.

More recently, LaSalle had started working as one of 21 peacekeepers through the organization Near North 3.6.5, and meant to use his own close street relationships around the neighborhood to prevent further violence. The groups leader, the Rev. Randall K. Blakey, said LaSalle had been considered one of the best and most promising men to work with the program, which started in April of this year. He had not been on duty the night he was shot, Blakey said.

Just after midnight on July 13, Assistant States Attorney Mike Pekara said, LaSalle spoke to a man, Maurice Timms, briefly in one of the courtyards that separate the banks of rowhouses. After LaSalle turned away, Timms allegedly shot him once before he approached and fired again.

A citizen called 911 a few hours after the shooting to report that Timms had returned to the area and he was asleep in a nearby pickup truck, Pekara said. Officers arrested Timms after a group of residents identified him as the alleged shooter, according to police records.

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Eight days earlier, 46-year-old Darrin Carter was killed about 50 yards down the block, authorities said. Obbie Sanders allegedly approached Carter as he sat in his car, took out a gun and shot him multiple times. Carter then sought help from a nearby squad car before he lost consciousness, Pekara said.

Sanders  who wears leg braces and uses a cane to walk because hes been shot so many times  was allegedly captured on surveillance video fleeing the shooting scene, and police arrested him after he crashed a car near Wacker and DuSable Lake Shore drives.

Both Sanders and Timms had been in the neighborhoods social mix days or weeks before the slayings, Pekara said.

LaSalles father, Ralph LaSalle, has been trying to think what could have pushed someone to allegedly execute his son, particularly someone who theyd all known personally.

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That guy, I knew him, he said of Timms. He called me Pops. I wouldnt have figured he would do (anything) like that.

Now 64, the elder LaSalle spent 10 years in prison as a young man after he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter. He has thought about the man he killed decades ago often over the last several weeks.

The pain Im feeling, now I know what his parents went through and how they felt, he said.

He doesnt plan to return to Cabrini-Green ever again.

A long-standing problem

Burnett said the killings highlight issues the area has faced for years, even as the area has seen crime plummet and development take off around whats left of the rowhouses.

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A native of the Cabrini-Green rowhomes, Burnett may soon assume control of the CHA this summer. He said former residents of the rowhouses often return to the area after moving away or being released from prison, reigniting old conflicts.

All these outside folks coming to the neighborhood, I think its a detriment to the neighborhood, Burnett said. Its hard to stop those incidents when folks are drinking or getting high and they get into it.

His comments largely echoed those he made five years ago when the killing of 9-year-old Janari Ricks jarred the city. Then, too, Burnett called for nonresidents to keep out of the rowhouses and do dirt elsewhere.

Residents of Cabrini-Green were critical in helping CPD officers find a suspect in that case, too, police officials said at the time. One man was charged with murder in the boys death, and court records show that case is still pending.

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Janaris mother later filed a lawsuit against CHA, the security firm that patrolled the rowhouses and the property management company. That lawsuit, settled in 2024 for $7 million, alleged that the shooter who killed Janari was well-known in the neighborhood as a violent person, as was his intended target.

The target of the shooting, it was alleged, was included on a CHA exclusion list of people who were not to be allowed within the rowhouses. Burnett said CHA could do more to ensure that only those named on a lease are residing in a unit, though he said he couldnt say whether rules related to the list need to be strengthened.

We need to check these places, Burnett said. Weve got a lot of folks harboring in apartments that (arent) supposed to be there.

The CHA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Burnett told the Tribune that fostering a sense of community and respect for current residents would help deter behavior that can lead to violence.

So I think the challenge is, one, the people in the neighborhood who may be related to these folks dont demand respect for their houses, Burnett said. Your cousins, your brother, your babys daddy, you dont demand that they respect your neighborhood.

In a statement, a CHA spokesperson said that all public housing residents needed to adhere to the rules laid out in their leases. According to the statement, the agency works hard not to perpetuate stigma for past, present, or future public housing residents and is making it a priority to offer public gathering spaces where people with ties to the area can return and celebrate their history there.

A childs killing at Cabrini-Green sparks memories of a neighborhoods troubled past, and hopes for a lasting peace

History of tragedy

The intersection of Cleveland and Oak streets is known as Dantrell Davis Way, in memory of the 7-year-old boy slain by a snipers bullet in 1992 as he walked to school through the high-rises with his mother.

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Scores of children were shot within the Cabrini-Green high-rises, and Dantrells death catalyzed momentum for the structures eventual demolition, which researchers like Popkin found led to dramatic dips in violent crime.

Along the west side of Cleveland is a vacant lot, still owned by the CHA, where Dantrells former school once stood. To the north, a new apartment building is under construction.

A set of cubic gray and white rowhomes stand on the east side of the street behind a black fence, where people on a recent morning were watering their lawns and walking their dogs. South of Oak Street stand blocks of boarded-up rowhomes and the 800 block of North Cambridge Avenue.

People lined the street on a recent afternoon, chatting in twos and threes as they leaned on cars and against fences. A teenage boy rode a motorbike up and down the block, revving the engine every time he turned around.

Rodnell Dennis stood at the far end of her block with his arms folded. A group of kids rounding the corner stopped for hugs and fist bumps before scattering into several rowhouses up and down Cambridge. Others dressed in swim gear waited on the steps or hurtled back and forth across the street, where a fence blocked off more boarded-up units.

Dennis, 46, grew up in the high-rises and spent 20 years behind bars before he was paroled in 2012. He recalled finding a dramatically different Cabrini-Green upon his return  146 of the original rowhouses surrounded by new construction. A CHA spokesperson said the agency had erected 4,000 units of public housing around the neighborhood since 2000.

Another 4,000 units still planned for around the area will house people with a range of incomes, as part of the CHAs Cabrini Now plan. The agencys ombudsman lets residents living in mixed-income communities offer feedback and voice concerns with community-building, a spokesperson said, and CHA works with several organizations in the Near North Side area on events where residents can get to know one another.

But for Dennis, who now works as a peacekeeper through Near North 3.6.5, the distance between the old neighbors and the new feels vast.

They dont know us, he said. They just know the stories theyve heard about us. They form opinions that have no relevance to who we are.

Dennis, who pleaded guilty to the murder of a 9-year-old boy when he was just 13, said he had come a long way from contributing to the violence that gave Cabrini-Green its notoriety.

It goes to show you a level of growth from then to now, he said. But he said its hard to impress that on people who avoid the rowhouses despite living so close by.

How do you communicate with people who live 15 feet from your front door but dont want to walk through your neighborhood? he asked.

Just behind Dennis, Julia Tates rowhouse still had stuffed animals and a wilted flower from LaSalles memorial gathering next to the front door. He left behind 14 children and had just welcomed his first grandchild, relatives said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Tates air conditioning was blasting and the blinds were drawn to keep out the start of the latest heat wave. Her phone rang every few minutes with relatives calling about funeral arrangements.

Now 56, Tate has lived in the rowhouses all her life, on Iowa and Mohawk streets and now in a unit on the southern edge of the neighborhood. She remembers her mom growing cucumbers and cantaloupe out front, trips to Rainbo Roller Rink in the Uptown neighborhood and singing in the Sunshine Gospel Choir.

Tate mentioned the 1970 murders of two police officers in nearby Seward Park as an example of the kind of violence that gave the housing projects their notoriety. Cabrini-Green had its day, in her words. But the rowhouses had been another story.

This area was always a safe haven for people, she said. We had a childhood life, even though things might have been happening during the time when we were growing up.

People come back to the rowhomes because thats whats left, but also because they were considered a less risky place to be, she said.

The people that come down here now are the people that used to be in the high-rises, Tate said.

And while crime has dropped sharply in the area since those towers were demolished, Tate feels that kids growing up in the last of the rowhouses today dont have as much access to the kind of programs that sprang up to help kids who lived in the high-rises.

Some anti-violence workers said the new development in the area has actually made it harder to secure funding. City and state dollars often are allocated based on median-income in a particular ZIP code, making kids from struggling families less likely to stand out on paper in a wealthier zone.

A CHA spokesperson said in a statement that the agency was always looking for ways to offer more options for youth activities. Currently, organizations like After School Matters and By the Hand Club for Kids run no- or low-cost programming for families in the area along with the Chicago Park District.

Stacie Wade, LaSalles second cousin who pounded up the stairs screaming the night he was killed, remembers programs from her youth in the rowhouses. Now 31, Wade doesnt recall worrying about shootings growing up.

I used to like it down here, she said.

But LaSalle was like an older brother to her, and his death has made her reconsider the neighborhood where he spent so much time and shes lived most of her life.

He was with people he trusted when he came back, she said. And still he was taken away.
Dostri admitted that the decision regarding the localized ceasefires was Netanyahus, and said that the prime minister may decide to give a video statement later on Sunday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu preferred that the IDF announce the new localized humanitarian ceasefires in the Gaza Strip rather than announce it himself since it is not something widely accepted by large segments of the public, Netanyahus former spokesperson Dr. Omer Dostri said in an interview on Kan Reshet Bet radio on Sunday morning.

"The provision of aid is not something widely accepted by large segments of the public. Its possible to discuss itthe question is, by whom. Since the IDF is the one actually responsible, it makes sense that it would be the one to 'spread the word," Dostri said.

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Dostri admitted that the decision regarding the localized ceasefires was Netanyahus, and said that the prime minister may decide to give a video statement later on Sunday in order to explain the decision.

Dostri acknowledges that PMO didn't have 'functioning' public diplomacy unit

Dostri, who served as Netanyahus chief spokesperson beginning in August 2024 until three weeks ago (July 5), acknowledged in the interview that the Prime Ministers Office did not have a functioning public diplomacy (Hasbara) unit, and therefore Israel could not effectively counter what he claimed were false campaigns about the situation in Gaza.

Palestinians gather as they seek aid supplies from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, near Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, July 24, 2025. (credit: Ramadan Abed/Reuters)

Asked why, besides during Operation Rising Lion against Iran, the prime minister refrained from holding any interviews during the war on Israeli TV channels other than the friendly Channel 14, Dostri said that the prime minister had had negative experiences in the past in such interviews and therefore preferred to avoid them.

The decision itself regarding the localized ceasefire was made over the weekend without the input of far-right National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir since the prime minister knew that Ben-Gvir would oppose it, Ben-Gvir claimed in a statement earlier on Sunday.

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"On Saturday night, I was informed by a source in the Prime Minister's Office that during the Sabbath, a security consultation was held without me ... in which it was decided to increase the quantities of humanitarian aid entering Gaza," Ben-Gvir wrote on X.

Ben-Gvir said that such a plan "is a surrender to Hamas's deceitful campaign" and "endangers the lives of IDF soldiers."

In response to Netanyahus statement on Friday that Israel and the US were considering alternative options for bringing hostages home, Ben-Gvir added that "it turns out that the alternative way is to surrender to Hamas and its deceitful campaigns and to increase humanitarian aid that reaches it directly."

"This path distances the return of the hostages and, above all, distances the absolute victory in the war. The only way to win the war and bring back the hostages is to completely stop the humanitarian aid, conquer the entire Gaza Strip, and encourage voluntary migration," Ben-Gvir wrote.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich was also not part of the decision regarding the localized ceasefires, a spokesperson said in response to a query.
Netanyahu, speaking from the Israel Air Force's Ramon Air Base claimed that the UN is "creating an excuse and lie about Israel," by saying that Israel is not allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

Israel will "need to continue allowing the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies" into the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday, claiming that Israel has "done this until now."

Netanyahu, speaking from the Israel Air Force's Ramon Air Base, claimed that the UN is "creating an excuse and a lie about Israel," by saying that Israel is not allowing humanitarian aid to enter the enclave.

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"We are allowing [aid], there are secured routes, there always have been. But today it is official, there will be no more excuses," Netanyahu commented.

In order to complete Israel's goal of eliminating Hamas and releasing hostages, the IDF is continuing to apply pressure via its operations, and authorities are conducting negotiations, Netanyahu noted, adding that "we will achieve this goal."

"We will continue to fight, we will continue to operate until we achieve all our war objectives, until complete victory," he added.

Humanitarian aid is airdropped over Gaza as seen from northern Gaza Strip, July 27, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)

Katz threatens to assassinate Iran's Khamenei

During the same visit, Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened again to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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"I want to send a clear message to the dictator Khamenei: If you continue to threaten Israel, our long arm will once again reach Iran, with even greater force, and this time, it will reach you personally," Katz said.

"Do not threaten us, or you will be harmed," he added.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee also commented on Israel providing aid into the Gaza Strip on X/Twitter earlier on Sunday.

"Is the UN, New York Times, and Hamas all happy now? I'm sure Hamas is. Their lies & propaganda destroyed cease-fire deal, tried to discredit safe and functioning GHF effort, emboldened Hamas & will result in this complete balagan! Most sad for hostage families-grief prolonged," Huckabee wrote.

"Why would Hamas demand GHF method stop? Because suddenly Hamas is promoting humanitarianism & efficiency for food delivery that Hamas couldn't loot? Right! And Jeffrey Dahmer was a master chef & should have had a cooking show," Huckabee added in a separate post.
Underscoring India's commitment to security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, has compelled the world to acknowledge the country's strength and resolve. The Prime Minister stated that the military operation launched on May 7, following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, has ignited a new spirit across the country and instilled new self-confidence among people as well. "Today's India considers its security paramount. During Operation Sindoor, the world saw that if anyone attacks India's security and sovereignty, India knows how to respond in their own language. Operation Sindoor has made it clear that there is no safe haven in the world for India's enemies and terrorists," the Prime Minister said, adressing the public at Tamil Nadu's Ariyalur. "Operation Sindoor has ignited a new spirit across the country, instilled new self-confidence, and has forced the world to acknowledge India's strength and resolve," he added. Addressing the valedictory function at the 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' Festival on the occasion of the birth anniversary of King Rajendra Chola I at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple here, PM Mmodi emphasised that for India to build a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India), it must draw inspiration from the Chola Empire's powerful navy by strengthening its defence forces and exploring new opportunities. "The Chola Empire is like an ancient roadmap for developed India. It tells us that if we are to achieve a 'Viksit Bharat,' then we must strengthen our Navy and defence forces and explore new opportunities. Today, India is embracing the philosophy of Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi. Modern India takes great pride in its rich history and cultural legacy. Over the past decade, we have worked tirelessly in mission mode to protect and preserve India's heritage." Further highlighting the Tamil Dynasty's contribution to ancient India's economy and military, PM Modi said, "The economic and military heights India reached during the Chola era continue to inspire us even today. Rajaraja Chola built a powerful navy, which Rajendra Chola further strengthened." "The economic and military heights India reached during the Chola era continue to inspire us even today. Rajaraja Chola built a powerful navy, which Rajendra Chola further strengthened. During their time, many administrative reforms were made. They strengthened local administration and implemented a strong fiscal system," the Prime Minister added. "The Chola emperors had woven India into a thread of cultural unity. Today, our government is carrying forward the same vision of the Chola era," PM Modi said, highlighting government initiatives like the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and the Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam, which, according to him, are strengthening centuries-old bonds of unity. The Prime Minister, on the occasion, donned traditional attire, consisting of a white veshti (dhoti), a white shirt, and an angavasthram worn around his neck. He also released a commemorative coin honouring the great Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I. He was welcomed by the local pandits in the temple. Earlier in the day, crowds thronged to see the Prime Minister as he held a roadshow in the Tiruchirappalli district. His convoy received a warm welcome from the commoners gathered to witness his arrival. The temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famed for its intricate sculptures, Chola bronzes, and ancient inscriptions. The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also celebrates the rich Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition, fervently supported by the Cholas and immortalised by the 63 Nayanmars--the saint-poets of Tamil Shaivism. Notably, Rajendra Chola's birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), begins on July 23, making this year's festival all the more significant. (ANI)
Nevada Highway Patrol launches statewide campaign honoring fallen trooper

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Nevada Highway Patrol, a division of the Nevada State Police, officially launched the Fourth Annual Joining Forces campaign Saturday.

The campaign was a powerful tribute to Trooper Micah May, who was killed in the line of duty by an impaired driver on July 29, 2021.

The event brought officers, state officials, and grieving family members all united under a shared message: You Choose Not to Drive Impaired.

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That day I was informed by a friend of mine who said, Hey, if you ever need anything, Im here for you, and I was like, What are you talking about?' Joanna May, wife of fallen state trooper Micah May, said. It turns out that next thing I know, Nevada Highway Patrol is giving me that knock at the door that every wife or husband dreads.

Funded by the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, the statewide Joining Forces initiative brings together law enforcement agencies from across the state to target impaired driving with stepped-up patrols and DUI checkpoints. The goal is simple: save lives and prevent tragedies like the one that claimed Trooper Mays.

It was like somebody had just punched me in the gut, taken my heart, and just stomped on it. When I say my heart hurts, I dont mean having a heart attack, it physically hurts, May said.

During the ride-along, Joanna joined troopers on patrol, retracing the streets her husband once served to honor his memory and help amplify the dangers of driving under the influence.

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Trooper May was killed during a traffic stop on I-15 while attempting to deploy stop sticks to end a pursuit. The suspect was driving impaired and struck May as he carried out his duty. His loss devastated the law enforcement community and left a lasting impact on DUI prevention efforts statewide.

Since its inception, the Joining Forces campaign has led to thousands of DUI arrests and increased public awareness surrounding impaired driving. The 2025 campaign will run through the summer with ongoing enforcement activity across Nevada.

Organizers say the best way for the public to honor Trooper May is to make responsible choices.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
I hate to see hate making a comeback in America.

I grew up during the Civil Rights era and I saw too much hate.

On TV and in person.

In 1962, my family stopped in Jackson, Mississippi, to visit my uncles family.

And they took us to the state Capitol

My brother and I  and a couple of cousins  raced through the marble hallways of the statehouse.

We finally got thirsty.

And we saw a drinking fountain down one hall and headed for it.

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Just as I bent to take a sip of the cool water, a man yelled: Get away from there, boy. Cant you see thats a colored fountain?

Looked like white porcelain to me.

I had never seen a colored fountain in my life.

And I had never heard those words before.

His face was contorted in rage about the affront I had committed.

That was the moment I think I first understood racism.

In the spring of 1963, I stood on a street corner in Cairo, Illinois, watching a group of young blacks and whites trying to integrate a restaurant.

I heard police batons slashing against bodies.

I saw blood staining the sidewalks.

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I remember the signs that read, We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.

And we all knew who anyone was.

Television news was filled with images of police dogs attacking peaceful demonstrators and fire hoses turned on them.

Hate was everywhere in those days.

And the haters didnt try to conceal their feelings.

These days, too many people are making no attempt to hide their hate for those who dont look, worship or think the way they do.

I dont understand it.

I guess Im weird, but I cant remember anyone I have ever hated in my life.

Oh, there are people I really dislike.

But hate is too strong of an emotion.

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Its like acid that eats away at the container.

And I dont want that in my life.

I worry about those who do.

Theyre missing out on some of the joys of life.

As Jackie DeShannon sang 60 years ago, What The World Needs Now Is Love.

Or as Jesus said 2,000 years ago, Love your neighbor as yourself.

But we never listen, do we?
Carol Seeger finally escaped her debilitating depression with an experimental treatment that placed electrodes in her brain and a pacemaker-like device in her chest. But when its batteries stopped working, insurance wouldnt pay to fix the problem and she sank back into a dangerous darkness.

She worried for her life, asking herself: Why am I putting myself through this?

Seegers predicament highlights a growing problem for hundreds of people with experimental neural implants, including those for depression, quadriplegia and other conditions. Although these patients take big risks to advance science, there's no guarantee that their devices will be maintained  particularly after they finish participating in clinical trials  and no mechanism requiring companies or insurers to do so.

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A research project led by Gabriel Lazaro-Munoz, a Harvard University scientist, aimed to change that by creating partnerships between players in the burgeoning implant field to overcome barriers to device access and follow-up care.

But the cancellation of hundreds of National Institutes of Health grants by the Trump administration this year left the project in limbo, dimming hope for Seeger and others like her who wonder what will happen to their health and progress.

An ethical quagmire

Unlike medications, implanted devices often require parts, maintenance, batteries and surgeries when changes are needed. Insurance typically covers such expenses for federally approved devices considered medically necessary, but not experimental ones.

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A procedure to replace a battery alone can cost more than $15,000 without insurance, Lazaro-Munoz said.

While companies stand to profit from research, theres really nothing that helps ensure that device manufacturers have to provide any of these parts or cover any kind of maintenance, said Lazaro-Munoz.

Some companies also move on to newer versions of devices or abandon the research altogether, which can leave patients in an uncertain place.

Medtronic, the company that made the deep brain stimulation, or DBS, technology Seeger used, said in a statement that every study is different and that the company puts patient safety first when considering care after studies end.

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People consider various possibilities when they join a clinical trial.

The Food and Drug Administration requires the informed consent process to include a description of reasonably foreseeable risks and discomforts to the participant, a spokesperson said. However, the FDA doesnt require trial plans to include procedures for long-term device follow-up and maintenance, although the spokesperson stated that the agency has requested those in the past.

While some informed consent forms say devices will be removed at a studys end, Lazaro-Munoz said removal is ethically problematic when a device is helping a patient. Plus, he said, some trial participants told him and his colleagues that they didnt remember everything discussed during the consent process, partly because they were so focused on getting better.

Brandy Ellis, a 49-year-old in Boynton Beach, Florida, said she was desperate for healing when she joined a trial testing the same treatment Seeger got, which delivers an electrical current into the brain to treat severe depression. She was willing to sign whatever forms were necessary to get help after nothing else had worked.

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I was facing death, she said. So it was most definitely consent at the barrel of a gun, which is true for a lot of people who are in a terminal condition.

Patients risk losing a treatment of last resort

Ellis and Seeger, 64, both turned to DBS as a last resort after trying many approved medications and treatments.

I got in the trial fully expecting it not to work because nothing else had. So I was kind of surprised when it did, said Ellis, whose device was implanted in 2011 at Emory University in Atlanta. I am celebrating every single milestone because Im like: This is all bonus life for me.

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Shes now on her third battery. She needed surgery to replace two single-use ones, and the one she has now is rechargeable. Shes lucky her insurance has covered the procedures, she said, but she worries it may not in the future.

I cant count on any coverage because theres nothing that says even though Ive had this and it works, that it has to be covered under my commercial or any other insurance, said Ellis, who advocates for other former trial participants.

Even if companies still make replacement parts for older devices, she added, availability and accessibility are entirely different things, given most people cant afford continued care without insurance coverage.

Seeger, whose device was implanted in 2012 at Emory, said she went without a working device for around four months when the insurance coverage her wifes job at Emory provided wouldnt pay for battery replacement surgery. Neither would Medicare, which generally only covers DBS for FDA-approved uses.

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With her research team at Emory advocating for her, Seeger ultimately got financial help from the hospital's indigent care program and paid a few thousand dollars out of pocket.

She now has a rechargeable battery, and the device has been working well. But at any point, she said, that could change.

Federal cuts stall solutions

Lazaro-Munoz hoped his work would protect people like Seeger and Ellis.

We should do whatever we can as a society to be able to help them maintain their health, he said.

Lazaro-Munoz's project received about $987,800 from the National Institute of Mental Health in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years and was already underway when he was notified of the NIH funding cut in May. He declined to answer questions about it.

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Ellis said any delay in addressing the thorny issues around experimental brain devices hurts patients.

Planning at the beginning of a clinical trial about how to continue treatment and maintain devices, she said, would be much better than depending on the kindness of researchers and the whims of insurers.

If this turns off, I get sick again. Like, Im not cured, she said. This is a treatment that absolutely works, but only as long as Ive got a working device.

____

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  Nine people were indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged involvement in an illegal gambling conspiracy involving six sites in Southwest Missouri, including one in Joplin.

Each of the defendants faces multiple charges, including wire fraud and conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business. Eight were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Those indicted include:

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 Rahulkumar D. Patel, 40, a citizen of India residing in the state of Washington.

 Manishkumar M. Patel, 44, a citizen of India residing in Georgia.

 Mitulkumar M. Barot, 40, of Georgia.

 Sunilkumar N. Patel, 52, a citizen of India residing in the state of New York.

 Tushar R. Patel, 39, of Georgia.

 Azghar Ali, 51, of New York.

 Harshadkumar S. Chaudhari, 38, a citizen of India, residing in Colorado.

 Vipul A. Patel, 40, of Arkansas.

 Mohammed Iphtekar Ali Ajgar, 50, of Georgia.

These people were charged in a 72-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on May 14. That indictment was unsealed and made public following the arrest of several defendants and in advance of arraignments for some defendants July 23-24.

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Illegal gambling operations affect the citizens of the neighborhoods and communities where they are located as well as the local economy. We worked closely with our law enforcement partners to shut down this criminal conspiracy and bring those responsible to justice, acting U.S. Attorney Jeff Ray said in a statement. This case is an example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together to tackle organized criminal activity.

Joplin and Springfield police departments participated in the investigation.

Were grateful for the strong partnerships we have with federal agencies that made it possible to build a case of this scale, Williams said.

According to the indictment, between April 24, 2023, and Aug. 28, 2023, Barot registered six businesses online with the Missouri secretary of state: Big Win Arcade LLC, Big Win Arcade 2023 LLC, Spin Hitters 1 LLC, Spin Hitters LLC, Vegas City Arcade LLC, and Vegas Arcade LLC. The indictment alleges that the defendants then used these businesses to fraudulently apply for business license applications filed with the cities of Springfield, Joplin and Branson West and to obtain utilities contracts, lease agreements and business incorporation documents filed with the state of Missouri.

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The defendants hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated games of chance, gambling devices and slot machines in violation of Missouri and federal law, according to the U.S. attorneys office. The defendants hid the proceeds of their gambling ring by depositing them in various personal bank accounts within the United States and the Republic of India. Over $9.5 million was laundered in a little over three years, officials alleged at a press conference Friday in Springfield.

The six sites included one at 2331 E. Seventh St in Joplin, four in Springfield and one in Branson West.

Joplin police Chief Richard Pearson, who attended the conference, said his departments involvement in this investigation started in August 2024.

We investigated a couple of locations that we had some information about with regard to some illegal gambling operations, Pearson said. We looked into that, and we were able to execute a couple of search warrants that yielded some pretty significant results. That led to us plugging into some of the other investigations that were going on in that same type of thing in other cities.

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He said the illegal gambling operation in Joplin posed a variety of threats to the community.

When you bring an illegal gambling operation into a residential neighborhood you bring a lot of nefarious actors in that wouldnt normally be there, Pearson said. Its really important to get those guys out of the picture. I dont want to get into the specifics of exactly where we were or what we found, but when we do find something like that, its really really important to address quality of life. Aside from the criminal conduct, if you just want to address quality of life in those neighborhoods, who wants to have increased vehicular and foot traffic, a bunch of people that nobody in the neighborhood knows coming to engage in illegal activities?

Randy Eggert, supervising assistant U.S. attorney in Springfield, said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.
A spokesperson for Strock confirmed that the recording was authentic.

Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock (Religious Zionist Party) may leave the government following the decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend to enable localized humanitarian ceasefires, according to recordings of Strock from a meeting on Sunday, first published by Israel Hayom.

A spokesperson for Strock confirmed that the recording was authentic.

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Whats happening in Gaza right now is extremely difficult. Theres no formal surrender document, but it looks like a surrender. A surrender by us  by Israel, yes? Its simply terrible and appalling, Strock said in the recording.

I could understand those who say that in exchange for hostages, you bring in humanitarian aid  or that in exchange for hostages, you grant them a ceasefire, she added.

Now its not in exchange for anything. I just cant understand it from my point of view. If the prime minister doesnt give me an explanation  not an explanation, actions  that hes heading for victory, I have no reason to be there [in the government], the minister said.

Orit Strock arriving at a government conference at the Prime Minister's Office, Jerusalem, September 27, 2023; illustrative. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

But I hope hell be able to convince me with actions that hes heading toward victory and not surrender. If this is surrender, we have no reason to be there. Weve always said thats the red line. Its tough, really tough. This is a very difficult morning, the recording concluded.

Smotrich remains quiet during Netanyahu's decision

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the leader of Strocks party, told his MKs that "It's not right to make political considerations in war. We will be tested by the results - Hamas's decision.

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"We are promoting a good strategic move, but it's not worth expanding on it right now," he continued. "We will know in a short time whether it pays off and where we are headed."

A spokesperson for Smotrich said he was not involved in the decision to launch the humanitarian ceasefires and did not know about the decision in advance.

A member of Smotrichs party said that he and Netanyahu had communicated during the day, but at press time on Sunday, Smotrich had yet to make a public statement.

Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
CLAY COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT)  A north Alabama woman was killed in a Clay County crash early Sunday morning, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Zamaria Whetstone, of Madison, was fatally injured when the Hyundai Sonata she was operating departed the roadway and hit a tree. The crash happened around 2:45 a.m. on Alabama 148 about five miles away from Sylacauga.

Weather aware for extreme heat next several days

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Whetstone, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers with the ALEA Highway Patrol Division investigated 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 CBS 42.
By Jack Kim

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea has no interest in any policy or proposals for reconciliation from South Korea, the powerful sister of its leader Kim Jong Un said on Monday, in the first response to peace overtures by the South's liberal President Lee Jae Myung.

There had been cautious optimism in the South that the North might respond positively and even show willingness to return to dialogue after Pyongyang also shut off its propaganda loudspeakers, a move that Lee said came sooner than expected.

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Kim Yo Jong, a senior official of North Korea's ruling party who is believed to speak for its leader, said Lee's pledge of commitment to the South Korea-U.S. security alliance showed he was no different from his hostile predecessor.

"If South Korea expects to reverse all the consequences of (its actions) with a few sentimental words, there could be no greater miscalculation than that," Kim said in comments carried by the official KCNA news agency.

Lee, who took office on June 4 after winning a snap election following the removal of hardline conservative Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed attempt at martial law, has vowed to improve ties with Pyongyang that had reached their worst level in years.

Among gestures to ease tension, Lee suspended loudspeaker broadcasts blasting anti-North propaganda across the border and banned the balloon drops of leaflets by activists that had angered Pyongyang.

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Kim, the North Korean official, called those moves merely a reversal of ill-intentioned activities South Korea should never have initiated.

"In other words, it's not even something worth our assessment," she said.

"We again make clear the official position that whatever policy is established in Seoul or proposal is made, we are not interested, and we will not be sitting down with South Korea and there is nothing to discuss."

Following the KCNA comments on Monday, Lee said it was important to restore trust between the neighbours.

South Korea's Unification Ministry, charged with handling ties between the two countries, said Kim Yo Jong's comments "show the wall of distrust between the South and the North is very high as a result of hostile and confrontational policy over the past few years".

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South Korea will keep up efforts for reconciliation and cooperation with the North, ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam told a briefing.

Its new unification minister, Chung Dong-young, said he planned to advise Lee to adjust joint military drills with the United States, Yonhap said. The exercises have been criticised by Pyongyang.

Still, Lee, whose government is embroiled in tough negotiations with Washington to avert punishing tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump, has called the U.S. alliance the pillar of South Korea's diplomacy.

Seoul would make efforts in all areas to "strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance that was sealed in blood", Lee said on the anniversary of the Korean War armistice on Sunday.

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North Korea held a parade in its capital of Pyongyang to mark the event it calls victory day, though state media reports indicated it was on a smaller scale than in some previous years.

Columns of marching soldiers held portraits of commanders, including state founder Kim Il Sung, with spectators and frail veterans in historic army uniforms in attendance in state media pictures, which did not show major weapons in the parade.

A formation of military jets flew over the Pyongyang Gymnasium square trailing streaks of flares and fireworks. State media made no mention of leader Kim Jong Un's attendance.

The two Koreas, the United States and China, which were the main belligerents in the 1950-53 Korean War, have not signed a peace treaty.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Stephen Coates and Clarence Fernandez)
President Isaac Herzog issued his support for the plan, saying that he had received inquiries from leaders and figures worldwide on the matter of Gaza aid.

Israeli officials and leaders reacted to the political echelon's and the IDF's decision to allow for localized humanitarian pauses in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

President Isaac Herzog said, "I support the series of humanitarian measures announced by the political leadership and the IDF, including the humanitarian pauses. This is a moral, operational, political, and communicative necessity."

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He noted that he had received in recent days "countless inquiries from leaders, friends of Israel, media figures, and Jewish leaders worldwide on this matter. A proper practical action is the response to this."

Israel's president also stated that the decision to allow for humanitarian pauses "is not a concession  it is an essential part of the war effort, including on the international stage, for the sake of bringing back our hostage brothers and restoring security to Israeli citizens."

PALESTINIANS WAIT to receive food from a charity kitchen in Gaza City. (credit: Mahmoud Issa/Reuters)

"This is how we distinguish ourselves from those who seek our destruction. Let it be clear  the responsibility for the situation of the residents of the Gaza Strip lies with the Hamas terrorist organization  it is the one that initiated a brutal massacre and refuses proposals for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages from the hell of captivity," Herzog said in the statement.

Yisrael Beytenu chair Avigdor Liberman commented on the development in a post on X/Twitter, "In Gaza, there are no hungry civilians. In Gaza, there are hungry hostages."

Ben-Gvir criticizes plan, as well as his exclusion during the security consultation

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the plan to allow for humanitarian pauses, specifically noting that he was not included in a security consultation on the matter on Saturday.

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"On Saturday night, I was informed by a source in the Prime Minister's Office that during the Sabbath, a security consultation was held without me... in which it was decided to increase the quantities of 'humanitarian' aid entering Gaza."

Ben-Gvir said that such a plan "is a surrender to Hamas's deceitful campaign" and "endangers the lives of IDF soldiers."

The minister criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the aid plan after the prime minister said on Friday that Israel and the US are considering alternative options for bringing hostages home, with Ben-Gvir writing, "It turns out that the 'alternative way' is to surrender to Hamas and its deceitful campaigns and to increase humanitarian aid that reaches it directly."

"This path distances the return of the hostages and, above all, distances the absolute victory in the war. The only way to win the war and bring back the hostages is to completely stop the 'humanitarian' aid, conquer the entire Gaza Strip, and encourage voluntary migration."

This is a developing story.
Capt. Amir Saad, 22, from Druze village Yanuh-Jat, Sgt. Inon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon, and M.-Sgt. Betzalel Yehoshua Mosbacher, 32, from Avnei Eitan, were killed in Gaza.

Israeli officials and family members reacted on Sunday to the deaths of three IDF soldiers, all killed in the Gaza Strip over the weekend.

Capt. Amir Saad, 22, from Druze village Yanuh-Jat, Sgt. Inon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon, and M.-Sgt. Betzalel Yehoshua Mosbacher, 32, from Avnei Eitan, were killed over the weekend, with the IDF announcing their deaths on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

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Saad's family, members of Israel's Druze community, said in a statement on Saturday, "This evening, our family lost what is most dear to us. With deep sorrow and indescribable pain, we announce the death of our beloved, Captain Amir Abdallah Saad, who fell during his service and a battalion mission in Khan Yunis, Gaza, as part of Operation Swords of Iron."

"Amir is the second fallen soldier from our family in this difficult and accursed war  a cousin of Lt.-Col. Alim Saad, who fell at the beginning of the war. A combat officer, beloved son, brother, and grandson, who went out to defend the state and the people  and did not return.

Nava Nuriel, the mother of Sgt. Inon Nuriel Vana, wrote in a post to Facebook on Sunday morning, "For two days now, Ive known deep inside that you would come to me. Ive been preparing myself for the worst, wondering how Ill cope, what Ill do. For two days, Ive felt it  and pushed it away. But nothing prepares a mother for the knock at the door."

"My little Yinon. My beloved. The whole world is crying for you now, and I find myself asking for forgiveness  for not holding you tightly enough the last time. Then came the knock at the door: 'We wont leave you. We are here for you.' And in that moment, I disappeared into the abyss. Now, all I can do is begin the long climb out," Nuriel wrote.

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"With deepest sorrow, we announce our joining of the family no one wishes to join  the family of the bereaved. Our Yinon is gone."

Israeli officials mourn fallen soldiers

Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote in a post to X/Twitter, "We bow our heads in great sorrow for the loss of our heroic fighters: Captain Amir Saad, an officer in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, Sergeant Yinon Nuriel Vana, a fighter in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, and Master Sergeant (Res.) Betzalel Yehoshua Masbacher, a fighter in the 749th Combat Engineering Battalion, succumbed to his severe injuries about a week after being wounded in battle in the Gaza Strip."

"The State of Israel has lost three heroic young men, among its finest sons, who acted for the security of the state and for the return of all our hostages."

Opposition chief and chairman of Yesh Atid, MK Yair Lapid, wrote, "Three warriors, three of our finest sons, and all our hearts are broken. Master Sergeant (Res.) Betzalel Yehoshua Masbaker, 32, from Avnei Eitan, Captain Amir Saad, 22, from Yanuh-Jat, Technology and Maintenance Officer in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit, Sergeant Yinon Nuriel Vana, 20, from Kiryat Tivon, Technology and Maintenance Fighter in the Golani Reconnaissance Unit."

"I send my condolences to the families in their difficult time. May their memory be a blessing," Lapid said.
AIIMS Rishikesh Director Dr Meenu Singh said that four people are in critical condition after the stampede at Haridwar's Mansa Devi Temple on Sunday morning. She said that out of the 10 patients currently admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh, two were children. "The incident took place around 9 am, and patients started coming in around 11 am. So far, 15 patients have been brought here and 4-5 have been sent back because they sustained minor injuries. Out of the 10 patients admitted, two are children. Four are in a critical condition... Treatment of all the patients is underway...," Dr Singh told ANI. Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also met the injured and their families at AIIMS Rishikesh. He also checked the medical facilities being provided to the injured undergoing treatment. Uttarakhand Chief Minister ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. "The injured are being treated. Some have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Our priority is that they get good treatment and recover soon. A toll-free number has also been issued. Magisterial inquiry has been ordered and ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, also announced," Dhami said. He said, "Six people have died in this accident..." Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives in a stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar. "Deeply saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede on the route to Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is assisting those affected," posted the Office of the Prime Minister of India on X. https://x.com/PMOIndia/status/1949353250785812806 The State Disaster Management Centre reported that five people were seriously injured, and 23 others sustained minor injuries in the incident. The stampede occurred due to a large crowd on Sunday, Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said. (ANI)
This is part of Reason's 2025 summer travel issue. Click here to read the rest of the issue.

Fire nearly destroyed the Notre-Dame Cathedral in 2019. Thanks largely to an outpouring of private donations, the cathedral now shines more brilliantly than it has for centuries.

My personal history with the cathedral stretches back to my first Europe on $10 a Day backpacking and youth hosteling visit in the late 1970s. Advising me to eschew faux sophistication, my boss at The New Yorker urged me to visit popular sites like Notre-Dame because "they are tourist attractions for good reasons." He was entirely correct. It was everything a youngish first-time traveler to Europe expected of an ancient gothic cathedral: gray, a bit dingy, yet magnificent.

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Owing to sheer good fortune, subsequent visits to the cathedral afforded me some very happy memories. One occurred after interviewing Friedrich Hayek in Freiburg, Germany, for Forbes in 1989. I subsequently traveled to Paris to visit friends but was at loose ends for an evening. So I decided to stroll down to the Ile de la Cite to revisit Notre-Dame. When I got there, I noticed that a lot of people were quietly streaming into the shrine. Intrigued, I joined them. I was handed an unlit white candle upon entering the entirely dark interior. Cluelessly, I had stumbled upon the Easter vigil service.

Bearing in mind the frailties of memories, what I recall is that as the organ began playing, a single flame was ignited at the altar. As the choir began singing, the initial spark was touched to candle after candle spreading through the crowd, eventually illuminating the gloomy vaulted interior with flickering incandescence. Even as an unbeliever, I found the experience beautiful and mysterious.

April 15, 2019; Abaca Press/Alamy

My second sublime experience occurred in December 2015, when I was reporting from the U.N. Climate Change Conference that produced the Paris Climate Change Agreement. My wife Pamela arrived at the end of the conference, and I suggested that we attend the vespers service at the cathedral. It was lovely as usual. We noticed that no one was leaving. Curious, we stayed seated until the church filled. We heard knocking three times on the gigantic doors of the central Last Judgment portal. We later learned that this had been done by the Archbishop of Paris wielding his crozier. After the third series of knocks, the doors opened wide to admit a long procession of prelates. Again cluelessly, we were privileged to witness the elaborate rituals celebrating Pope Francis' declaration of the Extraordinary Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy.



In 2019, even as the fire burned, prominent corporate leaders pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to repair and restore the much beloved landmark. So far, theyand hundreds of thousands of other donors around the worldhave supplied nearly $900 million to the project.

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Bernard Arnault, head of the luxury brand conglomerate LVMHthink Givenchy, Tiffany, and Chandondonated 200 million euros. Francois-Henri Pinault (CEO of the Kering luxury groupthink Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Maui Jim) and his family gave 100 million euros. The oil company Total-Energies, at the direction of CEO Patrick Pouyanne, contributed 100 million euros. Through their foundation, the Bettencourt family, the heirs of L'Oreal, donated 200 million euros. Smaller but significant corporate donations came from the French insurer AXA (10 million euros), the advertising giant JCDecaux (20 million euros), and the French bank BNP Paribas (20 million euros).

Among the 340,000 individual private donors from around the world, Americans were notably generous, with around 45,000 people contributing more than $62 million toward restoring the cathedral. "If the millions of visitors to Paris and France have seen one Gothic cathedral, it is probably Notre Dame, and the fire of April 15, 2019, no doubt activated the memory of that encounter and the bond to the cathedral," Michael Davis, a board member of the New Hampshirebased nonprofit Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, told Barron's. It certainly did for me.

Left: Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, 2024; Right: Monument paying homage to firefighters; Jean-Marc Pierard/Alamy

While the building's interior had been gloriously renewed by the time I visited in May, scaffolding still covers part of the exteriorespecially toward the rear, where the chapel and the choir are located. The $140 million euros still remaining will be spent completing those exterior repairs over the next two to three years.



Financed by the private donations of believers, construction of Notre-Dame began in 1163 and was completed 182 years later in 1345. A tribute in the cathedral's apse near the Crown of Thorns reliquary recognizes that the recent reconstruction is owed "to the 340,000 donors from France and all over the world who, even as the fire blazed during the night, demonstrated their attachment to the cathedral through an incredible display of generosity." Thanks to their liberality, "Notre Dame de Paris has been reborn from the ashes and is even more beautiful."

The post Notre-Dame Was Builtand RebuiltThrough Private Donations appeared first on Reason.com.
Nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters say they are extremely motivated to cast their ballots in the 2026 midterm elections, a dramatic uptick from four years ago, polling shows.

Just six months after Republicans took control of the White House and Congress, 72 percent of Democrats and Democratic-aligned voters say they are extremely motivated to vote in the next election, a CNN poll conducted by SSRS this month found. By contrast, only 50 percent of Republicans say the same.

Democrats are now looking to enter midterm elections in 2026 under similar circumstances as 2018 in an attempt to break up the GOPs control of both chambers of Congress and the White House.

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During the 2018 elections, voters dealt a massive blow to President Donald Trumps first-term agenda, with House Democrats gaining 23 seats to take control of the House.

In October 2022, two years into President Joe Bidens term when Democrats narrowly controlled the trifecta, just 44 percent of Democratic voters expressed the same motivation to vote in the midterm. That figure was just slightly higher for Republicans, with 48 percent saying they were eager to vote.

The number of Democratic voters who say they are 'extremely motivated' to cast their ballots in the midterms has skyrocketed compared to the same group four years ago (Getty Images)

In that election, Republicans clinched the House of Representatives while Democrats retained control of the Senate.

Still, the poll shows Democrats could have some work cut out for them.

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Just 28 percent of respondents said they view the Democratic Party favorably. Meanwhile, 33 percent expressed a favorable view of the Republican Party.

I think that the Democratic Party, we have a lot of work to do to make sure we are meeting voters where they are, listening to what they have to say, and talking to them about issues that they want us to take action on, Virginia Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan told CNN in response to the poll. "What's going to matter is what we're doing on the ground in these districts.

Democrats are trying to regain control in the 2026 midterms after Republicans clinched the White House and both chambers of Congress in the last election (AP)

Recovering from Kamala Harris defeat to Trump in 2024, Democrats are looking to harness an electorate that they lost in the last election.

A separate poll by Lake Research Partners and Way to Win analyzed Biden skippers, those living in battleground states who voted for Biden in 2020 but sat out of the 2024 presidential election.

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The survey poked holes in the idea that Harris was too far left. Progressive lawmaker Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez topped the list of public figures respondents viewed positively, with 78 percent having a favorable view of Sanders and 67 percent having a favorable view of Ocasio-Cortez.

Republicans are also making moves ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The White House is already strategizing to ensure the GOP retains the trifecta. The plan reportedly includes Trump returning to the campaign trail as well as him having a hand in advising which candidates run and which stay put in the upcoming election, sources told Politico.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James quietly circulated a petition Saturday to other Democrats pushing an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

An early draft of the petition circulated to multiple elected officials and obtained by The Post did not condemn Hamas terrorists for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

We are united in this moment by a truth we can no longer ignore: a famine is unfolding in Gaza before the eyes of the world, according to the draft, which claimed to be on behalf of a coalition of multiracial, multiethnic, and multifaith elected officials.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James quietly circulated a petition Saturday to other Democrats pushing an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza that failed to mention Hamas terrorists role in the crisis  until The Post came calling. KEVIN C DOWNS

There is no denying itwe are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe  the petition added.

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We urge our fellow Americans to speak out, to support relief efforts, and to demand that our leaders use every tool of diplomacy to end this crisis. History will remember what we did, or failed to do, in this moment.

James office initially declined to comment on Saturday when The Post reached out about the original draft of the letter.

Hours later, the AGs office sent out a news release with a new version of the letter calling for immediate aid to Gaza  and condemning the terrorist group.

We are united in this moment by both condemning the October 7th massacre perpetrated by Hamas and an unavoidable truth: a famine is unfolding in Gaza before the eyes of the world.

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A spokesman for James insisted the reference to Hamas was added far prior to The Posts inquiry.

An early draft of the petition circulated to multiple elected officials and obtained by The Post did not condemn Hamas terrorists for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. AP

More than 60 Democratic federal, state and city elected officials signed onto the petition, including Rep. Jerold Nadler and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.

Anti-Israel Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Queens socialist who James is endorsing in Novembers NYC mayoral election, was not among the letters signatories but is vacationing in Uganda through the end of the month.

Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) ripped the original draft of the letter through a spokesperson.

New York is being run by a cabal of leftist Hamas apologists who would rather shield terrorists than speak the truth, Vernikovs rep said.

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Any acknowledgment of a humanitarian crisis without addressing its cause  a terrorist regime that uses civilians as human shields  is dishonest. Ignoring that reality isnt compassion; its complicity, the spokesperson added.

State Assemblyman Charles Fall, a Democrat representing parts of Staten Island, and Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, told The Post he signed on to the letter because the Gaza crisis is a humanitarian issue.

People are hurting, starving. Think about the kids, said Fall, who has two daughters, ages 6 and 11. The letter is balanced. It talks about the hostages.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  Laketha Ashe, a designer showcased in New York and Los Angeles fashion weeks, has returned to her roots right here in Panama City.

To celebrate this occasion, Ashes fashion brand Justmyne Designs held a show at the Bay Arts Alliance. The show, titled Still Standing, Ashe said, showcased sustainable and inclusive looks that transcend traditional beauty norms.

Ashe said she wanted to host the show here, in Panama City, to honor her roots and the citys resilience, especially in the wake of events like COVID-19.

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PCB family celebrates one last Christmas in July with terminally ill loved one

Talking about the still-standing production itself, Ashe said, it was born pretty much right after what we went through in Panama City with Hurricane Michael.

Before the event started, a few local business owners advertised products, selling jewelry and books.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NEW YORK  An unusual arrangement that allowed an NYPD detective to work for nearly a year on a special police detail assigned to her cancer-stricken mother has emerged as the trigger for an Internal Affairs investigation and may well have accelerated the retirement of Brooklyn North Chief Scott Henderson, the Daily News has learned.

Henderson, a 30-year veteran who has led Brooklyn North since 2020, has come under scrutiny for allegedly allowing Detective Jaenice Smith, 51, to stay with her ailing mother, Barbara Ann Smith, the longtime president of Bushwicks 83rd Precinct Community Council, three law enforcement sources told The New York Daily News.

Smith spent 11 months on the special detail before her mom died in December and three more months on bereavement leave.

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The investigation was triggered by an anonymous tip earlier this year that Jaenice Smith was not showing up to work. The NYPD then placed her on desk duty and demand the return of $150,000 in pay, the sources said.

There has been no disciplinary action against Henderson. A walkout  a ceremony used to honor retiring commanders  was initially scheduled for July 24 and then postponed, the department confirmed  apparently by Henderson himself.

The controversy has angered pastors and other supporters of Henderson, who oversees roughly 3,000 cops in the 10 precincts that make up Brooklyn North. They lay the blame for his retirement with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Chief of Department John Chell.

Rev. Kevin McCall, a Henderson ally, told The News plans are now underway for a community celebration of the chiefs career.

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The community will host a walkout for our Chief Henderson and the Police Commissioner and John Chell (are) not invited, McCall said. We will show the NYPD how you honor someone that served the community for 30 years.

An NYPD source said an investigation into allegations involving Henderson and Detective Smith is ongoing.

A lawyer for Detective Smith declined comment.

But a source familiar with the sequence of events said Detective Smith, once she came under scrutiny, explained to investigators that the arrangement was with the full permission and authority of Henderson. The controversy started a couple of months ago with the anonymous tip that Smith wasnt coming to work at police headquarters where she was assigned.

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Investigators, the source said, have obtained countless text messages verifying Henderson gave permission to her to be assigned to her mom because of her moms critical role in NYPD community relations, sources said.

An attorney for Henderson did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Detective Smiths mother, Barbara Ann Smith, was so prominent in Bushwick as a president of the precinct community council that since her death at age 77 in December the precincts muster room has been renamed in her honor. On July 14, 2025, the City Council also voted to rename Decatur St. between Central and Wilson Avenue as Barbara Ann Smith Way, a council spokesman said.

Barbara worked tirelessly to bridge gaps, bring people together and make sure every voice was heard, said Assemblymember Maritza Davila, a Democrat.

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Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez called her a true powerhouse and cherished community leader.

Detective Smith, meanwhile, joined the NYPD in July 2005. Across her 20-year career, she has been assigned to borough commands, the Personnel Bureau, Internal Affairs and Community Affairs before she was moved to Brooklyn North for the special detail. She had made 16 arrests in her career, three of them for felonies.

In February 2024, when it was clear that Smith was gravely ill, Detective Smith was reassigned from her normal duties in Community Affairs to her mothers home, according to the sequence of events described by the sources.

Smiths account, the sources said, is that Henderson assigned her to her mom via a Brooklyn North security detail without Smith initially asking for it. Once she began the new assignment, the sources said, she checked in regularly with the command.

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No one was hiding anything, one police source said. All the supervisors were aware.

Meanwhile, police brass including then Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey and First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella would visit from time to time, the sources said.

After Barbara Smith died in December, her daughter was given another three months of bereavement leave. In the meantime, the Internal Affairs investigation started.

Detective Smith was relieved of her guns and shield and placed on desk duty in Queens Courts on March 27. The NYPD filed disciplinary charges for stealing time and demanded she repay the $150,000 in salary she earned during the period she was assigned to her mom. Those charges are pending.

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After Smith disclosed that Henderson had approved the special assignment, investigators questioned him. He allegedly downplayed his role in approving the assignment, the sources said.

Smiths lawyers are pushing for her to be allowed to retire later this month. Shes upset they are taking such a hard line on this, a source familiar with the case said.

She thought when the head of the borough approved it, she could rely on that.
Spotted lanternflies just invaded another state, and South Carolina farmers are less than thrilled.

WRDW reported that the invasive insect, which has destroyed vineyards and orchards in northern states, has now been seen in South Carolina for the first time.

The state joins Tennessee, Georgia, and Virginia as the latest in the pest's slow, destructive crawl through the Southeast.

What's happening?

The South Carolina Department of Plant Industry confirmed the arrival of the lanternflies in early July after capturing a few specimens in sticky traps.

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Steven Long, assistant director of the agency, told WRDW that "the concern with spotted lanternfly is its potential impact on our forestry and agricultural industries."

And it's not just about looks. Lanternflies consume over 100 types of plants, including peaches, grapes, and hardwoods.

Their sticky honeydew waste attracts mold and insects that coat plants, cars, patios, and even sidewalks. Early sightings suggest the pest is hitching rides on vehicles and equipment, laying egg masses on surfaces such as firewood and lawn furniture.

That's how it got here in the first place. The spotted lanternfly showed up in the U.S. in 2014 after sneaking in on imported goods from Asia. Since then, it has spread fast and far.

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In Virginia, vineyards have reported grape losses from the lanternfly feeding frenzy. Tennessee issued a statewide warning this spring, urging people to check their cars and recreational vehicles before traveling.

Why are lanternflies in South Carolina concerning?

South Carolina's wine industry isn't as large as some of its neighbors', but that's not the only risk. Lanternflies also pose a threat to ornamental trees and fruit crops, which could mean trouble for backyard growers and commercial farms alike.

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.

And they're not the only invasive pest drawing concern. In Europe, another newcomer  the reed leafhopper  is threatening food security by transmitting bacteria that can damage grapevines and olives.

The lanternfly's potential to do the same on U.S. soil has experts worried.

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"This is not a pest we want to ignore," Long said.

What's being done about spotted lanternflies?

Clemson University is asking residents to keep an eye out and speak up. It is urging people to report sightings through its invasive species tracking portal.

Georgia's agriculture commissioner, Tyler Harper, didn't mince words in his own warning, shared with WRDW: "We urge anyone who sees the spotted lanternfly in their area to document it, report it, and kill it."

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One of three Ohio officers has been released from the hospital after being shot during an ambush earlier this week.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The Westlake Firefighters Local 184 posted a social media post of a video showing a police motorcade escorting Lorain Officer Brent Payne back home.

As previously reported by News Center 7, two officers were splitting a pizza on their lunch break on Wednesday afternoon when police said Michael Parker, 28, ambushed them with a high-powered rifle. Both officers, Philip Wagner, 35, and Officer Peter Gale, 51, were shot.

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Payne, 47, rushed to the scene to help and was also shot.

Wagner died from his injuries on Thursday.

TRENDING STORIES:

Lorain Police said that Officer Payne is recovering at home with family and friends, according to CBS affiliate WOIO-TV in Cleveland.

Gale is also recovering after breaking his hand during the shooting.

Lorain Police sent this statement to WOIO:

While the road to healing will be long, we are grateful and proud to report that this hero is now in the comfort of his home. Officer Payne, along with Officer Gale, who was also injured during this attack, are officially on the road to recovery. On behalf of Chief Failing and the entire Lorain Police Department, we extend our deepest appreciation to the dedicated medical teams, first responders, and all who played a pivotal role in saving these officers lives.

Lorain Police also thanked the community for its support.

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The president of Ohio State University on Sunday vowed to hire staff from across the political spectrum as the Trump Administration continues cracking down on universities across the nation.

Speaking to CBS Margaret Brennan, Ted Carter said his staff has heard concerns about the political cultures on university campuses, including worries of indoctrination.

I will tell you that as we hire the future, we're looking across the entire political spectrum for who we hire, Carter said on CBS "Face the Nation."

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Carters comments come shortly after the Trump administration announced the school  of which Vice President JD Vance is an alum  is one of 60 universities it has deemed may have antisemitic practices and policies on campus.

Still, Carter said he is not feeling a lot of pressure.

We know how we acted during the time of the protests. We never had an encampment here at Ohio State, he said, adding that some students did try to occupy tents in campus but were dispersed.

I'm confident that as this plays out forward, that we're going to be just fine, he said.

Carter also appeared to agree with Vances assertions that higher education has started to build a reputation of being controlled by left wing foundations.

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There was this conversation about the potential indoctrination of students, or that institutions were leaning very liberal, Carter said. We as administrators of higher education maybe ought to listen to the American public and say, maybe we haven't always gotten it right. So I'm here to say, here at the Ohio State University, we have paid attention to that.

The Trump administration has been embroiled in battles with universities over hiring and admissions practices for several months. mixed in with complaints about general "wokeness." Most notably, the administration threatened to withhold federal funding from Ivy League schools including Harvard and Columbia.

Columbia announced this month it had reached a settlement in which it would pay $200 million to the federal government, though it did not admit to fault or does not agree that it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. As part of the deal, the vast majority of its federal grants were to be restored.

Carter said he knows Columbias president, Claire Shipman. He said that though he cant speak for other institutions, Carter opined that other Ivy League presidents are in survival mode.

We're a public institution, so that means we're going to be transparent and put out everything that we do so the state of Ohio, the people and the entire country can see it, Carter said.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Sunday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the Election Commission, saying they reflect an unchanged "ideology" even 50 years after the Emergency. He alleged that the Congress party still believes elections are fair only if it wins. Speaking to reporters, Trivedi said, "The continuous attacks by Rahul Gandhi on the Election Commission show that 50 years have passed since the Emergency, but the ideology has not changed. Fifty years ago, Indira Gandhi used to say that the validity of the election would be proven by whether I win the election or not, and now Rahul Gandhi is saying the same thing, that it will be decided on the basis of whether I win the election or not. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi that, according to him, did the Election Commission do a good job in Punjab and J&K, and a bad job in Haryana?" Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar urged the Election Commission to uphold its constitutional duties. "Our Constitution has entrusted the responsibility of conducting elections to the Election Commission. Whether at the national or state level, it is their solemn duty to conduct fair elections and to do so in a manner that ensures the complete trust of the country's people. The Constitution has given the Election Commission the responsibility to maintain this trust. I hope they will work towards this," Meira Kumar told reporters while speaking on the Special Intensive Revision being carried out in Bihar. The Election Commission of India is currently conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The exercise has sparked a political row, with the opposition INDIA bloc alleging that the revision process could lead to the deletion of a large number of voters. According to data from the revision exercise in Bihar, around 35 lakh electors have either migrated permanently or could not be traced at their registered addresses. The figures have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the voter list as the Election Commission prepares for a nationwide revision of electoral rolls. The scale of untraced voters in Bihar has led to speculation about what the national SIR exercise may reveal. Political parties from across the spectrum have long raised concerns over the accuracy of the electoral rolls, including the issue of ineligible names being added. It is also worth noting that a large number of untraceable electors have been found during the SIR in Bihar. Several political analysts have expressed concern about the credibility of the electoral roll, pointing to possible inclusion of ineligible individuals. As per government data from 2017, an estimated 2.04 crore Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas are believed to be living illegally in India, adding another layer of complexity to concerns over voter list accuracy. As of January 1, 2024, India had 96.88 crore registered voters for the General Elections, making the outcome of the nationwide revision exercise highly significant. (ANI)
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, entering his final 17 months in that office, is the new chair of the National Governors Association.

Stitt, who served as vice chair during the past year, became the chair on Saturday, July 26, at the organizations summer meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He said his major initiative for the next calendar year will be called, Reigniting the American Dream, which will focus on unlocking economic opportunity, empowering every learner and energizing the future with ideas such as artificial intelligence and energy independence.

Stitt, a Republican, will lead the organization alongside its incoming vice chair, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat. Founded in 1908, the National Governors Association includes the leaders of 55 states, territories and commonwealths in the United States. The goal of the organization is for governors to identify priority issues and deal with matters of public policy and governance at the state, national and global levels.

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Were demonstrating to America that theres so much more that we agree on than we disagree, Stitt said.

Moore said hes looking forward to working alongside Stitt.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is the new chair of the National Governors Association.

We look forward to being able to present an example to the rest of the country that as governors, what we focus on is getting things done, Moore said. What we focus on is making sure we're serving the people of our individual jurisdictions. What we focus on is making sure that we can identify best practices and put them into action and put them into work and bring them to scale.

That's what governors do, and it's an honor to uh to work alongside our governors of both political parties to make sure that the people of our individual jurisdictions don't forget that we're not here to play games and we're not here to be performative. No, we're here to bring real results to their lives.

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During his year as chair, Stitt and other governors are planning to convene in Switzerland for an international learning journey, as well as in Austin, Texas, for a regional economic opportunity summit and in Philadelphia to discuss energy and infrastructure innovation. The 2026 National Governors Associations summer meeting will be held in Oklahoma City.

Stitt succeeds Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, as the organizations chair.

The beautiful thing about the American Dream is that there are as many dreams as there are people, Stitt said. In a time where all we hear is about how divided we are, lets remind them that we agree on this: the American Dream doesnt need to be reimagined, it needs to be reignited. Governors are in a unique position to lead this charge. Im grateful for the trust of my fellow Governors as we start this journey together.

Stitts speech on Saturday included a shout-out to a unique Oklahoma school, as he touted the Oklahoma Aviation Academy, run by Norman Public Schools, as an innovative education model. The academy is essentially a public immersion school for high school students wishing to pursue a career in any number of aviation-related fields. Only a handful of similar schools exist anywhere in the U.S.

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Heres the deal  students need heroes and role models, Stitt told his fellow governors. I want us to look at how we can expand apprenticeships and internships, so students get real-world training earlier in their academic career. We can give students meaningful experiences that lead to real jobs without saddling them with debt.

Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, issued a statement Saturday about Stitt, noting the governor had been chosen by his peers to lead the National Governors Association.

The most meaningful and effective policies in our nation originate at the state level, and this selection gives Governor Stitt a unique platform to help shape Americas future as our country prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in the coming year, Hilbert said. I look forward to working with him in his new role."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's Kevin Stitt now the chair of National Governors Association
Oklahomas Trump-loving top school official, known for mandating Bibles in every classroom, is now facing an investigation after naked women were seen on TVs in his office, according to reports.

What should have been a mundane Oklahoma State Board of Education executive session Thursday turned shocking after board members saw naked women appear on a TV screen behind Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction and board chair, in his office, according to The Oklahoman.

The Independent has reached out to Walters for comment. A spokesperson for Walters branded the incident as a "junk tabloid lie to the outlet.

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Now, the states Senate has launched a porn probe.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton told the Oklahoma Voice that leadership at the agency is working through proper channels to initiate the investigation.

Naked women allegedly popped up on a TV screen during a meeting in the office of Oklahoma state Superintendent Ryan Walters, who has tried to ban books in school libraries that contain sexual content, which he deemed as pornographic (Oklahoma State Department of Education)

This is a bizarre and troubling situation that raises serious questions about the events and what took place during yesterdays executive session at the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting, Paxton told the outlet in a statement. The accounts made public by board members paint a strange, unsettling scene that demands clarity and transparency.

Its not immediately clear who was responsible for showing the women. Some board members said Walters was facing away from the TV during the meeting.

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His spokesperson told The Oklahoman: "Any number of people have access to these offices. You have a hostile board who will say and do anything except tell the truth, and now, the Wokelahoman is reporting on an alleged random TV cable image.

Becky Carson, a board member who attended the meeting, said she was "disturbed" by what she saw on TV.

I saw them just walking across the screen, and Im like, no. Im sorry I even have to use this language, but Im like, Those are her nipples. And then Im like, Thats pubic hair....I was so disturbed by itI was very stern, like Id been a mother or a classroom teacher. And I said, What am I watching? Turn it off now! she told The Oklahoman.

Walters then promptly shut it off, Carson told the outlet.

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She added: "It looked like it was made in the 60s, maybe.

Fellow board member Ryan Deatherage, who also attended the meeting, said the TV was on throughout the session but the volume was turned down.

Quite frankly, I didnt know how to handle it. I was just in shock. I was being human and I didnt know what to think.  I kept thinking that it was just going to go away and so I quit watching it, he told the outlet.

The state Senate is now initiating a probe into the incident  a meeting that some school board members have called disturbing and bizarre (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

He told The Oklahoma Voice that Walters should be held to account.

We hold educators to the strictest of standards when it comes to explicit material, Deatherage told the outlet. The standard for the superintendent should be no different.

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Walters has argued strictly against showing what he deemed pornography in schools.

Last year, Walters advocated for banning books that he claims contain pornography, such as the novel The Kite Runner, which contains sexual content. He threatened to lower the accreditation of a school district if it didnt remove such books from libraries shelves. Edmond Public Schools then filed a lawsuit against Walters.

"Edmond Public Schools not only allows kids to access porn in schools, they are doubling down to keep pornography on the bookshelves," Walters said in a statement.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of the school district last June, determining Walters and the states department of education overstepped.

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Walters has also touted the teachings of the Bible. Last June, he issued a mandate requiring the historic text be a fixture in classrooms and curriculum for grades 5 through 12  across the state.

The left is upset, but one cannot rewrite history, he said last June.

Faith leaders and parents then sued Walters last October. The Mandate interferes with the parents ability to direct the religious and moral upbringing of their children. The children themselves face coercive instruction on religion in their public schools that is contrary to their own beliefs, the plaintiffs argued.

The state supreme court temporarily blocked the mandate in March.

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Last week, however, he filed a motion with the states highest court, demanding it lift the stay.

The Left has launched an all-out assault on Christianity in this country and will stop at nothing to destroy the Bibles significance in our country and the principles that shaped this country, Walters said in a statement Tuesday. Students cannot fully understand American History without understanding the Bibles role in it, despite the liberal hysteria we continue to see.
Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt has long envisioned and championed Oklahoma as a Top 10 state.

In his first State of the State address in 2019, he described his goal: My vision for Oklahoma is very clear and simple. To make Oklahoma Top 10.

He has maintained that objective during his six-plus years in office. He often folds his Top 10 tagline into speeches and announcements to highlight the progress he says Oklahoma is making.

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But the slogan has been met with much discussion, particularly over its validity. Oklahoma often ranks among the worst states for education, health outcomes and poverty. Two new studies issued by CNBC offer the latest examples. In the news networks annual quality of life report, Oklahoma sits at the bottom. The state ranks 37th in CNBCs yearly study on the top states for business.

That result comes despite Stitt's contention that Oklahoma had become a top 10 state for business, which he declared at his State of the State address in February.

Stitt insisted in a statement to The Oklahoman that the state is moving in the right direction toward his Top 10 goal.

"We've worked hard to make the Oklahoma Turnaround happen and the progress is real," Stitt said. "Our economy is booming, we've cut taxes, protected freedom and more families are choosing to call Oklahoma home."

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So, what information is Stitt tracking to measure success, and what do those metrics actually show about how Oklahoma compares to its peers?

Gov. Kevin Stitt said at his State of the State address this past February that in the last six years, Oklahoma has become a top 10 state for business.

The governor keeps a public dashboard of metrics and rankings on his website, outlining how Oklahoma fares in various categories, including commerce, education and health. The information is refreshed frequently, with some metrics being updated every month.

The dashboard has existed since at least July 2020, but some of the metrics have changed over time.

The last time Oklahoma's violent and nonviolent crime rates appeared on the dashboard was mid-2023. By May 2025, tourism statistics were also no longer available. Before they were removed from the dashboard, the crime and tourism metrics showed Oklahoma had room to grow to become Top 10.

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When asked why the statistics were no longer reported on the governor's dashboard, Stitt's press secretary, Meyer Siegfried, did not directly say.

"They're basically just metrics that the governor is interested in tracking along with suggestions from agencies," Siegfried said.

The dashboard still keeps tabs on dozens of categories. According to that data, Oklahoma does rank in the Top 10 in some metrics, especially those tied to energy production. The state falters in some other categories.

Here's a look at the some of the areas where Oklahoma rises to the top or falls to the bottom sector:

How is Oklahoma a 'Top 10' state?

Unemployment rate

Rate: 3.1%

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Oklahoma rank: 7/50

Change since July 2020: Down by 3.5 percentage points

Pre-K enrollment

Rate: 67% of 4-year-olds

Oklahoma rank: 3/50

Change since 2020: Not tracked by dashboard.

Oil Production

Production: 382,000 barrels of oil per day

Oklahoma rank: 6/50

Change since 2020: Not tracked by dashboard.

Electricity generated by wind

Production: 3,147 gigawatt-hours

Oklahoma rank: 3/50

Change since 2020: Not tracked by dashboard.

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order to launch his "Make Oklahoma Healthy Again" campaign in June as Oklahoma ranks 41st in childhood obesity.

How Oklahoma is not a 'Top 10' state

Childhood obesity

Rate: 19.3%

Oklahoma rank: 41/50

Change from 2020: Increase of 1.3 percentage points

Suicide rate

Rate: 22.8 deaths per 100,000 Oklahomans

Oklahoma rank: 47/50

Change since 2020: Up 3.4 deaths per 100,000 Oklahomans

Incarceration rate

Rate: 527 people incarcerated for every 100,000 Oklahomans

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Oklahoma rank: 47/50

Change since 2020: Down by 47 people for every 100,000 Oklahomans

Per capita personal income

Income: $64,772

Oklahoma rank: 39/50

Change since 2020: Up $16,857

Gov. Kevin Stitt has made Oklahoma becoming a "Top 10" state his goal since his time in office began.

What is next for Gov. Stitt's 'Top 10' agenda?

Stitt has a little over a year left in his term to fulfill his goals for Oklahoma.

Stitt told The Oklahoman he is proud of how far Oklahoma has come in his seven years.

"I'm proud of our people, our momentum and the fact that Oklahoma's best days are still ahead," Stitt said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Is Oklahoma a Top 10 state? How the state ranks in Gov. Stitt's metrics
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  One person was killed during a crash on Interstate 55 in Jackson.

The crash occurred on I-55 South near Old Byram Road around 1:00 p.m. on July 26.

Jackson police seek person of interest in carjacking

Detective Tommie Brown, with the Jackson Police Department (JPD), said one person was killed during a single-vehicle crash. The interim Hinds County coroner identified the victim as Jordan Holt, 24, of Byram.

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The cause of the crash remains under investigation by JPDs Accident Investigations Unit.

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SPANISH FORK, Utah (ABC4)  One person was treated for injuries after a fire started in the basement of a Spanish Fork home Saturday afternoon.

In a press release, Spanish Fork Fire said they responded to a report of a residential fire in the area of 900 East Canyon Drive around 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon. When firefighters arrived, they found an active fire in a basement bedroom and smoke throughout the basement.

READ MORE: Over 50 people displaced in Millcreek fire

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The family of the home was able to evacuate before fire crews arrived. The home sustained significant damage and has been deemed uninhabitable, with the family displaced and staying with relatives.

The fire reportedly started in a basement bedroom where a teenage male had ignited cardboard on fire. The teenage male was taken to a hospital for treatment of burns to his hands and for smoke inhalation. One firefighter was treated on scene for heat exhaustion.

Spanish Fork firefighters were assisted by crews from Salem Fire Department and Payson Fire & Rescue. A total of 24 firefighters responded to the scene.

Latest headlines:

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 British woman who died of rabies after she was scratched by a puppy on holiday in Morocco suffered horrendous symptoms, her daughter has revealed.

Yvonne Ford went months without realising she had been infected by a puppy that was underneath her sunbed in February.

Ford, 59, from Barnsley, started suffering from a horrendous headache, but within days, she could not walk, talk, sleep or swallow. She started hallucinating and developed a fear of water, classic symptoms of rabies.

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The grandmother of four was transferred from Barnsley to Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield where she was eventually diagnosed with rabies. She died on June 11.

Ford could not sleep, walk or talk after succumbing to the disease

Robyn Thomson, Fords 32-year-old daughter who is a neonatal nurse, said: There was no blood and no evidence of the dog being unwell.

It was such a mild scratch and it never got infected so we just thought nothing of it at the time. Mum came home and everything was normal. We went to Florida as a family and she went fishing with my dad.

In June, the symptoms began and she came down with this horrendous headache.

She added: She couldnt swallow. She was choking on her own saliva. So doctors put her in an induced coma.

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The UK Health Security Agency has warned that holidaymakers should exercise caution around animals in countries where the disease is present.

Egypt, Turkey and Albania are among the destinations that the Government has ascribed as high risk.

It advises that all visitors to rabies-affected countries should avoid contact with dogs, cats and other animals wherever possible, and seek advice about the need for rabies vaccine prior to travel.

Costa Rica, Bali, Mexico, Vietnam and South Africa are also rated high risk.

It took a week for Ford to be diagnosed. Theres only one outcome for rabies once symptoms develop and its death every time. So we had to turn off her life support, said her daughter.

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Fords family later found out that it normally takes a few months for rabies symptoms to show  but the disease can incubate for up to two years.

She added: Mum was the most loving person imaginable. She was a huge animal lover so for her to have died of rabies, it is just particularly horrendous.

Now, Ms Thomson wants to spread awareness and help stop it at the source via a charity mission in Cambodia.

She is flying out to the south-east Asian country this October to volunteer with Mission Rabies  an award-winning charity that leads mass dog vaccination campaigns, rabies surveillance and vital community education across Asia and Africa.

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Its goal is to vaccinate at least 70 per cent of the dog population to achieve herd immunity and stop rabies at its source, while also educating children on how to recognise rabid animals and stay safe.

To volunteer with Rabies Mission, Ms Thomson needs to raise money to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and project fees.

She said: This is something I need to do. If I can save even one life through this work, or spare one family from going through the pain we have experienced, then it will be turning a terrible negative into something positive.

Im determined to transform my grief into action  helping vaccinate dogs, support surveillance efforts and deliver life-saving lessons in schools.

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New online safety laws are behind a surge in the use of technology that disguises an internet users location.

Age checks blocking access to pornography for under-18s have led to a 1,800 per cent rise in use of VPNs, which route a phone or computers internet traffic to another country.

Social media apps such as X, Reddit and TikTok have introduced the age verification checks since the Online Safety Act came into force on Friday.

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The checks are designed to prevent children under the age of 18 from accessing sites that offer pornography or other harmful material which may relate to self-harm, eating disorders or suicide.

Apps offering VPNs, which are commonly used in authoritarian countries to get around internet censorship, made up half of the top 10 most popular free apps on the UKs App Store this weekend, according to the latest Apple rankings.

Proton VPN overtook ChatGPT to become the top free app in the UK. The Swiss-based company said it had seen a more than 1800 per cent increase in daily sign-ups from UK-based users since Friday.

On X, Proton said: We would normally associate these large spikes in sign-ups with major civil unrest. This clearly shows that adults are concerned about the impact universal age verification laws will have on their privacy.

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Nord, another VPN provider, said there had been a 1000 per cent increase in UK purchases of VPN subscriptions since the new rules kicked in.

Data from Google Trends also showed a significant increase in search queries for VPNs in the UK this weekend, with up to 10 times more people looking for VPNs at peak times.

Rules not foolproof for teenagers

Oliver Griffiths, Ofcom group director for online safety, told the Financial Times that the watchdogs age verification rules would not be foolproof for a determined teenager, just as under-18s are sometimes able to buy alcohol in UK stores.

Mr Griffiths said: There are opportunities for people to use VPNs, but this is part of a broader system approach.

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Opposition to the new rules has grown in recent days, with a petition submitted through the UK Parliament website attracting more than 280,000 signatures.

The petition demands that the Online Safety Act be withdrawn, with a surge of signatures being added to the document in the past week.

Under the Online Safety Act, websites that ignore the new laws could be fined up to 18m, or 10 per cent of worldwide revenue.

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.
In 1910, diphtheria killed over 1,300 New Yorkers. Vaccines reduced that mortality rate by more than 99% with the help of aluminum salts that were added as an adjuvant  literally, helper. Today, a number of U.S. childhood vaccines  including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria-tetanus-containing vaccines, Haemophilus influenzae type b, HPV, meningococcal B and pneumococcal vaccines  contain aluminum adjuvants.

Now, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, including many involved in the organization he founded, Childrens Health Defense, where he served as chair from 2015 to 2023 and which focuses on anti-vaccine activism, appear to be orchestrating a strategic attack on aluminum-containing vaccines.

To understand whats happening now, we need to look back to the U.K. in the 1990s, when then-physician Andrew Wakefield falsely linked the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine to autism while being paid by an anti-vaccine lawyer. He was ultimately stripped of his medical license in 2010 for failing to disclose his financial interests and for performing unauthorized research on children  while raising money for a startup that relied on this research.

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Around the same time in the U.S., a mercury-containing preservative called Thimerosal was attacked by anti-vaccine activists such as the then president of Children's Health Defense, Lyn Redwood, and Barbara Loe Fisher through the National Vaccine Information Center (an organization that the Media Bias/Fact Check website called a quackery-level anti-vaccination organization). The center was co-founded by Fisher and supported by the philanthropist Claire Dwoskin, who is known for supporting debunked theories that vaccines cause autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

In both cases, international epidemiologists sprung into action and examined large databases of patient data, finding no association between the MMR vaccine or Thimerosal and autism.

Aluminum adjuvants appear to be the next logical target. Linking aluminum as a cause of autism  and possibly other chronic diseases  in scientific literature could help unleash lawsuits on a massive scale, thus paving a way to profit.

Thats because lawyers specializing in vaccine litigation stand to get extremely rich when they win lawsuits against vaccine providers. These lawyers typically work with patients claiming vaccine injuries on a contingency basis  the lawyers only get paid if they win the case, in which case they may keep 33% to 40% of the patients award.

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Kennedy was previously such a lawyer. He served as co-counsel on lawsuits brought by a vaccine litigation firm Wisner-Baum against Merck, the maker of Gardasil, an HPV vaccine that contains aluminum. Since 2020, Childrens Health Defense, the anti-vaccine nonprofit Kennedy founded, has filed nearly 30 lawsuits challenging vaccines and public health mandates.

Kennedy can kill off access to vaccines and make millions of dollars while he does it, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said during Kennedys confirmation hearings earlier this year. Warren predicted that several changes Kennedy could make that might enrich him in connection with such lawsuits if he is approved as health secretary. That includes appointing anti-vaccine advocates to vaccine advisory panels, removing vaccines from recommendations or changing the way the vaccine injury compensation program works.

It feels important to note that science does not support aluminum as a culprit of autism. At high doses aluminum is a neurotoxin, which is poisonous to the nervous system. But a major new study by Danish researchers makes us more confident than ever that aluminum adjuvant does not cause problems in children.

Dr. Anders Hviid and colleagues from Statens Serum Institut  Denmarks version of the CDC  analyzed data from over 1.2 million Danish children, comparing their total aluminum dose to their risk of 50 chronic diseases, including autism. The study found no associations.

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Vaccines were, once again, shown to be safe.

But Kennedy and his associates appear to be pursuing a different result, and apparently have been for years.

In 2007, Dr. Christopher Shaw, a Canadian neuroscientist and ophthalmologist, published a study claiming that aluminum injections cause neurological damage in mice. There are now many such papers describing aluminum-induced ailments in mice and even patients. Curiously, most came from about a dozen international researchers, described by one of them as the aluminum family. They have good scientific credentials and publish in respectable journals, as exemplified by the Israeli autoimmune researcher Dr. Yehuda Shoenfeld, a senior member of the cohort.

But consider this  Shoenfeld had 12 patients swallow whole, live worms like macaroni to treat autoimmune disease. The results were marvelous, he announced in an Israeli TV interview promoting his company, while a preposterous banner read TPCera"  Shoenfeld's startup  "finds treatment for all autoimmune disorders (of which there are over 100). Shaw had a paper retracted by scientific publisher Elsevier due to evidence of incorrect data. Another senior member of this group, British chemist Dr. Christopher Exley (who coined the term aluminum family), engaged in cherry-picking when he reported that brain tissue in patients with autism contains more aluminum than in patients without autism  yet failed to mention a prior, far larger, study that found no difference.

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The first notable connection between anti-vaccine and aluminum researchers appears to be when Wakefield, who moved to Texas in 2001 to continue autism research, called Shaw in 2008 with an offer to collaborate, according to Shaws book, Dispatches From the Vaccine Wars.

Next, Dwoskin approached Shaw. In January 2011, the aluminum family gathered on Dwoskins tropical estate in Jamaica, as Shaw recalls in his book. Its clear from the conference video and agenda that this gathering was opened not by a scientist, as would be typical for scientific gatherings, but by Fisher, an activist with no science training. She laid out a research agenda that included investigating biological damage vaccines could be doing. Wakefield did as well, in a presentation titled, Autism & Vaccines: A Research Strategy Focused on Cause. Also in attendance was Vicky Pebsworth, recently appointed by Kennedy to the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The meeting led to many collaborations, according to a conference YouTube testimonial. A few months later, a documentary sponsored by Dwoskin featured Shaw voicing over a cartoon of a mouse injected with an aluminum adjuvant, leading to aluminum spreading inside its brain. Wakefield was listed in the acknowledgements.

Starting in 2011, research papers from the aluminum family are shown to be sponsored by Dwoskin and Fisher. Kennedy personally offered financial support to Exley, as Exley describes in his recent book (Exleys institution declined Kennedys sponsorship). Another member of the group now works for Kennedys Childrens Health Defense, and another was a guest on its podcast.

Behind all these details is a potentially troubling link between the anti-aluminum agenda and potential money and influence for those fighting to push back against vaccine science.

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The 1986 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act established a simplified compensation process for vaccine injury claims, funded by a tax on vaccines. This was a win for patients  both by making compensation easier to get, and by forestalling a mass exit of pharmaceutical companies from the vaccine market due to unsustainably expensive litigation.

There was one group, however, that suffered: the lawyers. Instead of the customary 30% fee, the act only permits reasonable attorneys fees. But there is an exception: if manufacturers knew of a risk but failed to disclose it.

In 2016, Wakefield repeated his U.K. playbook and along with his new colleague, Del Bigtree, CEO of the anti-vaccine group Informed Consent Action Network, partnered with two antivax lawyers: Kennedy and Aaron Siri.

In June 2017, Shaw, Exley and another senior member of the aluminum family, a French neuropathologist, Romain Gherardi, provided letters to Bigtree supporting the aluminum-autism link. Bigtree used these letters in petitions to the HHS, filed with Kennedys and Siris help, warning of the dangers of aluminum-containing vaccines.

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Kennedy recently proclaimed an epidemic of autism starting in 1989  a necessary premise to make the link to increasing use of aluminum-containing vaccines in the 1980s.

In April, at the annual Autism Health Summit, Kennedy as HHS secretary announced plans to discover the cause of autism by September. He allocated a huge sum, $50 million, and announced a rushed competition for grant proposals due June 27, with work starting as early as Sept. 1. Given the tight timeline, applicants will almost certainly focus on analyzing a database of previously collected health records, rather than collecting new data.

Two individuals reportedly involved in setting up this database are National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and well-documented vaccine skeptic David Geier. Both have been accused of unethical research practices: Bhattacharya failed to disclose a financial conflict, which was raised by an anonymous whistleblower filed with Stanford University (Bhattacharya described this accusation as bizarre.) Jessica Steier, a public health researcher who leads the nonprofit Science Literacy Lab, which scrutinizes research on high-profile health topics, said that research by Geier and his father is riddled with basic flaws and that the two have demonstrated patterns of an anti-vaccine agenda.

Should aluminum be discovered as a cause of autism, the findings will likely be passed on to the newly restaffed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and therefore a debunked conspiracy theory may well make its way into HHS-recognized science.

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This brings us back to a potential financial advantage for lawyers bringing vaccine injury claims, as it could provide an easy Gotcha! moment, allowing lawyers to blame the manufacturers, and perhaps even the previous government, for not heeding their prior warnings. They could then unleash lawsuits, as former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb recently predicted.

The health department in June reportedly hired a law firm specializing in the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, reportedly for its expertise to advise on the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, prompting a concern from pediatrician and vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit that Kennedy may make it easier to bring bogus lawsuits to civil court claiming vaccine injuries.

Predictably, Childs Health Defense promptly attacked the latest study from the Danish Ministry of Health. The organization quoted Exley, who suspects the aluminum industry influenced the Danish researchers. Childs Health Defense has attacked Hviid in the past by concocting another, equally implausible influence: Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company that does not make vaccines.

If anti-vaccine activists successfully undermine aluminum-containing vaccines despite research findings like the Danish study, the consequences will be catastrophic.

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Vaccine-preventable diseases  diphtheria, meningitis, hepatitis and cancers of the liver, cervix and penis  will bounce back, causing tremendous death and suffering. And rates of autism will remain unchanged, as they have for decades.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
President Trumps effort to punish law firms suffered yet another judicial defeat on June 27, when U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan enjoined enforcement of his executive order targeting Susman Godfrey. But one seemingly obscure aspect of the case deserves more attention, as it suggests a broader threat to Americas system of free expression.

The Susman executive order was the odd one out from the start. The orders against Perkins Coie, Paul Weiss, Jenner and WilmerHale all recited personal grudges that Trump held against people associated with the firms. There were ideological objections in each order as well, to be sure, but the orders were personal to the president in a way the Susman order was not.

Perhaps for this reason, the grievances recited in the Susman order were not specific. The order referred to election work without citing anything, but each side concluded that the White House probably had in mind Susmans representation of state officials in 2020 election challenges and perhaps the $787.5 million defamation settlement the firm won for Dominion Voting Systems in a case against Fox News.

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But then the order said this: Susman also funds groups that engage in dangerous efforts to undermine the effectiveness of the United States military through the injection of political and radical ideology.

What was that about? No one seemed to know.

At the temporary restraining order hearing, Donald Verrilli Jr., the former U.S. Solicitor General who represented Susman, said the firm was completely mystified by that. Oddly, the government was equally puzzled: Regrettably, your honor, I have no further information than whats contained in the order.

With the temporary restraining order issued, Susman moved for summary judgment, and, in the governments opposition filing, the mystery of the seditious funding accusation was solved.

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In 2017, during the first Trump administration, the president issued an executive memorandum banning transgender people from military service. Multiple lawsuits followed. One, Stockman v. Trump, was filed by Latham & Watkins. Susman did not file the case and never appeared in it.

Eventually, lawyers affiliated with the gay rights group GLAD, a respected and effective advocacy organization founded in 1978, did enter an appearance. But those lawyers did not work for Susman, either.

In opposition to Susmans summary judgment motion, the government submitted the Stockman complaint and a GLAD Brief, a magazine-style publication discussing GLADs advocacy work. Like many such publications, it thanked GLADs supporters and listed them. Some lawyers (such as Walter Dellinger) and firms (including Gibson Dunn, Paul Weiss and WilmerHale) were listed as providing legal support. Yet Susman was not on this list.

Another list thanked financial supporters, including Matt Damon, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Wells Fargo. And here, at last, we find Susman. In the Winter 2018 GLAD Brief, in the final of six columns on page 11, the firm is listed as giving between $3,000 and $4,999 to GLAD.

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Mystery solved.

The problem, of course, is that making a charitable contribution to an advocacy organization such as GLAD is constitutionally protected under First Amendment rights of speech and association. That rule has been clear since NAACP v. Alabama (1958) and has been strengthened over time.

Thus, in defending an order that unlawfully retaliated against Susman for views expressed in a representative capacity, the government expanded the scope of its retaliation to include charitable contributions as well  adding an additional violation to the sizeable list evident on the face of the order. The government defended the position that the president may issue punitive executive orders based on charitable contributions to advocacy organizations he dislikes, a stance that extends far beyond law firms.

Today GLAD is a target; tomorrow it may be the right-leaning Pacific Legal Foundation.

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I have sympathy for the government lawyers tasked with defending these orders. I doubt they had this in mind when they applied for the jobs. It must have been embarrassing to face a district court not knowing basic information about the Susman order, and it was conscientious lawyering to track down the answer.

As a tactical matter, however, the answer was worse than the inability to provide an answer. One of the more important rules of lawyering is the first rule of holes: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

But the substantive point is more worrying. The claim that a president can threaten a business because he dislikes its charitable giving should not be taken seriously. From the perspective of free speech jurisprudence since the 1950s, and the system of freedom of expression it supports, the claim is madness.

That the government was willing to make such an absurd claim reinforces a point each district court that has dealt with one of these orders understood, and which the D.C. Circuit should grasp as the Perkins case heads its way. This needs to stop here, and it needs to stop now.

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David McGowan is the Lyle L. Jones Professor of Competition and Innovation Law at the University of San Diego School of Law.

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President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday expressed her condolences at the loss of lives in the stampede this morning on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. In a post on X, President Murmu wrote, "The news of the death of many devotees in the stampede accident on the way to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar is deeply painful." https://x.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/1949357591445807415 "I express my heartfelt condolences to all the grieving families. I pray that all the injured devotees recover quickly," the post read. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the incident as "heart-wrenching" and prayed for strength for the families who lost their loved ones. https://x.com/arvindkejriwal/status/1949353978837512436?s=48 In a post on X, Arvind Kejriwal wrote, "The heart-wrenching incident of the stampede at the Mansa Devi Temple in the holy city of Haridwar has left the heart distressed. May God grant strength to those devotees who lost their loved ones, and may the departed souls find peace." He stated that the tragedy reveals a serious failure in arrangements and that those responsible must be held accountable. "Such horrific incidents at religious sites expose the negligence of the arrangements. This is not just an accident, but a failure of the system, for which accountability must be established," the post read. Uttarakhand Chief Minister has ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured in the stampede. Addressing reporters, CM Dhami said, "The injured are being treated. Some have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Our priority is that they get good treatment and recover soon. A toll-free number has also been issued. Magisterial inquiry has been ordered and ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, also announced." He said, "Six people have died in this accident..." (ANI)
VALENCIA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE)  The Valencia County Animal Shelter is over capacity, and theyre asking for the publics help before its too late for the dogs in their care. Shelter staff say the shelter is completely full again, and just a couple of days ago, over 10 dogs were taken in before doors opened to the public.

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They say that with only two dog adoptions and no room, they are doing everything they can to avoid euthanizing animals. Adoptions are free for the remainder of the week.

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An investigation is underway after two separate gatherings led to multiple people being hurt over the weekend, according to Rome police.

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On Saturday evening, Rome officers were in the area of E 2nd Avenue and E 9th Street when they heard what sounded like rifle-caliber gunfire. As officers responded, dispatch began receiving several calls about a shooting near 106 E 11th Street.

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RPD said when officers arrived, they found the scene consistent with reports of gunfire. Officers found a speaker, table, backpack, cell phone, and at least one rifle casing while searching the area.

Witnesses told police the shooting happened during a back-to-school party attended by multiple people.

Rome officials said no injuries were reported in this shooting.

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Then, around 2:19 a.m., officers patrolling near Hardy Avenue were called to reports of gunfire from a large party at 516 Hardy Avenue.

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RPD said the home is known to its agency for frequent disturbances and was hosting a gathering with over 100 people in attendance.

Upon hearing shots, officers ran to the scene and found three gunshot victimstwo women with leg injuries, and another victim was found closer to Grover Street.

Police immediately rendered aid, and all three were taken to the hospital for medical treatment. Their ages and identities were not released.

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During the investigation, the host of the party, Marvin Blackburn, became combative and uncooperative, Rome police said.

Authorities said they repeated commands to leave the home; however, Blackburn threatened officers and resisted arrest.

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RPD said Blackburn was Tased and arrested. Hes charged with three counts of felony obstruction, two counts of misdemeanor obstruction, three counts of simple battery on a police officer and maintaining a disorderly house

Police also arrested and charged Sammya Sewell with misdemeanor obstruction for failing to comply with commands while officers attempted to secure the scene.

These types of incidents not only put lives at risk but also place an incredible burden on emergency resources, said Kelly Madden, Public Information Officer for the Rome Police Department. We are committed to maintaining public safety, and we encourage our residents to report suspicious activity and to avoid hosting or attending gatherings that pose a risk to the community.

Both incidents remain under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to call the Rome Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 706-238-5121.
The White House was forced to intervene to put an end to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths routine use of polygraph tests on his own staff.

According to The Washington Post, a top aide to the Defense chief complained to the White House that he could be subject to a lie detector as Hegseths campaign to stamp out the endless Pentagon media leaks raged.

In April, Hegseths Trump-loyalist advisor, Patrick Weaver, took offense to the suggestion that he should have to submit to testing being carried out on those close to the Defense secretary. An ally of President Donald Trump and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Weavers complaint resulted in a phone call from the White House to Hegseths team telling them to knock it off.

The White House contacted the Pentagon in April to request that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cease polygraphing his staff. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

The Defense secretarys hunt for whistle-blowers ramped up in March right before the infamous Signal-gate leaks, in which top members of the Trump administration discussed plans to bomb Yemen on commercial messaging app Signal with a journalist in the thread.

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According to sources speaking to The Washington Post, multiple polygraph tests were carried out over several weeks.

Members of the Joint Service Interagency Advisory Group, high-ranking military officials, and even staff at other agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were all subject to polygraphs. Hegseth threatened to carry out more tests on other military staff.

The news about the White Houses intervention in the polygraph slinging comes on the heels of further reports of chaos at the Pentagon.

Hegseth's use of polygraphs ramped up after Signal-gate, in which top members of the Trump administration discussed plans to bomb Yemen in a thread with a journalist. / Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

This week, reports emerged that senior department officials have been circulating letters calling for Hegseths removal.

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The American public knows this guy has no clue what hes doing, one staff member described the gist of the letter to the Daily Mail.

Gripes in the department relate to Hegseths deployment of the National Guard in California during Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests last month.

Staff are also reportedly annoyed by his installation of a makeup studio at Defense headquarters and his insistence on snapping workout pics alongside troops.

Hegseth's love of photo ops has rankled staff at the Pentagon, where he has also set up a makeup studio. / Pete Hegseth/X

Polygraph tests involve tracking heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and skin conductivity while subjects respond to questioning in an effort to detect deception. The American Psychological Association notes their use is controversial and that their efficacy may be more myth than reality. Their results are not admissible in courts.

The Pentagon, the White House, and Weaver declined to comment to the Post. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House and Pentagon for comment.
Dip into the poetry blog Humble Piety, and you find some intriguing clues to the authors life. Fragile Things Break is the title of one recent entry, while another dated July 15, called Slow News Day?, begins Waking, a radio talking, confusingly hearing a familiar name, my own name? / Listening again, yes thats me.

Radio was not the only place that Fr Pat Brennan, a Roman Catholic priest, would have found his name that day. It was everywhere in the media, after he published a caustic poem in the newsletter of his church, the Holy Family, Coventry, about his parishioners. Brennan, who was leaving the parish after nine and a half years, railed against tittle-tattle, disapproval, disdainful looks and cliques.

Father Pat Brennan has published a caustic poem about what makes people not come to church - Fr Pat Brennan/X

His valedictory message began:

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What makes people not come to church?

Could it be the people who already go?, he asked while later warning that Gossip flows from holy lips. According to Brennan, when some of the Holy Family congregation hear the words, go in peace, its time for war!

Warring over Mozart

Churches, both Anglican and Catholic, can often seem more like battlefields than sacred space, with rows, feuds and walkouts about music, style of worship, money, and changes being wrought by newly arrived clergy. At one Catholic church, a new parish priest wanted a musical repertoire of Palestrina, Mozart and Verdi, only to be told by his churchs 85-year-old organist that she would stick to the dozen hymns she knew.

Feuds over music are not confined to Roman Catholic parishes. One of the most explosive of recent months was the bust-up between the rector and the congregation of St Oswalds, in Malpas, Cheshire, where the Rev Dr Janine Arnott shocked her Church of England congregation by banning individuals from the choir, sacking the chief bellringer, and barricading the belltower with broomsticks in a row which apparently began over Arnotts objections to the choir singing the Agnus Dei, a prayer usually said before Communion, in Latin. While the bells fell silent, the congregation did not, with protests made to the local bishop and flyers complaining about Arnott plastered around Chester Cathedral. Dr Arnott, meanwhile, sought the help of the diocesan legal team, which urged parishioners to back off.

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Even a Royal family favourite, St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, is not immune to disputes. Modernising rector, the Rev Paul Williams, has been reported to be at loggerheads with the director of music, Dr Claire Stewart, over hymns and other forms of musical worship  and even the setting up of a social media account. There have been mutterings about getting the bishop involved. Upset parishioners have done what parishioners always do in rows  boycotted the church.

They learn about this tactic when still young. One mother told me about a Roman Catholic priest who insisted teenagers should wear their Sunday best at confirmation classes. The parents, used to their stroppy adolescents, argued against him. The teenagers, in torn T-shirts and ripped jeans, then voted with their trainer-clad feet and failed to turn up.

I have never been in a parish where trouble hasnt happened, says one Catholic adviser to a bishop  but wanting to avoid any more trouble, wished to remain anonymous.

One was so bad that I suggested we bring in a psychodynamic specialist to mediate between the priest and the parishioners over the running of the parish.

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Quite frankly parishioners can be awkward, difficult and vicious, and theyre at their most vicious when it comes to any changes to the liturgy.

Being a priest is not an easy vocation

No wonder, then, that Fr Pat Brennan also wrote in his newsletter that being a priest is not an easy vocation. And recently it has got even harder. For as the number of Catholic priests has declined, so those who remain are having to do far more, often running two or even three parishes.

Take Fr Brennan. Once, he was just the parish priest of Holy Family, Coventry. But the Archdiocese of Birminghams plan for parish clusters  a response to having 217 parishes but just 150 priests  meant he was then put in charge of two others. That meant three lots of Sunday Masses and weddings, baptisms and funerals, as well as the repairs, bills and health and safety of three buildings.

While Fr Brennans poem suggests a man at the end of his tether, the Archdiocese of Birmingham says the load can be shared. We want priests to work three times smarter, not three times harder, says its spokesman, Deacon Paul OConnor. But in the Catholic Church, for all the talk of parishioners and deacons doing more, the priest remains ultimately responsible. As Deacon OConnor admits: The buck stops with them. Thats the Catholic way.

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Sometimes the problems are just down to human nature. Fr Terry Tastard, who has served in several London Roman Catholic parishes, recalls he sometimes lost his temper as a young priest and it took a parishioner to call him out when he upset the mans wife. Its so long ago I cant remember what started the argument but I sent a letter of apology, he recalls.

We dont like to admit to one another that we are struggling

Who might offer a sympathetic ear to a Catholic priest to help him with such troubles, given he doesnt have a wife himself? Thats a question Ive often asked myself, says Fr Tastard. Another priest said: We dont like to admit to one another that we are struggling.

At Oscott, the Birmingham archdioceses seminary, or training college, for priests, they have come up with a solution: care from a counsellor. Its rector, Fr Michael Dolman, says: Priests have to deal with situations that are tense and stressful. They need to talk through their problems. We encourage them after ordination to continue with a counsellor and quite a few do.

The Church of England has opted for other ways of coping with congregation-clergy conflict. In some dioceses, interim ministers  once described in an Anglican handbook as a non-anxious presence in the midst of transition, grief and conflict  have been brought in to troubled parishes.

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Meanwhile the Diocese of London offers mediation services for parish disputes, promising professional mediators to sort out conflicts. Call in the professionals now seems the answer to what the press cant resist calling unholy rows. And no doubt a lot of prayer.

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Passengers were forced to evacuate from a Boeing flight after the planes tyres blew out on the runway.

American Airlines Flight 3023 was preparing to leave Denver International Airport for Miami on Saturday when it experienced a mechanical issue while accelerating before take-off, the airline said.

The incident raises further questions over Boeings safety record following a number of major failures.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement on Sunday that the crew onboard the Boeing 737 Max 8 plane reported a possible landing gear incident during departure at around 2.45pm (9.45pm BST) on Saturday.

All 173 passengers and six crew de-planed safely but one passenger sustained a minor injury and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, the airline said.

All 173 passengers and six crew managed to escape on emergency slides

Video shows passengers using the evacuation slide to leave the plane as smoke billows from the fuselage, some carrying small children. Several people can be seen falling onto the tarmac as they land.

Mark Tsurkis, 50, a passenger aboard the flight, told ABC News he heard a loud boom as the plane was about to take off.

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I said, Thats not good, Tsurkis said, at which point the plane began to slow down, he said, and passengers could see one of the wheels pass by.

When the plane stopped about 30 seconds to a minute later, somebody said, Smoke, fire. And then a lot of people, of course, started panicking, Tsurkis said.

Shay Armistead, a 17-year-old passenger who was headed to Santiago, Chile, for a ski trip told CNN that Saturdays ordeal was kind of traumatising.

As the plane moved down the runway, passengers heard a loud bang and believed the tyre popped, Armistead said.

The plane started vibrating and shaking really bad. We started tilting to the left side of the runway, and then we heard the sound of the wind from them lifting up the brakes of the plane and slamming on them really hard.

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The airline said: We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologise to our customers for their experience.

The FAA said it was investigating the incident.

Boeing has been heavily criticised in recent years over a string of failures. In June the National Transportation Safety Board blasted Boeings safety culture and its failure to stop a cabin panel getting sucked out mid-air during a flight in January 2024.

The board said the company failed to install four key bolts in a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 during production.

Sundays evacuation also comes amid concerns over aviation safety in the United States after a string of recent accidents and near misses.

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On Friday a Southwest Airlines flight plunged mid-air to avoid colliding with another aircraft while en route to Las Vegas, injuring two flight attendants.

In January, a mid-air collision between a commercial aircraft approaching Ronald Reagan Airport near downtown Washington and a military helicopter killed 67 people.

In May, US President Donald Trumps administration announced plans to overhaul its antiquated air traffic control system, which suffers from a shortage of controllers in FAA-managed towers.

The government has laid off hundreds of FAA employees as part of its plan to slash the federal workforce.

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Fiery scenes unfolded on the tarmac at Denver International Airport on Saturday afternoon as an American Airlines passenger plane caught on fire.

Flight 3023, you got a lot of smoke, air traffic control told the pilot, according to local NBC affiliate 9News. You are actually on fire, they added moments later.

All 173 passengers and six crew members onboard the plane managed to evacuate safely. One passenger was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

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In a statement to the Daily Beast, a spokesperson for American Airlines said that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft experienced a mechanical incident involving the planes tires as it attempted to take off at around 2:45 p.m. local time. The plane was bound for Miami International Airport when the malfunction occurred.

In dramatic footage posted to Instagram, passengers can be seen departing the plane through the emergency slide at the front of the plane while flames engulf the landing gear at the rear.

American Airlines sign at Denver International Airport. / EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP via Getty Images

All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team, the American Airlines spokesperson said.

We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience.

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The Denver Fire Department said that it had extinguished the small fire on the runway in a social media post at 5:10 p.m. local time.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that it will investigate the cause.
Passengers on an American Airlines flight evacuated onto the runway via emergency slides after the plane aborted its takeoff on the runway in Denver on Saturday. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, officials said.

American Airlines flight 3023, which was headed to Miami, reported a "possible landing gear incident during departure," according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which is investigating the incident.

Data from flight tracking website FlightRadar24 shows the plane reached a top speed of 127 knots -- nearly 150 miles -- on the runway before slowing down.

Courtesy @highlymigratoryfishing/instagram - PHOTO: Passengers of an American Airlines flight exited the plan via emergency slide after an aborted takeoff in Denver on Saturday.

MORE: Southwest flight descends 475 feet to avoid 'midair collision' with Hawker Hunter

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In air traffic control audio obtained from LiveATC.net, the pilot told the controller they were "aborting on the runway." The controller told the pilot, "You got a lot of smoke." A moment later, the controller said, "There was some flames, it looks like the smoke's kind of dying down a bit."

The FAA said passengers evacuated the plane on the runway and were taken back to the terminal by bus. Video showed passengers evacuating the aircraft on slides.

The flight was operated on a Boeing 737 Max 8. There were 173 passengers and six crew members on board, according to the airline.

Mark Tsurkis, 50, a passenger aboard the flight, told ABC News he heard "a loud boom," as the plane was about to take off.

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"I said, 'That's not good,'" Tsurkis said, at which point the plane began to slow down, he said, and passengers could see one of the wheels pass by.

"When the plane stopped about 30 seconds to a minute later, somebody said, 'Smoke, fire.' And then a lot of people, of course, started panicking," Tsurkis said.

According to the Denver International Airport, the plane was met by first responders. The Denver Fire Department said it extinguished a fire on the plane. The airport said six people were evaluated and one was taken to the hospital. The airline said the person transported had minor injuries.

"It's definitely not a pleasant experience, but we got lucky," Tsurkis said. "It happened before the plane took off, so [the pilot] was able to slow down before actually going full speed or before flying."

Joe Raedle/Getty Images - PHOTO: American Airlines Lowers Yearly Outlook After Q3 Earnings Reveal

MORE: FAA says it will investigate incident between SkyWest jet and B-52

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American Airlines said the passengers will go to Miami on a replacement plane later Saturday, while the original plane will be taken out of service and inspected.

The airline said in a statement, "We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologize to our customers for their experience."
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On Saturday, Pat Harrigan released a statement on X that confirmed he would not be running for a seat in the Senate.

ALSO READ: Lara Trump considers run for NC Senate seat, backed by Rep. Pat Harrigan

I will be filing for re-election in United States House of Representatives. I will continue to stand alongside President Trump to Make America Great Again and fight for the hardworking people of North Carolinas Tenth District as their conservative voice in DC.

VIDEO: Former Gov. Roy Cooper expected to announce Senate bid in coming days
Emphasising that India's heritage and the influence of Shaiva philosophy are no longer confined to its geographic borders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday recalled that when India became the first country to land near the Moon's South Pole, the designated lunar site was named "Shiv-Shakti" and is now recognised globally. Speaking at the valedictory function of the 'Aadi Thiruvathirai' festival at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, held to mark the birth anniversary of King Rajendra Chola I, the Prime Minister said, "India's Shaivite tradition has played a vital role in shaping the nation's cultural identity. The Chola emperors were key architects in this cultural development, and Tamil Nadu continues to be an important centre of vibrant Shaivite heritage." He highlighted the legacy of the Nayanmar saints, their devotional literature, Tamil contributions, and the influence of the Adheenams. He said these traditions sparked a new chapter in India's spiritual and social development. Recalling his recent meeting with the Dikshitars of the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, the Prime Minister said they had presented him with a sacred offering from the temple, where Lord Shiva is worshipped in his Nataraja form. He said the Nataraja symbol reflects both India's philosophy and scientific foundations. The Prime Minister added that a similar Ananda Tandava idol of Lord Nataraja adorns Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, where global leaders had gathered during the G-20 summit in 2023. PM Modi said the world is facing instability, violence, and environmental crises, and that the Shaivite philosophy could offer meaningful solutions. Referring to the teachings of Tirumular, he said, "Anbe Sivam," meaning "Love is Shiva," could help resolve many global problems if widely accepted. He added that India is advancing this philosophy through the motto 'One World, One Family, One Future.' He said modern India takes pride in its heritage. "Today, India is guided by the mantra of 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi,' and modern India takes pride in its history," the Prime Minister said. He also said that efforts have been made to recover India's cultural artefacts. "Since 2014, more than 600 ancient artefacts have been repatriated from various countries around the world," he said, adding that 36 of these items belonged to Tamil Nadu. "Many valuable heritage items, including Nataraja, Lingodbhavar, Dakshinamurthy, Ardhanarishwara, Nandikeswara, Uma Parameshwari, Parvati, and Sambandar, are once again adorning the land," he noted. During the event, PM Modi also released a commemorative coin in honour of Rajendra Chola I. This year's celebration also marks 1,000 years since Rajendra Chola I's maritime expedition to Southeast Asia and the beginning of construction of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a major example of Chola architecture. Rajendra Chola I (1014-1044 CE) was among India's most powerful rulers. His empire expanded across South and Southeast Asia. He built the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple after his military campaigns and made the town his capital. The temple served as a centre of Shaiva worship and administration for over 250 years and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its sculptures, bronzes, and inscriptions. The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also celebrates the Tamil Shaiva Bhakti movement, supported by the Cholas and immortalised by the 63 Nayanmars--the saint-poets of Tamil Shaivism. Rajendra Chola's birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), began on 23rd July this year, making the festival even more special. (ANI)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Sunday that former first lady Jill Biden and Anthony Fauci could be examined during Congresss autopen probe.

President Trump has railed against his predecessor, former President Biden, for using the autopen to pardon individuals during his last few months in office.

The president ordered a probe into the signatures on various pardons in June while GOP lawmakers requested interviews with several former White House staffers to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Some have pleaded the Fifth at some point during their testimonies.

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Even though Anthony Fauci has been pardoned, there is some question whether its a legitimate pardon. His pardon wasnt signed by President Biden, Paul said during an appearance on John Catsimatidiss radio show Cats Roundtable on WABC 770 AM.

Its unclear whether President Biden is mentally cognizant enough of the situation to know who he pardoned. Hundreds and hundreds of people were pardoned in a day by a mechanical signature from a machine. We do know theres been testimony from the people running the machine that they never talked to the president, that they talked to an assistant that works for the presidents wife, he added.

Biden has previously argued that past administrations have used the autopen to sign government paperwork, proving its legality. However, Republicans have refused to let go of criticism regarding his signature on multiple pardons.

Who knew that we werent being run by Joe Biden, but we were being run by some kind of chief of staff that worked for his wife. Thats something to a lot of Americans to know that that person was granting power of pardons and could have taken the country to war and was never elected, Paul said.

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So I think the way the best way to sort this out is you have to go to court. And I think the easiest way to get this into court is they should indict Anthony Fauci for lying to Congress, and he will make a defense that hes been pardoned, he added.

Paul also pointed out that the autopen was not used to sign the pardon for Hunter Biden.

I think there is a question whether these pardons are valid. Interestingly, when he had to do the pardon for his son, he didnt take any chances by running it for the auto pen, Paul.

The pardon for Hunter Biden for any crimes committed over the last 10 years, any crimes, was done by personal hand signature by Biden, not the auto pen.

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BUFFALO GAP, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Riders of all ages hit the pavement this weekend for the 42nd annual Tour de Gap, an event that combines fitness, fun, and fundraising for a critical local cause.

This years event benefits the Presbyterian Medical Care Mission (PMCM). This nonprofit has been providing affordable access to primary medical care for low-income and uninsured adults in Taylor County and 18 surrounding counties since 1983.

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On Saturday morning, July 26, many cyclists gathered at the starting line to begin their rides, with route options including 11 miles, 50 kilometers (approximately 31 miles), and 100 kilometers (approximately 62 miles). Among them was John Klemp, who aimed to finish the 11-mile course.

Im out here to have fun and knock out a couple of miles. Like I say, Ill be doing 11 miles. So thats my goal today, Klemp said.

Those interested in supporting the mission of PMCM can visit their website directly for more information.

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A Penn State engineering student has cracked a 100-year-old aerodynamic puzzle, offering a refined approach that could transform wind turbine design.

Divya Tyagi, an undergraduate at the Schreyer Honors College, developed a solution that addresses gaps in a 1935 model by British aerodynamicist Hermann Glauert, providing engineers with a more robust tool for renewable energy innovation.

Glauerts original work established a theoretical limit for wind turbine power output but overlooked key forces, such as wind pressure and blade bending, that turbines encounter daily. Tyagis research, rooted in calculus of variations, fills these gaps by calculating precise values for thrust and bending moment across various tip speed ratios  critical for modern turbine performance.

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I created an addendum to Glauerts problem, which determines the optimal aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine by solving for the ideal flow conditions, Tyagi said, per a Penn State news release.

Her thesis, published in Wind Energy Science, earned her the Anthony E. Wolk Award for the best aerospace engineering project at Penn State.

Professor Sven Schmitz, her adviser and co-author, highlighted the breakthroughs scope.

Glauerts original work focused only on the power coefficient. But turbines also have to survive physical loads, like wind pressure pushing against the blades, he said, per The Brighter Side. Tyagis method accounts for these forces and gives us a clearer picture of total aerodynamic performance.

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The simplicity of Tyagis approach, using calculus of variations to optimize complex interactions, could benefit both classrooms and industry.

The real impact will be on the next generation of wind turbines using the new knowledge that has been unveiled, Schmitz added, according to Penn State. As for Divyas elegant solution, I think it will find its way into classrooms across the country and around the world.

Tyagi noted the practical payoff: Improving the power coefficient of a large wind turbine by just 1% has significant impacts on the energy production of a turbine.  A 1% improvement in power coefficient could notably increase a turbines energy output, potentially powering an entire neighborhood.

Her work also enhances turbine durability, potentially reducing costs with lighter, longer-lasting designs.

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Now pursuing a masters degree, Tyagi is tackling airflow around helicopter rotors for the U.S. Navy, using computational fluid dynamics to improve flight safety.

Reflecting on her undergraduate effort, she said, I would spend about 10 to 15 hours a week between the problem, writing the thesis, and on research. It took a long time because it was so math-intensive. But I feel really proud now, seeing all the work Ive done.

Schmitz, who had challenged four students with the problem over decades, credited Tyagis persistence.

There had to be an easier way to do it. Thats when Divya came in. She was the fourth student I challenged with looking at it, and she was the only one who took it on. Her work is truly impressive.

Her contribution could reshape wind energy as the industry seeks more efficient and resilient turbines.
A person has died after falling 150 feet to the ground from a steep rock formation in Colorado, authorities said.

On Thursday, July 24, the Elk Creek Fire Department  located in Jefferson County, about a 30-mile drive southwest from Denver  was called to a cliffside area near the town's Eagle Gate and Pine Valley roads at around 11 a.m. local time.



The person, whose identity and gender has not yet been made public, fell "approximately 150 feet from a steep rock face, with a significant portion of the fall being a free fall," the fire department said in a statement shared on Facebook.

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Elk Creek Fire spokeswoman Bethany Urban told the Denver Post that authorities are still determining whether the person was on private or public property. Investigators are also unsure what they were doing prior to the fall.

It was a recovery, unfortunately, not a rescue, Urban told the outlet.

Elk Creek Fire Department/Facebook Members of the Elk Creek Fire Department ahead of the recovery mission. Members of the Elk Creek Fire Department ahead of the recovery mission.

"Our crews carried out a difficult high angle rope recovery operation with the support of Conifer Fire, Alpine Rescue Team, and the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office. We are deeply grateful for their assistance in such challenging conditions," the fire department wrote in its social media statement.

"Our hearts are with the victims loved ones during this incredibly painful time," the organization added.

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Photos from the scene of the incident show rescue officials performing a recovery mission by using ropes to climb up and down the steep rock ledge.



The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for more information on Sunday, July 27.

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Elk Creek Fire Department/Facebook The rock formation, where the person fell 150 feet. The rock formation, where the person fell 150 feet.

The individual's death comes just days after a hiker fell nearly 200 feet down a snowfield in the state.

According to KRDO and the Denver Gazette, the Alpine Rescue Team found that person after they fell and sustained serious injuries near Saint Mary's Glacier at around noon on Wednesday, July 23.

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Deputies from the Clear Creek Sheriff's Office, local medical and fire officials also responded to the scene, and the individual was then transported via helicopter to a local hospital.



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MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Philippine troops killed seven communist guerrillas in an offensive Sunday in a central province and were pursuing several others in the latest flare-up of the decades-long insurgency that the military says is on the brink of collapse.

Army forces killed two New Peoples Army guerrillas in a clash last week in Masbate province and then caught up with the fleeing insurgents early Sunday in the hinterlands of Uson town, where they killed seven of them in a 30-minute gunbattle, Maj. Frank Roldan of the armys 9th Infantry Division said.

Seven assault rifles and two grenade launchers were recovered by troops at the scene of the battle. At least eight rebels managed to flee in different directions and were being pursued, Roldan said.

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Were in the final push, Roldan told The Associated Press by telephone, saying a few dozen armed guerrillas remain in the island province, a poverty-stricken agricultural region of more than 900,000 people.

This successful operation delivers a major blow to the already weakening insurgency, Roldan said, and asked the remaining rebels to surrender and support the government's peace efforts.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said last week that less than 900 rebels remain, mostly in eastern rural regions, from the estimated 25,000 insurgent force at the peak of the 56-year insurgency, one of Asias longest-running rebellions.

Saddled by battle defeats, surrenders and factionalism, the guerrilla forces are on the brink of collapse, said Brig. Gen. Medel Aguilar, deputy commander of the militarys Civil Relations Service.

Peace talks brokered by Norway collapsed under previous President Rodrigo Duterte after both sides accused the other of continuing deadly attacks despite the negotiations.
Years of strife between prominent Phoenix lawyer James Arthur Eaves and a younger, troubled brother ended in gunfire, according to accounts police took from family members during an initial homicide investigation.

The 51-year-old Eaves, a husband and father affectionately known as "Artie," died in a March 21 shooting at his home in a wealthy northeast Phoenix enclave. Christopher Brett Eaves, 49, was charged with first-degree murder. The mens parents told police the surviving brother calmly drove them to the crime scene after they learned of their eldests death.

Family accounts given to police illustrate a picture of two men who were professionally accomplished and close before growing apart after the younger brother's reported mental health decline.

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A 40-caliber firearm that matched casings recovered at the shooting was found on Christopher Eaves nightstand, according to police. A sweatshirt seen on Christopher Eaves on video surveillance while arriving at his brothers home was recovered in their parents BMW, Phoenix police said. Christopher Eaves was taken into custody at his brothers home as family members looked on, according to police.

After success, younger brother's life veered into drug use, family said

The brothers were best friends growing up in a Christian home, their mother, Anita Eaves, told police.

They reached success in their chosen career paths. James Eaves was a senior owner and director at the law firm Sanders & Parks at the time of his death. Formerly a Maricopa County prosecutor, his practice was medical malpractice defense.

Christopher Eaves had a mechanical engineering degree from Arizona State University and joined his mother in medical equipment sales, she said in a conversation with police. When she joined another company, she brought him along to design medical devices before he became CEO there, Anita Eaves told police.

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James Eaves married and became a dad to three loving children, police learned from the family.

Christopher Eaves, meanwhile, never married and instead became involved with different women who negatively influenced him, the family told police. This included drug use he started during a long-term relationship, according to the family's account to police.

Younger brother previously approached with loaded gun, family said

James Eaves' wife, Emily Eaves, said Christopher Eaves used methamphetamine and fentanyl. He showed up to his brothers law firm acting "crazy," and the couple hired security because they felt unsafe, she told police.

Christopher Eaves owned firearms, mainly pistols, the brothers' father, Howard Eaves, said to police.

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Their mother told police that her youngest was unemployed and, at different points, claimed he was the U.S. president and CEO of the tech giant Meta. His parents told police he was seeing psychiatrists, one of whom indicated that Christopher Eaves was safer with them. A psychiatrist said if Christopher Eaves were involuntarily committed, he would eventually end up on the streets, and so he resided with his parents in their Scottsdale home, police learned from Anita Eaves.

The brothers had not seen each other in nearly a year, their mother said to police.

Within two years of the shooting, Christopher Eaves appeared at his brothers home with a loaded gun, Emily Eaves told police. James Eaves spent hours that night talking to his brother, who was high on drugs and said he thought someone was following him, she told police. After this, James Eaves forbade Christopher Eaves from returning, she said, according to the police account.

At one point, Christopher Eaves emailed James Eaves law firm, accusing his brother of being a pedophile and a murderer, Howard Eaves told police.

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But Emily Eaves told police that her husband was concerned his brother may have been trying to groom their oldest daughter  a college student at the time of the shooting  when she was a minor.

The daughter said that when she was a girl, her uncle gifted her bondage wear, described how he tied up former girlfriends and showed her photos he took of nude women being bound, her mother told police.

James and Emily Eaves were angered, prompting James Eaves to confide in his wife how once in the mid-1990s, he came across nude images of seemingly underage girls on Christoper Eaves laptop when the younger brother was at ASU, Emily Eaves told police.

Slain brother was in 'good mood' morning he died, family said

The night before James Eaves was killed, Christopher Eaves and their father, Howard Eaves, had what Howard Eaves described to police as a "normal" conversation. Anita Eaves told police that Christopher Eaves sat down with them to watch racecar driving on TV. The next morning, he did not make breakfast, which was typical for him, his mom told police.

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That same morning, James Eaves was in a good mood, drove his younger daughter to school, and planned to take the familys dog to the veterinarian, his family members said in their accounts to the police. Emily Eaves told police her husband was unarmed that morning, as he had stopped carrying years ago.

She told police she texted him later, asking how the visit to the vet went, but never received a response from her husband.

Before an arrest was made, Howard Eaves told police he suspected Christopher Eaves was responsible, remarking that his youngest son left home early that morning despite rarely leaving and was away during the shootings timeframe.

The Eaves brothers' mother said in a conversation with police following the arrest that she and Howard Eaves would not post bond for their youngest son. Anita Eaves told police he needed to be in a mental institution.

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Christopher Eaves has a court hearing slated for Aug. 7 to determine his mental competency for trial.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Many red flags before Phoenix lawyer's fatal shooting, police say
Three people were killed after a small plane crashed in the waters off Monterey County, according to the U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday.

Monterey County officials alerted the Coast Guard's Monterey station at 10:55 p.m. Saturday that a twin-engine Beechcraft with three people aboard had crashed about 200 to 300 yards offshore, near the historic Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, the Coast Guard said in a news release Sunday.

The three victims were identified Sunday as Steve Eugene Clatterbuck, 60; James Vincent, 36; and Jamie Lee Tabscott, 44, the Monterey County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

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The plane took off from San Carlos Airport at 10:11 p.m. and was last seen at 10:37 p.m. near Monterey, according to flight tracking data from the website FlightAware.

The Coast Guard launched a 29-foot response boat that arrived on the scene shortly after 11 p.m.

A Coast Guard helicopter and three California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection boat crews also assisted in the search, along with two Cal Fire drones. Multiple local law enforcement agencies also assisted in the response.

The Beechcraft was found, according to the Coast Guard.

The plane had been scheduled to leave for Gooding Municipal Airport in Idaho on Sunday morning  a two-hour, 48-minute flight  and to fly back to Monterey later in the day.

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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash.

ABC7 News in San Francisco reported that airplane parts, including at least one wheel, had washed up on nearby Asilomar State Beach by Sunday morning.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PERU  A Plattsburgh man has been arrested for a hit and run crash in the town of Peru last month.

The Clinton County Sheriffs Office said Curtis K. Mead, 34, of Plattsburgh was arrested Friday morning following an investigation into a hit and run serious personal injury crash that occurred on Felton Road in the town of Peru on June 27.

Police said it is alleged Mead hit a bicyclist, failed to stop and provide any documentation to the injured party, and failed to report the incident to law enforcement. Police said Mead was charged with leaving the scene of an accident-serious injury, a felony; failure to use due care-serious personal injury; failure to safely pass a bicycle; and failure to change address.

Police said Mead was issued appearance tickets and is set to appear in the town of Peru Court at a later date to face the allegations. Sheriff deputies were assisted by the New York State Police during the investigation.
QUICK WEATHER FORECAST:

Today: Afternoon t-storms, high 89

Tonight: Muggy w/ chance of rain, low 72

Monday: Stray pop-ups, high 91 (73)

Tuesday: Partly cloudy, high 93 (73)

Wednesday: Scattered storms, high 88 (67)

Thursday: Clearing & cooler, high 82 (60)

Sunday starts off muggy, but quiet for the most part. Later this afternoon and evening several rounds of thunderstorms move back into central Ohio. A slight risk for excessive rainfall for the potential of flash flooding. Highs will week in the upper 80s with a heat index in the upper 90s.

Most of the rain showers today will wrap up early tonight, but a spotty storm or two will still be possible. A few spots may see some patchy fog developing as well. Humid conditions stick around as temperatures fall into low 70s.

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Few chances for storms stick around tomorrow, but a couple of spots will still see a good downpour or two. Hot and steamy air remains in place as highs on Monday and Tuesday reach the low 90s. After one last decent round of storms on Wednesday, cooler and drier air settles in to end the week.

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According to Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, where the Chief Minister was admitted, Stalin has been declared fit for discharge and has been advised to resume his routine activities after three days of rest.

The Chief Minister was admitted to the hospital on July 21 after experiencing mild dizziness during his morning walk. Following a medical evaluation, he underwent a procedure performed by a team of expert doctors.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, CM Stalin had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outlining urgent demands related to education, infrastructure, railways, and the welfare of people in the State.

In his petition, the Tamil Nadu CM demanded that funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme be released and urged the Centre to implement railway projects that were sanctioned over a decade ago but remain inactive.

The petition emphasised the need for the centre's cooperation in implementing crucial projects and addressing long-pending issues.

The Chief Minister has sought the immediate release of the pending central share of Rs 2,151.59 crore for the 2024-25 financial year under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.

He also requested the sanction of the first installment for 2025-26 and urged the Centre to delink fund disbursal from the condition of signing the PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Stalin demanded urgent action to implement railway projects, including the Dindigul-Sengottai-Thirunelveli (70 km) line, the Erode-Palani (91 km) line, the Aruppukkottai-Madurai-Thoothukudi (60 km) line, the Athipattu-Puttur (88 km) line, and the Mahabalipuram-Chennai-Cuddalore (180 km) line. These projects were sanctioned over a decade ago but remain inactive, according to the petition. (ANI)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A 33-year-old Spring, Texas man died after a disturbance escalated to a shooting involving police officers in New Braunfels Saturday, according to a city of New Braunfels news release.

Two officers with the New Braunfels Police Department responded to a report of that disturbance between a man and a woman around 4:15 p.m. at the Sage Apartments, which is located in the 2500 block of West San Antonio Street, according to the city.

During the response, the man brandished a sharp weapon and began lunging in the officers direction, prompting them to fire their department issued service weapons, striking the suspect.

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Additional responding officers attempted life saving measures on the suspect and paramedics from the New Braunfels Fire Department took over those efforts, the city said.

The man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene. He not was identified by police Saturday, as they needed to notify next of kin.

No other police officers or civilians were injured in the shooting, according to the city.

The two officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave during the investigation, per standard protocol by New Braunfels PD.

The shooting remained under investigated by police and the Texas Rangers, according to the city. No other details were available Saturday.

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The bus was transferred to a police facility under a newly signed IDF Central Command order that permits administrative seizure of vehicles used to enter Area A illegally.

A bus that unlawfully transported around 50 Israelis into Nablus in the West Bank was impounded for 30 days, and the manager of the transport company was arrested, Israel Police said over the weekend.

According to the West Bank District Police, the incident occurred on Thursday night when the group entered Nablus, which is part of Area A of the West Bank, without coordination or legal authorization, putting their lives at risk, police noted.

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Following the breach, intelligence collected by the Ariel Police Station led security forces to locate the bus in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of Jerusalem.

The bus was impounded and transferred to a police facility under a newly signed IDF Central Command order that permits administrative seizure of vehicles used to enter Area A illegally, the police said.

The new order, according to security officials, is an enforcement tool aimed at curbing unauthorized incursions into restricted areas, which authorities say endanger lives and divert security forces from other critical operations, police added.

IDF soldiers are seen operating in Nablus, in the West Bank, July 3, 2025 (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Police arrested the owner of the vehicle, a resident of east Jerusalem who also serves as the manager of the bus company, for questioning.

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The identity of the driver is known to police, who said he will be summoned for questioning.

Five suspects, all Jerusalem residents, were detained during the incident, and four were released after questioning. One individual, previously arrested for a similar violation, was brought before a court and released under restrictions that barred him from entering the West Bank, according to the Israel Police.

Earlier incidents of illegal entry

In June, Palestinians and Israelis threw stones at each other after the Israelis entered Nablus without IDF coordination to visit Joseph's Tomb.

Several Israelis were reportedly injured during the event.

Entry of Israeli civilians into Area A is "dangerous and prohibited by law," the IDF emphasized.
Police said a call was placed to the 100 emergency hotline reporting that a man had entered the changing facility and used his mobile phone to film minors.

A 29-year-old foreign national was arrested on Friday afternoon on suspicion of sexual harassment after allegedly filming underage girls inside a womens changing room atFrishman Beach in Tel Aviv, Israel Police said on Sunday.

According to Israeli media, the suspect is a worker at the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv.

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Police said a call was placed to the 100 emergency hotline reporting that a man had entered the changing facility and used his mobile phone to film minors.

Officers from the Tel Aviv Central Station and the Special Patrol Unit, who were patrolling the beachfront, located the suspect shortly after and took him into custody.

Israeli police arresting Turkish embassy employee for allegedly filming minors in a changing room at Frishman beach in Tel Aviv on July 25, 2025. (credit: Canva/Israel Police Spokesperson )

Suspect arrested, court extends detention

The suspect was questioned at the police station and placed under arrest, according to the police.

He was brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court on Saturday night. The court extended his detention until July 28.
STAR-ADVERTISER STAR-ADVERTISER A 22-year-old man called Honolulu police Saturday afternoon after an argument with his 22-year-old wife escalated to the point she allegedly pulled a hunting knife on him.

The man was engaged in a verbal argument  with his wife when his wife brandished a hunting knife during the argument which caused the husband to fear for his life.

Police arrived on scene and the suspect was located, identified and arrested without incident, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

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The mans wife was arrested at a California Avenue home in Wahiawa at 1 :37 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of terroristic threatening in the first degree.

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SCHAUMBURG, Ill.  Police are investigating after a person was found dead inside a vehicle in Schaumburg, the village said.

In a social media post, the village of Schaumburg said a person was found dead inside a vehicle in a parking lot adjacent to the Al Larson Prairie Center on Schaumburg Road.

A heavy police presence has been reported in the area. Officials are asking drivers to use alternative routes to avoid delays.

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No additional information was provided.

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A stockpile of nearly $9.7 million in U.S.-funded contraceptives is set to be destroyed in Europe, following a policy shift that blocked their distribution to international aid organizations.

The supplies, including long-acting contraceptive implants, IUDs, injectables and birth control pills, have been stored in a warehouse in Geel, Belgium, since January. Purchased through U.S. foreign aid programs, the products were intended for distribution across low-income countries through USAIDs global family-planning initiatives.

But under the reinstated Mexico City Policy, also known as the Global Gag Rule, foreign non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. funding are barred from offering, referring for or even discussing abortion services. Though the stockpile contains no actual abortion drugs, U.S. officials have declined multiple offers from humanitarian groups to repackage and distribute the items, citing branding and policy compliance concerns.

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This is clearly not about saving money. It feels more like an ideological assault on reproductive rights, said Sarah Shaw, associate director of advocacy at MSI Reproductive Choices, one of several organizations that offered to take the supplies. MSI offered to pay for repackaging, shipping and import duties, but they were not open to that.

The incineration, scheduled to take place in France, is expected to cost U.S. taxpayers more than $160,000, even though many of the products remain viable through at least 2027. Public health advocates say the stockpile could have met the contraceptive needs of more than 650,000 people for a year.

Medical experts and reproductive health groups note that while some anti-abortion advocates classify IUDs and emergency contraception as abortifacients, these products prevent pregnancy and are not abortion-inducing. Critics of the decision argue the destruction reflects a growing push to conflate contraception with abortion access.

Lawmakers from both parties have called on the administration to reverse course. However, efforts in Congress to intervene are unlikely to take effect before the supplies are destroyed.

The post Policy over people: U.S. to burn $9.7M in birth control appeared first on Salon.com.
More than 60% of the land in Idaho is public land, including this high altitude lake at the base of Thompson Peak in the Sawtooth Wilderness. (Photo by Clark Corbin/Idaho Capital Sun)

Ninety-six percent of all registered voters in Idaho believe that public lands should remain in public hands, according to a new poll paid for by Conservation Voters for Idaho.

The poll was conducted in the aftermath of a federal proposal from U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to make millions of acres of public land in the U.S., including in Idaho, available to be sold off.

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The poll specifically asked Idaho voters questions about Idaho public lands and who they support in Idahos 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Alexis Pickering, executive director of Conservation Voters for Idaho, said she has never in her career seen Idahoans from all sides of the political spectrum unite behind a single issue like they have behind public lands this year.

It really is clear that voters are unified in keeping public lands in public hands, Pickering said in a phone interview Wednesday.

It demonstrates that Idaho voters are very cognizant of this fight right now, Pickering said. They are very engaged, and they are not going to sit this out.

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More than 60% of the land in Idaho is public land of some form.

Idahos registered voters are clear on their support for public access to public lands

The polling firm Change Research conducted the poll among 1,027 registered Idaho voters from July 15-17. The margin of error was 3.2%, according to Change Research.

One poll question asked voters, Did you support or oppose the amendment to sell off over 3 million acres of public land across 11 Western states, including Idaho?  with 87% of respondents saying they opposed it.

Another poll question asked voters which statement came closest to their opinion:

Public lands in Idaho, where people enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and biking, should remain public and be protected so that everyone can keep enjoying them.

Public lands in Idaho, where people enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, and biking, should be made available for purchase and private ownership.

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Ninety-six percent of Idaho registered voters said public lands should remain public, including 97% of registered Democrats and 95% of registered Republicans, the poll found.

Lee withdrew his amendment to sell public lands after a public backlash and three of Idahos four members of Congress provided public opposition from within the Republican Party to selling public lands.

Even though the public lands amendment was withdrawn, Pickering said the issue isnt going away. She said Conservation Voters for Idaho plans to highlight public lands as a central issue and continue to hold elected officials accountable for keeping public lands public.

Pickering also said the public is deeply invested in the issue and knows Lee could file another proposal to sell public lands. She compared the proposal to sell public lands to waking a sleeping bear.

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Now that they have woken the bear, it will be really hard to get that bear back in hibernation mode, Pickering said.

How Idahos congressional delegation responded to public lands proposal

Three of Idahos four members of Congress, U.S. Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, all R-Idaho, provided public Republican opposition to the proposal to sell off public lands, the Sun previously reported.

On June 20, Risch and Crapo, both announced they were opposed to the provision in the budget reconciliation process to sell off public lands. Simpson co-sponsored the Public Lands in Public Hands Act.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, opposed the Public Lands in Public Hands Act, the Utah News Dispatch reported.

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In a phone interview with the Idaho Capital Sun earlier this month, Fulcher said, public land should remain public, but the control, management should be local stakeholders, not the federal government.

Polling data shows that Risch received a 10% bump in support among all registered voters after they learned Risch provided opposition to the proposal to sell off public lands, up from 41% to 51%. Among registered Republican voters only, Rischs support increased from 60% to 72% after voters learned Risch provided opposition to the proposal to sell off public lands.

The poll only asked voters about Rischs upcoming U.S. Senate race, where he faces re-election in 2026. The poll did not ask about Crapo, Simpson or Fulcher, Pickering said.

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.
Pope Leo met with Metropolitan Anthony, a senior cleric of the Russian Orthodox Church, on July 26 to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine. This audience marked a potential effort to alleviate the strained ties between the two churches, which have been impacted by Russia's full-scale invasion.

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo received Anthony, who chairs the department of external church relations, along with five other high-profile clerics during a morning audience, according to Reuters.

In a statement following the meeting, the Russian Orthodox Church said: "During the conversation, numerous issues were raised concerning the state of Orthodox-Catholic dialogue, as well as the ongoing conflicts in the world, including in Ukraine and the Middle East."

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Since assuming the papacy in May, Pope Leo has consistently appealed for peace in global conflicts. This month, he conveyed to visiting President Volodymyr Zelensky the Vatican's willingness to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

However, Russian officials have previously indicated they do not consider the Vatican a suitable venue for such negotiations, citing its location surrounded by NATO member Italy, which has openly supported Ukraine.

Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia's Orthodox Church, has been an enthusiastic backer of the invasion of Ukraine.

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.

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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.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her Bhasha Aandolan "drama" to stop Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. On July 25, while addressing a gathering in Kolkata, Banerjee called for another 'Bhasha Aandolan', alleging that the Bengali-speaking people in other states are being harassed. Adhikari called Banerjee "protector" of the Bangladeshi Muslims and alleged that a big chunk of her vote bank is" infiltrators, Bangladeshis and Rohingyas." "It is only a drama to stop SIR. Mamata Banerjee is a relative of the Rohingyas. She is the protector of Bangladeshi Muslims. A big part of her vote bank are infiltrators, Bangladeshis and Rohingyas", Adhikari told ANI. Earlier, at an event in Kolkata on July 21, Mamata Banerjee had also slammed the Election Commission of India, stating that the electoral body has removed 40 lakh people from the voters' 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 will not let this new law stand. We will fight, we will change it, we will not accept it", Banerjee said during her address. The Election Commission of India is conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections in the state later this year. The ECI had clarified that names in the electoral rolls will not be deleted without a proper notice and written order by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), as per SIR guidelines. Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has revealed that approximately 35 lakh electors are either untraced or have permanently migrated from their registered addresses. (ANI)
One evening in early February 2023, Alane O'Connor sat at home incredibly worried about a patient. A historic cold snap was approaching Maine, and O'Connor, a perinatal addiction medicine specialist, was concerned that this womans severe substance use disorder undermined her understanding of the extremely serious situation she was in.

She was unhoused, had refused previous offers to go to a shelter and was pregnant  and going to deliver imminently.

O'Connor, sitting on her couch that night as temperatures dropped dangerously low, said she had no idea how she could find the woman, whom she had seen a few times before. Once, she had agreed to meet O'Connor in front of MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland. Another time, city outreach workers helped O'Connor, a nurse practitioner with a doctorate in nursing practice, locate her.

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I wouldnt even begin to know where to look for folks, she said.

O'Connor calls this case the inspiration for Project Lifeline, a partnership between MaineHealth and the City of Portland to deliver care to pregnant and postpartum people who are unhoused and dealing with addiction. O'Connor believes it is the first program of its kind in the state.

In 2021, the latest data available, nine Mainers died from pregnancy-related causes. The Maine panel that reviews maternal mortality determined that substance use disorder contributed to a third of those deaths.

Beyond overdoses, illicit drug use during pregnancy can lead to significant complications, especially for those living on the streets for whom regular access to prenatal care and substance use treatment is significantly lower than their housed counterparts. Hypertension, for example, already a major concern because of the risk of preeclampsia, is exacerbated by stimulants like methamphetamine.

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For O'Connor, the medical director of the perinatal addiction medicine program at MaineHealth and for the states Maternal Opioid Model, or MaineMOM program, her concerns about these patients health and risks are greater than ever before.

Fentanyl, the prevailing opioid found on the streets, is far deadlier than prescription painkillers and even heroin, and its severe withdrawal symptoms make transitioning to a medication for opioid use disorder like buprenorphine challenging.

The potency of the methamphetamine that has flooded the drug supply over the past few years can cause people to experience psychosis and paranoia  and there is no known medication to treat it. Polysubstance use, where people use more than one class of drugs at a time or drugs are cut with multiple types of substances, is the norm nowadays.

While O'Connor was at a loss for how to find the woman back in February 2023, paramedics on Portland Fires mobile medical outreach team werent. Members of the police and fire departments had seen her multiple times over a couple of days and were working together to ensure she didn't give birth outside in absolutely brutal weather conditions, said Sean Donaghue, Portland Fires division chief for emergency medical services.

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Members of the citys emergency services, including the outreach team, were eventually able to get her to a hospital, where she delivered successfully, before the wind chill measured -45 degrees.

A few times a month, Dr. Alane OConnor, a perinatal addiction medicine specialist with MaineHealth, joins Portland Fires mobile medical outreach team for a partnership dubbed Project Lifeline, which provides care to unhoused pregnant and postpartum patients with substance use disorder. Photo by Emily Bader.

The city started the mobile medical outreach, or MMO, program in 2016 initially as a way to reduce 911 calls for service, said Portland public health director Bridget Rauscher. Its modeled on street medicine, the practice of meeting people literally where theyre at  on the streets, in encampments, in city parks  to deliver health care. The ultimate goal was to send trained medics out into the community so they could reach people before an overdose occurs, Rauscher said.

Donaghue called the mobile medical outreach program a non-linear way of thinking about paramedicine: it uses the framework of Fire and EMS, which people call when they need help in an emergency, to proactively go looking for people.

The February 2023 case, Donaghue said, illustrates how emergency services are in fact, part of the greater health care system. The outreach team had the access to and relationship with the woman to get her to a hospital and was able to avoid potentially two losses of life, he said.

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Had O'Connor known about the outreach team at the time, she said she would have absolutely have jumped into one of the PFD vehicles to help find the woman. While the worst-case scenario was avoided, O'Connor vowed to never let a patient get to that point again.

Im going to figure out a solution to this problem, she recalled thinking.

Soon after, a mutual contact at Maine EMS introduced O'Connor to the outreach team at Portland Fire, which led to a partnership between MaineHealth and the city that grew into Project Lifeline. Since then, a few times a month O'Connor joins the outreach team to meet with unhoused pregnant and postpartum people struggling with addiction.

Perinatal addiction medicine specialist Dr. Alane OConnor, left, and paramedic Mark Tweedy, right, sit in Portland Fires mobile medical outreach van on July 8, 2025. OConnor began joining the MMO team a few times a month after a difficult patient case left her searching for solutions for how to reach unhoused pregnant and postpartum people struggling with addiction. Photo by Emily Bader.

The project is funded through a mix of sources, including MaineCare grants and billable services, federal overdose prevention grants and a grant from the Maine Recovery Council, which oversees half of the states opioid settlement funds. While O'Connor said this mix of funding makes it tough to pin down an exact annual operating cost, she estimated the project costs between $50,000 and $100,000 a year to run.

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When OConnor joins the outreach team, which is on the streets 25 hours a week, she usually has a list of people she plans to see, either people she connected with previously or referrals from the outreach team. Some days theyre able to track down every person on the list, other days they find no one; sometimes they meet people in need of medical care they werent even looking for. Since the projects inception, O'Connor estimated shes worked with about 30 pregnant and postpartum people.

While out with the outreach team, O'Connor can talk to people about substance use treatment or managing prenatal care, including adjusting their medications in real time or putting in a prescription for buprenorphine. The outreach team is limited to working within Portland city boundaries so if someone is no longer staying in Portland, theyll usually coordinate with the patient days they can come into the city.

Sometimes its managing their substance use disorder well enough to get them to 34 weeks instead of 26 weeks, O'Connor said. Or treating an infected wound with a $10 antibiotic or giving someone a ride to MaineMed to get surgery for an incomplete miscarriage.

Its avoided cost, but you never know what those costs are, O'Connor said.

Portland Fire division chief for emergency medical services, Sean Donaghue, stands in front of the departments mobile medical outreach van at Central Station on July 8, 2025. Donaghue said the MMO and Dr. Alane OConnor, a perinatal addiction medicine specialist, practice in parallel to provide care to some of the citys most vulnerable. Photo by Emily Bader.

The partnership with MaineHealth means that she can easily call a care coordinator there, who can help sign someone up for MaineCare, book an obstetrician appointment and coordinate transportation, for example. Patients sign a release so that providers at MaineHealth and on the outreach team can share health information with each other. This communication could be as simple as a MaineHealth provider asking the outreach team to remind someone of an appointment or the outreach team staying aware of a persons treatment progress.

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Donaghue calls it practicing in parallel.

We both have our lanes and we do a lot together, he said. Theres a lot that O'Connor can do that EMS cant, while EMS, being a 24/7 service, is able to build relationships and gain access to people  like the pregnant woman on the street during the cold snap  in a way that O'Connor cant on a daily basis.

Most end up seeing O'Connor in her office at MaineHealths Comprehensive Addiction Medicine Center on St. John Street, a major achievement for a population that received very little, if any, medical care before connecting with the program. She said many have been able to find housing or inpatient treatment options through the MaineMOM program that have allowed them to retain custody of their child after birth.

For others, O'Connor said being able to provide postnatal addiction care in a setting other than an obstetricians office  a tough place to be for a parent who has lost custody of their child  helps keep people at high risk of returning to use engaged in services.

We are 100 percent reaching patients who would not otherwise be reached.
KEESEVILLE  It was blazing mid-morning Wednesday, the second day of Plein Air Painting of the Keeseville Community Arts Festival hosted by AdkAction.

George Van Hook

Artist George Van Hook arrived Monday for his stay at the historic 1823 Richard Keese II House. An early riser, he had completed a larger oil painting on the Suspension Bridge, and was working on a second.

The Cambridge, New York, resident was fueled by Stewarts coffee, sandwich, homemade cookies and apples.

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This is the first time for Keeseville because a whole bunch of my friends do come here regularly that are painters kept telling me, Oh, my God, Keeseville is so cool. Keeseville is so cool, he said. I do a bunch of plein air events, a lot of the big ones. But the big ones are a pain in the neck because they all have a gazillion rules, and theyre very, very fussy. Usually the big ones are in kind of an ugly place because they have to have it be in a big place where everybody can be. The small ones are usually in beautiful places because thats why theyre small. I really like the smaller events like this one. Theyre very beautiful, and the people who come are all nice, and I have a good time.

Van Hook has painted since he was 5 years old and has studied all over the world.

I spent two years copying in the Louvre. I grew up in Philadelphia, and its a very artsy town. My sister is an artist, and my other brother was a Renaissance scholar, and my other brother was a very famous ballet dancer. My parents (John ONeill Van Hook and Elizabeth Barbara Williams Van Hook) were both scientists. I think they quoted Einstein, they said theres no real distinction between the arts and the sciences. Its 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration. God knows, were perspiring today. God, its been so freaking hot, he said.

The George Van Hook Fine Artist branding on the doors of his white van diminishes the creep factor.

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I have been supporting myself with my work since I was 19. Full throttle. Full throttle. As I say, the boss is a son of a bitch, and I can work 820 hours a week if I want, but other than that its a great job. I work. I work, he said.

Van Hook shows nationally, paints internationally, and his influences include the Pennsylvania Impressionists, the Brandywine Tradition (think Howard Pyle and Wyeths  N.C., Andrew and Jamie), and European Tradition.

No matter how romantic it is to set up an easel over the Ausable River with a fresh oil palette, it is still a business.

There are two aspects to it, Van Hook said. One is the making of the art. Hopefully, you keep that relatively clear. The other is, yes, you have to make a living. Ive been very fortunate in that regard. Nowadays, most people buy art off the internet and stuff like that. When I was starting out the model was you found good galleries. If they liked your work, you create a relationship with the gallery, and they would represent and promote your work for years. Nowadays, its just much more cut-throat, and everybodys online. But I was very fortunate that I started my career back when you had mature people.

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At 71, he still paints, but he is very worried about arts future.

This generation is so consumed with the electronic world or whatever it is. I cant even turn a computer on. I dont have a computer. I cant turn one on. All the TikTok and everything, theyve lost any interest in the visual arts. Then, theres the other thing art is not free. Its not cheap. I try to keep my work affordable, but I think the economics for this next generation is going to be extremely challenging, and I dont know if art is going to be in the mix. So, Im very lucky because I sort of got it all launched well before when America was post-war and America cared about the arts. My parents loved the arts. My parents were both chemists, chemical engineers. My moms happiest day for politics was when Jackie Kennedy invited Pablo Casals to play cello at the White House. We grew up with art and music. Ive played piano since I was 5. Im worried about this next generation, he said.

The Keeseville Community Arts Festival coincided with Plein Air Easton, located on Marylands Eastern Shore, and touted as the largest and most prestigious juried plein air painting competition in the United States.

All the artists want to go there, he said. Ive been invited every year. They bragged last year, they sold, I think, $525,000 worth of work. Everybody wants to go there because they buy everything.

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Instead of painting Chesapeake vistas of Oxford or Tilghman, Van Hook was focused on the Ausable Rivers white waters below the Stone Arch Bridge.

I started out here at six oclock, he said. I got a big painting that I worked on from six oclock until about nine. I get up at five because its the only time that its cool. It was so delicious out there.

Patrick McPhee

Patrick McPhee, a Canadian permanent resident, was perched on the Ausable Chasm Bridge. His easel shimmied as traffic rumbled by.

Ive been here every year that theyve done the Keeseville festival, the Binghamton, New York, native said. I believe its the eighth year. Its one of the nicest events that I do in the Adirondacks here. Its really a nice area. AdkAction is a good group of people to work with.

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Wednesday was Paint the Chasm Day, and he was working on a view above the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks.

I always paint the Chasm, but this year theres actually an award if you participate in the event and yo want to paint the Chasm. Theres an award for best painting of the Chasm, he said. Ive painted this view several times from photographs. Ive never been actually on the bridge itself. Im usually within the park painting somewhere safer.

McPhee had been at it a couple of hours. Formally, he studied visual communications at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the 90s.

I majored in illustration, but that was kind of a dying art when I graduated. Now, Im just doing these painting events, and I have my work in several galleries in the Adirondacks. My favorite place to paint there, he said.

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Hi there.

McPhee greets two tourists, a man and a woman, who stop to admire his work.

Im just getting started, McPhee says.

Well, its a good start as far as Im concerned, the man says.

I might have to come back tomorrow morning, its already getting kind of intolerable, McPhee says.

Your works beautiful, the woman says.

Sandra Hildreth

Groups of Keeseville Elementary students observed Sandra Hildreth painting of the Ausable River cascading over rocks and more rocks.

Hildreth, a retired educator, started the Adirondack Plein Air Festival in 2009.

Id never been to one, the Saranac Lake resident said. I simply read about them, and thought, well, we got a beautiful place. Lots of scenery. I think we could host one of these, so we did.

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Hildreth loves to paint outdoors.

I havent socialized with the other artists or anything, she said. I just drive over and stay and go paint somewhere and try to paint something that Ive never painted before.

So far, Hildreth has painted at Alice Falls.

I looked for it previous years and couldnt find it, she said. I think the sign might be bigger now. Its very pretty, and it was cool because youre right across from the falls.

The Rockwell Kent storied Asgaard Farm in Ausable Forks was a repeat for her.

Which I always love going to because I love the way the mountains dwarf the little farm buildings, she said. Its such a contrast.

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Literally hours before Fridays Plein Air Show & Sale Opening Reception at the Old Stone Mill, her attention was centered on a study of water. Hildreth was painting in oil on a panel covered with linen.

Im painting a view that Ive never painted before, she said. I try to avoid the buildings as much as possible. It cant be helped. Im getting a base color down, and then Ill come back in and put the white in the water and all the different oranges and stuff in the rocks.

Hildreth has attended the Keeseville Plein Air every year since its inception.

It just gives me a chance to paint, she said. Im just glad to get outside and be able to paint. They do a nice job, and theyve got good people working for it and it goes for a good cause. It helps to raise money for AdkAction.
Possibly armed suspect at large after Iron County traffic stop ends in crash

IRON COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  A burglary suspect is at large after a traffic stop ended in crash in Iron County early Sunday morning, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office. A second suspect is reportedly in custody.

At around 5 a.m. on July 27, officers responded to a burglary suspect on I-15. During an attempted traffic stop at Beryl Junction (Exit 31), the suspect vehicle crashed and two suspects fled.

One individual was taken into custody while another is still at large, according to Sgt. Lucas Alfred, Washington County Sheriffs Office. A Citizen Alert was issued in Washington County Sunday morning in search of the man at large.

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Officers are in the Pintura area looking for a Hispanic of White male in his twenties to thirties, 5 foot 10 inches last seen wearing a brown jacket, blue jeans, and black and white vans, the alert states. Male is possibly armed. If seen, do not approach! Call 911!

Further details are limited at this time.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

Latest headlines:

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 team of researchers has presented the wild theory that an interstellar object might be hostile "alien technology" that could reach Earth in fall 2025.

The findings were reported by the New York Post, which wrote that the "inflammatory paper" was published on July 16 on the preprint server arXiv.

According to Live Science, the paper is controversial, was not peer-reviewed, and experts think its claims are "nonsense," however.

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That site says that other scientists believe the object is natural.

3I/ATLAS was discovered on July 1 "barreling toward the sun at more than 130,000 mph (210,000 km/h)," and is a confirmed "interstellar object," according to Live Science, but "initial observations strongly suggest" it's a large comet "surrounded by a cloud of ice, gas and dust called a coma," the site reported.

The paper in question is titled, "Is the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Alien Technology?" It was written by Adam Hibberd, Adam Crowl, and Abraham Loeb.

According to Live Science, Loeb is a Harvard University astronomer who is "renowned for linking extraterrestrial objects to intelligent aliens."

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"At this early stage of its passage through our Solar System, 3I/ATLAS, the recently discovered interstellar interloper, has displayed various anomalous characteristics, determined from photometric and astrometric observations," the research trio wrote.

"As largely a pedagogical exercise, in this paper we present additional analysis into the astrodynamics of 3I/ATLAS, and hypothesize that this object could be technological, and possibly hostile as would be expected from the 'Dark Forest' resolution to the 'Fermi Paradox'. We show that 3I/ATLAS approaches surprisingly close to Venus, Mars and Jupiter..." the paper continued.

"Furthermore the low retrograde tilt of 3I/ATLAS's orbital plane to the ecliptic offers various benefits to an Extra-terrestrial Intelligence (ETI), since it allows the object access to our planet with relative impunity," they added. "The eclipse by the Sun from Earth of 3I/ATLAS at perihelion, would allow it to conduct a clandestine reverse Solar Oberth Manoeuvre, an optimal high-thrust strategy for interstellar spacecraft to brake and stay bound to the Sun."

The researchers noted: "An optimal intercept of Earth would entail an arrival in late November/early December of 2025."

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Loeb wrote a blog post on the findings. "Today I co-authored an intriguing new paper with the brilliant collaborators Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies in London, UK," he wrote. "This new interstellar interloper has displayed a number of anomalous characteristics."

Possibly Hostile 'Alien' Object Could Arrive in November 2025, Wild Research Paper Says first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 26, 2025
Prayers Are Pouring In For Minnesota On Sunday originally appeared on The Spun.

Prayers are pouring in for the state of Minnesota on Sunday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has issued multiple serious tornado warnings for the state of Minnesota on Sunday afternoon, as heavy storms have impacted the area.

Major storms, including strong thunderstorms, serious wind and spotted tornadoes, are hitting the northern U.S. state throughout the day on Sunday.

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It looks dangerous.

Live emergency update and meteorological breakdown of the #tornado threat north of Minneapolis, near and west of Duluth, Minnesota this evening! This is a classic ridge rider disturbance with deep summertime moisture. A limited factor could be veered surface winds. pic.twitter.com/zAHWakh0HF  Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) July 27, 2025

As a reminder, here's what to do when a tornado strikes:

Stay Weather-Ready : Continue to listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated about tornado watches and warnings.

At Your House : If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room, or an interior room away from windows. Don't forget pets if time allows.

At Your Workplace or School : Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums.

Outside : Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent. If you have time, get to a safe building.

In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head, or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

Tornado on ground.NWS

Our thoughts are with the friends and family members of everyone in Minnesota on Sunday.

Prayers Are Pouring In For Minnesota On Sunday first appeared on The Spun on Jul 27, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Preparations to refit the Qatari jet that will be used as Air Force One are underway, and floor plans or schematics have been seen by senior U.S. officials, CBS News has learned.

A memorandum of understanding, or MOU, between Qatar and the U.S. Defense Department, viewed by CBS News, outlines the "unconditional donation" of one Boeing 747-8 jumbo aircraft.

The memorandum was signed earlier this month by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatar's deputy prime minister and minister of state for defense affairs. It does not specifically mention Air Force One but says the jet can be used by the Pentagon "in any manner it deems appropriate."

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Earlier this year, President Trump confirmed that the Qatari royal family was donating a Boeing 747-8 for his use. Valued at $400 million, the jumbo jet is set to be donated to Mr. Trump's presidential library after his term is over.

Mr. Trump, in May, called it a "gift."

"They knew about it because they buy Boeings, they buy a lot of Boeings, and they knew about it, and they said, we would like to do something," Mr. Trump said. "And if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our Defense Department to use during a couple of years while they're building the other ones, I think that was a very nice gesture. Now I could be a stupid person and say, 'Oh no, we don't want a free plane.'"

"Nothing in this MOU is, or shall be interpreted or construed as an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice," the memorandum states."The parties affirm that the donation is a bona fide gift."

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The jet will be donated "as is," which would mean the Pentagon is responsible for any costs to upgrade the plane to enhance its security.

The funds to refit the plane are expected to come from "excess to need" funds in the Sentinel program, but will not impact that program, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told Congress. The Sentinel is the U.S. military program to replace the 400 silo-based nuclear Minuteman III missiles across the country. The Defense Department admits it's behind schedule and over budget, with cost overruns of 81% since September 2020, and is now estimated to cost the U.S. $141 billion.

There are constitutional rules against a president accepting gifts from outside entities, including foreign governments and even members of Congress. Article I of the Constitution prevents any president from accepting a gift or emolument from a "King, Prince, or foreign State," without congressional consent.

In May, Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York said he sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office urging an investigation into the Trump administration accepting a plane as a gift.

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The Washington Post reported on Saturday that the U.S. government and Qatar are expected to finalize the agreement this week.

After that, the next step is for the Air Force to begin work on the plane, which is in Texas.

A source told CBS News in May that the plane needs to be checked for security and spying devices before it is accepted. Renovations that could cost hundreds of millions will need to be done before the plane is ready to be used as Air Force One, the Air Force secretary said last month.

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President Trump Called Out For 'Insensitive' O.J. Simpson Meme originally appeared on The Spun.

President Trump has been amplifying his attacks on former President Obama after the DNI released evidence that the Obama administration had actively worked against him prior to the 2016 Presidential election.

Trump has called the 44th President everything from a criminal to a traitor in retaliation, all while the public continues to press President Trump over the Jeffrey Epstein situation.

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But Trump might have gone just a bit overboard with his attacks on Obama. In a recent post on his Truth Social account, Trump shared a photoshopped image of the infamous O.J. Simpson white Bronco pursuit with Obama in the driver's seat and himself in one of the pursuing cop cars.

While plenty of Trump's supporters loved to see it, a good number of people found that post was in extremely poor taste and gave the President a piece of their mind over the "insensitive" post:

Trump posts OJ Simpson meme of him and JD Vance chasing down Obama pic.twitter.com/bbwcxtH6R7  yeet (@Awk20000) July 26, 2025

"Utterly disgusting, deranged, and perverted psycho Trump shares fake image of President Obama, portraying him as double-murderer O.J. Simpson fleeing justice," one user declared.

"Very Presidential, Sir (clown)," wrote another.

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"I like that he used the meme version of JD Vance, but... Release the files, Donald," a third wrote.

"If the straitjacket doesnt fit"

"Another deflection smh."

TOPSHOT - Former US President Barack Obama speaks with President-elect Donald Trump before the State Funeral Service for former US President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)ROBERTO SCHMIDT/Getty Images

A statement from the former President's office flatly denied the allegations made by President Trump and his administration:

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 said. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.

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It certainly is distracting.

Related: Donald Trump, Barack Obama Interaction At Jimmy Carter's Funeral Goes Viral

President Trump Called Out For 'Insensitive' O.J. Simpson Meme first appeared on The Spun on Jul 26, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
The message came from both senior Republican lawmakers in Congress and officials in the White House, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Israeli officials faced growing pressure from key allies in Washington over the past few days to allow more humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip, two sources told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

Members of the US Congress and Senate, described by Israeli sources as close allies, recently urged senior officials in Jerusalem to facilitate the entry of aid. Help us help you, they reportedly said. We dont believe the claims of widespread famine in Gaza, but you must take concrete steps to allow aid in.

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The message came from both senior Republican lawmakers in Congress and officials in the White House, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the issue, saying, Its terrible to see the children, especially in recent weeks. People are stealing food, stealing money, stealing money meant for food. Its a mess, the whole place is a mess. Gaza.

An Israeli official told the Post that it remains unclear how long Israel will continue current humanitarian measures, including maintaining open aid corridors, permitting localized ceasefires, and assisting in air drops. The official indicated these actions would likely remain in place until international criticism subsides.

Humanitarian aid is airdropped over Gaza as seen from northern Gaza Strip, July 27, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)

Israel failed to counter the false starvation narrative and was forced to take these measures to relieve international pressure, the official said.

Responding to international criticism

On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to growing international criticism, saying that Israel must allow limited humanitarian supplies into Gaza in order to meet two national objectives: dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages.

Weve done this so far, Netanyahu said. But the UN is spreading lies and falsehoods about Israel. They say we dont allow humanitarian supplies in, yet we do. There are secure corridors. Theyve always existed, but now its official. No more excuses.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has approved the action plan for Implementation of Artificial Intelligence 2025-2030 to facilitate smart decision-making, citizen-focused schemes, efficient service delivery, and effective welfare programs through the application of artificial intelligence, said a statement from the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to position India as a global leader in digital empowerment and technology sectoral progress through extensive AI adoption, Gujarat has launched this Action Plan. This action plan of Gujarat has been announced in alignment with PM Narendra Modi's vision to leveraging widespread use of AI for digital empowerment and preparing India to lead the world in the technological sector. At the annual Chintan Shibir in Somnath in November 2024, CM Patel declared that Gujarat will leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) across its administrative framework and government departments to lead in technology-driven governance and socio-economic progress, in line with the vision of Viksit Gujarat@2047. To realise this vision and embed AI in governance, healthcare, education, agriculture, fintech, and other critical sectors across the state, a 10-member expert AI Taskforce Committee has been established. The CM has approved the Action Plan for Implementation of A.I. 2025-2030, based on the Taskforce's recommendations. Prepared under the guidance of the CM, this Action Plan will serve as a time-bound blueprint to equip the state government with advanced AI capabilities. Furthermore, it will foster a robust, innovative AI ecosystem that ensures seamless service delivery, improved citizen welfare, and enhanced quality of life with prosperity. To ensure the structured and timely implementation of the action plan, the state will establish a dedicated AI and Deep Tech Mission. This mission will function as a specialised institutional mechanism, leading the design, implementation, and innovation of AI strategies and emerging technologies within the state government. Additionally, it will strengthen a robust ecosystem by fostering collaboration among startups, academic research, and industries. The mission will focus on skilling, reskilling, and upskilling the workforce in AI and related technologies. Under the guidance of CM Patel, the Science and Technology Department has developed the roadmap for this Action Plan, focusing primarily on six pillars: Data: A secure, interoperable, and regulatory-compliant data ecosystem will be established for AI development, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards through a comprehensive AI data governance framework. Digital Infrastructure: The plan includes expanding GPU and cloud infrastructure, establishing AI factories in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and providing access to national platforms such as AIRAWAT. Capacity Building: The goal is to train over 2.5 lakh individuals, including students, MSMEs, and government officials, in AI, ML, and related domains. R&D and Use Cases: Partnerships between academia and industry will be facilitated to create customised AI solutions and applications for relevant government departments. Startup Facilitation: Supporting DeepTech startups through incubation, mentorship, infrastructure credits, and seed funding. Safe and Reliable AI: A secure AI strategy will be ensured through audits, guidelines, and AI risk protocols. The Action Plan will be implemented in phases, starting with key initiatives like creating a state-level AI data repository, establishing AI factories, and initiating department-specific pilot projects. Over its five-year timeline, these efforts will enhance AI integration across departments and foster a dynamic, innovative ecosystem. Under the leadership of the CM Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has adopted innovative approaches to AI in governance, including the establishment of the AI Centre of Excellence at GIFT City, the AI Innovation Challenge, high-performance GPU infrastructure, AI training and workshops, and an indigenous Expression of Interest for Large Language Models (LLMs). The Action Plan for Implementation of A.I. 2025-2030 will mark another milestone in Gujarat's digital governance journey, equipping the state for an AI-driven, future-ready economy and significantly contributing to the vision of Viksit Gujarat @2047 in alignment with Viksit Bharat @2047. (ANI)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday announced the restructuring and further armament of the navy during the conclusion of a major naval exercise.

By the end of the year, two marine infantry brigades will be converted into divisions, with three more to follow shortly, Putin said.

"This will significantly increase the fleet's striking power and combat capabilities," he stated.

The five-day exercise, which concluded on Russia's Navy Day on Sunday, involved more than 150 warships and support vessels, 120 aircraft and helicopters, and over 15,000 soldiers, according to official information.

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The drills took place simultaneously in the Baltic Sea, the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Caspian Sea.

The aim of the exercise was to defend against a large-scale naval attack, the Russian government said.

The Kremlin accuses NATO of endangering Russia's security. The Western military alliance also conducted a naval exercise earlier this year: BALTOPS 2025. According to official figures, around 50 ships and approximately 9,000 soldiers participated in the exercise in June.

Black Sea Fleet heavily damaged in Ukraine war

Putin ordered Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which started in February 2022.

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Moscow has yet to achieve its officially stated war goals, including the capture of four Ukrainian regions. The Black Sea Fleet, which has been heavily involved in the war, has suffered significant losses, including the loss of its flagship, the missile cruiser Moskva.

In early July, the fleet's deputy commander responsible for marine infantry, Mikhail Gudkov, was killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in the Kursk region.

In a video message, Putin described the navy as the "pride and achievement of the fatherland."

However, the naval parade planned for Sunday - an annual event Putin started in 2017 - was cancelled for security reasons, unlike the military exercise.

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In the region surrounding St Petersburg, more than 10 drones were reportedly shot down in the morning, according to official information. Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said a woman in the Lomonosov district was slightly injured by falling drone debris.

St Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport was closed for several hours in the morning for take-offs and landings. The Russian military reported the downing of 99 drones nationwide.

Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia have increased in recent months. These are a response to the constant shelling of Ukrainian cities and towns by the Russian military as part of Russia's war against its neighbour, ordered by Putin in 2022.

Despite increasing attacks on its own territory, the Kremlin has maintained that Moscow is on track to achieve all its war objectives.

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Putin called this year's Navy Day a wonderful holiday, but added, "It is right that we spend the holiday in a combat and working atmosphere, with everyone in their place, and the fleet demonstrating its combat potential and quality."

The head of the Kremlin followed most of the naval manoeuvres via video transmission from the navy's main headquarters in St Petersburg.
CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN)  Community members came together for a race Saturday morning to honor the life of Caitlin Yager, who died after a car accident in 2013.

Fantastic was the word friends and family said best describes Caitlin. She was all about caring for others, and the annual Run for Caitlin 3K and 5K was created to honor her legacy and the things she loved.

Its a mix of two things that she loved, running and helping others, said Caitlins friend Greg DeLost. We didnt know too much about starting a nonprofit, 501(c), and everything like that. It became a big learning process where there was some trial and error.

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She always thought about others, wrote thank you notes, baked cookies for people. She just wanted to make the world a better place, said Richard Yager, Caitlins father.

This year marked 13 years of the event. For over a decade, proceeds have gone back into the community to help children with their education, but it also turns a negative moment into something positive.

Over the 12 years weve done it, weve raised close to $150,000 for scholarships  for Cardinal Mooney, but then also local colleges as well, DeLost said.

Following last years event, the organization was able to raise enough money for 14 $1,000 scholarships. Organizers say theyre looking to hit that mark again this year.

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By taking the money and giving it to kids to further their educations, hopefully theyll go out in the world and make it a better place, Richard said.

Family members say the hole left in their hearts will always be there, but being able to honor Caitlin is what keeps them going.

It heals over, time passes and making something positive out of that, I think, helps, Richard 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.
HONG KONG (Reuters) -Heavy rain around Beijing and across north and northeast China has killed two and forced thousands to relocate as authorities warned of further widespread rain and risks of disasters including landslides and flooding.

Two were dead and two missing in Hebei province, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday morning. Overnight rain dumped a record 145 mm (5.7 inches) per hour on Fuping in the industrial city of Baoding.

Chinas Water Resources Ministry has issued targeted flood warnings to 11 provinces and regions, including Beijing and neighbouring Hebei, for floods from small and midsize rivers and mountain torrents.

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Floods and landslides affected many villages in the Miyun district of the capital, with the rural town of Fengjiayu the most severely impacted and electricity and communications cut in some villages, CCTV said. More than 3,000 people have been transferred out of the area, Beijing News Radio reported on Sunday.

The flow into the Miyun Reservoir has increased, hitting a record peak of 6,550 cubic meters (231,000 cubic feet) per second, Beijing authorities said.

Rain will intensify in most areas of the capital, with the expected cumulative rainfall in some areas nearby including Miyun reaching more than 100 mm over six hours, Beijing's Meteorological Observatory said. Low-lying areas are prone to waterlogging, it said.

Beijing issued a warning on Saturday for geological disasters, including landslides and mudslides, after intense rainfall unleashed, for a second time, a years worth of rain on nearby Baoding.

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Northern China has experienced record precipitation in recent years, exposing densely populated cities, including Beijing, to flood risks. Some scientists link the increased rainfall in Chinas usually arid north to global warming.

The storms are part of the broader pattern of extreme weather across China due to the East Asian monsoon, which has caused disruptions in the world's second-largest economy.

Baoding's Xizhuang station recorded 540 mm (21 inches) over an eight-hour period, exceeding Baoding's average annual rainfall of about 500 mm. The deluge affected more than 46,000 people, forcing 4,655 to evacuate, CCTV reported.

Chinese authorities closely monitor extreme rainfall and severe flooding are, as they challenge the country's ageing flood defences, threaten to displace millions and wreak havoc on China's $2.8 trillion agricultural sector.

(Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by William Mallard)
This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.

Gov. Tony Evers's July 24 announcement he wouldn't seek a third term in office inevitably leads to two questions: who will enter the race to succeed him and what is his legacy?

We put those questions to readers along with a separate request for their reaction to the news that Scott Walker, the former governor Evers defeated in 2018, is teasing another campaign for the office. The question on Evers' legacy drew the most responses from readers.

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In addition to serving two terms as governor, Evers, 73, was Superintendent of Public Instruction for ten years before holding a variety of education posts as a teacher and administrator.

Nearly two-thirds of readers who took our non-scientific survey said Evers made the right decision to retire: 63% said yes; 24% said no; and 13% had no opinion. We also asked readers what mark they would give Evers as governor. Here is how the scores broke down: Excellent, 43%; Above Average, 23%; Average, 9.5%; Below Average, 7.4%; and Very Poor, 17%.

As of 9 p.m. on July 26, 95 readers took the survey. The results only represent the views of the people who answered. Thank you for leaving so many thoughtful comments.

Take our survey: What is Tony Evers's legacy as governor?

Evers' calm demeanor and 'Holy Mackerel' style cited frequently

One of the governor's trademarks is the phrase "Holy Mackerel." Several readers pointed to his non-combative style as a relief in an era of sharp rhetoric:

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"With his Holy Mackerel Folks style of speaking, Tony brought steady hand civility back to Wisconsin politics; may that continue!"  Dave Benforado, Madison

"Putting Wisconsin on the path back to moderation in politics. The Walker era of Wisconsin politics was incredibly divisive and Walker fanned the flames. Evers calm demeanor and push for fairness for all via bipartisan legislation, fair legislative maps, and vetoing far right legislation, has Wisconsin on a path to becoming a better, more representative state post 2026."  Evan Newman, La Crosse

"He makes great decisions and knows how to work with others. He works quietly behind the scenes and is always appropriate when responding and acting on tough choices. We have been lucky to have him for 8 years. We need to accept decision and should have a chance to have a less stressful time in his life, doing whatever he chooses instead of always needing to do everything he should do."  Lynn Peters, Mukwonago

"Keeping the GOP legislature from ruining our state. Showing that a positive and (importantly) decent human being can succeed in politics."  Kristine Hinrichs, Milwaukee

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"The legacy of a man who against stubborn opposition from the Republicans was able to keep this state from going backwards like many of the totally red states have been doing. He was able to project himself as a gentleman in the face of opposition from some pretty nasty opponents in the legislature. It's a shame that the Republicans prevented him from accomplishing more."  Mike Burke, Cadott

"Honest. Decent. Approachable. Smart. Partisan when he had to be. Effective. Clearly one of the best during my 50 years of living in Wisconsin."  Mike Mervis, Hustisford

"During a period of turbulence, he presented a quiet, competent leadership and kept Wisconsin on a course compatible with its history. His experience with education helped keep our schools in good condition. His quiet demeanor smoothed many of the sharp edges of the political climate. He will be remembered as a quiet, decent man who served us well. "  Sara Von, Madison

"Governor Evers legacy will be that of a kind leader who reflects Wisconsins values positively: support for education, regard for our environment, respect for Wisconsin minorities, and liberty injustice for all. Evers makes Wisconsin look smarter and more honest than past Republican leadership."  John Weisbrod, Stevens Point

Line-item veto in 2023 budget called out as abuse of power

With Republicans in control of the legislature his entire time in office, Evers has issued more vetoes than any governor in the state's history. One, in particular, stood out. In the 2023-25 state budget he used the governor's sweeping line-item veto power to strike and add digits to the bill that increased funding for public schools for the next four centuries in what came to be called the 400-year veto.

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Several readers pointed to that veto as an example of poor leadership:

"Tony's legacy will be his massive use of the line item veto to change the intention of budgets. He will also be remembered for screwing his name to the bottom of all of the 'Welcome to Wisconsin' signs."  David Rasmussen, Green Bay

"Abuse of line-item veto and being out of touch with the electorate. He was very single-minded about his agenda."  Scott Piepenburg, Williamsport, Pennyslvania

"Legacy? What did he do that deserves to be called a 'legacy?' Oh, maybe that 400 year appropriation that he created with the line-item veto power?"  Greg Schick, Mount Pleasant

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Opinion: A Fourth of July list of grievances from overworked, unrepresented America

"Huge tax and spender. Had a reputation of not working hard with short days at the Capitol. His budget provision to allow school property tax hikes for the next 400 years was shameful. "  Kevin Fischer, Franklin

"Average. He didn't work with the Republicans and when the tax bill hits this winter with the $400 a year raise in school tax, he will look bad, until the media do what they do to politicians they like. So much more could have been done on both sides of the coin if the attitude of not working with the other side was bypassed."  Gary Hasseldeck, Greendale

"He won't have much of a legacy. He wouldn't work with the legislature, which was run by the Republicans, even if they proposed a good and fair budget and laws. He added two zeros to the number 4, so that the schools would get the same increase for 400 years! That was absolutely uncalled for! He didn't have the brains or experience to be governor but was just a puppet for the Democratic Party. He has no personality and is the most undynamic person in politics I've ever seen."  Susan Youngwith, Marshfield

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"Moving to closely align state policies with national Democratic Party. Redistricting to create the same problems that it was meant to solve. Failure to create a cooperative bipartisan governing method. By maintaining the "My way or the highway" approach the state suffered stagnation on education, statewide abortion policy, prison reform and tax reform."  Walter Blank, Appleton

Evers criticized for favoring schools over other needs

As a lifelong educator before taking office, some readers said he favored schools over other important needs in Wisconsin:

"Only caring for the schools. Not for the working class single people."  Rose Paulsen, Pickerel

"Tax em Tony, I need to take care of teachers."  John Walejewski, North Prairie

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Opinion: Ron Johnson voted for the Trump bill he called immoral. His choice will devastate Wisconsin.

"A proponent of the teachers union. He was kept in check by a legislature, which is good in my opinion."  Paul MacGillis, Menomonee Falls

"A failure as governor! Just an ex-educator who tried to make Wisconsin woke. Total failure."  Todd Lambert, Bryant

Evers praised for keeping progressive tradition alive in Wisconsin

Coming on the heels of Scott Walker's time as governor and the rise of Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' movement, many readers said Evers' greatest legacy was curbing what they see as excesses of Trump and his followers:

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"Blocked most of the most extreme bills of the GOP Legislature, pulling the direction of the state towards the middle. Evers did a good job under difficult circumstances with an extremist and shortsighted republican-dominated Legislature; he was thoughtful, honest and strong, and I am sorry he is not running again. I think he would likely have been reelected and would have received my vote again as a lifelong independent. However, I was very disappointed by Evers support of an incompetent Department of Education that has had no success in reversing the inexorable decline of public education throughout most of the state, then tried to conceal it by dishonest reporting of test results, truly disgusting. "  Dennis Maki, Madison

"He saved the state from Republicans who wanted to turn it into Mississippi only colder."  Terry Nilles, Fort Wayne Indiana

Opinion: To rebuild trust in local news, start with civic habits, not political labels

"Evers single-handily kept Wisconsin from becoming Texas or Florida. And, in working with a Republican legislature, he kept Wisconsin fiscally sound. He doesnt get enough credit for this."  Jeffrey Calder, Madison

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"Saving us from continuing to go down the dark path that Walker and the legislature wanted to go down. Our voting rights, workers' rights, and education system are still threatened, but our governor kept the wolves at bay."  Vicki Lenz, Fox Crossing

"Holding the line against Republicans/MAGAS who care only for hurting those who disagree with them. He protected public education when it has been under relentless attack, despite being one of our greatest strengths."  Al Larson, Nashotah

"Evers legacy will be steady stewardship of Wisconsin's executive branch in an era of uncompromising politics with the notable exception, the current state budget. He attempted to be a center-left governor with a legislature that actively tried to derail his administration by refusing to confirm Evers's appointees and was unwilling negotiate. Evers will be remembered as a good governor who accomplished some things, but did not do anything big because of the Legislature. Evers should be proud of his time as Wisconsin's governor."  Richard Martin, Eau Claire

Jim Fitzhenry is the Ideas Lab Editor/Director of Community Engagement for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach him at jfitzhen@gannett.com or 920-993-7154.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Evers praised for civility, criticized for use of veto pen | Opinion
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Federal funding cuts approved by the Republican led Congress on July 19 will cut 30% of the amount of money that heads into WTVPs bank.

U.S. Congress approved $1 billion in cuts for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which gives some funding to both public radio and public television.

While the Peoria PBS station will lose a significant amount of funding, WTVP President and CEO Jenn Gordon said the local station will be able to withstand the smaller budget.

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We are not going anywhere, he said. Im not saying thats going to be easy. Weve got a big mountain to climb, but we are uniquely positioned with our board of directors [and] community support to have a very strong path forward.

Many of the staff at WTVP, in Peoria have worked there for their whole career. WTVP also recently overcame challenges to maintain funds after the previous CEO was accused of embezzlement.

Gordon said there are some strategies being made from the PBS level on how to handle the funding cuts. But also locally they are looking to raise $1 million. The station has created a campaign strategy called We believe in WTVP to raise the money.

If [someone] increases their membership by any amount, that has the opportunity to be matched up to $300,000, Gordon said. Thats a big grant opportunity.

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Republicans at Congress approved the cuts to funding as they said public media has a left-wing bias to its content.

This week outside U.S. Rep. Darin LaHoods district office, protestors spoke out against the congressmans vote that included the public media funding cuts.

The Dunlap Republican offered us this statement in response to his vote.

The American people gave Republicans a mandate to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, he said. I voted in support of the broader rescissions package because Congress has an obligation to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. I want to emphasize that the bill does not cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for 2025.

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Instead of funding the program several years in advance, the bill simply returns to funding the program on an annual basis. I understand the vital role public broadcasting plays in our communities, especially in rural areas, and will continue to advocate for its funding during future annual appropriations processes, LaHood said.

Current polls predict that Democrats could take back Congress in the 2026 midterm elections. If that happens, there is a potential that funding cuts could be rolled back.

Three million people reached out to congress in the last three months to voice their support for continued federal funding so there is some deep logic that both Republicans and Democrats want to see some funding come back, Gordon said.

As of now WTVP will not cut any staff or shows because of the funding cuts.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Local public radio stations WGLT and WCBU will lose some of its funding due to cuts approved by Congress on July 19.

The Republican controlled Congress approved $1 billion in federal funding cuts for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, which gives some funding to both public radio and PBS.

WGLT and WCBU Executive Director R.C. McBride said Peorias WCBU will lose $250,000 in funding and Bloomington/Normals WGLT will lose $350,000 in funding over the next two years.

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Congress has supported funding for public media for nearly 60 years, so this is a pretty radical departure, McBride said.

Both radio stations will be able to withstand the cuts, but it will come at a cost of new jobs. WGLT has multiple open positions, but will struggle to keep those positions open with less money in the bank.

The people that will be affected the most by these job cuts will be young people looking to find their start in the journalism industry.

Early career stage journalists are going to have fewer opportunities, McBride said. Illinois has lost something along the lines of 90% of its journalism jobs over the last 20 years so we were already hurting when it comes to local coverage even in sizable communities like Peoria or Bloomington Normal.

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Republicans approved the cuts to funding as they said public media has a left-wing bias in its content.

This week, at U.S. Rep. Darin LaHoods district office, protestors spoke out against the congressmans vote for public media funding cuts. The Dunlap Republican gave a statement in response to his vote.

The American people gave Republicans a mandate to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, he said. I voted in support of the broader rescissions package because Congress has an obligation to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

I want to emphasize that the bill does not cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for 2025. Instead of funding the program several years in advance, the bill simply returns to funding the program on an annual basis, LaHood said. I understand the vital role public broadcasting plays in our communities, especially in rural areas, and will continue to advocate for its funding during future annual appropriations processes.

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All public radio and PBS stations will need to have tough conversations on how theyll balance their budget. Most of the worries will go to rural stations, which require the most federal funding to stay afloat.

This has a chance to increase the problem of news deserts, where a community does not have access to local news. Some areas in Southern Illinois are already considered news deserts.

If stations start to disappear, that will make it difficult for everyone else to do their jobs, McBride said. There are ripple effects that we cant necessarily model for at this stage.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jul. 26BEMIDJI  After a four-day trial, 35-year-old Matthew Thomas McGregor, of Red Lake, has been convicted by a federal jury on one count of sexual abuse of a minor.

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, McGregor groomed and sexually assaulted a minor victim, who was under the age of 15, in a residence.

McGregor will be sentenced at a later date, the release noted.

"Anyone who sexually assaults a child will feel the full force of our law enforcement efforts," FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. said in the release. "The FBI will deploy every resource possible to protect the most vulnerable members of our community. We will work with federal prosecutors to seek an appropriate sentence, and we remain committed to keeping every child safe."

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Red Lake Police Department.
The shift reflects a growing realization in Jerusalem that Israels goals cannot be achieved without preserving a degree of international legitimacy.

There are no constant conditions in warfare, the ancient Chinese military strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu wrote some 25 centuries ago: He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent will succeed and win.

What was true in the fifth century BCE is true today, and it should be kept in mind when evaluating Israels dramatic U-turn over the past 48 hours: its decision to declare humanitarian pauses in areas where the IDF is not operating in Gaza, establish corridors to enable the distribution of aid, and airlift aid.

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While predictably slammed by some in the government, such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whose opinion was not canvassed on the matter when the decision was made on Saturday, the decision reflects a welcome adaptability by the government. And in war, adaptability is crucial.

Over the past week, as images of emaciated babies and chaotic food distribution scenes in Gaza saturated the international media, it became clear that IDF briefings disputing the starvation claims and footage released of Hamas terrorists feasting inside the tunnels were not having the desired impact.

It was clear something else was needed to swiftly change the narrative before Israel would lose any remaining international legitimacy it had to continue the war in Gaza aimed at toppling Hamas both militarily and as the force that governs Gaza  and to bring the hostages home.

Palestinians shelter in tents in Gaza City, July 22, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)

Set aside the debate about whether the photos of starvation in Gaza are authentic or, as some claim, are AI doctored or fabricated. British investigative journalist David Collier, who revealed in March that the narrator and principal subject of the BBC documentary Gaza: How to survive a warzone, was the son of a deputy Hamas minister, wrote on Sunday that the haunting picture that featured prominently this week around the world of a Gaza child with ribs jutting out was the picture not of a starving boy, but rather of one who has faced debilitating health issues since birth.

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Set aside also whether this is shaping up to be another Mohammed al-Dura moment  the infamous case from the Second Intifada when a Palestinian boy crouching behind his father at Netzarim junction was portrayed in real time as being killed by Israeli fire, although subsequent investigations cast serious doubt on that version of events.

Whether real or staged, the effect of such images is cumulative and corrosive. Add to that the widely circulated footage of Gazans mobbing trucks for bags of flour, reports of Palestinians being killed while attempting to retrieve aid, and growing international anger at the apparent collapse of humanitarian conditions  and you have a crisis that cant be ignored.

The mechanism Israel set up with the US to distribute aid while bypassing Hamas  the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation  was designed to solve precisely this problem. But with Hamas trying to sabotage that effort and chaos overtaking many distribution points, the result was further scenes of disorder that only fueled the perception that Israel was letting civilians starve.

Why has the government shifted tactics now?

And so the government shifted tactics.

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Why now? Because starvation is a redline. If its real, Israel must act. If its not real but being perceived as real by the international community, Israel must still act. In either case, the cost of inaction had become too high.

When Israel decided in March to largely halt the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the move was meant to apply pressure. The idea was that Hamas, as the governing authority responsible for the welfare of the population, would face a choice: Release the hostages and agree to Israels terms to end the war, or risk being the cause of severe deprivation to the people they purport to represent, and face domestic unrest as supplies dwindled.

That logic held so long as one assumed Hamas would behave like a rational actor. But Hamas doesnt operate by the playbook of rational governance.

It is not Sweden. It is not even Assads Syria. Its a jihadist terrorist group, and as the last few months have made clear, it is more than willing to let its people starve if the optics of that starvation help perpetuate its rule.

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The hunger and starvation  or at least the pictures of the hungry and starving  serve Hamas purposes by increasing pressure on Israel to stop the war. Completely counterintuitively, but logical when considering Hamass cynical tactics, the terrorist organization did not become more flexible over the past week as the stories and pictures of famine and starvation spread across the globe; instead, it became more inflexible.

In fact, the worse things get, the less flexible Hamas becomes.

US President Donald Trump  who for weeks had been saying that a deal was just around the corner  put it bluntly on Friday: Hamas didnt really want to make a deal. I think they want to die. Then he added: It [has] gotten to a point where [Israel is] going to have to finish the job.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel and the US were now looking at alternative options for bringing the hostages home. And US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly told the families of hostages on Friday that the US needed to reevaluate its strategy toward the Gaza war and come up with new options.

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Those statements indicated a different approach was needed in waging the war and in the hostage negotiations. The very next day, Israel announced it would airlift supplies, open a humanitarian corridor, and institute humanitarian pauses.

This was a clear acknowledgment that the previous strategy  ramping up military pressure while halting aid  hadnt worked. It hadnt led to Hamas softening its terms, and it hadnt freed the hostages. Instead, it left Israel increasingly isolated on the world stage.

The new moves may be tactical, or they may signal something deeper: the beginning of a new phase in the war, one aimed at safeguarding the international legitimacy required to continue the war against Hamas without risking a full-blown diplomatic backlash.

They may also be connected to the stalled hostage negotiations in Doha.

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Either way, the shift reflects a growing realization in Jerusalem that Israels goals cannot be achieved without preserving a degree of international legitimacy, and that legitimacy cannot survive nightly images of starving civilians, whether those images are genuine or doctored.

Sun Tzus ancient wisdom has endured because its rooted in a fundamental truth: Success in war depends not only on strength but on adaptability. The tactics employed since March  military escalation, humanitarian chokehold, and an effort to bypass Hamas in aid delivery  have not delivered the desired results.

There is no shame in changing tactics.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Redistricting, the process of drawing the borders of districts for which a states elected officials are elected, is required every decade in Missouri. The state finalized its latest congressional redistricting map in 2022, following the release of 2020 U.S. Census data.

Now, just three years later, it appears theres growing momentum behind the possibility that Missouri could redraw its map again, well ahead of the typical 10-year cycle.

Earlier this week, political news media outlet Punchbowl News reported that President Donald Trumps political team is pressuring Missouri Republicans to redraw the states congressional map. The report cited remarks from U.S. Rep. Bob Onder (R-3rd District) in support of redistricting maps.

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Another Missouri Congressman, U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-7th District) later told St. Louis Public Radio that he had also heard of Trumps interest in redistricting Missouri.

And on Friday, the Missouri Freedom Caucus issued a statement urging Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special session with the intent to redraw Missouris Congressional map in a way that is consistent with Trumps recommendations.

FOX 2 has reached out to Gov. Kehoes office multiple times for comment to clarify reports of a push for redistricting in Missouri, but our requests for comment have not been returned as of this storys publication.

According to All About Redistricting, a database organized by the Loyola Law School, Missouri has approved just one redistricted congressional map per decades for the past three decennial Census cycles (10 years).

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In the previous two cycles, 2000 and 2010, the districts went unchanged after the initially-required redistricting plan was approved.

That could change for this decade.

Missouri Congressional Redistricting Map approved in 2022.

While federal laws require redistricting once every 10 years, they do not explicitly prohibit mid-decade redistricting. Texas, for instance, is very much considering a mid-decade redraw to reflect shifting demographic trends.

According to the Associated Press report Saturday, there is no national impediment to a state trying to redraw districts in the middle of the decade or even to do it for political reasons, such as increasing representation by the party in power. The key requirement, however, is that districts must maintain as close to equal populations as possible when redrawn.

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That leaves power up to the states, and in Missouri, redistricting is the responsibility of the Missouri legislature, which must adhere to constitutional guidelines.

According to the III Section 10 of the Missouri Constitution, The last decennial census of the United States shall be used in apportioning representatives and determining the population of senatorial and representative districts. Such districts may be altered from time to time as public convenience may require.

The language does not explicitly rule out mid-decade redistricting changes, though suggests such changes could be rare in Missouri, possibly opening the door to legal or political challenges.

If redistricting moves forward, attention will likely focus on Missouris 5th Congressional District, a seat held by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver that represents the heart of the Kansas City region. Its one of only two congressional districts seats in Missouri currently occupied by a Democrat.

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According to multiple outlets, including Punchbowl News, St. Louis Public Radio and the Missouri Independent, Trumps reported interest in redistricting could be partly aimed at making Cleavers seat more competitive for Republicans to challenge.

Cleaver slammed that idea in an interview with St. Louis Public Radio, calling it very dangerous and national nastiness as a way of establishing a one-party rule in our country.

The states other Democratic-held district, the 1st District held by Wesley Bell and primarily representing the City of St. Louis, is protected under the federal Voting Rights Act. That protection generally restricts change that would dilute the political influence of minority voters, this making it harder to alter the district with significant legal changes.

With that considered, if Missouri were to adopt a new map aligned with Trumps ongoing push, it could shift the balance of the delegation from 6 Republicans, 2 Democrats to a 7-1 Republican majority.

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So what happened during the last redistricting cycle for Missouri?

The map approved in 2022 (for the 2020 decennial Census cycle) initially drew some criticism for reinforcing Republican control.

The states 2nd District extended further west, reducing its overlap with urban St. Louis area and arguably making it more favorable for the GOP.

The states 3rd District expanded westward, splitting the city of Columbia (Missouris 4th largest) between districts and connecting parts of central Missouri to St. Louis suburbs.

The states 5th District became more concentrated around the immediate Kansas Curt metropolitan area.

The states 1st District was adjusted to include more parts of St. Louis County.

So what happens next?

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How a new redistricting effort might unfold, or whether it will happen at all, remains uncertain. The push has not yet received formal backing from most legislative leaders and the governor.

But if recent reports prove true, Missouri could be among a number of U.S. states that attempt mid-cycle congressional redistricting, a move that could reshape its political landscape well before the next decennial Census cycle in 2030.

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Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma on Sunday congratulated the security forces for their successful joint operation in Bijapur district, where four uniformed Naxals were neutralised. "In the Bijapur area of South-West Bastar, four uniformed Naxals have been neutralised. Rifles like INSAS and SLR have also been recovered from them...I heartily congratulate the jawans," Vijay Sharma told ANI. According to senior police officials, the bodies of the four Naxals were recovered during a joint anti-Naxal operation in the district. Further search and counter-insurgency operations are underway in the region. Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) P Sundarraj said multiple units, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), Bastar Fighters, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), are actively engaged in operations against Naxal groups across the state. "On July 26, a joint team of DRG, CoBRA, CRPF, and other security forces conducted an operation in Bijapur against Naxal outfit leaders. After the operation, four bodies of uniformed Naxals were recovered by the forces... Joint teams continue to search the nearby areas," Sundarraj said. He added that earlier this month, on July 18, six Naxal bodies were recovered after an exchange of fire in Chhattisgarh's Abujhmad region in Narayanpur district. A large cache of weapons, including AK-47 rifles and SLR rifles, was recovered. The search operation is underway. On July 5, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had said that the state was committed to ending Naxal violence. He assured that all affected areas would be provided with basic infrastructure like roads and electricity. According to an official statement from the Government of India, 290 Naxals have been neutralised in 2024 alone. Additionally, 1,090 Naxals have been arrested and 881 have surrendered so far this year. Recent major operations include the surrender of 50 Naxals in Bijapur in March 2025, the neutralisation of 16 in Sukma, and the killing of 22 in Kanker and Bijapur. With continued Special Central Assistance and focused development programmes, the government aims to eliminate Naxalism across India by 31 March 2026, the statement added. (ANI)
All the attention being given to the Epstein files has largely overshadowed some serious developments involving the inner workings of the Department of Justice.

Theres a division known as the Public Integrity Section within the Department of Justice. It plays a significant role for investigations involving elected officials, like members of Congress as well as judges, local office holders and state office holders.

Those lawyers in the Public Integrity Section oversee the indictment process to ensure its done fairly and isnt motivated by politics.

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The big development initially reported by the Washington Post is that the Trump Administration has been dismantling the integrity section. The Associated Press got into and found the Department of Justice cut the size of this division from 30 prosecutors to around five.

Host Jim Niedelman brings back our panelists, former Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack and Iowa Republican Party Chair Jeff Kauffmann, to discuss this.

Yes, U. S. attorneys can be political in terms of who they choose to prosecute, Kauffmann said. But so can this Public Integrity Section of the DOJ.

If we dont have (guardrails,) I do think that Donald Trump  and he stated it  hes going to run amok as far as a vendetta against the previous administrations.

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To hear what else our panelists have to say, click on the video.

Local 4 News, your local election headquarters, is proud to present 4 The Record, a weekly news and public affairs program focused on the issues important to you. Its a program unlike any other here in the Quad Cities. Tune in each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as Jim Niedelman brings you up to speed on whats happening in the political arena, from Springfield, Des Moines, Washington, D.C. and right here at home.

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A new report claims that law enforcement involved in Vance Boelters terrifying murder spree last month botched the response.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that communication across agencies was spotty, leaving several officials unaware of the threat posed for hoursraising questions about whether Boelter could have been apprehended sooner.

According to the papers report, Brooklyn Park Police allegedly deviated from department policy by waiting more than an hour to enter the home of Mark and Melissa Hortman after witnessing Boelter shoot Mark in the doorway and after shooting at Boelter themselves, according to the Star Tribunes investigation.

An investigation by the Minnesota Star Tribune found delayed response times by law enforcement in dealing with accused killer Vance Boelter. / Ellen Schmidt/Reuters

Boelter allegedly shot and killed the Minnesota congresswoman and her husband at their Brooklyn Park home last month, after shooting State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Boelter, who was reportedly armed with a hit list, visited homes belonging to two other Democratic lawmakers during his spree, but did not shoot anyone at either residence.

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Boelter impersonated a police officer in order to gain entry to his victims homes. At one point, he was mistaken for a colleague by a police officer sent to check on one of Boelters potential victims. According to the Star Tribunes investigation, this interactionwhich took place after the Hoffmans were shot, but before the Hortmans were killedwas not reported to other agencies in real time.

Democratic State Senator Erin Maye Quade told the Star Tribune, There wasnt a playbook for this, and I think that was clear. Meanwhile, State Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said that law enforcement did an admirable job of trying to respond and make sure they were doing their very best in this case.

Vance Boelter, dressed as a law enforcement officer and driving a car similar to a police SUV, killed two people and shot two others during his spree. / Ellen Schmidt / Ellen Schmidt/Reuters

In a statement provided to the media, the Brooklyn Park Police Department sought to correct inaccuracies in the Star Tribunes report, arguing that The timeline listed by the Minnesota Star Tribune in a recent article appears to have been generated by individuals without direct knowledge as to the facts and circumstances surrounding the events of June 14.

The statement contends that officers did not violate departmental policy and that they conducted a rescue of Mark Hortman in the entryway of the home approximately 2 minutes and 12 seconds after the officer-involved shooting, following procedure by not entering the home.

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The statement explains that officers then used a drone to search the Hortman home, finding Melissa Hortman with injuries not compatible with life, and only then entering the home. The Star Tribune investigation mentions the drone, and provides timestamps based on body cam footage to establish when, exactly, officers entered the home.

House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was shot dead. / Star Tribune via Getty Images

BPPD also contends that the sergeant who encountered Boelter while he was dressed as a police officer requested that area law enforcement agencies be warned about an individual dressed as police shooting lawmakers approximately 27 minutes after the officer-involved shooting at the Hortman residence.

The statement concludes, Its unfortunate that such a tragic event is being litigated in the public eye by those without the necessary knowledge to provide critical context. It is also increasingly concerning that non-public data is being shared outside of the investigation.

The Brooklyn Park Police Department has attempted to protect the integrity of what is an ongoing criminal investigation with the goal of holding Vance Boelter accountable for his heinous crimes.
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH)  Reynoldsburg City Council has given the green light to the first phases of a 664-unit townhome and apartment development.

On July 15, the council unanimously approved the two initial phases of a plan to construct a residential development called Summit Crossing, which will sit on the west side of Summit Road, north of East Main Street and south of Refugee Road.

The project will boast a total of 280 townhomes and 284 apartments on a 69-acre site. The first two phases will feature a total of 82 townhomes across 30 acres, with the first phase consisting of 24 units, and the second consisting of 58 units.

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M/I Homes will develop the townhomes and Metro Development will build the apartments. Both companies are based in Columbus. The property, which was annexed into Reynoldsburg from Etna Township last year, is currently used for agricultural purposes, according to city documents.

Summit Crossing will feature two- and three-story townhomes, with each building including four or six units. The development will contain 16 apartment buildings with three stories, featuring a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

Both the townhomes and apartments will have their own clubhouse and pool. The development will also feature other amenities such as a playground, dog park and new public park.

Summit Crossing is being developed in four phases; construction on the first phase is expected to begin by the end of the year.

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The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

Poor preschoolers get fewer chances than wealthier children to bring their prized personal possessions to school. Thats what I found in my two-year comparative ethnographic study of two preschools in Madison, Wisconsin. One of the preschools primarily serves middle-class white children and the other primarily serves poor children of color.

In the preschool that served mostly poor kids, the teachers made a rule that kids could not bring toys, games, stuffed animals or other personal items to school. The stakes felt too high to these teachers. Some students families were recently evicted and had few toys. Other students families did buy them toys but at great financial cost, and families didnt want these items broken. Teachers also worried about toys being stolen. The items that I observed children try to bring in ranged from expensive action figures to random board game pieces to sparkly ponytail holders.

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I then observed an affluent school and found that teachers actually encouraged children to bring their personal items to school. The teachers hosted a weekly show and tell. Kids could bring toys, objects from nature or anything else to show and tell. Teachers also encouraged kids to bring books to read with their peers and stuffed animals to cuddle at nap time any day of the week. Because these teachers knew their students families were financially well-off, they made classroom rules that allowed children to celebrate their personal property.

Why it matters

This gulf in how kids experience classroom rules about property matters for three reasons.

First, I observed that when children brought personal stuff to school, they used the items to connect with friends or just to hold and enjoy by themselves throughout the day. This was true whether they were encouraged to bring the items in or they successfully sneaked them in.

Bringing special personal objects to school provided the kids with a form of what sociologists call substantive dignity  the sense that one belongs in a wider community but is still respected as a unique individual. My research suggests that preschool segregation creates pressures for teachers of poor children to forbid personal property at school, closing off a pathway to substantive dignity for these children.

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Second, the disparity in childrens degree of control over property connects to other researchers findings that affluent children have more control over their experience within schools. From school uniform rules to how much of their teachers help they get when working on assignments, affluent children grow up expecting more special attention from authority figures. They are more comfortable asking for accommodations, and this matters in college and as they transition to adulthood. In contrast, poor and working-class children experience more encouragement to defer to the rules of an institution. My research suggests that affluent childrens comfortable access to personal property in preschool is an additional mechanism by which they come to feel entitled to individualized attention in workplaces and other institutions.

Third, one consequence of the no-personal-items rule at the poor preschool was that a handful of students  all boys of color  sneaked toys in anyway. Sometimes these children were caught and were disciplined by having their items taken and being sent to the quiet area. As a result, property rules contributed to differences in discipline on race and gender lines. This aligns with other scholars findings that boys of color experience more punishment as early as preschool, and this pattern continues through K-12 schooling.

What still isnt known

My research observed broad, social experiences that children had over time. However, social scientists will need to do more research to determine how teachers rules about controlling childrens personal property use differ across a wider range of preschools. Another question is how teachers manage kids access to personal items in mixed-income preschools.

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: Casey Stockstill, University of Denver

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Casey Stockstill 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.
Florida Congressman Rick Scott wants New Yorkers wary of life in the Big Apple under a potential Zohran Mandani administration to know theyve got options.

On Saturday, an aerial advertisement with Scotts logo crossed the skies high above Coney Island, encouraging beachgoers to consider a relocation to the humid, hurricane-prone home of at least five varieties of venomous snake, should the leftist New York City mayoral front-runner win in November.

Hate socialism? read the banner ad. Us too! Move to FL.

The aeriel banner was financed by Sen. Rick Scott. Michael Nagle

Scotts current term ends on January 3, 2031. Getty Images

Scotts airplaned pitch follows recent Times Square digital billboard ads paid for by the Ohio Gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamys Vivek Super PAC, which supports the biotech entrepreneur-turned-failed presidential candidates bid to govern the Buckeye State.

A spokesperson for Scotts office was unavailable Saturday. Michael Nagle

Zohran Mamdani is favored to win his mayoral bid this fall. Getty Images

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It was unclear how much the flying ad cost Scott, but on average, aerial advertising in New York City runs between $7,000 and $9,000 for a two-hour flight, according to DashTwo.

A representative from Scotts office was not available to comment Saturday.

Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist who won the mayoral Democratic primary last month, is considered the frontrunner for City Hall.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A local nonprofit organization is bringing joy and much-needed support to several children recovering in the hospital on Saturday, July 26.

Riders 4 Children is a group dedicated to supporting families with critically ill children during times of unexpected medical crisis.

On Saturday morning, the group hit the road and drove past Childrens Hospital Colorado in Colorado Springs, as they waved to young patients watching from their windows.

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The group then headed to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado to support staff, volunteers, and families. The ride began back in 2021, and since then, Riders 4 Children has raised more than $85,000 for Ronald McDonald House.

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DURANGO, Colo. (KRQE)  There is an active fire in the Southern Ute Indian Reservation that started Saturday, July 26, 2025, around 3:00 p.m. The Rim Road Fire is burning near County Road 318, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire Management has responded to it.

The Southern Ute Indian Tribe is coordinating with local agencies in regards to public safety and minimizing the fires impact. Assisting agencies include the Los Pinos Fire Protection District, in addition to 2 Type 6 Engines and 2 Suppression modules.

Evacuations have been ordered for the Elkhorn Fire, which is burning east of the C.R. 250/Highway 550 intersection near Celadon in northern La Plata County. Evacuees are encouraged to go to Escalante Middle School at 141 Baker Lane for shelter and further instructions and assistance.

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Durango police also reported on Saturday a new fire off of C.R. 250 involving a house fire that spread into the forest.

Rim Road Fire

Start Date: 07/26/25

Location: County Road 318 and Lenyx Lane

Containment: 25%

Size: 114 acres

Structures Threatened: Y

Structures Burned: Unknown

Evacuations: Y

Cause: Unknown

Total Personnel: 2 Type 6 Engines and 2 Suppression modules

Area Vegetation:

Ownership(s): Unknown

Elkhorn Fire

Start Date: 07/26/25

Location: 13 miles north of Durango in La Plata County

Containment: N/A

Size: 314 acres

Structures Threatened: Y

Structures Burned: Y

Evacuations: Y; 41 homes in the area

Cause: Under investigation

Total Personnel: San Juan Team 8 Incident Management Team

Area Vegetation:

Ownership(s): Private and federal land

Regarding the Elkhorn Fire, Missionary Ridge, Red Tail Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Star Peak, Elkhorn, and Purple Sage roads, along with Celadon Drive and County Road 253, have all been closed. Anyone living in the green shaded area below must evacuate immediately.

All La Plata County residents are encouraged to enroll in CodeRED to receive emergency alerts by texting LPCOEM to 99411.

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Supplies and items suggested for an evacuation bag include:

Flashlight with plenty of extra batteries

Battery-powered radio with extra batteries

First aid kit

Prescription medications in their original bottle, plus copies of the prescriptions

Eyeglasses (with a copy of the prescription)

Water (at least one gallon per person is recommended; more is better)

Map of the area

Checkbook, cash, and credit cards

Phone charger

Foods that do not require refrigeration or cooking

Items that infants and elderly household members may require

Medical equipment and devices such as dentures, crutches, prostheses, etc.

Change of clothes for each household member

Sleeping bag or bedroll and pillow for each household member

Plans for pets include:

Identifying shelter

Gathering pet supplies

Ensuring your pet has proper ID and up-to-date veterinarian records

Providing a pet carrier and leash

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Take the following steps to shelter a pet:

Call local animal shelter, or animal control office to get advice and information

Keep veterinary records to prove vaccinations are current

Find out which local hotels and motels allow pets and where pet boarding facilities are located.Be sure to research some outside the local area in case local facilities close

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Jul. 26Robert William Smith Beloved to all who knew him, Robert William Smith passed away peacefully at his home on June 21, 2025, at the age of 90. Born on November 2, 1934, in New York City, Robert was a dedicated husband, father, and friend, whose warm spirit and loving nature will be deeply missed by all who knew him. After serving in the Army for two years in Germany, Robert returned home to New Rochelle to begin a three-decade career with the Bell System. In addition to his profound love for his family, Robert had a passion for sports, particularly as a devoted fan of the New York Giants. After retiring, Robert and his family relocated to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, where he continued to find joy in the beauty of the Southwest. His spirit of adventure and love for life never waned, even as he aged. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, William and Eleanor, and his sister, Virginia. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Patricia; son, William, and daughter, Ann. Robert was laid to rest with his family at Assumption Cemetery in Cortlandt Manor, New York. Please visit our online guestbook for Robert at www.FrenchFunerals.com.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings for Hariyali Teej during the 124th edition of his monthly radio address, 'Mann ki Baat' and stated that these celebrations carry a deeper message of connection and balance with nature. PM Modi also extended greetings for the upcoming festivals, including Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami. The Prime Minister, in his address, said, "Amid the showers of Sawan, the country is once again going to be adorned with the fervour of festivals. Today is Hariyali Teej, then comes Nag Panchami and Raksha Bandhan, then Janmashtami, the celebration of the birth of our naughty little Kanha. All these festivities are connected to our emotions here; they also give us the message of connection and balance with nature. Many best wishes to all of you for these holy festivals." Hariyali Teej, celebrated primarily by women across North India, especially in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, marks the advent of the monsoon season and honours the reunion of Goddess Parvati with Lord Shiva. The festival is known for its traditional music, dance, henna (mehndi), swings, festive attire, delectable cuisine, prosperity and happiness. The Prime Minister also spoke about how festivals and traditions are a major basis of Indian culture. He spoke about bhajans and kirtans are part of India's diversity that is glimpsed in its folk songs and traditions. He highlighted how in Keonjhar district of Odisha a group named Radhakrishna Sankirtan Mandaliis is, along with devotion, also chanting the mantra of environmental protection. Troupe leader Pramila Pradhan has added new lyrics and new messages to traditional songs and as they go across from village to village they make people understand, through songs, how much damage forest fires cause. "This example reminds us that our folk traditions are not something of the past; they still have the power to give direction to society," PM Modi said. (ANI)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised U.S. President Donald Trump as "the ultimate closer" and said Trump is "losing his patience" with Russia over the war in Ukraine, in a televised interview with Fox News on July 26.

Rubio's remarks come nearly two weeks after Trump gave Russia a 50-day deadline to agree to a peace deal or face "severe" tariffs. Since the announcement, Russia has only intensified its assault on Ukrainian cities and continued to advance along the front line.

Rubio said Trump is eager to secure a peace deal and end the war he "inherited" from the Biden administration, and described the president's growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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"Despite having very good interactions with Vladimir Putin and phone calls, it never leads to anything," Rubio said. "So, the time has come for some action."

Critics say Trump's latest 50-day timeline effectively gives the Kremlin seven more weeks to continue launching deadly airstrikes across Ukraine. The proposed tariffs, at around 100%, are also below the 500% rates proposed in a bipartisan Senate bill targeting countries that buy Russian oil.

Rubio also acknowledged in the Fox News interview China's growing role in prolonging the war, accusing Beijing of propping up Moscow's economy and military efforts.

"China is giving Russia as much aid as they can get away with without being discovered," Rubio said. "There's no way Putin could have sustained this war without Chinese support, particularly buying his oil."

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Rubio also highlighted the geopolitical triangle between Russia, China, and Iran, suggesting Beijing benefits from a prolonged war that keeps the U.S. distracted.

Following talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing earlier in July, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to deepen strategic cooperation and hailed the partnership as "a model for a new type of international relations."

Despite China's repeated claims of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war, its support for Russia's economy and defense industry has established Beijing as one of Moscow's most crucial partners.

Ukrainian officials reported the presence of Chinese components in Russian attack drones, and intelligence suggests Beijing may be helping Moscow bypass sanctions to ramp up drone production.

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Read also: Stop fueling Russias aggression  US, China clash over Ukraine at United Nations

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with the foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday, urging them to immediately deescalate tensions and telling them the United States was ready to help with talks, the State Department said.

"The United States is prepared to facilitate future discussions in order to ensure peace and stability between Thailand and Cambodia," the department said in statements on Sunday about separate calls with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Ahmed AbouleneinEditing by Peter Graff)
Former Governor Roy Cooper teased his upcoming Senate run at a Democratic fundraising dinner Saturday evening. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

In his first public event after news of his impending Senate campaign broke, former Governor Roy Cooper asked everyone in the audience planning to run for office in 2026 to please stand for a round of applause.

Glancing at his feet with a grin, he quipped, Hey  Im not sitting down, am I?

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Previewing his run for Senate in a speech before North Carolina Democratic Party leaders and supporters Saturday night, days ahead of an expected campaign announcement, Cooper was met with a standing ovation and cheers of Run Roy, run!

Look at whats happening in Washington  they are running up our debt, they are disrespecting our veterans, theyre cutting help for the hungry, and theyre ripping away with health care for millions of people, Cooper said. All to give tax breaks to the millionaires and the billionaires, and its not right.

Cooper is expected to declare his candidacy for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) next week, a development first reported by Axios on Wednesday. He would be vying to become the states first Democratic senator in more than a decade, with the partys last Senate victory coming in 2008 when President Barack Obama won the state.

Tallying up his resume at the partys annual Unity Dinner, Cooper expressed pride in passing Medicaid expansion and expanding coverage to more than 675,000 people, raising pay for public school teachers, eliminating billions in medical debt for North Carolinians, and taking a stand against a 12-week abortion ban that Republicans ultimately passed over his veto.

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Right now, were living in a time in this country, I think, that is as fragile as I can remember, Cooper said. But this beautiful experiment we call democracy  it only works when we work for it, which means that everybody needs to stay engaged and find a way to do something. We cannot let our progress slip away.

The popular two-term governor is expected to compete in the general election against Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley, who is also anticipated to declare as a candidate in the days to come, as first reported by POLITICO Thursday. This follows Tilliss announcement that he would not seek reelection after voting against Trumps big, beautiful bill, citing cuts to Medicaid.

Cooper is poised to be a formidable candidate for Senate, after departing office at the end of 2024 with broad popularity. A March 6 survey of 662 voters by Public Policy Polling found that 47% of held a favorable view of the former governor, while 42% held an unfavorable view  a net favorability rating 28 points better than that of Tillis, who the poll found Cooper leading in a hypothetical match-up 47% to 43%. Pollsters have yet to publish surveys of a prospective Cooper-Whatley matchup.

On Saturday night, Cooper followed state Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, also running in 2026, and preceded Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who is widely expected to seek the presidency in 2028. His fellow Democrats ranged from similarly coy about his plans to openly delighted at his imminent entry into the race.

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Among the most upfront was Earls, who introduced him as Governor and we hope soon-to-be Senator Roy Cooper to rousing cheers.

Among those praising former Governor Roy Cooper at Saturdays dinner were state party chair Anderson Clayton and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. We cant wait to support you in the next stage of your career, said Pritzker. (Photo: Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline)

He knows this state and how to get things done in difficult times, she said. His passion for the well-being of every North Carolina is evident in all of his accomplishments, most recently persevering in the quest to extend Medicaid, resulting in healthcare coverage now for more than 650,000 additional people.

The top of the ticket matters tremendously to my race, and you can tell from the enthusiasm in this room that he is someone that the party across North Carolina would be thrilled to have as our candidate, Earls told reporters after the speeches.

Pritzker, the keynote speaker, said serving alongside Cooper as a governor during the first Trump administration gave him a true master class in the humility and integrity that marks the best of public service.

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Roy, I know I speak for Democratic governors across the country when I say: we cant wait to support you in the next stage of your career delivering for the people of North Carolina, Pritzker said, applauding the former governor.

Im excited. North Carolina Democrats are ready to put a Democrat in the Senate office next year, making sure that were representing everybody in North Carolina, state party chair Anderson Clayton said after the dinner. I think tonight, Governor Cooper alluded to the fact that hes excited to be able to put somebody in that same office and do the same thing.

The enthusiasm reflects a party that had all but lined up to support Cooper before the candidate even made his plans public. Attorney General Jeff Jackson, who gave remarks in private to a VIP Reception preceding the dinner, made headlines earlier this month when he endorsed Cooper for Senate before the former governor entered the race. Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel, the first Democratic entrant in the Senate race, is expected to drop out and run for Wake County District Attorney with Coopers announcement.

In some of his most extensive remarks in his seven months out of office, Cooper returned the praise, singling out Pritzker, Earls, and his successor in office. Im sleeping really well at night knowing we have Governor Josh Stein leading the charge for our state, he said.

Despite all the turmoil and cruelty  because of people like you here tonight, I still believe that our best days are ahead of us, Cooper said.
(Reuters) -Russia prefers political and diplomatic means to resolve conflict in Ukraine, but Kyiv and the West rejected that path, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"Our preferred route is through political and diplomatic means," Peskov said, according to TASS state news agency.

Peskov added, without providing evidence, that Moscow continues its military operation in Ukraine because "all proposals for dialogue were rejected, both by Ukraine and by Western countries."

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Jamie Freed)
In 2025, the Navy Day parade in the Russian Federation was completely cancelled for the first time since 2017.

Source: UK Ministry of Defence on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda; Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza

Details: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the main naval parade in St Petersburg was cancelled due to security concerns.

However, the Kremlin leader, Vladimir Putin, visited his homeland on Sunday, offering congratulations to sailors and receiving reports from Navy commanders.

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The UK Ministry of Defence noted that from 2017 to 2024, the main naval parade was held in St Petersburg on Navy Day, featuring a review of warships, some of which travelled from other Russian regions to participate. Historically, the parade was also attended by ships and representatives of other countries.

"The main naval parade was reduced in scale in 2024, but this is the first time it has been cancelled since its 2017 inception. Small ceremonies will highly likely take place and Navy Day remains a Russian national holiday," the review states.

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A 54-year-old man has been injured in a Russian attack on the Nikopol district in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: The man received medical assistance and will be treated at home.

Throughout Sunday, Russian forces launched over 15 attacks on the Nikopol district. They targeted the city of Nikopol as well as the Myrove, Pokrov and Marhanets hromadas using heavy artillery and FPV drones [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.].

The aftermath of the attack.

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Photo: Serhii Lysak

The attacks caused multiple fires, including in houses and dry grass areas. A nine-storey residential building, a student accommodation building and five vehicles were damaged.

Background: On Sunday 27 July Russian troops struck a bus carrying civilians in Sumy Oblast, killing 3 and injuring 20 civilians.

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MOSCOW (AP)  Russia on Sunday opened a regular air link between Moscow and Pyogyang, a move reflecting increasingly close ties between the two countries.

The first flight operated by Russian carrier Nordwind took off from Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport carrying over 400 passengers. Russia's Transport Ministry said there will be one flight a month to meet demand.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who visited North Korea's new Wonsan-Kalma beach resort earlier this month to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, promised to encourage Russian tourists to visit the complex.

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The resort, which can accommodate nearly 20,000 people, is at the center of Kims push to boost tourism to improve his countrys troubled economy.

North Korea has been slowly easing the curbs imposed during the pandemic and reopening its borders in phases. But the country hasnt said if it would fully resume international tourism.

Regular flights between Russias eastern port city of Vladivostok and Pyongyang reopened in 2023 following a break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Russia and North Korea have sharply expanded military and other ties in recent years, with Pyongyang supplying weapons and troops to back Russias military action in Ukraine.
At least 16 civilians were wounded and two more were killed in Donetsk, Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts on 26 July.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Military Administration; Kherson Oblast Military Administration; Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Details: On 26 July, the Russians killed two residents of Donetsk Oblast in Kostiantynivka and Myrnohrad.

Two were wounded in Krymky, with another injured in Svitle.

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In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces injured nine people, including one child.

One of them was wounded on Sunday morning. A 55-year-old man sustained a blast injury and a shrapnel wound to his forearm as a result of explosives being dropped from a UAV.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the Russians targeted two districts.

In particular, the Nikopol district was struck with heavy artillery and Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, alongside FPV drones and ammunition drops from unmanned aerial vehicles.

Four people were injured  men aged 47 and 60, as well as women aged 40 and 58.

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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Casualty figures were updated.

A Russian drone targeting a bus with evacuated residents killed three people and injured 19 in Sumy Oblast on July 27.

The attack took place near the village of Yunakivka, located about eight kilometers (five miles) from Ukraine's border with Russia and about 29 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Sumy.

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"Russians struck a bus with civilians in the Sumy district... There are preliminary reports of casualties. They are being assisted. All emergency services are involved in responding to the consequences of this cynical attack on the peaceful population," Governor Oleh Hryhorov said earlier.

Later, Kordon media reported that three were killed and 20 were injured in the Russian attack near Yunakivka village.

Hryhorov then confirmed that three were killed and at least five were injured in the Russian strike on the bus, adding that the attack occurred at around 4:30 p.m. local time.

He added that the attack occurred in the village of Ivolzhanske near Yunakivka.

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"Preliminarily, three people have died. Five more are injured. They are receiving medical assistance. The injured and the rest of the passengers were evacuated to a safe area," Hryhorov said, later adding that the three killed were women ages 66, 74, and 78.

The Sumy Oblast Prosecutor's office reported that about 20 people were injured in the Russian attack.

"Three civilians were killed, and about 20 more passengers received injuries of varying severity," the prosecutor's office said in a Telegram post.

A pre-trial investigation is being carried out investigating "war crimes that caused the death of people," the statement said.

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There were 39 passengers on the bus, 19 of them were injured, with one woman in critical condition as a result of the Russian drone strike, Hryhorov later confirmed.

The bus transported residents who were evacuated from the community near Ukraine's border with Russia.

"They were evacuated to Sumy but periodically visited their homes and farms in the border community," Hryhorov said.

A map of Ukraine's Sumy Oblast (Nizar al-Rifal/The Kyiv Independent)

Sumy Oblast borders Russia to the northeast and regularly faces shelling and drone attacks as Moscow continues its war against Ukraine.

The attack comes just a day after Russian forces launched an overnight attack on Sumy Oblast, injuring three.

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Read also: Meet Ukraines EuroMaidan protesters fighting again for democracy in wartime Kyiv (PHOTOS)

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Lok Sabha on Monday is set to discuss key legislations, including a high-stakes special discussion on 'Operation Sindoor' India's military response to the Pahalgham terror attack. After an opening week marked with adjournments, the lower house of Parliament is set to discuss the country's strong, successful and decisive Operation Sindoor as per the list of business notice issued by Lok Sabha. The first week of the Monsoon session of Parliament witnessed major disruptions with the surprise resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice President. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the discussion on Operation Sindhoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Sources said that Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey are also expected to take part in the discussion in Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to intervene in the discussion in the Lok Sabha. He may also intervene in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Sources said discussion on Operation Sindoor will begin in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Rajnath Singh and S Jaishankar will be among ministers who will take part in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha, sources said. TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and GM Harish Balayogi are expected to participate in the discussion on Op Sindoor in the Lok Sabha. The sources said the party has been allotted 30 minutes. From the Samajwadi Party, its chief Akhilesh Yadav, and MP Rajiv Rai will participate in the debate. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the debate on Operation Sindoor will be held for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on July 28 and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha on July 29. "All issues cannot be discussed together... The opposition has raised several issues, like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and others. We have told them that Operation Sindoor will be discussed first. We will decide which issues to discuss after that. Operation Sindoor will be debated for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 28) and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 29)," Rijiju told reporters. Opposition parties have been demanding a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor and have sought the government's clarification over US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The Opposition parties had been demanding PM Modi's presence during the debate. Since PM Modi travelled abroad on a two-nation visit this week, the discussion has been scheduled for next week. Apart from this, the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc parties will meet on Monday at 10 am to discuss the strategy for the second week of the monsoon session, with the Lok Sabha slated to take up discussion on Operation Sindoor on Monday and the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. (ANI)
Russian forces launched an overnight attack on Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast on July 26, local authorities reported. The assault targeted civilian infrastructure in the Kovpakiv district of Sumy city, causing multiple injuries.

Governor Oleh Hryhorov confirmed that three people were wounded in the attack, including a 43-year-old man. All of the injured were promptly hospitalized and are currently receiving medical treatment.

Officials have not yet disclosed the full extent of the damage in Sumy.

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The strike on Sumy comes just three days after the latest round of peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, held in Istanbul on July 23.

The negotiations did not result in a ceasefire agreement, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threat to impose severe tariffs on Russia if Moscow does not agree to a deal within 50 days of his announcement.

The Kremlin has continuously rejected calls from Ukraine and the international community to accept a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Russia has pursued a campaign of relentless aerial strikes against Ukrainian cities in the spring and summer, repeatedly breaking its own record for missile and drone attacks.

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Sumy Oblast has been especially hard hit. In early June, Russia opened a new front in the northeastern region, capturing about a dozen border villages. However, Ukrainian forces have consistently blocked further Russian attempts to push deeper into the region.

Read also: Russia attacks Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles overnight

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Russias annual Navy Day parade has been cancelled for security reasons.

The large-scale, televised parade, due to take place on Sunday, usually features a flotilla of warships and military vessels sailing down the Neva River and is attended by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president.

Russia has not released the specifics of the threat or concern, but Ukrainian drones targeted St Petersburg on Sunday, where the parade was due to take place, forcing the airport to close for five hours.

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Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said: [The cancellation] has to do with the general situation. Security reasons are of utmost importance.

Russian sailors and guards of honour lined up in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol to mark the celebrations - Alexey Pavlishak/Reuters

It is the first time the parade has been cancelled since its inception in 2017, according to state media. In 2024, Russia suspected Ukraine would target the parade, which prompted organisers to reduce the scale of the procession.

Putin arrived at the citys historic naval headquarters on Sunday by patrol speed boat, from where he followed drills involving more than 150 vessels and 15,000 military personnel in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and Baltic and Caspian Seas.

Today, we are marking this holiday in a working setting, we are inspecting the combat readiness of the fleet, Putin said in a video address.

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The parade was meant to be the highlight of Russias Navy Day, which falls on the last Sunday of July each year and honours the countrys sailors.

The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that air defence units downed 291 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, below a record 524 drones downed in attacks on May 7, ahead of Russias Victory Day parade on May 9.

A woman was injured by falling debris on Sunday, when 10 drones were downed in the Leningrad region surrounding St Petersburg, Alexander Drozdenko, its governor, said.

Pulkovo airport was closed during the attack, with 57 flights delayed and 22 diverted to other airports. It resumed operations later on Sunday.

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DeepState analysts have reported that Russian forces had advanced in Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts.

Source: DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts

Details: On the night of 26-27 July, DeepState reported that Russian forces had advanced near the village of Vovchanski Khutory in Kharkiv Oblast and near the villages of Yablunivka and Horikhove in Donetsk Oblast.

Background: In its evening update on 26 July, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 122 combat clashes on the front, 55 of which took place on the Pokrovsk front.

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The Russians have dropped a FAB-250 bomb on the village of Illinivka in Donetsk Oblast, killing one civilian and injuring three others.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

Details: At 16:10 on Sunday, Russian forces launched an airstrike on the village of Illinivka in Kramatorsk district, Donetsk Oblast. A FAB-250 aerial bomb equipped with a unified gliding and correction module was used against civilians. The explosion hit a residential area.

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A 59-year-old man was killed inside his own home. His 56-year-old wife and two neighbours, aged 45 and 57, sustained mine-blast and cranial injuries, fractures and contusions. All three were taken to hospital and received qualified medical assistance.

At least six houses and several vehicles were damaged.

The Kostiantynivka District Prosecutors Office has launched a pre-trial investigation into the war crime (Article 438.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Prosecutors are documenting the consequences of yet another cynical Russian attack on civilians.

Background: On 27 July, a 54-year-old man was injured in a Russian attack on Nikopol district, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

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Russian forces attacked the city of Odesa and the Odesa district on the afternoon of 27 July.

Source: Odesa Oblast Military Administration; Ukraines Air Force

Quote from the administration: "Odesa and the district, stay in shelters!

There is a threat of attack drones!"

Details: Ukraines Air Force also reported that Russian drones were heading towards Mykolaiv and Odesa oblasts.

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In a fiery press release, state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters says he will not be distracted by an investigation after two State Board of Education members said they saw images of naked women on a television in Walters' office during a meeting.

The headline on the press release issued Sunday, July 27, said it was a Response to the Most Absurd, False, and Gutter Political Attack from a Desperate, Failing Establishment.

Walters, a far-right Republican, said its no surprise to face politically motivated attacks as he pushes for a bold overhaul of education in Oklahoma.

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Board members Ryan Deatherage, of Kingfisher, and Becky Carson, of Edmond, told The Oklahoman on Friday they saw the images while the board met behind closed doors in Walters' office on Thursday. The state board was in Walters' office for an executive session to discuss teacher licensing, student attendance appeals and other sensitive issues. Walters chairs the board.

Deatherage and Carson, who were seated next to each other, said the TV screen was not visible to all attendees. It is not known who was controlling the TV or why the content was shown. All four appointed board members in the room said Walters was flustered when Carson forcefully called for the TV to be turned off because of the images.

Quinton Hitchcock, a spokesman for Walters, has not answered The Oklahoman's questions about what Carson and Deatherage said occurred. Hitchcock issued a statement Friday saying multiple people had access to the office  without identifying who they were  and describing the board members, who were appointed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, as hostile. Hitchcock described the story as a "junk tabloid lie."

That tone continued in Sundays press release, with Walters accusing the board members of lying. Board members said after the incident, Walters moved on with the executive session without apologizing or acknowledging what had happened, something Carson has said especially bothered her.

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Any suggestion that a device of mine was used to stream inappropriate content on the television set is categorically false, Walters said. I have no knowledge of what was on the TV screen during the alleged incident, and there is absolutely no truth to any implication of wrongdoing.

These falsehoods are the desperate tactics of a broken establishment afraid of real change. They arent just attacking me, theyre attacking the values of the Oklahomans who elected me to challenge the status quo.

Multiple state lawmakers, including House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, called for an investigation into the allegations and urged Walters to cooperate. Hitchcock and Madison Cerny, another spokesperson for Walters, did not immediately respond to an email from The Oklahoman on Sunday, asking if Walters would cooperate.

Paxton has said the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services was "working through proper channels to initiate the investigation."

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Stitt, who appointed Carson, Deatherage and four other board members, has said hes backing his appointees.

"I trust and appreciate my board members," Stitt said. "They are volunteers who are sacrificing their time to serve Oklahoma students. Should these allegations be true, all I can say is that I am profoundly disappointed."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Walters denies responsibility for images of naked women in meeting
Desperate family members and authorities in central California are searching for a mother and her 8-month-old daughter, who havent been seen in almost two weeks since departing Fresno to return to their home near Sacramento.

Whisper Owen, 36, and her infant daughter Sandra McCarty were last seen on July 15, according to the Fresno County Sheriffs Office.

Im desperate to find my daughter and her baby, Owens mother, Vickie Torres, tearfully told CNN. Its like she vanished into thin air.

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The pair left Fresno, where they were visiting family, around 5 p.m. on the 15th, according to the sheriffs office.

A traffic camera last captured their vehicle, a silver 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer, shortly after 8 p.m. in Atwater, around 66 miles north of Fresno, the sheriffs office said.

Since then, neither has been seen  and no information has been uncovered to explain their disappearance, according to the sheriffs office.

The Fresno Police Department, which is leading the investigation along with other Northern California law enforcement agencies, told CNN they believe Owen and Sandra are not in the Fresno area. There is nothing to suggest foul play is involved in their disappearance, police told CNN.

Mother and baby went to a doctors appointment

Whisper and Sandra were supposed to be heading home to Elk Grove (Sacramento County) where family members were expecting them, the sheriffs office said on Facebook. Elk Grove is around 158 miles north of Fresno.

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But due to a miscommunication, her family didnt realize she was missing for three days, they told CNN Sunday.

Owen was in Fresno for a routine checkup for the baby, her mother told CNN. She visited her mothers house, where she changed and fed the baby, before the 8:30 a.m. appointment.

Afterward, she visited her brothers house. Richard Owen told CNN he last saw his sister around 2:45 p.m. on July 15.

Then, Owen returned to her mothers home, where they ate lunch and played with the baby before she left around 5 p.m., hoping to get home to Elk Grove before dark, Torres told CNN.

But when she didnt return home, her partner thought she had stayed behind to help her mother clean up a house she had just purchased, her brother told CNN. Her partner didnt realize something was wrong until Saturday  when the two would normally spend the weekend together, Richard Owen said.

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Owens partner contacted her family  which is when they realized she had been missing for three days  and her mother reported her missing to the Fresno County Sheriffs Office.

Owen hasnt had a working phone for the past year or so, making it sometimes difficult to communicate with her, according to her brother. Her mother told CNN she typically spoke with her daughter, sometimes using her partners phone, around twice a week.

Owens family doesnt suspect her partner of any wrongdoing, her brother told CNN. The partner has been searching frantically for Owen and their baby while also caring for their other children, Richard Owen said.

Owen suffers from high blood pressure that has been particularly bad since she gave birth, her family said. She was hospitalized multiple times during the pregnancy, according to her mother.

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My fear is that maybe there was a medical emergency behind the wheel, and maybe she had veered off the road, her brother said.

I cant help but to feel like something horrible has happened, Richard Owen said. The last time I talked I talked to my sister, she was talking about how good life was. She was just happy. There was no reason for her to want to disappear or to leave.

Whisper Owen and Sandra McCarty were traveling in a silver 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. - Fresno County Sheriff's Office

Somebody knows something

Owen is an outspoken and outgoing free spirit who cherishes her children, according to her mother.

She has a 17-year-old from a previous relationship as well as an 8- and 3-year-old with her partner. The kids are all devastated wanting to know if and when they will see their mother again, her brother said.

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Shes just a very loving person, Torres said. Everybody loves Whisper.

We, as a family, know she didnt leave on her own, Torres said. Everything is good in her life right now. Theres no reason for her to have taken off.

Torres urged anyone with information about her daughter and granddaughter to contact police. Somebody knows something and they need to come forward, she said.

She added she was frustrated with limited law enforcement effort to locate the two. We need this to go further. We need more help, she said.

We are making every effort to work with law enforcement agencies north of our jurisdiction to check areas that Whisper Owen is known to frequent, the Fresno Police Department told CNN in an email. They have also shared photos of Owen and McCarty with law enforcement agencies across the state.

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Richard Owen told CNN he has spent the past several days sleeping in his car as he and his wife search up and down the highway and comb back roads in the area where his sister was last seen.

He described his sister as a loving, trusting person who would roll her window down for a stranger, whether its 2 p.m. in the afternoon or 2 a.m. in the morning.

CNN has reached out to the Fresno County Sheriffs Office, the Fresno Police Department and the Sacramento Police Department for more information.

Andrea McCarty, Sandras sister, said shes nervous that no one has seen the mother and child for almost two weeks.

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Her car is no longer popping up on any traffic cams. Her phones been off. Your mind goes through all the terrible possibilities, McCarty told CNN affiliate KCRA.

We just want to find them before its too late, McCarty said.

CNNs Lily Hautau, Jillian Sykes, Holly Yan and Sarah Moon contributed to this report.

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The dramatic shift in Israels policy towards Gaza follows weeks of mounting international pressure for more to be done to help the Palestinian people caught in the middle of this catastrophe. The arguments over who was responsible are largely pointless now. The casus belli was the October 7, 2023 invasion by Hamas and the murder of more than 1,000 Israelis, and the kidnapping of scores more. Without that atrocity what we are now seeing would not have happened.

Those who march through European capitals every week, blaming Israel for wanting peace and security free from neighbours seeking their destruction, do not have to live in the region. Nor do they consider what any country would do if its citizens were taken hostage and kept as bargaining counters by terrorists. Had they been released and Hamas accepted Israels right to exist this could have ended months ago.

But with a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza we are past the blame game, as the Israeli government is tacitly conceding by offering 10-hour daily pauses and opening aid corridors in densely populated parts of the Strip. This is to enable the safe passage of UN and humanitarian aid organisation convoys delivering and distributing food and medicine to the population. There have also been air drops of aid in recent days.

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Critics will say this has come a bit late in the day, although the Israelis have challenged Hamass accounts of what has happened to past aid convoys, many of which they say have been hijacked.

Nonetheless, the new, open-ended, policy is indicative of the massive pressure now being applied to Jerusalem, with countries like France proposing to recognise a Palestinian state. As more pictures emerge from inside Gaza it has become impossible for the Israelis to maintain a narrative that the privation of the people is being exaggerated. Now they have opened up the aid corridors it is imperative that the world sees it is being delivered to women and children and not being intercepted by Hamas. To that end, opening the country to the free and safe movement of foreign media representatives can only be to Israels advantage.

The fact remains, however, that Hamas is still holding at least 50 hostages, of whom 20 are thought still to be alive. Their release is essential to any chance of an agreement to end the conflict. Furthermore, apart from Jordan and the UAE, what are other Arab countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia doing to help the Palestinians?

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  The Salvation Army hosted its Stuff the Bus event on Saturday.

Stuff the Bus is an annual event that collects essential school supplies for local students to help them prepare for the upcoming school year. The community donates items.

The Salvation Army said it hosts the annual event to ensure every student has what they need, especially as prices of items on the shelves continue to rise.

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Students Rise Up at Carter County Back to School Bash

We already have a great number of supplies. We have been really blessed and surprised by peoples generosity, Olivia Brokaw, volunteer coordinator and administrative assistant for the Salvation Army, said.

Those who missed the event can still donate at the drop-off bin at the Salvation Army in Johnson City, 204 West Walnut Street.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is warning of an "impending fraud crisis" in which practically anybody will be able to imitate not only the voice but even the likeness of others, using the type of AI that his company is helping pioneer.

During a chat with Federal Reserve vice chair Michelle Bowman in Washington, DC, Altman argued that the banking industry must modernize to avoid having its customers fall victim to widespread fraud.

"I am very nervous about this," he told Bowman. "A thing that terrifies me is apparently there are still some financial institutions that will accept a voice print as authentication for you to move a lot of money or do something else. You say a challenge phrase and they just do it."

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"AI has fully defeated most of the ways that people authenticate currently, other than passwords," he went on. "Right now, its a voice call; soon its going be a video or FaceTime thats indistinguishable from reality."

To his credit, it's not just the usual fearmongering from AI leaders warning of impending doom brought on by a so-called artificial general intelligence. We've already seen plenty of instances of scammers perfectly imitating the voices of their victims to demand ransoms for their loved ones, or even trick employees into cashing out company funds.

Thanks to significant technological progress in the AI space, it has never been easier to imitate somebody's voice or even face with the help of an app.

It's part of a larger, worrying trend. Last year, the FBI warned of an "increasing threat" of cyber criminals harnessing the power of AI to "conduct sophisticated phishing/social engineering attacks and voice/video cloning scams."

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Earlier this month, Trump officials revealed that an imposter had even used AI to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio to contact "three foreign ministers, a US governor, and a US member of Congress" with the "goal of gaining access to information or accounts."

In other words, it's only a matter of time until scammers employ the same tactics to get into somebody's bank account  if it hasn't happened already, that is.

Covering his derriere, Altman told Bowman that his firm had nothing to do with the "impending fraud crisis," claiming that OpenAI wasn't working on impersonation tools. However, as CNN points out, the billionaire does back a tool called The Orb, which is working on a controversial biometric authentication method. And its video generator Sora could conceivably be used for exactly the types he's talking about as well.

Altman claimed that "other people in our industry have tried, to sort of warn people like, Hey, just because we're not releasing the technology doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

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"Some bad actor is going to release it," he added. "This is not a super difficult thing to do. This is coming very, very soon."

More on Sam Altman: OpenAI Engineer Quits, Says Company Is Pure Chaos Inside
The Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Sunday that out of 7.89 crore registered voters in Bihar, over 7.24 crore electors have submitted their enumeration forms under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) held from June 24 to July 25, reflecting a 91.69 per cent participation rate. The Commission described the SIR as a "massive and successful citizen participation effort" across the state, aimed at enhancing the accuracy of the electoral rolls ahead of upcoming assembly elections. According to the official press note released by the ECI, the enumeration exercise was launched to verify and update voter records across all 38 districts of Bihar. The ECI said, "The first aim of SIR was participation of all electors and all political parties," adding that the role of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Booth Level Agents (BLAs), volunteers, and political party workers contributed significantly to the process. According to the ECI, the number of Booth Level Agents rose by over 16 per cent, with major increases seen in the CPI(M) (1083%), Congress (105%), and CPI(ML) (542%). The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saw a 3 per cent increase, while RJD and JD(U) reported modest increases in their BLA counts. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) visited each registered elector's residence, distributing and collecting forms in at least three rounds. Additional efforts targeted urban voters, young first-time voters, and temporary migrants from Bihar. To reach migrants, a full-page Hindi advertisement was issued in 246 newspapers, and the CEO of Bihar wrote to all States and UTs, asking them to assist migrants from Bihar in completing their enumeration forms. The ECI revealed that nearly 29 lakh forms were filled online or downloaded, with over 16 lakh submissions made digitally. The Commission stated that the Draft Electoral Roll will be published on August 1, and electors or political parties will have until September 1, 2025, to file claims and objections. EROs and AEROs have been deployed across Bihar to oversee the scrutiny process. The ECI also clarified that names in the electoral rolls will not be deleted without a proper notice and written order by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), as per SIR guidelines. Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has also revealed that approximately 35 lakh electors are either untraced or have permanently migrated from their registered addresses. (ANI)
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  California is set to mandate that companies with 100 or more employees cover the costs of diagnosing and treating infertility, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), starting in January 2026.

This new law aims to make fertility treatments more accessible to Californians, potentially easing the financial burden on those seeking to become parents.

Everyone has the right to be a parent, but not everyone will have access to medical treatment in order to become a parent, said Dr. Minoos Hosseinzadeh, founder of the Fertility Institute of San Diego.

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Nellie Cortazzo, who always dreamed of being a mother, turned to fertility treatments after getting married at 35-years-old. After three rounds of treatment, she and her husband welcomed their daughter Cece in August 2021.

It was a lot of heartache and a lot of expense, Cortazzo said, noting they spent nearly $50,000 in total.

We literally paid for everything out of pocket, doing it definitely drains your wallet in addition to your emotions and energy, obviously I couldnt be more grateful for our outcome, Cortazzo added.

She said she knows others seeking fertility treatments who are waiting for 2026 to proceed further, waiting for the states mandate to kick on, ideally covering the cost of their fertility treatments.

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A lot of patients, its the financial burden thats usually the biggest stumbling block to become a parent and I think once this pressure is lifted off more people will seek fertility care sooner rather than later, Dr. Hosseinzadeh said.

Dr. Hosseinzadehs clinic is pioneering the use of new technology to assist in IVF. The Fertility Institute of San Diego is the first in the area to use the Embryoscope, an artificial intelligence tool that employs time-lapse photography to monitor embryo development, according to Dr. Hosseinzadeh. This technology allows doctors to identify the best embryos for transfer without disturbing their environment, potentially increasing the success rates of IVF treatments.

Dr. Hosseinzadeh has been helping her patients become parents for 25 years.

Her favorite part? Holding my babies when they come back and the second best is hearing their heartbeat on the ultrasound for the first time, its just incredible and every time I do this, it feels like its the first time, Dr. Hosseinzadeh said as her eyes welled up with tears. It never gets old every patient has a unique individual story.. its just such a privilege to be able to help them.

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Her clinic welcomes patients from other countries, their desire to have a child is so great they will do whatever it takes including travelling to another country to achieve their dream of becoming a parent, Dr. Hosseinzadeh said. We have patients from Europe, from Asia, from all over who come.

With Californias new law and advancements in technology like the Embryoscope, more individuals may have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of parenthood.

Its true what they say, it will change your life, you will never be the same, Cortazzo said, reflecting on her journey to becoming a mother.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  In a demonstration of community support for higher education, the San Diego Foundation (SDF) announced it has awarded a record-breaking $5.5 million in scholarships to 1,371 local students, many of whom are low-income or the first in their families to attend college.

The milestone was celebrated at SDFs annual Community Scholarship Celebration, held Saturday at the San Diego Zoo. The event brought together more than 500 scholarship recipients and their families, as well as the generous donors who make these life-changing awards possible. Notable attendees included U.S. Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, California Assemblymember Chris Ward, and Dr. Becky Petitt, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UC San Diego, who delivered the keynote address.

Through the Community Scholarship Program, San Diego Foundation is ensuring that local students preparation for college is matched with the financial support needed to succeed and grow our regions future workforce, said Mark Stuart, SDF president and CEO.

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Over 200 firearms collected at Encinitas gun safety event

Scholarships that change lives

For the 20252026 academic year, SDF awarded 1,678 scholarships from 160 different funds, totaling $5,539,213  surpassing last years total by over half a million dollars. The awards are part of SDFs mission to improve educational equity and strengthen the regions talent pipeline, particularly in high-demand fields like science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), healthcare, and education.

Among this years recipients:

74% are first-generation college students

92% are considered low- to middle-income

42% identified as Latino/a

14% identified as U.S.-born Black and/or African American

62% were affiliated with college access programs such as AVID, Reality Changers, and TRIO/Upward Bound

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Applications were submitted by more than 4,000 local students  including graduating high school seniors, community college and graduate students, and adult learners returning to school.

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Beyond the numbers

For scholarship recipients like Sajanah King, a recent graduate of Lincoln High School, the funding means more than just financial support.

There were moments in high school when I truly didnt know if Id make it, said King, who is headed to Morgan State University this fall to study psychology. I faced setbacks, self-doubt and hard lessons  but I kept going. This scholarship is more than just funding. Its a reminder that my story isnt over, and that people believe in where its going next.

SDG&E makes effort to strengthen grid amid rising summer temperatures

Donor impact and new initiatives

The scholarships are made possible by 154 charitable funds administered through the San Diego Foundation, making it the largest non-university scholarship provider in the region. Since the program began in 1997, it has awarded more than $54 million to over 15,400 students.

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This year also marked significant growth in SDFs National Rainbow College Fund (NRCF), which supports LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented students across California. Thanks to increased support, NRCF tripled its number of scholarships in 2025, helping more students stay focused on their education and future goals.

Dr. Petitt, who serves on the NRCF advisory council, praised SDFs commitment to equity and inclusion, stating, By investing in their education and dreams, San Diego Foundation is not only transforming individual futures but also strengthening the fabric of our entire community.

A call to action

With the San Diego region projected to need 20,000 new skilled workers each year, according to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, SDF leaders emphasized that investing in young people is essential to inclusive economic growth.

Anyone interested in creating a scholarship fund to support future students is encouraged to contact Danielle Valenciano, director of the Community Scholarship Program, via email: DanielleV@SDFoundation.org.

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For more information, visit www.sdfoundation.org.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Three suspects are now in custody after the San Angelo Police Department launched a homicide investigation after a San Angelo 19-year-old died on July 23.

In a public statement issued during the late hours of July 26, the SAPD reported that all individuals in the July 23rd homicide are now in custody.

The announcement comes after officers were dispatched to the area of Rio Concho Drive and Roosevelt Street at approximately 10 p.m. on July 23 in response to a car accident. An affidavit filed in Tom Green County states that an individual, identified as 19-year-old Joe Angel Martinez III, was found in a vehicle that had collided with a masonry mailbox.

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Martinez was observed to have sustained a gunshot wound. He would be transported to Shannon Medical Center, where he would succumb to his injuries and be pronounced dead.

AFFIDAVIT: San Angelo 17-year-old arrested for murder after drug deal goes awry

Justin Ramirez, a 17-year-old San Angelo resident, was booked into the Tom Green County Detention Center on July 24 on a charge of murder levied in relation to the incident.

The SAPD would then hold a press conference on July 25 to provide updates regarding the case, publicly announcing that Ramirez had been apprehended and stating that two other suspects, 17-year-old Davon Lewis and 16-year-old Dominick Garcia, were both wanted for murder.

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The department commended its Criminal Investigations Division, Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Narcotics Task Force and Special Operations Unit for their outstanding work in handling the case.

Their relentless efforts, attention to detail, and teamwork played a critical role in ensuring those responsible were located and taken into custody, the SAPD said.

The SAPD also thanked the community for its continued support and cooperation throughout the investigation.

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SARANAC LAKE  The village of Saranac Lake has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 37% since 2017. Now, its Climate Smart Communities task force has crafted a plan to reduce emissions even further to meet goals set for 2030 and 2050, and will be presenting the plan to the public soon.

Last week, task force members Becca Halter and Garrett Marino spoke to the village board about the plan, the first formal comprehensive plan from the task force. Before the village votes on whether or not to adopt it, it will go before the public for comments and input.

New York established the CSC program in 2009. Saranac Lake joined in 2018. Since then, the village has made major infrastructure improvements, reduced spending and emissions and received a total of $426,288 in state funds.

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The more actions a municipality takes to be greener, the more points it earns. These points add up to certifications. Saranac Lake has a bronze certification. This allows the village to apply for certain grants, especially ones pushing them toward more environmental objectives. The recent $482,164 grant the village got from the state to install 30 Level 2 electric vehicle charging ports in municipal parking lots  the largest such grant in the state in this round of funding, and one which requires zero match from the village  was awarded in part from the villages environmental efforts. The village also got a $500,000, 50% match grant to do a survey of installing a geothermal system.

The CSCs goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and by 85% by 2050. This mirrors the states Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals. Though the states goal is to reduce emissions from a baseline set at 1990, Saranac Lakes data only starts in 2017, so that is the baseline it is seeking to reduce by 40% before 2030. This creates a more aggressive timeline, Halter said.

The village has already made significant progress on that goal. The task forces study shows that it has reduced its emissions since 2017 by 37%  nearly at the 40% goal set for five years from now.

However, the study also states these reductions will become more difficult to achieve as the most impactful actions are completed.

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The study calculates that the village government produced 1,120 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2017 and 704 in 2024  a difference of 415 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The 2030 goal is to reduce 448 metric tons of emissions from baseline. The 2050 goal is to reduce 952 tons.

To achieve these goals, the task force proposes the village improve its energy efficiency, to use less energy, to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and to ensure all electricity used is 100% renewable.

This involves insulating buildings, switching from fuel oil to electric heat pumps, making sure equipment runs at optimal capacity, using electric vehicles when possible and purchasing or generating more renewable energy.

Fuel oil contributed the largest portion of the villages greenhouse gas emissions. In 2017, it accounted for 37.4% of village emissions. Electric accounted for 26.9%. Diesel for 22.2%. Gas for 13.6%.

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Transportation accounted for the largest sector of emissions in the village  38%. Buildings for 32%. Wastewater treatment plant and wells for 28%. Street lights for 2%.

The villages emissions consistently decrease every year  with a big drop in 2022-23 and a slight drop in 2023-24.

Shifting from fuel oil to electricity for heating at 1-3 Main St. alone led to a 7% villagewide reduction in fuel oil consumption.

But, this progress is hindered by climate change.

As average temperatures rise, the needs for building cooling in the summers will likely increase, the study states. As winter temperatures also rise, the electricity used for snow making at the Village owned and operated ski hill Mt. Pisgah is also expected to increase.

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Since 2017, electricity usage by the village has dropped by nearly 50%, which the study chalks up to the LED lights installed in 2021 to 2022. This also has cut electric costs nearly in half.

In 2023 it was 56% of the villages energy costs, but only 24% of the villages (greenhouse gas) emissions, the study states.

Electricity also saw a big dip in 2021 because the village started net metering of its dam  instead of selling electricity to the grid at wholesale prices, it creates credits for the village to defer its expenses on electricity. This decreased electricity costs from $237,000 to $68,000.

Saranac Lake is in Zone E of the electric grid which uses more than 80% renewables  largely from hydropower from Quebec. The villages own hydroelectric dam between Lake Flower and the Saranac River offsets around 37% of its energy.

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However, to go from 80% to 100% renewable energy, the village will have to purchase Renewable Energy Credits or reach an agreement with a Community Choice Aggregation Program, the study states. The villages pursuit of a CCA has been stalled, but is ongoing.

The study found diesel usage saw a 24% drop and gasoline saw a 12% drop from 2017 to 2024. The usage of diesel and gas varies quite a bit, and cannot drop beyond a certain point because currently, there are not electric options for high impact work vehicles.

The wastewater treatment plant is required to install a new UV light water sterilization system, which will increase the already high energy use there.

In 2024 the plant made up 47% of the villages electricity usage. Wells and water pumps made up another 25%.

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Marino said the CSC program isnt really made for rural communities like Saranac Lake.

Theyre made for bigger towns. Theyre made for cities, he said.

But Marino and Halter added that Saranac Lake has made it work and that the village staff and board have been very helpful.

Halter said it took a large amount of effort to create this greenhouse gas inventory  collecting receipts, invoices and bills from every account the village has for each month every year.

This Climate Action Plan only focuses on government operations, and is not an all-encompassing plan for Saranac Lakes climate resiliency, mitigation and adaptation efforts.

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The pledge the village signed when it started states: We believe that even if emissions were drastically reduced today, communities would still be required to adapt to the effects of climate change for decades to come.

Halter said businesses and organizations can use the framework the task force created to take emissions inventory to pursue their own footprint reduction. She said shes proud of her local government taking leadership in reducing its footprint.
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  It was a bus full of smiles for those participating in Save the Closets charter for a charity fundraiser.

Participants bought a ticket on the bus, which took them from the Save the Closet location on Hutchinson Blvd to the new shop, the closet location in downtown Panama City.

They also held a raffle for prizes in the store.

All these efforts to help bring as much relief to North Carolina on their trip next month.

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Community honors 100-year-old WWII veteran with surprise birthday in Bay County

We always need to raise money for our travel expenses as we go to the different states and cities that we want to assist. Our next trip is to Weaverville, North Carolina. A little bit north of Asheville. Its a great location where people can get to it, and hopefully will have an excellent turnout. Weve already had an amazing response, Save the Closet Founder, Katy Lingle said.

She says they arent just looking to raise money for the trip, but also collect specific items that those families are in need of.

One of the things that people have reached out about are shoes, which is surprising. Weve never really had that before. But if I think about it logically, the terrain is different in North Carolina. Im sure solid footwear is something we dont really worry about down here as much. They really need it up there. Weve had mothers reach out because their sons lost their cowboy boots or their serviceable shoes. And we look at how much nice quality shoes cost, that is prohibitive for a lot of people whove lost everything, Lingle said.

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After North Carolina, they will come back and flip the trailer to provide Texas with some relief. Despite those cross-country efforts, however, Lingle says they are staying true to their brand of giving back to their local community as well.

We often help local outreach organizations when they send us referrals. However, weve decided to do a concentrated effort with the school district this year and their students, which is the career technology education students, so that they have appropriate things for interviews and internships. Additionally, theyve asked if we could help keep the Title I school closets filled. So thats an initiative wed love to do, but we are going to have to have local help to make that happen, Lingle said.

Save the Closet has managed to set itself apart from other thrift stores, bringing in so much product that they cant fit all of it between the two stores.

Lingle says its because of the mission and message behind the organization.

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Man charged with grand theft auto and battery on officer in Walton County

We give so much away, and I think people care where it goes. We also dont have salaried employees. I think that means a lot to people when theyre making donations. I think they would be OK with us having salaried employees. But we need to be thoughtful and mindful about the resources that others give us. And make sure that its utilized well and were good stewards of everything we receive, Lingle added.

Lingle says the best way to support them is by shopping at their locations.

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Scientists are warning San Francisco-area residents about dangerous "forever chemicals" that have slipped into the Bay, but that isn't stopping local anglers from fishing there.

What's happening?

A recent study discovered high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in 10 species of fish that live throughout the Bay, including largemouth bass, white sturgeon, and common carp.

Bay Nature reported on the findings and local anglers' response. The publication said that PFAS enters the Bay through wastewater, mostly from residential uses.

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Scientists say anglers in South Bay, an area known for its diverse population, are likely at the highest risk. But the publication said residents there have long been told the area is toxic due to mercury-tainted fish and other contaminants.

"We're overburdened by advisories," Anthony Khalil, sport fisherman and senior community engagement officer at San Francisco Estuary Institute, told Bay Nature. "There's signs everywhere in certain communities  that say 'step out,' 'radioactive,' or 'don't fish here.'"

Long-time Bay-area angler Apollo-Genesis Braddock-Layton, who sometimes fishes in South Bay, told the publication that while learning about the contamination makes him hesitant about fishing in the area, "I would most definitely go back."

Why is this study important?

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in products like non-stick cookware and water-resistant clothing, as well as firefighting foams since the 1940s.

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They have been linked to health problems like decreased fertility, increased risk of certain cancers, and reduced ability of the body's immune system to fight infections.

Bay Nature said that certain communities are at heightened risk for PFAS-contaminated seafood. For instance, it cited a fish consumption study that surveyed Chinese immigrants in San Francisco and Vietnamese immigrants in San Jose, finding that these groups eat seafood at triple the rate of the average American adult.

The publication added that many Native American groups rely on wild-caught food, often eating many parts of a fish's body, including the brain.

"This work highlights the widespread contamination of PFAS in fish from an urban estuary across a decade of monitoring with important public health implications," the authors stated.

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"San Francisco Bay fish are likely a key source of exposure to PFOS and other PFAS for those who consume them, with more significant impacts to subsistence fishers and others with high consumption rates."



What's being done about PFAS?

California does not have any PFAS advisories on fish, but current warnings for heavy metals and PCBs could be enough for now, according to Miguel Mendez, lead author of the new study.

"We're seeing that those same fish that have high levels of these other contaminants also have high levels of PFAS," he told Bay Nature. "We think right now, following those consumption guidelines in the Bay are mostly protective."

Meanwhile, scientists are looking at ways to remove PFAS from the environment. For instance, one group of researchers at the University of Illinois has discovered a way to remove the full spectrum of these chemicals from water in a single process. And another team is using egg whites to filter PFAS from ocean water.

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Jul. 27The ultimate legality of corner-crossing may be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A Wyoming rancher has petitioned the court to review and reverse a recent decision by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that affirmed the right of people to cross over the air space of private property as they step from one piece of public land to another.

Known as corner-crossing, the practice refers to stepping from one corner of public land to another when the land is interspersed with private parcels in a checkerboard fashion. It gives people access to public land that is otherwise surrounded by private property.

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In 2020 and 2021, four Missouri elk hunters traveled to Wyoming to hunt isolated public land surrounded by the private Iron Bar Ranch. In doing so, they ever-so-briefly crossed through the airspace of the private land when stepping from one public parcel to another.

The ranch owners and managers sought to have the men prosecuted for criminal trespass but the case was dismissed. The ranchers then pursued a civil case against the men, claiming they diminished the ranch's value by $9 million.

A district court rejected the case in 2023 and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision in March.

More than 8 million acres of state and federal public land in the West is surrounded by private parcels in a checkerboard fashion. The pattern is a legacy of the federal government's practice in the mid-1800s of granting large tracts of land to railroad companies to incentivize the construction of rail lines.

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The case hinged on the federal Unlawful Inclosure Act of 1885. Owners of private property are allowed to control at least some of the airspace above their land. For example, the eaves of your neighbor's home can't extend over your property.

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But almost as soon as the grants of federal lands to railroad companies happened, the checkerboard pattern led to disputes between ranchers and homesteaders and precipitated "range wars."

Congress sought to reduce the conflict with the Unlawful Inclosure Act that prohibits the inclosure and exclusive use of federal land without a claim or title and forbids the inclosure of public land.

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"In short, the two sections together provide that any inclosure of public land is prohibited, and no one may completely prevent or obstruct another from peacefully entering or freely passing over or through public lands," the appellate court ruled.

Earlier this month, Iron Bar Ranch owner Fred Eshelman asked the Supreme Court to consider the case, arguing that the decision by the 10th Circuit runs counter to Supreme Court precedent, wrongly allows federal law to trump state trespass law and grants an easement over millions of acres of private property.

In 1979, the Supreme Court overturned a ruling from the 10th Circuit involving public access to a reservoir. The government had constructed a road through private parcels owned by the Leo Sheep Company to access a public reservoir that was otherwise landlocked. The livestock company sued and the district court ruled in favor of Leo Sheep. The government appealed and the 10th Circuit found that Congress reserved an implicit easement over parcels it granted to the Union Pacific Railroad in 1862. The Supreme Court rejected that decision and said there is no implicit easement.

"The Tenth Circuit's transformation of an 1885 anti-fence statute into a broad preemption provision directly contravenes Leo Sheep (1979), flouts the presumption against preemption, and unveils that Congress 140 years ago unwittingly effected an uncompensated taking of unprecedented scale," wrote lawyers representing Iron Bar Ranch in their petition known as a writ of certiorari.

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The Supreme Court may or may not choose to review the decision by the 10th Circuit. Hunting, fishing and conservation groups are closely monitoring the case.

"This case represents a make-or-break moment for access to millions of acres of public lands across the West," Devin O'Dea, Western policy and conservation manager for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, said in a news release. "But what's at stake isn't just access  it's the very notion that public lands belong to the people."

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com.
This story is reported by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. Find more in-depth reporting at www.sdnewswatch.org.

Editors note: Melissa Avelino is a data journalism student at Augustana University. In this five-part series, she looks at the changing face of South Dakota using U.S. Census Data.

South Dakotas rural areas have seen a net loss of population over the past three decades, though many of those people who left for cities like Sioux Falls and Rapid City also return to the small towns where they grew up, according to demographic trends.

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South Dakota still has more than half its population living in rural areas. However, the U.S. Census Bureau has noticed a migration cycle of South Dakotans over the years.

Ben Winchester, a rural sociologist at the University of Minnesota Extension Department of Community Development, said the narrative that has been painted over the years is that most rural areas are dying.

That doesnt tell the full story, Winchester said.

Rural population trends are more of a cycle, according to his research as well as work done on a South Dakota newcomer survey by Kara Harders, the community vitality field specialist for SDSU Extension in Brookings.

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The motivations behind someone returning are very different than them starting all over, said Harders. They go to college, go live life, and then get married, have kids and come back to take a slower pace of life.

Winchester said it is important to understand that when the population goes down, people are moving in and out. The movers out of rural communities are not only from the 18- to 25-year-old population but also older people who need medical services at regional centers, he said.

The recent decrease in the rural population is largely because the average household size has gotten smaller in those areas over the past 20 years, Winchester said.

A factor that also influences this populations decline in population and household size is referred to as the term brain gain.

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Rural areas have not been dying. They grew, we were flooded with people in the 90s, Winchester said. There was a brain gain of people in the 70s, 80s and 90s that filled up almost every vacant home.

The gain happens when high school kids from rural areas move out after graduation to pursue college, a job or military service in urban areas, he said.

We are not trying to keep our high school kids. We are attracted to 30-, 40- and 50-year-olds, he said. These people have been moving in for the past 50 years, diversifying the economy and bringing leadership to positions.

One familys journey

That is what the Weber family has been going through since 2014, when the oldest sibling, Brianna Easton, moved from Aberdeen to Brookings to attend South Dakota State University.

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She got a job right after graduation in Sturgis but moved to Rapid City seven years ago. Easton used to commute to Sturgis every day, until she got a job in her new city.

After graduating from Northern State University in Aberdeen, her younger brother, Matthew Weber, also moved and found a job in Sioux Falls.

Siblings Matthew Weber and Brianna Easton at a restaurant in South Dakota. (Photo courtesy Matthew Weber)



I was like, I kind of want to live somewhere different than Aberdeen, he said. Because at that point, Ive only lived in Aberdeen.

For different reasons, such as more job opportunities or trying new environments, both siblings now call Rapid City and Sioux Falls home.

The data

According to the most recent estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, South Dakotas population was 924,669 in July 2024, an increase of 4.3 percent since 2020.

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South Dakotas two defined metro areas of Sioux Falls and Rapid City demonstrate expressive growth over the years and now represent roughly half the states population, while smaller cities and towns in non-metro areas have a slower growth pace and make up the other half of South Dakotans.

To better visualize where these people are moving in or moving out, the following map tracks each ZIP codes population trends based on the U.S. Census Bureau data since 2000.

To search and better visualize the trends in your ZIP code, city or county, the following searchable table represents the numbers in charts.

Made with Flourish

The following graph compares population trends across South Dakota since 2000.

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Made with Flourish

Top takeaways

Here are top takeaways from the data, with analysis and quotes from Census experts and others.

Rural areas continue aging

Another major factor in South Dakotas net loss of population in rural areas is the large number of older residents, said Weiwei Zhang, an associate professor at SDSU expert in demographics.

When compared to South Dakotas metro areas, its non-metro region features a larger share of population 65 years old and older, she said.

That group increased from 16.2% of the states population in 2013 to 19% in 2023. At the same time, the number of people 25 and younger in those areas fell from 35.3% in 2013 to 34.5% in 2023.

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Zhang said the key reasons why people are leaving rural areas can vary by case but are usually related to opportunities for jobs, education, access to services and resources.

Brianna Easton and Matthew Weber as children at their home in Aberdeen. (Photo courtesy of Matthew Weber)

For Benita Weber, she always figured that her daughter, Brianna, would move at some point, but she was not sure about Matthew until he started college, and she realized that maybe Aberdeen was not for him.

Brianna Easton, Benita Weber and Matthew Weber at Benitas house in Aberdeen, S.D. (Photo courtesy of Benita Weber)

I dont know if there are a lot of job opportunities for him here, which there werent when he graduated, said Benita Weber. As a mom, you just want them to go where they are going to be happy and have an opportunity to get a job out of college.

Population trends around the Midwest

Winchester has been researching rural population trends for almost 30 years.

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After Harders was introduced five years ago to Winchesters research in other states, she thought it was time for South Dakota to also have its own newcomers survey.

The newcomers survey aims to report demographic trends to better understand what changes are necessary for the rural communities.

We just wanted to learn more about what was making people move here, who they were, why they wanted to come, were kind of the nitty gritty details of that, said Harders.

The data has been analyzed and the results are expected by the end of summer.

Sense of community

Winchester and Harders agree that the main reason why people move in or go back to the rural community is the quality of life that those areas can offer.

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People are not choosing to move into this one small town because they have a job there, said Winchester. They are choosing to look at a region, and they pick out schools and parks, and then they start to look for a job.

Thats what Benita Weber appreciates about Aberdeen. She enjoys the opportunity to get closer to other people living in a small town, to feel safer, and the opportunity to be easier to get around.

It seems like you get to know the people here, and you get to become friends with them, she said. I feel like in bigger cities, it is hard to get to know people.

Harders said most of the movers feel welcomed in their new communities and believe they will still be living there in five years.

She also said that another main reason why people choose to move back to a small town is that they want to be closer to their family.

If we were to move somewhere, I think maybe Spearfish, which is where my husbands parents live, said Easton. But otherwise we like Rapid City, so were happy here.

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French foreign minister reaches out to Syrian Democratic Forces as Paris also juggles discussions with Turkey and Israel regarding key issues in Syria.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke with Mazloum Abdi, the head of the Syrian Democratic Forces, on Friday, according to the Kurdish media channel Rudaw.

The SDF is the main force in eastern Syria and played a key role in defeating ISIS. It has been backed by the US-led coalition against ISIS.

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The SDF is also weighing how it may be integrated into the new Syrian security forces of the Syrian government. Abdi flew to Damascus in March to meet with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. However, in the previous months, there have been some controversies that have slowed down talk of integration.

Among the challenges for the SDF is the fact that they have watched what happened to theDruze in Sweida and wonder if Damascus will also unleash extremists to attack Kurds. Kurds make up the bulk of the SDF fighters, and Kurds live mostly in eastern Syria.

In the past, extremists in Syria have killed Kurds and ethnically cleansed them from the area of Afrin in northwest Syria. Therefore, the SDF is wary.

France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot delivers a speech after a meeting with European partners to suggest a negotiated solution to end the conflict between Iran and Israel at the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Quai d'Orsay) in Paris, France, June 19, 2025. (credit: JULIEN DE ROSA/Pool via REUTERS)

France wants to play a role in hosting talks aimed at Syrian units. As such, the French foreign minister held talks with Abdi. He also reiterated Frances support for Syrian Kurds, according to the French foreign ministry, Rudaw noted.

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This exchange provided an opportunity to confirm the upcoming holding in Paris of a negotiation session between the Syrian transitional authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces with a view to implementing the March 10 agreement, under the auspices of France and the United States, read a statement from the ministry.

The minister reiterated France's support for defining a negotiated and peaceful solution for the unification of Syria, the integration of the population of northeastern Syria into the political transition process, and the guarantee of Kurdish rights, said the statement from the French foreign ministry.

Barrot also met with US envoy Tom Barrack. Many issues are in motion. Barrack has previously urged the SDF to move faster to integrate. However, the clashes in Sweida in July caught Barrack by surprise.

Israel carried out airstrikes on Damascus to deter the Syrian government from harming the Druze. Now there are reports of Israel-Syria talks aimed at reducing tensions. According to the French foreign ministry and Rudaw, Barrow had met with Barrack and also Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.

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The SDF was on the agenda. It is assumed that Israel was likely mentioned as well. Axios reported senior Israeli and Syrian ministers met in Paris for four hours on Thursday under the auspices of President Trump's special envoy Tom Barrack and discussed de-escalation of tensions between the countries. This illustrates how connected many of these issues are.

Kurdish leaders have voiced concern over the centralization of power and the prominence of Islamic law in the transitional constitution adopted by Syrias interim government. They have repeatedly denied accusations of separatism and have called instead for federalism. Kurds held a national conference earlier this year, calling for decentralization, Rudaw noted.

The big question is whether France will also pressure the SDF to move faster. France has a long history of sympathy for Kurds in the region. France is also the former colonial power of Syria and Lebanon.

France's unique role

As such, it has a unique role to play. France is also in the spotlight for backing a Palestinian state. The Rudaw report notes that the talks in Paris were in support of full integration. However, handing over weapons is a red line. It is not possible to hand over weapons, Farhad Shami, head of SDF media centre, told Syria's Alyaum TV on Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, Turkeys Anadolu noted that Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed concern about developments in Syria, particularly clashes between Druze and Bedouin groups in the south, warning that tensions could pose a threat to the country's unity and integrity. Fidan said Ankara had sought to reduce tensions in Syria and that Ankara remains committed to Syria's unity and territorial integrity. Ankara also said that it wants to see the SDF integrate into the Syrian government.

France24 noted that Paris will host talks between Syria, France and the United States as soon as possible to integrate the autonomous Kurdish administration into the Syrian state. The Kurds control large swathes of northeast Syria and are negotiating with the central government in Damascus on the integration of their civil and military institutions into the national framework.

In eastern Syria, the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which is the civilian component of the SDF, has rejected pressure being brought on the region to integrate faster.

A report at Asharq al-Awsat said that a planned meeting in Paris between Syrias government and the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria has been postponed without explanation, the Kurdish delegation said on Thursday, as tensions persist over the future of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

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The report added, the talks, originally scheduled for Friday with participation from the US envoy to Syria, French Foreign Minister, and representatives from Britain and Germany, were seen as part of a Western-backed effort to revive negotiations between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). A source told Asharq that attempts to preserve armed formations or seek separation from state institutions.

Syria is the center of many threads. It links Kurdish issues to Iraq and also to Turkey. It links Turkish backing of the Syrian government to Ankaras influence over proxies in northern Syria. It is also linked to the Druze and Israel. France is seeking to play a larger role in these issues and the region.
In our modern era of advanced technology and sophisticated security systems, one might think that successfully robbing a bank  let alone multiple banks  would be virtually impossible. Yet remarkably, a Seattle woman managed to evade authorities while committing eight bank robberies during a yearlong crime spree before law enforcement finally apprehended her.

She took immense personal satisfaction from her ability to rob banks and outsmart law enforcement, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Brynn Jacobson wrote in a bail request. The fact that she was a focus of a significant law enforcement investigation appears to have been a source of great pride for her.

While she's only been charged with robbing eight banks so far, Leena Chang actually robbed, or tried to rob, a total of nine banks before she was finally caught by law enforcement. She's facing serious charges, and victims of the banks she robbed may be left wondering if their money is safe when a robbery occurs.

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Here's what Chang did, and what you need to know about how your funds are protected if someone steals from your financial institution.

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Seattle woman is a "serial bank robber," but a tipster tipped off police

According to KIRO 7, Chang's bank robbery methods were fairly elaborate. She wore multiple disguises and handed tellers notes that said things such as: I have a gun. Give me all the money from your register (except bait$). No tracking device. No silent alarm. Keep it discreet.

Chang reportedly displayed an airsoft pistol to some bank tellers, which appeared to be a real firearm. Following her arrest, police searched her apartment and discovered the weapon was merely a replica. According to authorities, while Chang became more brazen in 2025 by targeting additional financial institutions and making less effort to conceal her identity, she maintained her core approach. She continued to calmly present her demand notes to tellers with the same methodical demeanor.

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She was also good at making sure she didn't get traceable funds. The police said the last two times she robbed a bank, she examined the money to look for things that could be traced, and she was able to find a currency tracking device that she gave back to the teller.

Chang typically netted between $385 and $4,180 from each heist, and appeared to take pride in her criminal activities. During a search of her residence, authorities discovered several incriminating items, including a painting featuring FBI wanted posters with her image, the written demands she had presented to bank tellers and various disguises she had worn during the robberies.

Police were ultimately able to catch her because a tipster told them that Chang was robbing banks. The person who called law enforcement gave police Chang's address, said that Chang steered clear of phones due to the fact they were traceable, and called herself a "serial bank robber," who enjoyed reliving the thrill by listening to police reports.

Armed with info from the tipster, the police began to watch Chang, and they found her movements matched with robberies that were occurring.

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Following her capture, the suspect faces an upcoming trial with authorities seeking $500,000 bail and electronic monitoring for home detention. Law enforcement has expressed concerns that she presents both a flight risk and a potential danger to public safety.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America  and that anyone can do it

What happens if your bank is robbed?

Bank robberies are more common than you might think. The FBI reports 1,362 violations of the Federal Bank Robbery and Incidental Crimes Statute in 2023. This includes:

753 cases where the perpetrator used a demand note

230 cases where a firearm was used

25 cases where another kind of weapon was used

539 cases where the perpetrator threatened to use a weapon

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According to another FBI 2019 report, banks suffered the highest monetary losses from robberies among all institutions, with an average loss of $4,213 per incident.

But, who bears the cost of these losses? Fortunately, its not consumers who bank with the institution that was robbed. While FDIC insurance doesn't cover you, even though you may think it does, the FDIC explains that banks will bear the cost of losses in a robbery and not individuals with accounts at the bank.

The FDIC also says that many financial institutions have a banker's blanket bond, or multi-purpose insurance policy, that protects against loss.

While you won't lose money, though, its possible that your bank could be temporarily closed for a short period of time in the robbery's aftermath as the situation is investigated.

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Normal business operations typically resume quickly after a bank robbery, so you shouldn't be concerned about any permanent effects on your finances if your financial institution becomes a target. Banking systems are designed to continue functioning with minimal disruption in such situations.

What to read next

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
July 27, 2025: Red Sea combat lessons learning occurred during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Israel used an experimental laser defense system called Iron Beam against the terrorists' drones. Meanwhile the U.S. Navy needed a cheaper way to shoot down hostile drones. Currently the navy is using 2.1 million dollar missiles to knock down drones costing a few thousand dollars each. American naval weapons development officials are considering the adoption of the Israeli Iron Beam system for use aboard American warships. How soon it will turn into Iron Beam systems installed on American warships is unknown.

Laser systems like Iron Beam were in development elsewhere for a long time, and until Iron Beam no one was able to develop a laser with the range and destructive power to perform like the new Israeli system. This new weapon was already being called Laser Dome until it was decided that calling it Iron Beam was more appropriate. Iron Beam complemented the existing Iron Dome system using missiles and an innovative radar/software system that ignores ballistic, rockets or mortar shells whose trajectory would mean hitting unoccupied land where there will be no injuries or serious damage. Most objects fired at Israel end up landing in unoccupied areas and the few objects that are dangerous are intercepted by missiles. This has proved very effective.

Iron Beam complemented by quickly eliminating drones within a few kilometers while Laser Dome used a solid-state electric laser out to more than 5,000 meters. This costs several dollars worth of electricity per shot. A diesel generator capacitor system could fire once every few seconds for as long as power was available. Laser Dome combines multiple laser beams to obtain a useful amount of laser power at longer ranges. Fire control systems for quickly, accurately and repeatedly aiming a laser have already been developed.

The U.S. Navy system installed their version of Iron Beam on some of their warships. In 2013 the navy announced that it had developed a laser technology capable of being useful in combat. This was not a sudden development but has been going on for most of the previous decade. In 2010 the navy successfully tested this new laser weapon, which is actually six solid-state lasers acting in unison, to destroy a small drone. That was the seventh time the navy laser had destroyed a drone. But the Laser Weapon System/LaWS was not yet powerful enough to do this at the range, and power level, required to cripple the most dangerous targets, missiles and small boats. The manufacturer convinced the navy that it was just a matter of tweaking the technology to get the needed effectiveness. In 2013 another test was run, under more realistic conditions. LaWS worked, knocking down a larger drone at a longer range. At that point, the navy said it planned to install the system. That had not happened when the two American destroyers used hundreds of five inch shells and dozens of very expensive anti-aircraft missiles against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthis were firing on and damaging ships moving through the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal.
Following the tragic stampede near the Mansa Devi Temple in Uttarakhand's Haridwar on Sunday morning, the Mansa Devi Temple Trust authorities have announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to each of the injured. At least six people were killed and several others injured in the incident that occurred during a heavy rush of devotees. The Uttarakhand government has also announced the same ex gratia compensation. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered. "The injured are being treated. Some have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Our priority is that they get good treatment and recover soon. A toll-free number has also been issued. Magisterial inquiry has been ordered and ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, also announced," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told reporters. The Chief Minister visited the Haridwar District Hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured and directed doctors to ensure the best medical care. He assured that all necessary arrangements would be made immediately and promised all possible support to the affected families. Wishing a speedy recovery to the injured, Dhami stated that the state government stands with every person affected by this tragic incident and with the bereaved families. He assured that the government will leave no stone unturned in providing all possible assistance to the treatment of the injured and their family members. Meanwhile, AIIMS Rishikesh Director Dr Meenu Singh said that four people are in critical condition after the stampede at Haridwar's Mansa Devi Temple on Sunday morning. She said that out of the 10 patients currently admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh, two were children. "The incident took place around 9 am, and patients started coming in around 11 am. So far, 15 patients have been brought here, and 4-5 have been sent back because they sustained minor injuries. Out of the 10 patients admitted, two are children. Four are in a critical condition... Treatment of all the patients is underway...," Dr Singh told ANI. President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences at the loss of lives in the stampede this morning on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. In a post on X, President Murmu wrote, "The news of the death of many devotees in the stampede accident on the way to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar is deeply painful." "I express my heartfelt condolences to all the grieving families. I pray that all the injured devotees recover quickly," the post read. (ANI)
Juan Ortiz trudged through 100-degree heat along the U.S.-Mexico border, weighed down by a backpack full of water bottles that he planned to leave for migrants trying to cross this rugged terrain.

Only there hadn't been many migrants of late.

When Ortiz started water drops in this especially dangerous stretch of desert near El Paso nearly two years ago, he sometimes encountered dozens of people trying to reach the U.S. in a single afternoon. Now he rarely sees any. Border crossings began falling during the final months of President Bidens term, and have plunged to their lowest levels in decades under President Trump.

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Its dramatically different, Ortiz said, the desert silent except for the crunch of his footsteps in the sand and the whir of a Border Patrol helicopter overhead. Migrants no longer have any hope.

These borderlands surrounding El Paso were long a place of risk but also opportunity. Migrants chasing the American dream crossed by the tens of thousands annually, sometimes dodging federal agents and often seeking them out to ask for asylum.

But Trump's immigration crackdown  a total ban on asylum, a mass deportation campaign and the unprecedented militarization of the border  has altered life here in myriad ways.

Motorists drive into Mexico on Thursday at the Paso del Norte International Bridge, which links El Paso, Texas, with Juarez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. .

Across the Rio Grande from El Paso in the Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez, shelters once hummed with life, rich with the smell of cooked stews and the chatter of people plotting their passage to the U.S.

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Today those shelters are largely empty, populated by migrants stranded in Mexico when Trump took office, and others who were in the United States but decided to leave, spooked by policies designed to instill fear.

Maikold Zapata, 22, had been one of the lucky ones.

He entered the U.S. last year via CBP One, a government app that helped more than 900,000 migrants make asylum appointments at ports of entry. Zapata worked as a landscaper in El Paso, sending most of his earnings to his family back in Venezuela but occasionally splurging on a steak dinner or a visit to a water park with friends.

What kept Zapata up at night was a looming court date for his immigration case.

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Since Trump took office, Zapata had heard about federal agents showing up even at routine immigration hearings and taking migrants away in handcuffs. He was afraid of being arrested and sent to a detention facility like the so-called Alligator Alcatraz in Florida, or to a far-away country  perhaps El Salvador or South Sudan, where authorities have shipped U.S. deportees in recent months.

Pastor Francisco Gonzalez Palacios, at the Albergue Vida shelter he runs in Juarez, says the number of migrants coming there has plummeted in recent months.

Imagine arriving in Africa with no documents and no money," Zapata said. "No."

Missing his early July court date was also not an option, since the electronic bracelet on his wrist allowed immigration agents to track his location.

So Zapata stuffed his few possessions in a backpack and walked south over the U.S.-Mexico border bridge, abandoning his asylum claim and the dream he had worked his way across two continents to achieve. He plans to return to South America, likely to Colombia, where his mother is living. "I'll go back, working the whole way again."

A migrant holds her child at Oasis del Migrante, a small shelter for migrants in Juarez.

For now he is living at Oasis de Migrante, a small shelter in downtown Juarez, where he has befriended another Venezuelan who made a similar choice.

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Richard Osorio, 35, decided to leave the U.S. after his husband landed in immigrant detention. Osorio, who worked in home care for the elderly, said it felt like only a matter of time before immigration agents captured him: "I was filled with fear."

He hopes that his partner's attorney can persuade the U.S. to deport the man to Mexico, and that he and Osorio can make a life there.

The vast majority of migrants languishing along the border never made it to the United States.

Eddy Lalvay got close. He was 17 when he and his 5-year-old nephew, Gael, arrived in Juarez last year. Originally from Ecuador, they were trying to reach New Jersey, where Gael's mother lives.

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But before they could cross, they were detained by Mexican authorities, who sent them to a government shelter for minors.

Eddy Lalvay, at the Albergue Vida shelter in Juarez, arrived at the border with his young nephew a year ago.

Lalvay was released when he turned 18. But Gael remains in custody, where he recently turned 6, and authorities say they will release him only to a parent or a grandparent.

"I'm trying to be strong, but I feel awful," Lalvay said on a recent afternoon as he sat at another shelter in a working-class neighborhood boxed in by sprawling industrial parks.

Francisco Gonzalez Palacios, a Christian pastor who runs the facility and leads a network of faith-based shelters, said the number of migrants housed by the network has dropped from 1,400 to 250 in recent months. "Nobody is coming from the south," he said.

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Some shelters and nonprofit groups providing legal or humanitarian assistance to migrants may have to close, he said, because many were indirectly funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, which Trump shuttered.

Read more: Trump promised vast deportations to Mexico. Why are the numbers so low?

He tells the migrants gathered at his shelter to rethink their goals now that their "plan A"  a life in the U.S.  is out of reach.

"Look for a plan B," he says. "Stay awhile, start to work. God will help you."

But other Trump policies are hurting the economy in the region, limiting opportunities from migrants.

Migrants walk in the yard at Albergue Vida shelter in Juarez.

Juarez has long drawn Mexicans from poorer parts of the country who come to work in its factories, which boomed under the North American Free Trade Agreement, churning out auto parts and other goods destined for the U.S.

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But Trump's on-again, off-again threats of tariffs on goods from Mexico have stunned industry in the Juarez area, with factories laying off thousands of workers.

"Were in the middle of tremendous uncertainty," said Maria Teresa Delgado Zarate, vice president of INDEX Juarez, a trade group. About 308,000 workers are employed in factories today, she said, down from 340,000 a few years ago.

Mexican Juan Bustos, 52, recently lost his assembly line job making auto parts. Most days, he lines up at 6 a.m. outside factories that say they are hiring to try to get new work.

"Its not easy like it was before," he said.

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So much of life in Juarez depends on decisions made in Washington, he said. "He changes his mind minute to minute," Bustos said of Trump. "We're at his mercy."

Viewed from the Mexican side of the international boundary, barbed wire marks the border dividing Mexico and the United States.

On the U.S. side, industry is also reeling from the tariff uncertainty.

Jerry Pacheco, who operates an industrial park in Santa Teresa, N.M., a few miles west of El Paso, said several companies that planned new projects there have pulled out since Trump took office.

His park abuts a new militarized zone that stretches 200 miles across a vast expanse of New Mexico. Another 63-mile-long zone has been established along the border nearby in Texas.

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The Pentagon, which made the designations, has deployed some 9,000 active-duty troops to the border as part of Trumps directive to expand the militarys role in reducing migrant crossings. Migrants who enter the new "national defense" zones while crossing the border are being detained by U.S. troops, charged with trespassing and turned over to immigration authorities.

It's part of a broader militarization of immigration enforcement in this stretch of border.

U-2 spy planes have been flying missions in the skies. At the nearby Army base of Ft. Bliss, the U.S. is constructing a new 5,000-bed immigrant detention camp.

The U.S. has also pushed Mexico to keep migrants from reaching Juarez and other border cities, and Mexican troops have ramped up enforcement in recent years. Migrant advocates blame those policies on a deadly fire at a detention center in Juarez in 2023 that killed 40 migrants and injured 27.

Migrants pass the time at Oasis de Migrante shelter in Juarez.

Bunk beds are jammed into a room at the Albergue Vida shelter in Juarez because the shelter once accommodated scores of migrants each month.

Ortiz, the activist, used to traverse the part of the border that has been turned into a national defense zone, leaving water for the migrants who crossed. But on a recent afternoon, while heading out to check on a water tank, he was stopped by Border Patrol agents who warned him he was trespassing on military land.

The buildup of troops at the border and Trump's changes to the asylum system have made it nearly impossible for migrants to cross, Ortiz said. In June, there were fewer Border Patrol encounters with migrants than in any month on record, according to the White House. On the day with fewest encounters, border agents apprehended just 137 people across the entire 2,000-mile long border.

Richard Osorio is now staying at the Oasis de Migrante shelter in Juarez. Osorio, who is from Venezuela, decided to leave the U.S. after his husband landed in immigrant detention.

But Ortiz is convinced that migration levels can't stay this low forever. There are too many jobs that need filling north of the border, he said, and too much poverty and strife south of it.

This region has been a site of migration since pre-colonial times, he said. El Paso, which means "the pass," got its name from Spanish explorers who arrived in the late 16th century and established a trade route here leading from Mexico City to Santa Fe.

Movement, he said, is part of our nature.

"You will never be able to fully stop human migration," Ortiz said. "You never have and you never will.

Those most desperate to cross will find a way, he says. And that will probably mean paying smugglers even larger sums and taking riskier routes.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he is not calling for the prosecution of former President Barack Obama but does want an investigation after President Donald Trump accused Obama of committing treason.

While appearing Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press host Kristen Welker asked Graham directly if he thinks Obama committed treason.

Im not alleging he committed treason, but I am saying it bothers me, its disturbing that this is new information, Graham replied.... Im not calling for prosecution against President Obama for treason. But I am calling for an investigation.

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Grahams comments came after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday declassified documents that she said could implicate members of the Obama administration for treasonous behavior during the 2016 election.

Last week, President Donald Trump accused his predecessor of committing treason and rigging the 2016 election.

Trump abruptly pivoted to calling out Obama after reporters in the Oval Office asked him about Jeffrey Epstein. Obamas office issued a rare rebuke of Trumps bizarre claims, calling the world leaders attack a weak attempt at distraction.

The Trump administration has faced scrutiny over the controversy surrounding disgraced financier and sex offender Epstein.

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The criticism ramped up after the Department of Justice and FBI released a two-page memo earlier this month. The memo said their Epstein investigation determined that there was no evidence Epstein was murdered in prison or had a client list of powerful people he could potentially blackmail.

Since the memos release, both Republicans and Democrats have called on the Trump administration to release more information.

Well, I think somebody needs to look at what we found, Graham continued. The intel committee looked at the matter. And they said in 2017, the intelligence analysis of 2017 showing that Russia was trying to interfere in our election was real. They didnt achieve their goal. But what she found, Ms. Gabbard, is that in 2016, the intelligence community told President Obama, Theres no evidence that Russia was involved in trying to change the outcome of the election.

And he supposedly told a group of people, Keep looking. And the analysis changed. So what were looking at is, what role did Obama play in 2016 to change the narrative that resulted in 2017?

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Graham went on to say that the best way to handle this is to create a special counsel.

If there is evidence of a crime being committed or suspected evidence of a crime being committed, create a special counsel to look at it. I think thats the best way to go, he added.

Watch Grahams appearance on Meet the Press here.

Related...
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) gave a fleeting answer when asked if hes planning to run for president in the 2028 election.

Im going to give you a yes-or-no question here, senator  you did a town hall in Michigan and youre [livestreaming right now] from Pennsylvania, both of them are key battleground states, CNNs State of the Union host Jake Tapper said Sunday. Yes or no, are you considering running for president in 2028?

That is a good question. I know you want a yes-or-no answer, Kelly responded before ultimately declining to answer. Im not going to give you a yes or no. Because Im just trying to do this job, get the word out to the American people.

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And Im trying to improve the polling that you talked about, and just listen to voters wherever they are about, you know, what are the problems theyre dealing with and how do we fix them, he added.

Kellys name has arisen as a potential candidate for both president and vice president in the past. Kelly, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 when he defeated Republican Martha McSally, was floated as a potential running mate with Vice President Kamala Harris after former President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid.

Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and Navy combat veteran, is the husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who in 2011 survived an assassination attempt. Kelly, 61, is up for reelection in 2028.

Watch Kellys appearance on State of the Union below.

.@SenMarkKelly on whether he is considering a presidential run: "I'm not going to give you" a yes or no answer pic.twitter.com/781QD1hhSn  State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) July 27, 2025

Related...
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Senator Ron Wyden  soon to be the longest-serving senator in Oregon history  is back in the state for the summer recess and a series of town halls this weekend.

Wyden, the 76-year-old Democrat, has been speaking a lot over the last couple of weeks, from the Epstein files and the continued fallout from the Epstein sex trafficking operation, to concerns about the now-approved merger between Paramount and Skydance, to the early impact of President Trumps big beautiful bill.

Sen. Wyden returned to Eye on Northwest Politics to discuss all the goings on in Washington, D.C. and how it affects people in Oregon.

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Watch the full interview in the videos 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 KOIN.com.
Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, mingled with attendees at an Iowa Farmers Union potluck in Elkhart July 26, 2025 as he spoke about his campaign for U.S. Senate. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Democrats looking to learn more about the candidates aiming to become the partys U.S. Senate candidate gathered for an Iowa Farmers Union event Saturday, where Iowa Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, and Democrat Nathan Sage gave their pitches for why they could be the best choice to unite voters in the upcoming election.

Both Democrats are running as contenders to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2026 who will compete against the Republican candidate in the upcoming midterms. Speaking before at the potluck hosted by Iowa Farmers Union, a progressive organization focused on Iowa agriculture, the two candidates spoke about issues from air and water quality, food security and Medicaid cuts.

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The U.S. Senate race in Iowa has been in the spotlight, in part, because of criticisms of incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. The Iowa Republicans response well, we all are going to die, at a May town hall to a person saying Medicaid cuts will cause people to die gained national attention. She has also received some flak from the right over her criticisms of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during the nomination process despite her ultimately voting to confirm him.

Ernst has not officially announced whether she plans to run for another term, and Politico reported Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said he is working to encourage her to run. She has hired a campaign manager and plans to hold her annual fundraiser, Roast and Ride, in October.

Both candidates made references to Ernsts comments, with Sage, executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, saying he starts every speech with just saying I want everybody to here to live a long and prosperous life.

Attendees at the gathering were largely Democrats, and people already looking for their choice to defeat the Republican nominee in 2026. Ardyth Gillespie, who has a farm near Atlantic, said while she believes all three of the Democrats running for the U.S. Senate seat would be better to have in the Senate than Ernst, she was most interested in seeing which candidate could build a coalition to win in the state where Republicans have seen overwhelming victories for many years. Iowas federal delegation is currently all Republican, and there is a GOP trifecta at the Statehouse.

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Breaking that hold, and winning against Ernst, will require a candidate who can find ways to build community, including with people who may have previously supported Republicans or who are not involved in politics, Gillespie said.

I think somebody that can bring people together  we really need that, really badly, Gillespie said. I havent figured out whos going to do that, but thats why were here.

Wahls said in the time since launching his campaign, he has heard from Republicans and independents who have expressed frustrations with Ernst and Republicans in power in Congress. Democrats have to be willing to extend an open hand to these voters and ensure these voters will be able to support Democratic candidates, he said.

Because I will tell you, the agenda that this administration is putting forward, and that Senator Ernst has been a complete rubber stamp for, it is uniquely bad for a state like Iowa, right? Wahls said.  But when you talk about things like the Medicaid cuts, the tariffs, the fact that you are now talking about this mass deportation scheme, you almost could not design a worse agenda for our state. And fundamentally, the job of being a U.S. senator is to say, youre going to have your party politics  they always have to come second serving your constituents.

Democrat Nathan Sage, who is running for U.S. Senate, gave his campaign pitch at an Iowa Farmers Union potluck in Elkhart July 26, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Sage said he is coming into the race as someone who is not a seasoned politician, and can offer a perspective  and a disruption to politics as usual  that people of different political backgrounds can appreciate, as a veteran and business leader who grew up in poverty.

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Im not your run-of-the-mill politician, Sage said. I dont have one-liners. Im not going to say things just to say them, Im not going to talk about political rhetoric, Im not going to joke around about things that are not funny to a lot of people. Im here to fight. I fought in Iraq three fun-filled times. I stood up and did that. And right now, what I feel like, we have a lot of people in this world that need somebody to fight for them. They need somebody to look up and go, This guys willing to do it. Thats what Im trying to do.

Cole Lindaman, who runs an urban agriculture business in Ames and works with the Story County Democrats, said he believes the budget reconciliation bill will also have a negative impact on farms because of the cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). He said earlier federal cuts to local foods programs for schools also negatively impact small agriculture producers in the state, in addition to harm to people receiving food benefits.

He said Ernst has been selling out the state and said he is looking for a candidate who can represent Iowans best interests in Congress  something he did not believe Ernst was doing.

Wahls said he disagreed with U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minnesota, who is the House Agriculture Committee ranking member, for comments on shutting down negotiations on the farm bill because of disagreements about SNAP and food assistance cuts.

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I understand that theres frustration about how they decoupled SNAP, and those changes that were in the bill that they passed, Wahls said. However, I just  anytime youre not at the table, youre on the menu. And so Im just, Im really concerned about the fact that Democrats have walked away from negotiations, but I think its clear that if we had a Democratic senator from Iowa who was serving on the Agriculture Committee, wed get a real voice in that conversation. Because right now, really, were not getting it from Joni Ernst or Chuck Grassley.

Bonnie Winslow-Garvin, a 69-year-old farmer from Belle Plaine, said she liked hearing from both Sage and Wahls  but that she wanted to hear more specific policy ideas, especially on how to improve Iowas air and water quality.

I think theres a lot of people coming out to run, and thats fantastic, and Im excited, Winslow-Garvin said. And it may be hard to pick the right candidate, the best candidate. So  I think as time goes on and they say more specific things, that Ill be watching.

Sage said he had a personal connection to the need to improve Iowas air and water quality, particularly as it potentially relates to rising cancer rates in the state, as both his parents died from cancer.

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I have a personal stake in this game, Sage said. Im here to fight for Iowans. Im here to fight for workers, here to fight for farmers.

In the most recent Federal Election Commission campaign finance reports, Sage had raised the most in the Democratic field at $709,000 from April 1 through June 30. His haul was followed by Wahls with $656,000 and Iowa Rep. J.D. Scholten, R-Sioux City, with $175,000 in the same time period. Both Wahls and Scholten entered the race in June.

All three Democrats raised less than Ernst at almost $723,000 in the reporting period  though her fundraising fell behind her fundraising total from the same time period during the 2020 election season, leading to further speculation that she may not run for reelection.

Wahls noted there is speculation that Ernst may not run, but pointed out that if she does run again, she is breaking the commitment she made in 2014, while running for her first term in office, to only serve two terms. In the two terms since Ernst took office, Wahls said Iowas public schools have fallen behind, the states economy has suffered and air and water quality problems have gotten worse.

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Assuming that she does, in fact, move forward with a third term, what does she have to show for her 12 years in Washington, D.C., except from all the things that I just mentioned? Wahls said. Its clear to me that Joni Ernst did not change Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C. changed Joni Ernst.

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A group of Democratic senators led by Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is urging the Trump administration to suspend American financial support for the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private food distribution organization that has been heavily criticized for the way it delivers food aid to Gazans and because so many have been killed trying to reach its distribution sites.

The U.S. and Israel have advocated for the recently established GHF to replace the United Nations, which has built an extensive network of humanitarian workers inside Gaza over decades. Israel accuses the U.N. of bias and collusion with Hamas.

In a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio Sunday, the 21 senators expressed "grave" concerns about "the U.S. role in and financial support for the troubled GHF."

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"We urge you to immediately cease all U.S. funding for GHF and resume support for the existing UN-led aid coordination mechanisms with enhanced oversight to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need," the letter reads.

The U.N. warns that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is growing increasingly dire as more Palestinians are in danger of starvation after a months-long Israeli blockade, and recent military operations complicated humanitarian efforts to help. The IDF claims there is no starvation.

Van Hollen, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as the powerful Appropriations Committee, told CBS News "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" Sunday, "American taxpayers should not be spending one penny to fund this private organization backed by mercenaries and by the IDF that has become a death trap," noting that scores of Gazans were shot and killed as starving people crowded the GHF sites to obtain food.

The letter focuses on a $30 million pledge from the State Department, announced last month, and on GHF's operations, particularly its use of armed contractors who stand behind IDF soldiers at food distribution sites in four designated military zones. Starving Gazans must travel to those areas, which is difficult for those too weak to move.

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"Blurring the lines between delivery of aid and security operations shatters well-established norms that have governed distribution of humanitarian aid since the ratification of the Geneva Conventions in 1949," the letter says.

U.S. allies have also been critical of the tactics used by the U.S. and Israeli-backed GHF.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told Margaret Brennan Sunday on "Face the Nation" that Gaza is on the "brink of food catastrophe" and that France expects "the Israeli government to stop the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that has caused [a] bloodbath in humanitarian health distribution lines in Gaza."

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Friday that a thousand Palestinians have been killed trying to access food since May 27.

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"We hold video calls with our own humanitarians who are starving before our eyes," Guterres said. "We will continue to speak out at every opportunity. But words don't feed hungry children."

The U.N. human rights office said 1,054 people were killed while trying to obtain food since late May, and of those, 766 were killed while trying to reach sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The others were killed when gunfire erupted around U.N. convoys or aid sites.

The group of senators led by Van Hollen are seeking answers about whether necessary oversight is being bypassed to benefit the GHF. Their letter cites public reports that the Trump administration authorized the funds under a "priority directive," which meant it could avoid "a comprehensive audit that is usually required for groups receiving USAID grants for the first time."

The senators want to see the GHF's "complete funding application and all supporting documentation" and demand to know whether any statutory and regulatory requirements were waived.

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They also asked Rubio about the procurement mechanism that resulted in the $30 million in funding, and they want to know who signed the agreement, who might be liable for compliance violations and whether officials were aware of potential concerns raised by USAID about "GHF's ability to protect Palestinians while delivering food aid."

The State Department said it generally does not comment on congressional correspondence. A department spokesperson said Friday that the funding has been allocated, but it has not yet been disbursed to GHF.

On Saturday, amid international outcry, the Israel Defense Force began airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza and said it would establish humanitarian corridors to "enable the safe movement of UN convoys delivering food and medicine to the population."

The U.N. has said the airdrops are insufficient. Past airdrops have fallen on Gazans and killed them. Now the approximately 2 million people live in Gaza and have been herded into an even more limited zone that lacks extensive open space where air-dropped pallets can land.

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Israel's announcement came after extensive international outcry at images of starving children, and reports of death. Leaders in Europe, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Fredreich Merz, coordinated Saturday by phone. A readout of the call released by the UK said the three leaders said the situation in Gaza is "appalling" and "emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid and urgently provide those suffering in Gaza with the food they so desperately need."

On Friday, two Jordanian officials said they were considering airdrops and the United Arab Emirates sent a 7,000-ton aid ship to Gaza's shores. But it has not been determined who will distribute the food once it arrives.

The GHF says it has distributed more than 91 million meals to Gazans, but there have been almost daily reports of civilians being injured or killed as they try to reach one of the group's four distribution hubs, all located in southern Gaza.

In an interview with BBC News this week, Anthony Aguliar, a U.S. Army veteran and former contractor for GHF, detailed what he says he saw on the ground behind IDF lines during humanitarian aid distribution, calling the operation "amateur."

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"I witnessed the Israeli Defense Forces shooting at the crowds of Palestinians. I witnessed the Israeli Defense Forces firing a main gun tank round from the Merkava tank into a crowd of people," Aguilar said. "In my most frank assessment, I would say that they're criminal. In my entire career, I have never witnessed the level of brutality and use of indiscriminate and unnecessary force against a civilian population, an unarmed, starving population."

In a statement to CBS News, the GHF called Aguilar's claims "materially false" and said he had been terminated from his position for "misconduct."

The group has also been criticized by the U.N., which said GHF's tactics are neither adequate nor safe and make it more difficult for Gazans too weak to travel to military zones to secure food.

Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, which provides support for Palestinian refugees, condemned the GHF in June, calling it "an abomination" and "a death trap costing more lives than it saves."

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As the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated further this week, the GHF and U.N. groups continued to blame each other.

In several public statements and social media posts last week, GHF said the responsibility for the mass starvation lies with the U.N. for allowing their full aid trucks inside Gaza to sit untouched and undistributed.

"The U.N. cannot deliver this humanitarian aid to the people who need it most, and I'm not sure what the reason is," said GHF spokesperson Chapin Fay in a video posted to X, which showed him standing in front of U.N. aid trucks. "Whether it's looters, safety or whether they're playing politics, it just doesn't matter. The people of Gaza deserve better."

The executive chairman of GHF, Reverend Johnnie Moore, in an interview with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro this week accused the U.N. of "playing politics with people's lives."

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"They're actually basically a willful participant on the Hamas side of the negotiating table in the ceasefire negotiations, by refusing to distribute aid and spreading this narrative around the world that the people of Gaza are going to starve if Hamas doesn't, in effect, get its demands at the negotiating table," Moore said.

The U.N. World Food Programme says hundreds of aid trucks are ready to move, but the approval needed from the Israeli military to transport and distribute that aid is not coming quickly enough. In a statement Friday, they said just over half of their requests to collect cargo were approved and convoys were typically delayed, sometimes up to nearly two days, awaiting permission to travel within Gaza.

Meanwhile, a UNICEF spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that their supplies of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food or RUTF  used for treating severely acutely malnourished children  is expected to run out in mid-August if more is not allowed into Gaza.

"We are now facing a dire situation that we are running out of therapeutic supplies," said Salim Oweis, a spokesperson for UNICEF in Amman, Jordan. "That's really dangerous for children as they face hunger and malnutrition at the moment," he added.

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Oweis said UNICEF had only enough RUTF left to treat 3,000 children. In the first two weeks of July alone, UNICEF treated 5,000 children facing acute malnutrition in Gaza.

The UNICEF spokesperson said the agency is unaware of whether GHF is distributing this type of specialized food and emphasized that it must be given to children after they are assessed by professional health workers to be suffering from acute malnutrition. GHF did not respond to CBS News when asked if the foundation also distributes specialized high-nutrient food for acutely malnourished children.

UNICEF is the main procurer of RUTF in the world.

Read the full letter sent by Senate Democrats to Secretary of State Marco Rubio here:

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(Reuters) -Three people were killed and others seriously injured when a passenger train derailed in southwestern Germany on Sunday, police said in a statement.

There were around 100 people on board when two carriages left the tracks between the towns of Riedlingen and Munderkingen, near the corner of Germany that borders France and Switzerland, police in the city of Stuttgart said.

The train was on a roughly 90 km (55 miles) route between Sigmaringen and Ulm. The cause of the crash was under investigation, the police statement said.

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A picture by German news agency DPA showed carriages largely intact but jackknifed into each other and rolled onto their sides.

German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn said in a statement there were "many injured" and its thoughts were with the victims and their loved ones. It was not clear what had caused the train to derail, it said, adding that it would support the authorities in their investigation.

(Reporting by Francois Murphy in Vienna and Christian Ruettger in BerlinEditing by Ros Russell, Giles Elgood, Nick Zieminski and Diane Craft)
BERLIN (AP)  A regional passenger train derailed in southern Germany on Sunday, killing at least three people and seriously injuring others, authorities said.

Federal and local police said the cause of the crash near Riedlingen, roughly 158 kilometers (98 miles) west of Munich, remains under investigation. Photos from the scene showed parts of the train on its side as rescuers climbed atop the carriages.

It was not immediately clear how many people were injured. Roughly 100 people were onboard the train when at least two carriages derailed in a forested area around 6:10 p.m. (1610 GMT).

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Storms passed through the area before the crash and investigators were seeking to determine if the rain was a factor.

There have been heavy rains here, so it cannot be ruled out that the heavy rain and a related landslide accident may have been the cause. However, this is currently the subject of ongoing investigations, said Thomas Strobl, interior minister of the state of Baden Wurttenberg.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a post on social platform X, said he mourned the victims and gave his condolences to their families.

Deutsche Bahn, Germanys main national railway operator, said in a statement that it was cooperating with investigators. The company also offered its condolences.
Three people have been killed and several others seriously injured after an overflowing sewage shaft caused a passenger train to derail in south-west Germany, local authorities say.

Prosecutors said the train crashed between Riedlingen and Munderkingen near Stuttgart on Sunday following heavy rain in the area.

They said water was believed to have caused the overflow, triggering a landslide on the banks running next to the tracks, which caused the incident.

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The train driver, another rail employee and one passenger died, while 41 people were wounded. On Sunday, German Chancellor Freidrich Merz said he "mourn[ed] the victims" and offered his "deepest sympathy" to their families.

In a post on X, he said he was in close contact with the interior and transport ministers, and had requested that they provide the emergency services with all the support they need.

In a statement shared on Sunday, Ulm police said the train was on a 90 km (55 mile) route between Sigmaringen and Ulm when it derailed.

They said the investigation into the cause of the accident was ongoing, and the site of the incident would remain closed.

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Rail traffic will remain suspended and clean-up work will begin on Monday, they added.

Around 100 people were on board the train when at least two carriages derailed in a forested area around 18:10 local time (17:10 BST), German news agency dpa reported on Sunday.

Images of the crash show carriages turned on their sides and heavy emergency service presence as firefighters and emergency teams worked to gain access to trapped passengers. Fallen trees can also be seen at the scene.

In a statement, operator Deutsche Bahn said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and everyone who now has to process this experience."
Severe Weather Heading For 7 U.S. States This Weekend originally appeared on The Spun.

Although tornado season is starting to die down just a bit, Mother Nature remains unforgiving this summer.

Since there's a dangerous heat advisory in effect for several states, it's only natural that a few areas will get bombarded with thunderstorms. With that said, there are currently seven states that should be on high alert.

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On Saturday, the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the following states:

Indiana

Maryland

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Texas

Virginia

West Virginia

"Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property," the National Weather Service's guideline states. "Take shelter in a substantial building. Get out of mobile homes that can blow over in high winds. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a large hail or damaging wind identified by an NWS forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm."

TOPSHOT - Lightning is seen during a thunderstorm over Montevideo on March 1, 2025. (Photo by Mariana SUAREZ / AFP) (Photo by MARIANA SUAREZ/AFP via Getty Images) MARIANA SUAREZ/Getty Images

Severe thunderstorms are no joke, so the National Weather Service has shared a plethora of safety tips. For the most part, people are being told to listen to local news for updates, stay indoors and help out neighbors in need once the storm passes.

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"After you are sure the severe weather threat has ended, check your property for damages. When walking through storm damage, wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt and sturdy shoes. Contact local authorities if you see power lines down. Stay out of damaged buildings. Be aware of insurance scammers if your property has been damaged," the National Weather Service's safety guide states. "If you come across people that are injured and you are properly trained, if needed, provide first aid to victims until emergency response team members arrive."

We hope everyone stays safe this weekend.

Related: Two U.S. States Crushed Their Yearly Average For Tornadoes

Severe Weather Heading For 7 U.S. States This Weekend first appeared on The Spun on Jul 26, 2025

This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh on Sunday criticised the YSR Congress Party, claiming that the state was left in a state of devastation over the past five years and asserted that the new government is working diligently to rebuild and restore it. Addressing the Telugu diaspora meeting organised by Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Telugu (APNRT) Society, Lokesh said, "You all know how much Andhra Pradesh has been devastated during the five years of YSRCP rule. Now, the coalition government is striving hard for its reconstruction." "The trust placed in Chandrababu Naidu by the global community is our real investment. Let's promote the opportunities available in our state and attract investments. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) plays a significant role in India's economy. In FY 2024-25, India received USD 81.04 billion in FDI, of which USD 14.94 billion came from Singapore--about 19 per cent of the total. If a major share of that investment flows to Andhra Pradesh, our state can become the next Singapore," the Minister. Pointing out the large presence of Telugu people around the world, he said, "The energy among Telugu people in Singapore is incredible. From the airport to this event, I only saw Telugu faces. I wondered whether I was in Singapore or Simhachalam! People call you NRIs--Non-Resident Indians--but to me, you are MRIs: Most Reliable Indians. Wherever I go in the world, I see Telugu dominance." Earlier in the day, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday emphasised that progressive policies are currently being implemented in the state to facilitate investments from Singapore-based enterprises. As part of his official visit to Singapore, CM Chandrababu Naidu met Shilpak Ambule, the Indian High Commissioner to Singapore. Ambule shared insights into Singapore's achievements in diverse areas, its robust economic growth, and the effective public policies being implemented there. He also outlined the contributions and presence of the Indian community in Singapore. He briefed CM Naidu on the strategies being adopted in Singapore across key sectors such as healthcare, green hydrogen, aviation, semiconductors, ports, and industrial development. He further emphasised the strong diplomatic and economic relationship between India and Singapore, noting that Singaporean firms are particularly interested in exploring investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh. "A great start to my visit to Singapore with a series of productive meetings focused on strengthening collaboration. I met with Dr. Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, for insightful discussions on developments in Andhra Pradesh and Singapore. I also had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Low Cher Ek, CEO and Global Lead for Township, and Mr. Tan Sri Dato' A. K. Nathan, Executive Chairman and Group MD of Eversendai Engineering. We explored opportunities for infrastructure development and investment in Andhra Pradesh," Naidu said in a post on X. (ANI)
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 42-year-old Fabens man has been arrested after he allegedly tampered with water meters at two homes, trying to avoid paying for service, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office said.

Andres Varela, 42, of Fabens was arrested on Friday, July 25 and charged with criminal mischiefimpairment of a public service and theft.

Andres Varela Courtesy of El Paso County Sheriffs Office

On June 24, deputies from the Sheriffs Office were dispatched to the 700 block of Avo Street in Fabens, following a theft report.

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Deputies discovered that the homeowner had tampered with a Fabens Water District meter, disrupting service and causing inaccurate usage readings, the Sheriffs Office said.

A second, similar incident was reported on July 2 at a residence on the 300 block of NW H Street in Fabens.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division launched an investigation and determined that the same person had bypassed water meters at both properties, trying to avoid paying for services.

Varela was identifed as the suspect. He was taken into custody on Friday and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility with a total bond of $15,000, the Sheriffs Office said.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A 25-year-old man is in critical condition following a shooting in Wichita.

Officers were called to the 400 block of North Mathewson (near Central and Hydraulic) around 2 a.m. Saturday, and found the man with two gunshot wounds to the upper torso. He was alert and conscious at the scene and was taken to a local hospital. Police said he is expected to survive.

Investigators believe the shooting happened a block away in the 400 block of North New York, possibly following a fight. Multiple shots were reported, but no arrests have been made.

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Anyone with information is asked to call Wichita police at 316-268-4407 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111. Tips can be anonymous.

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TEMPLE, Texas (FOX 44)  Temple Police are searching for suspects in connection with a case of deadly conduct.

Officers were dispatched to the 4600 block of Danbury Drive for a disturbance of shots fired around 1:11 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found a party at a residence and learned from witnesses that an individual fired a weapon, striking multiple residences and unoccupied vehicles.

The suspects then left in a dark colored Dodge Ram, a Dodge Charger, and a white motorcycle.

No injuries have been reported.

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Temple Police say this case is under investigation. If you have any information to share, you can contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477.

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MORRISON, Colo. (KDVR)  A small device can help adventurers in Colorados high country if things become unpredictable.

On Tuesday, the Silverton Medical Rescue and other agencies responded to a call of a hiker who fell 50 feet while hiking on Golden Horn.

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The search and rescue teams were able to access the hikers location; however, SMR wanted to remind people about the use of two-way satellite emergency communication devices. The team explained that these communication devices can allow for a faster and more accurate response from local search and rescue teams.

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We highly encourage, being based out of the San Juan Mountains and backcountry recreation, we highly recommend using an actual emergency satellite two-way communication device, Silverton Medical Rescue spokesperson DeAnne Gallegos said. The pinpoint GPS can make all the difference in the world with response time and accuracy.

SMR said communication is key when backcountry recreating, and common devices like smartphones arent always the most helpful.

While iPhone satellite capabilities are improving connectivity, we urge backcountry users to consider a two-way satellite emergency communication device, such as a Garmin Inreach, SMR said in their Facebook post. These devices are more direct and allow for a faster and more accurate response from local search and rescue teams. Smart phone emergency satellite options are not always reliable, and this delay significantly slows the flow of critical information during a time-sensitive.

Colorado Search and Rescue agreed that cell phone reception isnt trustworthy, but its still important to be able to communicate.

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We do recommend that backcountry recreationists consider a two-way satellite communications device because cell phone coverage is often nonexistent in the Colorado backcountry, CSAR said. Also, the ability to talk (via text) with someone who is calling for help allows us to ask questions, determine the nature of the emergency and how urgent it is, and allocate resources appropriately.

FOX31 also talked with Dawn Wilson, a spokesperson for the Alpine Rescue Team, a Colorado organization that responds to emergencies, including those in the mountains.

The team recently responded to a different rescue in the backcountry where a hiker had a two-way satellite communicator device. APT said without the device, the incident could have had a different outcome.

Its an amazing process. It makes our roles as volunteer rescuers a lot easier, and we know how many people to send in which direction and what we need to do once we get there, Wilson said.

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Wilson notes the team is always ready to help whenever needed.

We are there to help you when youre having a bad day. If you have technology that can help you help yourself and you never need us. Thats a great day, Wilson said.

FOX31 also spoke with a hiker in the Morrison area who had a backup battery for safety.

Its a nice little security, a little insurance for yourself, a little mental insurance. So just in case something does happen, uh, nice to have a fully charged battery phone, said James Stewart, a hiker.

That little insurance can go a long way to help search and rescue teams if an emergency happens out of cell range.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Revving engines and roaring crowds filled the streets of Sioux City Saturday for the 11th annual Mestizo MC Ride-in Bike Show.

Motorcyclists gathered at the Firehouse Bar for a day filled with motorcycles, music, food vendors, and stunts. The event began at 10 a.m. with a pancake breakfast. After that, bikers registered for the seven classes of bike entries.

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We do it because we love being a part of the motorcycle community, said event volunteer David Gleiser. We love the brotherhood, the community amongst ourselves, and how we support each other, and you know, how we support other organizations.

Attendees also had the opportunity to donate to the Siouxland Support Soldiers, a nonprofit organization that assists soldiers who serve our country.

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Sir David Nabarro, who has died aged 75, was a British physician who led the worlds response to some of the most serious health crises of recent years, including ebola and Covid.

During 17 years spent with the United Nations (UN) and World Health Organisation (WHO), Nabarro took on matters of food security and nutrition, malaria, Aids, avian and human flu and climate change.

In addition he helped coordinate the WHOs response to the Indian earthquake and tsunami of 2004, oversaw the UNs response to the cholera epidemic in Haiti, and was stationed in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad in 2003 when a truck bomb exploded outside, killing 23 people, including the UNs Special Representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.

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However, on his appointment as UN special envoy on ebola in August 2014, following an outbreak of the disease in West Africa, he admitted that while he had worked as a public health doctor for 35 years, he had never encountered a public health crisis like this in my life.

The epidemic is believed to have begun in December 2013 with the death of a two-year-old boy in a remote area of Guinea, but was not recognised until March 2014, by which time it had spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia. In every one of 33 previous outbreaks of the disease, public health measures had proved able to contain it, so it took until July, when ebola had spread to the capital cities of the three countries affected, for alarm bells to ring.

By August when the WHO declared an international public health emergency, the situation was truly alarming. The number of people falling sick was doubling every three weeks; facilities were completely overloaded; hospitals were closing and mortuaries were full. Nabarro recalled that, with international airlines withdrawing services to West Africa, there was a sense not just of despair but of abandonment.

David Nabarro at a 2017 WHO news conference in Geneva: he regretted the funny shift in world politics after 2015 - Pierre Albouy/Reuters

Nabarro galvanised a co-ordinated international response which rapidly turned the tide against the disease. The world turned from disbelief to concern, to action, to total involvement, he recalled. Within months, we saw the numbers of cases starting to decline, mostly because people themselves took over their destiny and owned the response. In January 2016 the affected countries were declared ebola-free.

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Nabarro believed that the international community had learnt important lessons from the epidemic and would be better prepared in future. But as he went on to observe in 2021 in an interview with NPR, there had been a funny shift in world politics between 2015, when he was working on ebola, and 2020 when he was appointed WHO special envoy on the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead of agreeing to co-operate, he found that world leaders were just no longer apparently able to work together and deal with this problem through a global response.

Nabarro became a critic of the sort of repeated lockdown measures adopted by some governments in response to recurring outbreaks, advising that such draconian measures should only be used to take the heat out of the system when things are really bad, but not as a primary response because of the damage caused to economic and social life.

We just couldnt understand why so many countries were see-sawing between what was sometimes called freedom and lockdown, he told an interviewer later. That is not the way. You keep your number of cases down by having really good surveillance and detection and isolation.

By the beginning of 2022, with scientists identifying a pattern of three- or four-monthly surges of the virus, Nabarro concluded that the world would simply have to get used to living with Covid. The goal we are aiming for, he told the BBC, is a situation where this virus is present, but life is organised so that it is not disrupted. But, he added, we need to be humble, this virus is continuing to evolve and were never quite sure that we know exactly where its going to go next.

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David Nunes Nabarro was born on August 26 1949 to John (later Sir John) Nabarro, an eminent physician and endocrinologist (and cousin of the flamboyant Conservative MP Sir Gerald Nabarro), and his wife Joan, nee Cockrell, also a doctor.

After education at Oundle School, he spent a gap year as a community service volunteer in York, during which he was the subject of a BBC documentary about volunteers. He then read animal physiology and biochemistry at Worcester College, Oxford, staying on to read medicine before completing his clinical training at University College Hospital, London, and qualifying as a physician in 1973.

After brief stints working as a medical officer in northern Iraq for Save the Children (SCF), and for the NHS in Britain, from 1976 to 1978 he worked as a district child health officer in east Nepal. He then moved to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, qualifying in public health, and in 1982 was seconded back to SCF as regional manager in South Asia, covering India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

In 1985 he was appointed senior lecturer in International Community Health at the University of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Four years later he moved to Nairobi as a strategic adviser for health and population in East Africa for the Overseas Development Administration. The following year he returned to London as the ODAs chief health and population adviser, moving on to become director of human development in 1997.

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He stayed in this role until he moved to the World Health Organisation, a specialised agency of the UN, in 1999.

On the afternoon of August 19 2003 Nabarro was attending a meeting with colleagues in the Canal Hotel, the UNs headquarters in Baghdad, on the floor below the suite of Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello, when the hotel was largely destroyed by a devastating truck bomb.

Although he and his colleagues were hit by shards of flying glass they managed to make their way out of the building to a tiny lawn where, he recalled, they found people dying and dead people with cuts, people with whole sides of their faces off because of glass. There was a guy with a [metal] pole into his head that went right through, who was just talking but who was obviously dying. And there was screaming and moaning.

Nabarro himself had been hit in the neck by glass and some colleagues had sustained more serious injuries, but they found some first-aid kits and in the 20 or 30 minutes it took for outside help to arrive, they did what they could to assist the injured.

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It was only later that he learnt of the extent of the damage and the deaths of many close UN colleagues. Yet he took issue with the observation in one obituary of Sergio Vieira de Mello that evil triumphed.

It is my view, he said, that it is not so much evil, its actually ignorance, that the people who do this kind of stuff have no understanding at all of what a man like Sergio  what these people, and their Iraqi colleagues what they stand for They just dont know about absolute goodness. Because if they did, theyd never, ever think of killing these kinds of persons.

David Nabarro receiving his knighthood at Buckingham Palace in 2023 - Victoria Jones/PA

In 2017 Nabarro was nominated by the British government to succeed Margaret Chan as director-general of the WHO but came second to Tedros Adhanom. He then became a special envoy for the organisation. In 2018 he was appointed professor and co-director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London.

As an employer he insisted on high standards  at his daily 9am meetings the doors were shut on the dot and locked to latecomers  but was well-liked by colleagues.

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Nabarros awards for his public health work included the 2015 Helen Keller Humanitarian Award. In 2018 he shared the World Food Prize (often referred to as the Nobel Prize for Agriculture) with Lawrence Haddad. He was appointed CBE in 1992 and knighted KCMG in 2023.

He is survived by his wife Flo and by five children.

Sir David Nabarro, born August 26 1949, died July 26 2025

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Ukraines 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade, alongside the 81st Airmobile Brigade  both currently operating under the 11th Corps  repelled a major Russian assault on the Siversk front of Donetsk Oblast on 25 July, killing 80 Russian personnel.

Source: 11th Army Corps press service in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "On 25 July, between 12:50 and 15:00, the enemy launched 27 assault attacks against the defence forces positions near Verkhnokamianske and Hryhorivka, deploying over 150 occupiers, six tanks, three armoured personnel carriers, six multi-purpose armoured towing vehicles, armoured recovery vehicles, 12 light armoured vehicles, two buggies and 41 motorcycles. The engagement resulted in 80 occupiers killed and 37 wounded. The remainder of the enemy forces continue to sustain losses in ongoing fighting on 26 July."

Why this matters: The Russian army consistently puts pressure on the Siversk front, periodically launching significant assaults with infantry and equipment.

Their offensive intensified following the loss of the neighbouring village of Bilohorivka in May-June 2025. Holding Siversk helps restrain the Russian advance towards Sloviansk from the east.

Background: Ukrainska Pravda reported from 26 July, the Operational Tactical Group Luhansk had ceased to exist as part of the corps reform, transitioning to operate under the 11th Army Corps format. Ukrainska Pravda sources in the area suggest the Russian army may have been aware of this planned management shift and attempted to exploit this potential "weak spot", but the effort failed.

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BOSTON (WWLP)  Six Massachusetts men have been arrested on bank fraud and conspiracy charges related to a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud banks across multiple states.

Charging documents stated that the following men were arrested and indicted last Friday on one count each on conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering:

Phalentz Vernot , 24, of Waltham

Selby Okai , 23, of Worcester

Yves Bissainthe , 23, of Randolph

Marvin Kimani , 24, of Lowell

Keith Wainaina, 23, of Lowell

Victor Kolawole, 25, of Brockton

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One-acre brush fire put out on East Road in Orange

Vernot was also indicted on one count of aggravated identity theft. The charging documents further stated that from at least 2022 to the present, the six suspects allegedly obtained the names, birthdays, Social Security numbers, and bank account numbers of numerous local bank customers without authorization.

The men then allegedly recruited individuals to pose as the customers and obtained fake identification documents with the victim customers names, but with the photos of the impostors posing as the victims. They then drove the impostors to banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island so they could withdraw large sums from the customers accounts through cashiers checks.

The impostors would allegedly deposit the checks into bank accounts that the suspects and their co-conspirators controlled, who would then transfer the money to other bank accounts. The charging documents stated that the suspects also reportedly recruited bank tellers to facilitate the scheme, who provided them access to customers information and disabled their account notifications so they wouldnt be alerted to the unauthorized withdrawals.

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For these charges, the six men could face up to 30 years in prison. Vernots charge of aggravated identity theft also carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence, consecutive to any sentence received on other charges.

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(WHTM)  A top Republican lawmaker says skill games and marijuana continue to be a major issue in budget negotiations.

In an interview on This Week in Pennsylvania, the Republican Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana), says negotiations are ongoing for how much to spend, as well as how to fund things such as education and transportation.

One of my frustrations was that the governor introduced a budget that I think he knew and a lot of the House Democrats and Senate Democrats knew was not feasible, was not financially responsible to the taxpayers of this commonwealth.

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Shapiros initial budget proposal was worth approximately $51.5 billion, with plans to fund increased spending by taxing marijuana and games of skill.

Struzzi says lawmakers are working to find common ground.

No one is going to be 100% happy, but we have to find something that everyone can agree to to move forward, Struzzi added. He says a recent proposal from House Democrats to legalize marijuana was rushed and that he does not believe legalization will get done in this years budget.

Also on This Week in Pennsylvania, our analysts discuss Governor Josh Shapiros appearance on The Late Show with Steven Colbert in a potential preview of a 2028 presidential campaign, and other issues in Pennsylvania politics.

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Every week, This Week in Pennsylvania gives a comprehensive look at the weeks biggest news events in Pennsylvania, provided by the abc27 News team, along with the latest updates on local stories.

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Several people were killed and many others injured after a passenger train derailed in south-western Germany on Sunday, security sources told dpa.

According to initial findings by the federal police in Stuttgart, the capital of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, some 100 people were on the derailed train. So far, the police are assuming at least three people have been injured, said a spokesman.

At least two carriages of a regional express train derailed at around 6:10 pm (1610 GMT) near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wurttemberg. There had been a storm there beforehand.

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Video footage from the scene showed emergency services from the fire brigade and rescue service working on the derailed carriages to gain access to the passengers. Loud shouting could also be heard.

The footage showed several derailed carriages, with at least one overturned. Fallen trees are also visible at the accident site.

The Reutlingen control centre reported a so-called "mass casualty incident," a term used by emergency services to describe a situation where a large number of injured people need to be treated.

Baden-Wurttemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl was making his way to the accident site on Sunday evening to gain an impression of the rescue operations, his spokesman said.

The federal police spokesman could not initially provide any information on the cause of the accident. The train was on its way from the town of Sigmaringen to city of Ulm, both in Baden-Wurttemberg.

Rescue workers search for passengers in a derailed train. Several people have been killed and many others injured after a passenger train derailed in Biberach district between Zweifaltendorf and Zell in south-western Germany. Thomas Warnack/dpa
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday announced that her government has allocated crores of rupees in the budget for the development of slum settlements, stating that whenever slums need to be removed for any reason, arrangements are being made to provide houses to the eligible residents so that they can be true citizens of the national capital. The Chief Minister also appealed to the slum dwellers not to be misled by the "broom-wielding" (AAP) leaders, as during their government, they merely saw slum residents as vote banks and encouraged the supply of alcohol to these areas. "Now that the current government is working on developmental schemes for the slum communities, these leaders are trying to incite unrest and mislead the residents," she said. The Chief Minister visited the slum camp (Faatak wali jhuggi) near the railway crossing in Shalimar Bagh on Sunday morning. The Railways have issued a notice for the removal of this slum settlement, as it is located on railway land. The Railways are expanding the Azadpur railway station, CM Gupta added. She pointed out that a survey of this slum area was conducted in 2020, but the then Aam Aadmi Party government neither took any decisions nor held talks with the Railways. "But we have now begun working on a plan for you so that you do not face any hardship," she said. CM Rekha Gupta said, "When a crisis came upon you, I came to meet you because the Delhi government is not in favour of removing slums without reason." She made it clear that if slums have to be removed for the sake of development projects or any other legitimate reasons, the government will ensure proper rehabilitation for the eligible residents so they too can become part of Delhi's growth story. She assured that she would speak to the Ministry of Railways and make arrangements for housing for the residents of this area. "You will get complete justice. The Delhi government is fully committed to this," she said, adding that there is no need to panic. The Chief Minister also criticised the previous Congress and Aam Aadmi Party governments, stating that over the past 40 years, no development has occurred in Delhi's slums. "These parties have only seen slum dwellers as voters and have constantly tried to exploit them, while also damaging the city's geographical character," she said. CM Gupta also said that the "broom-wielding" (AAP) leaders are making baseless allegations that the Delhi government is focused on removing slum dwellers. "But let me tell them the government has allocated a budget of Rs 700 crore for the development of slum settlements," she added. "The objective is clear: our government is consistently working towards the development of slum settlements. Roads, lanes, and pavements are being constructed in these areas. Arrangements for clean drinking water are being made. Toilets and bathing facilities are being set up for women to improve their standard of living," the Delhi CM further said. (ANI)
A Southern California teen was hospitalized with severe burns after flames exploded from a tabletop fire pit.

On July 6, Viana Poggi, 18, was making smores with her family at her Laguna Niguel home. Their fire pit requires isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol for refills. When Poggi poured the liquid into the pit, they didnt realize that a small flame was still burning inside.

The flames instantly flared out and hit Poggi on her face and hands.

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It was so hot, it was cold, she recalled. It felt like being struck by lightning or what I imagine it would feel like. It felt like I was freezing.

Viana Poggi, 18, was hospitalized with second and third-degree burns after flames exploded from a tabletop fire pit on July 6, 2025. (Poggi Family) Vianna Poggi is choosing to look on the bright side after recovering from a burn accident while using a table top fire pit at her home. (KTLA) Vianna Poggis uplifting and lighthearted TikTok videos documenting her recovery journey have been viewed millions of times. (@viana06) A similar table top fire pit that led to severe burns for Vianna Poggi. Vianna Poggi is seen in a personal photo. Vianna Poggi (right) is seen in a personal photo. Viana Poggi, 18, was hospitalized with second and third-degree burns after flames exploded from a tabletop fire pit on July 6, 2025. (Poggi Family) Viana Poggi, 18, was hospitalized with second and third-degree burns after flames exploded from a tabletop fire pit on July 6, 2025. (Poggi Family)

Her cousin, Alaina Arbiso, acted quickly and pulled Poggi into the pool before paramedics arrived.

She was on fire, so I wasnt sure what else to do, Arbiso told KTLAs Rachel Menitoff. I was like, Oh my gosh! Fire, water, get in there! It was fight or flight the whole time up until she left [for the hospital].

Poggi was rushed by paramedics to a local burn unit where she received treatment for second and third-degree burns.

She underwent two major skin surgeries. While recovering in the hospital and with her head still bandaged, Poggi decided to document her journey on social media, while choosing to look on the bright side.

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Filmed from her hospital room, her lighthearted TikTok videos focus on seeing the positive in an otherwise difficult situation. Her videos have since been viewed millions of times.

Poggi hopes that by sharing her story, she can warn others who own tabletop fire pits about the dangers of using them.

You cant hear it coming, she said of the sudden flare-up. You cant see it coming. Its instant.

She said nurses at the hospital seemed to be aware of similar incidents involving the popular backyard products.

Even when I got to the ICU, I told them I had been flashed back with fire and they were asking me, Is it rubbing alcohol? because most of the burn patients in there usually get burned by fires like this, Poggi said.

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Poggi recently hit a milestone when her bandages were finally removed and she was able to return home. A recent high school graduate, Poggi is scheduled to start her freshman year at the University of San Francisco in two weeks.

She had been working three jobs to save up for her college tuition  as a nail technician, a swim instructor and a nanny. Despite the accident, Poggi said shes very determined to continue moving forward and begin college without delay.

I just want to keep going, she said. This has ruined my July, but its not going to ruin my first year of college.

A GoFundMe page to help Poggi with medical expenses can be found here.

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Passengers on Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 experienced a heart-stopping moment Friday morning when their plane took a sudden dive just minutes into the journey from Burbank to Las Vegas.

According to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24, the aircraft rapidly descended 475 feet roughly six minutes after takeoff, dropping from 14,100 feet to 13,625 feet in an apparent mid-air collision avoidance maneuver.

Avoiding a Close Call

Southwest later confirmed that the sharp descent was triggered by a collision avoidance alert. The system advised the pilots to drop altitude, a standard protocol when another aircraft is detected within potentially unsafe proximity.

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The second aircraft involved, a Hawker Hunter with the tail number N335AX, was flying at approximately 14,653 feet when the Southwest jet began its controlled descent. The two planes were separated by about 4.86 miles at their closest point.

Preliminary data shows the avoidance maneuver worked as intended, but the jolt left a lasting impact on those aboard.

Screams, Injuries, and Relief

Steve Ulasewicz, a passenger on the flight, described the event as an "8- to 10-second drop of free fall." He told ABC News that the sudden plunge caused passengers to scream and brace for the worst. "Definitely felt like that was it. Like this is how I'm going to go out," Ulasewicz said.

While no passengers were immediately reported injured, two flight attendants sustained injuries during the incident, according to a statement from Southwest. The airline praised its crew for their quick response and professionalism under pressure.

FAA Launches Investigation

Southwest Airlines is cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration as the agency investigates the incident. "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees," the airline stated.

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"Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 responded to an onboard alert that another aircraft was in the vicinity while in Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center airspace. The FAA is investigating the event that occurred around 11 a.m. local time on Friday, July 25," the FAA said in a statement.

As the FAA works to piece together what happened, passengers are left replaying the harrowing moment that turned a routine 45-minute hop into an unforgettable ordeal.

For many, what started as a quick trip to Vegas turned into a reminder that even the shortest flights can come with unexpected turbulence.

Related: FAA Launches Investigation After Delta Jets Near Miss With B-52 Bomber

Southwest Flight From Burbank to Las Vegas Suddenly Drops, Terrifying Passengers first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 27, 2025
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Credit: NASA

The next four people to launch to the International Space Station have arrived at their launch site.

NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, together with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov flew on a NASA aircraft from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas to Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida on Saturday (July 26). They touched down at Space Florida's Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) at 1:12 p.m. EDT (1712) GMT.

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"We are absolutely joyed to be here at Kennedy Space Center," said Cardman, Crew-11 commander. "This is the first moment when it's really starting to feel real. This is the beginning of a week when things will feel progressively more and more real as we approach our launch."

The four members of SpaceX's Crew 11 walk and wave as they approach a microphone at Kennedy Space Center's Launch and Landing Facility on Saturday, July 26, 2025. | Credit: NASA

Cardman, Fincke, Yui and Platonov are scheduled to launch as the members of SpaceX's Crew-11 aboard the Dragon "Endeavour" on a Falcon 9 rocket from KSC's Launch Complex 39A on Thursday (July 31) at 12:09 p.m. EDT (1609 GMT). Should the flight go as planned, they will dock to the orbiting laboratory next Saturday (Aug. 2) to join the station's Expedition 73 (and later Expedition 74) crew.

"Boy, it's great to be back," said Fincke, Crew-11 pilot." "One of the last times I landed on the at the [LLF] was on space shuttle Endeavour, and now we get to go on another endeavor, a Dragon Endeavour, this time."

On Friday, mission managers gave their go for launch preparations to proceed after concluding a flight readiness review.

"We're looking forward to launching soon," said Fincke.
Randy Trujillo shakes his head at what he sees as a growing threat to the Traditional Spanish Market: the rise of contemporary styles.

I do this for tradition, he said. If we dont keep these traditions going, all thats going to get lost.

Trujillo, 62, is a high-end cabinet and door craftsman who this year won the markets furniture category for his pomegranate wood replica of a Spanish chest from the early 20th century. He has no familial ties to crafting ancestral Spanish furniture but took it up out of respect for the history.

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Featuring pomegranate tree wood and the lion symbol of Granada, Spain, Trujillos piece embodies a philosophy he tries to uphold.

Nothing against anybody who goes out of that realm, he said. But get too creative, and its not tradition.

Its an ongoing dispute, he added.

072625 jw spanish mkt 2.jpg

Mauri Rael, right, keeps her nieces Mia Campos and Lilly Campos, left, entertained outside of retablo artist Vincent Campos booth during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe on Saturday. The market runs through Sunday.

He was one of roughly 140 artists present for the Traditional Spanish Market this weekend, which brought an estimated 10,000 attendees to downtown Santa Fe. Organizers expect a similar figure for Sunday. Last year, total attendance was about 17,000.

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[Were] looking forward to a few thousand more than last year, wrote Brissa Chilton-Garcia, program coordinator for the market, which has since 2023 been organized by Atrisco Heritage Foundation.

Tradition versus modern

This is the first year the market removed its dedicated award and category for contemporary art, known as Innovations within Tradition. The pushback against contemporary art came not from Atrisco, but from other individual artists who disliked the mixing of contemporary and traditional work, said Goler, 62, a master santero.

Goler sees the move toward contemporary styles as a natural evolution.

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As a professional artist, you want to grow in some direction, he said. As my carving has evolved, my designs have evolved.

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Jennifer McGrath gets more help than she can handle while watching out for Kyle Fast Wolf's booth with Logan McGrath, top, Oliver McGrath and Maria Tafoya during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe on Saturday.

Contemporary work, he added, drew attention from new audiences intrigued by its modernity, noting although only 10% of his showcase could be contemporary in prior years, it was working, with widespread interest at his motorcycle bulto.

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It did broaden the audience, he said. It brought people into the table to create a conversation.

While describing a bulto of Santa Barbara to art-collecting couple Joann and Scott MacKenzie, both 73, Goler pointed out symbolic details throughout the intricately hand-painted and carved piece.

So you tried to make it a little bit more modern, said Joann.

Modern, Goler said with a pause. For me, this is pretty traditional.

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Woodwork crosses by Federico Prudencio adorn the artist's booth during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe on Saturday.

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Everything does not have to be to a pattern that was done 300 years ago, Scott said, adding the couple has a mix of Native and Spanish works.

We were only allowed to show 10% [contemporary], so it wasnt like you could fill your table, Goler said. But it was working.

No plans

Elsewhere in the market, 77-year-old Juan Lopez reflected on what he sees as the secret to his artistic success: never making a plan.

If he had, he said, he might never have won this years Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, which came after stumbling into filigree silverwork while seeking an alternative to concrete work.

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Its better to go through life without a plan, he boomed, an adage he credits for his continued creativity. He now spends months on individual pieces of ornate silverwork  from a Volkswagen to an oxen to this years award-winning trinket box, all forged with delicate metal threads.

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Artist Kevin "Mr. Melty" Vigil gets a back rub from Taylor Vigil during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe on Saturday.

Other award winners include Teresa Hernandez, a pediatric nurse who won best in colcha embroidery for a wool-stitched pastoral scene of sheep.

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Its only her second year at the market. She began embroidering in late 2021 while serving as a personal nurse for a medically fragile child. To pass time in the classroom, she picked up embroidery  eventually making a piece for each of the students.

Luckily it was only like 10 kids, she said.

Santera Elena Miera Herrera, 67, traces the saintmaking legacy in her family 10 generations back to her ancestor Bernard Miera y Pacheco. Though there have been other santeros since, she said, the tradition had gone dormant  something shes reversing by teaching her nieces, nephews and granddaughters the art form.

Ive been on my journey for a long time, said the retired kindergarten teacher, who took first took up painting retablos as a hobby in her summers off from school.

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A morning beam of sun hits work by James Cordova during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe on Saturday. Marketgoers made their annual pilgrimage to the Plaza this year for the promise of new works by regional artists, live performances, art demonstrations and an expanded youth market.

And while there have been other santeros, she is the first santera in the family, she said. She was one of the first, recalling only five female saint-makers at the market when she began 33 years ago.

That resurgence is just  its wonderful, she said, adding she sees retablos as symbols of love and neighborly compassion.

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Its a wonderful way to connect with other human beings, she said. I find great joy and peace in finding out that were not so different from each other.

The contemporary market

Along Lincoln Avenue, just off the Plaza, the Contemporary Hispanic Market  founded in the 1980s to showcase more modern takes on traditional art forms  featured a wide array of artists.

Eric J. Garcia, 48, an Albuquerque-based artist with Spanish and Native ancestry, showcased comic book-inspired posters of historical figures from both backgrounds.

I would say its not so much traditional, but its dealing with our path, he said.

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Juan Lopez, who won a Master's Award for Lifetime Achievement this year, jokes with customers during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe on Saturday. Marketgoers made their annual pilgrimage to the Plaza this year for the promise of new works by regional artists, live performances, art demonstrations and an expanded youth market.

In one piece, Popay, the Ohkay Owingeh leader of the Pueblo Revolt, lifts an uprooted obelisk in one hand and the amputated greave of Juan de Onate in the other  a nod to the conquistadors order to chop the legs off of 24 Acoma men.

Who better to tell the story than the conqueror and the conquered? he said, adding he chose the bold visual style to ensure the meaning wouldnt be lost in abstraction.

Sometimes our history is very ugly and messy and complicated, he said. But if you dont know the past, then you cant understand the present, and then we cant move on.

Farther down Lincoln, the artwork increasingly diverged from Spanish Colonial traditions.

A myriad of toys and dolls sport reimagined Day of the Dead-style looks at the booth of Jenny Morales, 45.

 Instead of mourning death, we should celebrate it, said Morales, who was 11 years old when her single mother died. She recalled struggling at the time and finding solace by sleeping beside her mothers tombstone.

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Lorenzo Quintana, left, and carver Mark Padilla man Padilla's booth on Lincoln Avenue during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe on Saturday. Marketgoers made their annual pilgrimage to the Plaza this year for the promise of new works by regional artists, live performances, art demonstrations and an expanded youth market.

When she learned about the Day of the Dead customs  more than a decade later after her mothers passing  I just became obsessed, she said. This led her to develop the artistic fixation with the sugar skull iconography of the Mexican tradition  and to now drive a hearse as her everyday vehicle.

 I try to live life for her, Morales said, to keep her memory alive.

At the streets intersection, beyond a handful of devout sign-holders preaching about damnation, a booth with sculptures of a padre, burro, bear and buffalo shaped from wrapped barbed wire around a rebar frame stemmed from fence contractor Ignacio Godinezs years of messing around with wire.

I go through a lot of gloves, said Godinez, 75, sitting beside his sculptures, which he said consist of more than a mile of barbed wire each.

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Tamara Chee talks with artist Gregory Segura, right, at his jewelry booth as marketgoers make their annual pilgrimage to the Plaza for the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market on Saturday, with the promise of new works by regional artists, live performances, art demonstrations and an expanded youth market.

At the end of the street and of the market, Isaac Sandoval, 37, a native of Las Vegas, N.M., showcased his wild paintings invoking the exaggerated emotions and horrors of anthropomorphic insects and faces. One featured a slate of heads engulfed in flames and smoke to show the communitys emotions from the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire that ravaged the area in 2022.

This is ... supposed to be a reprieve from the chaos of life, you know? Theres a lot of like humor in it, even though its crazy, said Sandoval.

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Alex and Martha Trujillo find an out-of-the-way spot to dance to music by Los Tropicales during the Traditional Spanish Market and Contemporary Hispanic Market in downtown Santa Fe on Saturday. Marketgoers made their annual pilgrimage to the Plaza this year for the promise of new works by regional artists, live performances, art demonstrations and an expanded youth market.

Its his first time selling his art, which he noted felt strange given how personal it was to him.

Asked what brought him to the market, he shrugged.

My last name is Sandoval, he said.
Ghislaine Maxwells 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking is a pittance, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson told NBCs Meet the Press with Kristen Welker Sunday. I think she should have a life sentence at least.

The Trump administrations Justice Department recently granted Maxwell limited immunity during a series of recent interviews, allowing her to answer questions without her responses being held against her. Maxwell has made clear she wants her sentence thrown out or reduced; President Trump wished her well in an interview and said a pardon is something hes allowed to do.

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In a firestorm of controversy over the administrations whipsaws around the Jeffrey Epstein matter, the Republican speaker has stood firm.

I mean, think of all these unspeakable crimes, and as you noted earlier, probably 1,000 victims, Johnson continued. I mean, you know, this, this is, its, its hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it, at least under the criminal sanction, I think is an unforgivable thing. So again, not my decision, but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would.

In 2021 Maxwell was convicted on five of six charges stemming from her years working with Epstein. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022.

Welker also asked Johnson if Maxwell can be trusted following two days of interviews with Deputy Attorney General Tom Blanche. I hope so. I hope that she would want to come clean. We certainly are interested in knowing everything that she knows, he answered.

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And as youll note, in our House Republican majority, were working towards that. Chairman Comer and our oversight committee has already issued their own subpoena. They, they want to bring in Ghislaine Maxwell as well. I hope shes telling the truth. She is convicted. She is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking, and so her character is in some question. But if she wants to come clean now, that would be a great service to the country, and wed like to know every single bit of information that she has. I certainly hope shes telling the truth.

Blanche has yet to make a public statement about his conversations with Maxwell. That the departments second in command is interviewing a witness personally is highly unusual, former prosecutors told NBC News.

Attorney Jack Scarola, who represented approximately 20 of Epsteins victims, was denied a request to attend Maxwells interview.

Catherine Christian, a former Manhattan assistant district attorney and an NBC News legal analyst, also told the news outlet the interviews could be part of a larger plan to distract from Donald Trumps ties to Maxwell and Epstein. The president is fending off rising inquiries into the exact nature of those relationships, including calls for clarification from within his MAGA base.

The post Speaker Mike Johnson Slams Ghislaine Maxwells 20-Year Sentence: A Pittance | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Jul. 26WASHINGTON  A wheat grower from Spokane County visited the Capitol this week to drum up support for glyphosate, a widely used weed killer that was targeted in a May report commissioned by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Gil Crosby, who farms near Fairfield and serves as vice president of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, spent Wednesday and Thursday in D.C. meeting with congressional staff to warn against restricting the use of glyphosate. The MAHA Report  taking its name from Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" initiative  identified the herbicide, which wheat growers rely on to control weeds, as potentially harmful to children.

"As a farmer, we're not out to put anything out there that's not safe for public consumption or to harm our soil, because that's our livelihood," Crosby said in an interview on Wednesday. "We're trying to be good stewards of the land, so we can keep farming the ground and so generations can keep farming the ground."

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Crosby and other farmers from across the country were part of a visit organized by the Modern Ag Alliance, a lobbying group founded by the German biotechnology company Bayer. In 2018, Bayer acquired Monsanto, which began marketing glyphosate under the brand name Roundup in 1974.

The biotech industry's funding of research on the safety and effectiveness of glyphosate has contributed to suspicion from Kennedy and others about the legitimacy of that research, as the report notes. While the report doesn't explicitly say the chemical is unsafe, it raises questions that have unnerved farmers who rely on the product in a business that's already facing pressure from rising input costs, tariffs and more.

"The worst-case scenario is that we lose that tool and we have to go back to farming conventional," Crosby said. "And we'd increase our costs tremendously if we lose that tool."

Not using glyphosate, he said, would force farmers to use more costly alternatives and potentially tilling their fields, which removes nutrients from the soil.

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"It just adds more costs to a very shrinking margin," Crosby said. "All of us farmers are trying to be great stewards, because if we lose our dirt, I mean, we're not farming."

Ian Burke, a professor in Washington State University's Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, said the introduction of glyphosate was "transformative" for the Northwest when it was introduced in the 1970s.

"It would probably cost farmers three times as much to get the same end result that they're currently getting with glyphosate," Burke said. "It's a very well known, well understood product. Farmers are very reliant on it."

Burke said there's an ongoing debate among scientists about whether all weeds need to be eliminated, but it's uncontested that they take up valuable moisture, which is especially harmful to nonirrigated, dryland wheat farming in the Inland Northwest. Not controlling weeds would be "catastrophic" for certain farmers in the region, he said, estimating that it could reduce yields by half.

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"Any additional cost is a stress, and any individual farmer has their own set of special circumstances that might lead them to bankruptcy," he said, "but this is a complicating factor among many that they face."

Burke said Bayer, Corteva Agriscience and other biotech companies, along with the Washington Grain Commission, have funded some of his research into the efficacy of herbicides in the Northwest.

Crosby has allies among Northwest Republicans  including Reps. Dan Newhouse and Michael Baumgartner of Washington, Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson of Idaho and Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch of Idaho  who signed a letter to Trump on Monday warning that "anti-agriculture interest groups seem to have influenced" the MAHA report.

"The Assessment employed reports and rhetoric mischaracterizing proven-safe chemistries and ingredients," the lawmakers wrote, referring to the MAHA report. "The Assessment questions the safety of critical crop protection tools. However, the Assessment's cited evidence found the opposite conclusion. The cited study found chemistries, like glyphosate, are safe."

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Kennedy, a former environmental attorney who entered the 2024 presidential campaign as a Democrat before becoming an independent and eventually endorsing Trump, has suggested that glyphosate and other chemicals may be responsible for increasing rates of asthma, diabetes and other diseases among Americans.

The Environmental Protection Agency has said there are "no risks of concern to human health from current uses of glyphosate" and "no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer in humans."

But in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans." The two organizations reviewed different sets of studies, underscoring the ongoing controversy into which the Trump administration is now wading.

Orion Donovan Smith'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.
Clean water shouldn't be a luxury. And yet, more than 4 billion people face water scarcity for at least one month each year, according to recent research. A Paris-based climate tech company is working to change that by transforming something most regions already have  air  into safe, drinkable water.

Kumulus, a Tunisia-based startup building atmospheric water generators, just raised about $3.6 million in seed funding to accelerate production and bring its tech to more communities facing water scarcity, reported Tech.eu.

Each Kumulus unit can generate 20-30 liters of water a day when running on standard electricity or solar power. Ambient air is pulled into the system, filtered, cooled until condensation forms, and then collected in a tank. The water goes through a multi-step purification process, including remineralization to improve taste and health benefits. According to Tech.eu, users can access it directly through an integrated tap and monitor the system through a mobile or web app.

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Kumulus units have already been deployed across schools, hotels, remote camps, and villages in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, per Tech.eu. The technology eliminates the need for bottled water, reduces single-use plastic, and cuts down on the energy and emissions that come from water transportation and treatment.

"What convinced us is Kumulus' ability to produce water locally  without packaging or transportation  offering a truly sustainable alternative," said Clement Yvorra, global business development manager at Spadel, a leading European bottled water company that participated in the funding round, per Tech.eu.

The investment  backed by French bank Bpifrance, Spadel, PlusVC, Khalys Venture, Flat6Labs, family offices, and climate-focused founders  will help the company launch Kumulus Boks, a higher-capacity model designed for industrial and community-scale use. Funds will also support expansion in France, Spain, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia, Tech.eu reported.

"We're deeply grateful to our existing and new investors for their trust and continued support," said Kumulus CEO and co-founder Iheb Triki, per Tech.eu. "Their involvement is a strong vote of confidence in our technology and our vision."

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As the world faces intensifying droughts and rising demand for potable water, innovations like Kumulus point to a future where access to clean water doesn't have to depend on aging infrastructure or plastic-heavy supply chains. As the company expands, its off-grid, low-impact systems could help close the global water gap and offer a glimpse of how climate tech can improve daily life in some of the world's most vulnerable places.

Do you feel safe drinking the tap water where you live? Always Most of the time Not usually Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
AUSTIN (Nexstar)  On the first day of the special legislative session, a group of state representatives and community leaders rallied at the Texas State Capitol to push for legislation they believe could save lives during severe weather.

It began with a moment of silence, after Sofia Mirto, the president of Hands Off Central Texas, acknowledged there would be no flood survivors speaking, though they were invited to join.

Unfortunately, nobody is going to be with us because today, because theres a lot of funerals happening this week, Mirto told the people gathered outside the Capitol.

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Those gathering, advocated for HB 13 to be passed. The bill would create a statewide, comprehensive and strategic plan to help local governments with emergency communication system. Theres now a petition to get more people to support the legislation.

We are better than this

With more than 100 people dead in Kerr County, including young campers, and two people still missing, lawmakers convened Wednesday to address what went wrong and find solutions.

BLOG: Texas lawmakers hearing reveals lack of flood disaster preparedness

We are better than this, said Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso. Weve lost a lot in this. And it could have been better  both before, during and after  we know that. And thats not a blame game. Thats accountability.

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For the first time this special session, the Texas House and Senate Committees on Disaster Preparedness met for a rare joint hearing. Outside the chamber, there was anger from some residents impacted by the Fourth of July flooding.

There should have been an evacuation early in the day, said Joseph Shopp. Not two oclock in the morning  this was a complete failure.

After deadly floods, state and federal leaders look for answers

0 to 200 mph

Two days before the disaster, on July 2, the Texas Division of Emergency Management says it activated the states emergency response sending resources  including a rescue boat to Kerr and Tom Green counties  anticipating what it called heavy rainfall with the potential to cause flash flooding across West Texas and the Hill Country.

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We knew we were going into a holiday weekend, TDEM Chief Nim Kidd told lawmakers. We knew that we needed to ensure resources were available from those local governments that we would want to stand up for water teams, for search and rescue teams, for medical teams, if they were needed.

He said the area of concern was 35,000 square miles across Texas.

The forecast for those 44 counties [of concern] in that area was, again, one to three inches of rain, Kidd told lawmakers. He said that was relayed to 468 local government participants in a July 3 weather call that Kerrvilles mayor previously said he did not receive an invite to join.

The severity of the storm caught everyone by surprise, Kidd said, highlighting a summary of alerts from the National Weather Service offices in Austin/San Antonio and San Angelo from July 3 into the early morning hours of July 4:

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3:20 p.m.: NWS Austin/San Antonio said heavy rains possible especially western Hill Country. Chances of rain decrease Friday.

6:56 p.m.: NWS Austin/San Antonio said showers increasing across Hill Country expanded through the evening.

7:37 p.m.: Flash flood watch in effect for Hill Country. Rains will decrease for July 4 but isolated showers may continue.

8:21 p.m.: Flash flood watch for Bexar, Gillespie, Kendall, Llano. Advisories for Mason, McCulloch and San Saba counties.

8:54 p.m.: NWS Austin/San Antonio reported 1-3 inches of rain, 5-7 inches less likely across the flood watch area.

9:30 p.m.: NWS Austin/San Antonio reported pockets of heavy rain in Kendall County headed towards Gillespie and Blanco counties; 1-2 inches of rain have fallen within the last three hours and more rain on the way.

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11:17 p.m.: NWS Austin/San Antonio reported pockets of rain across Hill Country. Flash flood watch remains in effect until 7 a.m. advising to turn around, dont drown.

1:06 a.m.: NWS Austin/San Antonio reported very heavy rain in Bandera, Kerr and Gillespie counties; 2-3 inches of rain per hour.

1:14 a.m.: First flash flood warning issued from Ingram and Hunt until 4:15 a.m.; 1-2 inches of rain have fallen, expected 2-3 inches of rain per hour, 1-2 additional inches expected. Flash flood ongoing or expected.

1:32 a.m.: Flash flood warning includes 13 counties: Bandera, Bexar, Blanco, Brunet, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Llano, Medina, Real and Uvalde; 1-3 inches of rain likely, 5-7 inches possible across the flood area.

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2:37 a.m.: Flash flood watch expanded until 1 p.m.; 1-3 inches of rain expected in Hill Country, 5-7 inches possible. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of low-lying areas, rivers, creeks and low-water crossings.

3:08 a.m.: Very dangerous flash flood event south central Kerr County; 3-7 inches of rainfall in last 2-3 hours. Flash flood warning. Turn around, dont drown, again advised.

3:19 a.m.: Guadalupe River in Hunt is at 11 feet, expected to crest at 16.6 feet.

3:33 a.m.: Flash flood warning for the Guadalupe River in Hunt and Kerr and Bandera counties until 7 a.m.

4 a.m.: Guadalupe River in Hunt is at 19.4 feet, expected to crest at 23.8 feet.

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4:23 a.m.: This is a flash flood emergency. Five-to-10 inches of rain expected over the next 3-6 hours.

About 30 minutes later, Kidd received word that people were trapped on their roofs.

We know what happened after that, he said.

Were really going to have to have an extended discussion  with the National Weather Service about these type of alerts and the speed at which they came out, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, told lawmakers. Afterward, Bettencourts X account reiterated online what he mentioned during the hearing.

Were not even going from zero to 60 [mph], he told lawmakers, were going from zero to 200 miles an hour in three hours and 17 minutes.

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Texas lawmakers hold hearing on disaster preparedness

A better system for warning

The discussion also touched on initial confusion, highlighted in Kerr County dispatch audio previously obtained by KXANs investigative team. In the audio, at 4:23 a.m., an Ingram volunteer firefighter is heard telling a Kerr County sheriff dispatcher: The Guadalupe Schumacher sign is underwater on State Highway 39. Is there any way we can send a CodeRED out to our Hunt residents, asking them to find higher ground or stay home?

The dispatcher responds: We have to get that approved with our supervisor.

CodeRed is an opt-in notification system some agencies use to send emergency alerts to subscribers cell phones.

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Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, read from a transcript.

But the supervisor, it says here, couldnt be immediately available on the phone, he said. Just another example of why we need to get this professionalized.

Along with calls for more training, and statewide standards and qualifications for emergency management coordinator positions, lawmakers also brought up failures in communication equipment, like radios used by first responders.

But the supervisor, it says here, couldnt be immediately available on the phone, he said. Just another example of why we need to get this professionalized.

Along with calls for more training, and statewide standards and qualifications for emergency management coordinator positions, lawmakers also brought up failures in communication equipment, like radios used by first responders. During the last regular session, Moody co-authored House Bill 13, in part, to fix problems with interoperability. It failed to pass. Among those voting against it then was Rep. Wes Virdell, R-Brady, whose district includes Kerr County. He now sits on this special committee.

Government sometimes has the problem of overreacting to a situation, so I think its good to have thorough discussions, Virdell told KXAN. And, even if it takes a little while for that to happen, I think not overreacting immediately is a good thing.

Virdell said weather warning sirens, which was part of HB 13, should be on the table for discussion but questioned how effective they would be.

I do think they have their place but a lot of times if youre indoors, especially four oclock in the morning when its pouring down rain, the likelihood is going to be that youre not going to hear those sirens.

For Virdell, the real question is whens the right time to send alerts out and are we sending too many alerts out right now? His other top priorities involve establishing a disaster relief fund and helping homeowners rebuild. Cities that use sirens, like San Marcos, have called them a vital tool for emergency preparedness in addition to weather radios and mobile alerts.

There was no public testimony at this hearing. The joint committee will reconvene on July 31 in Kerrville to hear directly from residents and officials impacted by the flooding.

Do we need a better system for warning? Yes, Kidd told lawmakers. What does that look like? I dont know.

Texas Senate hears testimony over re-filed THC ban

Exactly one month after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a proposed hemp-derived THC ban, the Texas Senate is debating a new, nearly-identical ban.

In his veto proclamation, Abbott said that a full ban went too far and would likely be tied up in court, similar to Arkansas THC ban. But after Abbotts proclamation, a judge ruled that Arkansas THC ban could go into effect, complicating the governors reasoning. Now, Republicans are hoping the door to a full ban could be re-opened.

The Senate Committee on State Affairs listened to hours of testimony from the public Tuesday on Senate Bill 5, filed by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock. The hearing included members of law enforcement who strongly advocated for a ban, and members of the community who say a ban would infringe on their rights as individuals.

Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley spoke in favor of the bill. And while other law enforcement testified that the product was unsafe, Wiley cited the issue of testing products to determine if they contain legal amounts of THC  less than 0.3%  or a higher concentration, which would be illegal. That distinction means the difference between if someone is charged with a crime or let free.

As youre delaying prosecution because of the testing thats going on, you might have someone that has a legal amount, and so that person is sitting in custody if they cant make bonds, Wiley said.

Wiley said she does not think regulation works, because the market of hemp-derived THC is already regulated. Existing law prohibits THC products from exceeding 0.3% THC, but there is currently no state-enforced age restriction, even as many retailers only sell the product to those 21 and older.

After Abbotts initial veto, he, along with many colleagues, called for stricter regulation. But some Republican senators at Tuesdays hearing did not appear to have an interest in entertaining the idea.

Zach Crow is a Houston attorney who represents companies with a stake in the Texas THC market. He disagreed with the notion that regulation has already been tried, saying that much more could be done to fund regulatory actions.

If the problem is funding, why not slap an excise tax on the products, or why not increase licensing fees to actually be more than 100 bucks a pop, right? But they havent tried that because they dont want to do that. This is about control, Crow said.

Crow pointed to the fact that other states have legalized recreational marijuana use and have strict regulatory bodies to enforce the law. He said that current opposition to THC from legislators is contrary to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows those with certain medical conditions to obtain marijuana as medication.

Weve acknowledged that federally illegal marijuana under the TCUP program is fine and its helping people, Crow said. Which one is it? It cant be both. Either THC and cannabis are good things that can help people, or its evil.

But among the testimony senators heard, many law enforcement officials and medical experts said that the product is too dangerous to have on the market, even regulated. They cited instances of people making deadly decisions after consuming the product.

It is unclear if SB 5 will ultimately pass the legislature. The fate of the bill could be indicated by statements from the governor on what he is willing to sign. But so far, he has not indicated exactly what he wants to see in a THC bill.

House hears public testimony on redistricting

The Texas House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting heard public testimony at the Capitol Thursday about a proposed mid-decade redistricting plan.

The legislature is considering how to redraw the states congressional maps after pressure from the Trump administration and its Department of Justice. President Donald Trump has publicly said he hopes Texas Republicans draw five new seats for themselves ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Committees set up for congressional redistricting in Texas

The committee allowed anyone from the public to testify at Thursdays hearing, but the hearing specifically focused on counties, which reside partially or wholly, in the 10th, 11th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, 27th, 28th, 31st, 34th, 35th and 37th congressional districts  eight of which are represented by Republicans, six by Democrats. The committee still allowed testimony about any area of the state.

Witnesses who testified before the committee expressed anger and frustration with the potential of redrawing congressional maps. The Republican representatives on the committee were mostly quiet about their opinions, refraining from defending the proposed redistricting.

Legal expert challenged DOJ claims

Law professor Ellen Katz from the University of Michigan testified that the Department of Justices July 7 letter demanding changes to four congressional districts is legally flawed.

The DOJ is simply wrong when it states that these four districts targets violate the voting rights act. Or the constitution they plainly do not, Katz said, referring to districts 9, 18, 29 and 33.

Katz argued that following the DOJs recommendations would actually be illegal, citing a 2009 Supreme Court decision in Bartlett v. Strickland.

If there were a showing that a state intentionally drew district lines in order to destroy otherwise effective crossover districts, that would raise serious questions under both the 14th and 15th amendment, she said, reading from the court decision. The July 7th DOJ letter instructs Texas to do just that.

Congressional Democrats oppose redistricting

Three Democratic members of Congress testified against the redistricting effort, arguing it would harm minority communities and disrupt constituent services.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, emphasized his districts legal standing.

Texass 35th congressional district was drawn by this body coming after the 2010 census, Casar said. It was constitutionally mandated to be drawn and it was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

U.S Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, whose 29th congressional district is targeted in the DOJ letter, criticized the timing of the redistricting effort.

We really should not be even be here today. We should be working on legislation to support families on the Hill Country after the devastating flooding, Garcia said. Instead, we are here today playing political games to appease a felon in the White House.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, compared the current effort to 2003 mid-decade redistricting carried out by Texas Republicans, calling it politically motivated.

Youre being used because [Trump] doesnt want Democrats to control the majority of the Congress so that therell be no investigations, Castro said.

House Democrats question the process

Committee members expressed confusion about the rationale for the redistricting effort. State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, said he was personally very confused about why exactly were here.

State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D-San Antonio, also voiced opposition.

Lets not allow the White House to put his arms into Texas and divide our community. Its wrong. It should not happen, Gervin-Hawkins said.

Fiscal and practical concerns

The congressmen highlighted potential disruptions to constituent services if districts are redrawn mid-decade.

For the everyday person, this could seriously disrupt the federal services, be they constituent services or infrastructure that every member of Congress, regardless of party, Casar said.

Garcia emphasized the communication challenges that could come from less compact, spread out districts.

It really is about communication and case work, Garcia said. It is more difficult when youve got to deal with hundreds of miles to be able to communicate with appropriately and effectively with your constituents.

She also criticized the Senates plan for hearings only conducted virtually, as opposed to the Houses hearings which are in person with a virtual option.

I absolutely, I think, when I read that I was frankly appalled that they would not allow any live testimony hearing in front someone, Garcia said. I mean for Texas, we like to see people eyeball to eyeball and ask him a question.

Thursdays public hearing ended after five hours, before several people who had registered to speak could address lawmakers. The move was planned and noted in the agenda posted before the meeting.

We had sent out in the notice that the intent was to treat every in-person hearing we have here in Austin, Houston, and Arlington, equally, State Rep. Cody Vasut, R-Angleton, who chaired the hearing, told people in the room.

After the hearing adjourned, House Democrats on the committee stayed and listened to people who wanted to stay and have their voices heard.

The committee scheduled additional hearings Saturday in Houston and Monday in Arlington to be held before considering any proposed legislation.

On Friday, a delegation of Texas House Democrats met with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to discuss concerns about proposed redistricting changes in Texas and seek support from other states in opposing the effort.

Speaking before the meeting while traveling through Chicago OHare Airport, Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, said the trip aimed to warn other states about what he described as widespread policy changes under the Trump administration.

Were trying to warn the entire country, Wu said. What is coming, the dangers that Donald Trump and his willing associates pose to this country is not just normal politics. This is extraordinary, and what were saying to people is extraordinary stuff requires an extraordinary response.

What Gov. Abbott and the Republicans are trying to do is cheat, Pritzker said during the roundtable. I think there should be free and fair elections in 2026 as there should be in every year, and that the districts are have been drawn, and they now see that they might lose, and so they want to redraw them and change the rules.

MOST READ: Texas GOP Rep. Giovanni Capriglione admits affair, denies abortion allegations

When asked about potential retaliatory redistricting efforts in Democratic-controlled states, Pritzker said, everything is on the table in response to what he characterized as attacks on democracy.

If youre going to attack democracy by going state by state, and here theyre starting in Texas, but youve heard it talked about for other places too, then the rest of us are going to have to say, well, what can we do? Pritzker said.

The Illinois governor defended his states current congressional map, which has faced criticism from Republicans. When pressed about previous campaign promises regarding independent redistricting. Pritzker said legislation for an independent commission was not taken up by the state legislature, but that Illinois followed the Voting Rights Act in drawing its current districts.

When asked about potential tactics to block redistricting legislation, Wu said Texas Democrats would use every tool available to us and that nothing is off the table. However, he clarified that Fridays trip was not a quorum break, as the delegation planned to return to Texas the same day.

Were not fighting for Democrats in Texas. Were fighting for the whole country. This is a national fight. This is the fight for the soul of America, Wu said.

The Democrats said they may continue outreach efforts to other governors across the country regarding the redistricting issue. The delegation was split between meetings in Illinois and California, with a separate group meeting with California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Texas Republicans have defended the special session as necessary to address redistricting concerns, though Democrats argue it diverts attention from flood relief efforts following recent disasters in Central Texas that killed more than 130 people.

Two Democrats join race to replace Attorney General Ken Paxton

State Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas and former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski have launched campaigns for Texas attorney general, setting up a Democratic primary battle for an office at the center of numerous political controversies.

Both candidates announced their candidacies within days of each other, bringing distinct backgrounds to challenge Republicans in the first open attorney general race in over a decade.

Johnson, who represents nearly 1 million Dallas County constituents, focused his campaign on restoring integrity to an office he says has been misused, abused, and not used for the good purposes that it should be devoted to.

He criticized Attorney General Ken Paxtons decision not to defend the Texas DREAM Act, calling it collusion with the federal government to eliminate a program supported by Republican legislatures for 24 years.

Jaworski, making his second bid after losing the 2022 runnoff, positioned himself as an outsider focused on voting rights and consumer protection.

Ken Paxton has frankly succeeded in making voting a white knuckle affair, Jaworski said. People are scared, theyre worried, do I do it wrong? Will I be indicted?

Johnson outlined traditional priorities including child support collection and consumer protection rather than culture war litigation.

The Attorney General is the lawyer for the people and for the state, and thats not how its been used, Johnson said.

Jaworski proposed structural changes, including a voter enhancement division and enforcing laws requiring high school voter registration.

The candidates bring different political profiles. Johnson upset a longtime Republican in 2018, winning his seat by eight points in a district that hadnt elected a Democrat in over 30 years.

Jaworski, a trial attorney with 35 years of experience, served as Galvestons mayor and has built his profile through media appearances since 2022.

Im an attorney by day and a husband, a father, and a Texan 24/7, and so I am not coming from this as a political advancement, Jaworski said.

Both face the challenge of overcoming Republican dominance in statewide races. No Democrat has won statewide office in Texas since 1994.

True MAGA attorney Aaron Reitz joins race for Texas attorney general

The winner will face one of three Republicans seeking the nomination: state Sens. Joan Huffman of Houston and Mayes Middleton of Galveston, or former Department of Justice attorney Aaron Reitz.

The Democratic primary will be held March 3, 2026.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The chaotic violence that erupted outside the historic Stonewall Inn near the end of Pride Month was sparked when teen gang members mocked a dead rival  igniting a tragic chain of events that ended with a teenage girl accidentally shot in the head and critically wounded, the Daily News has learned.

Earlier this month cops arrested a 17-year-old boy, who is charged with attempted murder for the June 28 shooting in Sheridan Square when it was crowded with celebrants commemorating LGBTQ+ history. The violence started as a clash between rival gangs from New Jersey and Fort Greene, Brooklyn  with the New Jersey group basically disrespecting someone from Fort Greene who had recently died, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny recently told The News.

A brawl broke out shortly after 10 p.m., during which a 16-year-old girl from the Fort Greene crew was punched in the face and another girl was stabbed in the chest, Kenny said. The 16-year-old girl pulled out a gun and fired at a rival gang member at near point-blank range, but missed and shot an total innocent bystander in the thighs, cops said at the time.

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As scores of people ran for cover, the shooter and her friends, including the 17-year-old boy, ran off. But moments later the teen boy turned and fired toward the rival group, according to cops. He let off four rounds, one of them unintentionally striking the 16-year-old shooter in the head, police said.

The boy  who is not being named because of his age  was best friends with the girl he accidentally shot, Kenny said.

He was arrested July 21 when cops chased him and the rest of the fleeing group into the subway. He initially got away but police used footage from their body cameras to identify him based on his clothing, Kenny said. They also tracked him based on his EBT card usage, according to Kenny.

The Gun Violence Suppression Division was initially out on another case but spotted the boy and, aware he was wanted for the shooting in Sheridan Square, arrested him, Kenny said.

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The gun the critically wounded 16-year-old girl used  a defaced 9mm  was found laying on top of her after she was shot, Kenny said. The teen boys gun has still not been recovered. According to ballistics tests, both guns match shootings in Brownsville in which no one was injured, Kenny said.

The injured girl is still in critical condition, according to police.
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)  Carter County families gathered at Happy Valley High School on Saturday for the 18th annual Back to School Bash ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

This year, the bash was relocated from Hampton High School to Happy Valley due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Hosted by Back to School Ministries, the bash takes place on the last Saturday in July and offers students free school supplies and haircuts.

I have four children, and this is a great event because they help everybody with backpacks. They help with school supplies, Crystal Smith, a Carter County resident, said.

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With the hurricane, we had to do some home repairs. So, its just helping us get supplies and stuff that they need, she said.

Smiths family was not the only one to prepare for the school year at the bash; organizers expected thousands of students to show up.

Youre able to save a little bit of money with the backpacks and some of the school supplies. You dont have to get as much, Travis Zeola, a Carter County resident, said.

Brandon Young, public relations coordinator for Carter County Schools, said that the motto for this years event was Rise Up, which will also serve as the theme for the entire school year.

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The theme of this years bash is Rise Up, because after Helene came through and kind of left us in a mess, we were rising up and out of the flood waters, and were back, Young said.

Organizers with Back to School Bash Ministries expressed gratitude for their help in preparing students for the upcoming school year.

We are so blessed to see these kids have what they need to go back to school. Were the ones thats being blessed, Back to School Ministries director, Shannon Posada, said. To see these smiling faces walking around to see them getting what they need to go back to school. Theres no words to describe how it makes our heart feel.

The Carter County School year starts on Thursday, August 7th.

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The 18th annual Back to School Bash was in honor of LD and Susie Berry, according to the ministry.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the stampede incident near Mansa Devi Temple in Uttarakhand's Haridwar and announced Rs 2 lakh financial aid for families of the deceased from Uttar Pradesh. At least six people were killed and several others injured in the incident that occurred during a heavy rush of devotees. Four of the people killed in the incident are from Uttar Pradesh, according to officials. In a post on X, CM Yogi said, "The news of the tragic accident on the Shri Mansa Devi Temple road in Haridwar, resulting in the demise of devotees, is extremely painful and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the grief-stricken families. " https://x.com/myogiadityanath/status/1949420358060085293 He said officials have been directed to work with the Uttarakhand government to ensure the mortal remains are brought back to the victims' home districts. "Instructions have been given to officials to coordinate with the Uttarakhand government to ensure that the mortal remains of the citizens of UP who lost their lives in the accident are transported to their home districts and handed over to their families. Each family of the deceased from Uttar Pradesh in this accident will be provided financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh by UP Govt," the post read. Uttarakhand Chief Minister has ordered a magisterial inquiry and announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured in the stampede. Addressing reporters, CM Dhami said, "The injured are being treated. Some have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Our priority is that they get good treatment and recover soon. A toll-free number has also been issued. Magisterial inquiry has been ordered and ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, also announced." He said, "Six people have died in this accident..." President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences at the loss of lives in the stampede. In a post on X, President Murmu wrote, "The news of the death of many devotees in the stampede accident on the way to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar is deeply painful." "I express my heartfelt condolences to all the grieving families. I pray that all the injured devotees recover quickly," the post read. (ANI)
CAIRO (AP)  A notorious paramilitary group and its allies in Sudan have formed a parallel government in areas under the groups control, which are mainly in the western region of Darfur where allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity are being investigated.

The move, which was announced Saturday, was likely to deepen the crisis in Sudan, which plunged into chaos when tensions between the countrys military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, exploded into fighting in 2023 in the capital, Khartoum and elsewhere in the country.

The RSF-led Tasis Alliance appointed Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the paramilitary group, as head of the sovereign council in the new administration. The 15-member council serves as head of the state.

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The RSF grew out of the notorious Janjaweed militias, mobilized two decades ago by then-President Omar al-Bashir against populations that identify as Central or East African in Darfur. The Janjaweed were accused of mass killings, rapes and other atrocities.

In the current war, the RSF has been accused of numerous atrocities. The Biden administration slapped Dagalo with sanctions, saying the RSF and its proxies were committing genocide. The RSF has denied committing genocide.

The alliance spokesman Alaa al-Din Naqd announced the new administration in a video statement from the Darfur city of Nyala, which is controlled by the RFF and its allied Janjaweed.

Mohammed Hassan al-Taishi, a civilian politician who was a member of a military-civilian sovereign council that ruled Sudan following the 2019 overthrow of al-Bashir, was named as prime minister in the RSF-controlled government.

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Rebel leader Abdelaziz al-Hilu, who commands the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) which is active in the southern Kodrofan region, was appointed as Dagalos deputy in the council. The SPLM-N is a breakaway faction of the SPLM, the ruling party of neighboring South Sudan.

The announcement came five months after the RSF and its allies signed a charter in February in Kenyas capital, Nairobi, with the aim of establishing a parallel government in RSF-controlled areas.

At the time, many countries, including the U.S., rejected the RSF efforts and condemned the signing by the paramilitary group and its allies of what they called transitional constitution in the Kenya-hosted conference.

The foreign ministry of the internationally recognized government in Khartoum condemned the announcement in a statement. It called it a fake government and urged the international community to not engage with the RSF-led administration.

The RSF-led move was likely to deepen the division in Sudan. Yasir Arman, a rebel leader, said the move is likely to prolong the conflict and divide Sudan between two rival administrations  similar to neighboring Libya.
Iowans have powerful traction in their fight to ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines. Many landowners on Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed expansion route are refusing to sign away their land. Instead of accepting that its project is not wanted, Summit is doubling down on false solutions like expanding the notification corridor for pipelines. Lets make it clear: The solution to Iowas property rights crisis is a ban on eminent domain for carbon pipelines.

Four years ago, thousands of Iowans in Summits chosen notification corridor received a life-changing letter stating that Summit had targeted their land for a risky carbon pipeline. Those unwilling to go along with Summits plan would face having their land forcibly taken via eminent domain. This initial letter is required by law to inform landowners of their rights, describe the Iowa Utilities Commission permitting process and extend an invitation to an informational meeting to learn more about the proposed project.

Notification corridors are a critical aspect of the pipeline permitting process. The letters sent to those in the notification corridor are typically how people find out about a project, and the rights they have as targeted landowners. Without this initial notice, many Iowans would be deprived of their due process rights to defend their land from being taken by the government.

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More: Legislators listened to the people of Iowa. It's up to Kim Reynolds now. | Opinion

Summit, like all hazardous pipeline companies, picks its own notification corridor. It determines the preferred route and sets a buffer distance of the companys choosing. The pipeline company can then reroute the pipeline, as necessary, anywhere within that corridor. Currently, a pipeline company cannot route its pipeline outside of the notification corridor without approval from the Iowa Utilities Commission and going back to square one to ensure Iowans have due process.

This process works. It allows targeted landowners time to research the project, obtain legal counsel, and participate in the permitting process. No Iowan asked for this system to be changed.

it is the brainchild of an industry desperate to protect its unconstrained power.

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After landowners successfully put a property rights bill on a path toward Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk in 2025, state Sen. Mike Bousselot and allies proposed a new idea: removing the notification corridor. Some senators even dropped the first part of the phrase and just called it a corridor  forget the notification part!

More: Here's the path forward to protecting Iowa farmers and Iowa property rights | Opinion

This is nothing more than a distraction. Removing the notification corridor would not be a gift to Iowans concerned about property rights. It would be a gift to Summit in its struggle to find landowners willing to sign a voluntary easement agreement.

Carbon pipelines do not provide a public good. They provide private profit to a handful of wealthy investors at the expense of everyday people  our land, our safety, and on our dime. They should not qualify for eminent domain. Iowa must ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines.

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Legislators who believe removing the notification corridor is the solution are probably listening to Summit more than the people who elected them. Iowans arent asking for a change in notification corridors. Were demanding a ban on eminent domain for carbon pipelines. Nothing less.

Jess Mazour

Jess Mazour is a lifelong Iowan and is the Conservation Program Associate for the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter. She has organized Iowans opposed to carbon pipelines since 2021.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Eminent domain and property rights are still the key issue | Opinion
(WHTM)  The Pennsylvania State Police held their annual statewide Sunny Day Camp Saturday in Lancaster County.

Folks of all ages with special needs had the opportunity to explore what a career in law enforcement entails.

The camp took place at Stone Gables Estate in Elizabethtown and was open to residents across the Commonwealth.

Its inspired by Camp Cadet and launched in 2019, growing each year.

State troopers and campers look forward to the event every year.

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Both local law enforcement and PSP, we actually bring in different opportunities, Mark Robinson, vice president of the camp, said. I think it means a lot also to the law enforcement and state troopers because they get to understand people with special needs and what they need to be able to go through every single day as well.

Registration for next years camp has not yet opened.

Camps are also held in each troop across the state for residents within the troops boundaries.

We have details on camps for troops covering the Midstate below.

Troop H  Harrisburg

Covers Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, and Perry Counties

2025 Date: TBD

Contacts: Trooper Kelly Smith (717-254-4705) or Trooper Angela Laviena (717-671-7577)

Troop J  Lancaster

Covers Lancaster County

2025 Date: Sept. 6

Location: Christian Fellowship Church, 758 Spruce Road, New Holland;

Contact: Trooper James Grothey (717-290-1996)

Troop L  Reading

Covers Lebanon, Berks, and Schuylkill Counties

2025 Date: Oct. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Camp Manatawny, Douglassville

Contact: Troopers Rush Stehlin or Trooper Ethan Brownback at 717-678-9458 or 610-378-4389

Registration: https://secure.blueoctane.net/forms/A2XWC7PI99ZP

Troop G  Hollidaysburg

Covers Mifflin, Juniata, Fulton, Bedford, Blair, Centre, and Huntingdon Counties

2025 Date: Sept. 24, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Registration opens at 9 a.m.

Location: Dell Delight Legion Park, Hollidaysburg

Contact: Trooper Jacob Rhymestine at 814-696-6132

Registration: https://secure.blueoctane.net/forms/BWSO3FKYCPUU

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
The Supreme Courts right-wing supermajority helped put President Donald Trump back in office. Now its letting him run rampant, often without even bothering to give us an explanation.

In 17 straight cases  an unprecedented number compared to every prior presidency, according to Georgetown Law professor Stephen Vladeck  the Supreme Court granted the Trump Justice Departments emergency requests, halting orders from lower courts that had temporarily blocked the administrations overreach. In doing so, the court has allowed the key planks of Trumps Project 2025 agenda to take effect.

Some of the Trump 2.0 policies the high court has greenlit include:

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Dropping noncitizens into war-torn countries theyve never stepped foot in, where they face the possibility of torture or death.

Revoking temporary protected status for half a million noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.

Ordering the mass firings of federal workers.

Gutting the Department of Education.

Giving Trumps so-called Department of Government Efficiency access to millions of Americans private information.

Purging transgender servicemembers from the military.

Illegally firing the Democratic members of independent agencies like the National Labor Relations Board, the Merit Systems Review Board, and the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

It would, however, be too simple to say the Supreme Court has rolled over because its gone full MAGA  though that is quite true for at least a couple members of the Republican majority. The Roberts Courts capitulation is also an act of appeasement designed to preserve its power by avoiding confrontation with a would-be autocrat.

Chief Justice John Roberts has spent his two decades on the bench building up his court as the countrys main policymaking and -breaking body of government. Yet the Roberts Courts landmark antidemocratic rulings unleashing money in politics, gutting the Voting Rights Act, and granting Trump sweeping criminal immunity for trying to overturn the 2020 election, all led directly to Trump 2.0.

And within weeks of regaining power, Trump began attacking  and defying  judges who stood in the way of what he regarded as his electoral mandate to do whatever he wanted, Constitution be damned.

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At first, Roberts spoke out against Trumps calls to impeach lower court judges for daring to rule against him. In a statement, the chief justice wrote, For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.

But what seemed at the time like a rebuke now reads more like friendly advice, given how Trump has fared before the chief.

The appellate review process of Trumps authoritarian agenda has so far been anything but normal. Virtually all of Trumps wins have come on the Supreme Courts emergency  or shadow  docket, where the justices make decisions without the benefit of full briefing or oral argument and, often, provide no reasoning for their votes.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Courts solicitude towards Trump on the shadow docket suggests Trumps attacks against lower court judges have influenced the votes of the members of the high courts right-wing supermajority that have not gone totally MAGA. To those justices  Roberts chief among them  Trumps ever-present threat of defiance has presented the Supreme Court with a choice: be a rubber stamp to appease Trump and preserve the prospect that he will obey future adverse rulings, or refuse to be a rubber stamp even just once and reveal just how illusory the courts power has always been.

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Chief Justice Roberts has chosen appeasement, and without any guarantee that Trump will honor the courts credit should the chief ever lead his colleagues in declaring Trump has gone too far.

Indeed, the justices have already shied away from such a confrontation in the one Trump case the Supreme Court did move to the merits docket. Rather than resolve whether Trumps executive order attacking birthright citizenship is constitutional, the Roberts majority instead accepted the Trump DOJs argument that the lower courts had no power to issue a universal injunction against the policy. The ruling only indefinitely delays the Supreme Court from ruling on the merits of the citizenship-stripping order while the lower courts wrestle with ancillary questions over the proper scope of potential relief. For all intents and purposes, the damage has been done.

While the Roberts majority cowers from Trump to preserve its own relevance, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is calling her colleagues to account over the real-world effects of their capitulation. Shes also showing us a path forward.

In a series of dissents at the end of this term, Justice Jackson all but accused the Roberts majority of being in the pocket of moneyed interests on the merits docket (i.e. in fully briefed and argued cases), and in Trumps pocket on the shadow docket, pointing to the courts demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this presidents legally dubious actions in an emergency posture.

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In a series of posts on BlueSky, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) applauded Jackson for dispensing with the collegiality befitting ordinary times.

What if we are in a time when a billionaire-funded scheme has spent decades trying to pack the court with billionaire-agreeable justices, so as to capture the court in the sense of regulatory capture or agency capture  and what if the billionaires have finally succeeded, Sen. Whitehouse asked in a series of rhetorical questions.

And speaking to the Indianapolis Bar Association recently, Jackson said her separate opinions this term reflect her concerns about the state of our democracy.

Im really very interested in getting people to focus and to invest and to pay attention to what is happening in our country and in our government, Jackson told the audience, according to a report from The New York Times.

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But Justice Jackson is doing more than calling out her colleagues. In separate opinion after separate opinion, she is also articulating a pro-democracy vision for a court that defers to the people, facilitates a truly representative and multiracial republic, and polices clear constitutional limits.

[W]hen Congress speaks, courts should listen, she wrote in an April concurrence. But, shes chronicled her colleagues aggrandizement of judicial power while insisting on the courts role to stop the executive branchs lawlessness. The court has cleared a path for the executive to choose law-free action at this perilous moment for our Constitution, she wrote in her dissent to Junes birthright citizenship decision, right when the judiciary should be hunkering down to do all it can to preserve the laws constraints.

In other words, the Roberts majority makes stuff up to get in the way of the peoples will and ignores clear constitutional and statutory commands to let Trump run rampant.

That is exactly backwards.

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We need a Supreme Court that  absent clear constitutional or statutory commands  gets out of the way of the peoples will.

While our current court charts a path of quiet appeasement, Justice Jackson is reminding us how to fight, boldly and unapologetically.

Mike Sacks is a senior advisor with Court Accountability, an organization focused on fighting court corruption.

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Police have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a 35-year-old man in lower Manhattan back in May, cops announced on Sunday.

Police discovered the victim with a gunshot wound to the chest near Pearl St. and St. James Place in Two Bridges after receiving a 911 call about an assault in progress shortly before 9 p.m. on May 9.

Medics rushed the victim  later identified by police as Gary Fitzgerald, a resident of the Bronx  to Bellevue Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

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On May 21, police arrested Michael Barbosa, 34, cops announced on Sunday. Barbosa, who lives on Pearl St. one block away from the crime scene, is charged with murder and criminal weapons possession, according to police.

A motive behind the shooting was not immediately known.

Police put a name to Barbosas face, which was captured on a surveillance video during the shooting, because of his distinctive red-and-black checkered jacket, prosecutors said at his arraignment in May.

He was spotted several minutes before the bloodshed wearing the same jacket at a nearby deli, and earlier in the day, video from his apartment lobby shows him wearing the same jacket as he shows his phone to a delivery person before accepting a takeout order, prosecutors said.

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Investigators subpoenaed records to learn that the food order was placed by a phone in Barbosas name, prosecutors said.

Fitzgerald, a father of one and stepfather of two, is deeply mourned by his family. His laughter was music, a tune so sincere, A note of joy for all those to hear. A man of simple pleasures, but oh so profound, In the love for his family, where his joy was found, his online obituary reads.

In addition to his family, he loved gaming and the beach, according to his obituary.

His steps echoed laughter, his hugs could cure woes, His jokes brought the smiles, as everyone knows, the obituary continues in endearing verse. Funny and loving, with bravery vast, These traits of our Gary will forever last.

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Fitzgerald had two open criminal cases for assault in Manhattan at the time of his death, according to online records.

Barbosa is currently incarcerated at Rikers Island, online records show. His next court date is August 11.

With John Annese
A 42-year-old man is facing charges of terrorism and assault with intent to murder after 11 shoppers were stabbed at a Walmart supermarket in the US state of Michigan.

An assailant used a folding knife to stab five men and six women, including a Walmart employee, on Saturday afternoon in Traverse City.

The victims, ranging in age from 21 to 84, are all expected to survive. The suspect, Bradford James Gille, is due to be arraigned on Monday or Tuesday.

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Investigators said the stabbings were random and they are yet to reveal a motive, but they said a terrorism charge was justified because such a mass attack was believed to be intended to bring fear and destruction to the community as a whole.

[Reuters]

Addressing reporters on Sunday, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said officers began arriving at the store two minutes after the first call came through.

"At the time of the deputy's arrival, multiple citizens, including one who was armed with a pistol, were confronting the male suspect in the parking lot and preventing him from harming further people and leaving," he said. "The deputy took the suspect into custody without further incident."

He added that the suspect's motive was "yet to be determined".

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"Our detectives, with assistance from the FBI, interviewed him at length, and that will be part of the investigation as it moves forward," he added.

Joe Pennington, a Walmart spokesperson, said: "Violence like this is unacceptable.

"Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we're thankful for the swift action of first responders."

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said on Saturday that federal personnel were responding to provide any necessary support to local authorities.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said: "Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence."

Traverse City is about 255 miles (410km) north-west of Detroit.
WHITESBURG, Ky. (FOX 56)  An officer-involved shooting investigation is underway in Letcher County after a response to reports of a domestic fight involving gunfire led to a man allegedly drawing a gun in front of law enforcement.

A preliminary investigation showed that a Kentucky State Police (KSP) trooper with Post 13 in Hazard and a deputy with the Letcher County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) were sent around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, to a residence near KY-160 in response to reports of a shooting that stemmed from a domestic fight nearby.

Laurel County Public Schools chief of police no longer employed amid DUI investigation

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The person who reported the fight to police told the deputy and KSP trooper that a neighbor, Julian Smith, 25, of Jeremiah, was allegedly responsible for the disturbance, according to a news release.

When Smith saw law enforcement officials, he allegedly ran into the woods and took out a pistol. The LCSO deputy and KSP trooper fired their agency-issued guns, hitting the man, state police said. Both of them then gave Smith medical attention until emergency personnel came.

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Smith was taken to the Johnson City Medical Center, where he is reportedly stable. Neither the trooper nor the deputy was hurt, per KSP.

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The officer-involved shooting investigation remains ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  The Warren County Sheriffs Office has provided more details on Saturdays standoff that inadvertently prompted a text warning across southwest Ohio.

Deputies were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on Denzelle Pouncy, 32, at a home on Spring Mill Way in Deerfield Township. Despite the deputies reaching out to him, Pouncy allegedly refused to surrender and exit the home.

Pouncy had been sought for allegedly strangling and assaulting his girlfriend on Friday.

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The sheriffs office had been told by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority that the ankle monitor Pouncy was wearing said he was at that home, and that someone had allegedly tampered with it.

Deputies called in the county Tactical Response Unit, which eventually breached the home and apprehended him after several hours of failed cooperation with the suspect.

According to the Warren County Emergency Management Agency, the emergency alert was sent as far as Montgomery County was due to a technical malfunction with its Integrated Public Alert & Warning System.

The alert advised recipients to secure their doors and windows, without supplying a reason.

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According the Warren County Sheriffs Department Twitter account, the emergency alert was meant just for residents of the Landen area of Deerfield Township.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Jul. 27A 32-year-old man was arrested in Deerfield Twp. Saturday after a several hours long standoff.

Crews were dispatched to the 3000 block of Spring Mill Way to "execute a warrant" on a man wanted for strangulation and assault of his girlfriend from the prior day, according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office said The Ohio Adult Parole Authority informed them that the suspect's ankle monitor was showing him to be at the residence, and the monitor had been tampered with.

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The sheriff's office said they attempted to contact him, but he refused to come out of the residence.

The Warren County Tactical Response was requested to assist with the apprehension.

After several hours of the suspect refusing to cooperate, the tactical team made entry into the residence and took him into custody, the sheriff's office said.

Additional charges of inducing panic, burglary, unlawful restraint and disrupting public services are being filed.

This incident is connected to Saturday's situation of where an emergency IPAWS alert by the Warren County Sheriff's Office about an active threat intended for Deerfield Twp. only, was sent out to people in other areas and did not relay the entire message.

The sheriff's office said the error likely came from a technical malfunction, and is being investigated by local, state and federal partners.
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday quoted Maharishi Arvind as saying that it is "God's will" for Sanatan Dharma to rise, and with it, the "rise of the Hindu nation is inevitable." He said while addressing the 'Gyan Sabha', a national education conclave organised by the RSS-linked 'Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas' here. "Yogi Arvind said that it is God's will for Sanatan Dharma to rise, and for the rise of Sanatan Dharma, the rise of the Hindu nation is inevitable. These are his words, and we see that today's world needs this vision. Therefore, we will have to first understand what Bharat is..." Bhagwat said, addressing an event in Kochi. Stressing the importance of cultural identity, the RSS Chief said, Bharat is not just a name, it is the nation's 'identity' that must not be altered or translated. "Bharat is a proper noun. It should not be translated. 'India that is Bharat' is true. But Bharat is Bharat, and that is why, while writing and speaking, we should keep Bharat as Bharat... Bharat must remain Bharat. The identity of Bharat is respected because it is Bharat. If you lose your identity, whatever other meritorious qualities you may have, you will never be respected or secure in this world. That is the thumb rule..." he said. According to Bhagwat, the global respect India commands today is rooted in its "Bharatiyata", its original identity as Bharat. He also spoke about India's peaceful history and its contribution to civilisation across the world. He said Bharat had never invaded other countries or pursued conquest, and instead spread knowledge and values. "Viksit Bharat, Vishwa Guru Bharat, will not be the cause of war, will never exploit. We have gone from Mexico to Siberia, we walked on foot, and we went in small boats. We did not invade anyone's territory and ruin it. We did not usurp anyone's kingdom. We taught everyone civilisation. You see the tradition of Indian knowledge. The root of the tradition is in that truth. The truth of the unity of the whole world..." Bhagwat added. Touching on the purpose of education, he said it must empower individuals and strengthen families. "One small intention behind getting education is to be able to stand on your own in your life and to be able to keep your family intact..." he said. The RSS Chief underlined the need to root India's education system in its civilisational values and identity. (ANI)
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Authorities on Saturday rendered safe a suspicious package that was found in downtown San Diego.

The incident occurred around 10:39 a.m. in front of the San Diego Law Library at 1100 Front Street, according to the San Diego Police Department.

Murder-suicide suspected in Mid-City domestic violence shooting

Police asked the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System to temporarily shut down bus and trolley service until 12:08 p.m. for the bomb squad to work on the package.

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Once the object was deemed safe, traffic in the area reopened around noon as well.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
A person driving a stolen Hyundai crashed into an SUV in Tacoma early Saturday afternoon, causing the SUV to roll onto its side, according to Tacoma police.

The collision happened around 2:46 p.m. near the intersection of South 76th Street and D Street South.

Police said the stolen vehicle, a gray Hyundai, struck a dark-colored SUV.

After the crash, the driver of the Hyundai ran away from the scene.

One person suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital by private vehicle, authorities said.

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Police confirmed the Hyundai involved had been reported stolen.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact Tacoma Police.

VIDEO PROVIDED BY MATTHEW WASHAM
SWAT units were called out to a Pittsburgh neighborhood on Sunday morning.

A Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson says SWAT units were called to the 5100 block of Broad Street in the citys Garfield neighborhood around 5:15 a.m., where a man was reportedly barricaded in a home after a domestic situation.

The spokesperson later told Channel 11 that police did a thorough search of the home, but didnt find anyone inside. The man later surrendered to police and was taken to the Allegheny County Jail. Charges are forthcoming.

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A woman with head injuries was taken to the hospital from the scene. Were told shes in stable condition.

The SWAT situation closed several roads in the area, around North Evaline and Dearborn streets.

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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September, the head of a body tasked with organizing the election process told state media Sunday.

Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for Peoples Assembly Elections, told state news agency SANA that elections will take place between Sept. 15 and 20. They will be the first to take place under the countrys new authorities after the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.

One third of the 210 seats will the appointed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, with the rest to be elected.

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In a recent interview with the Erem News site, another member of the elections committee, Hassan al-Daghim, said an electoral college will be set up in each of Syrias provinces to vote for the elected seats.

A temporary constitution signed by al-Sharaa in March called for a Peoples Committee to be set up to serve as an interim parliament until a permanent constitution is adopted and general elections held, a process that could take years.

The announcement of impending elections comes at a time when the country is increasingly divided in its views of the new authorities in Damascus after sectarian violence broke out in the southern province of Sweida earlier this month. The fighting killed hundreds of people and threatened to unravel Syrias fragile postwar transition.

The violent clashes, which broke out two weeks ago, were sparked by tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and fighters from the Druze religious minority.

Syrian government forces intervened, ostensibly to end the fighting, but effectively sided with the clans. Some government fighters reportedly executed Druze civilians and burned and looted houses. Israel intervened, launching airstrikes on government forces and on the Defense Ministry headquarters. Israel said it was acting to defend the Druze minority.
Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September, said the head of a body tasked with organising the election process.

Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for Peoples Assembly Elections, told state news agency SANA on Sunday that elections will take place between September 15 and 20.

They will be the first to take place under the countrys new authorities after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.

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One-third of the 210 seats will be appointed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with the rest to be elected.

In a recent interview with the Erem News site, another member of the elections committee, Hassan al-Daghim, said an electoral college will be set up in each of Syrias provinces to vote for the elected seats.

Increasingly divided

A temporary constitution signed by al-Sharaa in March called for a Peoples Committee to be set up to serve as an interim parliament until a permanent constitution is adopted and general elections held, a process that could take years.

The announcement of impending elections comes at a time when the country is increasingly divided in its views of the new authorities in Damascus after sectarian violence broke out in the southern province of Suwayda earlier this month.

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The fighting killed hundreds of people and threatened to unravel Syrias fragile postwar transition.

The violent clashes, which broke out two weeks ago, were sparked by tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and fighters from the Druze religious minority.

Syrian government forces intervened, ostensibly to end the fighting, but effectively sided with the clans.

Some government troops reportedly executed Druze civilians and burned and looted houses.

Israel intervened, launching air strikes on government forces and on the Defence Ministry headquarters. Israel said it was acting to defend the Druze minority.




This article first appeared on our partner site, Independent Persian

Since returning to power, the Taliban has made spreading its ideology a key priority. From prisons and rehab facilities to military bases, religious education is becoming a cornerstone of Afghanistans institutions. By introducing courses in Quranic recitation and exegesis, as well as broader religious instruction, the group aims to bring more Afghans closer to its strict interpretation of Islam and convince them of the merits of its fundamentalist approach.

Recently, images of the graduation ceremony of 100 people undergoing treatment for drug addiction at a rehab centre in the western province of Herat were widely promoted in media outlets affiliated with the group. The graduands had completed courses in the correct recitation and pronunciation of the Quran. The ceremony, which also marked the end of their time at the facility, featured white clothing, traditional caps and Taliban flags.

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Syed Asif, one of the participants on the course who was a patient at the centre, told Independent Persian: Im currently undergoing treatment and have now been able to quit drugs. During this time, I started reading the Holy Quran and memorised many of its parts.

Hayatullah Rouhani, the anti-narcotics chief in the city of Herat, said authorities aim to provide opportunities for religious learning in the rehabilitation process for those struggling with addiction.

Taliban cleric students from a madrasa arrive to attend their graduation ceremony in Kandahar in February 2023 (AFP/Getty)

In addition to offering Quranic instruction, the Taliban also held singing sessions for some of the patients. They were instructed to sign anthems that glorified the groups 20-year war against the former Afghan government and Western forces, recounting bombings, suicide attacks and bloody battles. These songs serve to promote the Talibans jihadist narrative and legitimise violence.

Whats concerning is not the introduction of religious education in itself, but the content and nature of what is taught. It is a curriculum designed to push society towards extremism and create fertile ground for Taliban recruitment. During the groups insurgency against the previous government, religious schools were key recruiting hubs. These institutions distort Islamic teachings and glorify violence, preparing students for war and carrying out suicide missions.

Their goal is to build a society not just politically dominated by the Taliban, but intellectually and ideologically shaped by its worldview

Now that the Taliban have full control of public schools, religious institutions, universities, prisons and rehab centres across Afghanistan, their primary focus has been imposing a rigid, hardline interpretation of Islam. Their goal is to build a society not just politically dominated by their organisation, but intellectually and ideologically shaped by its worldview.

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The Talibans expansion of religious education isnt confined to prisons and rehab centres. There has been a sharp increase in the number of mosques and religious schools across the country. The presence of senior Taliban officials at graduation ceremonies, both in religious schools and for religious courses in detention or rehab centres, makes it clear that spreading their version of Islam through religious education is a top priority.

Schoolboys wearing Taliban-imposed new uniforms of turbans and long tunics gather for an event at a school in Herat, Afghanistan (AFP/Getty)

These officials have repeatedly called on people to study religion, but with the proviso that this is done according to the Talibans own interpretation of Islam, which diverges significantly from mainstream Islamic teachings in much of the Muslim world.

The growing emphasis on this specific brand of religious education, centred on the Talibans radical interpretation of Islam, raises serious concerns about the normalisation of religious extremism. By promoting slogans like implementing sharia law and establishing an Islamic system, the Taliban is trying to win over more Afghan citizens to its radical ideology and expand the social base it needs to sustain its political and military power.

Reviewed by Tooba Khokhar and Celine Assaf
A project planned for Bricktown in downtown Oklahoma City has drawn worldwide attention, thanks to the promised construction of what would be the tallest skyscraper in the United States.

However, the construction of the Legends Tower, a 1,907-foot-tall skyscraper planned in the project's second phase, has sparked considerable skepticism about whether the tower will actually be built, and it has been identified as a potential hazard by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The structure would be placed a few blocks away from Oklahoma City's current tallest building, Devon Tower.

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Here's how tall this building is and how it compares to the rest of our skyline and the nation.

How tall would Legends Tower be?

If built as planned, the 1,907-foot-tall Legends Tower would be the fourth tower at the Boardwalk at Bricktown, and the tallest in the country, surpassing One World Trade Center's 1,776 feet.

First announced in 2023, the tower would consist of apartments and a hotel.

A rendering of Boardwalk at Bricktown with Devon Tower in the background. Provided by AO Architecture.

How tall is Devon Tower?

The tallest building currently in Oklahoma City is the Devon Tower. The Devon Tower stands at 844 feet tall.

Legends Tower, which would be in Lower Bricktown, would be over twice the height of the Devon Tower, if built at the 1,907 height.

Is the Legends Tower going to be an air hazard?

Despite the excitement from many about the prospect of the tower, others have expressed concerns about its safety.

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The Federal Aviation Administration opposes the tower's height, following warnings from local airports, pilots, and at least one airline that it would jeopardize flight operations in the area.

Julie Morgan, manager of the FAAs Obstruction Evaluation Group in Fort Worth, notified Matteson in a Dec. 4, 2024, letter that if the building is built at 1,907 feet high, it will be a "hazard to air navigation."

"The study disclosed that the described structure would have a substantial adverse effect on air navigation," Morgan wrote. "This determination becomes final on January 13, 2025, unless a petition is timely filed."

Matteson told The Oklahoman he is "working through the issues" with the FAA and local and state authorities to mitigate concerns. With the tallest tower being part of phase 2, Matteson said, "We have time to work through those issues."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How tall is Devon Tower? Legends Tower? Here's how OKC buildings stack up
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Tampa-based nonprofit is pouring into the next generation of minority entrepreneurs locally and across the globe.

Girls of Color take Over is a Tampa-based non-profit organization founded by Dr. Teresa Hernandez in 2019. Lessons rooted in confidence and empowerment are inspiring minority girls in Belize, Nigeria, Ghana, Dubai and London thanks to GOCTO.

Chips Ahoy! releasing limited-edition Stranger Things cookies, with new ingredient

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It was about going back to the girls, the neighborhood and community I grew up, Hernandez said. Showing them, hey, this is where I came from, this is how things are going for me, lets see how we can make things happen for you. Heres a road map, i want to see you succeed and reach your highest potential.

Dr. Hernandez was born and raised in Belize. She moved to New York in 1998 to continue her higher education and ultimately moved to Tampa in 2012. After facing discrimination in corporate America, Hernandez wanted to create a pathway of her own.

Fighting for raises, fighting for a position like an executive position, it seemed very challenging, she said. I knew if it was something I was going to face there will be generations behind me that will face the same thing.

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Thats why through her non-profit, she pours into minority girls daily, like Zia Sutherland.

Since I was little, I always wanted to have my own business and be my own boss, Sutherland said.

While attending Sumner High School in Riverview, Sutherland said Dr. Hernandezs work on social media, and immediately signed up for the organization.

I really learned the fundamentals of what it is to be a boss, customer service because if youre a boss you have to have good customer service skills to talk to others and sell your products, Sutherland said.

Sutherland now has her own LLC, selling natural hair extensions and working as a hair stylist. Its those same lessons Dr. Hernandez is instilling in girls across the world, particularly girls of color.

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As a woman of color myself I think being marginalized and knowing opportunities dont come easy for us, I just want to remind them they do have a place on this earth to do incredible things. Theres space for all of us, Hernandez said.

GOCTO just wrapped up the international leg of their summer camp tour. Camp in Tampa runs from July 28th  August 1st. It will take place at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center. Visit GOCTOs website to register.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Jul. 27A groundbreaking solar observation mission, launched from New Mexico, took less time than a typical lunch break this month.

NASA on July 18 launched its Solar EruptioN Integral Field Spectrograph, or SNIFS, mission from White Sands Missile Range. The trip to observe the energy and dynamics of the chromosphere took less than 20 minutes, according to NASA.

Scientists hope the mission answers questions about energy and mass flow in the chromosphere, high-frequency dynamics and the state of hydrogen's influence. Phil Chamberlin, principal investigator of the mission, told the Journal that NASA hasn't yet looked at the data, which will take a couple of weeks to obtain.

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The team will then spend months figuring out the images and analyzing the data, he said.

"It is not a quick process," he added.

ABQ's Sigma Science joining RSI EnTech

Sigma Science Inc., an Albuquerque-based nuclear professional services agency founded in 1996, is joining Tennessee-based RSI EnTech.

RSI serves clients in the environmental, nuclear, energy, construction and project delivery sectors, according to the company. RSI is a subsidiary of ASRC Industrial Services. The work aligns with that of Sigma Science, which has federal and commercial clients like the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration and U.S. Department of Defense.

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The acquisition will help RSI strengthen its capabilities and client base "to support national defense and energy initiatives across the nuclear industry," said RSI President Allison Getsi in a news release on July 18.

"Today marks a fresh start as we unite with RSI and AIS," Sigma Science President Gil Torres said in a statement. "We remain dedicated to partnering with our clients and maintaining our reputation for exceptional performance as part of the RSI family."

Raton fiber project breaks ground

City and state leaders joined Resound Networks on Tuesday to break ground on a fiber project in Raton that will connect 1,370 homes, businesses, farms and public institutions like fire departments and libraries to high-speed internet.

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Resound Networks last year received $3.1 million from the state's Connect New Mexico Fund to lay out 30 miles of fiber in Colfax County, which includes Raton.

"This project demonstrates how public-private partnerships can close the digital divide in rural New Mexico, bringing economic development and telehealth opportunities to Raton families," said Jeff Lopez, director of the state Office of Broadband Access and Expansion, in a statement.

The internet service provider got nearly $20 million total through the program that's designed to build out internet infrastructure and expand broadband access in underserved or unserved communities in the state  of which there are many. The Governor's Office estimated in 2023 that nearly a quarter of New Mexican households don't have access to reliable, high-speed internet.

Other grants awarded through the Connect New Mexico Fund will go toward work in more than a dozen rural counties and Pueblos.

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Space propulsion tech proves compatable

Propel Space Inc., based out of Colorado, announced last week that its PM-5 gimbal technology works with space propulsion systems and will be available beginning in 2026 as part of Orbion Space Technology's thruster technologies package.

New Mexico nonprofit NewSpace Nexus praised the work, as Propel Space is a participant in its incubator buildout program, NewSpace Ignitor.

"Your journey since coming through the NewSpace Nexus Ignitor program has been truly remarkable," NewSpace Nexus posted on LinkedIn. "This collaboration, enabling enhanced maneuverability, reduced attitude determination and control system impacts and improved propellant efficiency for small spacecraft, is a testament to your innovation and dedication."
Hailing the Chola empire, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that while historians speak of Britain's Magna Carta in the context of democracy, the Cholas had implemented democratic election practices centuries earlier through the 'Kudavolai Amaippu' system. "The historians consider the Chola period to be among the golden eras of India, an era distinguished by its military strength. While historians speak of Britain's Magna Carta in the context of democracy, the Chola Empire had implemented democratic election practices centuries earlier through the Kudavolai Amaippu system," PM Modi said, addressing a public event during the celebration of the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu. PM Modi pointed out that global discourse today often centres around water management and ecology preservation, emphasising that India's ancestors understood the importance of these issues long ago. He cited that while many kings are remembered for acquiring gold, silver, or livestock from other regions, King Rajendra Chola is recognised for bringing sacred Ganga water to South India. The Prime Minister recalled that Rajendra Chola transported Ganga water from North to South India. He referred to the phrase "Ganga Jalamayam Jayastambham," explaining that the Ganga water was channelled into the Chola Ganga Lake, now known as the Ponneri Lake. Further, the Prime Minister emphasised that the Chola rulers had established diplomatic and trade relations with Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Southeast Asia. He noted the coincidence of having returned from the Maldives just yesterday and today being part of this program in Tamil Nadu. Quoting scriptures stating that those who meditate upon Lord Shiva become eternal like Him, PM Modi remarked that India's Chola heritage, rooted in unwavering devotion to Shiva, has attained immortality. "The legacy of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola is synonymous with India's identity and pride," exclaimed the Prime Minister, stating that the history and heritage of the Chola Empire proclaim the true potential of India. Prime Minister on the occasion released a commemorative coin honouring one of the greatest emperors of India, Rajendra Chola I. This special celebration also commemorates 1,000 years of the legendary maritime expedition of Rajendra Chola I to Southeast Asia and the commencement of the construction of the iconic Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple, a magnificent example of Chola architecture. He emphasised that this heritage inspires the national aspiration of building a developed India, paying tribute to Rajendra Chola the Great, acknowledging his enduring legacy. Noting that the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival was recently celebrated, PM Modi stated that today's grand program marks its conclusion and congratulated all those who contributed to the event. Highlighting that Rajendra Chola established the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple, which continues to be recognised globally as an architectural wonder, PM Modi remarked that the celebration of Ganga on the land of Mother Kaveri is also a legacy of the Chola Empire. He expressed his delight that, in memory of this historic episode, Ganga water has once again been brought from Kashi to Tamil Nadu, noting that a formal ritual was conducted at the site. As the elected representative from Kashi, the Prime Minister shared his deep emotional connection with Mother Ganga. He stated that the efforts and programs associated with the Chola kings are akin to a sacred endeavour--symbolic of "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat," giving the initiative a new and fresh momentum. "The Chola rulers had woven India into a thread of cultural unity. Today, our government is carrying forward the same ideals from the Chola era," stated the Prime Minister. Rajendra Chola I (1014-1044 CE) was one of the most powerful and visionary rulers in Indian history. Under his leadership, the Chola Empire expanded its influence across South and Southeast Asia. He established Gangaikonda Cholapuram as the imperial capital after his victorious campaigns, and the temple he built there served as a beacon of Shaiva devotion, monumental architecture, and administrative prowess for over 250 years. Today, the temple stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its intricate sculptures, Chola bronzes, and ancient inscriptions. MM Modi highlighted that programs like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam and the Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam are reinforcing centuries-old bonds of unity. PM Modi added that ancient temples such as Gangaikonda Cholapuram in Tamil Nadu are being preserved through the Archaeological Survey of India. Recalling that during the inauguration of the new Parliament building, saints from the Shiv Adheenam led the ceremony with spiritual guidance, the Prime Minister noted that the sacred Sengol, associated with Tamil tradition, has been ceremonially installed in Parliament, a moment that he still remembers with immense pride. Noting the significance of the holy month of Sawan and the historic occasion marking 1,000 years since the construction of the Brihadeeswarar Shiva Temple, PM Modi expressed his privilege in being present at the feet of Lord Brihadeeswarar Shiva during such an extraordinary moment and performing worship at the revered temple. He prayed at the historic Brihadeeswarar Shiva Temple for the welfare of 140 crore Indians and the continued progress of the nation and expressed his wish that Lord Shiva's blessings reach everyone, invoking the sacred chant of Lord Shiva. The Prime Minister added that a similar Ananda Tandava idol of Lord Nataraja adorns Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, where global leaders had gathered during the G-20 summit in 2023. "India's Shaivite tradition has played a vital role in shaping the nation's cultural identity. The Chola emperors were key architects in this cultural development and Tamil Nadu continues to be an important center of vibrant Shaivite heritage," said the Prime Minister, highlighting the legacy of the revered Nayanmar saints, their devotional literature, Tamil literary contributions, and the spiritual influence of the Adheenams. He stated that these elements catalysed a new era in both social and spiritual spheres. Noting that the world today is facing challenges like instability, violence, and environmental crises, PM Modi emphasised that Shaivite philosophy offers pathways to meaningful solutions. He cited the teachings of Tirumular, who wrote 'Anbe Sivam,' meaning "Love is Shiva." The Prime Minister remarked that if the world embraced this thought, many crises could resolve on their own, stating that India is advancing this philosophy through the motto 'One World, One Family, One Future.' "Today, India is guided by the mantra of 'Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi,' and modern India takes pride in its history," said PM Modi, remarking that over the past decade, the nation has worked in mission mode to preserve its cultural legacy. He noted that ancient statues and artefacts, which had been stolen and sold abroad, have been brought back to India. The Prime Minister pointed out that since 2014, more than 600 ancient artefacts have been repatriated from various countries around the world, with 36 of these artefacts specifically from Tamil Nadu. He highlighted that many valuable heritage items--including Nataraja, Lingodbhavar, Dakshinamurthy, Ardhanarishwara, Nandikeswara, Uma Parameshwari, Parvati, and Sambandar--are once again adorning the land. "The economic and strategic advancements achieved during the Chola era remain a source of inspiration for modern India; Rajaraja Chola established a powerful navy, which was further strengthened by Rajendra Chola," cited the Prime Minister, remarking that the Chola period witnessed key administrative reforms, including the empowerment of local governance systems and implementation of a robust revenue structure. He noted that India progressed swiftly in all directions through commercial advancement, utilization of maritime routes, and the promotion of art and culture, emphasising that the Chola Empire serves as an ancient roadmap for building a new India. He further stated that to become a developed nation, India must prioritize unity, strengthen its navy and defense forces, seek new opportunities, and safeguard its core values. He expressed satisfaction that the country is moving forward, inspired by this very vision. Underscoring that today's India places the highest priority on its national security, the Prime Minister, citing Operation Sindoor, stated that the world witnessed India's firm and decisive response to any threat against its sovereignty. He affirmed that the operation has sent a clear message--there is no safe haven for terrorists and enemies of the nation. He further added that Operation Sindoor has raised new confidence in the people of India, and the whole world is witnessing it. PM Modi then drew a thoughtful parallel to the legacy of Rajendra Chola, highlighting the construction of Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Out of deep respect, its temple gopuram was built lower than that of his father's Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. Despite his achievements, Rajendra Chola exemplified humility. "Today's New India embodies this same spirit--becoming stronger, yet rooted in values of global welfare and unity", stated the Prime Minister. On this occasion, PM Modi announced that grand statues of Rajaraja Chola and his son, the illustrious ruler Rajendra Chola I, will be installed in Tamil Nadu in the near future. He stated that these statues will serve as modern pillars of India's historical consciousness. Noting that today marks the death anniversary of former President of India, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister remarked that to lead a developed India, the country needs millions of youth like Dr Kalam and the Chola kings. He concluded by emphasising that such youth--filled with strength and devotion--will fulfil the dreams of 140 crore Indians. He added that together, we will advance the resolve of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat and extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion The Aadi Thiruvathirai festival also celebrates the rich Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition, fervently supported by the Cholas and immortalized by the 63 Nayanmars--the saint-poets of Tamil Shaivism. Notably, Rajendra Chola's birth star, Thiruvathirai (Ardra), begins on July 23, making this year's festival all the more significant. (ANI)
SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio (WJW)  An investigation is underway after a teenager was shot Saturday night at the Summit County Fairgrounds.

According to police, the shooting happened in the parking lot around 11:15 p.m., after the fair had closed for the day.

Lorain Officer Brent Payne, 1 of 3 officers injured in fatal shooting, released from hospital

A Sunday morning news release from police said a man fired multiple shots into an occupied vehicle.

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A 17-year-old male inside the vehicle was hit by one of the bullets and hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries, police said.

The suspect has been described as a black male wearing a Nike t-shirt with dreadlock-style hair and a tattoo on his neck. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown vehicle, the release stated.

The shooting was also addressed in a Facebook post from the Summit County Fairgrounds. The post reassured guests and community members that safety is the fairs top priority.

Additional security measures have been put in place, and we remain committed to ensuring a safe, enjoyable experience for all who attend our events, the post stated.

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The shooting is under investigations by the Summit County Sheriffs Detective Bureau. Anyone with information is asked to call 330-643-8087.

Motorcyclist dead after Stark County crash

As Fox 8 News previously reported, the fair was shut down early Friday after a series of trouble-making incidents.

According to the fairs website, the fair runs through Sunday, July 27. Officials announced that to help ensure continued safety, a restriction on bag types will be enforced for the remainder of 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Around May, the defendant warned the Iranian agent that Israel was planning to attack the Islamic Republic, that it was preparing for a ground operation at Iranian nuclear sites,

After maintaining romantic and cultural ties to Iran for over a decade, a man was indicted at the Lod District Court on Sunday for contact with a foreign agent and passing along information to the enemy with the intention of harming state security.

The man, unidentified, made aliyah from Iran to Israel in 1999, and still has family in Iran today. He was arrested on July 1, joining a concerningly growing list of Israelis carrying out operations at the instruction of Iranian agents.

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Around 2013, while on a visit to Turkey, he approached the Iranian embassy to inquire how he could visit the Islamic Republic. He then received official documents and forms from the embassy at the time.

From 2015-2025, he had a romantic relationship with an Iranian woman living in Iran. They spoke on a daily basis through Telegram, Google Meet, and WhatsApp. The two also met several times in different countries, including Turkey, Dubai, and Thailand.

At some point after September 10, 2024, Iranian authorities asked that she arrange a meeting between them in Turkey.

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/via Reuters)

The defendant ran several different telegram accounts under his name.

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Around April, a connection was made between the defendant and an Israeli identified only as Y.N. (Y) through Telegram, based on the fact that he [Y] speaks Farsi and is very familiar with Iranian culture, reads the indictment.

The defendant translated several texts in Farsi for Y, and the two spoke at length about the situation in Iran as the war escalated and the relations between the Islamic Republic and Israel.

Around November, once trust had been established between the two, the defendant helped Y translate Telegram messages with A.R. (A), who presented himself as an Iranian sailor. A told Y he had information that could theoretically help Israel.

Defendant met with two Iranian agents in Turkey, was given instructions

Between September 9 and 10, 2024, the defendant met in Turkey with two Iranian agents, as he was fully aware that they were enemy representatives. During this meeting, the Iranian agents gave the defendant a specific username to use on Telegram so they could maintain steady communication.

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After the September meeting in Turkey, and until July 1, 2025, the defendant initiated contact with an Iranian agent several times, and relayed the impression that Y had connections with Israeli parliamentarians.

The Iranian agent asked the defendant to pass along information on various topics. The defendant obliged. This included the knowledge that the Nevatim air base was hit during the Iranian missile attacks. Nevatim was struck in Irans first two missile barrage attacks, on April 13-14, 2024, and September 1, 2024. The Israeli response came on September 26.

Additionally, around May, the defendant warned the Iranian agent that Israel was planning to attack the Islamic Republic, that it was preparing for a ground operation at Iranian nuclear sites, and that the Iranian missiles that reach Israel travel through Azerbaijan.

The defendant also told the agent of his relationship with Y and A, including passing along A's Telegram contact information, and told the agent to keep an eye on him.

On June 12, the Israeli government decided to attack Iran in an operation that was later named Rising Lion. Irans missile response came on June 13-14 and targeted military and civilian sites in Israel. Twenty-nine people were killed, over 1,500 were injured, and there were widespread damages.
By Shoon Naing, Chantha Lach and Artorn Pookasook

SISAKET, Thailand/PHNOM PENH (Reuters) -The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will attend mediation talks over their deadly border conflict in Malaysia on Monday, the Thai government said, even as both sides accused each other of launching fresh artillery strikes across contested areas.

Talks are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Monday, with acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai leading the Thai negotiating team, the government announced in a statement on Sunday night.

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Malaysia, which chairs the ASEAN regional cooperation forum, has informed the Thai government that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet would also be attending the talks, the statement said.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the late-May killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse.

Hostilities resumed on Thursday and, within just four days, escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade.

The death toll has risen above 30, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas.

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Monday's talks come after Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last week proposed a ceasefire and U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the two leaders had agreed to work on a ceasefire.

CALLS FOR PEACE

Bangkok and Phnom Penh have each accused the other side of sparking last week's hostilities.

Cambodia's Defence Ministry said Thailand had shelled and launched ground assaults on Sunday morning at a number of points along the border. The ministry's spokesperson said heavy artillery was fired at historic temple complexes.

"For me, I think it is great if Thailand agreed to stop fighting so both countries can live with peace," Phnom Penh university student Sreung Nita told Reuters.

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The Thai army said Cambodian forces had fired shots into several areas, including near civilian homes, on Sunday, and were mobilising long-range rocket launchers.

"The situation remains tense and Cambodian troops may be preparing intensified military operations to inflict maximum damage in the final stages before negotiations," the army said in an update.

In the Thai province of Sisaket, Reuters reporters heard shelling throughout Sunday and said it was unclear which side of the border it was on.

A government health clinic about 10 km (6 miles) from the border had shattered windows, collapsed walls and exposed wiring. Local media reported it was hit by artillery on Saturday, two days after the building and surrounding neighbourhood was evacuated.

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Only a few men remained to look after their homes, camping near a makeshift bunker they had dug for protection. Intermittent sounds of artillery fire could be heard in the distance.

"It's great that America is insisting on the ceasefire because it would bring peace," Sisaket resident Thavorn Toosawan told Reuters.

Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear central to the disputes.

Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, but the situation worsened in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Skirmishes over several years brought at least a dozen deaths.

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Cambodia said in June it had asked the International Court of Justice to resolve its disputes with Thailand. Bangkok says it has never recognised the court's jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach.

(Reporting by Shoon Naing and Artorn Pookasook in Sisaket, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Juarawee Kittisilpa in Bangkok, Chantha Lach and Zaw Naing Oo in Phnom Penh, Rozanna Latiff inKuala Lumpur; Writing by John Mair; Editing by William Mallard, Kate Mayberry and Clelia Oziel)
In a now deserted town less than 20 miles from the front line of the fighting between Thailand and Cambodia, monks at a usually peaceful temple have endured another bad nights sleep.

The boom of artillery erupted throughout the night, with one shell estimated to have landed less than three miles from the temple on Sunday morning.

Last night it was quite heavy and today at around 8am we heard some loud thuds, Phra Mahasanong Khantitharo, the abbot, told The Telegraph on Sunday. The metal sheet roof and the windows were rattling very strongly this morning.

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The south-east Asian neighbours have been fighting since a row over their shared border escalated on Thursday, triggering to an exchange of fire that has so far claimed at least 34 lives.

Credit: Reuters

Despite the obvious risks to their lives, the monks at this temple and others in the border areas where fighting is raging have refused to budge. They they owe it to the communities they serve to stay put  even if that means sheltering from shells and bombs in concrete bunkers.

If I leave, the people who rely on us will lose their spirit. Im scared too, but Ill just stay here for now, when I can, Phra Phut Analayo told the Associated Press from a small, cylindrical shelter at a temple just six miles from the border in Surin province.

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Thailand and Cambodia are both Buddhist countries and share many traditions and customs as a result. While relations are generally peaceful, bitter spats between the long-term rivals have repeatedly punctured the peace.

The latest fighting, the bloodiest in decades, has also ignited waves of nationalist fervour which the monks called abhorrent.

Cambodians are our neighbours, we should not be fighting, Phra Mahasanong said. I have to say that karma will be the judge of this.

Phra Mahasanong Khantitharo says Thais should not be fighting their neighbours and fellow Buddhists - Sarah Newey

On Sunday, Thailand reported the death of a soldier, bringing its total fatalities to 22, mostly civilians. Cambodia said 13 of its people had been killed, though it was unclear if that included Lt Gen Duong Samnieng, whose death in combat was announced on Sunday.

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Meanwhile, more than 139,000 people in Thailand have evacuated to safe locations, and more than 79,000 people have fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are mostly deserted, with many schools and hospitals shut.

The international community has called for peace and despite fighting continuing around two ancient, disputed temples in the Dangrek mountains, there were signs on Sunday that the two countries were finally yielding to pressure.

A Thai government official said talks between Phumtham Wechayachai, the acting prime minister, and Hun Manet, the Cambodian premier, will begin at 3pm on Monday. They will be hosted by Malaysia, which currently chairs Asean, a regional bloc of south-east Asian countries.

Both sides have previously talked of peace, with Cambodia, which has a far weaker military, already proposing a ceasefire.

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But Thailand has until now maintained that it prefers bilateral talks  perhaps because international arbitration has previously favoured their rival in the territorial dispute  while each side has repeatedly claimed that the other has undermined armistice efforts by continuing to attack civilians.

The move towards talks comes after Donald Trump threatened to withdraw the US from critical tariff negotiations unless the two countries stopped fighting. As it stands, Thailand and Cambodia will be slapped by a 36 per cent tax on imports from next month  a major economic hit which the countries are trying hard to avoid.

The US president on social media: Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace. They are also looking to get back to the Trading Table with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS.

Yet whether this will be enough to stop the clashes  which have seen tanks and ground troops deployed by both sides, plus F-16 jets from Thailand and rocket launchers from Cambodia  remains to be seen.

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Dr Paul Chambers, a visiting fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, said the long history of antagonism between the two countries should not be underestimated.

He added: I do not think that the US efforts to achieve conflict resolution will be successful because Washington has lost a great deal of influence in south-east Asia since the end of the Cold War.

The violence has also fuelled by mounting animosity between two political dynasties once considered close.

While control in Cambodia is highly centralised under authoritarian premier Hun Manet, in Thailand the government is weak after a political crisis triggered by a leaked phone call with the Cambodian leaders father, Hun Sen, led to the suspension of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the prime minister.

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The Thai negotiating team is operating under heavy domestic suspicion, Ken Lohatepanont, a Thai politics expert at the University of Michigan, wrote in a blog post.

I am not sure what [they] can achieve that will blunt public criticism in the face of such suspicion, [and] the fact that several Thai civilians and troops have died over the course of the past few days has raised public anger at Cambodia to a fever pitch, he said.

In Sisaket on Sunday, this anger was on full display in deserted villages in the danger zone.

Like the monks, some men have seen it as their duty to stay behind despite the risks  a health centre was hit just 10 miles away on Saturday. They told The Telegraph they were there to protect property from looters and potential Cambodian spies.

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Outside one house destroyed by shelling on Thursday, chickens wandered over mangled metal, and the smell of fuel from charred embers still persisted.

Thongsuay Saikaew, a village chief in Sisaket, blames Cambodia for the fighting, but is keen to see it stop - Sarah Newey

Thongsuay Saikaew, the village chief, who lives next door, was lucky his house survived unscathed. Its not right to hit civilian places like this, its rotten, said the 58-year old.

His neighbours who lost their home, he said, were speechless when they saw it had been destroyed.

This was [a shop too], it was like their livelihood as well as their home. And now its all gone I think the Cambodians have to be blamed.

On the other side of the border, Cambodians affected by the fighting told The Telegraph the opposite  that Thailand was the aggressor and at fault.

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But despite his nationalist rhetoric, Mr Thongsuay is also keen for the fighting to stop. Its not just about safety; every day the clashes continue are a hit to his business, selling cattle.

It will become very difficult if I cant earn an income soon, he said. Our own government has to find a solution to this situation.

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BANGKOK  Thai and Cambodian leaders will meet in Malaysia for talks to end hostilities, a spokesperson for the Thai prime ministers office said on Sunday. This comes following pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to end a deadly border dispute, now in its fourth day, which has killed at least 34 people and displaced more than 168,000.

Jirayu Huangsap said Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will attend Mondays talks in response to an invitation from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss peace efforts in the region.

The spokesperson also said Phumthams Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet will also attend the talks, though this was not immediately confirmed by the Cambodian side. He added that Anwar was acting in his capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, held on an annual rotating basis by its 10 members.

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Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and suggested he would not move forward with trade agreements with either country if the hostilities continued. He later said both sides agreed to meet to negotiate a ceasefire.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said earlier Sunday his country agreed to pursue an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. He said Trump told him that Thailand had also agreed to halt attacks following the U.S. presidents conversation with Phumtham.

He said he tasked his deputy, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate next steps with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to engage directly with Thailands foreign minister to implement the ceasefire.

Thailand expressed cautious support. Phumtham thanked Trump and said that Thailand agreed in principle to a ceasefire but stressed the need for sincere intention from Cambodia, the Thai Foreign Ministry said. Phumtham called for swift bilateral talks to discuss concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution, it said.

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The fighting flared Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes. Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia.

Despite the diplomatic efforts, fighting continued Sunday along parts of the contested border, with both sides refusing to budge and trading blame over renewed shelling and troop movements.

Col. Richa Suksowanont, a Thai army deputy spokesperson, said Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, including at civilian homes, early Sunday. He said Cambodia also launched rocket attacks targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, claimed by both countries, and other areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers.

Richa said Trumps efforts to mediate were a separate matter. The battlefield operations will continue and a ceasefire can only happen if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added.

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Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law, Thailands Foreign Ministry said separately.

Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence with bombardment of Cambodian territory early Sunday, followed by a large-scale incursion involving tanks and ground troops in multiple areas.

Such actions undermine all efforts toward peaceful resolution and expose Thailands clear intent to escalate rather than de-escalate the conflict, she said.

Thailand on Sunday reported a new death of a soldier, bringing the total number of fatalities to 21, mostly civilians. Cambodia said 13 people have been killed. More than 131,000 people in Thailand have evacuated to safe locations and over 37,000 people fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are mostly deserted, with many schools and hospitals shut.

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Pichayut Surasit, an air-conditioning technician in Thailand, said the sudden outbreak of fighting meant leaving his work in Bangkok to return home to protect his family.

I didnt have the heart to continue with my work when I heard the news. I wanted to come back as soon as possible, but I had to wait until the evening, he said. Now at a shelter in Surin housing some 6,000 evacuees, Pichayut worries for his wife and twin daughters, hoping the conflict will end soon so they can return to their home in Kap Choeng district, one of the hardest hit by shelling.

Bualee Chanduang, a local vendor who moved to the same shelter Thursday with her family and pet rabbit, is counting on swift negotiations to end the violence. I pray for God to help so that both sides can agree to talk and end this war, she said.

The U.N. Security Council has called on ASEAN, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the two members. Human Rights Watch has condemned the reported use of cluster munitions, weapons banned by International law, in populated areas, and urged both governments to protect civilians.

The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The latest tensions erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailands domestic politics.
July 27 (UPI) -- Fighting continued between Thailand and Cambodia forces on Sunday in a border dispute despite both prime ministers agreeing to a cease-fire in conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump one day earlier.

It was the fourth day of clashes, and the most deadly in 14 years of skirmishes between the two Asian nations. Trump spoke Saturday with both leaders, who told him they want peace.

The New York Times reported that analysts believe both nations want to grab territory before an agreement is signed.

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At least 34 people have died in the conflict, which surpasses the conflict between 2008 and 2011 in which 15 people died.

Maly Socheata, a spokeswoman for Cambodia's defense ministry, said Thailand's troops fired weapons around 2 a.m. Sunday in Camboda near Prasat Ta Krabey and near another ancient stunned claimed by both nations called Prasa Ta Moan Thomas by Cambodians and Prasat Ta Muen Thom by the Thais.

This is where the fighting began Thursday.

The Thai army said Cambodian military shot in several areas, including near homes, early Sunday. They were also mobilizing long-range rocket launchers.

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Thailand's acting prime minister, Phumtham Wechayachai, said he told Trump that he had agreed in principle to a cease-fire but would "like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side." He also said Thailand wants to start talks as soon as possible.

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet said he hopes Thailand doesn't break a pledge because they violated a similar promise that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim negotiated with both sides on Thursday.

Malaysia heads the 10-member Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

Cambodia's foreign minister, Prak Sokhonn, was instructed to talk to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is working with Thailand's foreign minister, Maris Sangiampongsa, to help implement the cease-fire.

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Trump said both sides are looking for an immediate cease-fire and eventual peace.

"They have a long and storied History and Culture," Trump posted Saturday on Truth Social. "They will hopefully get along for many years to come. When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!"

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to exercise the "utmost restraint."

Tensions have escalated since May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in an exchange with gunfire.

Then earlier this month, Thai soldiers were injured by new landmines. Cambodia has denied putting them there.

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At least 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's borders. Cambodia said more than 23,000 people were moved from near the border.

Cambodia has a population of 17.4 million people and Thailand has 71.7 million residents. Vietnam borders both nations.
Ceasefire talks between Cambodia and Thailand were underway in Malaysia on Monday after days of deadly clashes on their disputed border sent civilians scrambling for safety and relations between the two neighbors cratering.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai met at the Prime Ministers official residence in Putrajaya, just south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Fighting between the two continued on Monday, with Cambodian authorities accusing Thailand of striking at least two locations in the early hours, while the Thai army said clashes were still ongoing in three provinces.

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Both sides have accused the other of starting the latest border flare-up, and traded blame for the ongoing fighting that has continued despite calls from the United Nations and other global powers for the fighting to stop. The dispute over their border goes back decades.

At least 35 people have been killed, over 200 injured, and more than 200,000 displaced since fighting broke out on Thursday, according to a CNN tally of figures from Thai and Cambodian officials.

Hopes for peace are now focused on whether the talks in Malaysia will provide a breakthrough.

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the Southeast Asian nations had agreed to ceasefire talks but localized fighting continued throughout the weekend.

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US State Department officials will be on the ground Monday to assist with the negotiations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

He added that he and President Trump remain engaged with our respective counterparts for each country and are monitoring the situation very closely. We want this conflict to end as soon as possible.

Earlier on Sunday, after Trumps announcement, Thailands government said it was not ready to stop military operations and accused Cambodia of continuing to fire heavy artillery at civilian areas in its Surin province, on the border, and several other areas.

Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law, Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

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Trump said he had warned the Thai and Cambodia leaders that he would not make trade deals with either country if the deadly border conflict continues.

Border temples

Some of the projectiles launched by Thailand over the weekend landed near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO world heritage site in Cambodias northern province of the same name, according to Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata. The temple complex has been at the center of previous clashes between the two nations.

I have written to UNESCO, and I would like to appeal to all international communities, and the United Nations: please help (us) take good care, this is a cultural heritage, Cambodias Minister of Culture Phoeurng Sackona told CNN on Sunday. Please help demand the ceasefire.

This pool photo released on July 24, 2025 by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) shows damage to the Preah Vihear temple near the Cambodia-Thailand border. - STR/AFP/Pool/Getty Images

This government handout photo shows damage to Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. - Kingdom of Cambodia

Cambodia slammed what it said were Thailands deliberate and premeditated acts of aggression.

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Those acts have occurred despite ongoing efforts led by President Donald Trump to seek a ceasefire, efforts that have been publicly and clearly supported by Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said.

Thailand has also accused Cambodia of continuing to fire across the border. The state-run National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) reported that Cambodian forces had fired artillery into the Thai border province of Surin, west of Preah Vihear, damaging residential homes. Thai forces were responding, it reported.

Thailand on Sunday said 22 people have been killed since hostilities began, 14 of whom are civilians. There are more than 139,000 from seven provinces displaced and staying in government shelters, according to the Thai army.

Cambodia said Saturday that in Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailands Surin, 13 people had been killed, including eight civilians, and 50 wounded. At least 80,000 people in Cambodia have been displaced by the fighting, according to the defense ministry. Cambodian authorities have not released updated casualty figures on Sunday.

An aerial view shows people, who fled their homes near the border area between Cambodia and Thailand, taking shelter near a pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province on July 26, 2025. - Suy Se/AFP/Getty Images

The strongman and the telecoms billionaire

Ties between Thailand and Cambodia have previously been close, thanks partly to the relationship between two former leaders  Cambodia strongman Hun Sen and Thailands telecoms billionaire and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

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Neither man holds office, but both remain hugely influential in their respective countries.

Recent tension at border had been simmering since a clash in May, in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. Relations soured further following the release of a leaked phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra  Thaksins daughter  and Cambodias Hun Sen.

In the call, Paetongtarn could be heard calling Hun Sen uncle and appeared to criticize her own armys actions in the border dispute.

Paetongtarns comments struck a nerve in Thailand, and opponents accused her of compromising the countrys national interests. She defended her actions but was later suspended by the Constitutional Court pending an ethics review and could face dismissal.

Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen delivers a speech during his visit to the Cambodian armed forces stationed along the border with Thailand in Oddar Meanchey province on Saturday. - STR/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Hun Sen has since taken to Facebook posting scathing remarks against Thaksin, accusing him of resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people.

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Thaksin, in a post on X, accused Hun Sen of ordering Cambodian troops to fire into Thai territory.

Trump diplomacy

President Trump said Saturday that he had spoken with both the Cambodian Prime Minister and the acting Thai Prime Minister in his efforts to restore peace.

They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE! Trump wrote on Truth Social in a series of posts outlining his diplomatic efforts, but offering no details on the negotiations.

They are also looking to get back to the Trading Table with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS, Trump wrote.

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Earlier this month, Trump wrote letters to Thailand and Cambodia threatening a 36% tariff on most of their exports to the US, starting August 1. Cambodia and Thailand both delivered substantial offers to their US counterparts in an effort to move to the front of the line for a trade agreement, officials said at the time.

In the early hours of Sunday morning local time, Hun Manet thanked Trump and said that Cambodia agreed with the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces. He added that he had previously agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

A statement from Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs was more measured, saying it wished to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side  but that Phumtham had also requested President Trump to convey that Thailand wants to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to bring forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh have been fighting over territory disputed since colonial power France drew the border between them more than a century ago. The renewed deadly conflict pits longtime US ally Thailand, with decades of experience, against Cambodias relatively young armed force, which has close ties to China.

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The United Nations has condemned the violence, with Secretary General Antonio Guterres urging in a post on X for both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue.

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Thames Water has warned that plans to build 100 new data centres across London and the South East will pile more pressure on its creaking infrastructure.

The utility giant said it had identified 108 hyper or large data centres that will drive up demand in its region, with bosses suggesting it will have to manage water supplies carefully to ensure there is no impact on households.

Each data centre is equivalent to thousands of homes being added to a water network, meaning the pipeline of new data centres is on par with a new small city being built.

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In its annual report, Thames Water said that building data centres needs to be carefully managed from a demand and UK growth perspective.

The company, which is battling to avoid nationalisation amid pressure from a 17bn debt pile, has previously raised the prospect of rationing water use for data centres or charging more at peak times.

Data centres contain giant racks of computer servers that need to be cooled to avoid overheating, often with water piped in. The facilities are crucial to the rise of artificial intelligence and are a key priority for Sir Keir Starmers growth push.

However, the vast number being built has sparked concern among water companies such as Thames Water, which is now engaging with the Government to prevent potential shortages in future.

The south-east of England is a water-stressed region and data centres can use a vast amount of water, equivalent to the usage of thousands of homes at peak draw, a Thames Water spokesman said.

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With a large proportion of the proposed data centres earmarked to be built in the Thames Water region, it brings a challenge between safeguarding our finite resources while supporting the UKs growth strategy.

It is important that we work collaboratively to meet this challenge and to avoid exacerbating water stress and impacting service for customers and the environment.

We are engaging with the Government regarding the challenge of water demand related to cooling data centres and how this can be mitigated. We are also working with a number of data centre providers about opportunities to reduce demand through innovation.

A corridor of land between London and Slough, much of which is served by Thames Water, contains Britains densest collection of data centres.

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An independent review of the water sector last week cited data centres as one of the factors that are likely to mean water bills rising by 30pc over the next five years.

The report, by Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, said that national infrastructure bodies should be consulted when deciding where to build them.

The Government has welcomed investment in new data centres, including designating them as critical national infrastructure.

Thames Water last week started a hosepipe ban for more than 1 million people in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire.

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The company is also seeking to agree a rescue deal with creditors, but has warned it may fall into special administration if talks between the lenders and regulator Ofwat fail.

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A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report details how at least 85 people became sick after consuming THC-contaminated foods at Famous Yeti's Pizza in Stoughton last year  and advised health care providers on recognizing future outbreaks.

The findings echo an earlier report from Public Health Madison and Dane County, which found the contamination was linked to borrowed cooking oil.

When Famous Yeti's ran out of oil, workers used oil from a shared kitchen used by multiple businesses, including a store that sells THC products.

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THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis and delivers the "high" from smoking or ingesting marijuana.

Findings from the CDC report said:

The oil came from a large, labeled storage container that had a "D9" marking. It was in the same area as oil used to prepare pizza and bread dough.

Of the 85 people who became intoxicated, 47 were men, 38 were women and their average age was 43. Three were hospitalized for at least one night. Emergency services took seven people to the hospital.

Eight of the 85 people were children and teens, and none were hospitalized. The youngest child, a 1-year-old, had dizziness but no other symptoms confirmed.

Emergency services personnel initially tested two homes and a restaurant for carbon monoxide, which were negative.

Affected products included pizza, garlic bread, cheese bread and "grinder" submarine sandwiches.

Police determined the exposure was unintentional, and no criminal charges were pursued.

The CDC says health care providers and emergency responders should be aware that "mass THC intoxication" via food is a possibility if people report sudden symptoms like dizziness, anxiety, increased heart rate or nausea.

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The report said regulations for standard, clear labeling and locked storage for ingredients containing THC could decrease the risk for unintentional exposure at restaurants.

"Co-location of food establishments with businesses that make THC-infused products increases the risk that a THC-containing ingredient might be added to food, either intentionally or unintentionally," the report notes.

At the time of the October 2024 incident, the restaurant's co-owner, Cale Ryan, apologized and said Famous Yeti's was working with local authorities to improve storage and security protocols. The CDC report notes he agreed immediately to close the store temporarily.

Wisconsin state lawmakers have talked about placing regulations on delta-8 and other hemp derivatives but have introduced no legislation this year to do so.

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Milwaukee's Common Council moved to enact regulations of its own, including banning the sale of THC products to anyone under 21 after two children were hospitalized after consuming gummies bought at a convenience store.

More: A 4-year-old was hospitalized after consuming THC. The city can't discipline the convenience store where it was sold

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: CDC details THC contamination in Stoughton pizza restaurant; 85 sick
The Mansa Devi Temple in Uttarakhand's Haridwar was reopened for devotees on Sunday evening, amid tight security arrangements. Entry of visitors and devotees to the temple was restricted in the morning after a tragic stampede incident that left six people dead and several injured. Officials said crowd management measures are being reviewed, and a magistrate-level probe has been ordered into the incident. "The temple has been reopened for darshan. We had a meeting here to improve the arrangements and the incident site was inspected. We will get to know all other details after the magistrate-level investigation. Extra force will also be deployed here...." District Magistrate Mayur Dixit told ANI. A large number of devotees had gathered at the temple when the stampede occurred. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced a magisterial inquiry into the tragedy. He also declared an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those who lost their lives and Rs 50,000 for the injured. "The injured are being treated. Some have been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. Our priority is that they get good treatment and recover soon. A toll-free number has also been issued. Magisterial inquiry has been ordered and ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured, also announced," CM Dhami said. President Droupadi Murmu also expressed grief over the incident. In a post on X, President Murmu wrote, "The news of the death of many devotees in the stampede accident on the way to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar is deeply painful." "I express my heartfelt condolences to all the grieving families. I pray that all the injured devotees recover quickly," the post read. (ANI)
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  New reactions are coming in from a third board member who was in State Superintendent Ryan Walterss executive session, when he allegedly had naked women on a TV Thursday.

These shocking claims first came to light in a report by The Oklahoman and the online publication, Non-Doc.

RELATED: Investigation inquiry underway after bombshell reports say board members saw naked women on Ryan Walters office TV during meeting

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My first reaction was, I thought maybe somehow, you know, the Jerry Springer Show got on there and something was blurred out, said Chris Van Dehende, Oklahoma State Department of Education board member.

Van Dehende says, based on Walters reaction, it was clear this was not the case.

All I can say is having been in the room, not seeing what was on the TV, but seeing the reactions to Becky Carson primarily, and Ryan Walters reaction to what he saw when he spun around and saw the TV, said Van Dehende. Something clearly was on that TV that shouldnt have been on that TV. Why it was on, I dont know.

Former Republican Oklahoma Representative Mark McBride also shared his reaction to the bombshell headline.

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I think the board members are professional people. They dont have any reason to lie, said McBride. Hes never taken any responsibility for much of anything that hes done, and I dont know that hes guilty of this, but I believe that the board members saw what they saw.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert is calling for an investigation and demanding that Walters turn over his devices.

McBride and Van Dehende say the next move could possibly be impeachment.

I suppose possibly the state legislature to begin impeachment proceedings, said Van Dehende.

Personally, right now, forgetting this, just putting this to the side, I think that being at 50 in education to me were at an impeachable offense, said McBride. Honestly, it falls on Stitt and McCall, in my opinion, because I mean no disrespect to the governor, but Ryan Walters is a product of Governor Stitt.

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News 4 reached out to Governor Stitts office Saturday with questions surrounding these allegations against the superintendent and what actions his office may take. However, we have not heard back.

We also reached out to Walterss office again for a statement on these allegations, but have not heard back.

However, a spokesperson has said the report is a junk tabloid lie.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jul. 26Thomas William Rothlisberger 7/27/1958  2/26/2025 Thomas William Rothlisberger was born to William and Harriet Rothlisberger in Aza Kuwae Chatan-Son, Okinawa, Japan on July 27, 1958. As a dependent Air Force son to a fighter pilot, Tom moved around a bit. First a move to Roswell, New Mexico in 1960, Madison, Wisconsin in 1962, El Paso, Texas in 1963, Iruma, Japan in 1965, Fort Worth Texas in 1968, and finally a move to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1971, saw Thomas graduate Cibola High School in 1976. Although graduating with Ivy League grades, his parents insisted on the local, University of New Mexico, where he studied Astrophysics, (having his mind set on becoming an astronaut), and also pursued mechanical engineering and economics. On July 1, 1986, Tom was commissioned as a Navigator in the United States Air Force. His father did the swearing in. In May 1985 he moved to Lubbock, Texas for USAF Pilot Training at Reece, AFB. In May 1986, as a 2nd Lieutenant, Tom moved to Sacramento, CA for USAF Navigation training. He became a Navigator for the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron and moved to Fussa, Tokyo, Japan in 1987. There he continued his love affair with Japan that he started as a boy. He was indeed, "The Boy Who Loved Japan Too Much". In his free time he would ride subways, bicycles, trains, and even a hydrofoil to visit and explore Japan, eating soy sauce squid on a stick, and looking through bins of anime cels, listening to City Pop, and searching out radio parts and electronics. He was in love with it all. After his tour in Japan, he was stationed in Fayetteville, North Carolina and took an early retirement in 1993. He had been a navigator on Lockheed C-130 cargo transport (5-man crew) which operated in 37 countries, and on 5 continents. Tom moved to Seattle, Washington starting a job at The Boeing Company as an Aerospace Manufacturing Engineer with an official start date of July 1997. During this time he rode the Seattle to Portland bike race, (a race of 206 miles), for a consecutive 11 years. He had a love of radio that all started as a kid in Japan. For over 20 years he was an avid Ham Radio enthusiast and DXer. He surfed the radio waves in the wee hours of the morning of the high cliffs near Manzanita, Oregon with fellow DXer Gary Debock, & with Nick Hall-Patch and fellow DXers at Grayland, Washington. His radio website: https://www.qsl.net/k7wv/index.htm. Tom was also an avid Geocacher for over 20 years with affiliation to the Geocachers of Washington and also the Albuquerque Geocachers. He loved to travel, and every travel would involve daily geocaching. He has visited all of the 50 states, some many times over; Alaska was a favorite, where the last vacation as a four family unit took place in Anchorage. He has visited almost all of the Canadian Provinces, and many countries around the world. His favorite city of all time was Tokyo, but he studied all cities and knew where all the skyscrapers and tallest buildings were from a very early age. He absolutely loved to go to the top of any tall building to get an eagle eye view. Tom, as a young boy in Japan was a member of the Webelos where he and his Father created a 1st place go-cart. Later he joined the Cub Scouts. And, while living in Ft. Worth, Texas, and still a young boy, Tom attended a lens grinding class for telescopes at the local astronomy club. He had a love of the stars and throughout his life was an amateur astronomer attending many a "Star Party" where others also brought their telescopes away from city lights to gaze at the heavens. He saw the solar eclipse in Madras, Oregon on August 21, 2017 and on October 14, 2023 saw the next solar eclipse in Texas with a great friend, co-Boeing worker, and brother-in-arms, Mark Grantham, who was also at his side when he left the earth. Tom retired from The Boeing Company on October 2, 2020, where he was an Electrical Corrective Action Team member rapidly resolving electrical problems on the 767,777,777X, and 787 aircraft during factory production. Tom is survived by his mother Harriet Rothlisberger, and his sister Suzanne Rothlisberger. He also is survived by cousins on his father's side and on his mothers side; his Aunt and Uncle, Connie, and Jim Robertson, and their children, who he was closest to; Jasenn, Jenns, Kellee, and Stefoni. Thomas William Rothlisberger will be interred in Santa Fe National Cemetery, New Mexico, on his birthday July 27th, 2025 where his father William O. Rothlisberger was buried in 2022.
The 11 people who local authorities say were randomly targeted in a mass stabbing incident at a Walmart near Traverse City remain in a local hospital where some have begun to recover.

"Over the past 12 hours, we've seen encouraging signs of recovery among our patients," reads a media statement from Munson Healthcare shared at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, July 27.

Seven of the injured individuals are in fair condition, 4 are in serious condition and zero are in critical condition, the hospital said. That marks an improvement from July 26 when six were in critical condition and five were in serious condition.

Traverse City Walmart remains police-taped off to the public as of Sunday, July 27, morning after a stabbing injured 11 people on Saturday, July 26.

A 42-year-old Michigan resident carried out the mass stabbing with a folding knife at the Walmart, Grand Traverse Sheriff Michael Shea said during a July 26 news conference. The suspect was subdued by bystanders and an officer was at the scene within three minutes of police receiving the first 911 call, according to Shea.

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Shea told the Free Press July 27 that his office will meet with the prosecutor soon to determine criminal charges.

Shea didn't provide the name of suspect. He said the name typically isn't released until the arraignment on criminal charges. The suspect is currently being held at the Grand Traverse County Jail, according to Shea.

Traverse City Walmart remains police-taped off to the public as of Sunday, July 27, morning after a stabbing injured 11 people on Saturday, July 26.

Shea previously said six of the stabbing victims were male and five were female. He did not provide ages or any other information.

Police have not provided any motive for the attack but said they believe the assailant acted alone.

Based on the information that we have at this time, it appears (these) were random acts, that the victims were not predetermined, Shea said at the press conference.

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On Sunday morning, July 27, officers remained present at the Walmart and the store was closed off with police tape.

The attack at the Walmart marks the latest mass violent event at a retailer in the U.S.

Public officials have shared support for the victims and those who live near the location of the attack took place.

"Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a social media post July 26.

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who lives in Traverse City, called the mass stabbing "awful and senseless violence."

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Free Press Intern Natalie Davies contributed. Jonathan Limehouse and Bart Jansen of USA TODAY contributed with previous reporting

Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Traverse City Walmart stabbing: 11 victims show signs of recovery
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  For its 11th year, the Hispanic Family Foundation made sure thousands of children were equipped with brand new school supplies during an event in South Nashville Saturday.

Last year, we did over 3,200 backpacks full of school supplies, and now this year, were prepared for 3,700 kids to come through, because the need was still so great, Diane Janbakhsh, executive director of the Hispanic Family Foundation, told News 2.

Does Tennessee have one of the best school systems in the nation? See how it ranked on this list

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With the help of local sponsors, the foundation gives away all kinds of back to school essentials such as folders, notebooks, pencils, and other learning materials to make sure students have a positive start to the school year.

We know that by saving families $120 per kid to go back to school with some of these supplies that are so expensive, and to have good quality of the supplies, its going to help them be able to allocate their funding towards food to put on their table or to pay their rent or their light bill because things are tight, Janbakhsh explained.

The Hispanic Family Foundation partners with Metro Nashville Public Schools every year to gather a list of everything students might need.

Tennessees sales tax holiday sparks renewed debate over grocery tax

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I love to see the smiles on their faces and the smiles on their parents faces. Theres a relief that you see on the parents faces when theyre coming through the lines, and then for the kids, theyre just excited because its something to smell the new paper or to smell the box of crayons and things that we take for granted, Janbakhsh added.

The Hispanic Family Foundation plans for this event all year long, so if youd like to donate or volunteer, you can reach out to them at https://hffus.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 WKRN News 2.
Its weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, intense political divisions and community drama. Its where you go when youve lost your dog, need a helping hand or need a laugh. It makes a peninsula spanning 65 square miles, much of which only has one dwelling per ten acres, feel a little less like an island.

Its the Key Peninsula, Washington Facebook group.

We had some marriages out of it, Susan Freiler Mendenhall said, recalling when the group hosted a meet-up at a local restaurant, and a couple left together and later tied the knot. (She attended their wedding.) The Key Peninsula resident, age 70, has lived in the community for 38 years.

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After 14 years of administering the Facebook group with a small team of other admins, keeping it family-friendly and prohibiting profanity or discussions of partisan politics or religion, she finally believed it was time to bring it to an end. She posted in the group on July 7, announcing her intent to close the group of nearly 10,000 members by the end of the year. She explained that an accident in April left her hospitalized and dealing with some serious health issues. She figured participants could just switch over to other existing Facebook groups for Key Peninsula residents.

Her announcement sparked a flood of messages from people reaching out to tell her how much the group meant to them, she told The News Tribune. Several offered to become admins themselves.

That surprised me, she said.

It also got her thinking. Maybe she didnt need to close the group down. On July 23, she made another post in the group, announcing her intent to let it continue, with two new admins.

Susan Freiler Mendenhall, a longtime admin of the Key Peninsula, Washington Facebook group that aimed to be a family-friendly source of information and support for residents over the years, posted Wednesday, July 23, 2025 that the group would be continuing with two new admins, reversing an announcement July 7 that she was planning to close it down.

One of the new admins is Thomas Lancaster, a 25-year-old Key Peninsula resident who said hes been part of the group for going on a decade. His memory of the group goes back even farther, when his dad was part of the group, he said. One day, his dad lost a uniquely-designed cane that he used regularly to walk around and had owned for 30 years. The cane was special because it had grown directly off of a tree and wasnt something anyone carved or made, Lancaster recalled.

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He put out posters and stuff and posted on the local Facebook page, and eventually somebody actually got back to him because they saw one of the posts, he said.

Connor Wiley pranked the Key Peninsula community about the opening of 2 Margaritas.

There are many other stories about how the page has helped build community. In 2023, Key Peninsula resident Connor Wiley posted a fake message for an April Fools Day prank saying that a stalled restaurant project, 2 Margaritas, had finally opened, The News Tribune reported. After the post gained traction, Richard and Cheryl Miller added to the conversation and announced theyd be making tacos for the community in the 2 Margaritas parking lot. They served nearly 150 tacos in the first 90 minutes.

And did I mention how many lost dogs weve reunited with owners? Often its one a week! Freiler Mendenhall wrote in a follow-up message to The News Tribune. She added that neighbors have helped one another through power outages, getting stuck in snow and running out of gas.

Some time ago, Freiler Mendenhall started the Blue Tarp Awards as a way to recognize those who did something outstanding in the group. The name came after someone left the Facebook group in a fury, posting that they would rather not be associated with you kp elitist trash, and members started joking about how the KP had a lot of blue tarps, or how you had to own a blue tarp to live in the KP, Freiler Mendenhall wrote.

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They later adopted a blue tarp as the groups flag, and would put one up during meet-ups, she said.

Susan Freiler Mendenhall started the Blue Tarp Awards to recognize members of the Key Peninsula, Washington Facebook group who did good things for the community.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group started a new tradition: Meme Mondays, to give people something to do, she said. And theyve always had Traffic Tuesdays, a designated day to share traffic-related concerns and prevent traffic from dominating the discussion every day.

A particular guardrail has become a running joke on the page. The barrier is on the right side of state Route 302, a mile or so coming off of the Purdy Bridge toward Key Center.

Someone always hits it, Freiler Mendenhall wrote. We ran a contest once to guess what date it would get destroyed again.

Many vehicles have collided with a particular guardrail on the right side of state Route 302 in Wauna over the years. Its become a running joke in the community, as George Hovany noted in his post in the Key Peninsula, Washington Facebook group Thursday, June 12, 2025.

Other community groups spawned from the Key Peninsula, Washington group, including Key Pen It Clean, a group that gathers volunteers to clean up local roads. Volunteers recently collected 50 trash bags across 3 miles on Lackey Road and the Key Peninsula Highway, the group posted on July 13. Key Pen It Flavorful was another subgroup that exchanged meal photos and recipes.

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Another group, KP Cares, came together after Key Peninsula resident Mindy Taylor had the idea of raising money for victims of the Oso landslide in 2014.A bake sale raised over $3,700 in two days, and additional donations through Facebook brought the total to $4,000, according to The News Tribunes archives.

Taylor joined forces with Freiler Mendenhall, Sylvia Wilson and Marilyn Hartley, and they started the KP Cares group to raise funds for other residents in crisis on the Key Peninsula.

KP Cares became a 501(c)(3) organization, stating that its purpose or mission was to help people in crisis with resources and financial assistance, primarily on the Key Peninsula, and that funds will be raised primarily through bake sales, car washes, and donations from local businesses.

Taylor posted in the Key Peninsula, Washington group in 2021 that she was closing down KP Cares in September of 2021. By then, the group had raised $55,000 for residents in crisis, she wrote.

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We have been able to assist with rent, mortgage payments, power bills, funeral expenses, and Christmas gifts, Taylor wrote in the post. During the heat wave we provided 25 fans for our vulnerable residents.

Freiler Mendenhall said that the community is grieving Taylors passing from cancer this month. Hartley, one of the other founders of KP Cares, died in June 2022, according to her obituary in the Key Peninsula News.

Lancaster, the 25-year-old Key Peninsula resident who offered to be a new admin, said he wants the Key Peninsula, Washington Facebook group to remain a good community resource.

The page has always been family-friendly, hasnt allowed profanity and asks users to steer clear of partisan politics or religion as topics of discussion, Freiler Mendenhall said. Lancaster said he believes a good admin is one whos impartial and keeps personal opinions or feelings from affecting how one monitors the page.

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Im not too worried about it, Lancaster said. You just got to police it a little bit.

Freiler Mendenhall has had to do a fair share of that. She recalled the admins years ago spending a lot of time personally asking people to tone it down or trying to get them to understand the groups purpose and parameters for appropriate participation.

Weve gone through a couple of periods where people chose a subject and then hung on to it to the point where we needed to intervene and so some people were removed, Freiler Mendenhall said.

She had an experience recently where someone whom she described as a very decent person took over the page and began posting in the group as if it was their own personal profile. She tried talking to the person in private, but the persons constant messages took up a lot of her time. And it gets old when upset users talk badly about you in other groups, she continued.

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 ... its probably what contributed to me thinking I got to stop doing this, she said.

Asked if a recent dispute that played out on the Facebook page about flags on Purdy Bridge affected her decision, she said no, not at all.

The News Tribune reported that some two dozen rainbow Pride flags appeared on the Purdy Bridge in mid-June and were taken down shortly after, leading to speculation on social media about who might have removed them. The Washington State Department of Transportation confirmed that state employees took down Pride flags on the bridge between June 10 and June 11 because it is illegal to attach flags or banners to state-owned bridge structures.

Most of the time the members of the Key Peninsula, Washington Facebook group know what to do, Freiler Mendenhall said.

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Thats probably one of the biggest reasons Im not as active is that the members self-regulate, she said. They know the rules and they tell each other what the rules are.

The News Tribunes archives contributed to this report.
HARLEM, N.Y. (PIX11)  Three men have been accused of killing another in an alleged gang assault in Harlem back in May, according to police.

Around 5:30 a.m. on May 3, officers responded to a Harlem address for a reported assault and found a 33-year-old man later identified as Jervey Barfield with multiple stab wounds to his back.

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Barfield was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly after, and no arrests were immediately made, police said.

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Over the next month, an investigation by detectives led to three arrests. 37-year-old Naquan Anderson, of the Bronx, 44-year-old Alvin Nelson, of Manhattan, and 42-year-old Trevor Carpenter, of Roanoke, Virginia, were charged with murder and gang assault.

Police said the investigation is still ongoing.

Spencer Gustafson is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered New York state and city news since 2023. See more of his work here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)  Jackson police are investigating after three people were injured during a shooting.

The shooting occurred in the 1300 block of Wiggins Road just before 12:15 a.m. on July 26.

Police said the three victims were treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators have not identified the suspect(s) at this time. Anyone with information can contact Jackson police at 601-960-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS (8477).

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  On Saturday in Springfield, car enthusiasts came together, driven by their passion for automobiles and a commitment to a meaningful cause.

People of all ages came to the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy for a good time to support the next generation of leaders. The Homeland Insurance Network held its first annual car show in Springfield, supporting Ties to Success.

Adult Social Day Program for cognitively impaired adults launches in Chicopee

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The program not only shows young men how to wear and tie a tie, but also prepares them for job readiness and opportunities. Those who stopped by got the chance to enjoy both classic and modern cars.

We really want to support our community, said Abrah Gonzalez of the Homeland Insurance Network. Our agents are very community and family-centered, so we really want to have everyone out.

Locals in attendance gave donations to support young men on the path to success. They also have the opportunity to bring and donate ties.

What I liked about them is the way that they looked and the horsepower, said Johnny Mercy of Springfield.

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Experts say that job readiness remains one of the top qualities that employers are looking for. Research shows employers say its difficult to find entry-level workers with communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.

This emphasizes the need for job readiness programs such as Ties to Success. If you or someone you know is looking to get involved in free job training courses, visit putnamvta.com.

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.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Archaeologists have unearthed what they believe to be the remains of a Medieval knight beneath a former ice cream parlor.

The tomb was found under a busy street corner in Gdansk  a city in northern Poland known for its rich history  on July 8, according to a statement from Polands Provincial Council for the Protection of Monuments.

The grave is thought to be from either the 13th or 14th century, according to a translated report shared on the citys website.

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The knight measured about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, and was likely about 40 years old at the time of his death, per the report.

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The city said researchers believe the man was a knight due to a hand-carved limestone tombstone over his grave, which depicted a knight holding a shield.

According to Popular Mechanics, the coat of arms on the carved shield has worn away, so researchers are currently unable to determine who the knight served.

The city of Gdansk was ruled by the Teutonic Knights in 1308, but the buried knight could also have served a number of different rulers, such as a Sobieslaw dynasty or a German house.

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Researchers with the Polish archaeological company ArcheoScan have been studying the area since 2023, after a popular local ice cream parlor  which had stood on the site for 60 years  was sold to developers.

The developers were required by law to allow archaeologists to survey the site before any new structures could be built, according to Polish science outlet Science in Poland.

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Researchers had previously discovered the remains of a large wooden church at the site, along with over 200 burial sites and six tombstones, per the outlet.

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"What we're unearthing here is insane," Sylwia Kurzynska, a member of the archaeological team, told the Polish Associated Press about the recent discoveries, per Science in Poland.

She also said a fragment of the knight's chainmail boot and leggings were preserved, per the outlet.



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The tombstone and skeleton have since been taken to the Archaeological Museum in Gdansk, where they will undergo further study, per Smithsonian Magazine.

Researchers plan to learn more about who the knight was and where he came from, and hope to release their findings next year, the outlet said.

Read the original article on People
Veteran filmmaker and Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee Adoor Gopalakrishnan on Sunday said that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor should be welcomed with open arms in politics, while praising him at the P Kesavadev Memorial Literary Award ceremony held here. Gopalakrishnan, who presented the award to Tharoor, said, "What Shashi Tharoor is experiencing is the problem of being too tall. The average Malayali prefers mediocrity. The moment someone rises above that, they are cut down. Tharoor should be welcomed with open arms in politics and everywhere else." The remarks came amid ongoing internal friction within the Congress party, where Tharoor has faced criticism from party leaders after his remarks in support of "nation first" during Operation Sindoor. Tharoor, a three-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, was honoured with the 21st Kesavadev Memorial Literary Award for his contributions to literature and public discourse. In a post on X, Tharoor expressed his gratitude for the recognition and said, "Honoured and humbled to receive the 21st Kesavadev Memorial literary award from the eminent film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan today in Thiruvananthapuram." https://x.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1949456839701061732 The event was attended by prominent literary and cultural figures from across Kerala. Adoor's remarks struck a chord with many present, especially in the context of recent controversies surrounding Tharoor's independent views within his party. Tharoor has continued to stir debates within the Congress party with his outspoken views on national issues, often taking stances that don't align with the party's high command. His support for Operation Sindoor has sparked mixed reactions, ranging from praise to criticism, from within the party and beyond. On July 21, Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said that the party was not ready to cooperate with Tharoor in Kerala. He said that 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. K. Muraleedharan further stated that they are dissatisfied with his performance in Kerala. "He is no longer coming to his parliamentary constituency. We have decided that we will not cooperate with him in the upcoming local body elections," he added. Recently, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, while adressing the issues related to party high command, stated that sometimes it is necessary to cooperate with other parties in the interest of national security. The Congress MP emphasised that, for him, national security will always come first, and the main perspective of any political party is to make a better India. Earlier, Revolutionary Socialist Party MP, N K Premachandran, in an abrasive response to Tharoor's "nation first" stance, stated that all political parties aim for the betterment of the country and none act against national interests. (ANI)
MAGA Rep. Lauren Boeberts son has been slapped with misdemeanor child abuse chargesthe latest in a series of encounters with law enforcement.

Tyler Boebert, 20, the eldest of the top MAGA representatives four sons, received a citation for criminal negligence where no death or injury occurred for an incident involving the congresswomans grandson on July 11, Denver media outlet Westword reported.

Authorities have not yet released details of the incident, which the congresswoman, 38, has described as a miscommunication on monitoring my young grandson that recently led to him getting out of our house.

Tyler Boebert received a citation July 11 for criminal negligence where no death or injury occurred.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the Boeberts office for comment.

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The Congresswoman herself is no stranger to controversy, making headlines over the years for her far-right rhetoric and promotion of conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, to mention nothing of her outlandish behaviour that has included, among other things, heckling former President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address, getting booted out of a movie theatre for vaping and fondling her date, and bringing a loaded gun into Congress.

Its also not the first time her son, Tyler, has found himself in the news.

In September 2022, Tyler received a ticket for careless driving after allegedly flipping his dads SUV into a local creek bed, with the vehicles passenger suffering severe lacerations to their hand and multiple concussions, Westworld reported.

That case was eventually downgraded to a defective vehicle for headlights citation after Boeberts eldest entered into a plea deal with prosecutors in Garfield County, where the family lives.

Boebert has described the encounter as a

Then last January, Tyler reportedly phoned 911 to claim his father, Jayson, Boeberts ex-husband, had assaulted him, pushing him to the ground and [pushing] his thumb into his mouth while carrying a rifle, according to Westworld.

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Jayson was subsequently arrested and charged with six crimes, three of which related to a domestic violence incident involving the MAGA representative at a restaurant earlier that month.

Less than a month later, police hit Tyler himself with more than a dozen felony charges relating to a series of thefts and the use of credit cards stolen from a number of local gas stations.

Boebert herself is no stranger to controversy, making headlines over the years for a number of incidents that include getting booted out of a movie theatre for vaping inside and bringing a loaded gun into Congress. / AAron Ontiveroz / Denver Post via Getty Images

He pleaded guilty and received a two-year deferred judgment, which would see his record cleared if he makes it through a 24-month probation term without reoffending.

Westword reports its unclear at this stage whether this months citation will affect that deal. The congresswoman told the outlet in a statement that the ticket represents a one-time incident with no injury or physical abuse involved.

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Tyler has been doing a great job getting his life on track as a father and citizen over the past year; unfortunately, this event stems from a miscommunication on monitoring my young grandson that recently led to him getting out of our house, her statement reportedly reads.

Our family has already met with CPS to ensure we are continuing to provide a safe environment for my boys and my grandson, it adds.
The daughter of the shadow attorney general was left hysterically crying when pro-Palestine activists hijacked a university open day for prospective students.

Abigail Wolfson, daughter of Lord Wolfson of Tredegar, was part of a group of prospective students visiting the University of Bristol in June.

However the sixth-form student and her mother, who are both Jewish, described how two presentations were interrupted by protesters wearing face masks and wearing keffiyeh scarves.

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Miss Wolfson told the Mail on Sunday: The reception we received on campus can only be described as hostile. Ive never felt so isolated. For the first time in my life... I wished I wasnt Jewish.

Demonstrations in support of Palestine have become common across the UK - Anadolu/Getty

The first protest began in a lecture hall around four minutes into a presentation on studying history at the university, she said.

Zionist war machine

Miss Wolfson told how four activists entered the room and started chanting: From the river to the sea.

The controversial chant is viewed by many as a call to remove the State of Israel from the map.

Demonstrators then accused the Russell Group university of funding the Zionist war machine.

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Miss Wolfson said her mother, Louise, began shouting Shame! from the audience.

We felt intimidated, isolated and unsafe. We were both visibly upset, [but] no one said anything to us, she told the newspaper.

Minutes later, a second protest took place during another presentation on studying politics and international affairs.

Once again, Louise shouted shame and implored security staff to intervene.

However, Ms Wolfson said staff did not seem to know why they were upset.

Abigail with her mother Louise who shouted Shame at the protesters - Ian McIlgorm

She told the newspaper: When they [the protesters] finished, the entire auditorium [was] clapping. I got up and left. I was just absolutely hysterically crying. The staff at the event asked: Whats wrong? I felt like saying, How can you not know?

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It is not the first time young Jewish people have spoken of feeling intimidated and threatened by pro-Palestine protesters on campus grounds.

Last year, more than 1,600 University of Cambridge students had their graduations disrupted by pro-Gaza demonstrations.

And in March, the University was granted a High Court injunction that banned protests from taking place until the end of this month.

UK universities plagued by anti-Semitism

Earlier this year, a survey found nearly nine in ten Jewish students had faced anti-Semitism at UK universities since the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023.

The University Jewish Chaplaincy poll found 81 per cent of the 400 students surveyed said their Jewish life had changed, with reports of verbal abuse and physical attacks.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar, shadow attorney general - Gov.UK

However, Miss Wolfson said she still intends to apply to study at Bristol, saying that she didnt want to allow people to dictate her future because she is Jewish.

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Her senior Tory father, writing on X, asked: Is this what my daughter, and other Jewish students, can expect at Bristol University, daily, for three years?

With the lecturers just standing by, and no security intervention (despite requests).

The University of Bristol told the Mail on Sunday that it had apologised to the Wolfsons and discussed their concerns, adding that it aims to make all students feel safe and fully supported.

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.
Seeing Vice President JD Vance as a bald, shiny orb can make you laugh  but can it get you denied entry at a U.S. border?

According to one tourist, yes. Norwegian tourist Mads Mikkelsen told Nordlys that he was denied entry at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on June 11 after authorities searched his phone and found a Vance meme on his phone camera roll, and then proceeded to question him about right-wing extremism and drug smuggling.

Mikkelsen later told Nordlys that he did tell border officials he had tried marijuana in Germany and in New Mexico, but did not think this was relevant because they are both places where it is legal.

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Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin refuted Mikkelsens allegations about the meme being the reason for his heightened scrutiny. Claims that Mads Mikkelsen was denied entry because of a JD Vance meme are FALSE, she wrote on X. Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use.

BS. Claims that Mads Mikkelsen was denied entry because of a JD Vance meme are FALSE.



Mikkelsen was refused entry into the U.S. for his admitted drug use. pic.twitter.com/AbXczQ8tg5  Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) June 24, 2025

But regardless of Mikkelsens story, can a political meme on your phone be the reason you get denied entry? Following President Donald Trumps executive order for enhanced vetting, border agents have been using aggressive tactics on legal immigrants and tourists.

We were made for this moment. HuffPost will aggressively, fairly and honestly cover the Trump administration. But we need your help. Consider directly backing our work today.

It is absolutely possible that a meme, or an article, or a photograph can be used as the basis for the denial of entry, said Petra Molnar, lawyer and author of The Walls Have Eyes: Surviving Migration in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.

Decisions at the border are highly discretionary, made all the more so by the recent push for border enforcement to scrutinize social media for so-called risky behavior, she continued, citing the State Departments recent plans to screen people applying for visas to the U.S. for perceived hostility toward America, and to ask them to make their social media accounts public for review.

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In this current climate, what may appear as a silly joke can be used as the basis for detention, interrogation, and deportation, Molnar said.

Heres what you need to know when traveling feels riskier than ever.

Border agents have wide discretion. U.S. citizens have more protections than tourists and visa holders.

Yes, the U.S. government asserts the right to search your electronic devices when you cross U.S. borders, but if you are a U.S. citizen, you cannot be denied entry, no matter what absurd caricatures of Vance you keep on your phone.

Youre an American citizen. They cannot say, Oh, youre not coming into your own country. Thats against the law, explained Sophia Cope, a senior staff attorney at Electronic Frontier Foundation.

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As a U.S. citizen, you can, however, face interrogations, travel delays or device confiscations for refusing to comply to device searches. It might be confiscated for several weeks or months, Cope said to consider.

Meanwhile, visitors and visa-holders have fewer rights than U.S. citizens when they travel to the U.S. and are particularly vulnerable to being denied entry, or at the very least may face an unpleasant interrogation with the possibility of having to hand over their devices indefinitely, Molnar said.

Cope said a border agent denying a tourist over a meme is ridiculous, but the Norwegian visitor had no real recourse, because hes a not a U.S. citizen.

Unfortunately, non-green card holders, non-citizens have almost no leverage to not comply with the request to grant access to their device, she said.

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It helps to know whats in your power to refuse. In order to prepare for travel, know your rights about what border agents can and cannot do. Know that they are supposed to put your phone into airplane mode before they start to search it and are not supposed to be looking at cloud-based applications, although there have been reports of people saying their social media accounts were reviewed.

Disable biometric identification like FaceID, limit automatic cloud access, set up disappearing messages and consider switching to applications like Signal, Molnar suggested. You can also go one step further and consider getting a second phone or not bringing your laptop, or removing materials which could possibly solicit further scrutiny, she noted.

Know that you are not required to share your password to unlock your phone, but visa holders and visitors could be denied entry for their refusal.

When asked, neither Customs and Border Protection nor the Department of Homeland Security answered HuffPost questions about Mikkelsens claim that a border agent told him he would be imprisoned or fined for not sharing his phone passcode. When asked, DHS only redirected HuffPost to McLaughlins public statement about Mikkelsen being denied entry over drug use.

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To be clear, Cope explained, theres no legal basis for Customs and Border Protection officials threatening a traveler with jail time and fines for refusing to share a passcode for a device search. Its basically, either youre denied entry or your phone gets confiscated, she said. Theres no crime there.

There are pros and cons to refusing a device search, and your personal risk is highly contingent on your immigration status. People have to balance the privacy invasion of a device search with, do they risk being denied entry? Or do they risk missing a flight or being detained? Cope said.

Ultimately, if you are nervous about what could happen when you travel to the U.S., you are right to feel this way.

Consider that It seems like this administration is being very touchy about ... people who express opposition to the Trump administration in one way or another, Cope said. And [this JD Vance meme] is the most benign kind of opposition.

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People are rightly worried about the growing surveillance apparatus in the U.S., which now includes scrutiny over memes and social media content, Molnar said. She noted that the right to privacy is not just about avoiding scrutiny over wrongdoing but about our fundamental right to personal autonomy and freedom from surveillance, rights which are increasingly coming under attack.

The one thing we know for sure: because of this story, Vance memes that make the vice president look childlike or absurd are going to be seen even more, and thats one action this administration does not have the power to control.

Related...
The Mackinac Bridge towers over the Straits of Mackinac, providing the only link between Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula.

From Mackinaw City in the south to St. Ignace in the north, the bridge spans the meeting point between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, two of the region's five Great Lakes.

About 3,500 people worked on the bridge as it was constructed across the straits, with another 7,500 contributing at off-site locations, the Bridge Authority says.

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Opening in 1957, barely three years after construction began, the Mackinac Bridge was the first long-span suspension bridge to incorporate specific design features, including a porous deck, to manage the forces imposed on it by winds, the American Society of Civil Engineers said.

Since opening, the bridge has seen increasing traffic, and witnessed its 100 millionth crossing in June 1998.

In July 2021, more than 641,000 vehicles crossed the bridge. More than 640,000 vehicles crossed in August 2024. Through May this year, about 1.2 million vehicles had crossed the bridge.

Research indicates the bridge has a significant economic impact for nearby communities and the state as a whole. A study conducted by Michigan-based Public Sector Consultants in 2024 found that for every $1 in tolls paid at the bridge, $7.27 was generated in spending in Michigan. An economic impact of $161.6 million alone was concentrated in the Straits area of Mackinac, Emmet and Cheboygan counties.

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Here's what to know about the Mackinac Bridge.

Where is the Mackinac Bridge?

Located in the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, the Mackinac Bridge links Michigan's Lower Peninsula in Mackinaw City to Michigan's Upper Peninsula in St. Ignace.

The steel, concrete and cable wire structure includes two towers reaching 554 feet high above water and 210 feet down to the lake bedrock, according to Mackinac.com.

More: Looking for a new way to see the Mackinac Bridge? 5 vehicle parades to cross span soon

How long is the Mackinac Bridge?

The suspension bridge runs 5 miles long, the Mackinac Bridge Authority says.

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The Mackinac Bridge is currently among the five longest suspension bridges by suspended length worldwide, the Authority said. The main span between the two towers is 3,800 feet long, making it the third-longest suspension bridge by main span length in the U.S. behind the Golden Gate and Verrazano-Narrows bridges, the ASCE said.

The 5-mile bridge (including approaches) was the world's longest suspension bridge between cable anchorages when it opened, the ASCE notes. By stating "between anchorages," the bridge was considered longer than the Golden Gate Bridge, even though the Golden Gate Bridge's main span exceeds that of the Mackinac Bridge. At 8,614 feet, the Mackinac Bridge is still the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere.

A view of the Mackinac Bridge from the lower peninsula on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.

How did the idea for the bridge come about?

Proposals to build a structure connecting Michigan's two peninsulas date back decades prior to the bridge's construction and opening, the Mackinac Bridge Authority said. Attempts to enact a bridge faced financial and political setbacks, including delays from wars abroad.

Funds and approval were eventually secured and work on the Mackinac Bridge officially began with ceremonies May 7-8, 1954, according to the Bridge Authority.

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American engineer David B. Steinmann designed the bridge, and the 48-month construction cost of $99.8 million, Mackinac.com says.

The design of the bridge was directly influenced by the lessons of the first Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which failed on Nov. 7, 1940, under wind stresses. Steinman published a theoretical analysis of suspension-bridge stability, recommending that future bridge designs include deep trusses to stiffen the bridge deck and an open-grid roadway to reduce its wind resistance.

When did the Mackinac Bridge open?

The Mackinac Bridge opened to vehicular traffic on Nov. 1, 1957, according to the Bridge Authority's website.

How much is the toll to cross the Mackinac Bridge?

Drivers must pay a toll when crossing the Mackinac Bridge.

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The toll rate for passenger vehicles is $4 per car or $2 per axle, the Bridge Authority's website says. This includes passenger cars, vans, motorcycles, station wagons, SUVs, pick-up trucks and school buses.

For all other vehicle types the rate is $5 per axle. This includes tractor trailers, buses, motor homes and step or cube vans.

Mackinac bridge photos from water for files shot from a ferry on Saturday, June 5, 2004.

Is there a live feed to the Mackinac Bridge?

The Mackinac Bridge has five bridge cams that update every 1 minute showing conditions on the bridge, per the Mackinac Bridge Authority.

The cameras are stationed at the bridge administration building looking south, the St. Ignace dock looking south, Bridge View Park in St. Ignace looking south, Mackinaw City looking north and on U.S. 2/Interstate 75 in St. Ignace.

Nuts and bolts about the bridge

A few numbers related to the Mackinac Bridge:

Depth of water at mid span: 295 feet

Height of road at mid span: 199 feet

Clearance for ships: 155 feet

Length of wire in cables: 42,000 miles

Wires in each cable: 12,500

Diameter of cables: 24.5 inches

Weight of bridge: 1 million tons

Number of rivets in bridge: 4,851,700

Number of bolts: 1,016,600

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Spanning the Straits: Things to know about Michigan's Mackinac Bridge
MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man is facing multiple charges, including possession of a weapon as a felon, following a traffic stop in Mt. Juliet.

According to the Mt. Juliet Police Departments Facebook post from Saturday, July 26, the overnight stop on Golden Bear Gateway was the result of a red light traffic signal violation.

Mt. Juliet police recover drugs and vehicle reported stolen out of Kentucky following traffic stop

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During the stop, law enforcement said they discovered the 43-year-old Memphis man driving the vehicle not only had a suspended license, but he was a convicted felon on active parole for aggravated assault. In addition, authorities found a Glock 17 handgun under a backpack in the car.

(Courtesy: MJPD)

(Courtesy: MJPD)

Officials said the man was arrested and booked into the Wilson County Jail for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving on a suspended license.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

We are grateful for the proactive work of our officers and their efforts to ensure Mt. Juliet remains one of the safest cities around, MJPD wrote on social media Saturday morning.

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No additional details have been released about this incident, including the identity of the man who was apprehended.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Trail cameras have captured footage of rare snow leopards in the wild. A mother and her cub were spotted in the Gahai-Zecha National Nature Reserve in northwest China.

Snow leopards are an endangered species and had previously not been seen at the site since monitoring began in 2018, according to Bastille Post Global. An estimated 1,200 snow leopards live in China.

There has been a stronger push in recent years for more biodiversity conservation efforts at the nature reserve, like optimizing monitoring systems and increasing public awareness. This is being done to improve the snow leopard's habitat and ecosystem and strengthen its chances of survival.

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Trail cameras are a crucial tool for preservation efforts in the wild. They help experts keep track of endangered species and understand population health without direct human intervention. They can also document evidence of rehabilitation for injured animals.

In India, conservationists used trail cameras to monitor and protect two tiger cubs in the wild from poachers. They appeared to be abandoned by their mother, but luckily, the cameras captured her returning for her cubs just days later.

Trail cameras also helped researchers in Bangladesh spot a leopard, which is a critically endangered species in the country due to habitat loss and poaching.

In Saudi Arabia, a rare Egyptian vulture was captured on camera in a national park. Only 50 breeding pairs of the bird are estimated to live in the country.

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Unfortunately, the people and organizations that can best help wildlife conservation with these tools are typically underfunded. From small nonprofit rescue centers all the way up to the U.S. National Park Service, this industry often struggles to cover necessary costs.

But it's critical that we take care of our environment and manage it properly so that more species can thrive and be protected. This has a major impact on our food supply and overall human health.

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.
The following is the transcript of an interview with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 27, 2025.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to French Foreign Minister, JeanNoel Barrot, who joins us this morning from Paris. Welcome to "Face The Nation." I want to begin on what is happening in Gaza with those horrific images that we are seeing of starvation overnight, Israel has begun air drops. We know Jordan, other states are looking to organize more aid. Are you exploring any further avenues to bring aid into Gaza?

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER JEAN-NOEL BARROT: What's happening in Gaza right now is appalling. Gaza is- is- is now in the brink of a full catastrophe, and we've been working out, over the months, to try and relief the sufferings of the Palestinian people. We actually have 52 tons of humanitarian help stuck in El-Arish in Egypt, a few kilometers away from Gaza. So we're exploring all options to seize the opportunity offered by the Israeli government by opening the skies of Gaza, but we call for immediate, unhindered, and massive access by all means of humanitarian help to those who need it most.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: Has Israel responded to your calls?

BARROT: We have, with the European Union, started tough discussions with the Israeli government, who have made first commitments that have not been fulfilled yet. In the next few days, the European Commission will make clear what our expectations are. We expect the Israeli government to stop the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that has caused bloodbath in humanitarian help distribution lines in Gaza. We expect them to pay the 2 billion euros they owe to the Palestinian Authority and to lift the financial blockage that is now preventing the Palestinian Authority to implement its most basic missions. We also expect the Israeli government to bring to a stop its latest settlement projects, the E1 projects with 3400 housing units that might split the West Bank in two pieces and prevent the emergence of a political, a two state solution. But what we call for is, of course, the immediate cease-fire, the liberation of whole hostages of Hamas, that needs to be disarmed. And the entry, the massive entry, of humanitarian help in Gaza.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You are headed to New York, to the United Nations, to help lead a summit to talk about a two state solution. Your president announced France will formally recognize the state of Palestine at the UN in September. More than 100 countries recognize Palestine, but France is the first western UN Security Council member to do so, and the United States opposes what you are saying. Secretary of State Rubio called it "reckless." He says it serves Hamas propaganda, sets back peace, and considers it "a slap in the face to the victims of October 7." In your government's view, why is he wrong?

BARROT: So the reason why President Macron made this decision is that it was absolutely necessary to restart a political process, the two state solution process that was- that is today threatened, more threatened that it- it has ever been. And the conference that will take place in New York tomorrow and Tuesday is a very significant milestone, because by- by- by recognizing, or announcing the recognition of Palestine, France has been able, alongside Saudi Arabia, that has- that will be co chairing this conference with us, to collect very significant historic commitments by all stakeholders, including the Palestinian Authority president and Arab countries, in favor of the two state solution, and guarantee security guarantees for Israel. The two state solution is very simple, and I think everyone can understand what we mean by that. The only way to bring peace and stability back in this region is to have two state, the state of Israel and the state of Palestine, living side by side in peace and in security. This perspective is now threatened, and it's why the- the dynamic that we have initiated was so important, and this is why the conference that will take place in New York is such an important milestone. All these efforts are very, very complementary to the efforts that the U.S. have done in the region since the first term of President Trump. We share the short-term objective: immediate cease-fire, liberation of all hostages of Hamas that needs to be disarmed. We share the long term objective: peace and stability in the region. And what we're doing, by bringing the Palestinian Authority leader to recognize seventh of October as a terrorist attack, by calling the Hamas- the disarm- for the disarmament of Hamas and the liberation of hostages, by committing to deep reform of the Palestinian Authority, and by committing to elections within one year, by bringing the Arab countries for the first time to condemn Hamas and call for its disarmament, we are creating, or recreating, the conditions for this political solution that, again, is the only path forward, and we are paving the way. We're paving the way for the future Abraham Accords that the U.S. administration might lead. So I see our effort as very complementary to the U.S. administration's effort, rather than substitutes.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: Minister Barrot, the president of the United States dismissed what President Macron said, the U.S. Ambassador mocked it. Do you believe that your plans can succeed without U.S. support?

BARROT: Again, our efforts are very complementary . We share the short term objective, cease-fire, liberation of all hostages of Hamas, and the long term objective, peace and stability in the region. In fact, we will welcome any further efforts led by the U.S. to implement the Abraham Accord logics. And what we're doing now with this very significant conference that will take place in New York will pave the way for such accords. But in the meantime, until the U.S. administration provides, through the Abraham Accord logics, a political horizon for this crisis, we need to act in order to facilitate the- or create an off ramp for the catastrophe ongoing in Gaza. Now the terms, we will welcome and support future Abraham Accords, but in the meantime, inaction is not an option.

MARGARET BRENNAN: I want to ask you briefly about an incident that has gained a lot of attention this past week involving some young French citizens who were removed from a flight from Spain. The airline claims they were kicked off for being disruptive. The Israeli government came out though and said the French students were removed because they're Jewish. Have you determined whether this was indeed an act of antisemitism?

BARROT: I have called the CEO of this company, who has- to express our- our serious preoccupation. She has confirmed that an internal investigation is ongoing. My team has been reaching out to the ambassador of Spain in- in France, and we've made the same request. We'll keep following this situation as it unravels

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MARGARET BRENNAN: So too- too early to say, despite what the Israeli government is indicating.

BARROT: I cannot comment on that at this point. We've taken action as- as soon as we got, you know, as we got notice of what was happening, we offered support on location through our embassy to this group. We then reached out to the- the airline company, to the Spanish authorities, and we're now following the results of these investigations.

MARGARET BRENNAN: France has been very active diplomatically on a number of fronts. It was just five weeks ago when the United States and Israel bombed Iran. Since that time, France has talked to the Iranian government, along with other European powers, about what remains of Iran's nuclear program. How concerned are you that after these bombings, Iran may now covertly attempt to make a weapon, and the world won't know?

BARROT: This is still a risk that we are facing, and alongside Germany and the UK, we have been very clear, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and we've been, over the past few months, reaching out to the Iranian authority in close coordination with U.S. authorities in order to express what our expectations are. Ten years ago, we reached a deal on the nuclear program that allowed for a significant rollback of Iranian nuclear capacity. Of course, things has changed. Still then, and since then, Iran has violated all commitments it had taken at the time of signing this agreement. We now want a more comprehensive agreement that would encompass both the nuclear dimension of Iranian destabilization activities, but also it's the ballistic component, as well as the regional destabilization activities that Iran has been conducting, unless we- unless a new and robust and durable and verifiable agreement is reached by the end of the summer, France, Germany and the UK will have no other choice but to reapply the global embargoes that were lifted 10 years ago when the nuclear agreement with Iran was signed, embargoes on weapons, on nuclear equipment, and on banking.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: So France is ready to snap back sanctions on Iran as soon as August. Are you asking Iran to speak directly to the United States in order to avoid that fate?

BARROT: We've been speaking with Special Envoy Witkoff, Secretary Rubio, on a weekly basis on this topic that is highly important for the U.S., as for Europeans. We- we have supported U.S.-led efforts to enter into discussions with Iran. We have pressed Iran, after the 12 day war, to go back to a discussion with the U.S., and we'll keep pressing them to do so, because indeed, if there is no solid agreement that can be found by the end of August, we will have no other option but to snap back, meaning to reapply those global embargoes, and we are ready to do that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Minister Barrot, thank you very much for your time this morning.

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The following is the transcript of an interview with Sen Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 27, 2025.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And we're joined now by Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who is one of those appropriators we were just speaking about with the budget director. You just heard everything he laid out. There were no specifics on when these clawbacks could be coming, but they're on the table. He says they don't want to shut down. He didn't seem to say they want, you know, a continuing resolution. Do you know what's coming?

SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: Not really. The one thing we know, and you asked Russ Vought about this, was he says that the process is too bipartisan right now, meaning that they want to use this process just to ram through the agenda and the overall agenda we saw when they passed the so-called Big, Beautiful Bill, which was beautiful for billionaires, but not really for anybody else, which is to provide tax cuts for very wealthy people at the expense of everybody else. And I do want to say Margaret, I heard him deny that that bill increased the deficit and debt. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office just said it increased our debt by 3.5 trillion before added interest.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: He's using an accounting gimmick in regard to the benchmark.

SEN. VAN HOLLEN: As- and Republicans have called out this accounting gimmick, so when--

MARGARET BRENNAN: --And it was accepted--

SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Well, they sort of unilaterally imposed it, it was not accepted by Democrats, and it was a departure from previous efforts. But you know, then they come back and they say that they want to cut these important programs, NIH and other things to reduce the deficit, when, in fact, what they're doing it for is to help try finance those tax cuts for very wealthy people.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So it's just heading us towards pretty unchartered territory and very unclear whether we will be able to avoid a government shutdown. Democrats are going to be blamed if there's a shutdown, don't you think? I mean, how do you sidestep this?

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SEN. VAN HOLLEN : We certainly don't want a government shutdown. And I think everybody has heard Russ Vought say that they want a less bipartisan process. What that tells me is they're willing just to use their powers to try to shut down the government if they don't get their way. And what's ironic about this Margaret is you have Russ Vought calling for these deep cuts to education NIH, when he has asked for an increase for his OMB budget. He asked for a 13% increase for his OMB budget. He's asked for more people to join the OMB staff, while he's talking about RIFing people at other departments, like the Department of yeah- getting rid of firing people at the Department of Veterans Affairs and other important priorities. So it's hard to take the OMB Director seriously when he says that they didn't increase the debt and when he says he wants to cut things except for his own budget and staff.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But if they do head towards a government shutdown, why would there be any benefit unless it is to prioritize funding certain agencies and de-prioritizing other agencies. Well, that goes back to the executive, doesn't it, that authority?

SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Well, that ultimately, though you need, for example, four Republican senators to stand behind what he's calling for. And what they've called for is sort of just a double cross on the process, right? That's what the so-called rescissions, is just a Washington name for double cross. They support one thing, one day, President even signs off, and then they come back and say they changed their mind. And what we're asking is for four Republican senators just to publicly declare that when they say they're going to fund the Veterans Affairs Department that they actually mean it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That they won't later agree to claw that money back.

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SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Exactly

MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. So one of the things the Trump administration is clear and did get clawbacks of is foreign assistance. However, there's an exception. In June, the administration announced it would give $30 million to this Israeli-backed organization called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the GHF, I know you're familiar with it. It delivers aid through armed military contractors who stand behind the Israeli military in four designated zones that Gazans then have to get themselves to in order to receive the aid. The State Department says they're sending this money. Have they?

SEN. VAN HOLLEN: To my knowledge, they have, although we've asked for the details, we haven't gotten them. In fact, just today, I'm sending a letter to Secretary Rubio, signed with 20 of my colleagues, calling for more information, but also calling for defunding this. American taxpayers should not be spending one penny to fund this private organization backed by mercenaries and by the IDF that has become a death trap. Over 1000 people have died from being shot and killed as starving people crowd to try to get food at just these four sites.

MARGARET BRENNAN: The- just to be clear here, the State Department says they're going to send $30 million. Reuters had reported that there were documents they obtained showing 7 million had already been sent to these, what you call, armed mercenaries. But the Trump administration says this is the best way, this is the only way, to keep money- to keep food out of the hands of Hamas, which financially benefits off reselling it to desperate starving people. Is there another way to feed desperate starving people?

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SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Yes. And this is a- a big lie, the claim that when the UN organizations were delivering food to Palestinians civilians, that it was being systematically diverted to Hamas. I want to say loudly and clearly, this is a big lie. Trump is--

MARGARET BRENNAN: The systematic part of that.

SEN. VAN HOLLEN: The systematic, but that is their claim. They claim that essentially, large amounts of aid are being diverted to Hamas. What we know now, from testimony of American officials, Cindy McCain, and just this week, high level Israeli military officials, is that there's no evidence to support that. AID, USAID, just released a report saying there's no evidence to support that. So what the Netanyahu government did was scrap a delivery system that was working at delivering food and assistance in favor of this other effort. That was a pretext, this claim that Hamas was systematically diverting food. The real goal of this other effort is to use food as a weapon of war and population control.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That's a violation of international law.

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SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Yes, it is.

MARGARET BRENNAN: That's a human rights abuse. Senator Lindsey Graham was on "Meet the Press" this morning, and I want to ask for your reaction to something he said, because he was very strong in his words. He said, because the ceasefire talks fell apart, Israel is reassessing. He said to expect a full military effort by Israel to take Gaza down, quote, "like we did in Tokyo and Berlin. They're going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin, take the place by force, start over again, present a better future." The United States is a huge supporter of the State of Israel. Is there anything that could prevent what he says is about to happen?

SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Well, the United States should make very clear that it's unacceptable to use U.S. weapons to target or indiscriminately fire on civilians and civilian infrastructure. So--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Because this sounds like an occupation.

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SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Well, we also know, just this week, members of the Netanyahu coalition, in fact, government ministers, called for essentially erasing Gaza, and they said, it will become a Jewish state, statelet. And part of- so- this was one of the--

MARGARET BRENNAN: Netanyahu did say he didn't agree with his statement.

SEN. VAN HOLLEN: Well, here's the problem though, Margaret, we continually see that Netanyahu, at the end of the day, does cater to his most far right wing of his- of his government, people like Ben Gvir, people like Smotrich. That is what has allowed him to stay in power, and so at the end of the day, he takes the most extreme positions.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Senator Van Hollen, thank you for your time today. We'll be right back with a lot more "Face the Nation." Stay with us.

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"The Wizard of Oz" as you've never seen it before

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The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), India's largest paramilitary force, celebrated its 87th Raising Day on Sunday, paying tribute to its fallen heroes and reaffirming its commitment to national security with a forward-looking technological vision. Speaking in New Delhi, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh traced the force's origins to Nimach, Madhya Pradesh, where a battalion was first formed on 27 July 1949. "The journey of the CRPF began from Nimach on 27 July 1949, when a battalion was formed there. Today, we have 248 battalions, comprising approximately 3.25 lakh people, dedicated to serving the country. Throughout this journey, 2,268 officers sacrificed their lives; we honour them and salute their families, whose encouragement motivated their ultimate sacrifice." Looking ahead, Singh outlined a clear strategy for modernisation. DGP said, "Over the past 86 years, the CRPF has worked diligently across regions, playing a key role in establishing peace. Moving forward, we aim to enhance effectiveness by integrating the latest technology, arms, ammunition, and artificial intelligence to serve the country better." Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on the occasion of the 87th Raising Day. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Raising Day wishes to all CRPF personnel. This force has played a vital role in our security apparatus, especially in challenging aspects relating to internal security. CRPF personnel have made a mark for their duty, courage, and steadfast commitment in the most testing of situations. Their contribution in overcoming humanitarian challenges is also commendable." The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) stands as a premier central police force of the Union of India, entrusted with the critical task of maintaining internal security. Initially established as the Crown Representatives Police on July 27, 1939, in response to escalating political turmoil and unrest within the princely states, the CRPF has evolved into one of the oldest and most distinguished central paramilitary forces in the country. (ANI)
(NewsNation)  President Donald Trump has announced that the United States and the European Union have reached a trade deal.

In the deal, the E.U. has agreed to purchase $750 billion in energy and invest an additional $600 billion into the U.S., along with purchasing an undetermined amount of military equipment, and will open its countries to some zero for zero tariffs.

We are agreeing that the tariff, straight across for automobiles and everything else, will be a straight-across tariff of 15%, Trump added.

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Trump threatens to pull trade deals with Thailand, Cambodia amid conflict

The deal comes two days into Trumps visit to Scotland, where he began discussions of a trade deal with Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission.

Its a good deal. Its a huge deal, with tough negotiations,  von der Leyen said. I knew it at the beginning and it was indeed very tough, but we came to a good conclusion on both sides.

Trump also said hes looking to make other deals with three other countries, and called the E.U. deal the biggest hes made.

The other countries are expected to receive a letter sometime this week, ahead of Trumps Aug. 1 deadline.

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President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the United States and the European Union reached a framework for a trade deal, ending a monthslong saga with Americas largest trading partner.

Trump announced a 15% levy on most imports from the 27-nation European Union, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, after talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland.

Speaking alongside von der Leyen at his golf course on the western coast of Scotland, Trump said the EU agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of energy from the US, and invest $600 billion more in the US.

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All of the countries will be opened up to trade with the United States at zero tariffs, and theyre agreeing to purchase a vast amount of military equipment, Trump added.

While specifics of the deal have not been disclosed, Trump touted the agreement with the bloc as the biggest deal ever made. Von der Leyen said the deal would bring stability and predictability, and other European leaders have largely welcomed the development.

Collectively, the EU and the US exchanged $975 billion worth of goods last year, according to US Commerce Department data. The trade deal, while far from final, lowers the risk of a transatlantic trade war that would have ramifications for the global economy.

Trump began talks with von der Leyen earlier Sunday as Fridays deadline loomed to reach an agreement to avoid 30% tariffs on European imports. The European Union had sought to keep baseline tariffs at 10%, while Trump had said the United States could not go lower than a 15% across-the-board tariff rate for the bloc.

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Von der Leyen acknowledged negotiations with Trump were tough: I knew it at the beginning, and it was indeed very tough. But we came to a good conclusion for both sides.

Germanys Chancellor Friedrich Merz posted on X, saying European negotiators hard work had paid off. A trade conflict has been averted that would have severely impacted the export-oriented German economy, he said.

Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said it was positive that a trade deal has been struck between the EU and the US, but said she needed to see the details, Reuters reported.

The Irish Prime Minister, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, also welcomed the deal, saying it was good for businesses, consumers and investors on X. But he conceded that bilateral trade would still become more challenging with the now higher tariff.

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The 15% tariffs on all goods include pharmaceuticals, the No. 1 ($155 billion) good the US imported from the European Union last year, according to US Commerce Department data. Trump had repeatedly suggested he would put a 200% tariff on pharmaceuticals that are manufactured outside the United States  the vast majority of US drugs  starting August 1.

Ireland, a member of the EU, is the top single foreign country supplying the United States with pharmaceuticals.

Pharmaceuticals are very special. We cant be in a position where were relying on other countries, Trump said.

A German pharmaceutical association, vfa, warned of drastic consequences for the industry. The new tariff rate is likely to not only result in significant additional costs for manufacturers, but also jeopardize international patient care, the vfa said in a Monday press release.

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French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was gloomier than some other European leaders on the deal.

It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples, gathered to assert their values and defend their interests, resolves to submission, he wrote in a post on X on Monday.

The framework comes after Trump previously issued a tariff letter to the EU, announcing duties on most EU goods would rise from the 10% universal baseline to 30% on August 1, as the US and European Union had one of the largest trade deficits and had failed to reach a deal by his previous July 9 deadline.

In April, EU goods briefly faced a 20% reciprocal tariff before Trump paused those levies. And in May, Trump, citing a lack of progress in trade talks, said he was prepared to slap a 50% tariff on EU goods on June 1. Im not looking for a deal, he said at the time.

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Investors welcomed Sundays deal. Europes benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index rose to its highest level in more than four months on Monday. The index was trading 0.68% higher by early morning ET.

Germanys DAX and Frances CAC 40 indexes were up 0.47% and 0.82%, respectively.

Deal or no deal deadline looming

Trump reaffirmed the Friday deadline for other trading partners and said steel and aluminum tariffs will remain at their current rates of 50%.

Sitting alongside Trump, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said tariffs on semiconductors will be announced in two weeks. Its unclear when those could take effect.

Lutnick had said in an interview on Fox News Sunday that there would be no further extensions or grace periods after August 1. But he raised the prospect of potentially some wiggle room, saying big economies can continue trade talks with the United States.

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August 1, the tariffs are set. Theyll go into place, Lutnick said.

Some of the tariffs that Trump has threatened go as high as 50%. South Korea, a major supplier of electronics and other goods, faces the threat of 30% tariffs, while Brazil could face tariffs of 50%.

Meanwhile, the United States and China are nearing an August 12 deadline to reach a trade deal. The United States has been charging Chinese goods a tariff of around 50%, down from 145%, while China has been taxing American goods at a minimum of 10%, down from 125%.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to meet with Chinese negotiators this week in Stockholm for another round of trade talks, eyeing further extension of their trade truce reached in Geneva in May.

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At the start of the meeting with von der Leyen on Sunday, Trump said the US is very close to a deal with China.

We really sort of made a deal with China, but well see how that goes, he said.

Since Trump paused other reciprocal tariffs in April to provide more time to work on securing trade deals, only seven trade agreements have been announced, including the one with the EU on Sunday.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

CNNs Jonny Hallam and Anna Cooban contributed to this report.

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Donald Trump hit out at Beyonce, Oprah, and Al Sharpton on Sunday, insisting without evidence that they were paid millions of dollars to endorse Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election  allegations that were quickly discredited.

Trump insisted via Truth Social that Beyonce broke the law by receiving an $11 million payout for her October 2024 appearance in support of the Harris campaign. As noted by CNN, federal campaign reports indicate Beyonces production company was paid $165,000  a payment that was required by law.

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Theres also no evidence of anything close to $11 million being paid by the campaign to anyone for anything. Trump previously claimed somebody just showed me something that indicated they gave her $11 million in February.

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Beyonces mother Tina Knowles also disputed the claim back in November.

So this has been flagged on Instagram as fake news and taken down. Its called False Information. Sadly other platforms with a lack of integrity still have it up. The lie is that Beyonce was paid 10 million dollars to speak at a rally in Houston for Vice President Kamala Harris, Knowles wrote via Instagram.

When In Fact : Beyonce did not receive a penny for speaking at a Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harrriss Rally in Houston. In fact she actually paid for her own flights for her and her team, and total Glam. They are not only lying and disrespecting Beyonces name but they are trying to further discredit the power of our vice president! When does the lies and rumors stop? Of course you wont see this in the news !!!!!

Attacking political rivals has become something of a staple of both Trump presidencies. In August 2020 he falsely accused Barack Obama of treason and of spying on my campaign. In July 2025, Trumps Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard again accused Obama of treason on behalf of the administration.

The post Trump Demands Beyonce Be Prosecuted Over Discredited Accusation She Was Paid $11 Million to Endorse Kamala Harris appeared first on TheWrap.
A Supreme Court decision last month limiting the use of nationwide injunctions appeared to pave the way for President Donald Trump to begin enforcing his plan to end birthright citizenship on Sunday  until lower courts stalled the effort.

The president could have begun enforcement if lower courts had significantly modified a series of injunctions ahead of a 30-day deadline given by the justices. But that hasnt happened. In fact, lower court judges have gone in a different direction, preventing Trumps executive order ending birthright citizenship from taking effect now  and possibly ever  through three new adverse rulings. And more lower court decisions against the administration may be coming.

A federal judge in New Hampshire earlier this month blocked Trumps order nationwide via a class action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union. Such lawsuits are one of the ways the Supreme Court suggested challengers could try to jam up enforcement of the policy for those who would be impacted by it.

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The Justice Department has not appealed that ruling from US District Judge Joseph LaPlante, who was appointed to the bench by former President George W. Bush.

The administration was further stymied last week, after a federal appeals court decided that a nationwide injunction issued by a judge in Seattle earlier this year against Trumps order did not represent a judicial overreach that needed to be curbed in light of the Supreme Courts ruling.

The Supreme Court ordered lower courts that issued or kept intact such broad injunctions to reconsider those rulings to see whether they comply with the justices decision that such injunctions may not be needed to provide litigants with the complete relief theyre seeking.

We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in issuing a universal injunction in order to give the states complete relief, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals said in a 2-1 decision in a case brought by several Democratic-led states against Trumps order.

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The administration has not yet appealed that ruling. The 9th Circuits decision may soon bring the birthright issue back before the Supreme Court, since the appeals court had also reviewed the merits of the executive order and found that it was unconstitutional. The Supreme Courts June 27 decision did not address the legality of the policy, only the use of nationwide injunctions.

Yet another blow came on Friday, when US District Judge Leo Sorokin decided that his earlier nationwide injunction against the birthright policy could not be narrowed in a way that would feasibly and adequately protect against the harms that more than a dozen Democratic state attorneys general, the District of Columbia and several cities said would befall them if the policy could be enforced, even partially.

In that ruling, Sorokin, an appointee of former President Barack Obama who sits on the federal bench in Boston, repeated his conclusion that Trumps order is unconstitutional and contrary to a federal statute.

President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at the White House in Washington, DC, on June 27, following a Supreme Court ruling that limits the application of birthright citizenship. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Its not clear whether, absent those three rulings this month, the policy could have taken effect this weekend. In court, attorneys for the administration have avoided providing specifics when speaking about what would happen once the 30-day pause from the Supreme Court is lifted.

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Its an unusual situation, what the Supreme Court did, DOJ attorney Eric Hamilton said earlier this month to Sorokin.

Its possible Trump may never be able to fully implement his order. Every lower court in the US to scrutinize the policy has found it unconstitutional.

Signed by Trump on January 20, the executive order, titled PROTECTING THE MEANING AND VALUE OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP, said that the federal government will not issue documents recognizing United States citizenship to any children born on American soil to parents who were in the country unlawfully, or were in the states lawfully, but temporarily.

But courts have roundly concluded that Trumps policy violates the Constitutions 14th Amendment, an 1898 Supreme Court case known as United States v. Wong Kim Ark and years of practice by previous presidents.

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Whether the administration decides to file appeals in the cases challenging the executive order is no small matter: Legal experts have long said the governments decision to take the issue to the Supreme Court only on the technical question of whether courts went too far in blocking his policy nationwide represented a vehicle to undermine the power of lower courts sifting through a bevy of litigation over Trumps actions.

The Trump administration was very purposeful and strategic in their decision to go to the Supreme Court on the question of what remedy can people get when they challenge executive actions, as opposed to the merits of this particular executive order, said Jessica Levinson, a constitutional law professor at Loyola Law School.

More adverse rulings for Trumps birthright order could be on the horizon.

A federal judge in Maryland, Deborah Boardman, who blocked Trumps order nationwide said earlier this month that she was prepared to do so again after the plaintiffs in that challenge refiled their case as a class-action lawsuit.

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But first, a Richmond, Virginia-based appeals court would have to put the litigation back in her hands.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to craft guidance on how the federal government would carry out Trumps birthright policy, but no details have emerged on what that guidance looks like.

The agencies are right now working on public guidance to explain how the Presidents executive order is going to be implemented, Hamilton told Sorokin last month, in response to the judges question about whats been done behind the scenes.

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Darren Beattie, a top State Department official who was fired from the first Trump administration after speaking at a conference attended by white supremacists, has been appointed to lead the U.S. Institute for Peace, an independent nonprofit funded by Congress.

Beattie, who will continue serving as U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy while leading the institute as acting president, has a history of inflammatory views.

The former academic has lauded eugenics-style population control and mass sterilization, praised the Chinese Communist party and dismissed its repressive campaign against the Uyghurs, claimed the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol was a conspiracy by federal agents, and wrote on social media last year that competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work.

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We look forward to seeing him advance President Trumps America First agenda in this new role, the State Department said in a statement on Friday.

The Trump administration has tried to exert control over the peace-keeping organization as part of the presidents radical restructuring of federal agencies and diplomacy.

Darren Beattie, a former White House official who was fired in 2018 for speaking at a conference attended by white nationalists, now serves as a top diplomat in the State Department and has been appointed to lead the U.S. Institute for Peace, an independent nonprofit funded by Congress (National Conservatism / YouTube)

In February, the president signed an executive order slashing most of the groups staff, part of a wider effort to drastically change U.S. tools of foreign influence and diplomacy that also saw the administration gut the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The following month, Elon Musks so-called DOGE initiative seized the peace institutes headquarters with the help of police and the FBI, ejecting staff from the building.

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Staff members then sued over the takeover and mass firings, and a federal judge in May temporarily blocked the Trump administration from dismantling the institute.

The administration then appealed, and a federal appeals court in Washington last month returned control of the building to the administration as the legal process plays out.

Darren Beattie has a history of controversial statements, including praising mass sterilization and claiming the January 6 riot at the Capitol was a federal conspiracy (U.S. State Department)

In March, Democratic members of Congress wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who sits on the board of the U.S. Institute for Peace, expressing alarm over Beatties appointment in February to his diplomatic post.

Darren Beatties white nationalist loyalties and public glorification of our adversaries authoritarian systems make him unqualified to serve as the top diplomat representing American values and culture to foreign audiences, the members wrote.

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The Independent has requested comment from the State Department and U.S. Institute for Peace for comment.

After his dismissal from the Trump administration in 2018, Beattie returned to the government two years later, with the White House appointing him to the Commission for the Preservation of American Heritage Abroad, a body that preserves historical sites, including those related to the Holocaust.

The Biden administration forced Beatties resignation from the commission in 2022.

Beattie isnt the only Trump staffer welcomed back into the government after controversy over their views.

Marko Elez, a DOGE staffer who previously praised eugenics, declared himself racist before it was cool, and said he wanted to normalize Indian hate, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal, resigned from the administration in February, but soon found a new position in the Social Security Administration.
President Donald Trump and his White House are influencing GOP congressional candidates and advising who to run and who to stand down as Republicans try to keep control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections next year.

The White House is strategizing to make sure Republicans win enough seats and is putting together a 2027 policy agenda so Trump, who plans to join candidates on the campaign trail, can explain what continued GOP control of the House, Senate and the White House could look like, a White House official told Politico.

This strategy includes telling which Republican candidates to run for office and which to stay put, the official said.

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For example, Iowa Republican Rep. Zach Nunn was weighing a gubernatorial run when the president told him to stay put, the outlet reported. Nunn this month announced he was running for re-election.

After prayerful consideration with his family and the strong support from President Trump, Zach is more committed than ever to maintaining the Republican majority and advancing the America First Agenda, the congressmans campaign spokesperson said. The president has also publicly endorsed Nunn.

Donald Trump and his White House have a hand in which Republican candidates races as they try to retain a GOP trifecta, according to a report (AFP via Getty Images)

The president also advised Michigan GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga to avoid running for Senate. Trump instead publicly backed Senator Mike Rogers this week, saying he has my Complete and Total Endorsement  HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!

Earlier this month, Trump met with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst to encourage her to run for re-election, Politico previously reported. Questions about Ernsts political future swirled after her viral remark about proposed Medicaid cuts: We all are going to die.

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President Trump is the unequivocal leader of the Republican Party  just look at those who have bet against him in the past because they are no longer around, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Politico. The President will help his Republican friends on Capitol Hill get reelected, and work to pick up new seats across the country.

Democrats are likely hoping for a repeat of the 2018 midterms, when they destroyed Republicans trifecta by taking control of the House during Trumps first term.

Im sure theres some memories from 2018, but its all about these last two years of his presidency and his legacy, and he doesnt want the Democrats nipping at his heels all the time for the last two years, Tony Fabrizio, the pollster for Trumps 2016 and 2024 campaigns, told Politico.

Trump met with Iowa Senator Joni Ernst to encourage her to run for re-election as questions swirl around her political future, according to a report (Getty Images)

Trump has acknowledged the power he has to influence voters. He recently suggested holding rallies for candidates, two White House officials told the outlet.

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The president reportedly told one of the officials last week: Were going to have to campaign in the states and really get out there a lot, huh? Because really, its just me that can pull them out in a lot of places.

Republican strategists have said they plan to use the threat of Trumps third impeachment, should Democrats take the House, to compel voters.

We know what the stakes are in the midterm elections, John McLaughlin, a Trump pollster, told NBC News this week. If we dont succeed, Democrats will begin persecuting President Trump again. They would go for impeachment.

The White House also plans to use its 2024 campaign strategy as a guide, targeting young and working-class voters that came out to support Trump in droves.

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One of the main strategies is to put Trump on the ballot in the midterms, one of the White House officials told Politico. Well have a midterm agenda that were running on. Not only heres what weve done, but heres what were going to do next.

Democrats are eating up that idea.

Democratic National Committee spokesperson Rosemary Boeglin told the outlet: The White House has the DNCs full support in their plans to put Trump on the campaign trail with frontline Republicans to tell the American people that they took money out of their pockets, took food off their table, and took away their health care in order to give massive handouts to billionaires.
President Trump on Sunday said Hamas is stealing food that was meant for people in Gaza, telling reporters multiple times that goods are being stolen when pressed on the hunger crisis in the region.

The president, while sitting next to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland, was asked for his response to the images of starving children in Gaza.

When I see the children and when I see, especially over the last couple of weeks people are stealing the food, theyre stealing the money, theyre stealing the money for the food. Theyre stealing weapons, theyre stealing everything, the president said.

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He added, Its a mess, that whole place is a mess. The Gaza Strip, you know it was given many years ago so they could have peace. That didnt work out too well.

The Israeli military has reported that there is no proof that the Palestinian militant group had systematically stolen aid.

Earlier on Sunday, Israels military said it will start a tactical pause in fighting in Gaza amid mass starvation concerns.

Trump said he spoke recently with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding, I talked to him about a lot of things. I talked to him about Iran.

He said the U.S. would send more aid into Gaza and pressed other nations to contribute as well, suggesting that would be part of his conversation with von der Leyen.

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And, he reiterated the claims about Hamas stealing food.

Its not a U.S. problem, its an international problem, Trump said on Gaza.

If we werent there, I think people would have starved, frankly. They would have starved, and its not like theyre eating well, but a lot of that food is getting stolen by Hamas. Theyre stealing the food, theyre stealing a lot of things. You ship it in and they steal it, then they sell it, he said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) also insisted that Hamas has stolen the food on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday and noted that Yechiel Leiter, Israels ambassador to the U.S., and other Israeli officials told him that Hamas has stolen a huge amount of food since the start of the conflict on Oct. 7, 2023.

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Trump on Sunday said that the U.S. gave $60 million in aid for Gaza two weeks ago, but he said that nobody even acknowledged it.

Nobody acknowledged it, nobody talks about it, and it makes you feel a little bad when you do that, and no other countries give anything, he said.

He said that Israel has to decide what happens next in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Whats going to happen? I dont know, Trump said. Israels going to have to make a decision. I know what Id do, but I dont think its appropriate that I say.

The Trump administration last week said it was leaving Gaza ceasefire talks, blaming Hamas for failing to engage in good faith. Steve Witkoff, Trumps special envoy for peace missions, said the administration is considering alternative plans to secure the freedom of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the future governance of the territory.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Udhhav Thackeray on Sunday expressed gratitude for all the birthday wishes and stressed that there is only "one" Shiv Sena. He further thanked Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray, who visited Matoshri and wished Uddhav Thackeray on his birthday. Uddhav said that it meant a lot to him and doubled his happiness. "Thank you all for the wishes. I truly appreciate them. Raj visited and wished me on my birthday -- it means a lot to me. His visit has more than doubled my happiness. There is only one Shiv Sena. There are not two Shiv Senas. Raj Thackeray visited and paid tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray. After a very long time, Raj came here and wished me on my birthday. It really means a lot to me", Uddhav Thackeray told reporters. Earlier today, Raj Thackeray met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief at Uddhav Thackeray's residence, Matoshree, on Sunday and extended birthday wishes. Sharing the visuals, Shiv Sena (UBT) wrote on X, "Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Rajsaheb Thackeray extended birthday greetings to party chief Uddhavsaheb Thackeray."This meeting follows the Thackeray brothers' joint rally on July 5, in which they declared their victory against the alleged imposition of Hindi by the Maharashtra government. They shared a hug at the Worli Dome in Mumbai at their 'Awaz Marathicha' joint rally after the Maharashtra government scrapped two Government Resolutions (GRs) to introduce Hindi as the third language. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also extended wishes and wrote on X, "Heartfelt birthday wishes and congratulations to Shiv Sena President and INDIA alliance partner Uddhav Thackeray ji. May you stay healthy, live long, and together we will fight for the interests and rights of the people of Maharashtra." Thackeray's INDIA bloc ally and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also greeted him on the occasion and lauded his resistance against the Hindi imposition in the state. "Birthday greetings to @ShivSenaUBT_ President, Thiru. Uddhav Thackeray.Your bold resistance to #HindiImposition and your firm stand to uphold Maharashtra's identity have united the Marathi people in standing up for their language. Wishing you strength as you continue to defend federalism and linguistic dignity," Stalin wrote on X. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also took to X and wrote, "Shiv Sena chief, my friend Uddhav Thackeray, who stands firm like a lighthouse in every storm, heartfelt birthday wishes to you! Jai Maharashtra!" (ANI)
President Donald Trumps recent threat that he was considering revoking Rosie ODonnells citizenship says a lot about how the president intends to govern  and its terrifying, experts say.

Earlier in July, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he was giving serious consideration to taking away ODonnells citizenship because he said the comedian, who moved to Ireland in January, is not in the best interests of our Great Country.

She is a Threat to Humanity, and should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA! he wrote.

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ODonnell, a longtime Trump critic, had posted a video denouncing the president the day before, criticizing Trumps mental decline and what has become of our country, among other condemnations of the Trump administration and the Trump cult.

Freedom is under siege with increasing bans and restrictions. HuffPost is dedicated to covering these threats and holding those in power accountable. Support our vital reporting by joining our membership program today.

She has since hit backat the presidents citizenship threat in a series of social media posts.

The president of the USA has always hated the fact that I see him for who he is  a criminal con man sexual abusing liar out to harm our nation to serve himself  this is why I moved to Ireland, she wrote in one post.

ODonnell and Trumps feud can be traced back nearly two decades. In 2006, ODonnell  then a talk show host on The View  memorably mocked Trumps response to a Miss USA scandal that unfolded that year. (Trump was then the co-owner of the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.)

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ODonnell was born in the United States. Trumps threat to take away her citizenship is unadulterated dictator behavior, and its terrifying, said Paul A. Gowder, professor of law at Northwestern Universitys Pritzker School of Law.

By attacking citizenship in the many ways he has done, Donald Trump is making it clear that he wants the power to kick people out of the country for angering him, Gowder told HuffPost.

Trumps attacks on citizenship are a familiar practice of authoritarians, Gowder said elsewhere, citing political philosopher Hannah Arendt, who explained in the context of deliberating on Nazi Germany [that] citizenship is really the right to have rights.

Noncitizens traditionally have much weaker rights than citizens, and, of course, noncitizens have the greatest vulnerability of all, namely the fact that there are many, many reasons (sometimes just including variations on a theme of raw sovereign will) that they might be forcibly removed from the country, whereas citizens are never subject to that, he continued.

Rosie O'Donnell photographed at an event in Los Angeles on November 19, 2024. MICHAEL TRAN via Getty Images

Birthright citizenship is defined in the Constitution, Gowder says  but we still cant normalize Trumps threat to ODonnell.

The 14th Amendment doesnt say All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside **unless they annoy the President, Gowder said. Its a constitutional right.

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Not even Congress can pass a law taking away a persons citizenship, he continued. Afroyim v. Rusk, a Supreme Court case from 1967, struck down a law divesting Americans of citizenship for voting in a foreign election. The court made clear that the only way an American citizen can lose their citizenship is if they voluntarily renounce it.

This is 100% clear  nobody on earth, probably including Trump himself, seriously believes that the president has the power to arbitrarily take away someones citizenship, he added, later calling Trumps post about McDonnell a frivolous, absurd, empty mad king-style threat.

But Gowder said that Trumps remarks to ODonnell are part and parcel of his general behavior toward American citizenship.

He seems to view it not as an inalienable right but as a status that he can grant and take away at will, a meaningless instrument of his personal public policy, Gowder said, noting that this behavior can be seen in other examples of the administrationsimmigrationagenda and policies.

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Gowder said elsewhere that for the first time in American history, the presidency is in the hands of a guy who thinks that he ought to be able to roam the streets pointing at people and saying, Youre not a citizen anymore, get out.

That means he will also use the powers he has in a way that is self-centered, arbitrary and utterly faithless to his duty of loyalty to the U.S. Constitution and the American people, he said, adding, The only remedy for this is impeachment and removal.

Jacob Neiheisel, associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, told HuffPost that he believes Trumps Truth Social post about ODonnell was concerning on a number of levels.

It is disturbing that expressing disagreement or dissent is apparently reason enough in his mind to strip someones citizenship, he said, later noting that he thinks the threat said a lot about how Trump intends to govern.

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He appears ready and willing to use the apparatus of the state to settle old scores and pursue his own personal animosities, he said. Lost in the mix is any sense of the public good. Even though Trump appears to have couched this suggestion in broader terms, saying that ODonnell is not good for the nation, it is hard to read this move as anything other than an effort to limit dissent.

Neiheisel later emphasized that its important that these types of statements not become normalized in political discourse.

Related...
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that President Donald Trump is losing patience and willingness to continue waiting for steps from the Russian side that would lead to an end to the war in Ukraine.

Source: Rubio on Fox News, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: Rubio mentioned phone calls between Trump and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin that led nowhere.

Quote: "He [Trump] is losing his patience. He is losing his willingness to continue to wait for the Russian side to do something here to bring an end to this war. That wasnt his war, but he wants to see it come to an end."

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Details: Rubio said Russia is just stalling for time.

"He [Trump] is not going to fall into that trap of being pulled into endless talks about talks," the US secretary of state said.

Background:

Trump has allowed for the possibility of introducing secondary sanctions against Russia earlier than the 50-day deadline he previously announced.

After Trump gave Russia the 50-day deadline, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said the US president should not wait 50 days to impose secondary sanctions against Russia.

Later media reports suggested that Trumps threat to punish Russia if it does not reach a ceasefire with Ukraine within 50 days had halted a bipartisan initiative in the Senate to introduce tough new sanctions against countries doing business with Moscow.

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Donald Trump, who has regularly indulged in conspiracy theories alongside his supporters during his rise to power, complained on Sunday that its Democrats that are too focused on conspiracy theories.

Trump, whose administration is under scrutiny over its handling of Jeffrey Epstein investigations, claimed that all they know how to do is talk and think about conspiracy theories and nonsense.

If they'd waste their time talking about America being great again, it would be so much nicer, the president said during a meeting in Scotland on Sunday with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

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Trump himself has long employed conspiracies as a candidate and then president, from becoming one of the leading proponents of the Obama birther conspiracy to playing into his supporters fixation with the QAnon movement.

On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump continued this trend, latching onto a baseless and racist conspiracy theory that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating neighborhood pets.

Donald Trump vented frustration on Sunday over Democrats talking about conspiracy theories, a likely reference to the ongoing push to release more of the Jeffrey Epstein files, even as the Republican has accused former president Barack Obama of leading a treasonous coup against him for investigating Russia efforts to influence the 2016 election (REUTERS)

Now, after years of courting conspiracy theories about his opponents, the spotlight has turned on Trump over Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting a federal trial on sex trafficking charges

The administrations handling of materials related to Epstein investigations  disclosing an initial tranche of information that was mostly already public earlier this year, then suggesting it would not provide further releases, even as recent reporting further highlighted Trumps longstanding relationship with the late financier  has driven a rare wedge between Trump and his base.

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The Epstein scandal has also provided ammunition to Democrats to scrutinize the president.

Pressure reached such a fever pitch that House Speaker Mike Johnson sent Congress off to its summer recess early, temporarily averting a bipartisan push to release more Epstein files.

Trump and his allies have taken a variety of stances on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, at first promising to release more Epstein files, then suggesting no more releases were appropriate, then asking a court to unseal Epstein-related grand jury testimony, even as the Justice Department looks to shut down a key Epstein associates appeal at the Supreme Court (Getty)

Despite Trumps protests, the issue doesnt look set to settle anytime soon, after Epsteins longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors, was subpoenaed to testify in Congress and gave an interview to the Department of Justice.

Amid continued furor over the Epstein case, the Trump administration has asked a judge to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the alleged trafficker while opposing Maxwells bid at the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction.

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The Epstein saga appears set to continue, as does Trump and his allies insistence that conspiracies are at work to thwart the MAGA movement.

The president has taken to describing the 2016 investigations into whether Russia collaborated with this presidential campaign as a coup orchestrated by Barack Obama, while Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has called for the former president to face criminal charges for the treasonous conspiracy.

Obamas office has called the claims a ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.
TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday his administration was close to reaching a trade deal with China, but gave no other details.

"We're very close to a deal with China. We really sort of made a deal with China, but we'll see how that goes," Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray and Andrea Shalal; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Will Dunham)
TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told the leaders of both countries that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended their fighting.

"I spoke to both of the prime ministers, and I think by the time I got off, I think they want to settle now," Trump told reporters at the start of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Turnbery, Scotland.

Trump said he believed Thai and Cambodian officials were due to meet in coming days.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray; Writing by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Will Dunham)
Some Republicans in Congress are uneasy about the possibility the Trump administration will use a pocket rescission to claw back already approved government funding as fears of a fall shutdown rise.

The Trump administration has already clawed back funds through the use of a rescissions package that passed both chambers of Congress, and some GOP lawmakers are concerned about having to vote on a second, possibly politically tougher, package of cuts.

But these lawmakers say the use of pocket rescissions, an idea floated by the White Houses budget chief that could yank back money without input from lawmakers, could create bad feelings not only with Democrats, but also with Republicans.

Pocket rescissions, I think, are unconstitutional, said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), a spending cardinal, this week. So, just like impoundment, I think, is unconstitutional.

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So well see how it goes, he said.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought referred to pocket rescissions as one of the executive tools that are on the table earlier this month, as the administration continues a sweeping operation aimed at reducing federal spending.

The president was elected to get us to balance, to deal with our fiscal situation, and were going to use all of the tools that are there depending on the situation, and as we move through the year, he said at an event.

However, he also noted then that the administration hasnt yet made a determination to use it in part because were making progress during the normal course of business with Congress.

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Trump became the first president in decades to successfully claw back funds through the special rescissions process, with the GOP-led Congress agreeing to pull back about $9 billion in previously allocated funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting.

The Impoundment Control Act (ICA) lays out rules governing that process and allows the administration to temporarily withhold funding for 45 days while Congress considers the request. If Congress opts not to approve the request in the timeframe, the funds must be released.

Under a pocket rescission, however, experts say the president would send the same type of request to Congress, but do so within 45 days of the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. The targeted funds could then essentially be held until the clock runs out and they expire.

Vought has described the tactic as no different than a normal rescission, except for the timing of when it occurs.

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A pocket rescission occurs later in the end of the fiscal year, within 45 days of the time that you have to hold the funding, and then the money evaporates at the end of the fiscal year, he said.

But some budget experts have strongly pushed back on the budget chiefs characterization, arguing the tactic is illegal and undermines the intent of the ICA. The Government Accountability Office also said during Trumps first presidential term that the law does not allow the withholding of funds through their date of expiration.

It is a method through which [Vought] would get to impound funds against congressional intent, said Bobby Kogan, a former Senate budget aide and senior director of federal budget policy at the left-leaning Center for American Progress, in a recent interview.

Pocket rescission says, Well, what if I send up a request 45 days before the end of the fiscal year, then even if Congress says no, I can still end all funding for the rest of the year, right? he argued. Like thats the concept behind a pocket rescission. Profoundly illegal because it would allow you to impound funds without congressional approval, which is illegal.

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At the same time, other experts have argued impoundment law is murky on the matter and have described the tactic as a potential loophole. Some have defended the administrations interpretation of the law and argue lawmakers would have prohibited the maneuver over the years if they wanted to.

Not all Republicans are certain about the legality of the use of pocket rescissions, however.

I dont know. I havent researched it, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a senior appropriator and former attorney, said this week when asked by reporters whether pocket rescissions were legal. Id prefer that we not do it that way.

The Louisiana Republican, who has been pushing for the White House to work with Congress to get more rescissions packages out the door, instead said it wouldnt bother him if the administration sent a rescission package a week and spell out in detail what they want to propose we cut.

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Theres been concern from members on both sides of the aisle that the administrations plans to continue to claw back federal funding with only GOP support could threaten bipartisan funding talks for fiscal 2026.

But Republican rifts over the presidents latest rescissions requests were also an issue.

The party clashed over potential cuts to programs like the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and public broadcasting dollars that help fund not only PBS and NPR, but also local stations some Republicans say their constituents depend on.

Under the pocket rescissions strategy, experts say the administration could reduce some funding by strategically holding up appropriations set to expire at the end of the fiscal year.

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If Congress chooses not to approve the administrations request for cuts, it could still provide funding for the program as part of a deal to keep the government open past September. Congress often opts to keep government funding levels mostly the same at the start of a new fiscal year to buy time for a larger deal updating funding levels.

But experts have emphasized that would be new funding, noting funding an account was denied at the end of the fiscal year as part of a pocket rescission likely would not roll over into the next.

Asked whether another rescissions plan could worsen the outlook for a funding deal for fiscal 2026, House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said this week that the only thing that would worry me is if Congress didnt get a chance to vote on it, thats the key thing.

I dont want to see things up here that get jammed where Congress doesnt vote.

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Cole was asked whether he was referring to pocket rescissions.

I dont care procedurally what you want to call it, he responded. I expect Congress to vote on these things, and you know that would worry me, and I know that would worry my colleagues in the other chamber, on both sides of the aisle, certainly worry my Democratic colleagues here.

And theres a lot of Republican concern about this too, he added.

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President Donald Trump expressed disappointment Sunday that nobody has thanked him for sending money meant to go toward food aid for Gaza, as Palestinians continue to die every day  either by starvation or by Israeli gunfire at U.S.-backed aid sites.

Appearing in Scotland alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump was asked if Israel should do more to get sufficient aid into the Palestinian territory it has nearly flattened. The president responded with a bizarre complaint.

We gave $60 million two weeks ago for food for Gaza, and nobody acknowledged it, nobody talks about it. And it makes you feel a little bad when you do that, and you know, you have other countries not giving anything, he said, later specifying European countries.

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Nobody said, Gee, thank you very much, he continued. And it would be nice to have at least a thank you.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen meets Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump Turnberry Golf Club in Turnberry, Scotland. Andrew Harnik via Getty Images

The president did not specifically say where the $60 million he referenced came from or to whom it was sent. Reuters reported last month that the State Department approved $30 million for the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Aid groups, lawmakers and the United Nations have condemned GHF for bringing starving families to food distribution sites only for Israeli soldiers and U.S. mercenaries to open fire on the crowds.

Since GHF launched in May, Israeli forces have killed more than a thousand Palestinians seeking aid, the United Nations human rights office said.

None of the other countries Trump is presumably referring to financially supports GHF, though they do fund the U.N. agency GHF is trying to replace. The EU and other European governments also donate substantially toward the World Food Program and other aid groups. Some Arab countries have also delivered humanitarian assistance and given money toward Gaza relief.

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Its a mess, that whole place is a mess, Trump said Sunday of Gaza.

Were giving a lot of money and a lot of food and a lot of everything, he continued. If we werent there, I think people would have starved, frankly. They would have starved. And its not like theyre eating well.

Palestinians are already starving, due to both bombs destroying the territory as well as Israels massive aid restrictions it claims are due to thefts by Hamas. Trump repeated the same claim Sunday, despite a New York Times report one day earlier revealing that Israeli military officials have no proof Hamas militants routinely steal aid.

Claims were only aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the humanitarian community & attempting to replace it with a diabolic and politically motivated distribution scheme, Philippe Lazzarini, chief of the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian aid (UNRWA), posted Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. Its time for a principled and at scale humanitarian response including through UNRWA.

After mounting international pressure in response to recent images out of Gaza that show Palestinian children starving to death, the Israeli military began a tactical pause in three areas of the territory starting Sunday to allow for increased aid deliveries. Trump said he spoke over the weekend to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the military will continue fighting in Gaza during the pause.
How much will it cost to renovate the Boeing 747-8 gifted by Qatar into the next Air Force One? Thats classified information. But a recent $934 million transfer of funds to a Pentagon budget may hold a clue.

The New York Times reported that this transfer to an unnamed classified project described in a Pentagon document sent to Capitol Hill likely includes the cost of renovating the gifted plane into a lavish gold-accented flying palace for President Trump. The funds were moved to a budget dedicated to updating Americas ground-based nuclear missiles, and Air Force officials told the paper that at least some of the funds for the renovations will come from the nuclear modernization project.

Making the project even more absurd, because the renovations will take one or two years to complete, Trump will only fly in the plane as president for a short time until he leaves office and the plane is ostensibly transferred to his presidential library in 2029  at least that is what Trump has said will happen. (Unless, that is, Trump finds a way to extend his time in office beyond this four year term, as he has often hinted at, though that would be extremely unconstitutional.)

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Among the improvements to the plane are upgrades to its communications systems and engines as well as the addition of antimissile systems. Plus, U.S. intelligence will need to identify and remove any covert listening devices that Qatar may have embedded in the planes walls. Finally, the plane will be treated to similar internal decor to the Oval Office, which Trump has outfitted with tacky gold accents.

Trump pursued the gift from Qatar, he said, because Boeing is years behind schedule to deliver two new planes to serve as Air Force Ones, a project that has already cost $4 billion.

Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink testified to Congress in June about the cost to renovate the Qatar plane.

I think there has been a number thrown around on the order of $1 billion, he said. But a lot of those costs associated with that are costs that wed have experienced anyway, we will just experience them early, ahead of Boeings scheduled delivery of its new Air Force Ones. So it wouldnt be anywhere near that.

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He added, We believe the actual retrofit of that aircraft is probably less than $400 million.

But engineers and Air Force experts familiar with this kind of work shed doubt on that price tag, and members of Congress have voiced worries that Trump will want to use the plane quickly, and he will push the Air Force to complete the work before installing proper safety mechanisms.

While the Pentagon will reveal the price to modernize Americas ground-base nuclear missiles, it declined to share with the Times just how much the plane upgrades will cost.

The more we learn about this deal, the more disturbing it becomes, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen told the paper. The security implications of accepting a private plane from a foreign nation as Air Force One and the resulting ethical concerns a gift of that sizes creates were already significant.

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She also expressed concern that this administration is diverting funds from the nuclear modernization budget to finance costly renovations to this plane, which means the U.S. is weakening our credibility to fund a vanity project for President Trump.

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ANKARA (Reuters) -Firefighters battled wildfires across Turkey on Sunday amid a searing Mediterranean heat-wave, with authorities evacuating more than 3,600 people from settlements in two provinces.

Wildfires in the southern provinces of Mersin and Antalya as well as the central province of Usak were largely brought under control, but blazes in the northwestern province of Bursa and the northern province of Karabuk were still burning, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters.

A wildfire broke out in a forested area between the Gursu and Kestel districts of Bursa, home to much of Turkey's auto industry, on Saturday. Part of a highway connecting Istanbul with the western city of Izmir was briefly closed on Saturday night due to the fire.

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Huge flames engulfed trees in areas close to homes in Bursa as smoke covered the sky over the city, footage showed.

Some 1,765 people in Bursa's Kestel district were evacuated, Yumakli said, adding that 2,000 firefighters were struggling to battle the wildfire in the area with the help of six firefighting planes and four helicopters.

In the northern province of Karabuk, where a large wildfire has been burning for five days, 1,839 people in 19 villages were evacuated, Yumakli said. Three planes and 16 helicopters are tackling the blazes in the area amid difficult conditions, he added.

"We are going through risky times. This does not seem likely to end in two or three days," Yumakli said, referring to the heat-wave.

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Temperatures in several regions in Turkey were forecast to reach over 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 6 to 12 degrees above seasonal norms, Turkey's meteorological service said, as thermometers hit 50 degrees Celsius in the country's southeast on Saturday for the first time in recorded history.

(Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; editing by Giles Elgood)
July 27, 2025: This year Russian has been increasing its use of Electronic Warfare/EW to defend its airbases and ports in northwest Russia near the border with Norway and Finland. Airlines can reroute their flights crossing this region. NATO warships and aircraft cannot move. Their job is to keep an eye on the Russians no matter what the problems are. Usually its bad weather, but the intense jamming is a reminder that NATO counter-jamming efforts must be upgraded. The jamming is not a new problem and will probably get a lot worse in the future.

For over a decade Norway has been subject to constant Russian GPS jamming. This has been happening, on and off, since 2018. The jamming increased after Russia invaded Ukraine and this year jamming takes place daily. Russia justifies the jamming as preventing Ukraine from using armed drones to attack Russian naval and air bases in the area.

In 2018 Finland and Norway openly complained about Russia deliberately jamming GPS signals in northern Finland and Norway. The jamming was done from a Russian military base in the Kola Peninsula on the Barents Sea. The area is where Norway and Russia share a small border. The jamming took place in late 2018 as NATO held its largest training exercise since the Cold War ended in 1991. Russia denied any responsibility even though they are known to possess long-range jammers, for GPS and other signals. Norway said they had tracked the jammer to a specific location but when Russia refused to admit any involvement, Norway refused to explain how they tracked the signal because that would provide Russia with information on Norwegian EW equipment that might be useful to them.

What was curious about this incident was that it had no impact on the NATO military exercises or even commercial airliners operating in the area which had backup Inertial Navigation Systems/INS in case GPS signals were not working properly. The potential victims were civilians with smaller aircraft or on the ground who depend on commercial navigation gear using GPS. Then again, that may have been the point because Russian firms have long been producing a wide variety of GPS jammers that are generally ineffective against military GPS users but would be useful for criminals, terrorists or anyone involved in irregular warfare as Russia did in Ukraine between 2014 and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. As for the damage to diplomatic relations with Norway and Finland, these two nations need no reminders of what a bad neighbor Russia is and historically has been.

NATO nations have long been aware of the Russian EW activities, especially the growing number of Russian jamming systems. Some of these were demonstrated in Syria and Ukraine, where Russia considers complaints about disruption caused by their jamming as free advertising for their jammers. Russian GPS jammers have some military use but also have appeal for non-military customers. For example, in 2016 Russia began marketing a new, portable GPS jamming system called Pole 21. This system was special because individual Pole 21 units can be mounted on existing cell phone towers or alone on portable towers. Each Pole 21 unit can put out 20 watts and jam signals from GPS as well as the similar GLONASS, Galileo and Beidou systems out to 80 kilometers. Pole 21 is also designed to act as a backup transmitter of commands for nearby Pole 21 units. In this way, the Russians say a wide area can quickly be protected from GPS guided missiles and bombs as well as shutting down vehicle GPS systems. The Russians admit that Pole

This Russian interest in GPS jamming first became public in the early 1990s when a private Russian firm, AviaConversia, was founded for the purpose of developing cheap, lightweight, and reliable GPS jammers. By 1997 the firm was offering commercial and military customers four different models of GPS jammers for about $4,000 each. This gear only put out 4-8 watts, making them very tough to find and bomb. These jammers were advertised as able to effectively block GPS signals out to 150-200 kilometers, depending on terrain. These jammers could run off batteries and weighed between 8 kg to 12 kg without batteries. When operating, the jammers consumed less than 25 watts of power.

By the mid-1990s plans for building your own GPS jammers were appearing on the Internet. These devices used commercially available parts costing less than a hundred dollars. Soldering skills were required. Soon similar assembled units were available on the Internet for as low as $40. At the same time, American GPS experts pointed out that these jammers had insufficient power to jam GPS for most military GPS receivers but would probably interfere with a lot of commercial items, especially consumer electronic devices. The U.S. Air Force later revealed that this was the case. This was demonstrated in 2003 when Iraq tried unsuccessfully using AviaConversia type jammers against American GPS guided bombs.

By 2002 AviaConversia had disappeared, apparently absorbed in new, classified, Russian military jamming efforts. In the 1990s AviaConversia had made much of its connections with the Russian armed forces and the implied assurance that its jammer worked. After 2001 U.S. Department of Defense experiments found that the cheap jammers were not that effective, and larger ones, built from off the shelf components, and costing nearly $10,000, were also largely ineffective against military grade GPS guidance systems. At the same time, the Department of Defense has been building and testing GPS jammer detectors, as well as homing systems sensitive enough to guide a missile to any active jammers.

By 2010 the U.S. Department of Defense was spending a lot of money on developing a jam-resistant replacement for GPS. The best candidate was an improved INS or Internal Navigation System. INS has existed for nearly a century but has gotten smaller, cheaper, and more reliable as electronic components have done the same since the 1960s. Basically, INS uses three gyroscopes and three accelerometers to constantly measure changes in direction and changes in velocity. With that, the INS will always know where it is in relation to its initial starting point, which can be obtained initially via unjammed GPS or other means. Miniature INS devices have long served as a backup for GPS guided weapons. But while GPS guidance can land a bomb or missile within 10 meters of a target, INS can only achieve 30 meter accuracy. GPS also has the advantage of not needing to have its exact position entered after the INS is turned on. On the upside, that means INS cannot be jammed or spoofed. These micro-gyroscopes and accelerometers

Many Department of Defense navigation and electronics experts believe current anti-jamming efforts are sufficient to keep military GPS use viable, but the new INS technology has attracted a lot of attention because in the military a backup is something that is always appreciated as, when equipment fails in combat, its literally a matter of life or death. Meanwhile, the U.S. is building and testing more compact GPS anti-jamming systems for smaller, as small as 200 kg, drones. This is part of a program to equip all American drones, even the smallest ones, with more secure GPS. While all drones can be flown by the operator, the GPS makes it a lot easier for the operator to keep track of exactly where his drone is at all times and sometimes the drone is programmed to simply patrol between a series of GPS coordinates. If the GPS jams or fails, the operator can usually use the video feed to find landmarks on the ground and bring the drone back to where it can be seen and landed. Another technique for armed drones

While American troops have not yet encountered much, if any battlefield GPS jamming, the threat exists. Currently, American troops can experience this sort of thing in Ukraine, where NATO nations have military advisors and observers as well as in Syria. This jamming tech is also showing up in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before that, the most tangible evidence of this came from North Korea, which has long made, sold, and itself used GPS jammers. In 2012 North Korea attacked South Korea with a massive GPS jamming campaign. The jamming began in late April and continued for over two weeks. It took less than a day to confirm that the signal was coming from North Korea and was mainly aimed at the South Korean capital Seoul. The jamming had little impact inside the city itself (the ground-based jamming signal was blocked by buildings and hills) and was only noted by several hundred aircraft landing or taking off from local airports and over a hundred ships operating off the coast. In all these cases the ships and aircraf

The 2012 incident was the third time North Korea has used GPS jamming against South Korea. For most of March 2011, North Korea directed a GPS jamming signal across the border towards Seoul. A separate jammer has been directed at cell phone traffic. The GPS jamming signal could be detected up to a hundred kilometers south of the DMZ.

The usual response to GPS jamming is to bomb the jammers, which are easy to find because jamming is nothing more than broadcasting a more powerful version of the frequency you want to interfere with. But such a response could lead to more fighting in Korea, so the south protested and refrained from responding with force. The jamming was a nuisance more than a threat and most military equipment is equipped with electronics and other enhancements to defeat it. The North Korean jamming confirmed what was already suspected. So now South Korean and American electronic warfare experts have an opportunity to study the effects of jamming on a large metropolitan area. It caused intermittent problems for users of GPS devices and many more cell phone connectivity problems. There were briefer and less powerful jamming incidents in August and December of 2010.

Meanwhile, this is old news for the U.S. Department of Defense, which has been developing anti-GPS jamming technology since the late 1990s. For years military aircraft have been equipped with complex and expensive GPS receivers that will usually continue to work even if they are being jammed. There are several ways you can defeat attempts to jam GPS signals. While some of the methods are well known, others are classified. Now the North Koreans are giving large-scale demonstrations of GPS jamming, and both sides are using it in the Ukraine war. Anti-jamming technology is increasingly complex. None of the major players like America, Russia, China, Israel, and several other industrialized countries are talking, and for good reason. If you don't know what techniques the other side is using, you can't deal with them quickly.

There are several approaches to defeating GPS jamming, and knowing which one each American GPS guided weapon uses makes it easy to develop a way to jam the jam-proof GPS. The U.S. Air Force is understandably reluctant to discuss what they are doing. Given the cost of jam-proofing all existing GPS weapons, it's more likely that jam-proof GPS weapons will only be used against targets where GPS accuracy is vital. Against most targets the accuracy provided by the inertial guidance system will do. Also note that you can bomb GPS jammers with a bomb equipped with a guidance system that homes in on a GPS jamming signal. For that reason, it's thought that any use of GPS jammers will involve dozens of jammers in each area so protected. GPS jamming has no effect on the even more accurate laser-guided bombs, and some countries buy smart bombs with both laser and GPS/INS systems. Most countries are working on anti-jamming tech in anticipation of encountering more jamming if war comes.
Ahead of the scheduled discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal on Sunday lashed out at the Opposition, accusing it of demanding debates but avoiding participation when answers are given. Speaking to ANI, Bansal said, "The government was always ready to hold discussions. Parliament is for discussions, debate and deliberations, and the Opposition runs away from it always. The Opposition always says what they have to but when they are answered, they are absent from the House." In a recent development, BJP leader Shagun Parihar said, "The whole world saw the display of India's valour and strength in Operation Sindoor. Now, the comments of Congress on this reveal the mentality of Congress. However, sadly, Congress is treating an issue like Operation Sindoor non-seriously and raising questions about it. It is very condemnable." Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, is slated to be a key point of discussion when the Lok Sabha reconvenes on Monday. The attack, which claimed 26 lives, triggered strong political reactions and prompted the government to launch a swift counter-operation across the border. On Monday, the Lok Sabha is set to hold a special discussion on Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The matter is listed among key items in the agenda issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The first week of the Monsoon session of Parliament was marked by major disruptions, including the surprise resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice President. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha. Sources said that Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey are also expected to take part in the discussion in Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to intervene in the discussion in the Lok Sabha. He may also intervene in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Sources said discussion on Operation Sindoor will begin in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Rajnath Singh and EAM S Jaishankar will be among the Ministers who will participate in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha, sources said. (ANI)
In Shambat al-Aradi, a tight-knit neighbourhood in Khartoum North once known for its vibrant community gatherings and spirited music festivals, two childhood friends have suffered through confinement and injustice at the hands of one of Sudans warring sides.

Khalid al-Sadiq, a 43-year-old family doctor, and one of his best friends, a 40-year-old musician who once lit up the stage of the nearby Khedr Bashir Theatre, were inseparable before the war.

But when the civil war broke out in April 2023 and fighting tore through their city, both men, born and raised near that beloved theatre, were swept into a campaign of arbitrary arrests conducted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

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The friends were detained separately and tortured in different ways, but their experiences nonetheless mirrored one another  until they emerged, physically altered, emotionally broken and forever bound by survival.

Imprisonment and ransom

Al-Sadiqs ordeal began in August 2023 when RSF forces raided Shambat and arbitrarily arrested him and countless other men.

He was crowded into a bathroom in a house that the RSF had looted along with seven other people and was kept there for days.

We were only let out to eat, then forced back in, he explained.

During his first days of interrogation, al-Sadiq was tortured repeatedly by the RSF to pressure him for a ransom.





They crushed his fingers, one at a time, using pliers. At one point, to scare him, they fired at the ground near him, sending shrapnel flying into his abdomen and causing heavy bleeding.

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After three days, the men were lined up by their captors.

They tried to negotiate with us, demanding 3 million Sudanese pounds [about $1,000] per person, al-Sadiq recalled.

Three men were released after handing over everything they had, including a rickshaw and all their cash. Al-Sadiq and the other remaining prisoners were moved to a smaller cell  an even more cramped toilet tucked beneath a staircase.

There was no ventilation. There were insects everywhere, he said. They had to alternate sleeping  two could just about lie down while two stood.

A few kilometres away, al-Sadiqs friend, the musician, who asked to remain anonymous, had also been arrested and held at the Paratrooper Military Camp in Khartoum North, which the RSF captured in the first months of the war with Sudans military.

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That would not be the only time the musician was taken because the RSF had been told that his family were distantly related to former President Omar al-Bashir.

They said Im a remnant of the regime because of that relation to him even though I was never part of the regime. I was against it, he said, adding that he had protested against al-Bashir.

Sudans army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in green fatigues, arrives in the capital on March 26, 2025, the day he declared, Khartoum is free, after the military recaptured it from the RSF [Handout/Sudan Sovereign Council via Reuters]

Months into the war, his familys Shambat home was raided by the RSF and his younger brother was shot in the leg. To keep everybody safe, the musician quickly evacuated his family to Umm al-Qura in Gezira state, then went home to collect their belongings. That was when he was arrested.

During his time at the military camp, he told Al Jazeera, the RSF fighters would tie him and other prisoners up and lay them facedown on the ground in the yard. Then they would beat them with a sout al-anag whip, a Sudanese leather whip traditionally made of hippo skin.

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The flogging lasted a long time, he added, and it was not an isolated incident. It happened to him several times.

In interrogations, RSF personnel fixated on his alleged affiliation with al-Bashir, branding him with slurs like Koz, meaning a political Islamist remnant of al-Bashirs regime, and subjecting him to verbal and physical abuse.

He was held for about a month, then released to return to a home that had been looted.

He would be detained at least five more times.

Most of the detentions were based on people informing on each other, sometimes for personal benefit, sometimes under torture, al-Sadiq said.

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RSF commanders even brag about having a list of Bashir regime or SAF [Sudan armed forces] supporters for every area.





Forced labour

While he was held by the RSF, the musician told Al Jazeera, he and others were forced to perform manual labour that the fighters did not want to do.

They used to take us out in the morning to dig graves, he said. I dug over 30 graves myself.

The graves were around the detention camp and seemed to be for the prisoners who died from torture, illness or starvation.

While he could not estimate how many people were buried in those pits, he described the site where he was forced to dig, saying it already had many pits that had been used before.

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Meanwhile, al-Sadiq was blindfolded, bound and bundled into a van and taken to an RSF detention facility in the al-Riyadh neighbourhood.

The compound had five zones: a mosque repurposed into a prison, a section for women, an area holding army soldiers captured in battle, another for those who surrendered and an underground chamber called Guantanamo  the site of systematic torture.

Al-Sadiq tried to help the people he was imprisoned with, treating them with whatever they could scavenge and appealing to the RSF to take the dangerously sick prisoners to a hospital.

Displaced Sudanese who fled the Zamzam camp after the RSF attacked it travel to the Tawila camps in North Darfur on April 14, 2025 [Marwan Mohamed/EPA]

But the RSF usually ignored the pleas, and al-Sadiq still remembers one patient, Saber, whom the fighters kept shackled even as his health faded fast.

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I kept asking that he be transferred to a hospital, al-Sadiq said. He died.

Some prisoners did receive treatment, though, and the RSF kept a group of imprisoned doctors in a separate room furnished with beds and medical equipment.

There, they were told to treat injured RSF fighters or prisoners the RSF wanted to keep alive, either to keep torturing them for information or because they thought they could get big ransoms for them.

Al-Sadiq chose not to go with the other doctors and decided to cooperate less with the RSF, keeping to himself and staying with the other prisoners.

Conditions were inhumane in the cell he chose to remain in.

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The total water we received daily  for drinking, ablution, everything  was six small cups, al-Sadiq said, adding that food was scarce and insects, rats and lice lived with us. I lost 35kg [77lb].

Their captors did give him some medical supplies, however, when they needed him to treat someone, and they were a lifeline for everyone around him.

The prisoners were so desperate that he sometimes shared IV glucose drips he got from the RSF so detainees could drink them for some hydration.





The only other sources of food were the small payments of sugar, milk or dates that the RSF would give to prisoners who they forced to do manual labour like loading or unloading trucks.

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Al-Sadiq did not speak of having been forced to dig graves for fellow prisoners or of having heard of other prisoners doing that.

For the musician, however, graves became a constant reality, even during the periods when he was able to go back home to Shambat.

He helped bury about 20 neighbours who died either from crossfire or starvation and had to be buried anywhere but in the cemeteries.

The RSF blocked access to the cemeteries without explaining why to the people who wanted to lay their loved ones to rest.

In fact at first, the RSF prohibited all burials, then relented and allowed some burials as long as they were not in the cemeteries.

So the musician and others would dig graves for people in Shambat Stadiums Rabta Field and near the Khedr Bashir Theatre.

A Sudanese army officer inspects a recently discovered weapons storage site belonging to the RSF in Khartoum on May 3, 2025 [AP Photo]

He said many people who were afraid to leave their homes at all ended up burying their loved ones in their yards or in any nearby plots they could furtively access.

The friends ordeals lasted into the winter when al-Sadiq found himself released and the RSF stopped coming around to arrest the musician.

Neither man knows why.

Both al-Sadiq and the musician told Al Jazeera they remain haunted by what they endured.

The torment, they said, didnt end with their release; it followed them, embedding itself in their thoughts, a shadow they fear will darken the rest of their lives.

On March 26, the SAF announced it had recaptured Khartoum. Now, the two men have returned to their neighbourhood, where they feel a greater sense of safety.

Having been detained and tortured by the RSF, they believe theyre unlikely to be viewed by the SAF as collaborators  offering them, at least, a fragile sense of safety.




During a drug deal in Olympia, one person was robbed at knifepoint, kidnapped, beaten, and left on the side of the road on Saturday night, according to the Thurston County Sheriffs Office (TCSO).

Sheriffs deputies responded shortly after the incident and the victim described the suspects car as a black GMC Yukon.

The SUV was later seen in Lacey and two suspects inside matched the victims description.

Olympia Police took the two suspects into custody and the SUV was impounded, the Thurston County Sheriff says.
Has a British Government ever appeared so terrified of its own people? More to the point, can you think of one that deserved it more?

The social contract has been shredded. You go to work and pay your taxes for a state that seems to be crumbling into disrepair. In exchange, the Government takes your money, and uses it to fund an alleged secret scheme to fly in Taliban fighters to live on your street. But dont worry  weve got a new elite police squad to prevent trouble.

That police unit wont be patrolling your neighbourhood to keep you safe from harm. Rather, it will be tasked with scouring social media for protest pre-crime, monitoring your opinions for anti-migrant sentiment. The police might not have enough resources to deal with shoplifting. They might not have solved a single theft or burglary, or recover a stolen bike, across a third of England. But we are to believe they have resources for what really counts: scrutinising your views for wrongthink.

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The current state of affairs is so absurd that simply writing it down feels almost subversive. But each element is true: we do appear to have flown unvetted Taliban members into Britain. The Government really will be watching your posts for signs of dissent. This isnt some accident, some Civil Service blunder. Its by design. It truly appears that Labours strategy is to impose ever more restrictions on the freedoms of the law-abiding, in the hope that eventually people will acquiesce with a resigned shrug.

The problem is that it isnt working. The population is fed up with being punished for doing the right thing. The hectoring about slavery, imperialism, war and all the other iniquities of history used to justify sacrificing our comforts and liberties on the altar of mass migration is no longer having the desired effect. British citizens living today did not build the empire. They didnt enslave anyone. Why should they foot the bill for housing illegal migrants up in four star hotels in central London? Why should they put up with them working in the shadow economy?

Unfortunately for the Government, the previously silent majority is beginning to vocally express its frustration. MPs and ministers are fearful that the country is becoming a tinderbox. But even this isnt enough to convince them that we must change course.

Why? Perhaps because doing so would be an admission of past failures. For decades we were told that mass migration was an unalloyed good while critics were denounced as bigots. To concede, after all this time, that it has not come without costs  at times intolerable costs  would be catastrophically damaging to the political class. The pro-migration fanatics, who promised to control numbers while throwing open our borders, who overrode objections to impose their policies despite what they were repeatedly being told at the ballot box, would be discredited.

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So instead, the state appears to be passing through the stages of grief. At first there was denial that people were worried about migration at all; Brexit had allowed us to be liberals. Then there was anger after Southport, with Starmers denunciation of the thugs taking to the streets. Now we seem to have reached bargaining: if we can stop people talking about it, perhaps theyll stop caring?

It was a strategy that might have worked prior to the social media era, and in particular prior to Elon Musks buyout of Twitter. Now, even the censorship of protest videos, arrest of people for incendiary content, and threat of mass scanning of output isnt sufficient to quell dissent.

And though many of the protests now cropping up across Britain are peaceful, shows of police force are not enough to deter outside agitators from hijacking them. Tiff Lynch, the head of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, last week warned that officers were being pulled in every direction and commanders were forced to choose between keeping the peace at home or plugging national gaps.

Where do we go from here? As the costs of legal migration become apparent, with talk of labour market infusions and attracting the best and brightest seeming increasingly hollow, overall numbers must be reduced. As the impact of illegal migration becomes clearer, the establishment must stop trying to guilt us into acceptance, and finally stop the influx.

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Its highly doubtful Yvette Cooper has the will or the way. The Home Secretary would prefer to silence opponents, by censoring and arresting those who speak out.

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Americas birth rate has plunged to its lowest level ever, with the CDC reporting fewer than 1.6 children per woman in 2024.

Federal health data released Thursday showed the U.S. fertility rate has continued its decades-long decline, dropping to 1.599 and falling even further below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman needed for each generation to maintain its size, according to The Associated Press.

Notably, the U.S. total fertility rate hovered around 3.5 during the 1960s before dropping significantly to 1.7 by the 1970s, marking the end of the Baby Boom.

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The decrease marks the second consecutive year of decline, following a brief pandemic-era uptick, and brings American fertility trends closer to those seen across Western Europe, with the fertility rate in 2023 at 1.621, according to The AP.

CDC figures indicate that birth rates have decreased for women aged 15 to 34, while rates for women aged 35 to 39 remained steady, and there was a modest increase among women aged 40 to 44, as reported by The Hill.

Officials from the CDC have claimed that this overall drop is due to a change in the U.S. population, with the total population of women of childbearing age growing due to immigration, per NBC News.

Leslie Root, a University of Colorado Boulder researcher specializing in fertility and population policy, offered a similar perspective and stated that there is currently no reason to be concerned.

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Were seeing this as part of an ongoing process of fertility delay. We know that the U.S. population is still growing, and we still have a natural increase  more births than deaths, she explained, per The Associated Press.

However, the shift below the replacement rate has seemingly sparked concern throughout the White House, with the Trump Administration recently devising a plan to promote more births in the U.S., as previously reported by The Dallas Express.

These plans included an idea pitched to the administration that would provide roughly $5,000 to every American mother who gives birth, though it is unclear whether these plans are moving forward.
Last week, Delta Air Lines turned some heads when company president Glen Hauenstein revealed that the company was planning to expand its use of AI in setting prices. However, one particular U.S. lawmaker is not at all happy with the move.

During an earnings call last week, Hauenstein told reporters that about 3 percent of the airline's domestic ticket prices are already set using AI, and that the company hopes to expand that to 20 percent by the end of 2025. He also boasted about Delta's partnership with Fetcherr, a tech company that claims to be able to "set the perfect price every time" using AI.

Hauenstein described the AI pricing as a "super analyst" that is "working 24/7, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week" and is not limited like a human analyst.

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While Delta is clearly excited about the move, three lawmakers have already expressed concern about the airline's plan, sending a letter demanding answers about the plan to expand its use of AI in setting fares. One of those lawmakers took it a step further.

In a social media post, Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona did not hold back his true thoughts on the airline's move, calling the pricing "predatory" and vowing not to allow the airline to get away with such a move.

"Deltas CEO just got caught bragging about using AI to find your pain point  meaning theyll squeeze you for every penny," Gallego wrote in a post on X this week. "This isnt fair pricing or competitive pricing. Its predatory pricing.

"I wont let them get away with this," he added.

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American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has also spoken out against Delta's plan, calling it a "bait and switch" and insisting that American Airlines would never use a similar move.

It's worth noting that Delta denied any plans to use personal information to target customers with individualized offers.

"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 airline wrote in a statement this week. "A variety of market forces drive the dynamic pricing model that's been used in the global industry for decades, with new tech simply streamlining this process. Delta always complies with regulations around pricing and disclosures."

It will certainly be interesting to see how Delta will move forward with the plan, especially considering the outrage it has sparked.

U.S. Senator Does Not Hold Back on Delta's 'Predatory' Move first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 27, 2025
UK intelligence has noted that Russia will cancel its Navy Day parade entirely for the first time.

Source: UK Ministry of Defence intelligence update from 27 July, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "It is almost certain that Day of the Russian Navy parades, originally expected to take place on Sunday 27 July 2025, have been cancelled across Russia due to force protection concerns."

Details: The UK Ministry of Defence recalled that from 2017 to 2024, the main Navy Day parade was held in St Petersburg. It featured reviews of naval vessels, some of which were brought in from other regions of Russia. Historically, ships and delegations from other countries also took part in the event.

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Quote: "The main naval parade was reduced in scale in 2024, but this is the first time it has been cancelled since its 2017 inception. Small ceremonies will highly likely take place and Navy Day remains a Russian national holiday."

Background:

In one of its recent briefings, UK intelligence analysed Russian losses in the war against Ukraine in 2025.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the loss of one million Russian troops in Ukraine demonstrates Vladimir Putin's use of Russians as cannon fodder.

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The Russians launched 83 drones against Ukraine on the night of 26-27 July, of which 78 were shot down or disappeared from radar.

Source: Air Force of Ukraine on Telegram

Details: The Ukrainian military reported five drone strikes across three locations, as well as the fall of debris in two sites.

Background: Late on the evening of 26 July, the Russian forces once again targeted Kharkiv with attack drones, sparking fires.

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Ukraine expects the EUs 19th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation to target shadow fleet captains, the military-industrial complex and financial transactions.

Source: Vladyslav Vlasiuk, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, on the air of the We-Ukraine channel, as reported by European Pravda

Quote from Vlasiuk: "What we want to see in the next or subsequent sanctions packages is, first of all, a counteraction to the oil infrastructure of the Russian Federation. As of now, there are almost 600 tankers in the authorised shadow fleet. I want to move on to oil infrastructure. In the 18th package, a major refinery in India was sanctioned. It had an immediate result. Similarly, one shadow fleet captain was sanctioned in the 18th sanctions package, and it had an immediate result."

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Details: Vlasiuk states that Ukraine aims to include shadow fleet captains, sea terminals, port infrastructure and possibly insurance companies  everything collaborating with the Russian shadow fleet.

"Another big topic is the military industry. We propose a number of new categories of goods and substances to expand the list of critical components. I think in the near future we will see a new sanctions package from the NSDC (Ukraines National Security and Defence Council), which will focus on specific areas of the military industry, and suggest that partners synchronise these measures to weaken the Russian military sector," Vlasiuk added.

The presidents commissioner highlighted that the West and Ukraine want to tackle more deeply the unconventional financial transactions Russia has exploited over the past year to evade sanctions, including cryptocurrency and stablecoin.

Background:

On the morning of 18 July, the EUs Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) approved the long-delayed 18th package of EU sanctions against Russia, which had been stalled due to opposition from Slovakia and Malta.

The package includes sanctions against 26 additional companies for circumventing sanctions, including 11 outside Russia  seven firms in China (three in Hong Kong) and four in Turkiye.

It also includes over 100 shadow fleet vessels, a lower price cap on Russian oil and measures targeting banks and companies outside the Russian Federation involved in supporting its war machine.

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The US-German company Auterion will supply tens of thousands of artificial intelligence-powered drone kits to Ukraine to help counter large-scale attacks by Russian UAVs.

Source: Financial Times

Details: Auterion CEO Lorenz Meier said the company will deliver 33,000 AI-powered "strike kits" to Ukraine by the end of the year under a new contract with the Pentagon.

The company's software is already used in Ukrainian drones deployed in combat operations against Russia. However, in terms of volume this new commitment is, Meier said, "10 times in scale"of what it is at present .

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Quote from Meier: "So we've shipped thousands and we're now shipping tens of thousands. It's unprecedented."

Details: Russia has recently intensified air strikes, often launching hundreds of Shahed kamikaze drones in a single attack. The frequency and scale of the attacks have grown, with major cities increasingly under attack.

What are Auterion "strike kits"?

These "strike kits" are miniature Skynode computers running Auterion software, equipped with a camera and radio module. They turn manually operated drones into "AI-powered weapons systems" that cannot be jammed and are capable of tracking moving targets up to one kilometre away.

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Meier explained that the deliveries are part of the US military aid package to Ukraine. The contract, worth around US$50 million, was signed directly with the Pentagon. It is not part of the "mega-deal" on drones that President Zelenskyy mentioned last week following talks with Donald Trump.

However, Meier said his company is a "pioneer" in US-Ukraine cooperation on joint drone production.

Quote: "It's basically acknowledging that the battle-hardening that has happened in Ukraine of drone products is relevant. That it's a way to support Ukraine, but it's also technology that . . .NATO countries want to get their hands on."

More details: Meier added that Auterion is not competing with Ukraine's drone industry.

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"They have a fantastic drone industry. What we want to contribute are things that they do not have already and that are more software-defined warfare-centric," he said.

Background: On 26 July, President Zelenskyy instructed the National Security and Defence Council to intensify efforts to attract external funding for drone production.

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Key developments on July 27:

Moscow cancels Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg as nearly 100 drones reportedly downed across western Russia

'We assessed your attempt,'  top Ukrainian drone commander hints Russia tried to strike multiple unit leaders at once

Moscow warns of ongoing war unless Ukraine complies with its maximalist demands

Rubio says Trump 'losing patience with Russia,' despite giving Putin 50-day peace deal deadline

Russian drone strike on bus reportedly kills 3, injures 20 in Sumy Oblast

Russia canceled its annual Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg for the first time, citing security concerns amid a wave of drone attacks that disrupted airports and railways across western Russia overnight on July 27, local officials and Russian media reported.

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The decision to cancel the Navy Day parade in St. Petersburg, an event traditionally held on the last Sunday of July, was announced by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on July 27, who said it was made "for security reasons."

Despite the cancellation, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly traveled to the city to mark the occasion.

The United Kingdom's Defense Ministry said it is "almost certain" that Navy Day parades originally planned for July 27 were canceled across Russia due to force protection concerns. While the main naval parade in St. Petersburg was reduced in scale in 2024, this marks the first full cancellation since its inception in 2017.

Russia has reported a growing number of drone incursions into its territory in recent months. While Kyiv has been targeting infrastructure critical to Russia's war effort, Moscow has significantly intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, frequently targeting civilian infrastructure and causing numerous civilian casualties.

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In Leningrad Oblast, dozens of flights were delayed at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg after local authorities reported a wave of drone interceptions in the early hours.

Governor Alexander Drozdenko confirmed that drones were downed in several districts, with debris reportedly falling in residential and industrial zones.

Drozdenko claimed that Russian air defenses intercepted "more than a dozen" Ukrainian drones. In Lomonosovsky district, according to Drozdenko, debris from an intercepted drone injured one person.

In Russia's Volgograd Oblast, drone debris reportedly damaged a railway's overhead power supply system, disrupting electrical infrastructure.

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Governor Andrei Bocharov blamed Ukraine for the attack but reported no injuries. Local Telegram channels shared footage suggesting a substation fire may have contributed to the outage.

The Privolzhskaya Railway reported that train service was delayed at Zhutovo Station due to falling drone debris. Trains connecting southern resort towns and central Russian cities were affected by delays of over two hours.

Kaluga Oblast, located southwest of Moscow, was also targeted, with flights reportedly disrupted at the regional airport. Other affected airports included Volgograd and Pulkovo, where at least 70 flights were reportedly delayed.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted or destroyed a total of 99 drones overnight. Among them were 36 launched at Bryansk Oblast, 21 at Smolensk, 10 at Kaluga, and nine each at Volgograd and Rostov.

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Additional drones targeted occupied Crimea, Voronezh, Kursk, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Tambov, and the Black Sea coastal area.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the attack. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reports.

Drozdenko claimed that Russian air defenses intercepted "more than a dozen" Ukrainian drones. In Lomonosovsky district, according to Drozdenko, debris from an intercepted drone injured one person.

In Russia's Volgograd Oblast, drone debris reportedly damaged a railway's overhead power supply system, disrupting electrical infrastructure.

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Governor Andrei Bocharov blamed Ukraine for the attack but reported no injuries. Local Telegram channels shared footage suggesting a substation fire may have contributed to the outage.

The Privolzhskaya Railway reported that train service was delayed at Zhutovo Station due to falling drone debris. Trains connecting southern resort towns and central Russian cities were affected by delays of over two hours.

Kaluga Oblast, located southwest of Moscow, was also targeted, with flights reportedly disrupted at the regional airport. Other affected airports included Volgograd and Pulkovo, where at least 70 flights were reportedly delayed.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted or destroyed a total of 99 drones overnight. Among them were 36 launched at Bryansk Oblast, 21 at Smolensk, 10 at Kaluga, and nine each at Volgograd and Rostov.

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Additional drones targeted occupied Crimea, Voronezh, Kursk, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Tambov, and the Black Sea coastal area.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the attack. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reports.

Drozdenko claimed that Russian air defenses intercepted "more than a dozen" Ukrainian drones. In Lomonosovsky district, according to Drozdenko, debris from an intercepted drone injured one person.

In Russia's Volgograd Oblast, drone debris reportedly damaged a railway's overhead power supply system, disrupting electrical infrastructure.

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Governor Andrei Bocharov blamed Ukraine for the attack but reported no injuries. Local Telegram channels shared footage suggesting a substation fire may have contributed to the outage.

The Privolzhskaya Railway reported that train service was delayed at Zhutovo Station due to falling drone debris. Trains connecting southern resort towns and central Russian cities were affected by delays of over two hours.

Kaluga Oblast, located southwest of Moscow, was also targeted, with flights reportedly disrupted at the regional airport. Other affected airports included Volgograd and Pulkovo, where at least 70 flights were reportedly delayed.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted or destroyed a total of 99 drones overnight. Among them were 36 launched at Bryansk Oblast, 21 at Smolensk, 10 at Kaluga, and nine each at Volgograd and Rostov.

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Additional drones targeted occupied Crimea, Voronezh, Kursk, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Tambov, and the Black Sea coastal area.

Ukraine has not officially commented on the attack. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the reports.

Read also: Investigation: Despite sanctions, American trucks are being used by Russia to launch kamikaze drones

'We assessed your attempt,'  top Ukrainian drone commander hints Russia tried to strike multiple unit leaders at once

Ukraine's top drone warfare commander, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, has hinted that Russia attempted a coordinated strike targeting multiple Ukrainian drone unit leaders, according to a Telegram post on July 26.

Brovdi, commander of the Armed Forces' Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), made the revelation after holding a strategy meeting with commanders from five of Ukraine's strongest drone units: Phoenix, K-2, Madyar's Birds, Raroh, and Achilles.

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"We assessed your attempt yesterday to hit all of us at once," Brovdi said in the Telegram post, without offering further details. The post ended with a string of insults aimed at the Russian forces behind the alleged attack.

Drones have played an increasingly decisive role in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with both sides relying heavily on unmanned systems for surveillance, artillery spotting, and targeted strikes.

Ukraine formalized its drone efforts into a centralized command structure in 2024, creating USF as a separate branch of Ukraine's military in June 2024. A year later, Kyiv created a separate new command group that united the branch with other top drone units.

The new formation united all military units of the USF with the Drone Line, a project launched by President Volodymyr Zelensky in February this year to coordinate and expand five of the country's strongest drone units.

Brovdi was appointed to lead the command group.

Russia has not publicly commented on any attempted strike against Ukrainian drone leaders. The Ukrainian military has not provided further details about the incident.

Read also: Zelenskys big Ukraine blunder, explained

Moscow warns of ongoing war unless Ukraine complies with its maximalist demands

Russia wants to resolve its war in Ukraine through "diplomatic and political means" but would continue military operations until its "goals" are achieved, Peskov said on July 27.

Responding to a question from Russian state-controlled news agency Tass, Peskov said that "the goals of (war) must be fulfilled before the principles of future relations with Ukraine can be determined."

Russia continues to push for the same core demands it outlined at the start of its full-scale invasion in 2022: a ban on Ukraine joining NATO, large-scale demilitarization of the country, and legal "guarantees" for the Russian language, culture, and Moscow-linked religious groups in Ukraine.

The Kremlin has also demanded constitutional changes in Ukraine, including recognition of four Ukrainian oblasts as Russian territory, along with the Crimean peninsula, which it seized in 2014.

Peskov claimed Russia would "prefer" to resolve the conflict through dialogue, but said military operations continue because "opponents rejected the path of negotiations."

Kyiv has consistently supported negotiations but refused to accept Russia's maximalist conditions, which are essentially capitulation.

Ukraine has also consistently rejected all demands that involve ceding territory or weakening its military. Zelensky and top officials have said any peace must begin with an unconditional ceasefire.

Peskov's comments came days after the third round of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul, where Ukraine reiterated its call for a full ceasefire and humanitarian agreements.

The latest round of peace talks between the two sides took place in Istanbul on July 23, marking the third formal meeting since negotiations resumed earlier this year after a long pause.

Ukrainian officials proposed a meeting between Zelensky and Putin before the end of August, but the Russian side again declined the idea of a meeting between the two leaders.

Russia's delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, proposed creating three working groups to address political, military, and humanitarian issues. Moscow also offered to facilitate brief ceasefires to retrieve wounded soldiers and repatriate bodies and claimed it would return the remains of 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen through the Red Cross.

The revived diplomatic push comes as the U.S. increases pressure on Russia to end the war. On July 14, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that he would impose "severe" tariffs on Russia unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days.

Read also: Stop fueling Russias aggression  US, China clash over Ukraine at United Nations

Rubio says Trump 'losing patience with Russia,' despite giving Putin 50-day peace deal deadline

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Trump as "the ultimate closer" and said Trump is "losing his patience" with Russia over the war in Ukraine, in a televised interview with Fox News on July 26.

Rubio's remarks come nearly two weeks after Trump gave Russia a 50-day deadline to agree to a peace deal or face "severe" tariffs. Since the announcement, Russia has only intensified its assault on Ukrainian cities and continued to advance along the front line.

Rubio said Trump is eager to secure a peace deal and end the war he "inherited" from the Biden administration, and described the president's growing frustration with Putin.

"Despite having very good interactions with Vladimir Putin and phone calls, it never leads to anything," Rubio said. "So, the time has come for some action."

Critics say Trump's latest 50-day timeline effectively gives the Kremlin seven more weeks to continue launching deadly airstrikes across Ukraine. The proposed tariffs, at around 100%, are also below the 500% rates proposed in a bipartisan Senate bill targeting countries that buy Russian oil.

Rubio also acknowledged in the Fox News interview China's growing role in prolonging the war, accusing Beijing of propping up Moscow's economy and military efforts.

"China is giving Russia as much aid as they can get away with without being discovered," Rubio said. "There's no way Putin could have sustained this war without Chinese support, particularly buying his oil."

Rubio also highlighted the geopolitical triangle between Russia, China, and Iran, suggesting Beijing benefits from a prolonged war that keeps the U.S. distracted.

Following talks with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing earlier in July, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to deepen strategic cooperation and hailed the partnership as "a model for a new type of international relations."

Despite China's repeated claims of neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine war, its support for Russia's economy and defense industry has established Beijing as one of Moscow's most crucial partners.

Ukrainian officials reported the presence of Chinese components in Russian attack drones, and intelligence suggests Beijing may be helping Moscow bypass sanctions to ramp up drone production.

Read also: How effective were Ukraines anti-corruption agencies targeted by Zelensky, and who were they investigating?

Russian drone strike on bus reportedly kills 3, injures 20 in Sumy Oblast

A Russian drone targeting a bus reportedly killed three and injured 20 in Sumy Oblast on July 27, according to local media.

The attack took place near the village of Yunakivka, located about eight kilometers (five miles) from Ukraine's border with Russia and about 29 kilometers (18 miles) from the city of Sumy.

"Russians struck a bus with civilians in the Sumy district... There are preliminary reports of casualties. They are being assisted. All emergency services are involved in responding to the consequences of this cynical attack on the peaceful population," Governor Oleh Hryhorov said earlier.

Later, Kordon media reported that three were killed and 20 were injured in the Russian attack near Yunakivka village.

Sumy Oblast borders Russia to the northeast and regularly faces shelling and drone attacks as Moscow continues its war against Ukraine.

The attack comes just a day after Russian forces launched an overnight attack on Sumy Oblast, injuring three.

Read also: Meet Ukraines EuroMaidan protesters fighting again for democracy in wartime Kyiv (PHOTOS)

Note from the author:

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Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Clearing the air on the current meetup between the Thackeray brothers, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the meeting should not be viewed politically. He added that Raj Thackeray went to wish Uddhav Thackeray on his birthday, and this moment should not be viewed from a political lens. CM Devendra Fadnavis, while talking to ANI, said, "Raj Thackeray went to wish Uddhav Thackeray on his birthday. It's a matter of happiness. Why should we view it politically? We also extend our best wishes to Uddhav ji. Going to wish someone on their birthday should not be seen through a political lens." Further commenting on the upcoming local election, he added, "You saw what's in the heart of Maharashtra during the Assembly elections. You will see it again in the upcoming local body elections. Just because something is in the mind of a leader of a particular party doesn't mean it reflects the sentiments of all of Maharashtra..." Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence, Matoshree, on Sunday and extended birthday wishes. Sharing the visuals, Shiv Sena (UBT) wrote on X, "Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Rajsaheb Thackeray extended birthday greetings to party chief Uddhavsaheb Thackeray."This meeting follows the Thackeray brothers' joint rally on July 5, in which they declared their victory against the alleged imposition of Hindi by the Maharashtra government. Uddhav Thackeray turned 65 today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi extended wishes and wrote on X, "Heartfelt birthday wishes and congratulations to Shiv Sena President and INDIA alliance partner Uddhav Thackeray ji. May you stay healthy, live long, and together we will fight for the interests and rights of the people of Maharashtra." Thackeray's INDIA bloc ally and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also greeted him on the occasion and lauded his resistance against the Hindi imposition in the state. "Birthday greetings to @ShivSenaUBT_ President, Thiru. Uddhav Thackeray.Your bold resistance to #HindiImposition and your firm stand to uphold Maharashtra's identity have united the Marathi people in standing up for their language. Wishing you strength as you continue to defend federalism and linguistic dignity," Stalin wrote on X. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also took to X and wrote, "Shiv Sena chief, my friend Uddhav Thackeray, who stands firm like a lighthouse in every storm, heartfelt birthday wishes to you! Jai Maharashtra!" (ANI)
Ukrainian soldiers of the 155th Mechanised Brigade named after Anna of Kyiv repelled a mechanised assault by the Russian forces near the village of Shevchenko on the Pokrovsk front.

Source: 155th Mechanised Brigade on Telegram; DeepState analytical project

Details: DeepState analysts note that for the first time in a long time, the Russian forces carried out a mechanised assault, using heavy equipment to break through Ukrainian defences.

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Quote DeepState: "And such an assault took place not out of the blue, but as part of a consistent attempt to break through after the earlier infiltration of an infantry group into Pokrovsk.

However, the place chosen for the assault remains a mystery, namely the area of the village of Shevchenko, instead of Zvirove, where the Katsaps found a weak point in the defence." ["Katsap" is a derogatory term for Russians used in Ukraine  ed.]

Details: Ukrainian fighters repelled the attack where the Russians used equipment that has long been an easy target for FPV drone crews, especially in open terrain.

 155             .

: 155 , DeepState pic.twitter.com/KL64lfFHbi     (@ukrpravda_news) July 26, 2025

Quote: "The enemy has always focused attention and accumulated additional resources, identifying weak points in our defence. So one should expect and be ready for such actions, but most likely, katsaps will advance with their largest resource  infantry."

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DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH)  Students said changes to a private universitys dining plans are frustrating, and the school is now trying to adapt to their concerns.

We all assumed that they would make more accommodations for us, because it was already so difficult to get a table at lunch to go get food, said Olivia Green, whos entering her junior year at Ohio Wesleyan. So to see that they had actually done the opposite and taken away quite a lot of options, I think most people were just in an uproar and just such shock.

On July 9, Ohio Wesleyan announced it will reduce dining hall hours and locations this fall to address rising costs without major increases to student meal fees. The announcement sparked outrage, as many of the 1,500 students said the universal meal plan was a factor in their college decision.

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Worst-case scenario: Without paper mill, toxic underground plume could rise and spread in Chillicothe

Our main goal, in response to student feedback over many years, is to keep student costs as low as possible while providing a dining program that meets students essential needs, OWU told students on Wednesday. We have worked earnestly to address your concerns amid this nationwide climate of surging food and labor costs.

For years, OWU has advertised its anytime dining options, allowing students to use unlimited meal swipes at 24/7 dining halls so food is not a barrier to learning. Starting this fall, OWU will reduce its dining hours to close at midnight and open at 7 a.m., similar to many other Ohio colleges. Before student concerns encouraged the university to revise its dining changes, the times were more restrictive.

Save for medical and commuter exemptions, all OWU students live on campus for the entirety of their undergraduate experience, and all on-campus students must have meal plans. Plans range between $3,000 and $4,000 per semester. An OWU spokesperson said if the university did not reduce hours, the costs to offer dining services would have surpassed student program fees.

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The university is still moving forward with plans to combine two on-campus cafes next spring, which will remove a dining option from the science building. OWU also took the opportunity on Wednesday to clarify that student dining jobs would still exist, and to say the changes are unrelated to a new alumni-funded student lounge.

OWU said to avoid meal costs increasing dramatically, it analyzed student use data to determine cuts and found dining hall use dropped off rapidly after 11 p.m. or midnight. Ava Johnson, a rising senior, said there are frequently no lobby employees in the late night and early morning hours, so students still use the services but may not swipe in.

My sophomore year, I would eat dinner at two oclock in the morning, because thats just when I had time to because I was studying, Johnson said.

Ohio updates law on golf carts and slow-moving vehicles

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Johnson said this is especially important because OWUs library has been closed due to mold for several years, and the new library wont be completed until January 2027. During this interim period, she said many students use the dining halls to study overnight.

Green said although the updated changes are better, shes still concerned, especially because shes seen students eat on the dining hall floors because there were too few seats. The university said it will address overcrowding in dining halls by adding 200 more seats in one building. Green said shes not sure how new seats will fit.

Green also shared emails and comments on social media from fellow student. One student said, My spiritual beliefs mean I can only eat breakfast before dawn. Literally one of the only reasons I came to this school was that I could eat whenever I wanted. Another said, As a tour guide, I have effectively been lying to families when selling the school.

An OWU spokesperson said the university is no longer advertising 24/7 dining. A convenience market will be open around the clock for grab-and-go options, but the market only takes credit cards and dining dollars, so the university agrees with students that 24/7 dining is no longer fully accurate.

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The most expensive typical meal plan at OWU offers $75 in dining dollars, and the least expensive offers $25. Green said that would not be enough to buy more than a few meals.

Johnson, who will be a rare off-campus commuter this year, said it felt like there was a lack of transparency with the changes. Although she thinks the new dining changes are an improvement, the solution is far from perfect.

If they truly, truly think that this dining change is going to benefit the students, I would like to hear them have a very thorough conversation about that, Johnson said. Being frustrated is an extremely blinding emotion, and I feel like a lot of the student body feels like that right now.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Words like asinine and stupefying are being used.

In Hartfords West End, the impressive mansions along Scarborough Street exude charm and wealth, some of the estates spreading out over acres, hugging the Park River on one side of the street.

But all is not as serene as it might at first appear on the tree-lined boulevard.

A proposal to build nearly 70 apartments overlooking the river at Scarboroughs northern end near Route 44 is roiling nearby homeowners who worry that the development will worsen existing flooding from the north branch of the river and is too large and out of keeping with the streets character.

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Forget about how asinine this development is in the first place that sticks 68 units on a 3-acre parcel on a single-family street, David Jorgensen, a resident whose backyard borders the river, said. But from a flooding perspective, its absolutely going to make it worse.

Jorgensen, a senior portfolio manager at a wealth management firm, said he and his family have lived on Scarborough alongside the Park River since 2017, downstream from the proposed apartments.

In that time, Jorgensen estimates, he has lost as much as 10 feet of his backyard as the river overflows its banks  at least a half dozen times a year  eroding the outer back boundary of his property. Trees that were once solidly in his yard are now teetering on the riverbank.

When the river does flood, it is not unusual for the waters to climb 100 or more feet towards his house, Jorgensen said.

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The dispute comes at a sensitive time when memories of last years flooding in the Naugatuck Valley are still fresh. Torrential rains dumped more than 16 inches in just a few hours, turning a tiny waterway into a deadly raging river that severely damaged homes and businesses.

Earlier this year, Gov. Ned Lamont called for reducing development in areas prone to flooding. Scientists are attributing more frequent and intense storms to climate change.

The worries also are a contrast for Hartford, where most images of flooding in the city are of more densely-populated, far more modest-income neighborhoods.

Cars would be in the drink

In Hartfords West End, the proposed apartment development would be built on the site of the long-shuttered Hartford Medical Society on the Park River. The property was purchased for $425,000 by the developer, Anisha LLC, whose principal is Matthew Dean Haubrich of West Hartford.

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The plan still requires the approval of the Greater Hartford Flood Commission. But last fall, the proposal was backed by an administrative planning approval from city development staff and Hartfords Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission. The latter approval is being challenged in court by neighbor Marilda L.Gandara, a former Aetna executive and a member of the University of Connecticut board of trustees. The lawsuit is pending.

Hartford Inland Wetlands Chairwoman Josye Utick declined to comment, citing the on-going litigation.

Andrea L. Gomes, an attorney for Anisha and a partner at Hinckley Allen in downtown Hartford, said the developer recognizes that flooding is an existing issue in the area, although not attributable to our property, and the proposed redevelopment will improve flooding conditions on and off-site, as confirmed by city staff.

In an email, Gomes said the proposed development will provide a robust storm water management system where none currently exists, improve water quality and reduce storm water runoff and increase penetration into the soil. In addition, a system will be constructed to store flood waters beyond what is required by the flood commission, according to the email.

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The project will take a long-vacant, underutilized property and put it to a productive use that addresses the statewide (nationwide) housing shortage, Gomes wrote in the email. It is a win-win in many respects.

Gomes added, Anisha is proud of its plans for the site, and proud to be part of the solution to reducing flooding in and near the Park River.

Anisha declined to comment on the development cost for the project, according to Gomes.

The flood commission is expected to decide on the proposal in mid-August, and its chairman said he still is considering how he will vote on the project. The commission has been reviewing the matter since the beginning of the year.

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Chairman Michael T. McGarry, the former city councilman and current Republican registrar of voters, said he well remembers the river overflowing a decade ago on the campus of nearby University of Hartford, submerging and damaging motor vehicles.

One issue McGarry said he is focusing on is how the installation of flood control measures by Anisha could change the nature of the riverbank and the trees whose roots now stabilize it. The development proposal includes a parking lot for for 136 vehicles.

I can certainly be concerned that if a big storm comes, that the bank would not survive and those cars would be in the drink, McGarry said.

The neighbors remain highly skeptical of the developers assurances that incidents and intensity of flooding will improve with the development.

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I just dont buy it, Jorgensen said, noting the neighbors have hired their own engineer to challenge the developers assertions.

Jorgensen said the typical 2-foot height of the river along Scarborough can double, triple or even quadruple in a heavy, sudden rainstorm.

Looking at the Anisha proposal in isolation ignores that its part of a broader pattern of development affecting the Park River, Jorgensen said.

Just to the north, more than 400 mixed-income rentals are under construction at the Village at Park River, with plans including 80,000 square feet of office and retail space, Jorgensen said. The watershed that flows into the Park River extends well beyond the neighborhood to encompass three towns, all active with development, apartments and otherwise, Jorgensen said.

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So you have basically three towns worth of watershed and development pouring into this one little funnel we have behind our houses and behind our street, Jorgensen said.

Project is stupefying

As proposed, the apartment development meets the current zoning for the 3-acre, former medical society property. But prior to an overhaul of zoning regulations in 2016 under the administration of former Mayor Luke Bronin, the property was zoned for single-family residential use. The medical society building dates back to the mid-1950s and would be demolished.

Neighbors say the issue of flooding goes hand-in-hand with their argument the property is being overdeveloped.

The density of this project is stupefying, Michael A. Peck, a lawyer who lives next door to medical society property, said. In terms of 68 units, 136 cars, the whole street is, I think, 23 houses.

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Scarborough already is congested during morning and afternoon rush hours because it intersects with Route 44, or Albany Avenue, Peck said. Albany Avenue a heavily-traveled commuter route between downtown Hartford and the suburbs to the west.

Its already a bottleneck at those times, Peck said. This is all locked up.

The neighbors are drawing high-profile support from Hartford City Council President Shirley M. Surgeon, who is often caught in that traffic taking her grandson to school.

Theres zoning laws that we have to follow, Surgeon said. But one of the things also is I think they should also take into consideration is what the community has to say. You ask us to be involved in the community. Give the community some input also.

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In a statement, Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said he has been in regular contact with the residents of Scarborough Street and will remain so as the project progresses.

Any formal proposal for the Scarborough site, like other development projects, will undergo a rigorous evaluation, including comprehensive assessments by city staff and other review channels, like the Greater Hartford Flood Commission, prior to any construction, Arulampalam said.

Arulampalam declined further comment.

Jorgensen said there are plenty of properties in the city that need to be redeveloped and maybe there could be a land swap.

Theres got to be a way to work this out, but to just jam this down our throats, its just not right, Jorgensen said. Ive said to people, and Ive said in meetings before, I get that there is not a lot of sympathy for those of us that live on Scarborough Street. But that doesnt make us any less right or have less rights than anyone else as far as where weve chosen to live and why we chose to live here.

Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A death investigation is underway after an infant died late Saturday evening.

According to Greenville County Sheriffs Office, at around 10:40 p.m. deputies were called to a scene on Garrison Road in Simpsonville regarding an unresponsive infant.

Deputies arrived and located an infant female who they said was later pronounced deceased.



This investigation is in its early stages, we will provide more information as it becomes available.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(Reuters) -A high-level delegation from the U.S.-China Business Council will visit China this week and is expected to meet senior Chinese officials, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Sunday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

The delegation will be led by FedEx Chief Executive Rajesh Subramaniam, the council's board chair, and is expected to include Boeing executives and USCBC President Sean Stein, the report added.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

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"They are expected to meet with Chinese officials - potentially to revive business discussions," a source told the SCMP.

Both sides are also working to secure a visit to China by the U.S. president this year, the SCMP report said.

The council did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

The visit coincides with the latest round of U.S.China trade negotiations in Sweden, where China's Vice Premier He Lifeng is meeting U.S. officials over July 27-30 for a new round of economic and trade talks.

China faces an August 12 deadline to reach a durable deal with the White House or risk higher U.S. tariffs.

(Reporting by Bipasha Dey in BengaluruEditing by David Goodman)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump likes TikTok but the Chinese-owned short video app, used by some 170 million Americans, has to move to U.S. ownership, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said on Sunday.

"The President really likes TikTok, and he said it over and over again, because, you know, it was a good way to communicate with young people," Lutnick said in an interview on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream.

"But let's face it, you can't have the Chinese have an app on 100 million American phones, that is just not okay. So, it's got to move to American ownership, it's got to move to American technology, American algorithms," he said. "I know the President is positive towards TikTok, if it can move into American hands."

(Reporting by Ahmed AbouleneinEditing by Marguerita Choy)
Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, adding that he did not know what would happen.

After the deadlock of negotiations for a partial hostage deal, which would have seen 10 hostages released in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire, both Jerusalem and Washington are reassessing their approach.

Several members of the Trump administration believe the time may be right to propose a comprehensive deal that would bring about the release of all the hostages and an end to the war, a person familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post.

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Its clear to everyone that a comprehensive deal is significantly harder to get both sides to agree on, the source said.

At the same time, officials in Jerusalem are reportedly considering issuing an ultimatum to Hamas: Agree to the deal, or face the consequences.

Negotiations continue behind the scenes

Behind-the-scenes contacts have continued over the past two days among Israel, mediators Egypt and Qatar, and Hamas in an effort to restart the negotiations. US President Donald Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, has met several times over that time with senior Qatari officials on the island of Sardinia, Italy.

US President Donald Trump meets with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (not pictured), in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain, July 27, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN)

Although the negotiating team has returned to Israel, it remains in constant contact with the mediators, an Israeli official told the Post.

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On Sunday, Trump said: The time has come to bring the hostages home. There are 20 living hostages and the remains of others.

There are many parents who want their loved ones remains returned, he said in a conversation with reporters in Scotland. Israel will have to make a decision. I know what I would do, but Im not sure I should say it.

Members of the US Congress and Senate  described by Israeli officials as close allies  have in recent days urged senior Israeli figures to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, according to senior Republicans in Congress and officials in the White House who spoke with the Post.

Help us help you, they reportedly requested. We dont believe the claims of widespread famine in Gaza, but you must take concrete steps to facilitate the entry of aid.

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Trump said: Its terrible to see the children, especially in recent weeks. People are stealing food, stealing money, stealing money meant for food. Its a mess. The whole place is a mess. Gaza.

It remains unclear how long Israel will keep the humanitarian corridors open, allow for localized ceasefires, or assist in air-dropping aid, an Israeli official told the Post, hinting that it would likely continue until international criticism calmed down.

These actions were clearly the result of international pressure, according to the official.

Israel failed to counter the false starvation narrative and was forced to take these measures to relieve international pressure, the official said.

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Responding to criticism on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel must continue to allow minimal humanitarian supplies into Gaza to achieve the dual goals of dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages.

Weve done this so far, but the UN is spreading lies and falsehoods about Israel, he said. They say we dont allow humanitarian supplies in, yet we do. There are secure corridors. Theyve always existed, but now its official. No more excuses.
TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said the United States and the European Union had reached agreement on a trade deal that includes a 15% tariff on EU goods entering the U.S. and significant EU purchases of U.S. energy and military equipment.

The deal also calls for $600 billion in investments in the U.S. by the European Union, he told reporters.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the agreement would include 15% tariffs across the board, saying it would help rebalance trade between the two large trading partners.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray, Andrea Shalal, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
July 27 (UPI) -- The United States government and Qatar will finalize a deal next week for Qatar to give the U.S. Air Force a jet to become Air Force One.

Qatar will send the Boeing 747-8 aircraft as an unconditional "donation" to the Department of Defense, which will then be responsible for its maintenance, the Washington Post reported.

The agreement, dated July 7, was signed by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Soud bin Abulrahaman Al-Thani.

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Once the deal is finished, the Air Force can begin renovating the plane to become Air Force One. The process is projected to take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

The jet itself is valued at $400 million and will go to President Donald Trump's presidential library after his term is over.

"They knew about it because they buy Boeings, they buy a lot of Boeings, and they knew about it, and they said, we would like to do something," Trump said.

"And if we can get a 747 as a contribution to our Defense Department to use during a couple of years while they're building the other ones, I think that was a very nice gesture. Now I could be a stupid person and say, 'Oh no, we don't want a free plane.'"

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The cost of the renovation is classified, but The New York Times has reported that the budget may be tucked into parts of the Department of Defense's budget. The Times cites a "mysterious" $934 million transfer from the over-budget modernization of America's aging, ground-based nuclear missiles.

Article I of the U.S. Constitution prevents the president from accepting a gift or emolument from a "King, Prince, or foreign State," without congressional consent.

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., said in May that he sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office pushing for an investigation into the Trump administration accepting a plane as a gift.
Condemning the alleged attack by the TIPRA Motha Party workers on BJP party workers, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha called the act "disgraceful" and noted that such "acts won't be tolerated." Condemning the act, CM Manik Saha on Saturday wrote on his X account, "Strongly condemn the violent & undemocratic attack by TIPRA Motha party workers during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann ki Baat programme at Asharambari." He further added, "Several BJP karyakartas injured, 3 undergoing treatment at GB Hospital. I visited the hospital, instructed doctors to provide the best care & directed police to take strict action against perpetrators. Such disgraceful acts won't be tolerated." CM Saha also visited the hospital where the 3 injured BJP workers were admitted after the alleged attack by the TIPRA workers. While interacting with the media in the hospital premises, he said, "We have been seeing bloodshed and violence in politics in Tripura for many years... The Prime Minister wants calm and quiet politics... But today crossed all limits..." "These people (BJP workers) were listening to 'Mann Ki Baat' in booth number 30 in Asharambari at the house of a worker. There they (TIPRA Motha party workers) went and beat up the workers... This politics of force through violence will not work in Tripura; it has been too long now", he further added. Earlier, on Saturday, BJP Mandal President Jayanta Debbarma claimed that over 50 Tipra Motha Party "goons" attacked a Mann Ki Baat event on Sunday in Tripura's Khowai district, injuring several party workers and damaging multiple vehicles. The incident took place at booth number 30 in Asaram Bari while Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat was being broadcast. According to Debbarma, the attackers arrived armed with sharp weapons, lathis and rods, and began hurling bricks and bottles at BJP workers. "Over 50 goons of the Tipra Motha Party attacked and disrupted the program. They vandalised my vehicle and also attacked the owner of the house where the Mann Ki Baat program was organised. They also vandalised 15 bikes and several other vehicles," Debbarma told ANI. He added that six BJP workers sustained injuries, with some hit on the head, mouth, and chest. (ANI)
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Sunday there is no truth to claims that United Nations aid for Palestinians in Gaza has been systematically stolen by Hamas.

This is a big lie, the claim that when the U.N. organizations were delivering food to Palestinians, civilians, that it was being systematically diverted to Hamas, Van Hollen told CBS Newss Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation.

I want to say loudly and clearly, this is a big lie, the Maryland senator added.

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On Sunday, President Trump said Hamas is stealing food that was meant for people in Gaza, saying to reporters on multiple occasions that goods are being stolen as he was pressed on the hunger crisis in the region.

Trump, alongside President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland, was questioned about his response to the images of starving children in Gaza.

When I see the children and when I see, especially over the last couple of weeks people are stealing the food, theyre stealing the money, theyre stealing the money for the food. Theyre stealing weapons, theyre stealing everything, the president said.

Its a mess, that whole place is a mess. The Gaza Strip, you know it was given many years ago so they could have peace. That didnt work out too well, Trump continued.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) echoed Trump on Sundays Meet the Press on NBC News.

This is important to note: Israel, since this war began, has supplied over 94,000 truckloads full of food. Its enough food to feed 2 million people for two years trying to get that into Gaza. But Hamas has stolen the food, a huge amount, Johnson said.

He also criticized the system, calling it broken, adding that beginning tomorrow, the Israeli military will open new channels of distribution to get it [food] to those people who are desperately in need.

Former President Obama said on Sunday that aid must be permitted to reach people in Gaza.

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There is no justification for keeping food and water away from civilian families, the former president added in a post on the social platform X on Sunday.

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ROANOKE, W.Va. (WBOY)  Paddles were hitting the water with purpose on Saturday at Stonewall Resort, as Vandalia Health launched its inaugural Dragon Boat Festival, a high-energy event that blended fitness, fun, and fundraising to support rural healthcare in north central West Virginia.

Dragon boat racing is a fast-paced team sport. Each 46-foot-long dragon boat is powered by 20 paddlers working in unison to the beat of a drummer, racing for victory in heats lasting just under two minutes.

One of the greatest things about this event, I want to do a shout out to Governor Morrisey, he challenged all of us to get healthy, the Mountaineer Mile, well we did that mile on the water. So, to the governor, keep leading by example, the Executive Vice President of Vandalia Health David Goldberg said. Vandalias mission is to keep care close in the community, raising money and awareness today keeps the resources close, invest close, keeps care close, and helps keep people healthier close to home.

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Proceeds from the festival will go toward clinical expansion projects at Vandalia Health Mon Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston, and Mon Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood.

Meadowbrook Mall hosts Elevate Health and Wellness Expo

As we know, rural healthcare its tough to do, and one of the things we do at Vandalia, we want to bring that healthcare as close to rural areas as we can, the Chairman of the Board for Vandalia Health Ron Stovash said. We bring orthopedics, we bring cardiology, and then when you need a higher level care, yes we can go to more tertiary, higher level care hospitals, but it is so important that we have those hospital in the area where people can get immediate access close to home.

Local businesses, hospital teams, and community groups faced off throughout the day, including a friendly competition between Vandalia Health employees.

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Being able to host this has been a great community effort and we have great partnership with Vandalia Health. So, it was an honor to get to host the inaugural event in West Virginia, the Sales Manager for Stonewall Resort Robin Poling said.

Poling stated that the resort staff want to continue the Dragon Boat Festival on the lake for many more years to come and are already looking at dates for next year. Theyre hoping to expand the races and have even more teams participating in the event.

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Celebrating the recent withdrawal of $4 billion in federal funds allocated by Congress to help build the California High Speed Rail system, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy declared, Its time for this boondoggle to die.

Dont start planning the funeral, just yet. California High-Speed Rail is a long way from dead.

After announcing the abrupt withdrawal of federal money  which accounts for about 25% of the projects funding  the Trump administration now is faced with yet another lawsuit  this one filed by California  that challenges the presidents reneging on spending federal dollars Congress approved to fund a wide range of programs.

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President Trump, a longtime critic of high-speed rail, declared, Im thrilled to announce that I have officially freed (taxpayers) from funding Californias disastrously overpriced high speed train to nowhere.

No doubt, Californians are disappointed about the increasing costs and delayed construction of Californias high-speed rail system.

In 2008, with Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggers encouragement, California voters passed a $10 billion bond measure, most of the money earmarked for construction of a high-speed rail system to carry passengers between San Francisco and Los Angeles in less than three hours. Initially estimated to cost $40 billion and completed in 2020, the cost is now estimated to be $130 billion.

Since then, the project has contended with increasing construction costs, unexpected construction roadblocks, regulatory red tape, political opposition and environmental concerns. Five executive directors later, construction of an initial phase  a 119-mile rail line from Bakersfield to Merced  is 81% completed and expected to be operational sometime between 2030 and 2033.

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To suddenly now declare Californias High-Speed Rail system dead, as Duffy has done, would leave the Central Valley an eyesore graveyard of half-completed bridges and billions of dollars abandoned infrastructure. It would waste already spent tax dollars and abandon many communities economic development plans.

Dubbed the train to nowhere by critics, the Bakersfield to Merced line is a much maligned critical first link in a statewide system that will connect existing and planned local rail lines. The San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim line is eventually expected to connect to a high desert hub in Palmdale. That link will connect to Brightline West, a 218-mile private-venture high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Brightline expects to begin service in 2028.

The CHSR authority now is headed by transit veteran CEO Ian Choudri, who was appointed last fall to replace CEO Brian Kelly. Until his retirement, Kellys six-year tenure was focused on bringing together transportation planners and Central Valley elected officials, directing funding to support local projects on the ends of the system, and building the Bakersfield to Merced line.

Choudris focus now is paying for construction of the entire system. State support  some coming from auctioning pollution-fighting cap-and-trade credits  is not dependable, nor sufficient. Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing the Legislature to allocate $1 billion a year for the project.

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Choudri is emphasizing the need for private-public partnerships. The rail authority is requesting proposals for monetizing the systems assets  station facilities, track access, fast cargo and parcel movement, transit-oriented amenities, fiber optic lines along the right-of-way, etc.

An example of the private-public potential is connecting a Central Valley high-speed line to one in the Silicon Valley. If a one-hour commute could be achieved, it would be half the time drivers now experience commuting to the Silicon Valley and would attract investors.

A completed and successful high-speed rail line is an important part of building a statewide system that will improve mobility, stimulate economic development, result in the creation of affordable housing, and reduce pollution.

Californias high-speed rail dream is not dead. But its future depends on stable funding, competent management and creative thinking.
Jul. 27MASSENA  Massena's village and town boards have thrown their support behind a proposal to site a nuclear facility in Massena.

Mayor Gregory M. Paquin said he and Deputy Mayor Chad L. Simpson had attended a nuclear energy forum sponsored by Assemblyman Scott A. Gray , R-Watertown, earlier this month in Alexandria Bay.

"I'm not going to lie. When I went up there, I had some reservations. My biggest thought was I was looking at how much water these facilities use. It's like 13 million gallons a day. I'm like, we can't do that. There would be no way," he said.

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But, Paquin said, that was no longer the case.

"These new advanced, zero-emission, they don't necessarily use water to cool them. One guy that was there, he was from the United States Navy and he was part of their nuclear program. He talked about if we wanted to, we could put a nuclear power plant in the middle of Saudi Arabia and not have to use water. So, there's other methods. That was the one thing that I was like, all right, that kind of quelled my biggest fear because I'm sure there were a lot of sportsmen and stuff who were thinking, 'Hell no, we can't do that up here,'" he said.

He said, as the presentation was taking place, he was on his phone searching the topic online so he could better understand it.

"I always had the vision of a nuclear power plant that's Nine Mile down in Oswego. They make huge cooling towers. That's not what this would be. It basically would be an office building," Paquin said.

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He said it was up to them to educate the public about the nuclear power plants of today.

"If we're going to continue to push for this and so forth, it's going to be imperative on us to educate the public well. I'm sure some of the speakers that were there would most definitely come talk to us about that as we go through the process because I know everyone has the vision of Fukushima exploding and stuff like that. One of things he said is no plan has ever failed because of the nuclear power. It's always failed because of human error and, because of those human errors, they've improved training time and time again," he said. "It's not the water guzzling nuclear power plants that you see down at Nine Mile and other places. This is a modern, modern facility with zero emissions."

Paquin said he had talked with a representative of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

"He's very confident that there will be great support for that as well," he said.

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Trustees passed a resolution "supporting the development and construction of a zero-emission advanced nuclear power plant in Massena."

"The Village and Town of Massena stand at the forefront of New York State's energy future, committed to advancing sustainable solutions that address climate change, economic revitalization, and energy security and reliability. Massena boasts a strong legacy of industry, innovation, workforce resilience, and ample talented organized labor associations, as well as abundant land to accommodate a nuclear power plant," the resolution reads, noting that because Massena is home to the New York Power Authority's St. Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project, "Massena an ideal host for clean energy projects of strategic importance to the state."

The Massena Town Council approved a similar resolution during their meeting the following night. Town Supervisor Susan J. Bellor said she had a copy of the slides that were used during the Alexandria Bay presentation to share with anyone who was interested.

"Very, very impressive," she said.
Multiple ambulances and police vehicles respond to a shooting at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Mich., in June. Homicides fell 17% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the Council on Criminal Justices latest crime trends report. (Photo by Emily Elconin/Getty Images)

Amid recent political rhetoric about rising crime and violence in American cities, a new analysis shows that violent crime has continued to decline this year.

Homicides and several other serious offenses, including gun assaults and carjackings, dropped during the first half of 2025 across 42 U.S. cities, continuing a downward trend that began in 2022, according to a new crime trends report released Thursday by the nonpartisan think tank Council on Criminal Justice.

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Homicides fell 17% in the first half of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024, among the 30 cities that reported homicide data, according to the report.

During that same period, five cities saw increases in homicide  ranging from 6% in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to 39% in Little Rock, Arkansas.

While the reports authors say the continued drop in violent crime  especially homicides  is encouraging, they note that much of the decline stems from a few major cities with historically high rates, such as Baltimore and St. Louis.

More than half of the cities studied have higher homicide rates than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, though, the analysis found that there were 14% fewer homicides during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2019.

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The authors say more research is needed before crediting any specific policy or practice for the continued drop in violent crime.

The groups findings come as President Donald Trump continues to amplify concerns about crime, at times citing misleading statistics and narratives.

In a Truth Social post earlier this week, Trump claimed that cashless bail  a practice that allows people charged with a crime to be released pretrial without paying money, unless a judge deems them a threat to public safety  were fueling a national crime surge and endangering law enforcement.

He wrote: Crime in American Cities started to significantly rise when they went to CASHLESS BAIL. The WORST criminals are flooding our streets and endangering even our great law enforcement officers. It is a complete disaster, and must be ended, IMMEDIATELY!

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Some research suggests that setting money bail isnt effective in ensuring court appearances or improving public safety. Opponents of ending cash bail often raise concerns that released suspects might commit new, potentially more serious crimes. While that is possible in individual cases, studies show that eliminating cash bail does not lead to a widespread increase in crime.

The Truth Social post also marked a sharp shift from Trumps remarks during a June roundtable with the Fraternal Order of Police, where he claimed the national murder rate had plummeted by 28% since he took office  a figure that overstates the decline and overlooks the fact that murder rates began falling well before he returned to office.

According to data consulting firm AH Datalytics, which manages the Real-Time Crime Index  a free tool that collects crime data from more than 400 law enforcement agencies nationwide  the number of homicides between January and May 2025 was 20.3% lower than the same period in 2024.

Similarly, data released in May by the Major Cities Chiefs Association showed that homicides fell roughly 20% in the first quarter of 2025 compared with the first three months of the prior year. The groups data is based on a survey of 68 major metropolitan police departments nationwide.

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Researchers at the Council on Criminal Justice note in their report that its difficult to pinpoint a single reason for the drop in homicides, but they note that fewer people appear to be exposed to high-risk situations, such as robberies.

Most major crimes fell in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year, according to the councils report.

Motor vehicle thefts dropped by 25%, while reported gun assaults fell 21%. Robberies, residential and non-residential burglaries, shoplifting, and aggravated and sexual assaults also saw double-digit declines

Drug offenses held steady, while domestic violence reports rose slightly  by about 3%. Carjackings declined 24% and larcenies were down 5%.

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Compared with the first half of 2019, before the pandemic and nationwide reckoning over racial justice and policing, overall homicides are down 14%, robberies by 30%, and sexual assaults by 28%.

Still, more than 60% of the cities in the councils study sample report homicide rates that remain above 2019 levels.

Motor vehicle theft remains the only crime tracked in the report that is still elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels  up 25% since 2019  although it has declined sharply since 2023.

The council also released another analysis on the lethality of violent crime, showing that while violent incidents have decreased, the share of violence that ends in death has increased significantly. In 1994, there were 2 homicides per 1,000 assaults and about 16 per 1,000 robberies. By 2020, those figures rose to 7.2 and 55.8, respectively.

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Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
NEW YORK, New York  Under an awning festooned with balloons, aunties in bright salwar kameez and hijabs unpacked foil-covered plates of Samosas and homemade sweets  aggressively passing them out along with cups of steaming, milky chai. The blazing sun on this July afternoon didnt stop locals from dropping by this corner of Kensington Plaza, at the heart of a Brooklyn neighborhood often called Little Bangladesh. Here, the vibe was decidedly more block party than political rally, even though the largely South Asian crowd had gathered to celebrate two electoral victories in their diaspora: Zohran Mamdanis stunning win in the Democratic New York mayoral primary, and that of his ally in the city council, Shahana Hanif.

But they were also there to commemorate something bigger than the victories of two political candidates.

The host of the event, Kazia Fouzia, the 56-year-old director of organizing for Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) Beats, which works to improve political engagement among working-class South Asians, took to the mic to declare in English and Bangla, This is a celebration for our community. That was something, Fouzia said, that she heard often the night of the primary, when people packed the same plaza, erupting in cheers as they watched Mamdanis victory speech projected onto the brick wall at Walgreens. This is the victory of the Bangladeshi auntie who knocked on door after door until her feet throbbed and her knuckles ached, Mamdani told the crowd that night.



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It wasnt just that a member of that community had scored the nomination. It was that South Asian voters, and particularly, long-neglected Bangladeshi American voters, had turned out in record numbers from reliably left-leaning Astoria in Queens to right-leaning Brighton Beach in Brooklyn  and first-time voters had surged. Mamdanis victory was a sign that South Asians, one of the fastest growing immigrant groups in the city, are beginning to assert themselves as an influential political demographic, not just making themselves heard at the polls, but becoming more politically engaged and organized at the neighborhood level. And South Asian women are front and center of that change.

When Fouzia started organizing 16 years ago, she says the women in the community stayed out of public spaces, but now, following in the footsteps of organizers like Fouzia, they are the leaders in their own right, carving out a space for themselves in the public sphere. Were like a gang, Fouzia said. When we go to any shop, people just move aside and say, Oh my god. The DRUM leaders are here. The DRUM women are here.

Mamdanis win was not inevitable: President Donald Trumps share of votes in 2024 grew across New York City neighborhoods, not so much because Trump won significantly more raw votes, but because the Democrats didnt win as many as they had in 2020. Heavily South Asian neighborhoods like Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park and Midwood, all experienced pronounced shifts towards Trump, said Michael Lange, a writer and strategist embedded in New York City politics. Some explicitly voted for Trump while others sat out the election or wrote in a third-party candidate.

The South Asian diaspora has increasingly voted Democrat since 9/11 but is incredibly divided along the lines of class, caste, religion and national origin, which means its voting behavior isnt uniform on a closer look  and its votes are up for grabs for politicians who care to court them. Turnout among working-class South Asians has also historically been low in New York, especially in the primaries, because people are too busy trying to make ends meet. Then theres the fact that many South Asian New Yorkers feel alienated by the political establishment, said Jagpreet Singh, political director at DRUM Beats, which endorsed Mamdani and led South Asian and Indo-Caribbean outreach for his campaign.

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Nor does having a South Asian candidate guarantee support from South Asian voters. Some Indian American groups in the greater New York region opposed Mamdani, running ads on trucks and airplane banners claiming the mayoral candidate had an extremist agenda and history of hateful rhetoric  a reflection of rising Hindu nationalism in India. And, as the writer Yashica Dutta reported before the primary, some South Asians did not seem to be on board with, or even know, the Uganda-born Mamdani, the son of a Muslim father and a Hindu mother.

Even so, in June, as primary voting maps show, those same South Asian areas in Queens and Brooklyn that had lost Democratic support and shifted towards Trump in 2024 went decisively for Mamdani. According to an internal analysis of voting data shared with POLITICO Magazine by a political strategist who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with the media, South Asian turnout increased by 12 percent between the 2021 mayoral primary and this years race in 13 assembly districts with a significant share of South Asians. This increase was driven primarily by Bangladeshis and to a lesser extent, Pakistanis  mainly in Queens and Brooklyn. First-time voters over 45 years old increased by over 6 percent across these 13 districts. The lions share of this increased South Asian vote went to Mamdani, despite the gross imbalance in campaign funding between him and Cuomo and the latters dynastic bona fides.

A November 2024 video Mamdani posted on social media contains clues about how Mamdani went from polling at 1 percent shortly after launching his campaign to comfortably winning the primary. In it, Mamdani did interviews with Trump voters, many of whom appeared to be working-class South Asians, asking them why they voted for Trump and what it would take for them to switch back to the Democratic Party. Then he told them about his campaign. The video captures the mix of tactics that may have led to Mamdanis ultimate success: He went directly to these voters, asked them what they needed, and told them he could deliver it. He then made what he heard  in particular, concerns about affordability  the heart of his campaign, amplifying it consistently through savvy social media videos in South Asian languages and an aggressive field campaign staffed with South Asian faces.

Conventional wisdom has dictated that targeting triple prime voters those who have voted in at least three previous primaries  is the winning electoral strategy. But Mamdanis campaign decided to target low propensity voters  those who have been disconnected from electoral politics.

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He went after them full throttle and it paid off rather handsomely, said Lange.





Organizers of the Kensington celebration applauded the fact that an unprecedented 50 percent of registered voters in that Brooklyn neighborhood came out to the polls. That so many from the Bangladeshi community were a visible and central part of this election was in itself a profound win, said Tazin Azad of the Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress (BAPP), which helped Mamdani produce his Bangla language video explaining ranked choice voting with misti, Bengali sweets. Not only did Bangladeshi women walk miles in the sweltering heat, in their abayas and niqabs, canvassing for Mamdani, but many signed up as poll workers. These women redefined who gets to participate, Azad said. This win, she added, was made possible by 1000 little, little strategies and campaigns.

It remains to be seen if those little strategies will be enough to carry Mamdani across the finish line come November. He faces a crowded field of opponents that include the incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, the colorful Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa  and Cuomo, who has officially declared he is running as an independent despite his decisive primary defeat. Add to that an explosion of Islamophobic and racist attacks ( from celebrities, Democratic and Republican senators, and the president himself) and it becomes evident that Mamdani  and this community  still has plenty of hurdles to overcome.

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Standing in the sweltering heat at Kensington Plaza, organizers told the crowd they have more work to do to ensure Mamdani wins in November  a prospect that elicited a resounding Inshallah from the audience. But regardless of what happens in the mayors race, organizers feel theyre on the cusp of a broader and lasting transformation in South Asian diaspora politics: The average, working class South Asian New Yorker no longer feels that they have to accept  and be grateful for  the meagre, and often unhelpful, representation they get in political institutions, or having to rely on well-connected members of the community to speak for them. Now, organizers say, these voters feel empowered to weigh in directly and have bearing on issues like affordability, public safety and immigration.

We are on the verge of changing how politics happens in our community, said Raza Gillani, also with DRUM, who organizes in the Pakistani enclave of Midwood in Brooklyn.

This is about our communities taking back control of our own politics. And this will not stop with Zohrantomorrow the same people who organized for Zohran will organize for every single issue our community has felt.





South Asian Americans are not a monolith. The migration experiences and socio-economic profiles of professional class-upper caste immigrants from India, who benefited greatly from permissive immigration laws and the tech boom between the 1960s and 1990s, are generally different from the newer, relatively more working-class immigrants from India as well as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. And these differences cut across political lines in complex ways. But in New York, despite their hefty numbers, South Asians have been neglected by pundits, pollsters and politicians because they are perceived as being too scattered, too disengaged, too lacking in influence, said Lena Afridi, who has worked in local coalition-building and community development for 15 years.

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I heard time and time again that it wasn't worth it because South Asians  as a monolith  were unorganizable, Afridi said.

Within often-insular South Asian enclaves, self-anointed gatekeepers  wealthy business leaders or politically connected community members  have historically held outsized power, Singh added, acting as liaisons between politicians, trading community votes for deals that do not always result in lasting benefits for the rest of the community. During elections, these politicians typically show up just to take photos, rattling off a Salam-Alaikum, or sat sri akal, or namaste or whatever...but beyond that, we really dont get [heard on] issues that impact our communities, Singh said. Thats what he and other organizers have been trying to change for years.

That is what Mamdanis win has brought to the surface. It isnt just the professional class of South Asians  the tech workers and creatives in Greenpoint and Astoria  who comprise his base but more so, everyday South Asians who help the city run: the taxi drivers, delivery people, restaurant workers, grocery store employees, domestic and janitorial labor, construction workers and gas station attendants. Many of these folks that DRUM works with, for example, work 12-13-14 hour-days but are still struggling to make ends meet, pay rent, Singh said. Our community is one of the most rent-burdened, paying over 50 percent of their income on rent and sometimes living multiple families in a unit.





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As a diaspora, this community is diverse, hailing from different countries, from Bangladesh to India to Pakistan to Nepal to Sri Lanka, speaking multiple different languages and belonging to a variety of faiths. Despite this, Singh said, class is the unifying identity. And New York is not dominated by upper-caste Hindu Indian folks.

Many of these New Yorkers already had a relationship with Mamdani because of the 33-year-old candidates involvement in grassroots organizing. South Asian working-class voters have long been waiting to be courted  not just as a political calculation, but as people who are central to the fabric of New York City, said Zara Rahim, a senior advisor to the campaign. From the beginning, our campaign made intentional efforts to meet these voters where they are: in their neighborhoods, in their languages, and in deep partnership with grassroots groups.

The campaigns online Hindi/Urdu videos sprinkled with old Bollywood references made headlines in the Indian subcontinent and several news outlets analyzed the efficacy of his Bollywood-inflected posters and merchandise. But political analysts say that, more than anything, it was the people Mamdani met in person and galvanized through South Asian community groups and at cultural centers and mosques who eventually vouched for him to friends and neighbors, powering his win in the primary.







Ferdousi Begum, 69, and her husband MD Parveg Hasan Dolar, 72, helped organize support for Mamdani because to them, his policies address their pressing needs. Dolar works as a food cart vendor, sometimes through the night, but still cannot keep up with the cost of rent, utilities and groceries in this city. The couples son has moved out of state because its just too expensive  but they insist they wont be following suit.

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This is a place where immigrants have access to a sense of safety and community, Begum said. So this is where we want to stay.

The couple knew and trusted Mamdani long before he launched his campaign. As a New York state assembly member, Mamdani had been supportive of 2022 protests against a redevelopment project in Queens that Dolar and Begum had been involved in with CAAAV, a grassroots group made up of working-class Asian tenants. After launching his mayoral campaign, Mamdani was the first to incorporate rent freezes  something Begum and Dolar had been campaigning for with CAAAV Voice, a sister organization  into his policy platform.

I had seen Zohran work for everyday people with a lot of love and discipline, Begum said in Bangla through a translator.

That is why it felt worthwhile to fight for Mamdani even though he didnt initially believe Mamdani could win, added Dolar, who first met Mamdani in 2023, when the state assembly member went on ahunger strike with taxi workers in front of City Hall.

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Before the June primary, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) spoke at a rally for Mamdani along with two labor leaders  one of Irish descent, who repeated Mamdanis first name with a signature American drawl, and another, of Bangladeshi origin, who pronounced the candidates name in his own accent, hardening the Z to a J.

Watching them was Asad Dandia, a local historian and Mamdani supporter who was struck by the symbolism. At one point in history, he noted, no one could win a city-wide election without the Irish American vote. Now the Bengali community  one of the largest foreign-born populations in the city  is becoming similarly crucial.

So in Mamdanis campaign, Dandia said, the old New York of the Irish and the new New York of the Bengalis is joining forces for a better city.





Mamdanis primary win surprised on more than one front. Not only did he beat predictions that Cuomo would win in a landslide, but he also won over Trump voters.

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Dandia, who is Pakistani American, grew up in Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, best known for its Russian immigrant community. The neighborhood has favored Trump in recent years with over 60 percent of the vote going to Trump in 2024. Adams swept this area in the 2021 mayoral election. Inna Vernikov, its City Council representative, is one of the most conservative members. And yet, this time around, Brighton Beachs burgeoning Pakistani, Bengali and Uzbek Muslim pockets supported this democratic socialist candidate, whod visited their mosque on the campaign trail.

Part of it has to do with his message that appeals to everyone: affordability, affordability, affordability, Dandia said, and part of it has to do with the fact that they see themselves in him. The bigger lesson here, he added, is that voting blocs are not fixed in time, for perpetuity.

Talal Syed, a 30-year-old Brooklyn-based scientist whose parents hail from Pakistan and India, is emblematic of a South Asian New Yorker who drifted away from the Democratic Party after feeling like he was being taken for granted election after election. He voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election  a decision he said he wrestled with down to the moment he was filling out his ballot. For Syed, the war in Gaza was the defining issue. In a swing state, he figured it would do minimal damage to the Harris campaign but send the message that the Democrats had lost me. Syed had reached out to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries several times before the vote, demanding a ceasefire deal in Gaza and said that even a small, good faith action would have secured his vote  but none came.

He voted for Mamdani in this mayoral primary not because hes Muslim, or South Asian, or social media savvy, he said, but because after years of nonsense, we finally had a legitimately honest candidate, and I hope he continues to live up to that.







Hindu American groups with conservative or right-wing leanings have exerted a growing influence in recent years on local, state and national politics. Opposition to Mamdani from this contingent of the South Asian diaspora  with significant money to spend and an ideological axe to grind  is likely to grow in coming months. Satya Dosapati, 67, who lives in New Jersey and doesnt vote in New York City, says his Whatsapp group of 300 or so Indians from the Greater New York area and Long Island has become very concerned about Mamdanis rise. His group, registered in New Jersey as Indians for Cuomo, is more anti-Mamdani than pro-Cuomo, said the self-identified pro-Trump activist. His group paid $3570 for an anti-Mamdani airplane banner and $5900 for digital truck and radio ads before the primary and is considering another blitz in the New York Times in the next few months, Dosapati said.

The main issue appears to be Mamdanis past statements about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis role in the 2002 Gujarat riots (for which Modi was denied a U.S. visa before he became head of state and was criticized by human rights groups)  and slogans the group reads as anti-Hindu or anti-Jewish that Mamdani himself hasnt uttered, but that the group feels he hasnt sufficiently condemned either. It's creating division, Dosapati said. Dosapati also worries that Mamdanis support among Bangladeshi Muslims means he has to abide by what they want him to do, he said. His own daughter, who is 31, had to move out of the city because its too expensive and thinks Mamdani might be able to address affordability issues. But in Dosapatis view, young voters who are pro-Mamdani are not informed.

Some of Mamdanis rivals have courted right-leaning Hindu Americans to negative effect. Jenifer Rajkumar, a key ally of Mayor Adams, who enjoyed the endorsement of certain Hindu American groups, lost the primary election for public advocate. In July, organizers for a Queens event with a far-right Hindu nationalist speaker told New York Focus that he was slated to attend the event  but his staff denied that he planned to attend. A number of South Asian organizations, including DRUM and Hindus for Human Rights, wrote a letter to Adams expressing outrage.

Still, enough Indian American voters came through for Mamdani  Punjabis in Glen Oaks, notable among them. But voter growth in this group in Queens Flushing, Murray Hill and other Indian enclaves was less pronounced relative to the Bangladeshi and Pakistani areas. According to DRUM Beats internal analysis, however, the support was balanced out elsewhere: Of the non-Punjabi Indians who voted early for Mamdani, 60 percent were under the age of 45 and lived in areas like Bushwick, Astoria, Lower East Side and Crown Heights  a stronghold neighborhood for the behemoth army of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). The progressive PAC Indian American Impact Fund also endorsed Mamdani in June.





In Manhattans Union Square, Lavanya DJ, 45, canvassed for Mamdani. The communications specialist is part of a small but growing group organizing under the banner Hindus For Zohran, which has a new Instagram handle with 400 followers and a WhatsApp group with 800 members. The group hopes to host a fundraiser for Mamdani in August. For DJ, who is mother to a 2-year-old, Mamdani exhibits an unwavering moral clarity. His vision, as she sees it, is that we should live in a kinder city for all.

After the primary celebrations wind down, Mamdani and his supporters are trying to take some time to rest and recharge before they get back full-force to the campaign  and all the attention and backlash it is getting. Many are hoping that the tenor of Islamophobia and attacks against Mamdani may actually push undecided South Asian and Muslim voters to his corner come November  but plan to keep working hard to organize support for him without letting the primary win lull them into complacency.

We Bangladeshis are a superstitious bunch! Azad of BAPP said over WhatsApp.

But I guarantee that we will be on the ground, we will be on the ground full force with such dedication and optimism for our future, and THAT will be worth celebrating regardless of the results.
U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, in a congressional hearing, in September 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rod Lamkey-Pool/Getty Images)

U.S. Rep. Adam Smith has been around in Washington state politics a long time.

A moderate Democrat, hes been in Congress since 1997, and before that, served in the state Legislature. His 9th Congressional District stretches from parts of Bellevue and south Seattle down to Federal Way and Auburn.

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Smith covered many topics in an interview this month with the Standard at a Bellevue Starbucks.

But as the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, hes one of his partys lead thinkers in Congress on national security issues and spoke at length on that topic and overseas conflicts in the Trump era  from his tepid optimism for peace in the Middle East and his one meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Looking toward next years midterms, Smith faces a challenge from socialist candidate Kshama Sawant, a former Seattle City Council member, who has sharply criticized the congressmans alignment with U.S. policy supporting Israels war against Hamas in Gaza.

Reflecting broadly on President Donald Trumps second term so far, Smith did not have much positive to say. They are the most insular, the most partisan administration that Ive ever dealt with, he said. Its not just partisan, its authoritarian.

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The following interview was edited for clarity and length.

Lets start in the Middle East. What do you think well most likely see there in the next couple of years?

The most positive thing thats happened in the last 20 years is the evolution of Saudi Arabia and the [United Arab Emirates] in terms of dealing with extremism.

Prior to 9/11, Saudi Arabia was the foremost exporter of radical extremism, and now they are combating it, and the UAE is as well, because their focus is on stability.

They need stability in the region because people arent going to do business if buildings are getting blown up and suicide bombers are showing up all the time.

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With Hezbollah weakened, with [former Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad] gone, theres the chance that Lebanon and Syria could become stable countries.

They could focus on governing instead of jihad grievances against Israel. But for that to happen, Israel needs to make peace with the Palestinians. So thats the great unknown.

Whats Iran going to do? I dont know, but the region is going to be in a lot better position to unify and put pressure on Iran if we can end the war in Gaza, and if there could be some kind of future for the Palestinian people that involves some element of self-governance.

Thats the real test: Can we get Israel into that type of agreement? Thats what Trumps trying to do right now. God bless him. I hope he succeeds.

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If that goes sideways, then terrorist groups motivated by Israel could become a factor in Syria. They could have militia groups in Iraq that are aligned with Iran, and then these and others destabilize the government in Iraq.

So thats the big challenge, and as far as how that is going to play out, I dont know, but its going to require a considerable amount of diplomatic skill.

You strongly condemned the U.S. strikes in Iran. With a few weeks hindsight, has that feeling evolved at all?

No, it was a mistake. I dont think it was the right policy. I dont think it was the right approach.

It seems, for the moment, the risks did not bear out as much as it could have. Sort of like, you drive home drunk and you dont hit anyone. The lesson from that isnt that driving home drunk is not a problem.

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The bad downside consequences have not yet manifested as greatly as they could have. Iran very easily could have chosen to launch a more aggressive attack. Iran still has the capacity to build nuclear weapons.

You can make a pretty compelling argument that, after being attacked by Israel and attacked by us, it sort of pushes the scale toward, well, Lets build a damn thing so we can have an adequate deterrent, because the deterrent that Iran thought they had clearly was not sufficient.

Are you at all optimistic that a diplomatic solution is a possibility in any kind of near future?

It is a possibility. Optimism is fine, but youve got to do the work. If the players in the region and if the U.S. choose to play a constructive role, its a possibility.

Have you always felt its a possibility over the past two years?

Not really. The big changes, and Israel deserves credit for this: Assads gone, Hezbollah is weakened and so is Iran. That is a fundamental shift that I will confess I did not see coming. It creates a greater possibility that well get to a more peaceful outcome, but its still a region rife with conflict.

Moving to Ukraine. The U.S. paused military shipments. The president didnt seem to know and didnt agree. The situation has evolved. What does that tell you?

Have you seen the movie Die Hard?

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Yes.

You know the point in the movie when the guy goes in and tries to cut the deal with the terrorist. I do billion-dollar deals every day. I can handle this guy. Bunch of Eurotrash. I think thats the way Trump felt about Putin. Come on, Im Trump, I can cut a deal with this guy.

I think now Trumps like, Oh, f***, maybe not.

And in this case, Trumps not going to get shot in the head by Putin, but I think hes beginning to wake up to the fact that, no, he is not someone who Trumps magnetic personality is just going to magically melt.

On the Armed Services Committee, we are attempting, and this is a very bipartisan thing  Mike Rogers, whos the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. He and I are talking and like, How do we get Trump to make the right call? A lot of bipartisan support in Congress for this, but its just where is the support in the Trump administration? [Vice President] JD Vance is not going to be helpful. [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio could be. [Secretary of Defense Pete] Hegseth, I dont think he thinks that sophisticatedly.

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So its really going to come down to what Trump wants.

He assumed that he could bully Ukraine into cutting a deal, then get a peace agreement that he can take credit for, which showed a fundamental misunderstanding of what was going on.

Russia will take every last inch of Ukraine that they can get away with. The only way to get to peace is to make it clear that they cant. We actually had some success in that, because the Ukrainians have proved far more tenacious than anyone would have expected, and because the Biden administration put together a 53-nation coalition that helped Ukraine defend itself, that has really driven up the cost substantially for Putin continuing this war.

Have you had any meetings with Hegseth?

I had one conversation [with Hegseth] when Mike Rogers and I were on the phone with him. We had one meeting with what they like to refer to as the Big Eight senators and House members, where Hegseth was at. Then, of course, I ripped into him the one time he testified before us.

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Its not just partisan, its authoritarian. They dont want to deal with Congress. In fact, they dont talk to the Republicans that much.

Has that been surprising? Were you expecting six months in to be saying its more authoritarian than partisan?

Its not surprising. January 6 happened. It was a failure of imagination, not a failure of will, that stopped [Trump] from overthrowing our Constitution and trying to hold on to the White House.

Trump said what he was going to do. Dictator day one. We should be clear about the fact that Trump is attempting an authoritarian takeover of our government.

Do you feel like you and your colleagues have any power to do anything?

Absolutely. Im a believer in: Theres always a way.

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He has done things that are manifestly unpopular, and the power that we have is to make that argument.

Three-step process. One, go after the authoritarian stuff.

Two, go after the way his policies are negatively impacting people.

Third thing is weve got to show them an alternative. Democrats got a ton of work to do in that area.

Sadly, were locked in a bit of an ideological struggle. Too many people on the left want to prove that the activist left has never been wrong about anything. And you have too many people in the center who want to prove that centrists have never been wrong about anything, and not enough people are just trying to figure out how we all collectively get better so that we can govern better and win elections.

Were still stuck in that past of wanting to make sure everythings pre-curated, as opposed to being authentic.

Do you see your own election next year as any sort of microcosm of this debate?

I am downright excited about it because it offers the contrast that I want to offer.

Do you want to sign up for some utopian revolution to tear down everything in society in the hope that some magical left-wing utopia will emerge from it? Or do you want to get to work in the way that true progressives do?

I think Kshama Sawant is a very smart, articulate person. It will be a fair fight from a pure talent standpoint.
THOMASVILLE  It shouldve been one of the scariest moments of Olivia Bradfords young life.

One morning nearly 12 weeks ago, the 24-year-old woman  who grew up locally and whose family still lives in Thomasville  lay in an intensive-care-unit hospital bed in Marietta, Georgia, scarcely 24 hours removed from a horrific car crash that had fractured two of her vertebrae and nearly severed her spinal cord.

The prognosis was grim.

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Unfortunately, her neurosurgeon told her, with your specific injury, you only have about a 10% chance of ever walking again.

Most people wouldve been understandably devastated and terrified at the same time, but Olivia Bradford is not most people.

Ten percent? she remembers thinking. Well, thats not zero.

Olivias father, Casey Bradford, wasnt surprised by his daughters optimistic take on the doctors words.

Thats just always been her nature, says Casey, who has taken to calling his daughter Olivia the Warrior since the wreck, a not-so-subtle nod to her strong spirit. If you tell her she cant do something, her determination and will are really, really strong. Shell try to prove you wrong.

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Thats not to say Olivia will definitely walk again. Neurosurgeons arent dummies, and if a neurosurgeon says youre not likely to walk again  as Olivias doctor told her three months ago  then youre not likely to walk again.

Olivia understands that. She knows she faces a long, uphill battle that shell fight one day at a time, if not one hour at a time. But if she doesnt believe in the possibility of walking again, then who will?

Thats been my mindset the whole time, she says. Im trying to keep that positive attitude.

The wreck happened on the morning of May 6 in Marietta, where Olivia has been living the past couple of years. She had lived in the High Point/Thomasville area since she was 6  when her father became the pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in High Point  but she returned to her native Georgia in 2023 to help care for her grandmother, who had early-stage Alzheimers disease.

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That morning, a friend was driving Olivia to her grandmothers house. At a four-way intersection, a car turning left pulled in front of them and clipped the left front of the vehicle, hard enough for the airbags to deploy. Their car, still moving at about 50 mph, then ricocheted off the other vehicle and slammed into a cement wall on the passenger side  where Olivia was sitting  violently jolting her forward and then snapping her back into an upright position.

That second impact, slamming into the wall, is what broke Olivias back, though she didnt realize the extent of her injuries at the time.

I thought I had broken my legs, she says. I couldnt feel them, but I thought it was because they were broken.

In fact, it was because she had fractured the T-12 and L-1 vertebrae in her lower back and was paralyzed from the waist down. It wasnt until she tried to reposition herself in the car that she felt a stab of pain in her back, causing her to yell and hinting that her injuries might be more serious than shed feared.

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Olivia was rushed to a Marietta hospital, where she was in surgery for several hours. Meanwhile, her parents  Casey and Cathy  were hightailing it down to Georgia to be with their daughter, praying she would be OK.

They reached the hospital that evening, just as the neurosurgeon was coming out of surgery, and the news was sobering. He told Olivias parents about the 10% chance of their daughter walking again. Casey was in such shock that he misunderstood the doctors words  he thought the 10% chance referred to the chance that Olivia wouldnt walk again.

The doctor clarified the dim prognosis for him.

Its a 10% chance because theres only a sliver of spinal cord attached, he said. But in my experience and based on operations Ive done, your daughters not going to walk again unless God intervenes.

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Casey and Cathy were allowed to see Olivia that night and broke the news to her about her prognosis.

That was rough, Casey remembers, but she was on so much medication that I dont think it registered.

He was right. The next morning, they had to tell her again  A double whammy, Casey says  and thats when Olivia told herself, Well, thats not zero.

Olivia remained at the hospital for 10 days and then was transferred to Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte, one of the top rehab facilities in the country. She stayed there three weeks, undergoing intensive sessions of physical and occupational therapy.

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Theyre amazing, Olivia says. Ive never been surrounded by so many nurses who really do care about you. No problem is too big or too small for them. And whatever your goal is, thats their goal  they want to help you succeed.

On June 5, Olivia returned to her familys home in Thomasville, where shell continue living for now. Olivias younger sister, Mariah  who lives in a small backyard cottage on the property  volunteered to let Olivia move in with her.

Its like a little Granny cottage out back, Cathy explains. (Mariah) said, Let Olivia move in with me  Ill take care of her. That way, Liv can still have some feeling of independence.

A wheelchair ramp was added to the front of the building  courtesy of a fellow church member  to make it accessible for Olivia. Mariah helps her sister with all sorts of tasks  getting in and out of the shower, transferring from her wheelchair to the couch, tying her shoes, whatever she needs a hand with  and its strengthening what was already a strong bond between the two sisters.

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In the meantime, Olivia continues doing outpatient therapy once or twice a week at the rehab facility in Charlotte. This week, she worked on how to maneuver and cook in the kitchen, which can be especially challenging for an individual in a wheelchair.

Spend a little time visiting with Olivia, and youll quickly get a sense of her positivity. If shes had a pity party since May 6, nobody was there to commiserate with her.

Ive had my bad days, she acknowledges, but Ive mostly stayed positive.

Part of that, she says, is because of the parental instinct that comes with being the eldest sibling  in her case, the eldest of four girls. (In addition to Mariah, who is 22, her other sisters are Salexis, 15, and Trinity, 14.)

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I remember being in the ambulance, just thinking about my little sisters, Olivia says. What will they think about this? Whos going to tell them? How are they going to tell them? I wanted them to be told I was going to be OK. I was just super-focused on my sisters. I worry about them, so I stay positive for them.

She sees the progress shes making  more small steps than giant leaps  and it encourages her. She sees the support group she has around her, from her family and friends to her church to the team at Carolinas Rehab  as well as the strength she draws from her Christian faith  and she knows shes not alone on this journey.

In her more reflective moments, Olivia wonders why God chose this path for her.

Its not Why me? in the sense of Woe is me,  she explains. I feel like my question to God is Why me? in the sense of What do you want me to do with this? He allowed this to happen for a reason, so Im trying to figure out what His purpose is.

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She thinks she knows  its so she can advocate for the disabled community.

I believe my creator allowed this to happen so I could reach a community that I couldnt reach before, a community that I knew nothing about, she says. I think its been made clear to me that Im supposed to be advocating for other paraplegics.

That doesnt mean shes given up on the idea of walking again  shes just maintaining her grip on reality. She still tells people she believes she could walk again.

If not here, she says, then in heaven.

For now, though, Olivia clings to that 10% sliver of hope shes been given.

And as a valiant warrior once said, well, thats not zero.

Want to help? A GoFundMe account has been established to collect donations for the family of Olivia Bradford. The funds will be used to assist with medical costs and other future expenses, including a wheelchair, a service dog, and possibly a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. As of midweek, more than $21,500 had been pledged. To donate, visit GoFundMe.com and search for Olivia Bradford.
Theres no escape from it  pollen is in every U.S. state, ready to torment your nostrils.

The seeds rain down from the trees in a strange yellow haze and ascends to the skies from the flowers and grasses. Even if you could easily pack up and move, nowhere is safe to avoid the dreaded, sniffling effects of seasonal allergies.

Its a little bit like playing Russian Roulette, Hannah Jaffee, the director of research at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, told The Independent. If you already have allergies, you can be exposed to an entirely different set of allergens if you relocate.

Pollen is everywhere and climate change is making seasonal allergies worse. Is there any safe haven? Experts say not really (Getty/iStock)

Worst case scenario: you may live in a place and either not have allergy symptoms or have mild allergy symptoms. Then, you move somewhere else and start developing significant symptoms, she added.

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Everyone is going to respond differently to a new location.

If you already have allergies, you can be exposed to an entirely different set of allergens if you relocate. So, you might be trading some symptoms for others.

And then, in some cases, your symptoms might improve by relocating, Jaffee said.

More than 100 million Americans live with various types of allergies and over 81 million have seasonal pollen allergies.

Some are genetically predisposed to develop allergies, which can factor into what theyre allergic to and potentially how severe their symptoms would be.

Many people develop allergies as they age and their immune system weakens.

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Seasonal allergies, which are also commonly known as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, occur when people are exposed to pollen.

The inflammatory response can cause sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, or red, watery, and itchy eyes. For people with asthma, it can lead to an asthma attack. For tens of thousands of people, it may even result in a trip to the emergency room.

The severity of allergy symptoms also depends on where you live. There are three main types of pollen, including tree, grass, and weed. This year, the highest tree pollen levels were forecast across a wide swath stretching from the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast.

The highest weed pollen levels were expected around the Plains states, the Carolinas, and along the Gulf Coast.

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The foundation also released what it named the nations top 10 cities for seasonal allergies, with most located in the South and Southeast. Historically, the worst cities are in those regions, Jaffee noted.

Thats because these are climates that tend to be more humid and warmer, so they kind of favor that growth of pollen and mold, she explained.

Wichita, Kansas, led the rankings as the worst city for allergy sufferers.

Since allergies are so different for everyone, you can thrive in the Southeast part of the U.S. and not have any allergies or still experience significant allergy symptoms elsewhere, Jaffee said. Its kind of a mixed bag.

Tree pollen levels were high across the U.S. this year. The Southeast region is historically bad for allergies, thanks to its humid and warm climate (Getty/iStock)

So, what do you do if you are moving  or want to? Generally, experts recommend that you visit the location for about two to four weeks ahead of time to get a sense of how your body responds, or to visit during different seasons. Talking to an allergist will also be useful for more personalized recommendations.

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Still, pollen seasons are getting longer and stronger for everyone.

Human-caused climate change is resulting in earlier seasons, as well, with warmer temperature trapping heat around urban areas, increasing air pollution, and stimulating pollen production. The amount of pollen released by trees is higher and the strength of the allergic response to the tree pollen appears to be stronger.

Theres no question [that] as theres global warming, the pollen season is increasing, Dr, Sanjiv Sur, director and professor of Allergy and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine, said earlier this year.

What may help ease the pain, if only for right now?

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Dr. Neelu Tummala, a clinical assistant professor of otolaryngology at NYU Langone Health, advises that people time taking medications so they are optimally effective, change clothes and take off shoes after spending time outside, and bathe pets.

Jaffee recommends a pollen tracking app, in addition to personalized allergy testing. But, ultimately, there needs to be a wider response.

Long-term, we should be looking at policy change to reduce the impact of climate change, said the foundations chief mission officer Melanie Carver.
Anand Dubey said that no one can "separate" Mumbai from the "Thackeray" brand. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also took an indirect dig at Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, referring to the 2022 Shiv Sena split.

"They can steal anything, but they cannot steal people. The people are continuously coming here. Everyone is saying that we are with Thackeray Sahab. No one can separate Mumbai from the Thackeray brand...Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray are brothers, so they will definitely meet with each other...", he said.

Meanwhile, earlier on Sunday, Raj Thackeray met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence, Matoshree, on Sunday and extended birthday wishes.

Sharing the visuals, Shiv Sena (UBT) wrote on X, "Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Rajsaheb Thackeray extended birthday greetings to party chief Uddhavsaheb Thackeray."This meeting follows the Thackeray brothers' joint rally on July 5, in which they declared their victory against the alleged imposition of Hindi by the Maharashtra government.

They shared a hug at the Worli Dome in Mumbai at their 'Awaz Marathicha' joint rally after the Maharashtra government scrapped two Government Resolutions (GRs) to introduce Hindi as the third language.

Meanwhile, as Uddhav Thackeray turned 65 today, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi extended wishes and wrote on X, "Heartfelt birthday wishes and congratulations to Shiv Sena President and INDIA alliance partner Uddhav Thackeray ji. May you stay healthy, live long, and together we will fight for the interests and rights of the people of Maharashtra." (ANI)
According to Channel 12, those on the flotilla reported seeing a drone circling above them as vessels approached the ship.

The Israeli Navy intercepted the Handala flotilla while approaching the Gaza Strip, the IDF and Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday night. The flotilla was en route to Israel's shores with all its passengers on board.

According to Channel 12, those aboard the flotilla reported seeing a drone circling above them as vessels approached the ship.

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Legal aid group Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel sent a letter to authorities on Sunday morning "demanding the whereabouts" of the activists on the Handala, and emphasizing their right to legal counsel.

On Saturday evening, Huwaida Araf, an activist on board, said in an update that "two vessels, probably the IDF, are very close to Handala. Attempts were made to contact the Israeli Navy - but no response was received."

As a precaution, the ship reportedly changed its course to go south, towards Egypt.

IDF soldiers took control of the Handala flotilla that was making its way to Gaza. (CREDIT: N12)

Handala approaching Gaza

Activists aboard the Handala said on Saturday that they are approaching the coast of the Gaza Strip and have already passed the point where the Madleen flotilla was stopped last month.

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They later claimed an unidentified boat was approaching the ship and that the participants were "preparing for a takeover," Army Radio reported.

The ship set sail from Italy earlier this week. The world is watching, the activists said. The flotilla from last month made headlines, highlighting the presence of pro-Palestinian activist Greta Thunberg.

The Israel Navy was preparing to intercept the vessel, which, as of Saturday afternoon, was approximately 200 kilometers off the coast of Gaza.

The flotilla is a collective act of conscience, said Huwaida Arraf, a human rights attorney, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, and a member of the steering committee for the Freedom Flotilla.

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"The boat is named after the well-known Palestinian cartoon character 'Handala,' described as 'a barefoot refugee child, seeker of justice, who vowed not to turn his back until Palestine is free.

Sarah Ben Nun contributed to this report.
How well have you been paying attention to the weather this week? Here are five questions that will test your knowledge of what's been going on.

QUESTIONS

Tropical Storm ____ wreaked havoc across parts of Asia, making landfall in Vietnam on Tuesday. What country is offering a world-first climate refugee visa to residents of the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu? Rescue crews in Long Island discovered three lobsters boasting what incredibly rare color? A streamer based in North Carolina is now a bit too familiar with this weather phenomenon. A California ground squirrel was caught on camera battling a southern Pacific rattlesnake. Who won? (This one's a gimme if you peep the top of this page )

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ANSWERS

How did you do? Come back for more cant-miss weather tidbits next week, or risk showing up to trivia night unprepared 

Weather.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities.
Katz's comments came during a visit to Ramon Air Base, praising the fighter jet crews for their role in Operation Rising Lion. He has previously threatened Khamenei's life in recent weeks.

Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened again to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a visit to the Israel Air Force's Ramon Air Base on Sunday.

"I want to send a clear message to the dictator Khamenei: If you continue to threaten Israel, our long arm will once again reach Iran, with even greater force, and this time, it will reach you personally," Katz said.

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"Do not threaten us, or you will be harmed," he added.

This occurred during a speech praising the jet fighter crews at Ramon Air Base. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also present.

"Thank you for the incredible work you did in Operation Rising Lion, when you opened the skies to Tehran, struck repeatedly at the head of the Iranian octopus, and removed threats of annihilation," Katz stated.

Defense Minister Israel Katz poses in front of a Israel Air Force F-15 at Ramon Air Base, July 27, 2025. (credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY PRESS OFFICE)

The 'Iranian octopus' refers to a doctrine of former prime minister Naftali Bennett, which described Iran's Axis of Resistance as an octopus with tentacles reaching across the region.

Previous threats Katz issued towards Khamenei

Katz on June 17 directly threatened Khamenei's life, warning him that he could end up like the killed former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

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The threat by Katz allowed maneuvering room since, technically, Hussein was actually killed by his own people after an extended period of running and hiding after US forces toppled his regime in Iraq.

Speaking at the IAF pilots graduation ceremony on July 10, Katz said the graduates symbolize the long arm of the IDF, which can strike anywhere in Iran, from Tehran to Isfahan to Tabriz.

The graduates were also a direct message to the dictator [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei and to the ayatollahs in Iran about the destructive power of the air force should Iran test the Jewish states patience, he said.

There is no place where Iranian officials who harm Israel can hide, he added.

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Katz indicated on Tuesday evening that Israel may consider resuming its campaign against Iran, during a situation assessment held with senior military leaders.

The meeting included key military figures such as Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Tamir Yadai, and heads of the IDF Intelligence Directorate, as well as additional IDF commanders and representatives from the Mossad and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency).

Yonah Jeremy Bob and Maariv contributed to this report.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United Nations food aid agency needs quick approvals by Israel for its trucks to move into Gaza if it is to take advantage of Israel's planned humanitarian pauses in fighting, a senior World Food Programme official said on Sunday.

Facing growing global condemnation as the World Health Organization said mass starvation had taken hold in Gaza, Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of the enclave and allow new aid corridors.

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"We need not just words, but we need action there. We need to have really fast clearances and approvals," Ross Smith, WFP director of emergencies, told Reuters on Sunday. "If the waiting times are going to continue to be 10 hours, then we won't be able to take advantage of these pauses."

COGAT, the Israeli military aid coordination agency, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on Gaza on May 19 and allowed the U.N.-led humanitarian operation to resume limited deliveries, a key U.N. complaint has been lengthy delays by Israel in allowing convoys to leave the crossing points to transport aid to warehouses and distribution points inside Gaza.

U.N. data shows that only less than 8% of 1,718 WFP trucks made it to their destination within Gaza in the nearly ten weeks since Israel lifted its blockade. The rest were looted by "either peacefully by hungry people or forcefully by armed actors during transit," according to the U.N. data.

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Israel requires the U.N. and other groups to offload their aid at the crossing point and then send trucks from within Gaza to collect it and transport it within the war-torn enclave, where some 2.1 million people remain.

"Everybody can see them driving in, and so they know that food is about to be loaded on them, and they start to wait and crowd," said Smith, adding that some convoys can wait up to 20 hours before Israel gives them the green light to enter Gaza.

"If they are sitting there for 10 hours, loading and waiting, then at that point you have 10,000 people crowding outside," he said.

Israel controls all access to Gaza and says it allows enough food aid into the enclave, where it has been at war with Palestinian militants Hamas for nearly 22-months. It accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the militants deny. The U.N. says it has not seen evidence of mass aid diversion in Gaza by Hamas.

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Jordan and the United Arab Emirates parachuted 25 tons of aid into the Gaza Strip on Sunday in their first airdrop in months, a Jordanian official source said, adding that the air drops were not a substitute for delivery by land.

Smith said air dropping aid was "purely symbolic at the very best."

The war in Gaza was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's military campaign has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols, additional reporting by Charlotte Greenfield, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
CHICAGO  A special honor for WGNs Very Own colleague and cancer survivor Mike Lowe.

Dina Bair and Andrea Darlas presented him with the Eye of the Tiger award at the 23rd annual Goombay Bash for Cancer Research at Navy Pier on Saturday night.

The H Foundation, which raises money for the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center at Northwestern University, gives the award to recognize courage.

Mike Lowe certainly has plenty of courage. He shared the stage tonight with actor Rob Lowe, who was the keynote speaker at the event.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.




NEED TO KNOW

Chris Smith appeared to suddenly leave his life behind and embark on a sailing adventure across the world

He seemed to communicate with his family through emails, but once those emails stopped, the family discovered that Chris had never even left the country

His business partner, Ed Shin, was later convicted of murdering Smith after financial difficulties







Chris Smith was a successful and carefree businessman who suddenly seemed to give it all away.

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In 2009, he was living in Laguna Beach, Calif., and had co-founded the lead generation company, 800XChange, with Ed Shin, whom he met while working at another lead generation company the year prior.

However, things took a turn when he suddenly emailed his family to tell them that he'd sold his half of the business and that he was leaving to embark on a sailing trip around the world in June 2010. He also broke up with his girlfriend over text message.

Over the next six months, Smith's family received several emails where he appeared to be sharing his adventures across the world, but the emails came to a halt in late 2010. By early 2011, Smith's family became suspicious and called various hotels where Smith claimed to be staying. However, after doing some digging, his family found out that Smith had never even left the United States.

Authorities later discovered that Smith's business partner, Shin, had been caught embezzling money from another company and that Shin and Smith had planned to meet to see if Smith could help Shin pay the money he had stolen. A detective also visited the 800XChange office and discovered blood stains.

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In 2011, Shin was arrested and later charged with Smith's murder. After changing his story a few times, Shin alleged that Smith accidentally died while they were fighting, but he impersonated Smith online for six months to his family and friends. Meanwhile, prosecutors argued that Shin killed Smith after he began to panic over how he was going to pay his embezzlement debt. Shin was convicted of first-degree murder in 2019 and was sentenced to life in prison.

This case was about greed at its most diabolical and base form, prosecutor Matt Murphy told Dateline: Unforgettable in 2024. He killed a really nice guy over money so that he could go gambling in Vegas. But to then assume his identify online and torture his family like this, its awful.

So where is Ed Shin now? Here's everything to know about Chris Smith and his murder at the hands of his business partner.



Who was Chris Smith?

Orange County Sheriff's Department Chris Smith.

Smith was a 31-year-old former professional wakeboarder who balanced his blossoming technology company, 800XChange, with his love for the outdoors. He was an avid surfer and swimmer living in Laguna Beach, Calif.

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Hes one of those people that thought anything was possible, his brother Paul Smith told Dateline: Unforgettable.

Around the same time he and Shin co-founded 800XChange in 2009, he also had a serious girlfriend.

During his trial in 2018, prosecutor and senior deputy district attorney Murphy told jurors, per Orange County Register, Christopher Smith loved his family, he had substantial equity in ongoing businesses, he had a serious girlfriend. Chris Smith had a bright future."



Who is Ed Shin?

Orange County Sheriff's Department Ed Shin's mugshot from the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Ed Shin's mugshot from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Smith met Shin while they were working at a lead generation company in 2008, and they decided to launch their own company, 800XChange. While Smith offered more laid-back energy, Shin appeared to be a more structured husband and father to four children.

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Despite seeming to be the more regimented of the two, Shin admitted that he had a gambling problem and told 20/20 in 2020, "The first time I started playing, [I gambled] a couple thousand dollars. And then, you get good at it. That's the problem with gambling ... most people tend to win early, and then you're addicted to that win."

The gambling seemed to take a toll on Shin, as he was caught embezzling more than half a million dollars from the company he and Smith previously worked at, LG Technologies. In May 2010, Shin pleaded guilty to embezzlement and agreed to settle the case for $800,000.

The only way Ed does not violate his probation and go to state prison is if he comes up with $800,000 that he has to get from 800XChange, Murphy explained on 20/20. The only way he can get that out of 800XChange to pay this criminal restitution order is if Chris Smith agrees.

However, when Shin asked Smith if he would sign on to allow him to take the money from 800XChange, Smith was hesitant and wasn't sure if he could access the funds he needed. The two agreed to meet on June 4, 2010, to discuss a plan.



What happened to Chris Smith?

On June 4, 2010, Smith and Shin met to discuss the settlement agreement and 800XChange's involvement in the payment, according to Smith's attorney, Ernesto Aldover.

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Aldover told 20/20 that he was expecting to hear from Smith regarding the final settlement deal, but instead, he sent an email informing him that he had sold his interest in 800XChange to Shin.

My first reaction was, Well, why is he doing this? This isn't what we had been negotiating for the past two weeks,' " Aldover recalled. The following Monday on June 7th, 2010, I receive an email from Chris: The documents are still being prepared, but I'm going on vacation for a few weeks to South America, and ... let me know if you need anything. "

Shortly afterward, Smith's family received emails detailing how he had sold his half of the company and was embarking on a sailing adventure around the world. Since Smith had often spoken about going on international adventures, many of his family members and friends didn't initially fear that anything was wrong.

For the next six months, his family continued receiving emails that appeared to be Smith telling them about his travels to Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, Peru and Chile, per GQ.

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In October 2010, Smith wrote that he was in India and was heading to Cyprus and Africa. Per an email obtained by 20/20, he wrote to his brother, I miss you too, but I have so much to see and do. No credit cards or bank accounts, bro. I'm off the grid forever.

He sent his last message on Dec. 26, 2010, telling his brother that he was "headed back up through the Congo," according to GQ.

In early 2011, his brother Paul called a hotel in Costa Rica after agreeing to meet there. However, when he called the hotel, he learned that his older brother had never made a reservation. By April 2011, his family reported him missing, and they learned through the U.S. State Department that Smith had never actually left the United States.

Smith's family later told authorities about the strange behavior Smith had exhibited after allegedly selling half his company to Shin, so police interviewed Shin in June 2011. In the meantime, the Smiths hired their own analyst and discovered that all the emails had originated in the United States, not abroad.

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The Orange County Police Department later investigated 800XChange's office  which Shin had banned employees from visiting since June 2010  and retrieved traces of blood that were later determined to belong to Smith. Shin was officially arrested in August 2011 while trying to flee the country.

During his trial, Shin said that he and Smith got into a fight in the office and that Smith accidentally died when he fell and hit his head on a desk. He also confessed to pretending to be Smith, emailing his friends and family for six months.

While Shin and his defense attorneys maintained that he either killed Smith in self-defense or that Smith accidentally died, prosecutors argued that Shin was in deep financial debt and was panicking that Smith wouldn't agree to the settlement.

Ed Shin was in a corner. Chris Smith had him in a corner, Murphy told 20/20. The way he could solve his problems, financially, business-wise, everything else, is murder Chris Smith, make him disappear and take all of his money.

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In December 2018, a jury convicted Smith of first-degree murder with special circumstances. Smith's body was never discovered, and Shin alleged that he paid someone to dispose of his body in a location unknown to him.



What has Chris Smiths family said about his death?

ABC News Paul Smith speaking to "20/20" in 2020. Paul Smith speaking to "20/20" in 2020.

Chris' brother, Paul, and dad, Steve Smith, have spoken about the time period when Chris went missing and the aftermath upon learning the truth.

Paul explained on 20/20 that when Chris was seemingly sending him emails, he "started to have suspicions" that something was wrong, but he "didn't want to entertain that train of thought too much because of where it would lead to." He added, "I think it was so emotionally ... hard to even think about."

Once Shin's cover-up was exposed, Paul recalled feeling immediate "heartbreak" over his brother's death.

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It was a tough day. Just fell to my knees, Paul told 20/20. The images that come into your mind at that point of someone you love being murdered. Brought in a lot of emotions. And just heartbreak.

Meanwhile, Steve, a former police officer, explained that he met with Shin while his son was missing and recalled feeling that Shin was "lying" to him about not knowing where his son was.

I think there's something really wrong. He's lying to me, Steve told 20/20. Either he knows what happened to Chris, or he's responsible for it.

After his son's death, Steve told the Santa Cruz Sentinel, "Chris had a longing for peace and for something this world could not offer."



Where is Ed Shin now?

ABC News Ed Shin taking the stand in his trial in 2018. Ed Shin taking the stand in his trial in 2018.

Seven years after Shin was arrested in 2011, he was convicted of first-degree murder with special circumstances and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, per the Orange County District Attorney.

As of June 2024, Shin was residing in Pleasant Valley State Prison in Fresno County, Calif.



What has Ed Shin said about his conviction?

ABC News Ed Shin talking to "Dateline" in 2024. Ed Shin talking to "Dateline" in 2024.

After Shin was initially arrested, he changed his story a few times before claiming that the two got into a fight and Smith accidentally died when he hit his head on a desk. Shin has stuck to that story ever since.

Shin has maintained that Smith accidentally died and has participated in several interviews over the years. However, he's also insinuated that there's more to the story that he's not willing to share.

There are just some secrets a man is willing to give up his life for, Shin said on Dateline.

Meanwhile, Shin has also been asked why  if it was an accident  he didn't call 911. He claimed to 20/20 that he was in "total panic."

"What are you supposed to do at that point? I was already in a criminal case ... [I thought] Oh my God, Im in this criminal case. No ones ever going to believe me. These cops arent going to believe me,' " he recalled.

As for the location of Smith's body, he insists that he still doesn't know. He told 20/20, I can't talk about that ... because I dont know. There is no way I can get into that at this point ... I wish I could tell you more, but there's something bigger that I just can't talk about.

Despite leaving some ambiguity in the air with details, he maintained to 20/20, I wasnt trying to kill him, but we got in a fight."



Read the original article on People
Pennsylvania patio furniture company Grosfillex Inc. has agreed to pay $4.9 million to settle allegations it dodged import duties on Chinese aluminum products by filing false customs forms and disguising materials as furniture kits.

The settlement resolves claims that Grosfillex violated the False Claims Act by evading antidumping and countervailing duties, which are designed to protect American manufacturers from unfairly priced foreign goods.

The Justice Department announced that Grosfillex knowingly submitted false customs forms to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, claiming certain extruded aluminum furniture parts from China werent subject to import duties.

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In some cases, the company allegedly repackaged aluminum extrusions as sham furniture kits to avoid detection. In others, Grosfillex failed to correct customs forms even after learning they contained false information about duty obligations.

Antidumping and countervailing duties protect American companies from unfair subsidies and trade practices that harm domestic industries, Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate of the Justice Departments Civil Division said in a news release. Todays settlement demonstrates that the Justice Department will continue to actively pursue those who knowingly fail to pay customs duties.

The case originated from a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Edward Wisner, a former employee of Grosfillex. Under the False Claims Act, private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in recoveries.

Wisner will receive $962,662.74 from the settlement for bringing the scheme to light.

This settlement should serve as a warning that the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania will use every tool available to combat fraud in international trade, U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said, per the news release. We will pursue those who seek an unfair advantage in U.S. markets by attempting to evade paying the customs, duties, or tariffs on foreign imports meant to level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers.

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The Commerce Department assesses antidumping duties to combat foreign companies selling products below cost in U.S. markets. Countervailing duties offset the subsidies foreign governments provide to their exporters.

Both mechanisms aim to protect domestic manufacturers from unfair competition.

The investigation into Grosfillex Inc. highlights our relentless dedication to enforcing our nations trade laws and protecting the integrity of our economy, said Special Agent in Charge Edward V. Owens of Homeland Security Investigations at the Philadelphia office.

The settlement represents allegations only, with no determination of liability. The investigation involved coordination between the Civil Divisions Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Customs and Border Protection.

Tips about potential customs fraud can be reported to CBP here.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday expressed his deep concern over the recent armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border, urging both nations to agree to an immediate ceasefire and resolve their disputes through dialogue. In a post on X, the UN Chief urged for a ceasefire and assistance to facilitate a peaceful resolution between the two nations. "I am deeply concerned about the recent armed clashes at the border between Cambodia and Thailand. I urge both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue. I remain available to assist in efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the dispute," Guterres stated. Bangkok and Phnom Penh are engaged in a territorial dispute dating back over a century, when colonial-era France first demarcated the border between them, CNN reported. Since the conflict erupted on Thursday, officials report that over a dozen people have been killed, many more wounded, and more than 150,000 civilians displaced. The UN Chief's call for a ceasefire came after US President Donald Trump stated that "Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace," in a post on Truth Social following a "very good call" with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, informing him of discussions with Thailand's Acting Prime Minister. He noted that the negotiations were elaborated by trade talks with the US and that both nations have agreed to meet and work toward a ceasefire and eventual peace, expressing optimism about their shared history and culture. "They are also looking to get back to the "Trading Table" with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS. They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE! It was an Honor to deal with both Countries. They have a long and storied History and Culture. They will hopefully get along for many years to come. When all is done, and Peace is at hand, I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!" Trump stated in his post. Thailand's Acting Prime Minister, Phumtham Wechayacha, responded positively to Trump's initiative. In a post on Facebook, Wechayacha stated that he expressed his gratitude towards the US President for his concern over the conflict. "A few moments ago, I had a conversation with President Trump, who requested that Thailand and Cambodia agree to a ceasefire immediately. I thanked President Trump for his concern and expressed that Thailand agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place," Wechayacha stated. However, he emphasised the need for sincerity from Cambodia, requesting Trump to convey Thailand's desire for a bilateral dialogue "as soon as possible" to establish measures and procedures for the ceasefire and a peaceful resolution. "However, Thailand would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side. I also requested President Trump to convey to the Cambodian side that Thailand wants to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to bring forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceful resolution of the conflict," the post added. According to CNN, the latest escalation has reignited hostilities, pitting Thailand--a seasoned US ally--against Cambodia's younger, China-aligned military forces. (ANI)
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

Given its southerly latitude, it may seem surprising that Alabama is home to a burgeoning wine country. But amid the undulating landscape piercing the states northern half, youll find a colourful, characterful wine trail surrounded by some truly beautiful, waterfall-studded scenery. While southern Alabama is as flat as an American pancake, the sylvan foothills of the Appalachian Mountains enter from the northeast of the state and their dense, layered foliage make driving through this corner of Dixie a joy.

But dont expect grand, urbane wineries on the scale of Napa or Sonoma. For the most part, Alabamas handful of vineyards are helmed by delightfully small mom-and-pop operations offering warm, avuncular welcomes alongside sweeter-tasting wines  often based around the native Muscadine grape  that satiates locals famous sweet tooth. A road trip through the regions vineyards is a relaxing way to discover one of Americas lesser-known states, while enjoying the Southern sun and making new friends over a glass or two.

Hit the road

The Saturn V rocket pointing toward the sky from Huntsvilles US Space & Rocket Center is visible for miles and perhaps acts as a metaphor for the citys recent rise. Huntsvilles handsome and compact downtown is perfect for a stroll, especially Clinton Aves kooky stores and jaunty street art, while Baker & Ables laid-back rooftop bar above the 106 Jefferson Hotel has fine views of the Appalachians Cumberland Plateau.

Baker & Ables laid-back rooftop bar above the 106 Jefferson Hotel in Huntsville has fine views of the Appalachians Cumberland Plateau. Photograph by VRX Studios

Opened in 2022 within the bucolic Bankhead National Forest, Sipsey Vineyard & Winery is the newest winery on the Alabama scene, though for the trail itself its better to jump on the I-65 south and hit Sipseys airy new tasting room in the city of Cullman, which opened in March 2025. Wine flights are served on elegant tasting boards made from bourbon whiskey staves. Try its collection of red blends, such as Dei Vinea, alongside quirky cider-based creations that owner Bart Crabtree, a former military veteran and relentless raconteur, will invariably offer you.

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Around an hour east along the US-278 and AL-79 highways, the Tennessee River opens up and Guntersvilles lakeside setting is a wonderfully picturesque spot to hunker down for the night. Stay at the Home2 Suites by Hilton set in the lively City Harbor district, and watch the sun set over the glimmering water with the rolling valleys of Lake Guntersville State Park standing tall behind. The next day, Jules J Berta Vineyards is just a short drive down the US-431 and its wine slushies (yes, really) are a perfect tonic if the humid Alabama summer is cranking up.

Wills Creek Vineyards & Winery is one of the regions more picturesque vineyards, and at just a 25-minute drive from Jules J Berta along Horton Gap Road, theyre ideal for pairing up. Both wineries specialise in Muscadine table wines and taking in the view from Wills Creeks back patio of Duck Springs Valleys rounded hills, glass in hand, is a lovely way to pass an afternoon.

Sipseys airy new tasting room in the city of Cullman has wine flights served on elegant tasting boards made from bourbon whiskey staves. Photograph by Sipsey Vineyard & Winery

Gadsden is a good spot to find a hotel and the citys historic downtown has something of the old West about it, with its neat turn-of-the-century buildings lining Broad Street. When evening falls, the roofs are lit up by a bright parade of festoon lights and the art deco Pitman Theatre blinks in glorious neon.

Just a 15-minute drive along the 278, Maraella Vineyards & Winery is perhaps most archetypal of Alabamas breezy Southern hospitality. A small rust-red neighbourhood home flanked by narrow vines to one side, Maraellas porch has brick arches that feel almost Mediterranean, and its sofas are a cosy spot to chat with visitors passing through. In fact, gregarious owner Scott Lee will probably join in, over a glass of his Dorato Vino Muscadine white or one of the vineyards light blueberry wines.

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Just as inviting, High Country Cellars, as the name suggests is deeper into Appalachia than most. Located at the end of a high gravel drive in dense thickets of woodland that skirt Talladega National Forest, this rustic winery is set in a former house, where the bedrooms have been repurposed into offices and the lounge is now a convivial tasting room. The playfully titled Skeeter P apple peach wine is the bestseller, a sweet, zesty glass of sunshine thats ideal for a warm afternoon in this genial and serene corner of the South.

Meet the maker: Jules Berta

Jules Berta, Jules J Berta Vineyards: "I was a mechanic by trade, in the Navy for eight years, with three honourable discharges. When I got out of the Navy in 1992, I was broke, divorced and didnt have two nickels to rub together. I came down here [northern Alabama] in 1994 and started messing with the grapes. I bought books and learned all I could. With a little trial and error, here we are.

Jules Berta's father  a Hungarian immigrant brought winemaking knowledge with him to America and started planting vines in northern Alabama in 1987. Photograph by James March

The white wines do very well here, but they have to be picked fairly early because they ripen up much faster in the heat. The reds just soak up the sun, they love it.

The local Muscadine is a primitive variety. It has a very specific, twangy flavour to it. Itll never be considered a serious table wine, but its fun. You have to serve it here in the South.

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Right now, Alabama wine is in its infancy. A couple of years ago, I took a tour up in Virginia. I met a lot of winery owners there and they told me, You guys in Alabama are where we were 20 years ago. They started out with a handful of wineries and now they have over 300."

Top three wineries in Alabama

1. Jules J Berta Vineyards

While Alabamas wine industry is still very much in its infancy, Jules J Bertas history with the grape runs deep. Bertas distant relatives in Hungary made wine in the hills near Lake Balaton in the 19th century and his father a Hungarian immigrant brought that knowledge with him to America and started planting vines in northern Alabama in 1987. Sadly, he passed away before the winery opened in 2008, but his son Jules has turned this pastoral spot near Albertville into one of the states most successful ventures.

As with most of the states vineyards, theres plenty of the fruit-forward Muscadine grown here, though youll also find spicy Syrah and Cabernet red blends like the Black Widow and some light, local Sylvaner varieties, too. Wood-fired pizza is served Thursday and Saturday, which makes for a delicious wine pairing.

Vines grow behind yellow wildflowers at Jules J Berta Winery near Albertville, Alabama, where the family cultivates Muscadine, Syrah and other varieties. Photograph by Jules Berta

2. Wills Creek Vineyards & Winery

Wills Creek co-owner Jahn Coppey calls the Muscadine grape his medicine though the cinematic views from the winerys back terrace could be equally as therapeutic. Duck Springs Valleys rotund hills form a sublime backdrop, with a nearby lake attended to by eagles, ospreys and hawks occasionally diving for bass alongside the faint rumble of Interstate 59 somewhere beyond the horizon.

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As with Jules J Berta, theres a European connection here, too. Coppey is a native of Switzerland and still has hints of his old Swiss-French accent. His winery grows 10 acres of Muscadine, though there are fruit wines here too, including strawberry, pear, blueberry and peach blends. He also makes a syrupy sweet Muscadine dessert wine. Cheese platters are served to pair with the wine, featuring a variety of local cheeses, asparagus, salami sausage and cashew nuts.

3. Fruithurst Winery Co

Just five miles from the Georgia state line, Fruithurst Winery Co sits in rural, church-strewn Cleburne County. Wine has been grown in this area since 1894 and while prohibition shut down that practice, cousins Dylan and Joshua Laminack opened Fruithurst in 2009 and its since become a regional favourite.

The creaking rocking chair outside their wooden building looks out onto quiet backroads with 20 acres of vines just to the right-hand side. Its a serene setting for sipping their intense and sweet Muscadine white Fruithurst Gem, though Dylan and his wife Jessicas affable chatter and tales never let the volume get too low. While theres not much in terms of food served, Fruithurst does host several summer and harvest time festivals with food trucks and live music.

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Florida lawmakers reached a rare consensus after the deadly Parkland school shooting: More money was needed for mental health counseling at schools.

We havent put enough resources into mental health issues, said then-Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples. And look what happens.

Two years later, lawmakers passed a bill allowing Medicaid dollars assigned to school districts to be used for more types of care for kids, including counseling.

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But state officials didnt adopt the changes. And they have refused to comply with federal guidelines that would help school districts provide that care.

Florida schools have missed out on about $200 million a year in Medicaid funding  a total of $2.2 billion since 2014  to support childrens mental health counseling, physical therapy and other services, advocates say.

Their calls to recoup funding come as schools face multimillion-dollar shortfalls in the budget year that began July 1  and as kids struggle with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

They say the problems lie with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, which oversees Medicaid in the state and reports to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Documents show that for more than a decade, the agency hasnt followed federal reimbursement guidelines for school-based services  one of the few areas of Medicaid the Trump administration and Congress have not targeted for reductions.

Governor Ron DeSantis speaks to reporters during a press conference on the airplane runway of Alligator Alcatraz in Ochopee , Florida on Friday, July 25, 2025.

The federal program provides in-school medical care and instruction for school-age children with physical or developmental disabilities who qualify for Medicaid. About 2 million children in Florida are on Medicaid, which provides free or low-cost health care to people who qualify.

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Without the money, school districts have struggled to find therapists, nurses and others to treat children. Some kids experienced lower-quality care or had that care delayed during critical periods of their lives, observers say.

The state agency strayed from federal guidelines in 2014, when the U.S. government changed its rules regarding the reimbursements. Experts consulted by the Times said Florida is one of the few states, and perhaps the only one, that is using the outdated payment method.

The federal Center for Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program Services warned the agency in 2020 that it was not in compliance with current financing rules, but no substantial action followed.

Over that time, instead of collecting $2.2 billion from federal coffers to cover school-based expenses, the state received about $250 million. With money tight, school officials want the agency to make the necessary fixes.

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This is a significant agency failure, said Ken Kniepmann, former state assistant deputy secretary for Medicaid Policy and Quality at the agency. He was hired in part to improve the system but said he was later instructed to stop. Its really unconscionable. Nobody should be OK with this.

A spokesperson for the agency said it did not have sufficient funding to update its reimbursement method until this years legislative session, and it is committed to getting it done next year.

Kniepmann said the agency had not asked the Legislature for permission to draw down the federal dollars needed to enact the changes until this year.

The Hillsborough County school board held a workshop in April to address the Medicaid funding gap. Hillsborough received about $6 million in Medicaid reimbursements a year ago for the services it provided, specialist Deneen Gorassini told her board, but would have gotten about $10 million more if the state agency followed federal guidelines.

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Its money that could have expanded medical and mental health services in schools.

Other districts experienced similar-sized gaps, according to Kniepmanns calculations.

If we can get (the agency) to do their job and submit a (state plan amendment), we could start getting reimbursed based on our expenses, which are way more than what we are getting reimbursed now, Gorassini told the board.

Since 1997, the state has been reimbursing school districts for services  such as counseling or speech therapy  based on a flat rate.

In 2014, the federal government required states to reimburse school districts based on the actual costs of those services, which is much higher.

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Five years ago, federal officials wrote Florida telling them it hadnt adopted the change, and the state had 90 days to comply.

Please note that you may not pay a rate from a fee schedule and use this as a certification of cost, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services acting director Todd McMillion wrote Florida officials in March 2020.

The center said it is working with the state to resolve the concerns listed in that letter.

Florida is still paying schools a flat rate that has changed little since 1997.

Karen Thomas, a Medicaid specialist for Leon County schools for more than 20 years, said that while the formulas are complex, the solution should be extremely simple.

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Were 90% there, maybe 95% already, in the way we are doing things, Thomas said of districts processes for collecting receipts and monitoring providers time. They have everything they need to be in compliance with federal payment methodology. They just need to change the invoice, one line on the invoice. ... The fault is squarely in the agencys failure to come into compliance.

The state has shown it can make the switch, Thomas said. She pointed out that when federal authorities ordered county health departments to start billing for actual costs instead of flat rates in 2020, the state quickly shifted.

She noted that school-based services are a very niche portion of the states Medicaid budget  somewhere in the neighborhood of 1%  and that over time agency officials have paid less attention to them, decreasing communication with school districts and reducing staff dedicated to the service.

The issue shouldnt be a side note, as it affects the lives of some of Floridas neediest children, she said. And the pandemic made kids mental health a national crisis.

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Kids used to miss school because of asthma, Thomas said. Now theyre missing school because of anxiety and depression.

After the 2018 Parkland attack, state lawmakers wanted to make sure students were getting proper mental health assistance in schools. In 2020, they passed legislation allowing schools to use Medicaid dollars for other types of care. DeSantis signed it into law.

But his Agency for Health Care Administration never rewrote the agencys rules to allow school districts to use the new law.

The law was very clear, said retired Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, who sponsored the 2020 bill. Why they didnt do it I dont know.

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Rep. Christine Hunchofsky, a Democrat who represents Parkland in the House, repeatedly has asked agency officials if the state is doing all it can to leverage federal money for student services. The issue comes up frequently on the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder, to which Hunchofsky was appointed by the Republican House speaker.

She said the agency has provided few clear answers. Meanwhile, shes heard plenty from the school districts, and said she plans to pursue the questions further.

Montford, also executive director of the states superintendents association, said agency officials have told his group that they are preparing a rule revision to go into effect in mid-2026. Thats when states are supposed to comply with an updated 2023 federal guidance on school-based services.

But Kniepmann, who worked as associate director for health at the Florida Conference for Catholic Bishops before moving to the health agency, argued the state is stalling for reasons that remain unclear to him. He said the 2023 guidance was not intended to be a way for Florida to further delay implementing rules put in place more than a decade ago.

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Every holdup, he and others said, means less money available to pay for medical and related services.

Eleven years and $2.2 billion is not a little thing, he said.

Hillsborough district officials, also leery of the states ability to pull off a new rule by mid-2026, said they are looking into a different approach to bring in more Medicaid money.

Gorassini told the board that her department would conduct a rate study for each service it provides and submit the updated amounts to the state for inclusion on the existing reimbursement schedule. Kniepmann said its a long-shot effort that requires a lot of work at the district level, adding that the agency has discouraged such an approach.

Its worth a shot, though, Gorassini told the Hillsborough school board.

Well never get what we spend, she said. But in the meantime were going to try to maximize our reimbursement.

Whats really at stake is student health, said Thomas, the Leon County Medicaid specialist who also serves on the National Alliance for Medicaid in Education leadership team. Her district stands to reap about $2 million more per year if the change is made.

That is the difference between being able to hire actual medical professionals who have the ability to recognize actual medical issues, and purchase medical equipment, actual things that could help the children that are most medically needy in this county, she said. When I cant afford to pay for a nurse, all kids suffer.
SOFIA (Reuters) -Firefighters battled wildfires at nearly 100 locations across Bulgaria on Sunday, with houses burned and residents evacuated, local media reported.

A fire at the foot of the Pirin mountain in southwestern Bulgaria was spreading across thousands of acres of forest, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported.

Another fire in the town of Simitli destroyed several houses as it spread towards the Maleshevo Mountain.

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More than 200 firefighters sent to the area on Saturday were pulled out because high winds were putting their lives in danger, authorities said, adding they expected air support from other EU countries.

In western Bulgaria, a fire which broke out on Saturday and quickly spread across the border into Serbia on Sunday along the Miloslavska mountain range, almost burned the village Rani Lug to the ground, Nova television reported.

"It's a merciless tragedy," emergency volunteer Zvezdelin Vlaykov said as huge clouds of smoke rose over the hills. "In all my years of firefighting, I've never seen anything like it."

Authorities said three villages had been evacuated and the fire had caused significant damage.

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In a statement, the Interior Ministry described Bulgaria's wildfire situation as "dynamic and severe".

On Sunday afternoon, a large fire broke out in the village of Kozarevo in the southeastern province of Yambol, burning several houses, BNR reported.

Countries in southeast Europe have experienced record temperatures over the past week, with many located in an area dubbed "a wildfire hotspot" by scientists.

(Reporting by Stoyan Nenov, writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Giles Elgood)
ISTANBUL (AP)  Wildfires that have engulfed Turkey for weeks threatened the countrys fourth-largest city on Sunday, forcing more than 3,500 people to flee their homes and leaving two people dead.

Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro are also battling blazes fed by unusually high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds.

Overnight fires in the forested mountains surrounding Bursa, in northwest Turkey, spread rapidly, tinting the night sky over the citys eastern suburbs with a red glow. Dozens of severe wildfires have hit the country daily since late June, with the government declaring the two western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik as disaster areas on Friday.

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Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters late Sunday that 3,515 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the northeast of Bursa as more than 1,900 firefighters battled the flames. The highway linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara, was closed as surrounding forests burned.

A firefighter died from a heart attack while on the job, the city's mayor, Mustafa Bozbey, said, adding that the flames had scorched 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) around the city. One person was killed and two seriously injured when a water tanker fell into a ravine outside Bursa, local media reported.

Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for the province, described the scene as an apocalypse.

By morning, lessening winds brought some respite to firefighters, who continued efforts to battle the flames. However, TV footage revealed an ashen landscape where farms and pine forests had earlier stood.

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Yumakli said fire crews across the country confronted 84 separate blazes Saturday. The countrys northwest was under the greatest threat, including Karabuk, where wildfires have burned since Tuesday and 1,839 people have been evacuated from 19 villages.

Aside from Bursa and Karabuk, a major fire was raging in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, the minister said, warning that growing winds could suddenly reignite fires not properly watered down after being extinguished.

Beleagured firefighters and rescue workers saved thousands of livestock and pets that had been left behind in the rush to evacuate threatened areas. Local media also showed images of workers assisting wildlife caught among the fires.

Unseasonably high temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds have been fueling the wildfires.

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The General Directorate of Meteorology said Turkey recorded its highest ever temperature of 50.5 degrees Celsius (122.9 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday. The highest temperatures for July were seen in 132 other locations, it said.

Fifteen people have died in recent weeks, including 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed Wednesday in a fire in Eskisehir in western Turkey.

Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said late Saturday that prosecutors had investigated fires in 33 provinces since June 26, and that legal action had been taken against 97 suspects.

Overnight evacuations

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In Greece, firefighters battled active wildfires in the countrys southwest and on the island of Kythera on Sunday, following a blaze that scorched the northern Athens suburb of Kryoneri on Saturday. High temperatures, reaching 38 C (100 F) or more, persist across much of the country, though winds have eased slightly.

In Kryoneri, 27 residents were evacuated overnight with police assistance after some initially ignored warnings. Authorities urged the public to comply with evacuation orders, warning that resistance puts both civilians and rescuers in danger.

The fire service reported three people hospitalized with breathing issues and one firefighter treated for burns at a military hospital.

On the island of Evia, where another fire is now under control, media reports indicate large numbers of animals perished in barns.

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Fanned by strong winds

On Bulgarias southern borders with Greece and Turkey, as well as the western Serbian frontier, firefighters battled wildfires as the government declared the worst-hit provinces disaster zones. Residents across nearly half the country were issued with a code red warning, the highest level.

National Fire Service chief Alexander Djartov told reporters that 236 wildfires were burning, many fanned by strong winds. The government had asked EU partners for help, he added, and aircraft were expected from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Hungary and Sweden later Sunday.

In the southwestern Strumyani region, overnight blazes forced firefighters to retreat. They were reinforced Sunday by soldiers. Dozens of people fled their homes in the western Tran region as flames threatened villages near the Serbian border.

___

Associated Press writers Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria, and Demetris Nellas in Athens contributed to this report.
Winter Park police arrest a man after a standoff in neighborhood

The Winter Park Police Department arrested a man after he allegedly threatened a neighbor with an ax.

WPPD responded to a dispute between neighbors in the 200 block of Tyree Lane around 4:55 p.m.

Thats when they found 42-year-old Anthony Jonathon Walker, where officers attempted to contact Walker, who retreated into his residence.

After an extended period of communication attempts, Walker was taken into custody without further incident. No injuries were reported.

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Walker was charged with was charged with aggravated assault with a weapon, criminal mischief, trespassing and resisting without violence.

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JAMAICA, Queens (PIX11)  A 23-year-old woman was raped at knifepoint in her Jamaica apartment Saturday morning, according to the NYPD.

The suspect allegedly forced his way into the womans apartment and attacked her at around 4:30 a.m., police said.

The man allegedly choked the victim and threatened her with a knife, according to police sources. She was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

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Police are still searching for the man who assaulted her. No arrests have been made as of Monday.

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
A woman said she was denied entry onto a Spirit Airlines flight after she underwent a cosmetic surgery procedure, despite having medical clearance to fly from her doctor.

Shataria Banks was scheduled to fly home to Houston, Texas, out of Miami International Airport on Wednesday, July 23, after going under the knife in the area several days earlier, according CBS Miami.

Banks told the outlet that she presented the airline with a letter from her doctor that stated she was safe to fly after a thorough assessment."

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However, she claimed that airline staff refused to let her board her flight, citing airline "procedure."

Banks filmed her encounter with a female employee at what appeared to be a check-in counter. In the video, which she provided to CBS Miami, Banks can be heard asking if the airline states its medical policy anywhere online, so customers can reference it before booking.

The airline employee then responds, We have a procedure that we have to follow, adding, Its about your safety.

Banks alleged to CBS Miami that airline staff told her that they do not have the official policy in writing anywhere.

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Im not saying that [the airline] cant deny their travelers and theyre [not] looking out for their safety, but have something in place, because everybody dont have money to waste for a new flight," Banks said in her interview with the outlet.

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I never want to fly with them, ever, ever," the frustrated flier added.

While Banks declined to provide the nature of her surgery to the CBS Miami, a drainage tube and bandages were visible around her abdomen in the filmed video interview.

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Kevin Carter/Getty Spirit Airlines plane Spirit Airlines plane

In a statement to PEOPLE, a Spirit Airlines spokesperson said passenger safety is the airline's top priority.

They added, Our records show the agents followed our procedures and consulted with a designated on-call medical professional via our vendor MedLink to verify the guests fitness to travel.

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Medlink provides real-time remote medical assistance to airline staff, both in-flight and on the ground, according to its website.

The medical professional at MedLink was informed of the guests documentation and advised that the guest was not fit to travel based on their condition at the time and in the interest of their safety," the representative for the airline said, adding that Banks was "ultimately issued a refund for the flight."

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  City leaders are sounding the alarm about overcrowding at the Shelby County Jail, and so are people who have loved ones inside.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and Sheriff Floyd Bonner say 201 Poplar is over capacity, and its taking a toll on inmates and staff.

WREG spoke to the loved one of an inmate who says thats just the half of it.

A woman who wants to remain anonymous tells WREG that her childs father told her he was attacked by jail staff.

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They been bear macing everyone, the whole intake. They jumped on him, fractured his ribs. I have documentation on that, as well. And they been cutting the phone off on him, people getting cut, all in the pods, she said.

Inmates waiting up to 2 weeks for bed in Shelby County Jail, DA says

In addition to the alleged attack, she says the jail is overcrowded, with hundreds of inmates in custody.

He said its very crowded, they sleeping in chairs, its real hot in there, they cant take showers, they got on their regular clothes. You know, it takes them about five days to get a process in, if that.

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In a news release, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy says inmates have to wait weeks to be assigned to a cell, which means they dont have a bed to sleep in.

Data from the Shelby County Sheriffs Office shows there were more than 2,700 male inmates at 201 Poplar in June, compared to 1,985 male inmates in June of 2021.

The jails capacity is 2,400.

D.A. Mulroy and Sheriff Bonner say part of the reason for the overcrowding is the Tennessee Department of Corrections delay in transferring convicted inmates.

In addition to the overcrowding, a woman tells WREG that her childs father required psychiatric treatment before he was booked in the jail; however, he has not received it in custody.

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He dont even know what he doing right now. He aint even in his right state of mind so like, Im really, really scared for him, she said.

Guns and stolen Sizzurp found in rental car during I-40 traffic stop

As D.A. Mulroy and Sheriff Bonner call for changes at 201 Poplar, the woman tells WREG there should also be better treatment of inmates.

Treat them like as if theyd want to be treated, and the community need to know that theyre getting jumped on, treated like animals, she said.

Tennessee state Senator Brent Taylor has also reacted to the overcrowding at the jail. He says 41 inmates were taken out of the jail this week and housed in other jails or state prisons.

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He says hes working with the Shelby County Sheriffs Office and state Senator Ed Jackson to place the remaining state inmates in their proper facilities.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
After losing her son in the Air India plane crash, a grieving mother traveled to India to bring his body home. But the coffin she returned with, she claims, contained the remains of a different victim.

On June 12, Air India Flight AI171, a London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft, crashed just after takeoff in India, resulting in the deaths of 241 people  everyone on board but one. Amanda Donagheys son, Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39, and his husband Jamie, 45, were on the flight, returning home to the United Kingdom after celebrating their wedding anniversary in India.

Donaghey, who lives in France, traveled to the crash site to see where her son had spent his final moments, and to bring his body home  but the remains she brought back to London were not her sons, she claimed in a new The Sunday Times interview published on July 26.

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Donaghey, 66, first arrived in India five days after the crash, on June 17, and gave blood in order to find a DNA match among the remains of the 241  229 passengers and 12 crew members. On June 20, as she began to lose hope, someone informed her a match had been found, she told The Sunday Times.

Raju Shinde/Hindustan Times via Getty Part of the Air India crash site, pictured on June 13 Part of the Air India crash site, pictured on June 13

Believing his body would now be able to join the body of his husband, which had already been properly identified and brought home, Donaghey arrived in London Gatwick Airport with the assurance that Fiongal was in the casket, she told The Sunday Times.

But she claimed she would soon make a heartbreaking discovery that disrupted the familys plan to have the couple rest together.

As Donaghey and her family planned Greenlaw-Meek and Jamies funerals, police allegedly informed her that a coroner in the U.K. had determined that the remains she had brought home were not her sons.

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It happened in early July, when family liaison officers set up a meeting with Donaghey, along with Greenlaw-Meeks father, sister and brother, and allegedly told the family, We dont have Fiongal. We have carried out the DNA tests and we do not have Fiongal, according to The Sunday Times.

I had my doubts, but to be told that was heartbreaking, the grieving mother recalled to the outlet of the revelation.

We dont know what poor person is in that casket. This is an appalling thing to have happened, Donaghey added to The Sunday Times. And we would now like the British government to do everything in its power to find out, and bring Fiongal home.

Raju Shinde/Hindustan Times via Getty Part of the Air India crash site, pictured on June 13 Part of the Air India crash site, pictured on June 13

As Donaghey continues her effort to bring her sons body home, she fears, however, it may now be an impossible feat.

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We have spent every day since then on the phone to the Foreign Office, trying to get a response on where Fiongal is, Donaghey told The Sunday Times. All the time, I feel like Im just standing on the edge of a black hole thinking, Has he been disposed of? 

Greenlaw-Meeks loved ones are not the only ones in this situation. James Healy-Pratt, an aviation lawyer who said he is representing multiple U.K. families in the wake of the crash, previously told CBS News and The Daily Mail that the remains of two British victims had been misidentified. Speaking with CBS News, he described it as a double psychological trauma.



In a statement shared on July 23, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal said authorities have seen the report about the mix-up and "have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention.

"In the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements, Jaiswal added. All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased. We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue."

Saurabh Sirohiya/NurPhoto via Getty The aftermath of the Air India crash on June 12 The aftermath of the Air India crash on June 12

In a statement to The Sunday Times, a U.K. government spokesperson said that "formal identification of bodies is a matter for the Indian authorities."

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We understand that this is an extremely distressing time for the families, and our thoughts remain with them," the spokesperson continued, in part. "We continue to liaise with the government of Gujarat and the government of India on behalf of the Inner West London senior coroner to support the coronial process.

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An official cause of the Air India Flight AI171 crash has not officially been released, but officials are currently investigating why the fuel to the engines was cut.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation previously announced it was establishing a committee to investigate the incident, promising to assess "the root cause of the crash" and "contributing factors, including mechanical failure, human error, weather conditions, regulatory compliances and other reasons.

Read the original article on People
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Maldives as the Guest of Honour for the island nation's 60th Independence Day celebrations marks a major reset in diplomatic ties between the two countries, amid a brief pro-China tilt. The Maldives' diplomatic shift from the "India Out" campaign to inviting PM Modi for its 60th Independence Day celebrations in 2025 is a significant turnaround. This change in stance reflects a broader recalibration in the country's foreign policy, driven by pragmatic considerations and a recognition of the importance of its relationship with India. The diplomatic row was sparked by derogatory social media comments from Maldivian officials against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2024. The controversy led to a wave of public outrage in India, with many celebrities and social media users advocating for a boycott of the Maldives and instead promoting tourism in India's Lakshadweep islands. Despite derogatory remarks from some Maldivian ministers and demands for troop withdrawal, India maintained composure, choosing engagement over escalation. PM Modi met Muizzu at COP28 in UAE, and India replaced its 76 military personnel with HAL technicians in May 2024, addressing Male's concerns without severing strategic ties. This pragmatic diplomacy coincided with Maldives facing internal economic stress, limited Chinese support, and the ruling PNC gaining a supermajority in Parliament. Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer visited India in May 2024, followed by President Muizzu's five-day visit in October. The visit concluded with the adoption of a joint vision on economic and maritime security partnership. President Muizzu's public statement affirming that "Maldives will not do anything that would harm India's security interests" marked a clear departure from the earlier rhetoric. India's patient diplomacy and sustained economic engagement turned a strained relationship into one of renewed trust and cooperation, exemplifying a successful recalibration in the Indian Ocean neighbourhood. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the island nation and said that it will "definitely" give a boost to tourism. On PM Modi's visit, Muizzu said, "Definitely with the Prime Minister's visit, it is going to increase a lot... I am sure people-to-people exchange between the two countries will be greatly boosted because of the visit." This visit is marked by symbolism, renewed commitments, and major announcements, which have not only strengthened ties but also reaffirmed India's position as the Maldives' most trusted partner. This marked PM Modi's third visit to the Maldives and the first by any Head of State or Government during President Muizzu's tenure. During a joint press briefing with President Muizzu, Prime Minister Modi underlined the depth of the relationship, saying, "This year, India and the Maldives are also celebrating sixty years of diplomatic relations. But the roots of our ties are older than history and as deep as the sea." President Muizzu praised India as a "trusted friend" and acknowledged India's support during challenging times, demonstrating a shift in tone from his earlier stance. PM Modi also referred to the commemorative postal stamp released during his visit, featuring traditional boats from both countries. India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Maldives following its independence in 1965. "The commemorative postal stamp released today, featuring the traditional watercraft of both countries, reflects that we are not just neighbours but fellow travellers," he said. The stamps feature India's Uru boat and Maldives' Vadhu Dhoni, symbolising shared maritime heritage and centuries-old Indian Ocean trade. Uru boat, A large wooden dhow handcrafted in the historic boatyards of Beypore, Kerala. The traditional Maldivian fishing boat, Vadhu Dhoni, is used for reef and coastal fishing. India also announced a significant financial commitment of nearly USD 565 million (4850 crore) in the form of a new concessional Line of Credit for infrastructure development in the Maldives. The two leaders also exchanged an Amended Agreement that reduces the Maldives' annual debt repayment obligations by 40%, from USD 51 million to USD 29 million. India's financial assistance is crucial for the Maldives, given its substantial budget deficit and dwindling foreign reserves. Apart from financial support, PM Modi announced that both nations are working toward a Free Trade Agreement and a Bilateral Investment Treaty to boost economic and trade ties. "Talks on a free trade agreement between India and the Maldives have started," he said. PM Modi reaffirmed India's ongoing support in enhancing the Maldives' defence preparedness. "India will always support the Maldives to strengthen its defence capabilities," he said. He added that both countries' mutual defence and security cooperation was built on trust. "Mutual cooperation in the field of defence and security is a testament to mutual trust," PM noted. During the visit, India and Maldives signed six MoUs in various sectors, including Fisheries and aquaculture, Meteorology, Digital public infrastructure (including UPI integration) , Indian Pharmacopoeia standards, Concessional credit, and a new Line of Credit worth 4850 crore for infrastructure In its official statement, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "The two leaders reflected on the deep bonds of friendship and trust that have been built over centuries, strengthened by strong people-to-people ties. Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to further deepen ties with Maldives in keeping with its 'Neighbourhood First' and Vision MAHASAGAR policies." As part of India's Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, India gifted and handed over two units of Aarogya Maitri Health Cube [BHISHM] sets to the Government of Maldives. BHISHM is a state-of-the-art portable Cube containing medical essentials, designed for rapid deployment in emergencies and disaster zones. With state-of-the-art medical equipment as part of the cube, it can provide medical aid to 200 casualties with in-built support to sustain a crew of six medical personnel for up to 72 hours. President Muizzu appreciated India's consistent role as the first responder in times of crisis. The two leaders also discussed collaborations in areas like development partnerships, capacity building, climate action, health, and infrastructure. In particular, both sides acknowledged the growing cooperation in maritime security, especially through joint work under the Colombo Security Conclave, where India, Maldives, and other regional nations coordinate on common security concerns. India and the Maldives also agreed to continue their cooperation on issues affecting the Global South. "The two leaders noted that, as Global South partners, they would continue to work on issues such as climate change, promotion of renewable energy, disaster risk reduction and weather science in the interests of the planet and its people," the MEA said. PM Modi also thanked President Muizzu for strongly condemning the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir and for expressing solidarity with India. This gesture, coming from a neighbour who was once seen drifting away from India, was important in rebuilding trust and cooperation. PM Modi received a grand welcome in Male with a 21-gun salute, a ceremonial guard of honour, and traditional Maldivian cultural performances. Large crowds, including children in traditional attire, gathered to greet him. A massive portrait of PM Modi was displayed on the Ministry of Defence building in Male, a gesture seen as reflective of warming ties. PM Modi was warmly welcomed at the iconic Republic Square, where he graced the Independence Day celebrations of the Maldives as the guest of honour. https://x.com/mygovindia/status/1948709243504185489 Former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed also credited India with preventing the Maldives from defaulting on debt during its worst financial crisis. "If not for India, we would have gone into default," Nasheed told ANI. He praised India's assistance in ensuring the island nation's economic stability and added, "Indian assistance and partnership in the Maldives are deeply valued... With mounting financial difficulties and substantial debt repayment obligations, India's timely support helped us avoid default." Nasheed also praised PM Modi for appreciating Maldivian culture and said the bond between the two nations would remain strong, regardless of who is in power. "India has maintained good relations with us and whatever the government, I am sure we are going to have a very bright future as well," he said. Prime Minister Modi's visit has successfully re-established India's strong footing in the Maldives, through strong economic offers, cultural diplomacy, and strategic support. (ANI)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  This week on New Mexico Crime Files, KRQE anchors Dean Staley and Jessica Garate cover the story of a teenager with a penchant for shooting vehicles with a gunthe many crimes of 18-year-old Koby Garcia.

Then, a Santa Fe shoplifter escalates the petty theft into a full foot chase and tasing incident. See the footage of Diego Lozanos chaotic arrest.

Finally, a nightmare scenario. Christine Shuman, 35, driving home with her kids in the car, runs over 12-year-old boy Brandon Thompson and flees the scene of the crime, leaving him to die. Miraculously, young Brandon survives and speaks at Shumans sentencing. Heres what she tells the court about why she ran and what the judge had to say about her actions.

ARCHIVED About New Mexico Crime Files

This is New Mexico Crime Files  Taking it from the streets, then to the courtroom, to finally answering where are they now?. Each week, KRQE News 13 anchors Dean Staley and Jessica Garate bring you the notorious, the unforgettable, and the unbelievable crime stories from the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico Crime Files is sponsored by MedradoStruck Law Firm.

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KANSAS CITY, Kan.  Police are investigating after a Wyandotte County deputy was killed in a shooting on Saturday afternoon.

The shooting took place at about 3:45 p.m. near South 30th Street and Shawnee Drive in Kansas City, Kansas. The deputy was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, KCKPD said.

The victim has since been identified as Elijah Ming.

See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

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According to KCKPD, Deputy Ming was initially called to the area for a civil standby at about 3:30 p.m. after a woman requested that a law enforcement officer accompany her as she moved out of her home. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) said she had concerns about her safety.

The woman reportedly told investigators that when her friends tried to help her, the suspect, identified by KBI as 38-year-old Shawn Harris, had threatened her with a gun.

After the woman requested help, Deputy Ming and a KCKPD officer responded to the scene. However, according to KBI, as they approached the front door, Harris shot at the officers multiple times from inside the house.

The KCKPD officer was uninjured in the shooting, but Deputy Ming suffered life-threatening injuries.

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Following the shooting, multiple law enforcement officers responded to the scene. As officers attempted life-saving measures on Deputy Ming, though, gunfire was exchanged between KCKPD and the sheriffs office.

According to KBI, Harris had barricaded himself inside the home and was shot during the multi-hour standoff.

Eventually, police were able to negotiate over the phone and get Harris out of the home by about 5 p.m. He was subsequently taken into custody and brought to a hospital, where he is said to have suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

While formal charges are yet to be filed, Harris has been arrested and booked in the Johnson County Jail on suspicion of capital murder of a law enforcement officer.

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KBI said Deputy Ming had also been taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. But despite life-saving efforts, he later died from his injuries.

At this time, investigations are being taken over by the KBI. In a news release addressing the deadly shooting, the bureau said:

This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.

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When this investigation concludes, case findings will be presented to the Wyandotte County District Attorney for charging decisions. The investigation is ongoing.

KCK and Wyandotte County officials spoke at a press conference Saturday night.

Mayor Tyrone Garner called the shooting a senseless and unnecessary act of violence. He also called on the community to keep Deputy Mings family and his fellow law enforcement and public safety officials in their thoughts and prayers.

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(Reuters) -Yemen's Houthis said on Sunday they would target any ships belonging to companies that do business with Israeli ports, regardless of their nationalities, as part of what they called the fourth phase of their military operations against Israel.

In a televised statement, the Houthis' military spokesperson warned that ships would be attacked if companies ignored their warnings, regardless of their destination.

"The Yemeni Armed Forces call on all countries, if they want to avoid this escalation, to pressure the enemy to halt its aggression and lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip," he added.

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Since Israel's war in Gaza began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking ships they deem as bound or linked to Israel in what they say are acts of solidarity with Palestinians.

In May, the U.S. announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

(Reporting by Hatem Maher and Muhammad Al Gebaly; editing by Diane Craft and Marguerita Choy)
YORK, Pa. (WHTM)  A locally owned, Portuguese-style restaurant that debuted about two years ago has closed its doors.

abc27 news reported back in July 2023 when local business owners Christie and Steve Moreira first opened their new Portuguese-style restaurant called Mesa Moreira on 58 West Market Street in downtown York.

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At the time of opening, the new establishment was initially going to called Casa De Fogo, but the owners decided to change the name to Mesa Moreira to better fit with their concept.

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Over time, the establishment became known for offering a vast variety of authentic Portuguese-style cuisines ranging from fish & seafood, pasta dishes, grilled meats, and a lot more.

On Friday, July 25, Mesa Moreira announced on Facebook that after about two years of operation, they have decided to close their doors.

We had always hoped to keep Mesa going for years to come, maybe even bring our grandkids back to visit someday, but that dream isnt in the cards right now, Mesa Moreira shared. What hurts the most is the possibility of not being able to say goodbye properly. We wish we could share one last meal with all of you, laugh over drinks, and hug all of you who became family. But the universe had other plans.

Mesa Moreiras announcement came just one day after the business announced a temporary closure due to a power outage affecting just their establishment.

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According to Mesa Moreira, there was an error with their electric account being transferred to another neighboring business. This caused the electric company to shut off their power temporarily.

As a result, the owners had to move their food products to borrowed refrigeration units in an attempt to avoid loss.

At the time, it was presumed that the restaurant would reopen after the problem was resolved and the owners had said they would update customers as soon as they were able to reopen.

To each of you who showed up for us, supported us, celebrated with us and stuck by us  we are endlessly grateful, Mesa Moreira continued. You made this dream come to life. You made it worth every moment. Mesa Moreira may be closed, but the memories and the community we built will always stay with us. Youll forever be part of our Moreira family.

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abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

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A woman was raped by a stranger at knifepoint in her Queens apartment early Saturday, according to a report and officials.

Police responded to an assault in progress around 4:30 a.m. in a building near 148th Street and 94th Avenue in Jamaica and found the victim, who told them she had been raped, an NYPD spokesman said.

The woman was taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens in stable condition, according to police. There were no immediate arrests.

Photos from the apartment building where the rape happened show NYPD Crime Scene Unit detectives removing evidence bags from the building. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The attacker knocked on the victims door, grabbed her by the neck and pulled her into a bedroom before raping her at knifepoint, CBS reported Saturday night, citing investigators.

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The victim told investigators that she had been expecting someone that night, but cops do not believe her rapist was that person, sources said.

The fiend grabbed some sheets from the apartment before he fled and threw them out near the apartment, sources said.

Police responded to the building on a call of an assault in progress and found the woman, who said she was raped by a man in her apartment, police said. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

The woman told cops the rape happened around 4:30 a.m. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Photos from the scene show police officers carrying brown paper evidence bags out of the high-rise Alvista Towers at the location.

No further details were available, cops said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Ohio State Fair is in full swing with livestock exhibitors showing off their animals and months of hard work. The food and agriculture industry contributes $124 billion to the states economy annually.

Inside the dairy barn, 4-Hers like Lillian Finke have been showing this in action all week.

For the young exhibitors at the Ohio State Fair, agriculture is more than just a hobby or a project. Its a way of life that consumes their time, energy and passion.

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All these young people work so hard to prepare their animals throughout the month way before the fair, Ohio Department of Agriculture director Brian Baldridge said. They start a long time before, preparing these animals, getting ready to show. And then, theyre in it to win it.

According to Finke, that consists of a lot of early mornings.

That connection, its truly unbreakable to have an animal that knows you, Finke said. You know it.

The 18-year-old has been showing dairy cattle since she was four.

My parents owned a dairy farm just outside of London, Finke said. We milked about 150 cows and then sold the farm in 2009, but we continued to have show and 4H heifers.

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Finke hasnt missed a single Ohio State Fair. She joined 4-H as soon as she turned nine.

Its definitely quite the experience to be here, Finke said. I mean its the place to make memories. And definitely showing your animals is what youve been waiting for.

Finke brought two cows to the fair this year: Intel and Jubie 49.

Food and Ag are our number one industry and this is where we get to showcase the best of the best, Baldridge said.

According to Finke, there is no better place to learn than at the Ohio State Fair.

Its definitely really important to see where your food comes from and teach your kids. Just so they know and they see firsthand what all goes into making their food, Finke said.

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Youth exhibitors like Finke are continuing the legacy farmers and producers have created through years of hard work.

We love to feed Ohioans, and we love to feed the world, Baldridge said.

Finke is going to be a freshman at Fort Hays State University in Kansas where she will study agricultural business. You can find her inside the dairy barn for most of the duration of the fair.

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ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  Families from across Texas gathered at the Taylor County Expo Center this weekend for a livestock show that supports youth involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs.

4-H and FFA are national organizations that teach leadership, agriculture, and life skills through hands-on learning and community involvement.

The event drew between 200 and 250 families, providing youth participants with the opportunity to compete and earn scholarship awards.

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Cattlelac Elite Livestock Events, the organization hosting the show, provides thousands of dollars in scholarships each weekend, as well as additional annual awards for outstanding participants.

Among those who took part was Kenna Petree, a Reserve Breed Champion from Lubbock ISD.

I got Reserve in Ring A it was fun. It was pretty hard too, sort of, Petree said.

Anyone interested in contributing to the scholarships who missed the event can visit the Cattlelac Elite Livestock Events Facebook page or contact Scott Jones at (970) 421-0714 for more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
President Volodymyr Zelensky held separate phone calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on July 27, discussing anti-corruption, defense, and EU integration.

"Spoke with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. We discussed many issues: the European integration of Ukraine, further strengthening of sanctions against Russia, and the work of our anti-corruption infrastructure," Zelensky said.

"We discussed in detail our path of European integration. We agreed to work on finding solutions that will allow us to open the first negotiation cluster in the near future. It is important that Ukraine and Moldova continue to move in sync," Zelensky said of his conversation with Macron.

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The discussions with the European leaders come as Ukraine stripped its key anti-corruption institutions, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) of their independence on July 22, citing Russian interference.

A bill was later introduced by Zelensky to reinstate the independence of NABU and SAPO amid widespread protests and concerns from Ukraine's allies.

Zelensky and von der Leyen discussed the new bill and other anti-corruption efforts needed to fulfill Ukraine's EU accession criteria and receive funding under the Ukraine Facility, a grant initiative that supports Ukraine's economy and reconstruction efforts.

The president thanked von der Leyen for the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia, adding that Ukraine has implemented the sanctions as well.

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Macron and Zelensky further discussed Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts in a separate phone call the same day.

"We also talked about the work of Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure, which is fully operational. The presidential bill guarantees the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption bodies and prevents Russian influence on them," Zelensky said of his conversation with Macron.

Meanwhile, the two leaders continued to discuss defense and military training as Russia continues to wage its war against Ukraine.

"We need reliable protection against Russian missiles and drones. We talked about supplying additional missiles for the SAMP/T and Crotale systems," Zelensky said.

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The two leaders discussed working together with France to fund Ukrainian drone production and continue training Ukrainian pilots to fly French Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

Macron and Zelensky discussed Ukraine's recent peace talks with Russia in Turkey, in which Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a new prisoner exchange but were otherwise inconclusive.

"We are awaiting a response regarding our proposal to hold a meeting at the highest level by the end of August. Representatives of Europe must definitely be present at it," Zelensky said.

A third round of peace talks to end Russia's war took place in Istanbul on July 23, with the meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegations lasting less than an hour as Moscow continues to issue maximalist demands.

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Read also: How effective were Ukraines anti-corruption agencies targeted by Zelensky, and who were they investigating?

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Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, on Saturday (local time), met members of the Indian community in South Africa and shared updates on how India's transformation is creating opportunities across the world. In a post on X, he wrote, "Delighted to interact with the Indian Community in South Africa. Apprised them of the progress in our bilateral relationship. Spoke about the transformations underway in India that have enhanced our global outreach and created opportunities for Indians abroad." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1949142317618561146 Margherita is currently in South Africa to attend the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting under the South African G20 Presidency. During his visit, he held several important meetings and interacted with the Indian diaspora. MoS Margherita also participated in the first session of the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting, focusing on combating illicit financial flows and Social Protection. Highlighting India's commitment to inclusive development, he wrote, "Participated in the first session of the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting on Combating Illicit Financial Flows and Social Protection today. Highlighted India's key achievements in ensuring inclusive Social Protection for all and emphasised the need to bridge the SDG financing gap." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1948684747938369878 He spoke about India's strong progress in social protection schemes and emphasised the importance of bridging the funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Earlier, the Union Minister also met South African Minister Maropene Ramokgopa, who heads the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. Both leaders discussed key development topics, including debt sustainability and critical minerals. In his post on X, Margherita wrote, "Glad to meet Maropene Ramokgopa, Minister of DPME, South Africa. Expressed India's support for the priorities of the South African presidency and emphasized the importance of critical minerals and debt sustainability for Africa. Also invited South Africa to join the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure." (ANI)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that it is important for Ukraine and Moldova to continue progressing towards the EU in a synchronised manner.

Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy noted that he had a detailed conversation with Macron about Ukraines path to European integration.

"We agreed to work on finding solutions that will allow the first negotiation cluster to be opened as soon as possible. It is important that Ukraine and Moldova continue to move forward in sync," the Ukrainian president wrote.

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The discussion also covered the functioning of Ukraines anti-corruption infrastructure. Zelenskyy assured Macron that the presidential draft law guarantees the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions and prevents Russian influence over them.

Zelenskyy also informed Macron of the outcomes of the third meeting with Russia in Istanbul.

"We managed to agree on a new prisoner exchange. We are awaiting a response to our proposal to hold a meeting at the highest level by the end of August. Representatives from Europe must be certainly present at this meeting," he emphasised.

The leaders also discussed Ukraines key defence needs.

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"First and foremost,strengthening our air defense. We need reliable protection against Russian missiles and drones. We talked about the supply of additional missiles for the SAMP/T and Crotale systems," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

Moldova aims to begin EU accession talks before the parliamentary elections in September in order to counter Russian disinformation in the country about the EU.

Due to Hungarys blockade of Ukraines accession negotiations, there were concerns about splitting the Ukraine-Moldova package to avoid undermining Moldovan President Maia Sandus position ahead of the elections. However, the EU remains optimistic that Hungarys veto can be overcome shortly after Denmark assumes the EU Council presidency, and this scenario has so far been avoided.

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Ukraine has imposed sanctions on nearly a hundred Russian companies and legal entities collaborating with the countrys military industry.

Source: Zelenskyys decrees

Details: The sanctions target 45 Russian citizens and 50 companies.

Ukraines enforcement of sanctions includes a complete freeze of assets  meaning a temporary ban on disposing of property, directly or indirectly.

These measures encompass halting trade operations, a full stop to the transit of resources, flights and transportation through Ukraine, and revoking of state awards, among other things.

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Later, the president explained that this is part of a process to synchronise European sanctions in Ukraine and sanctions against the Russian Federation's military production.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "As of now, all 18 sanctions packages are fully aligned and in effect in Ukraine. Restrictions from the 18th sanctions package have now been applied, in particular, to structures affiliated with Russias shadow tanker fleet, as well as to 53 individuals and legal entities  Russian, Chinese, Iranian, and from other countries.

The second sanctions decision today is our sanctions targeting Russian military production. Restrictions have been imposed on more than 90 companies involved in extracting rare-earth and critical metals essential for the production of electronics, guidance systems, engines, and drones. We are working to ensure that our sanctions are synchronised across partner jurisdictions."

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Part of the Tieton Nature Trail was charred in last year's Retreat Fire. What do things look like a year later?
In a shocking incident, a 33-year-old Indian-origin man was brutally attacked with a machete by a group of teenagers in Melbourne's Altona Meadows, marking the second such violent assault that came to light against Indians in Australia within a week. Saurabh Anand was ambushed by five teenagers around 7.30 pm on Saturday, July 19, while he was walking home after buying medicines from a pharmacy at the Central Square Shopping Centre, Australia Today reported. Anand recalled that he was on a phone call when he noticed a flicker of movement beside him. "I didn't hear a sound," he said, Australia Today quoted The Age. According to the report, one of the boys began searching his pockets, while another started punching him in the head until he collapsed. A third attacker pulled out a machete and held it to his throat. "They didn't stop there," Anand told The Age, as quoted by Australia Today. "My instinctive reaction was to bring my arm up to protect my face and wrist. While I was trying to protect myself, the machete just went through my wrist. The second attack went through my hand. The third went through the bone," he said. Anand suffered serious injuries, including a fractured spine, deep wounds on his shoulder and back, broken bones in his arm, and head trauma. "I was just trying to survive," he said. "All I remember is the pain and my hand was ... hanging by a thread, " he added. Despite being severely injured and bleeding, he managed to stumble outside the shopping centre and shout for help. "I saw someone and I just yelled out, 'I've been attacked. Please help me." Bystanders came to his aid and called emergency services. He was rushed to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in critical condition. Initially, doctors feared they would have to amputate his left hand. However, after hours of emergency surgery, which included inserting screws into his wrist and hand, surgeons were able to reattach it successfully, as per Australia Today. This is the second violent assault involving an Indian-origin person in Australia to come to light within a week. In Adelaide, a 23-year-old Indian man named Charanpreet Singh was reportedly attacked and left unconscious after a racist assault linked to a car parking dispute. The incident occurred near Kintore Avenue in central Adelaide on Saturday, July 23 (local time). Singh told 9News that a group of men approached him, hurled racist slurs, and then attacked him without provocation. "They just said 'f--- off, Indian', and after that they just started punching," he said. "I tried to fight back, but they beat me until I was unconscious." He suffered brain trauma and multiple facial fractures and was admitted to the hospital for treatment. In yet another disturbing case, the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Boronia, a suburb of Melbourne, was vandalised with racial slurs. As per Australia Today, hateful graffiti reading "Go Home Brown C**t" was spray-painted on the temple walls and nearby Asian-run restaurants. Makrand Bhagwat, President of the Hindu Council of Australia (Victoria chapter), expressed deep concern and shock over the temple attack. These repeated incidents have raised serious concerns among the Indian diaspora in Australia. Local police are investigating all incidents, and efforts are underway to identify the attackers. (ANI)
Due to the rains in the Terai areas of Bihar and Nepal, an increase in the water level of the main rivers of the state is being recorded. Many rivers are above the danger mark at various places. The Meteorological Department has expressed the possibility of rain in many areas of the state in the next 24 hours. According to Bihar Water Resources Department, the water level of Ganga river is 109 cm below the danger mark in Gandhighat (Patna), but its water level is likely to increase on Sunday. The water level of Ghaghra river in Darauli of Siwan district is also likely to increase on Sunday.
A video of sadhus being brutally beaten up in Chhattisgarh's Bhilai has surfaced, where a mob thrashed the sadhus on suspicion of child theft. When the police team reached this place to save the sadhus, the mob attacked them too.
In a significant development amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, the Israeli military has agreed to temporarily suspend its operations in parts of Gaza. The pause is aimed at enabling humanitarian aid to safely reach civilians trapped in the war zone. The move comes following growing international pressure and concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in the region.
In its reply, the poll body said that the statutory scheme under the Representation of People Act, 1950, and the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, does not mandate creating or publishing such a list. As per the ECI, exclusion of a name from the draft rolls is not equivalent to deletion from the electoral rolls.
A deadly armed assault was carried out this morning on the High Court building in Zahedan, the capital of Iranian (Western) Balochistan, in what has been described as one of the most significant militant attacks in the region in recent months, The Balochistan Post (TBP) reported. According to TBP, the attack began at approximately 8:50 am local time when heavily armed fighters stormed the court complex on Azadi Street. The gunmen moved directly towards the judges' chambers and opened indiscriminate fire, reportedly killing or injuring multiple court staff and security personnel. The Baloch militant group Jaish al-Adl later issued a statement taking responsibility for what they called "Operation Justice for Bask." The group said the assault was a direct response to what it described as ongoing "judicial oppression against Baloch citizens." The attackers, according to the statement, belonged to a special unit named the "Fedayeen of Divine Justice," The Balochistan Post reported. Shortly after the initial attack, a second assault was launched on the courthouse using mortars and hand grenades. This follow-up strike reportedly occurred as Iranian security forces began to assemble in large numbers around the site. Loud explosions, sustained gunfire, and plumes of smoke were witnessed across Zahedan's central district, TBP noted. The situation in Zahedan remains extremely tense. The Iranian government has placed the city under high alert, and all movement near the court complex has been severely restricted. Residents reported that government forces fired indiscriminately toward civilians within the compound from surrounding rooftops, raising fears of more civilian casualties. Iranian state media reported that three attackers were killed in the operation, while five targeted individuals died and at least fifteen others were injured, The Balochistan Post stated. The attack marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing unrest in Sistan and Balochistan province, where tensions between the state and the Baloch population have long remained volatile, TBP added. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], July 27 (ANI/TPS): In an interview with the VOA network, Israel's Ambassador to the US, Dr Michael Leiter, warned that there are "disturbing signs" that China is helping Iran rebuild its ballistic missile programme, which was significantly damaged during Israel's recent attacks. "After we succeeded in substantially damaging the programme, it is now our responsibility to ensure that negative actors, primarily China, do not help Iran rebuild it", the ambassador said, explaining that he was referring to reports of shipments of chemical precursors for missile fuel from China to Iran, which are intended to enable the restoration of the missile array. (ANI/TPS)
by Barbara Fischkin

Cousin Bernies Own Memoir Surfaces Years After His Death

(a.k.a Cousin Bernie, Free-Range Professor-Part Three)

As much as I loved my late Cousin Bernie, I figured that in regard to my own memoir, I was done with him. Cousins are great but those two earlier chapterson just one cousinwere more than enough.

Then I heard from Bernie.

A heavenly nudge.

Years after his death, I believed I could identify his voice with its gravelly Brooklyn twang, slightly tempered by a slower drawl acquired during decades in the Midwest.

There is a lot more to write about me. And if it is about me, then it is also about you.

I wish I could report that this actually came from the afterlife.

Nope.

It came from the post office.

Joan Hamilton Morris, Cousin Bernies widow, mailed his unpublished memoir to me, after she found it while moving to a new assisted living residence. That was about a month ago. I never knew it existed. Now, I had it in handCousin Bernies memoir, written quietly in an adult education class he took after retiring as an honored professor of Psychology and Mathematics at a public university in Indianapolis, Indiana.

I flipped through the typewritten, hard copy pages, stopping early at a description of my Grandpa Phillip. He had died before I was born and all I knew about him, from my parents, was that he had been a handsome, drunken, sporadically employed, womanizer who beat his sons and his long-suffering wife, Grandma Toby. Nice. Grandma Toby died young. Grandpa Phillip subsequently romanced a new bevy of women and then, sort of made up for past sins by marrying one of them.

Despite being decades apart in age, Bernie was my first cousin. This explains why we had the same paternal grandparents. Except, unlike me, he had known them. And so, thanks to Cousin Bernie, I read about a different version of Grandpa Phillip. And learned more about Grandma Toby, too.

In Bernies words, which I will quote later in this chapter, Grandpa Phillip taught him to operate the first phonograph he had ever seen. The records were operatic recordings and from the first notes Bernie knew he loved opera. This small scene, with its huge lifetime implications, reminded me that one person can have more than one persona. This was true of Grandma Toby, too.

More on Cousin Bernies Memoir

That Cousin Bernie was a highly-educated professor in two disciplines, did not necessarily mean he could write a memoir. (I can hear him laughing.) Which is perhaps why he took that adult education class. Some of his memoir is great, including dialogue, sense of time and place. But, like all writing, it needed editing. His teacher wrote short comments. Most were wildly complimentary. Alas, they did not provide clues on improved organization or suggestions on making the whole piece more readable. Perhaps this is why, as far as I know, Cousin Bernie never published it. A good editor is hard to find.

Nevertheless, the words he wrote filled in blanks I had wondered about for years. They also invited me to giggle along with him. Case in point: I now know about at least one post-coital lecture the ever-delightful Bernie delivered to his wife, whom we all called Joanie: My lovely wife tells the story that early in our marriage, after some loving, we rolled apart and I tried to discuss the accomplishments of Galileo. In January 1993, we will celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. His teachers comment: A miracle, given this.

Below are more excerpts from Cousin Bernies memoir, the ones I found particularly touching and informative. As I typed them onto a Word document, I realized that he was, in his missive from beyond, correct to insist that a memoir about him would also be a memoir about me. I found his unpublished words so rich with detail and this drove me to the conclusion that one more chapter would not do. So please stay tuned, in the months to come, for Cousin Bernie, parts four and five. I need to add more of his words about his childhood with an institutionalized mentally ill motherand about the healing that came during his adult years. My memoir needs to reach back beyond my birth to my fathers family history and the genetic, cultural and psychological background of this side of my family. I need to write about where my fathers family came from and how its family histories contributed to the story I tell about my own life. I have already done much of this with my mothers side of the family. But I knew so little about my fathers side. With Cousin Bernies memoir, I am learning more.

The Grandparents Cousin Bernie and I Shared

Although my paternal grandmother was called Toby in America, I am guessing she was named Tovah, which means good or goodness, back in the old country. She and my grandfather came from a small townprobably a shtetl in the sprawling Pale of Settlement where the majority of Eastern European Jews were required to live. Their shtetl was near Minsk, now the capital of Belarus. Grandma Tobys marriage to Grandpa Phillip was arranged and, apparently, not a match made in heaven. The bride was not a great beauty and from the start, her good-looking husband found her unattractive. Nevertheless, they had two sons in the shtetl and two more and a daughter, later in America, in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn.

Before the family grew to its ultimate size, my grandfather was thrilled when he was permitted to immigrate to America ahead of Grandma Toby and their children. Life as a Brooklyn bachelor chasing many women seems to have suited him. My parents told me he was deeply disappointed when his wife and sons joined him in America. In his waning years my father wrote his own unpublished handwritten memoirmemoir-writing seems to be in our DNA. About his own childhood with Grandpa Phillip and Grandma Toby, my father wrote: I was born, the first in America to a father and mother I was ashamed of and ignored most of the time. My father was a drunkard. My mother was diabetic. Our family life was horriblefor no cause, my two younger brothers and myself and my mother received many blows from him.

In reading my fathers memoir years ago I was surprised by the sentence that followed: In later years, though, he mellowed and was well thought of by many people. This is not something I remember my father saying to me. About his mother, my Grandma Toby, my father wrote: My mother was a sick woman all her life. She died at 54. Doctors were hopeless, as she always ignored them and she took her insulin intermittently. Yet, at heart she was a mother . We seldom had money and moved every few monthsI do remember hearing about the time when I was in high school and we lived on Osborn Street, near Dumont Avenue. She walked into my friends delicatessen store and asked for a pastrami sandwich for my Dovidele. My delicatessen friends were charmed and never let me forget it. About both his parents, my father wrote: I was unfeeling thenmay God forgive me.

Bernie paints a sweeter, if still imperfect picture, of the life my paternal grandparents lived. I am grateful for this alternate memory:

It was a warm, sunny day in June. My mother, my sister, age four in the light stroller, and myself, age 6, set out to visit my maternal grandparents, Toby and Phillip Fishkin, who lived about two miles away from usAs my mother pushed the stroller, with me sometimes holding the sidebar, we went into a somewhat poorer neighborhoodAs we got close to Thatford Avenue, the perpendicular street on which my grandparents lived, there were more and more fruit and vegetables for sale from pushcarts, some open, some covered with canvas canopieson Thatford Avenue we walked half a block to the home of my grandparents. It was darker once we went inside the front half-glassed door. We walked about twenty feet to a set of stairs, my mother carrying my sister and me carrying the stroller. Behind the wall on the left was a store-front Negro church. It was quiet this time but I remembered that on earlier visits I could hear the congregation in a sort of encouraging murmur, commenting on what the leader was preaching, I remembered hymns and a chorus of handclapping and accompanying organ music.

This time both my grandparents were home. We had entered a fairly large, bright kitchen. The kitchen table and the four-burner stove on slight legs were of white porcelain. The shelves of the open cupboard smelled of white oil-cloth.

Against the wall to the right of the table was the bulky short ice-box. It was dark oak and had bright brass hinges and latches. I guess my grandfather carried a block of ice up every few days. The smaller compartment below the ice container held the staple of the household: a wide mouthed earthenware crock of chicken fat. Within the frozen congealed yellow fat were delicious bits of fried chicken skin and fried onion. In the days before cholesterol, saturated and unsaturated fat concerns, a generous layer of this concoction on heavy pumpernickel or rye bread plus a glass of tea was a great repast. For some reason the tea had to be filtered through a Domino lump of sugar held in the mouth. I remember the ice-box because I still have a scar at the top of my pinky, left over from the time I got it caught on the hinge side of the door as my mother closed it.

There was a half step separating the kitchen from a darker living room-dining room. Beyond that was a large bedroom where my three uncles slept and a second smaller bedroom that belonged to my grandparents. Another uncle, Morris, became an electrician, was married and did not live here. Of my three other uncles David and Sam worked, wandering from job to job, while Jack was finishing high school. Grandpa was a clothes presser in a nearby clothes finishing shop, when there was work.

I never knew my Grandmother Toby well. In this country, I had the impression that she had given up. Five children and a husband and a new world were a bit too much. She was sloppy, ate food about to rot from pushcarts outside and kept sucking on Ludens cough drops. A few years later she developed diabetes, decided to save money by forgoing her insulin injections and became a complete paralytic for the rest of her life.

Grandpa Phillip must have done most of the housework. These were the days before home electric clothes washers and dryers, There always seemed to be mounds of neatly folded clothes on the round pedestal dining room table. I would bury my head in the pile and inhale the Octagon laundry soap.

Then one day I discovered an entrancing, miraculous delight. There in the dark corner was a mahogany console phonograph. My grandfather showed me how it worked. When I wound the crank, placed a quarter inch thick disc on the turntable and lowered the needle, sound came from the record, human voices and music filled the room. I was enthralled by the voice of Amelita Galli-Curci. I understood Tonios sobs as Enrico Caruso sang the prologue to Leoncavallos Pagliacci, the clown whose heart was aching.

More To Come

I know that Cousin Bernies heart ached for years. It began with that institutionalization of his mother, in a string of mental hospitals, which started when he was only ten. He and his sister Gertie, were cared for by their mothers mother, an Orthodox woman and a strict disciplinarian. I think they would have preferred living with Grandma Toby and her pushcart adventuresand with Grandpa Phillip and his operatic phonograph. As for me, I will keep these new memories of those grandparents I never knew close to my heart as, in the months to come, I will relate more of Bernies written memories, particularly those regarding how he found happiness as a professor in the Midwest and even more happiness with the former Joan Hamilton, the wife he never thought he would be lucky enough to find.
Tel Aviv [Israel], July 27 (ANI/TPS) Israeli naval forces intercepted the vessel Handala late Saturday night as it attempted to breach the maritime blockade on Gaza, towing it to the port of Ashdod and detaining the 21 people aboard. According to a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the ship -- registered as Navarn -- was stopped "from illegally entering the maritime zone off the coast of Gaza" and all passengers were "safe." The Handala, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had departed from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid and symbolically challenge Israel's blockade on Gaza. The group said the vessel was carrying 19 activists and two journalists from Al Jazeera, representing 12 countries. Among the passengers were two French parliamentarians, Emma Fourreau and Gabrielle Cathala of the far-left France Unbowed party. Named after a cartoon character representing Palestinian refugees, the Handala drew attention as the latest in a series of flotilla attempts to defy Israel's naval blockade. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of intercepting the ship in international waters, an allegation Jerusalem rejected. "Unauthorized attempts to breach the blockade are dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts," Israel's Foreign Ministry said, insisting that the blockade complies with international law due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas. It cited previous attacks launched from Gaza, including the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, as justification for maintaining the blockade. An online tracking tool placed the Handala about 100 kilometers west of Gaza and 50 kilometers from Egypt when intercepted. Prior to the operation, activists said they had noticed Israeli drones overhead and decided to alter course southward along the Egyptian coast. "At this time, the Handala does not intend to enter Egyptian waters but plans to sail parallel to the coastline," the coalition said. "Should the threat from Israeli authorities escalate, the crew will attempt to contact the Egyptian Coast Guard." As the Israeli Navy approached, communication with the ship was lost. French politician Jean-Luc Melenchon condemned the seizure, calling it a "kidnapping" and demanding the French government respond. "Netanyahu's thugs boarded Handala. They attack 21 unarmed people in territorial waters where they have no right," he wrote on X. Huwaida Arraf, one of the activists, had warned the group would initiate a hunger strike if intercepted. "We are not interested in receiving any food or water [from Israel...] and certainly not in the ways that they use it for propaganda, while at the same time they are starving to death Palestinian children," she posted prior to the operation. The passengers were unharmed and are expected to be deported. Israel says the limited aid aboard will be routed through official overland crossings into Gaza. The Handala follows earlier flotilla attempts, including the Madleen, which carried climate activist Greta Thunberg, and the Mizfon, which sustained damage in May near Malta. Activists blamed Israel for an aerial attack on the Mizfon, though Jerusalem offered no comment. Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza leading up today's blockade to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the Strip in 2007. Since then, Palestinian activists have periodically sent flotillas trying to breach the blockade. In 2011, an independent UN inquiry into the Mavi Marmara affair of 2010 criticised Israeli forces for using excessive force but upheld the blockade's legality. At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 55 remaining hostages, 33 are believed to be dead. (ANI/TPS)
The top defence officials from India and the United States held key bilateral talks on Sunday during the ongoing Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, exploring ways to deepen strategic military cooperation, regional security coordination, and operational readiness in the Indo-Pacific. Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), met Lt Gen Joshua Rudd, Deputy Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, as part of India's high-level engagement at the multilateral exercise hosted in Australia. The discussions over a tea focused on enhancing defence collaboration, including future operational opportunities and joint efforts to uphold peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the Integrated Defence Staff. "Various avenues for strengthening #DefenceCooperation and collaboration, as well as future operational opportunities, were discussed.#India - #USA Defence engagements underscore mutual resolve towards #RegionalSecurity and stability in the #IndoPacific," the Integrated Defence Staff posted on X. The meeting reflects the broader momentum in India-US strategic relations, especially in the defence sector, which has seen a rapid expansion in recent years. Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, where both leaders acknowledged the growing depth of defence cooperation between the two nations. Jaishankar called the defence partnership "one of the most consequential pillars" of the bilateral relationship. "I am here with you at the Pentagon because we believe that our defence partnership is, today, truly one of the most consequential," Jaishankar said during his meeting. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed enthusiasm over the continued progress and highlighted India's growing integration of US defence systems into its military. He also outlined the shared vision for expanding industrial cooperation and defence production. "The US is very pleased for the successful integration of many US defence items... Building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending US defence sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial cooperation and co-production networks, strengthen interoperability... and formally sign a new framework of US-India major defence partnership," said Hegseth. He further noted that this collaboration aims to address common strategic goals and meet India's evolving defence requirements more efficiently. The current pace of high-level defence interactions comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US earlier this year. During the visit, both PM Modi and then-US President Donald Trump had announced plans to sign a new ten-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership. The two countries also welcomed deeper integration of US-origin platforms into India's military inventory, such as, C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, P-8I Poseidon maritime aircraft, CH-47F Chinooks, MH-60R Seahawks, AH-64E Apaches, M777 howitzers, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and MQ-9B drones. In addition, both sides had committed to pursuing new deals for co-producing Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and Stryker Infantry Combat Vehicles in India, ensuring that India's critical defence requirements are met through joint industrial collaboration. The ongoing Exercise Talisman Sabre, one of the largest military drills involving key Indo-Pacific partners, provides an ideal platform for India and the US to deepen interoperability and coordination. (ANI)
In a recent disaster, nearly half of the 266 people killed in Pakistan's monsoon season this year have been children on their national school holidays, exposing once again the government's chronic failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens, Geo News reported. According to Geo News, 126 children have died since June 26 due to Pakistan's heavier-than-normal monsoon rains. Most deaths occurred in Punjab, where rainfall levels have been reported as 70 per cent higher than last year. Children, left unsupervised due to school closures, fell victim to electrocutions, flash floods, building collapses, and drowning. Mazhar Hussain of the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Agency admitted that "children are very vulnerable to this situation," but his explanation only highlighted the absence of proactive safety measures. "They are playing in the water, bathing, and electricity shocks can happen," he said, according to Geo News. The statement underscores the complete lack of public infrastructure and emergency protocols in a country that faces monsoon rains every year. Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) confirmed that 266 people have been killed nationwide so far, with hundreds more injured, Geo News reported. The rains have been especially destructive this year, even though the worst of the monsoon season is typically expected in August. In Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, a landslide swept away vehicles in a popular tourist area. Earlier, in late June, 13 tourists were killed after being swept away by flash floods while sheltering near a riverbank, Geo News stated. The monsoon season provides South Asia with 70 per cent to 80 per cent of its yearly precipitation and lasts from the end of June through September in Pakistan. The yearly rainfall is crucial for agriculture and food security, impacting the lives of countless farmers while also causing devastation. In 2022, floods during the monsoon inundated a third of the nation and resulted in the loss of 1,700 lives. The government's reactive approach, year after year, leaves ordinary citizens, especially children, paying the price for state negligence. (ANI)
With polio still endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan alone, the government's inability to eradicate the disease underscores broader systemic neglect.

The newly confirmed cases include a 15-month-old girl from Takhtikhel in Lakki Marwat, a six-month-old girl in Mir Ali tehsil, North Waziristan, and a five-year-old boy from Chajro, Umerkot in Sindh, Dawn News reported. These latest infections bring the tally to 10 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five in Sindh, and isolated instances in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Despite a nationwide effort to curb the disease, polio continues to exploit gaps in Pakistan's outreach, particularly in conflict zones, marginalised rural settlements, and areas plagued by vaccine hesitancy. A special vaccination drive launched from July 21-27 in the border areas of KP and Balochistan, aligned with Afghanistan's campaign, has failed to produce meaningful results, analysts argue, Dawn News noted.

Similarly, a fractional dose vaccination campaign in Chaman and across six Balochistan districts beginning July 28 lacks the decisive implementation needed to reach children in remote communities.

Polio remains incurable and devastating, causing permanent paralysis in the absence of consistent oral vaccine coverage. Yet, the persistence of 17 cases in 2025 highlights Pakistan's chronic inability to secure universal immunisation and prevent outbreaks. As Dawn News emphasised, each unvaccinated child poses a danger not only to themselves but to the broader population.

Even Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent vow to intensify eradication efforts reflects a leadership that is reactive rather than proactive, Dawn News reports. Despite international funding and polio partnerships, public-health failure remains a recurring theme in Pakistan.

The situation reveals glaring deficiencies in Pakistan's health infrastructure: campaign fatigue, public distrust fuelled by misinformation, and poor crisis management. It is a bitter reminder that, despite global progress, polio continues to stalk Pakistan's most vulnerable, making the state complicit in its ongoing spread.

Unless urgent reform and genuine community engagement replace half-hearted campaigns, Pakistan remains perilously close to collapsing its polio eradication commitments. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, on Sunday paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's bust at the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Margherita said that Mahatma Gandhi's principles continue to guide the world. In a post on X, he said, "Starting the day with Bapu's blessings. Honoured to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's bust at Consulate General of India in Dubai. His principles of non-violence, peace, and truth continue to inspire the world." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1949363115193197036 Margherita tuned in to 124th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann ki Baat with the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Margherita said he finds PM Modi's journey to be an inspiring one. In a post on X, he said, "Joined the Consulate General of India in Dubai family to listen to the 124th episode of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji's Mann ki Baat. Always inspiring to hear his thoughts on India's journey, achievements, and the role of every citizen in nation-building." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1949388632306909673 The Indian Consulate General in Dubai said in a post on X, "Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita joined Consulate officials for the screening of the 124th Episode of Mann Ki Baat at the, Consulate General of India in Dubai." https://x.com/cgidubai/status/1949419539881496592 Meanwhile, top BJP leaders, including Chief Ministers from several states, tuned in to the 124th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday. From Delhi to Raipur, Bhopal to Agartala, leaders lauded the programme for its role in highlighting grassroots innovations and inspiring citizens across the country. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai listened to the programme in the national capital and Raipur, respectively. Chhattisgarh CM Sai praised the programme for showcasing the achievements of individuals and innovations across India. He specifically mentioned that the Prime Minister's recent mention of Bilha, a town in Chhattisgarh that was awarded under the Swachh Bharat Mission, was a matter of "great fortune" for the state. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday emphasised that progressive policies are currently being implemented in the state to facilitate investments from Singapore-based enterprises. As part of his official visit to Singapore, CM Chandrababu Naidu met with Shilpak Ambule, the Indian High Commissioner to Singapore. During the meeting, the High Commissioner highlighted the significant recognition and respect that the 'CBN Brand' commands within Singapore's government and industrial sectors. Ambule shared insights into Singapore's achievements in diverse areas, its robust economic growth, and the effective public policies being implemented there. He also outlined the contributions and presence of the Indian community in Singapore. He briefed CM Naidu on the strategies being adopted in Singapore across key sectors such as healthcare, green hydrogen, aviation, semiconductors, ports, and industrial development. He further emphasised the strong diplomatic and economic relationship between India and Singapore, noting that Singaporean firms are particularly interested in exploring investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh. "A great start to my visit to Singapore with a series of productive meetings focused on strengthening collaboration. I met with Dr. Shilpak Ambule, High Commissioner of India to Singapore, for insightful discussions on developments in Andhra Pradesh and Singapore. I also had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Low Cher Ek, CEO and Global Lead for Township, and Mr. Tan Sri Dato' A. K. Nathan, Executive Chairman and Group MD of Eversendai Engineering. We explored opportunities for infrastructure development and investment in Andhra Pradesh," Naidu said in a post on X. In response, the Andhra Pradesh CM recalled the earlier collaboration with Singapore on the Amaravati capital city project. He noted that, due to certain developments during the 2019-2024 period, Singapore had to withdraw from the initiative. He affirmed that one of the objectives of this visit is to address past misunderstandings and correct the narrative through renewed engagement. The Chief Minister shared details of the state's newly introduced policies, aimed at attracting investments across sectors. He further reiterated the state's ambitious goal of achieving 160 gigawatts of green energy generation. He informed the High Commissioner that green hydrogen projects have already been launched in Visakhapatnam (in partnership with NTPC) and Kakinada. Further, under the India Quantum Mission, Andhra Pradesh is set to establish the country's first-ever Quantum Valley in Amaravati. CM Chandrababu Naidu also announced that global tech leader Google is setting up a data centre in Visakhapatnam. Highlighting the state's industrial potential, he pointed out that regions like Rayalaseema offer highly conducive conditions for the establishment of defence, aerospace, electronics, and automobile manufacturing units. He expressed that Andhra Pradesh can serve as a strategic gateway for Singaporean investments into India and urged for the necessary support to facilitate this. Ambule also pointed out that 83 per cent of Singapore's population benefits from public housing projects. In response, Minister P. Narayana provided an overview of Andhra Pradesh's housing initiatives. Andhra Pradesh Minister for IT and Education, Nara Lokesh, outlined the steps being taken in the education sector, along with the government's future roadmap. He discussed the presence of leading academic institutions already operating in the state and confirmed that Andhra Pradesh is fully prepared to host additional prestigious institutions in the near future. The Indian High Commissioner informed CM Chandrababu Naidu that technology professionals from Andhra Pradesh are in particularly high demand across Southeast Asia, especially in Singapore. He observed that, much like the United States, Singapore is becoming a major hub attracting Indian students and skilled professionals. He further noted that the Indian High Commission in Singapore is working closely with the Andhra Pradesh government to facilitate collaboration in this area. Ambule elaborated on several sectors where Singaporean companies are exploring investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh, including electronics, semiconductor manufacturing, shipbuilding, port operations, data centres, and pharmaceuticals. Major Asia-Pacific firms headquartered in Singapore, including STT, Keppel, CapitaLand, Equinix, and PSA are considering potential expansion in Andhra Pradesh. The meeting also focused on collaboration in fields such as artificial intelligence, startups, medical device research, and academic partnerships between universities in AP and Singapore. The discussions were attended by Ministers, including Nara Lokesh, P. Narayana, and T.G. Bharat, along with senior government officials from Andhra Pradesh. (ANI)
Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, on Sunday tuned in to the 124th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann ki Baat with the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Margherita said he finds PM Modi's journey to be an inspiring one. In a post on X, he said, "Joined the Consulate General of India in Dubai family to listen to the 124th episode of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji's Mann ki Baat. Always inspiring to hear his thoughts on India's journey, achievements, and the role of every citizen in nation-building." https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1949388632306909673 The Indian Consulate General in Dubai said in a post on X, "Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, joined Consulate officials for the screening of the 124th Episode of Mann Ki Baat at the, Consulate General of India in Dubai." https://x.com/cgidubai/status/1949419539881496592 Meanwhile, top BJP leaders, including chief ministers from several states, tuned in to the 124th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday. From Delhi to Raipur, Bhopal to Agartala, leaders lauded the programme for its role in highlighting grassroots innovations and inspiring citizens across the country. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai listened to the programme in the national capital and Raipur, respectively. Chhattisgarh CM Sai praised the programme for showcasing the achievements of individuals and innovations across India. He specifically mentioned that the Prime Minister's recent mention of Bilha, a town in Chhattisgarh that was awarded under the Swachh Bharat Mission, was a matter of "great fortune" for the state. While speaking to ANI, CM Sai said, "The Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat takes place on the last Sunday of every month, and in that, he works to bring to the country and the world the new innovations that are happening in the country. Through this, the country becomes aware of the innovations of such individuals, and the people of the country are also inspired by them. Today, it is a great fortune that the Prime Minister mentioned Bilha, which was recently awarded in the Swachh Bharat Mission. This is a matter of great fortune for Chhattisgarh. This year, Chhattisgarh has earned a good name in the field of cleanliness and the Swachh Bharat Mission. Many cities have been awarded by our President. Raipur has also been awarded for the first time." (ANI)
Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday accused each other of launching artillery attacks, just hours after US President Donald Trump said both countries had agreed to hash out a ceasefire, Al Jazeera reported. The attacks on Sunday came after both sides said they were willing to start talks to end the fighting over their border dispute after Trump spoke to their leaders late on Saturday. https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1949144126793851141 Four days after the worst fighting in more than a decade broke out between the Southeast Asian neighbours, the death toll stood above 30, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia. Over 2,00,000 people have also been evacuated from border areas in the two countries, authorities said, as per Al Jazeera. Cambodia said it fully endorsed Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire. Thailand, on the other hand, said while it was grateful to Trump, it could not begin talks while Cambodia was targeting its civilians, a claim that Phnom Penh has denied. "We have proposed a bilateral between our foreign ministers to conclude the conditions for a ceasefire and drawing back troops and long-range weapons," acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai told reporters, before heading off to visit border areas. However, artillery exchanges broke out on Sunday morning, with both nations blaming each other, as reported by Al Jazeera. Cambodia's Ministry of National Defence said Thailand shelled and launched ground assaults on Sunday morning at a number of points along the border. The ministry's spokesperson said heavy artillery was fired at historic temple complexes. Meanwhile, the Thai army said Cambodian forces fired shots into several areas, including near civilian homes, early on Sunday and were mobilising long-range rocket launchers. Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over undemarcated points along their 817km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples of Ta Moan Thom and the 11th-century Preah Vihear central to the dispute, Al Jazeera reported. Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, but tensions escalated in 2008 after Cambodia tried to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and skirmishes over several years killed at least a dozen people, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)
In a post on X, he said, "Happy to meet the vibrant Indian diaspora in their home away from home. Had wonderful interactions with our brothers and sisters working in Dubai."

https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1949484181127586263

Margherita paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi before his bust at the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

Margherita said that Mahatma Gandhi's principles continue to guide the world.

In a post on X, he said, "Starting the day with Bapu's blessings. Honoured to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's bust at Consulate General of India in Dubai. His principles of non-violence, peace, and truth continue to inspire the world."

https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1949363115193197036

Margherita tuned in to 124th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann ki Baat with the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

Margherita said he finds PM Modi's journey to be an inspiring one.

In a post on X, he said, "Joined the Consulate General of India in Dubai family to listen to the 124th episode of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji's Mann ki Baat. Always inspiring to hear his thoughts on India's journey, achievements, and the role of every citizen in nation-building."

https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1949388632306909673

The Indian Consulate General in Dubai said in a post on X, "Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita joined Consulate officials for the screening of the 124th Episode of Mann Ki Baat at the, Consulate General of India in Dubai."

https://x.com/cgidubai/status/1949419539881496592

Meanwhile, top BJP leaders, including Chief Ministers from several states, tuned in to the 124th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday. From Delhi to Raipur, Bhopal to Agartala, leaders lauded the programme for its role in highlighting grassroots innovations and inspiring citizens across the country.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai listened to the programme in the national capital and Raipur, respectively. (ANI)
Moscow [Russia], July 27 (ANI/MIC Izvestia): More than 20 tourists were injured in a bus accident in the Kiginsky district of Bashkiria. This was announced on July 27 by the Minister of Health of the Republic Airat Rakhmatullin. "As a result of the incident, more than 20 people were injured. 15 of them were taken to the Mesyagut Central district hospital. Eight people were hospitalized. Two of them are in serious condition, the rest are of moderate severity," he wrote on his Telegram channel. It is specified that seven ambulance crews went to the scene of the accident. A temporary accommodation center was set up in the village of Verkhniye Kigi for passengers who were not injured, and a medical officer was sent there. As noted in the Telegram channel of the investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Bashkortostan, a criminal case has been opened into the accident under Part 1 of Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Provision of services that do not meet safety requirements"). An accident involving a bus in the Kiginsky district of Bashkiria was reported earlier that day. According to the regional prosecutor's office, the driver of the vehicle lost control, drove into a ditch and allowed it to roll over. It is specified that there were 40 people on the bus. (ANI/MIC Izvestia)
US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Dan Bongino vowed to uncover the "truth" in a cryptic post on 'X', proclaiming that "we cannot run a Republic like this." Bongino on Saturday said that FBI Director Kash Patel and he are committed to "stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations." https://x.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1949125573055332672 "But what I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core. We cannot run a Republic like this. I'll never be the same after learning what I've learned," he said. It is unclear what Bongino was referring to. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and podcaster, was at the center of the debate over the files related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein earlier this month, The Hill reported. The FBI and Justice Department (DOJ) said in a joint, unsigned memo that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in prison while awaiting trial and that he did not keep the so-called "client list." Bongino was frustrated with the leaders at the Department of Justice and the handling of the Epstein files earlier in July. He clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the issue and has reportedly weighed resigning from his post, as per The Hill. When Bondi briefed Trump in May on the Justice Department's review of the documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, she told him that his name appeared in the files, CNN reported. The conversation, which also included Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, was characterized by two White House officials as a "routine briefing" that covered the scope of the Justice Department's findings. Trump's name appearing in the files, they said, was not the sole focus of the discussions. Bondi also raised in the meeting that several names of high-profile figures were also mentioned, and that investigators did not find evidence of a so-called client list or evidence refuting that Epstein died by suicide, the officials said, as per CNN. (ANI)
China's Ministry of Water Resources on Sunday activated a Level 4 emergency response for flood control in Beijing, Xinhua reported. Since Thursday, the Chaobai River has experienced heavy to torrential rainfall. The Miyun Reservoir, located in the northeast suburbs of Beijing, on Sunday recorded its largest inflow flood since the reservoir was built over six decades ago, according to the ministry. Over the next three days, the Chaobai River will continue to experience moderate to heavy rain, and some small and medium-sized rivers within the affected zones may experience floods above the warning level, it said, as per Xinhua. The ministry urged local authorities to strengthen the monitoring and forecasting of rainfall and water levels and to promptly issue early warning information. Measures must be taken to ensure the safety of ongoing projects and reservoirs, enhance dike inspections and defenses, and ensure that risks are detected and mitigated early, it said, as per Xinhua. The ministry also urged efforts to prevent floods in small and medium-sized rivers and to relocate individuals from dangerous areas in advance, to safeguard the lives and property of the people. On Saturday, heavy rainfall lashed north China's Hebei Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, causing two deaths and two others missing so far, local authorities told Xinhua. Widespread torrential rain has persisted across Inner Mongolia since Wednesday, triggering flooding in several areas. In Xilingol League and cities of Ordos and Ulanqab, more than 22,000 people have been relocated. Over 14,000 pieces or sets of machinery, 737 drainage devices and 8,287 sets of rescue supplies have been deployed across the region, according to the regional emergency management department. In Fuping County, Baoding City of Hebei, two were killed and two others missing due to the latest round of heavy rainfall starting from Friday. For the county, the record-breaking downpour has caused direct economic losses of about 203.5 million yuan (about USD 28.5 million). As of 6 pm (local time) Saturday, more than 46,200 people in the county have been affected by the rainstorms. So far, more than 4,600 local residents have been evacuated, according to the county's flood control and drought relief headquarters. From 8am on Friday to 8 am on Saturday, precipitation was recorded at 1,854 stations across 12 leagues or prefecture-level areas and 92 banners or counties in Inner Mongolia, with heavy rainfall concentrated in Xilingol League and the cities of Ulanqab, Hohhot and Tongliao, said local meteorological authorities. In response, the region has activated Level-IV alerts for flooding and geological disasters and a Level-III alert for rainstorms. Currently, it has also allocated 34,000 items or sets of relief supplies to support its affected areas, Xinhua reported. (ANI)
seventeen years after Morocco announced its plan to rely on renewable energies for electricity production, the country has offered a model of hope for countries who are burdened by fossil fuel, thanks to large scale solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects launched under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

Morocco has increased its renewable energy target from 42% to 52% of installed capacity by 2030, as it continues to stand as an attractive destination for investors in clean energy, building on its propitious investment climate and legislative framework.

So far, Morocco has already reached the 45% milestone and many observers expect the country to be ahead of schedule in surpassing the 52% with the current pace of investment flows.

Morocco was ranked the eighth largest recipient of financial flows in renewable energy, according to a recent renewable energy agency report.

In May this year, Moroccos water and electricity utility ONEE, renewable energy firm Nareva and UAE leading energy company TAQA, signed a deal worth 14 billion dollars to develop desalination by clean energy, along with energy transition projects.

The investments have been ushered following a visit by King Mohammed VI to the UAE in 2023, during which Morocco and the Emirates agreed to step up cooperation.

Home to the worlds largest CSP solar farm in Ouarzazate, Morocco plans to expand investments in solar and wind energy to increase capacity to 20GW, as it also prepares for large-scale green hydrogen investments.

In June 2025, Morocco selected six major investment consortia to lead seven large-scale green hydrogen projects as part of its national strategy. These projects, located across the southern provinces of Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, are expected to generate up to 20 GW of renewable energy and 10 GW of electrolysis capacity.

The initiative aims to produce around 8 million tons of green hydrogen derivatives, including ammonia, synthetic fuels, and green steel. The Moroccan government allocated 300,000 hectares of land in the first phase, with a total of 1 million hectares identified for future development.

In the same vein, Moroccos largest companies, including OCP, prepare for carbon neutrality. OCP said all industrial processes will use renewable energy by 2027.

Morocco is also developing a gas plan including the setting up of a floating gas terminal in Nador West Med, besides promoting drills offshore and onshore, to meet the growing needs of its industrial sector.
Since ascending the throne in 1999, King Mohammed VI has given priority to women rights and empowerment.

Building on previous reforms, Morocco has adopted a draft family code, spurred by King Mohammed VI that is permeated by justice, equality, solidarity, and harmony with the precepts of Islam and universal values.

The draft code was presented to the King in December last year, introducing 100 amendments. The King submitted the text to the opinion of the supreme religious council concerning issues with a religious aspect.

The King urged the council to further examine some issues of Islamic jurisprudence in line with constructive ijtihad to keep pace with the development of the Moroccan family, and to provide innovative answers that meet contemporary requirements.

In September 2023, the King, who has the title of the Commander of the Faithful, made it clear that the new code should not forbid what is lawful not prohibit what is permitted.

Once ready, the new draft family code will be submitted to Parliaments approval.

Twenty years after the latest family code reform, the King said this new review aims to ensure the legal, social, and economic protection of the familythe basic unit of society

This requires ensuring that all the aforementioned points are reflected in clear and understandable legal rules to overcome conflicting judicial interpretations and disputes over their interpretation, the king said.

New provisions

The new code meets the contemporary needs of the Moroccan family by protecting women and childrens rights as well as mans dignity.

Some of the highlights of the review include:

The possibility for Moroccans residing abroad to contract marriage without the presence of two Muslim witnesses if this was not possible.

Setting legal age marriage at 18, exception to this rule at 17 years.

Mandatory consultation of the wifes opinion during the documentation of the marriage contract whether she allows her husband to marry another wife. The husband should act in accordance to this term.

Establishing a non-judicial body for reconciliation and mediation, whose intervention is required, in principle- except in the case of consensual divorce- with its task limited to attempting to reconcile the spouses and mediating the consequences of divorce.

Making consensual divorce a direct contract between the spouses, without the need for judicial procedures, and reducing the types of divorce, while setting a maximum period of six (6) months to decide on divorce cases.

The wifes work at home shall be considered as a contribution to the development of assets acquired during the marital relationship.

Considering child custody as a shared right between the spouses during the marital relationship.

The custody of the divorced mother over her children does not lapse despite her remarriage.

Making legal guardianship shared between the spouses during the marital relationship and after its dissolution.

Protecting minors and enhancing the legal protection of their assets, and impose judicial oversight on the actions taken by their guardian, trustee, or custodian.

The right of the husband or wife to retain the marital home in the event of the death of the other spouse, according to conditions specified by law.

Implementing the proposal of the Supreme Council of Ulema regarding the issue of inheritance for daughters, which allows a person to gift whatever they wish from their assets to female heirs during their lifetime.

Opening the possibility of wills and gifts between spouses in the case of different religions.
United States President Donald Trump announced plans in July to tighten federal permitting to restrict solar and wind energy development. This follows the passing on Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which seeks to expand the fossil fuel and nuclear power sectors while also halting renewable energy progress in the U.S. These moves could lead energy companies to pause investments in renewable energy projects due to the uncertain outlook for the industry, as developers face more red tape and fewer financial incentives in establishing new solar and wind projects.

It may become even harder to develop solar and wind projects that require federal permitting, as the Trump administration has put Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in charge of deciding which projects may proceed on federal land. Burgum now has the final review of leases, rights-of-way, construction plans and all other aspects of the Interior Departments federal permitting process for wind and solar projects, according to an internal memo.

The Interior Department said in a statement that it was levelling the playing field for coal and natural gas after years of assault by the Biden administration. This follows recent moves by the Trump administration to encourage new coal developments and boost production to supposedly drive down energy costs.

Burgums office will now be responsible for reviewing 68 types of agency actions, including federal permits, environmental reviews, lease sales, site plans, wildlife impact assessments and numerous smaller decisions and consultations related to solar and wind energy developments. This is expected to lead to bottlenecks and delays for many renewable energy projects.

Jason Grumet, the CEO of the lobby group American Clean Power (ACP), said, The Interior Department adds three new layers of needless process and unprecedented political review to the construction of domestic energy projects. Grumet added, This isnt oversight. Its obstruction that will needlessly harm the fastest-growing sources of electric power. Approximately 5 percent of solar projects and 1 percent of wind projects are situated on federal land, according to ACP.

While only a small percentage of wind and solar projects are developed on federal lands and waters, many projects situated on private lands consult with the Interior Department to determine whether they require federal permits to comply with wildlife protections or other laws. Several industry groups have criticised the move for hindering the development of U.S. solar and wind power, which has accelerated in recent years.

The new measures are expected to restrict the development of solar and wind energy projects and, therefore, slow the speed of new clean electricity generation at a time when the U.S. electricity demand is expected to soar. As tech companies invest heavily in the rollout of data centres to support complex technologies such as artificial intelligence, experts worry that the U.S. will not be able to meet the growing electricity demand. President Trump has regularly been criticised as experts say his restrictions on the development of renewable energy projects are at odds with his claims that the U.S. is facing an energy emergency to meet growing demand for electricity.

The recent passing of President Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act also threatens green energy progress in the U.S., as it scraps several financial incentives for renewable energy development. Another executive order from July called for the Interior Department to eliminate preferential treatment for wind and solar facilities compared to reliable, dispatchable energy sources, referring to coal, natural gas and nuclear power.

Several House Republicans had previously lobbied for the bill to bring an end to green energy subsidies even faster than the final Act stipulates. Upon voting for a watered-down version of the bill, in terms of renewable energy restrictions, some lawmakers said that Trump had promised to address their concerns through executive action.

And it seems like Trump has followed through with his promise by signing an executive order to end market-distorting subsidies for unreliable, foreign-controlled energy sources on July 7. The order directed the Treasury Department to consider revising its guidelines for how and when renewable energy projects would need to commence development in order to be eligible for tax breaks.

Adam Suess, the acting assistant secretary for lands and minerals management at the Interior Department, said, the actions further deliver on President Trumps promise to tackle the Green New Scam and protect the American taxpayers dollars. Suess added, American energy dominance is driven by U.S.-based production of reliable base load energy, not regulatory favouritism toward unreliable energy projects that are solely dependent on taxpayer subsidies and foreign-sourced equipment.

In recent months, it seems that Trump has waged a war on renewable energy development in the U.S., while also stating the need to rollout more electricity to meet the rising national demand. Through several executive orders and the Big Beautiful Bill, Trump has favoured fossil fuels and supported a reversal of the U.S. energy agenda, as he aims to move away from renewable energy to oil, gas, coal and nuclear power.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com


Rep. Dwayne Yunker applauds President Trumps Executive Order Ending Crime and Disorder on Americas Streets

By Oregon State Representative Dwayne Yunker,

Grants Pass, OR  Following President Trumps Executive Order yesterday to restore public safety and expand civil commitment for the homeless and mentally ill, Representative Dwayne Yunker (RGrants Pass) today applauded the action and sharply criticized Governor Tina Kotek for signing HB 3644 last week, calling it another failed attempt to manage homelessness with slogans instead of solutions.

President Trumps Executive Order puts public safety and accountability first. In contrast, Governor Koteks approach, cemented by HB 3644, throws hundreds of millions at the failed housing first model with no requirement for treatment or behavioral change, said Representative Yunker.

Representative Yunker has repeatedly introduced legislation to repeal or reform HB 3115, which restricts Oregons cities from enforcing public camping laws. Despite last years U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding cities rights to regulate encampments, Democrats in Salem blocked every attempt.

The Supreme Court sided with common sense. Local governments must have the authority to keep streets safe. Instead, Oregon Democrats continue to tie cities hands while enabling addiction and chaos, Representative Yunker said. HB 3115 must be repealed.

President Trump understands what Oregonians are demanding: restore order, require treatment, and stop enabling dysfunction, said Representative Yunker. I will continue pushing for serious, enforceable reforms in this state, because shelter without standards is not compassion.


Rep. Breese Iverson Fiercely Defends Local Farm Stands

By Oregon State Representative Breese Iverson,

Prineville, OR  Representative Vikki Breese (R-Prineville) released the following statement. This comes after the Governor paused a rulemaking that was initiated by the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD).

I am a strong supporter of agritourism and farm stand businesses. These farmers are staples in their communities, beloved by visitors, and are some of the best Oregon has to offer.

I introduced HB 3133 to support these local businesses. If the bill had passed the legislative process, it would have protected and promoted agritourism across the state. HB 3133 was widely supported by the agritourism community.

I appreciate the Governor for intervening to stop the disastrous draft rules produced by DLCD. Those rules ignored the intent of the bill and input from key stakeholders. It is because rural and urban Oregonians united to passionately defend our farmers that these rules were halted.

We cant allow groups like 1,000 Friends to utilize land use laws, regulations, and permits to pick which farmers win and which farmers lose. That is not what Oregonians want.

This disaster has made clear the need for the legislature to weigh in on this issue in the upcoming short session. I look forward to leading the conversation.
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:

Toxic algae, collected here, can disrupt water supplies, ecosystems and recreation activitiesand pose serious health risks. Credit: Brittany Barreto Martinez

The San Luis Reservoir in Merced Countyone of California's largest artificial lakesnot only irrigates Central Valley farmland and supplies drinking water across the Silicon Valley and the South Bay, but also draws swimmers, boaters and anglers year-round.

Yet for months at a time, forest-green blankets of algae spread across the lake's surface. Despite their calm appearance, these harmful algal blooms (HABs) can disrupt water supplies, ecosystems and recreation activitiesand pose serious health risks.

Over the past decade, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has issued frequent health advisories for the reservoir. These warnings, which escalate from caution to danger, tell visitors when to avoid the water due to toxins that can cause rashes, eye irritation and flu-like symptoms. HABs have even been implicated in the deaths of several pet dogs in the state in recent years.

While earning her graduate degree in environmental systems at the University of California, Merced, Brittany Barreto Martinez, now a postdoctoral research fellow at the Disturbance Hydrology Lab at San Diego State University, saw an opportunity to improve HAB monitoring, which has typically relied on shoreline water samples.

"One day I went out to sample on Labor Day weekend, and naturally people took their boats to fish and swim," said Barreto Martinez. "At the time, the lake was very green, at a warning level at least. It's valuable to determine the algal bloom patterns further into the lake rather than just at the lake's edges, especially if boating and fishing is allowed."

Tracking blooms from above

Excess algae formation occurs when a water system becomes enriched with nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Under such conditions, some algal blooms, including those containing cyanobacteria, dinoflagellates and diatoms, can produce toxins that cause illness when ingested. Cyanobacteria are the most common cause of harmful algal blooms in freshwater systems.

Runoff from fertilizers, sewage and even wildfires can disturb an ecosystem's balance and lead to an excess of nutrients in lakes and reservoirs. However, the impact of human activities on HAB formation has been hard to define due to the limitations of ground sample collection, which only allows for spot testing, even though algae growth can vary greatly between locations.

To get a better idea of how algae starts to accumulate away from shore, Barreto Martinez decided to look upway up. Together with her doctoral advisor, Erin Hestir, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of CITRIS at UC Merced, she decided to explore the use of satellite remote sensing to detect HABs within the San Luis Reservoir, across the lake's full surface.

Barreto Martinez partnered with environmental engineering professor Marc Beutel, who had received funding from CITRIS at UC Merced, to pursue the research. She also received support from the highly selective NASA Future Investigator in Earth Space Science and Technology (FINESST) program, which offers up to three years of funding to promising graduate students pursuing topics of interest to NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

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.

Seeking the sweet spot in sensor sensitivity

Barreto Martinez and her team started by determining whether existing satellite technologies had the appropriate sensitivity for this new application.

All physical materials possess unique spectral signatures, based on how they absorb and reflect wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), especially visible light.

A sensor's spectral sensitivity, or the range of wavelengths that it measures, and its resolution, or the amount of detail it can detect, both have technological limitations. Unfortunately, given the size and weight constraints inherent to launching a spacecraft into orbit, not every satellite can be equipped to detect every EMR wavelength. Trade-offs on spectral sensitivity and resolution are necessary, and the criteria are carefully considered based on the satellite's intended purpose.

"We have satellite sensors designed for ocean imaging, and we have satellite sensors designed for land imaging," said Hestir, "but neither are specifically made to measure the lakes and waterways in the inland part of our nation."

Land-observing satellites have small pixels that grant higher resolution, but they have low spectral sensitivity to water, which tends to absorb, rather than reflect, the EMR needed to create a useful image. Ocean-observing satellites, on the other hand, are built to detect large bodies of water but their images are composed of accordingly larger pixels.

Algae bloom in a reservoir. Credit: Brittany Barreto Martinez

Bridging the gap in bloom data

Barreto Martinez found two specific satellites, Sentinel 2 and Sentinel 3, that could be used to detect chlorophylla reliable proxy for cyanotoxins, according to the World Health Organizationand both chlorophyll and cyanobacteria, respectively.

Thanks to its wider spectral sensitivity, Sentinel 3 was able to confirm when cyanobacteria and chlorophyll were both present, while the higher-resolution Sentinel 2 could discern variability in the density of the algal bloom across different areas of the lake.

For her investigation, Barreto Martinez used open-source information from Sentinel 2 and Sentinel 3 taken between 2016 and 2022, selecting images that were taken on the same days that the DWR collected water samples from the dock.

As the team shared in a 2024 article in the journal GeoHealth, the resulting data from Sentinel 2 showed more than 79% agreement with the toxin levels found in the ground samples, and Sentinel 3 found 83% agreement. In other words, the information from the satellites corresponded to a high degree with the dockside HAB toxin detection, demonstrating the ability of remote sensing to determine the size and location of algal blooms within the lake.

Barreto Martinez's work made strides toward closing a striking data collection gap and promoting a greater degree of public safety. Moving forward, data from satellite sensing can help the DWR decide where to take ground samples, while allowing the agency to issue more accurate public health alerts even more quickly.

Hestir attributed the project's impact to Barreto Martinez's methodical approach.

"Brittany was very persistent," she said. "She took it upon herself to become an expert in the relevant satellite technology, develop sophisticated coding and data analysis skills, build deep system knowledge of these lake ecosystems, and even obtain certification to launch and drive a boat to collect verification samples."

Identifying an alarming trend

When the team reviewed historical data from all California lakes visible from space, they found a surprising increase in the number of toxic HAB alert days statewideespecially in Southern Californiaover the past 15 years.

This trend parallels a rise in severe wildfires over the last two decades, raising a new question: Could wildfires be driving the increase in lake algae, directly or indirectly?

Hestir's NASA-funded KelpFire project, which examines wildfire runoff's effects on coastal kelp, has shown that vegetation loss increases sediment and surface runoff. After a fire, this can alter nutrient levels entering lakes and reservoirs.

"How much of the watershed was burned? And what burned?" said Hestir. "Were human settlements destroyed that might be adding harmful pollutants and heavy metals into the waterways?

"We are working hard with our colleagues at NASA, UCLA and USGS to better understand when and why a wildfire has an impact."

Hestir's research is among several emerging collaborations between CITRIS researchers and NASA, fostered by the CITRIS Aviation initiative.

Keeping humans in the loop

In the meantime, on-site sampling will remain essential at the San Luis Reservoir for monitoring qualities of the water that cannot be determined visually, such as nutrient levels.

"Remote sensing is not intended to replace 'grab' samples; the two techniques work hand in hand," said Barreto Martinez. "Where humans can't, these machines can."

By introducing a supplementary measuring tool that uses accessible and reliable data, Barreto Martinez was able to extend the capabilities of remote sensing further than she had once thought possible.

"Addressing the public health perspective was very rewarding," she said, "because it connected the sensing technology to improving people's day-to-day lives and safety."
TORONTO (Reuters) -The Canadian government on Saturday condemned Hong Kong authorities issuing arrest warrants for pro-democracy activists based overseas.

"The individuals targeted yesterday under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law in Hong Kong include Canadians and people with close ties to Canada," the government said in a statement.

"This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad, including by issuing threats, intimidation or coercion against Canadians or those in Canada, will not be tolerated."

Hong Kong's national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent law, marking the largest such tally yet.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -The United States told China at the United Nations on Friday it should "stop fueling Russia's aggression" in Ukraine, as China accused Washington of trying to shift blame and spark confrontation.

Acting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea urged all countries, specifically naming China, to stop exports to Russia of dual-use goods that Washington says contribute to Russias war industrial base and enable its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.

Beijings claim to have implemented strong export controls on dual-use goods falls apart in the face of daily recovery of Chinese-produced components in the drones, weapons, and vehicles that Russia uses against Ukraine, Shea told a meeting of the 15-member U.N. Security Council on Ukraine.

China did not start the war in Ukraine, is not a party to the conflict, has never provided lethal weapons, and has always strictly controlled dual-use materials, including the export of drones, China's deputy U.N. Ambassador Geng Shuang responded.

We urge the U.S. to stop shifting blame on the Ukraine issue or creating confrontation and instead play a more constructive role in promoting ceasefire and peace talks, he told the council.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that Chinese-made engines are being covertly shipped via front companies to a state-owned drone manufacturer in Russia, labeled as "industrial refrigeration units" to avoid detection in the wake of Western sanctions.

"If China is sincere in calling for peace, it should stop fueling Russia's aggression," Shea said.
MOSCOW (AP)  The Russian parliament's upper house on Friday quickly approved a bill that punishes online searches for information officially branded extremist, the latest in a series of moves by authorities to tighten control of the internet.

The legislation makes what it describes as deliberately searching for and accessing extremist materials online punishable by a fine of up to the equivalent of $64.

The bill, which was endorsed by the lower house earlier this week, is now set to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin.

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 wont be affected and only those who methodically seek outlawed content will be targeted. They didnt explain how authorities would differentiate between them.

Russians widely use VPN services for access to banned content, but authorities have sought to tighten restrictions and close the loopholes. The state communications watchdog has increasingly used technology to analyze traffic and block specific VPN protocols.

Russian authorities have ramped up 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.
Its still early in the turnaround effort, but there are promising signs of progress at Riverside Regional Jail, the high-volume complex that works on behalf of seven central Virginia counties.

The jails administrators and board have sought to shake off several years of bad headlines. In 2017, two men at the jail died by suicide. In 2019 and 2020, another three men died at the jail, including an intellectually disabled 29-year-old named Michael Dillon.

After investigators ascribed fault to jail staff, the jails administrator resigned, penning a letter alleging dysfunction, and Chesterfield County, which supplies more than a third of the jails population, began plans to cut ties as the jail looked set for a shut down  a recommendation from state regulators.

Criticism mounted, the jail continued to lead the state in terms of in-custody deaths, and lawmakers called for new leadership.

In October 2024, that leadership arrived in the form of Jeffrey N. Dillman. And on Thursday, before the seven-county board who are effectively his bosses, Dillman shared statistics that point toward improvement.

According to Dillman, Riverside has one fatality so far in 2025. In the past three years  from 2022 to 2024  the facility logged 12 deaths, according to the state agency that oversees jails.

Dillman also reported a drop in assaults. In February, Riverside recorded 28 major infractions in its maximum-security unit. In response, Dillman implemented a behavioral incentive program and reworked staffing of the unit. In April, May and June, Riverside recorded no more than three major infractions each month.

The incidents of fights and assaults have declined markedly due to strategic changes in managing our high-security inmates, said Dillman. Thats a significant decrease in violence.

Dillman has brought back Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs as well as launched a violence prevention initiative. The programs inaugural class graduated recently.

And Dillman says his staff are now laser-focused on speeding up the amount of time police officers spend dropping off detainees, a metric known as booking time.

Dillman also said that early hiring efforts have been successful and that supervisors are now armed with Narcan, a lifesaving overdose reversal drug. And on August 1, the jail will begin giving high-risk inmates Narcan on their way out  an acknowledgment of the well-documented research showing that overdose risk is heightened in the hours and days after a persons release from jail.

I do believe things have gotten better, said Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard, who is the largest stakeholder in the jail with 400 inmates under Riversides supervision on any given day. His own jail in Chesterfield houses around 350.

In addition to Chesterfield, the jail is used by Prince George, Surrey and Charles City counties, as well as the cities of Colonial Heights, Petersburg and Hopewell.

One of the things Ive seen right away is greater transparency. And I think youll see, under Dillmans leadership, theyve been quicker to tell their own story, which hasnt happened in the past, said Leonard. I think hes doing a great job with that transparency.

Petersburg Sheriff Vanessa Crawford remarked that things seem to be falling into place.

Last year, two lawmakers who represent the central Virginia region covered by the jail called for new leadership. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, said she had yet to meet with Dillman and declined to speak regarding Riverside on that basis.

Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, said the jail is much improved, although she still worries about the jails debt  it cost $65 million to build in the early 2000s.

It seems to be that hes come in and emphasized training, accountability, and so far, it feels that way, said Coyner. So from that standpoint, it seems better.

Other concerns still loom. The jail faces financial pressure from rising pharmaceutical costs, its debt and a number of other infrastructure expenses. It also loses money on more than 400 vacant beds. Dillman is actively looking for ways to fill them, including by shouldering some of the detention needs arising as a result of the Trump administrations crackdown on illegal immigration.

Dillman came to the job after 28 years working within the Virginia Department of Corrections. Leonard remarked that he could have easily retired rather than take on the project of rehabilitating Riverside.

He did it because he genuinely cares, said Leonard.

Speaking shortly after this Thursdays board meeting, Dillman said he was just there to provide the vision.

I dont want any of the accolades, he added.
Crocodile nearly 3 meters long relocated from wandering on island highway

Cozumel, Q.R.  An adult crocodile nearly 3 meters long was relocated from the southern coastal highway of Cozumel Saturday. Civil Protection and island firemen responded to a citizen report of the large wandering reptile seen walking the coastal road.

Cozumel City Hall said thanks to a timely citizen report and rapid inter-institutional coordination, the Municipal Government rescued and released an American crocodile measuring approximately 2.90 meters long. The reptile was found on a property located on the southern coastal highway.

Civil Protection and Firefighters responded to the report and arrived at the scene, where they managed to secure the reptile following safety and animal welfare protocols, without causing any injuries or endangering anyone.

Following an assessment by wildlife specialists, the crocodile was confirmed to be in good health.

With the support of the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC) and the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), the crocodile was transported to the mangrove area in Punta Sur, the species natural habitat, where it was safely released.

The Municipal Government appreciates the responsible participation of citizens, which was key to the preservation of this protected species, and urges everyone to immediately report any sightings of wildlife in urban areas, avoiding attempts to handle the animals themselves. The conservation of our biodiversity is a shared responsibility.
Mexico Tren Maya team heading to Belize to start expansion feasibility study

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Belize is moving ahead with Mexico talks to begin studies to expand the Tren Maya. Mexicos neighbor has expressed interest in having the tracks expanded into their country since before the start of the project.

Belizean authorities have confirmed that formal negotiations are set to take place in the coming days between representatives of the mega-railway project and the neighboring countrys government.

Nery Ramirez, the Executive Director of the Corozal Free Zone, reported that although a date for the meeting has not yet been set, the arrival of a technical team from Tren Maya is expected to conduct preliminary studies on the projects feasibility.

These projects are part of a proposal promoted by Belizean Prime Minister Jhon Briceno, who previously asked the Mexican government to consider extending the train into Belize.

What I understand is that the Maya Train team and the government are coming to review the route and conduct the necessary studies with a view to developing a management plan, Ramirez said.

The official noted that the potential rail connection would represent a significant opportunity for both the tourism sector and bilateral trade. In particular, he emphasized that the Free Zone could benefit from freight rail transportation once this mode of transport is operational.

In May, Belize Prime Minister John Briceno and Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum had a phone conversation with both sides discussing expanding market access for Belizean cattle and coconuts as well as expanding the Maya Train project.
Protestors outside Cancun court house accuse police of planting drugs on detained Uber driver

Cancun, Q.R.  A group of Cancun Uber drivers blocked Nichupte Avenue outside the Criminal Court Saturday. The group were demanding the release of one of their drivers who was arrested in the Cancun Hotel Zone.

The driver, identified as Jose Elias N, was arrested after being found in possession of narcotics during a stop. Family members say the drugs reportedly found in his vehicle were planted by police.

The group arrived outside the building around 11:00 a.m. demanding the release of the 32 year old driver hours before his trial was set to begin. The protesters accused police officers of planting drugs on their colleague during the arrest, which allegedly occurred for speeding.

The group of Uber drivers also claim that for several weeks they have been victims of constant harassment and abuse by police saying that police harassment has not ended with the appointment of the new Citizen Security Secretariat head, but has actually increased.

The Uber drivers demanded justice and warned of a systematic practice of fabricating crimes to give the appearance of effectiveness. Who checks the police when they carry drugs? Who stops them when they abuse their uniform? one protester asked. Its a disgrace that instead of protecting citizens police persecute and criminalize them.

You cant trust a system that detains innocent people while covering up real criminals, said another Uber driver during the Saturday protest.

According to witnesses, Jose Elias N was traveling with passengers when he was intercepted on Uxmal Avenue by authorities as part of Operation Blindaje Cancun.

They claimed that since police did not find anything illegal, the officers planted narcotics to justify his arrest, falsely accusing him of drug dealing.

We will not remain silent. Today it was him, tomorrow it could be anyone, said Laura M, the wife of Jose Elias N.
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,

About six years ago, my wife and I decided to go our own ways. I was 44, relatively successful in work, tall, and we both left the marriage in not terrible financial shape. Instead of pursuing the usual post-divorce rounds of sleeping around, I ended up dating, sleeping with, and eventually marrying one person. She is 16 years my junior and was coming off her own unsuccessful marriage.

When we started dating, we both agreed we wanted to explore a lot of pent up fantasies together such as role play, engaging with other couples/other singles to join us to explore our bi curiosities, etc. After some time digitally exploring on Feeld, my interest only grew and I was ready for the real thing. However my partner put the brakes on repeatedly and when push came to shove she always got cold feet. Five years into our relationship and a year married, she is now officially firm that she doesnt want to explore any of the fantasies we talked about (and agreed to try) before we were married, which is a little disappointing. I had a window, I suppose, to explore things when I was singleso maybe its my fault for not doing it back when I could do it. Then again, she told me she was ready to explore them all with me so I was thinking, Great. Best of both worlds. I can settle down and explore with someone.

I still want to explore some of these bi curiosities (you only live once and I dont want to short change myself) but I sure dont want to cheat. And I dont see a hall pass coming my way. What is my responsibility here and what is a reasonable next step?

Yolo, Solo, Or No-Go?

Dear Yolo, Solo, Or No-Go?,

You, like anyone, have multiple responsibilities. They overlap and conflict. On one hand, you have a responsibility to your partner to honor your wedding vows and your arrangement, which as of now is monogamous. On the other hand, you have a responsibility to yourself to understand who you are in full, and take advantage of the life you have while you still have it.

The way some reconcile these contradicting responsibilities, in the event of bi-curiosity and other cravings, is via ethical non-monogamy. I get the sense that even though you are doubtful that opening your relationship will fly with your wife, you dont know that for sure. There is not much you can do about her reneging on your agreement to exploreshe is entitled to change her mind and she certainly should not be having any sex that she doesnt want to be having. But, it does give you at least a talking point in a hypothetical conversation about opening up: We said we were going to explore. Now you dont want to, and thats cool, but I do, and I dont want to live the rest of my life without exploring my potential bi side [and/or groups, role play, whatever else you want to explore that shes not interested in].

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Even if nothing comes of this discussion, she should at least hear you out and provide rationale for dismissing your request. Hopefully she wont. Hopefully she will be amenable to the exploration that you so wish to experience. But at minimum she should be able to provide you with some clarity and closure. From there you can choose what is more important: Staying in the relationship or leaving it to experience the things that you still havent gotten a chance to do. Keep in mind, this may take more than one conversation. You may have to walk the line of showing how important this is to you via persistence, but without coming off as a nag. (This is subjective, but it may come down to broaching the topic periodically and backing off if and when things get too heated.) In your discussions you may have been more serious than she wasshe might have gone along with what you said to appease you or because she enjoyed fantasizing without actually having to commit. You should let her know for certain just how serious you were, and still are.

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One thing that your letter has me wondering is how did it take five years for you to get to the point where she has definitively vetoed the plans that you made? What were the conversations like? Was she stringing you along? How often did you bring it up? Did she surprise you one day with an about face? There may be deeper communication issues in your relationship that something like couples therapy could help get to the bottom of.

Get 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 have a problem that has hampered my love life. My pubic hair goes almost halfway down the shaft of my dick, and on more than a few occasions I have had women get grossed out over it and leave. I dont enjoy shaving that area, so thats not really an option. Ive heard of lasering to have the hair removed, but that sounds expensive, not to mention painful. Do you know of any other solutions?

Hopelessly Hair

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Dear Hopelessly Hair,

You need to decide which you enjoy less: Shaving or being rejected for your hairy dick. If its the former, that kind of puts the stakes here into perspective: low level. If youre OK with being rejected from time to time, keep your dick in full fur. If not, you have options. Shaving doesnt mean you have to bust out the straight razor and risk throwing out the baby with the bath water (or penis with the pubic hair, as it were). You could get an electric trimmer and buzz your errant pubes to a manageable length (I like the Philips Norelco OneBlade Intimate, the only such shaver Ive used that hasnt pulled my skin or nicked me). You could also buy a good pair of scissors and trim by hand. Electrolysis is expensive and it can be somewhat painful, though what attracts many to this form of hair removal is that its a long-term solution. Tweezing is another option to look into, though it will be time consuming and may be too painful to withstand.

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You could also look into a depilatory cream (they even make them branded for men so that their masculinity doesnt fall out of their follicles along with the hair, I suppose). These can cause burns, though, particularly in those who have sensitive skin. Youd have to try it (preferably on an area that is not your actual penis first) to see if this is the right option for you. Processes like waxing and sugaring are likely to also cause you pain. The lesson to extract here is something women have known from time immemorial: Beauty hurts. You want a pretty dick, you pay a pretty penny.

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!

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Dear How to Do It,

My wife is a screamer during sex. This doesnt bother meI find it extremely gratifying. The trouble is we are going to be staying at my in-laws place for two weeks vacation next month (they live on an island and have kindly offered to host us so we can save money). Would suggesting to my wife that she practice being quieter when we are going at it be the thing to do here? I would prefer not to go without getting laid for all that time, but the prospect of having her parents over hear me plowing their daughter squicks me out.

Volume Control Needed

Dear Volume Control Needed,

This is a basic etiquette question. Different situations dictate appropriate behavior. Just as it would be inappropriate to have explicit conversations about sex with children, it would be inappropriate to have a screaming orgasm within earshot of ones parents. (Im sure there are well-adjusted families that would laugh something like that off, but at least in the U.S., its fairer to assume that making your sex known throughout the house would be, at minimum, awkward.) Your wife is a screamer, which is a description of what she does not of who she is. She does not have to scream. She may do so because letting go and not repressing such screams is conducive to her pleasure/staying in the moment, but unless she has a condition that involves making loud, involuntary sounds, she can and should control herself.

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And whos to say that she wont? You assume youll have to ask her to pipe down, but she may already have that planned. Try not to condescend or assume that youre more aware than she is. A conversation ahead of timeWere going to try to be quiet at your parents place when we bone, right?should be sufficient. If this somehow seems like a daunting prospect, consider proposing the integration of a gag into your play. If your choices come down to screaming sex or no sex, go with no sex. You owe your hosts respect (on top of them being her parents, they are, after all, saving you money) and two weeks really isnt that long to go without getting laid. Youll live!

Rich
A couple of years ago, I frequently found myself driving past a roadside ice cream stand under construction. For weeks, the roof of this stand, a gigantic white swirl of fiberglass soft serve, sat on the ground next to the structure, waiting to be lowered onto the finished, cone-shaped building with a crane. I know what it was supposed to represent, but every time I glimpsed it, my instinctive first thought was Theres a giant poop emoji.

Keith Houstons history of emoji, Face With Tears of Joy, argues that emoji have become so ubiquitous in our writing, so quotidian, that we should be talking about them in the same breath as grammar or punctuation. I dont know about grammar, which seems as fundamental to language, spoken and written, as words themselves. But punctuation? Absolutely. As Houstons breezy, witty blend of pop culture and tech history ponders exactly what emoji aresymbols? Words? Pictographs? A script? A language?his assertion that these little images have become an inextricable part of our culture, and even perhaps of our unconscious minds, feels credible, that giant poop emoji by the highway being a case in point.

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Face With Tears of Joy delves way back into the history of written language, which began with pictures of actual objectsideogramsthen evolved into symbols for spoken sounds. Cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and Chinese characters started out this way, so, Houston writes, it is tempting to imagine that emoji, too, might one day become a true script through a similar mechanism. But projects like a gibberishy 2009 translation of Moby-Dick into emojis served only to demonstrate how unlikely that is. Emoji dont, after all, have any meaningful relationship to spoken language, and the languages emoji users speak already have their own written forms. Emoji are entirely a phenomenon of text-based communication.

Houston traces the emergence of emoji back to their motherland in Japan, where devices as primitive as pagers supported little pixelated images that users found delightful. (He uses the term emoji both for a singular glyph and for the whole lexicon of images, in deference to these Japanese origins.) Theres some debate over who exactly created the first emoji, but initially the credit went to an engineer named Shigetaka Kurita, who created a font made of symbols for cellphones in the late 90s. From the start, emoji reflected the interests of their creators. According to Houston, Kurita added symbols for hands making rock, paper, and scissors gestures because he thought they might be useful in mobile games, and in addition to the more generic emoji of a sedan, he included one of an SUV, because Kurita drove one whenever he went snowboarding.

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Emoji caught on in the West in the 2010s, when Apple made colorful, detailed versions available on the iPhone. Google had included some pictographs it called goomoji in Gmail during the 2000s and initiated the important step of petitioning an organization called the Unicode Consortium to oversee the standardized coding of emoji, but it took ubiquitous, high-resolution texting to take emoji mainstream outside Japan. The parts of Face With Tears of Joy leading up to this introduction make for a nostalgic jaunt for early adopters, with stops at such evocative innovations as the Zapf Dingbats font in the first Macintosh computers to once commonplace emoticons.

Houston doesnt make enough of emoticons, the first of which was proposed in 1982 by the computer scientist Scott E. Fahlman on the electronic bulletin board of Carnegie Mellon University. The bulletin boards text-only discussion forum, one of the main forms of online conversation at the time, had a problem: It wasnt always obvious when someone was joking. Fahlman proposed that such posts include a marker made of a colon, a dash, and a closing parenthesis (a character sequence I now cant type without my word processing program transforming it into a smiley face).

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As primitive as emoticons were, they addressed a big issue in these emerging forms of communication. Online posts were informal, like conversation, but lacking the cues in spoken language that are not words: tone of voice, facial expressions, hand gestures, laughter. This lack of contextual flavoring is often blamed for the way online interactions can so easily blow up into misunderstandings and feuds. Some very accomplished writers might be able to convey everything they want to say in words alone, but with the advent of the internet, countless people with basic writing skills were suddenly plunged into often sensitive exchanges without the aid of the extratextual qualifiers that make personal interaction so much more clear for most of us. So they fashioned facial expressions out of punctuation marks to make up the difference.

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Related From Slate Two Smiling Faces, a World of Difference Read More

Faces remain among the most commonly used emoji, lending credence to a 2019 paper by linguists Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne, Emoji as Digital Gestures, that, Houston reports, makes a convincing case that emoji act as the body language of the web. The popular emoji that arent facesheart, folded hands, waving hand, side-eyesall stand in for gestures or expressions of feeling that arent always easy to convey in text alone. This is the core utility of emoji, the part worth a thousand wordswords that many of us arent able to command effectively even if we wanted to. Without hearts and smiley faces, emoji would probably have remained a seldom-used curiosity, like the pointing hands and snowflakes of Zapf Dingbats.

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Instead, emoji blew up right around 2011, and one of the primary pleasures of Face With Tears of Joy is the opportunity it offers to revisit the online culture of the 2010s, when the internet still felt fun. Yes, people protested the monochromatic skin tones of the first sets of emoji depicting humans and lobbied for a greater variety of hair colors and skin tones, as well as the option to depict same-sex couples and women in the trappings of professions other than dancing girl. And yes, this sometimes resulted in cranky peanut-gallery tweets, such as Ive been waiting forever for the ginger emoji and THIS is it?? Uh, hello?documented in the invaluable online resource Emojipedia. But these disputes lacked the entrenched bitterness of todays internet culture, and for much of the decade, each new tranche of emoji was heralded by amusing press coverage and silly controversies over such matters as where Google should place the slice of cheese in the cheeseburger glyph. (It was initially depicted under the patty, which is obviously very wrong.)

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In the 2010s, emoji provided a seemingly inexhaustible source of clever light news and watercooler chitchat about which glyphs had won the approval of the Unicode Consortium and the inventive ways people had found to deploy them. The expanded variety of available images gave users the opportunity to turn the eggplant and peach emoji into synonyms for body parts and the nail polish emoji into a symbol of insouciance. As Houston chronicles, dating sites and the scholars who studied them correlated emoji usage to frequency of sexual encounters (more frequent emoji users had more sex), while noting that emoji in a profile made the owner seem less intelligent to other members of the service.

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An Australian foreign minister responded to an interview using only emoji. President Barack Obama thanked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a state visit for his nations many contributions to international culture and, of course, emoji. BuzzFeed created an election night tracker for the 2018 midterms that allowed users to respond to the news feed with emoji. In 2015 the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary chose the emoji after which Houstons book is titled as its Word of the Year. The catnip of generational comparison has led to articles observing that the face with tears of joy emoji is associated with millennial laughter, while members of Gen Z use the skull emoji to indicate theyve found something lethally funny. Anyone whos spent much time in the comments sections of social media will also recognize that in the past five years, face with tears of joy has taken on an edgier connotation, as its now often used to signal derision at the statements of political opponents. Nothing today, it seems, can long remain free from the trolls.

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Emoji still provide slivers of delight. A friend and I concluded a recent text exchange arranging a summer visit with  and , as a reminder that even in difficult times, we can find solace in nature. But the problem that emoji stepped up to addressthe lack of nonverbal modifiers in text-based communicationmay be creeping toward irrelevance. As social media shifts from text posts to short videos, we usually dont need a yellow smiley face to tell us when a speaker is laughing or being sarcastic. (Granted, emoji still come in handy when you want to post a comment to the video.) Perhaps the day will come when people driving past that ice cream stand will think only of creamy frozen desserts. But not meat least not yet.
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Its a suspicion Ive always brushed off as ridiculous when heading to an Asian restaurantthat is, until a few Chinese friends and my Indonesian girlfriend suggested it unsolicited. Theyd try my dish and remark that it lacked spice (as in heat), then inform me in complete seriousness that the chef probably lowered it because Im white.

Let me order the spicy dish for you next time, Id be told, like a child.

The purported association between whiteness and spice tolerance is amusingly frustrating, considering how much I love spicy food, as I imagine many other white people do as wellespecially those of us who have an unhealthy fascination with hot sauces. But sometimes when I order, the heat level does at least seem less than described, and when I do request a higher level, Im occasionally warned with Are you sure? Its understandable if so. There must be overly sensitive white people out there, constantly demanding refunds before bursting into flames, who are ruining it for the rest of us. They do that with a lot of things.

Gaze across the whiny internet landscape and youll find countless Reddit forums and Quora questions and X posts wondering as much. One Redditor tells of asking the server at a Thai restaurant for a spice level as hot as if they were feeding their family, at which point the chef came out to confirm he actually wanted that, saying that no refunds would be issued. Another Redditor claims he worked at an Indian restaurant, and theyll definitely make it a bit milder for white people. Speaking of South Asia, my editor related a tale to me of a white woman who went with some Indian friends to order takeout, and when the friends asked for the food to be Indian spicy, the server just shook their head and refused until it was explained that the woman was ordering separately.

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Over at X, Jeremiah Johnson writes, Theres a real struggle I go through whenever I find a new southeast Asian or Indian place, where I have to really work to get them to give me actually spicy food instead of spicy-for-white-people food. But he later adds, In their defense, Im so visually white that I border on translucent, so I get it.

Even considering the hefty weight of these totally anecdotal testaments, I still have trouble taking the mechanics of such vague assumptions seriously. How would it work exactly? Does the server walk into the kitchen and subtly nod to the cook to ease off on the red pepper? Is a small W written on the order ticket? Do they install a special Caucasian button underneath the table so the waiter can press it like a clerk during a bank robbery? There must be code words for liability reasons: Weve got a macaroni and cheese sitting at Table 3, he whispers into his collar. Put that fire out.

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Chef Nick Wong, who co-owns the Asian American diner Agnes and Sherman in Houston, and has worked with the Momofuku Restaurant Group in New York, doesnt entirely buy that restaurants have the time to adjust spice levels depending on what census box you tick.

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You mean you have this entire other set of SOPs [standard operating procedures] in place? he asked. In restaurants, he said, its like a decision tree, if this, then thisservers have enough to do that maybe theyre not trying to figure that out. OK, if they say they want this, we should knock it down one level, and its because of these specific parameters. Thats a lot of mental juggling to deal with on a Friday night at 7:30 dinner rush.

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This is not to mention that the classic spice star (or    or   ) system isnt set according to some centralized rulebook, any more than movie review star systems are, so a three-star drunken noodle dish at one joint may taste like a one-star at another. Of course, if restaurant staffers see a pattern of complaints about heat levels in a dish, they might adjust accordingly, perhaps in suburban areas or among older clientele, for whom higher spice levels and certain more pungent flavors might not be as prevalent or familiar.

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I can see it from a business owner/chefs perspective: We keep getting complaints about thislet me just preemptively strike this, as it were, and make it a little less spicy, said Wong. So it could be a thing, even though Ive never personally experienced it.

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There is another obvious wrench in the whole whitewashed spice narrative, and its probably covered in hot sauce. You may have noticed an entire area of the country called the South, where theres a beloved subgenre of food singed in numerous forms of heat, and it often can be found with a white person sweating over it. But even without that, one cant help but notice that white people throughout the country have an irrational obsession with hot sauce. There are festivals and shows and stores dedicated to the stuff. So the idea that all white people are getting the vapors and fainting after consuming a three-star pad thai is a bit hard to take. Plenty of communities obviously like hot sauce, but white peopleusually guys lacking hobbies, lets be honesttake it pretty far.

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I dont think a lot of other ethnic cultures are like, Let me get the 10-million-Scoville hot sauce,  Wong joked. Theyre just eating food. No ones trying to reach these altered-state-of-mind spice levels.

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The myth of white people getting served lightweight food is thought to occur not only at Chinese and Thai and Indian restaurants. Its projected onto Mexican, Middle Eastern, African, Latin American, and Vietnamese establishmentsbasically, anywhere they dont serve chicken fried steak, a white person is supposedly being cheated out of spice. While this notion of white people not handling their heat may be an exaggeration, it belies a much bigger and pernicious one: Not all so-called ethnic food is hot and/or spicy, and many white people have this silly idea that all nonwhite people grew up eating piles of chilies for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They dont, of course, and can be as sensitive to heat levels and different aromatic flavors as anyone else.

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When I first reached out about this article idea to Krishnendu Ray, professor of food studies at NYU Steinhardt, he responded, before Id asked any questions, with a bullet-point dismantling of generalizations around spiciness and racial or ethnic palates:

Such claims usually confuse aromatic spices and chilies;

Most cuisines of the old world (India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, etc.) did not use chilies until ca. 1900;

Elite White Europeans used a lot of spices in their food until around ca. 1750 [when it gradually fell out of fashion, on which more below];

There is nothing authentic about Black or Brown people using more chilies;

Authenticating associations of non-white food with chilies is reductive and unimaginative.

Its not necessarily something youd put at the beginning of a menu, but it does have a Ten Commandments feel, doesnt it? The debate focusing on heat in food tends to mischaracterize the subtlety of flavors and creates a needless binary in which all parties involved either eat only spicy food or never touch the stuff.

Most of this is just ill-informed stereotypes of each others food, Ray said. A lot of this argument about spiciness conflates new world cultivarchilieswhich come mostly from Central America, and spiciness. For me, its a classic, peculiar form of Orientalism, where you conflate all the nonwhite people, East and West, into one kind of spiciness. This conflation leads to the assumption that [in cooking] you dont need skill, you dont need subtlety, all you need is a heavy-handed use of spice to make it authentic.

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While Ray told me he enjoys the jokes about white people and spice, he doesnt actually believe that restaurants are automatically lowering spice levels as a result. He sees the opposite, with heat levels in food needlessly raised to cater to them and others.

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Ive been watching in New York City, and the spice levels have been ratcheted up so much as a sign of authenticity that I find most of the Indian food here inedible, he told me. In some ways its a dialogue, and its a dialogue where we are not explicitly talking to each other. We are assuming things about each other.  Its a good joke, but I dont think its true.

That said, the spice queasiness association is not without historical context. As Ray explained, although European elites did use many spices in their food until around 1750, they began to de-spice, in a sense, as the continent rose in power, and cultivated their own identity around food, often prizing herbs instead of spices. In Europe, the notion emerged that food should taste of itself, and one can see how that approach may have filtered its way down to British and some American cuisine over the years. Even white Americans make fun of the blandness of British food (which is fine, if a bit unfair), but then dont also complain when an ethnic restaurant makes the same mistaken assumption and lowers the spice level on you.

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Clearly whats needed to find the truth here is a totally unscientific experiment. The ridiculous parameters are simple. Id show up to a local Thai place and continue to be white, and my lunch companion would continue to be Southeast Asian. Wed order the same high spice level of the dish covertly at separate times, with me ordering alone first, and her arriving at my table a little later to place her own. Then the crux of the test would be conducted, by casually doing what weve done dozens of times already: trying each others food. Wed compare notes afterward.

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Now, Id love to tell you that my girlfriend received a volcanic pad see ew while I got a cold plate of egg noodles with ketchup, but there was no difference between the two. Both were respectably spicy, and in fact, she found hers too much so to finish. Too hot? the owner asked her when she requested a to-go box. Its too hot for me as well. I always get mild. So what can be learned from this NASA-with-full-funding-like study? People have different tastes, apparently. And, somehow, I didnt settle all racial tensions by ordering food I already like.

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Are there some ethnic restaurants in certain regional areas lowering the heat level when they see a horde of white yokels approaching? Perhaps. It may have really happened to this yokel a few times too. But we also can safely assume there are other restaurants needlessly jacking up the heat for a table of white coked-up Wall Street execs obsessed with Scoville units. Thats multiculturalism for you.

No matter what race or ethnicity you belong to, theres always a small minority embarrassing the rest in some form. Perhaps we could try to understand that theres more to food than white-hot levels of heat, and not take it seriously when the spice level is a little lower or higher than it should be because of a bad assumption. Just leave a good tip regardless, and maybe dont start an international incident over a bowl of curry.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/cambodian-thai-prime-ministers-to-come-to-malaysia-for-border-talks-on-monday-1122498362.html

Cambodian, Thai Prime Ministers to Come to Malaysia for Border Talks on Monday

Cambodian, Thai Prime Ministers to Come to Malaysia for Border Talks on Monday

Sputnik International

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailands acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will come to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Monday to discuss the border conflict, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told state news agency Bernama.

2025-07-27T14:35+0000

2025-07-27T14:35+0000

2025-07-27T14:35+0000

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The Malaysian foreign minister said that Malaysia, the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, should act as mediator first, as this is an internal matter of the 10-nation Southeast Asian bloc, which includes both Cambodia and Thailand. The Thai Foreign Ministry confirmed that the acting prime minister would meet with his Cambodian counterpart in Malaysia on Monday. When asked why US President Donald Trumps phone calls with the two prime ministers triggered preparations for Malaysia-mediated talks after other countries offered to mediate, Phalangkun said that both countries were eager to resume trade tariff negotiations with Washington, which, as Trump stated, the United States would not conduct with nations engaged in armed conflict. Border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated into an armed conflict on July 24. People died and many were injured on both sides, including civilians. This followed a clash on May 28 between Thai and Cambodian military personnel in a disputed neutral zone, which left a Cambodian soldier dead. Territorial disputes between Thailand and Cambodia go back to French colonial rule when a map establishing the border between the two countries was drawn up in 1907, but the neighbors interpreted it differently. French members of the demarcation commission overlooked some sections of the border due to their inaccessibility. After Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953, these areas became the subject of a territorial dispute. Thailand prefers resolving all border-related disputes with its neighbors through bilateral negotiations, while Cambodia relies on the International Court of Justice, whose jurisdiction over territorial disputes Thailand does not recognize.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250726/thailand-vs-cambodia-a-military-face-off-1122495235.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/from-cathedral-to-combat-ship-putin-marks-navy-day-in-st-petersburg-and-kronstadt-1122499694.html

From Cathedral to Combat Ship: Putin Marks Navy Day in St. Petersburg and Kronstadt

From Cathedral to Combat Ship: Putin Marks Navy Day in St. Petersburg and Kronstadt

Sputnik International

The Russian president reviewed the progress of the country's naval operational exercises, congratulated service members on their professional holiday, and met with residents of St. Petersburg.

2025-07-27T16:02+0000

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Navy exercises are aimed at assessing the fleets combat readiness, Vladimir Putin said on Navy Day.In todays environment, Navy Day is celebrated in a working, combat-ready atmosphere  and rightly so. The fleet is actively demonstrating its combat capabilities and professionalism.Russias naval infantry continues to carry out its assigned missions with heroism and dedication.Later, Putin spoke with residents in Palace Square in St. Petersburg, where he was warmly welcomed with cheers and cries of Hurrah!The president was also awarded the Marine Boards medal For Loyalty to the Russian Navy. The award and its certificate were presented by Presidential Aide Nikolai Patrushev, who noted Putins support for the Russian Navy.Putin then visited the St. Nicholas Naval Cathedral in Kronstadt, where he was received by the cathedrals rector, who gave him a brief tour. The president venerated the icon and relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and lit candles in memory of the fallen.He later boarded the Admiral Grigorovich frigate, which had taken part in repelling drone attacks on the Leningrad region earlier that day.

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Editor's note: On July 26, all 25 recall motions backed by the Democratic Progressive Party against opposition lawmakers in the Taiwan island failed  none passed, most didn't even meet the turnout threshold. Widely viewed as a political attempt to silence dissent and regain legislative control, the campaign's collapse dealt a major blow to Lai Ching-te's agenda and raised sharp questions: Why did it fail so decisively? What does it reveal about voter sentiment? And how could it reshape the island's political future and cross-Strait dynamics? Three experts share their views with China Daily's Yao Yuxin. Excerpts follow.

Lai's power play meets popular rejection

On July 26, Taiwan's first wave of recall votes  launched by pro-DPP civil groups and tacitly backed by the DPP  ended in a landslide failure. None of the 25 recall motions against 24 Kuomintang legislators and one opposition mayor, Kao Hung-an, passed. It was a complete victory for the opposition and a humiliating setback for the DPP and Lai administration.

More than a procedural defeat, the result exposed the deep public skepticism toward Lai's combative leadership, his separatist stance, and his pro-United States policy direction. Voters rejected what many saw as a campaign of political retaliation masquerading as democratic accountability.

The recall effort was rooted in a refusal by Lai and the DPP to accept the new political reality. Though the DPP retained the power in early 2024 due to a split vote between the KMT and Taiwan People's Party, it lost its majority in the legislature. Confronted with a weakened legislative position, Lai's administration didn't seek bipartisan cooperation  instead, it launched a full-scale political offensive against every opposition district legislator, aiming to regain control through recall and by-elections.

The message from the people is clear: the public does not endorse this strategy. The recall votes have effectively served as a referendum on Lai's style of governance  one increasingly defined by partisan aggression, suppression of dissent, and heightened cross-Strait confrontation.

Voters were not convinced by the DPP's familiar playbook of accusing opposition lawmakers of being "pro-China" or "selling out Taiwan". Nor were they willing to tolerate political maneuvers aimed at eliminating checks and balances in the legislature. Lai's ambition to recapture a majority and reinstate one-party dominance was flatly rejected.

The broader implication is this: Taiwan's mainstream public opinion does not support Lai's attempt to flip the table after losing legislative control. The people do not want to see a return to "green terror". They value pluralism and balance, and they remain committed to the path of peace and development across the Taiwan Strait.

This failed recall marks a turning point. It's not just a political loss for the DPP; it's a public repudiation of a confrontational, divisive approach to governance. Whether Lai will learn from this and recalibrate  or escalate his confrontational rhetoric and tactics  remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the people of Taiwan have spoken.

Chen Guiqing is a researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/hunger-death-toll-in-gaza-up-to-133---health-ministry-1122498652.html

Hunger Death Toll in Gaza Up to 133 - Health Ministry

Hunger Death Toll in Gaza Up to 133 - Health Ministry

Sputnik International

The number of those who starved to death in the Gaza Strip rose to 133 after six people died of hunger over the past 24 hours, the enclave's health ministry said on Sunday.

2025-07-27T14:39+0000

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"Six deaths from hunger and malnutrition were registered in Gaza hospitals in the past 24 hours, two of them children. This brings the total death toll to 133, including 87 children," the statement read. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced a daily "tactical pause" in military actions from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (07:00-17:00 GMT) to allow humanitarian aid into the enclave. On July 20, the Gazan ministry warned that it expected deaths in the enclave to surge amid continuing food shortages and lack of medical care. Multiple UN agencies have sounded alarm over the growing number of hunger-related deaths in the Gaza Strip.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250726/israel-must-be-held-accountable-for-destruction-in-gaza---palestinian-ambassador-1122493837.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/israel-resumes-gaza-aid-as-famine-warning-escalates-1122496488.html

Israel Resumes Gaza Aid as Famine Warning Escalates

Israel Resumes Gaza Aid as Famine Warning Escalates

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that humanitarian aid to residents of the Gaza Strip, including flour, sugar and canned goods, had been airdropped there.

2025-07-27T03:38+0000

2025-07-27T03:38+0000

2025-07-27T04:28+0000

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Earlier, the IDF reported the resumption of humanitarian aid drops. On Wednesday, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO had seen a sharp increase in malnutrition-related deaths in the Gaza Strip, with the organization documenting 21 deaths of children under five from this cause in 2025. The WHO chief added that acute malnutrition in the Gaza Strip affected more than 10% of the population, with more than 20% of pregnant and breastfeeding women tested suffering from malnutrition, often in severe forms. He stressed that the hunger crisis was worsening due to the cessation of humanitarian aid supplies and restrictions on their access. In May, amid a significant escalation in fighting, Israeli authorities announced a new plan to deliver humanitarian aid to residents of the Gaza Strip. According to the plan, aid is being distributed in areas cleared of any presence of the Hamas movement, whose members have previously been accused of looting humanitarian supplies. The commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, previously said that Israel's plan to resume humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip was aimed at forcibly displacing the residents of the Palestinian enclave from this territory. On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. After that, Hamas militants penetrated the border areas, opening fire on the military and civilians, and took more than 200 hostages. According to the authorities, about 1,200 people were killed on the Israeli side. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords, which included strikes on civilian targets, and announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: supplies of water, electricity, fuel, food and medicine were stopped. The fighting, which was interrupted by short-term ceasefires, claimed the lives of more than 59,000 Palestinians and about 1,500 Israelis, and spread to Lebanon and Yemen.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250726/israel-must-be-held-accountable-for-destruction-in-gaza---palestinian-ambassador-1122493837.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/pentagon-chief-used-polygraph-to-search-for-those-leaking-insides-to-media---reports-1122497465.html

Pentagon Chief Used Polygraph to Search for Those 'Leaking' Insides to Media - Reports

Pentagon Chief Used Polygraph to Search for Those 'Leaking' Insides to Media - Reports

Sputnik International

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used polygraph tests to search among his close associates for those who "leaked" information about the defense department to the media, but he had to abandon this practice on the orders of the White House, the Washington Post reported, citing sources.

2025-07-27T09:40+0000

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According to the publication's sources, Hegseth's team conducted polygraph tests for several weeks in April among those close to the secretary, but after Hegseth's senior adviser Patrick Weaver complained to administration officials that he or members of his team could soon be asked to take the test, the Pentagon chief had to abandon this practice. The newspaper's sources claim that a person close to the administration contacted the department, but they do not name him or her. In late April, the media reported that the Pentagon had been engulfed in conflict due to a power struggle among its chief Pete Hegseth's entourage, and that "complete chaos" reigned in the department. According to Politico's sources, the conflict in the department was purely personal in nature. The publication claimed that because of the conflict, Hegseth began to suspect his senior subordinates of leaks related to the Signal messenger, believing that they could had intentionally set up their fellow competitors in this way. Earlier, the New York Times reported, citing sources, that the Pentagon chief in March had published data on the upcoming strikes on Yemen in a closed group chat in the Signal messenger, the participants were not only people from his professional circle, but also his wife, brother and lawyer. Later, the White House said that US President Donald Trump "strongly supports" the US Secretary of Defense. On March 24, Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic editor-in-chief, revealed in an article that he was accidentally added by then-National Security Advisor Mike Waltz to a private chat on the Signal app regarding impending strikes on the Houthis in Yemen. Goldberg noted that the chat included senior officials such as Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250326/trumps-team-did-share-classified-info-via-signal---reports-1121693682.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/putin-says-main-goal-of-russian-naval-drills-is-to-train-repelling-sea-attacks-1122497798.html

Putin Says Main Goal of Russian Naval Drills Is to Train Repelling Sea Attacks

Putin Says Main Goal of Russian Naval Drills Is to Train Repelling Sea Attacks

Sputnik International

The primary objective of the Russian navy's July Storm exercise is to practice repelling attacks from the sea, President Vladimir Putin said during a video conference on Sunday.

2025-07-27T11:36+0000

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The president said that the maneuvers were underway simultaneously in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Caspian and Baltic Seas. They involved more than 150 ships and support vessels, 120 aircraft, various types of military hardware, and over 15,000 personnel. Putin said the exercise was designed to test combat readiness through complex operational scenarios that simulate real combat conditions, incorporating lessons learned from the special military operation in Ukraine. Putin announced that five Russian naval infantry brigades will be reorganized into divisions, with two of them completing the transformation by 2025. This restructuring will significantly enhance the fleet's strike capabilities and combat potential, he said. The exercises are honing command skills at all levels for managing naval forces in near-combat conditions, Putin added, noting the importance of coordinating actions of ship crews, naval aviation aircraft, and coastal missile systems. He reaffirmed Russia's commitment to outfitting naval forces with cutting-edge weapons and equipment. The drills underscore Russia's focus on maintaining naval readiness amid current geopolitical challenges. On Russia's Navy Day, the president arrived at St. Petersburg's Admiralty to inspect the navy's July Storm operational exercise that took place from July 23-27 in the waters of the North and Black Seas, the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Baltic and Caspian Seas.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250726/russia-warns-nato-any-attack-on-kaliningrad-will-trigger-immediate-response-1122493511.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/putin-unveils-russias-2050-navy-blueprint-on-navy-day-1122496113.html

Putin Unveils Russia's 2050 Navy Blueprint on Navy Day

Putin Unveils Russia's 2050 Navy Blueprint on Navy Day

Sputnik International

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated all Russian military sailors on the Navy Day.

2025-07-27T03:20+0000

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The President noted that since the time of Peter the Great, the fleet had been and remained an asset and a source of pride of Russia, and representatives of the naval class deservedly enjoy special honor and sincere respect of the Russian people. The Navy plays a crucial role in ensuring Russia's defense and security and in protecting its legitimate interests across the globe, the Russian leader stressed. Russia's new Navy Development Strategy has been approved this year, the first such document designed for an extended period, until 2050, Putin recalled.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250725/nuclear-potential-of-russian-submarines-can-cool-any-western-hothead-1122490386.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/russia-has-to-fulfill-tasks-set-out-regarding-ukraine-prior-to-start-of-conflict---kremlin-1122496927.html

Russia Has to Fulfill Tasks Set Out Regarding Ukraine Prior to Start of Conflict - Kremlin

Russia Has to Fulfill Tasks Set Out Regarding Ukraine Prior to Start of Conflict - Kremlin

Sputnik International

Russia needs to ensure that the objectives of the special military operation in Ukraine are achieved before determining the principles of future cooperation between Moscow and Kiev, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.

2025-07-27T09:28+0000

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Peskov, responding to a question about the principles on which Moscow's future interaction with Kiev will be based, said that this issue is too theoretical at the moment. Russia favors political and diplomatic means to resolve the Ukrainian conflict, however, the special military operation commenced when such means were rejected by Kiev and the West, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250726/patrushev-to-rutte-learn-russian-and-hear-the-truth-1122492839.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/russias-laser-weapon-supremacy-short-guide-1122499987.html

Russia's Laser Weapon Supremacy: Short Guide

Russia's Laser Weapon Supremacy: Short Guide

Sputnik International

While the US and its European pals can only dream about developing laser weaponry, Russia is already light years ahead of them.

2025-07-27T17:35+0000

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2025-07-27T17:35+0000

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"peresvet" combat laser system

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Unlike kinetic weapons, lasers do not use ammo and do not require reloading, only a power source, Russian military analyst Alexander Artamonov explained to Sputnik.Lasers can also display a better rate of fire and would be much harder to evade than, for example, a missile.Nowadays, Russia, the United States and China run laser weapon programs. When it comes to actual working laser weapons, only Russia can present tangible proof.Peresvet is a Russian mobile laser system designed to blind enemy optical and optical-electronic surveillance systems, including drones, reconnaissance aircraft and even satellites. It has already been adopted by the Russian Armed Forces.Peresvet lasers are currently deployed not only in the Moscow region but on the front line as well, Artamonov said, referring to the Ukrainian conflict zone.Meanwhile, the US simply lacks the technology and know-how  like, for example, a sufficiently powerful and compact power source  to achieve comparable results.Simply put, Russias Western rivals cannot field actual laser weapons whereas Russia is already developing more advanced and deadly military lasers.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240813/most-powerful-laser-installation-in-the-world-meet-russias-ufl-2m-tsar-laser-1119751816.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250727/trump-strikes-biggest-deal-ever-with-eu-zero-tariffs-for-us-15-for-europe-1122500298.html

Trump Strikes 'Biggest Deal Ever' With EU: Zero Tariffs for US, 15% for Europe

Trump Strikes 'Biggest Deal Ever' With EU: Zero Tariffs for US, 15% for Europe

Sputnik International

The United States and the European Union have agreed on a new trade deal, which envisages, among other things, a zero tariff on US imports to the European markets and a 15% baseline tariff on all EU goods coming to the US, including cars, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday.

2025-07-27T18:27+0000

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2025-07-27T18:27+0000

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"I just want to congratulate you. I think it is great that we made a deal today instead of playing games and maybe not making a deal at all  I think it is the biggest deal ever made," Trump said at a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Scotland. Under the new deal, the EU agrees to purchase $750 billion worth of energy from the United States and "a vast amount" of military equipment, Trump said. The EU will invest an additional $600 billion in the US economy and open up the countries' markets to trade with the US at zero tariffs.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250717/us-alienating-allies-with-tariffs-countries-may-view-trumps-moves-as-bluff-1122449999.html

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Sophomore pacers were featured in $16,000 eliminations for the Ralph Klein and Gord & Illa Rumpel Memorial Stakes in front of the annual Packwood Grand gathering at Century Downs on Saturday, July 26 while popular Preferred pacer Shark Week left his trainer in awe with another top performance.

No one could touch Hands Off Harry in the first Klein elimination for the colts and geldings as the Nathan Sobey trainee romped to a 5-1/2-length victory in 1:54.3 with catch-driver Mike Hennessy in the sulky. Riding a three-race win streak into the elimination round, the 1-9 favourite set uncontested fractions of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:26.1 before capping off the blowout victory with another :28.2 panel on the end. Miso Hanover (Logan Gillis), Worldsgreatestsin (Brandon Campbell) and Captain Keys (Kelly Hoerdt) completed the top four.

Sobey owns the All Bets Off-Hands Off Hanover gelding, who has finished no worse than second through a dozen career starts and counts the Ray Gemmill Memorial Stakes in his May sophomore debut at Fraser Downs among his seven wins.

Picking up the catch-drive on Momas Work Of Art, Dave Kelly worked out a patient pocket trip in rein to the Shelly Arsenault trainee to post a mild 7-1 upset in the second Klein elimination. Momas Work Of Art tracked the favoured Moores Mile champion Discontinued (Brandon Campbell) through fractions of :28.2, :59.1 and 1:26.4 while a first-over Outlawminutbyminut (Logan Gillis) gained a short advantage outside heading to the final turn with Summer Dancer (Phil Giesbrecht) hot on his heels. Kelly was able to split rivals down the stretch and Momas Work Of Art closed inside to nab the victory, equalling his lifetime mark of 1:55.2 set in an elimination for the Moores Mile last month before his runner-up result in that stakes final. He drew one length clear near the wire over Outlawminutbyminut and Summer Dancer, with Discontinued back in fourth.

Arsenault shares ownership of the Outrageous Art-Rocket Mom colt with Don M Jr Stables of Sherwood Park, Alta., and Jackson Wittup of Calgary, Alta. Momas Work Of Art earned his fifth career win in stakes events to go along with six other top three finishes in 14 starts.

Dave Kelly and Nathan Sobey teamed up for a Gord & Illa Rumpel elimination win with 5-2 second choice Hurrikane Alley prevailing off a two-hole trip in a three-way photo finish over late-closer Blowing Inthe Wind (James Jungquist) and the first-over favourite Georgia Hanover (Phil Giesbrecht). Imashipwreck (Brandon Campbell) finished 3-3/4 lengths behind the top trio after putting up panels of :28, :58.4 and 1:27.1. Hurrikane Alley equalled her lifetime mark of 1:56.4 taken two starts ago in an conditioned pace.

Owned by Alberta's Robert Jones of Stony Plain and Archie Benekos of Calgary, the winning daughter of Stay Hungry out of Childs Play will be vying for her first stakes title and looking to bolster her 4-1-2, 17-race record.

Alberta stakes star Custard Dolce resumed her winning ways with a 1:56.2 score in the faster Rumpel elimination, with Phil Giesbrecht sending the popular Jamie Gray trainee from third to first approaching the 1:27.2 third quarter mark and drawing away by 4-1/4 lengths. Completing the top four were Chics Dragon Flies (Dave Kelly), Threecurtaincalls (Brandon Campbell) and early leader Mademechangemymind (Mike Hennessy), who put up first-half fractions of :29.2 and :58.4.

Custard Dolce, a Custard The Dragon-Blue Star West filly, boasts a near perfect 12-for-14 record for Gray and co-owner Wittup along with partners Max Gibb of Millarville, Alta., and Derek Wilson of Heritage Pointe, Alta.

In Preferred action, Western Canada's fastest pacer Shark Week had just two rivals who were able to keep up with him this week but neither could catch the big fish as he recorded his 60th career win with regular reinsman Mike Hennessy between the wheels.

Overcoming his outside post eight assignment in impressive fashion, the 3-5 favourite quickly crossed to command in the $16,000 top pacing class and led the field wire-to-wire in 1:52.2. He clocked opening panels :26.2 and :55.1 then repelled a pocket-popping move on the backside by Midnight Mover (Brandon Campbell) to three-quarters in 1:24.1. Midnight Mover tried again in the stretch with Bonus Round (Dave Kelly) also closing within reach, but Shark Week held one-length clear of those foes.

"I think that might have been his best race ever," stated trainer Rod Hennessy, who shares ownership of the seven-year-old Vertical Horizon-Shark Gone Bad gelding with Lorne Duffield of Edmonton, Alta.

The career winner of more than a half-million dollars is 11-for-14 this year, with his latest win streak in Preferred action up to four.

Nathan Sobey ended the day with a training triple while Mike Hennessy topped all drivers with a grand slam on the 12-race card.

The Mid-Summer Classic stakes finals will be contested next Saturday, Aug. 2.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.

(Standardbred Canada; photos clockwise from top left of Hands Off Harry, Momas Work Of Art, Custard Dolce and Hurrikane Alley)
The field is set for Hanover Raceway's signature Dream Of Glory Stakes for Ontario-sired three-year-old trotters after three eliminations were contested on Saturday afternoon, July 26.

The Dream Of Glory is for sophomore trotters that were non-winners of $75,000 (fillies $100,000) in 2024. The top two finishers from the three $8,000 eliminations plus two third-place finishers will advance to the $50,000 final next Saturday evening, Aug. 2.

The Governor won the first elimination with a career-best 1:59.4 performance for the father and son, training and driving team of Walter and Michael Whelan. Securing the lead from the inside post, he cruised through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.3 and 1:30 then held off the pocket-popping Sound N Vision (Travis Henry) to prevail by three-quarters of a length, paying $10.70 to win as the 4-1 third wagering choice. P C Chattahoochee (Jason Ryan) followed nearly four lengths behind in third and also advanced to the final.

Owned by Felix Marion of Cambridge, Ont., the homebred Muscle Mass-Just For Me Nu colt lowered his lifetime mark he held since winning an elimination of Hanover's Balanced Image Stakes last summer.

A two-time Ontario Sires Stakes Gold winner this year, P L Spencer delivered as the overwhelming 1-9 favourite in the second and fastest elimination, clocked in 1:59 flat, with Bob McClure driving for trainer Stephen Bossence. After following loosely in third through opening panels of :28.4 and :59.1 in his Hanover debut, P L Spencer faced off with pacesetter Seeme Zoom (J Harris) at the 1:28.3 third quarter mark. Seeme Zoom fought back around the final turn and the top two took off from the rest of the field in the stretch with P L Spencer eventually trotting 1-1/4 lengths clear. He paid $2.10 to win and place, with no show wagering.

The Prince Lee Acres-bred gelding by Resolve out of P L Indyanaca is owned by Bossence and partners Richard Thompson of London, Ont., Derek Reid of Etobicoke, Ont., and E C S Racing of Rockford, Michigan.

The third elimination was won by First Class Rule with driver Todd Ratchford putting the Matt Bax trainee on the front out of post four and fighting off 4-5 favourite Go Blue (J.R. Plante) through the final lap. The 2-1 second choice set fractions of :29.3, 1:01.2 and 1:30.4 en route to a 2:00.1 victory by one length and paid $6.30 to win. Call Me Parker (Jason Ryan) got up for third in a show photo and took the last spot in next weekend's final.

First Class Rule, a multiple Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots winner who hit the board in last year's Balanced Image final, is owned by Bax Stable of Campbellville, Ont., breeder Glengate Farms of Erin, Ont., Gaelic Stable of Sharon, Ont., and Ronald Van Noort of Stouffville, Ont.

The post positions for the Dream of Glory final were drawn during the afternoon's card, with the elimination winners drawing for posts one through five. The draw results are below with elimination drivers listed.

$50,000 Dream Of Glory Stakes

Post - Horse - Elimination Driver - Trainer

1. The Governor - Michael Whelan - Walter Whelan

2. Seeme Zoom - J Harris - Lacey McCabe

3. P L Spencer - Bob McClure - Stephen Bossence

4. Call Me Parker - Jason Ryan - Ben Baillargeon

5. First Class Rule - Todd Ratchford - Matt Bax

6. P C Chattahoochee - Jason Ryan - Curtis Clements

7. Sound N Vision - Travis Henry - Mark Etsell

8.] Go Blue - J.R. Plante - Gregg McNair

Post time for the Dream Of Glory card next Saturday is 5:30 p.m., with Hanover Raceway hosting its annual fireworks display following the races at approximately 10:15 p.m.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of P L Spencer winning on July 26)




An aerial drone photo taken on July 24, 2025 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. Nestled on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Kanbula National Geopark spans roughly 3,149 square kilometers with striking fiery-red Danxia landforms, towering jagged peaks, hidden caves and emerald lakes. Beyond its visual splendor, the park's true value lies beneath the surface, serving as a premier location for geoscientific research and public science education. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)





An aerial drone photo taken on July 24, 2025 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. Nestled on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Kanbula National Geopark spans roughly 3,149 square kilometers with striking fiery-red Danxia landforms, towering jagged peaks, hidden caves and emerald lakes. Beyond its visual splendor, the park's true value lies beneath the surface, serving as a premier location for geoscientific research and public science education. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)





A tourist visits the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 24, 2025. Nestled on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Kanbula National Geopark spans roughly 3,149 square kilometers with striking fiery-red Danxia landforms, towering jagged peaks, hidden caves and emerald lakes. Beyond its visual splendor, the park's true value lies beneath the surface, serving as a premier location for geoscientific research and public science education. (Xinhua/Qi Zhiyue)





An aerial drone photo taken on July 24, 2025 shows a view of the Kanbula National Geopark in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. Nestled on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Kanbula National Geopark spans roughly 3,149 square kilometers with striking fiery-red Danxia landforms, towering jagged peaks, hidden caves and emerald lakes. Beyond its visual splendor, the park's true value lies beneath the surface, serving as a premier location for geoscientific research and public science education. (Xinhua/Wang Yan)
Driver Samuel Fillion put together a five-star performance at Georgian Downs on Saturday, July 26, winning five of the evenings eight races to shoot up in the drivers standings.

The pilot was perfect through the first four races and began that natural grand slam in dramatic fashion as he guided Justine Ray ($14.70) to a fast-closing victory in 1:55.3. Locked in the three-hole approaching the final turn, he found a way out for the filly, and she went from sixth to first in the stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Rockford Peach ($8.40) took off on the homeward turn after a first-up bid, struck the front at the top of the lane, and held on by a half-length to win the second race in 1:57.1.

Fillion captured the third race with Meadowbrook Amy ($3.80), popping the pocket on the backstretch to put the filly on top, and she rolled to a 1-1/2-length victory in 1:58.

Cheese Party ($4) won the fourth race with a three-wide charge on the backstretch. After breaking stride momentarily before three-quarters, she resumed her advance and pushed clear, winning by a half-length in 1:54.3.

Fillion completed the five-win performance with Hillbilly Jet ($4.40) in the seventh race. He put the veteran mare on top at the quarter, and she resisted a host of challengers in the final quarter-mile to prevail by a neck in 1:57.1.

With his Saturday haul, Fillion moved into third on the leaderboard as he aims for a third straight driving title at Georgian. He is two wins behind Austin Sorrie and Daryl Thiessen, who are tied for first with 21 wins. Fillion is winning at a 15.8 per cent rate overall this season with 185 victories. He is now 10 trips to the winners circle away from 1,000.

To view Saturdays harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)
Canadian campaigned Prince Hal Hanover reigned in the 59th edition of the $527,397 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids on Saturday, July 26 at The Meadows.

Driver Todd McCarthy guided Prince Hal Hanover to victory in the Grade 1 stakes for three-year-old pacers over elimination winners Swingtown and Twisted Destiny in a career-best 1:48.1 performance for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and owner Prince Hal Hanover Stable of Cambridge, Ont.

Prince Hal Hanover fired off the gate to take control from post eight -- a starting spot that had only produced one past Adios winner -- with outside leaver Sippinonsearoc (Yannick Gingras) securing early position in second followed by supplemental entry Rick Wink (Chris Page) while 4-5 favourite Twisted Destiny (Dexter Dunn) was parked through a :26 opening quarter.

"It's a tough post, but he's so fast out that horse," said McCarthy of the start. "And I knew if I didn't get into a speed battle there early, we'd probably end up somewhere pretty handy.

"I didn't know where Dexter got to early and where he would be going, but I was content where I was and I just sort of kept him rolling along there."

Twisted Destiny pressed on to take over command in front of the stands but paid the price, with the half-mile going in :53.3. As he approached three-quarters in 1:21.2, Sippinonsearoc tipped out of third ahead of the oncoming Swingtown (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) while Prince Hal Hanover waited for the passing lane.

"When we got the two-hole there, I was happy with that too," said McCarthy. "And he just showed a great turn of foot at the top of the stretch."

Down the stretch, Prince Hal Hanover shot through at the pylons and prevailed by a head over a the late-closing Swingtown on the far outside while Twisted Destiny settled for third a neck back. Sippinonsearoc edged out Rick Wink just over a length behind in fourth and fifth place.

"I looked across on the wire there and I saw Ronnie out wide. I knew it was pretty tight," said McCarthy. "I was confident, but I never like to jump the gun too early. But he just raced super and full credit to Ian Moore -- he had him spot on today."

Prince Hal Hanover, who was just a half-length off Twisted Destiny in their 1:48 elimination, was the 3-1 second choice in the final and paid $8.20 to win.

Making amends for a Meadowlands Pace setback, his record now stands at 5-8-2 from 19 career starts with more than $980,000 in earnings.

The colt by Captaintreacherous out of the Moore-trained O'Brien Award winner Percy Bluechip was bred in Pennsylvania by Hanover Shoe Farms.

Driver Dexter Dunn swept the Grade 3 Adioo Volo filly races, each worth more than $75,000, with Birnam Wood Farms' homebred Time Of The Season wearing down the popular pacesetter Asphalt to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a career-best 1:49.2 for trainer Tim Twaddle and Allegra Hanover prevailing by half a length over longshot Ballast in a new mark of 1:50.2 for trainer Tyler George and owners Martin Valentic, T G Stable and Bill Boyce.

The Adios, presented by the Mickey Burke Family, included five starters trained by the powerful locally-based Ron Burke stable. While settling for runner-up honours in the main event, the Burke stable dominated the Adios Day undercard with a total of six winners, including undefeated two-year-old pacing colt Frantic Hanover taking the faster of two $95,866 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes divisions in 1:50.4 with a :26.4 closing kick. Tim Tetrick drove the Stay Hungry-Francessa colt, who is now two-for-two for owners Burke Racing Stable, Brad Grant, Knox Services and Weaver Bruscemi.

Superchamp Hanover nosed out the Burke-trained Melillo to win the other Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division in 1:51. Matt Kakaley drove the Sweet Lou-So Brave Hanover gelding, now a two-time winner in three career starts, for trainer Travis Alexander and owners Fiddler's Creek Stables and Alexander Racing Stable.

Ronnie Wrenn Jr. drove the Burke stable's five other winners, taking two Pennsylvania Stallion Series divisions with the maiden-breaking pacing colts Another C Note (1:53.1) and Generationalwealth (1:53.3) as well as Arden Downs Stakes divisions with two-year-old filly pacer Loua Dipa (1:52.3) and three-year-old filly trotter Can It Be Magic (1:55.1). Birthday doubled up in Open action with a 1:49.2 victory.

Tim Tetrick also scored with the perfect Pennsylvania Stallion Series winner Art In Heaven (1:53.2) for trainer Nicholas Devita and Arden Downs Stakes-winning two-year-old filly pacer Lyons I Wanna Chip (1:53.2) for trainer Jim King Jr.

Trainer Wilbur Yoder enjoyed a 1-2 finish in the Arden Downs Stakes for three-year-old male trotters with a pair of longshots as Livin It Up topped Bell Hall in 1:55.4, sparking a $2 exacta payout worth $1,583.20. Brady Brown guided the winner while Yoder drove the runner-up.

The eighth race on the 16-dash program was declared a No Contest after Cruzin America was interfered with and unseated driver Anthony MacDonald when Warraweeforlaura broke stride in front of him near the half, causing other horses to scatter and pull up at various points. All horses and drivers were reported to be safe shortly after the race by track officials.

A replay of the Adios card is available below.

(Standardbred Canada)
The fields are decided for the Hambletonian (Grade 1) and the Hambletonian Oaks (Grade 1) after the sport's top sophomore trotters contested eliminations for each stakes on Saturday, July 26 at The Meadowlands.

The 100th edition of America's Trotting Classic required three eliminations, each containing seven hopefuls and carrying a purse of $114,452.

Favourite Emoticon Legacy held sway with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike again for trainer Luc Blais in the first elimination. After a :27.1 first panel, the homebred son of Walner-Emoticon Hanover made a winning move by brushing through the :55.1 half to take the lead to a speedy 1:24.1 three-quarters and, with a last quarter in :27.3, held on to win by a nose in 1:51.4.

Closing late to get second and make next week's final was longshot Greenma, driven by trainer Trond Smedshammer. Finishing third to get a spot in the classic trot was Blank, the Marcus Melander-trained colt with Andy McCarthy at the reins. Meshuggah, driven by Scott Zeron, took fourth and qualified for the final by having the highest lifetime earnings of all the fourth-place finishers from the eliminations.

Driver Roy said he had "not much of a game plan" for a trip going into the elim.

"Right now, hes perfect to drive. Even in the post parade today he was a perfect horse," Roy said. "We always have the hopples at the same length [but] I got a new bike here  I dont know if its the bike or the surface, [but] the hopples seem a little tight on him. I dont know if were restraining him in his gait, but it might be another plus next week if he gets a little looser in there."

Emoticon Legacy looks to extend his four-race winning streak in the trotting classic. His wins up to the Hambletonian eliminations include the Zweig Memorial at Vernon and the Goodtimes at Mohawk, where he set a Canadian record and a lifetime best of 1:50.2. Determination owns Emoticon Legacy, who raised his lifetime earnings to $625,541 as he took his eighth win in 11 starts. He paid $4.20 to win.

Super Chapter collected his fifth straight victory in a perfect sophomore season in the second Hambletonian elimination, winning in 1:51.1 in rein to Dexter Dunn. The division-dominating son of Chapter Seven-Lifetime Pursuit was never engaged once taking the lead after a :27 first quarter as he rattled off :56.2 and 1:24.4 fractions. An overwhelming favourite in all of his sophomore races, including a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial and the Yonkers Trot (the first jewel of the Trotting Triple Crown), Super Chapter coasted to the elimination victory with little-to-no urging from Dunn.

Maximus Mearas S (Zeron) swept up real estate in the late going to finish second, beaten 1-3/4 lengths. Gap Kronos S (Yannick Gingras) earned the last berth into the final with a third-place finish from a first-over push.

The elimination win improved Super Chapter's lifetime bankroll to $1,158,269 for trainer Marcus Melander and owners Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Pronti, and Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.

"He was super last year," said Mattias Melander of the Marcus Melander barn. "Hes impressed us enough this year that we cant be more impressed." Mattias said he expects there won't be any equipment changes going into the million-dollar mile.

Super Chapter paid $2.10 to win.

Ake Svanstedt guided Nordic Catcher S, his longshot son of Six Pack-That Woman Hanover, to the top from post one and commanded his six foes through the two turns to win the last of the Hambletonian eliminations.

Driver-trainer Svanstedt not only went wire-to-wire to score the victory, his charge recorded a lifetime-best winning mile of 1:50.3.

His main challenger was last year's two-year-old trotting champion Maryland (Dunn). That Marcus Melander trainee left quickly and a bit wide from post seven in a :27 quarter but settled into fourth as the field lined up around the backstretch. He left the row and attacked after the :55.3 half, pressing on through three-quarters in 1:24.1 before almost nipping Nordic Catcher S in a :26.2 sprint to the finish. Nordic Catcher S held onto the victory by a firm nose over Maryland, who is still looking for his first victory as a three-year-old.

Also attaining a berth in next week's Hambletonian final was Go Dog Go (Todd McCarthy), who went off the 4-5 favourite after his big win over Maryland in a Stanley Dancer Memorial division.

After the race, Svanstedt said the minor equipment change of bridle gave him further confidence in his steed.

"He performs better and better and I was not afraid of showing high speed [on the lead]," he said. "Maybe pacer blood makes him a bit tougher."

Ake Svanstedt Inc. and Jeff Gural's Little E LLC own Nordic Catcher S, who has now earned $429,669 for his two racing seasons. The colt is two-for-four this year with four wins in nine career outings. He paid $23.80 to win.

The picture for the Hambletonian Oaks shifted greatly from expectations with some surprise performances from both ends of the spectrum in the three $68,493 eliminations.

First came 11-1 shot Delaney Hanover, who motored off a second-over ride to score a lifetime-best 1:52.3 win in the first Oaks elimination.

After a :27.1 first quarter, driver Zeron flushed cover from R Dutchess (Tim Tetrick) as Champagne Problems (Dunn) moseyed up to take over on the backstretch to a :56.3 half with Sound Judgement (Kevin Oscarsson) in the pocket. R Dutchess moved forward through three-quarters in 1:25 before retreating in the stretch. Champagne Problems maintained her speed down the lane, but Zeron lifted Delaney Hanover to the center of the track and built the most momentum to barrel by in the last eighth of a mile and win going away by 1-1/4 lengths. Champagne Problems finished second and Sound Judgement took third. Lady Landia (Svanstedt), the 2-5 favourite and last years Breeders Crown champion, trailed the field and tried to rally in the stretch, but missed the final when finishing sixth.

Lucas Wallin trains Delaney Hanover, a filly by Muscle Hill-Danielle Hanover, for owners Wiesman Farms LLC, Shermay Stables, and Wallin Racing Stable Inc. She earned her first win through three starts this season and her third victory from 10 starts in her career, good for $215,178 in earnings. She paid $25.80 to win.

My expectations are always tempered because its racing and you never know whats going to happen, said Andrew Steinberg, co-owner of Delaney Hanover through Shermay Stables. She won her first two races as a two-year-old, but then she got sick with stomach ulcers and we were careful with her at the end of the year. She came back really good; shes an all-star. And its emotional because my father started the business. Weve had nothing like this. My dad is in the sky looking upon us and Im very emotional. I hope hes proud of me today.

Next, Miss Belmar trotted authoritatively on the front and capitalized on a rough mile from favorite What A Bid Hanover to register a 1:52.3 victory in the second Hambletonian Oaks elimination.

Walspea (Smedshammer) carved out a :27.2 first quarter while driver Andy McCarthy readied Miss Belmar for a brush on the backstretch. Miss Belmar cleared to control before a :57 half and cruised as favoured What A Bid Hanover, who broke past the quarter, attempted a rebound first-over before tiring through the final turn. Past three-quarters in 1:25.3, Miss Belmar strode strongly for the finish until falling out of rhythm into the last eighth of a mile. But McCarthy held her focus to the finish to stave off flanking rivals by a half-length. Deja Blu (Gingras) finished second with Walspea taking third.

Noel Daley trains Miss Belmar, a daughter of Muscle Hill-Chapter Too, for owners Allister Stables, Dean Ehrgott, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, and Zei Zei Racing Inc. She won her third race  off a winless seven-start freshman campaign  from 13 outings and has now earned $362,590.

Noel [Daley]s been a magician in terms of getting fillies ready for the races and having them peak at the right time, co-owner Dave Offenberg said. Were along for the ride, but its a great ride and I have some great partners.

Noels been very delicate with her, co-owner John Fodera said. Last year she went into the Breeders Crown and finished second; she was a maiden going most of the year. Its just been a blessing to get her this far this year, but right now he has her at her peak so were looking forward to next week.

Miss Belmar paid $8.80 to win.

Conversano emerged the least surprising winner of the three Oaks eliminations, though she just held on for victory as the 1-5 favourite in a 1:52.4 mile.

Driver Andy McCarthy sat fourth with Conversano to a :27.1 first quarter and waited to make a move along the rim until after a :56.2 half. Conversano ranged forward towards tempo-setter R Charm (Zeron) on the march to three-quarters in 1:24.4 and pushed past her spinning for home, though she stalled on the outside in the stretch. R Charm tried to charge back, but Conversano withstood the challenge and kept a nose in front at the finish. Aperfect Annie (Todd McCarthy) took third off a pocket trip and Torrisi (Gingras) earned the last berth into the final with the highest lifetime earnings of the eliminations fourth-place finishers.

She just gets a little lost when shes out there by herself, winning driver Andy McCarthy said. Shes always been that way; once she clears, she forgets what her job is. I had to remind her a bit late, but once she sees horses coming back at her shell get going again. I was quite pleased with her  she did her job.

Conversano won her eighth race from 16 starts and has now banked $361,913. She paid $2.60 in her sixth win in eight attempts this year. Juan Cano trains Conversano, a daughter of Muscle Hill-Celebrity Ruth, for owner Hot Lead Farm.

Im really happy  Ive never been happier in my life than right now, said Cano, who will make his Oaks debut. I dont have any words to say. The only thing I can say is thanks to God and to the owner for giving me the chance and the opportunity.

Smooth Dream ($2.20 to win as the 1-9 favourite) remained perfect in nine seasonal starts  eight of them at The Meadowlands  after taking the first division of the Tompkins-Geers Stake for three-year-old colt-and-gelding pacers. He cut the mile to win in 1:50.1 for driver Jordan Stratton, trainer Noel Daley, and owners Bay Pond Racing Stable, CTC Stable, and KDP Stable LLC. The gelded son of Cattlewash-Dreamlands Latte held off rival Manolete (Zeron) by a nose in the $43,596 test as the two combined for an exacta that paid $3. Best Chip (Mark Herschberger) was third.

Fresh off an impressive win in the E.T. Gerry Jr. Hambletonian Maturity, Elista Hanover came right back with another score, this time in the $54,795 fourth leg of the Miss Versatility for mare trotters. Driven by Dave Miller and trained by Annie Stoebe, the four-year-old daughter of International Moni-Evermore led at every call to register a lifetime best-equalling time of 1:51.3 as she bested second-place finisher Bravo Angel S (Dunn) by a head. The mare, owned by R.L. Curry, Philomena Curry, and Stoebe, returned $2.20 as the 1-9 public choice. Dial Square S (Svanstedt) was third.

Captain Optimistic grabbed the front at the half and went down the road from there to take the second Tompkins-Geers split for three-year-old colt-and-gelding pacers  this one for $42,911  in a lifetime best-equalling 1:49 for trainer Nancy Takter, driver Dunn, and owners 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz, and Caviart Farms. The 2-5 favourite, a son of Captaintreacherous-Cinamony, returned $2.80 to win, after finishing two lengths in front of second-place finisher Sugar Man (Tetrick), who was followed by World Of Wishes (Andy McCarthy).

Miki And Minnie popped out of the five-hole just after the half before methodically grinding her way to an easy 1-3/4-length victory over Gigglingonthebeach (James MacDonald) in a $71,918 Tompkins-Geers three-year-old filly pace dash in 1:49.4. Driven by Dunn and schooled by Chris Ryder for owner/breeders Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz, the daughter of Always B Miki-Thats The Ticket returned $2.20 as the 1-9 public choice. Rodeo Drive Deo (Miller) completed the ticket.

Dunn and Andy McCarthy finished the night tied atop the driver colony leaderboard with three wins apiece. Daley and Marcus Melander paced the trainers with a pair of walks down victory lane each. All-source handle on the 14-race card totaled $3,233,284. Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

(With files from The Meadowlands; photo of Emoticon Legacy winning on July 26)
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 man works on the electronics of Jules, a humanoid robot from Hanson Robotics using AI, at the recent International Telecommunication Union AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva.

The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top tech chief said this week, warning that fragmentation could deepen risks and inequalities.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, head of the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU) agency, told AFP she hoped that AI "can actually benefit humanity".

But as concerns mount over the risks posed by the fast-moving technologyincluding fears of mass job losses, the spread of deepfakes and disinformation, and society's fabric frayingshe insisted that regulation was key.

"There's an urgency to try to get... the right framework in place," she said, stressing the need for "a global approach".

Her comments came after US President Donald Trump this week unveiled an aggressive, low-regulation strategy aimed at ensuring the United States stays ahead of China on AI.

Among more than 90 proposals, Trump's plan calls for sweeping deregulation, with the administration promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinder private sector AI development.

Asked if she had concerns about an approach that urges less, not more, regulation of AI technologies, Bogdan-Martin refrained from commenting, saying she was "still trying to digest" the US plan.

'Critical'

"I think there are different approaches," she said.

"We have the EU approach. We have the Chinese approach. Now we're seeing the US approach. I think what's needed is for those approaches to dialog," she said.

At the same time, she highlighted that "85% of countries don't yet have AI policies or strategies".

A consistent theme among those strategies that do exist is the focus on innovation, capacity building and infrastructure investments, Bogdan-Martin said.

"But where I think the debate still needs to happen at a global level is trying to figure out how much regulation, how little regulation, is needed," she said.

Bogdan-Martin, who grew up in New Jersey and has spent most of her more than three-decade career at the ITU, insisted the Geneva-based telecoms agency that sets standards for new technologies was well-placed to help facilitate much-needed dialog on the issue.

"The need for a global approach I think is critical," she said, cautioning that "fragmented approaches will not help serve and reach all".

As countries and companies sprint to cement their dominance in the booming sector, there are concerns that precautions could be thrown to the windand that those who lose the race or do not have the capacity to participate will be left behind.

'Huge gap'

The ITU chief hailed "mind-blowing" advances within artificial intelligence, with the potential to improve everything from education to agriculture to health carebut insisted the benefits must be shared.

Without a concerted effort, there is a risk that AI will end up standing for "advancing inequalities", she warned, cautioning against deepening an already dire digital divide worldwide.

"We have 2.6 billion people that have no access to the internet, which means they have no access to artificial intelligence", Bogdan-Martin pointed out.

"We have to tackle those divides if we're actually going to have something that is beneficial to all of humanity."

Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to serve as ITU secretary-general in the organisation's nearly 160-year history, also stressed the need to get more women into the digital space.

"We have a huge gap," she said.

"We definitely don't have enough women... in artificial intelligence."

The 58-year-old mother of four said it was "a big honor" to be the first woman in her position, to be "breaking the glass ceiling (and) paving the path for future generations".

But she acknowledged there was a lot of pressure, "not just to achieve, but to almost overachieve".

Bogdan-Martin, who is being backed by the Trump administration to stand for re-election when her four-year mandate ends next year, said she was eager to stay on for a second term.

"There is a lot to do."

 2025 AFP
THE walkovers that straddle most highways across Trinidad are being used during daily rush hours. But at night, weekends and early mornings, potential users tend to take chances and run across the highway.

On the weekend of August 9 and 10, two men were killed in separate incidents while crossing the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway. One man was killed on the Saturday night while crossing the highway in the vicinity of Maloney, while the other was killed the next day while he and his wife were crossing the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway approximately 100 metres from the El Socorro walkover.
SIXTY-YEAR-OLD David Greeves died after he attempted to save his home which caught fire whil






Disappointed

Today I read the quote from Mayor Romero saying the town hall was based in fact and she will make the decision on the data center based on that.

Interesting statement. She is saying, I am voting Yes. Passively.

Does she know that Pima County has an F in air quality?

Does she know that the diesel generators that will be tested monthly will further deteriorate our quality of life? Kids will be indoors more than ever with high VOC. Ozone, especially, will burn and scar childrens developing lungs.

A 2024 statement said AWS data centers were 664% worse than their original estimate at inception.

Direct quote from reporting and an Amazon employee:

Its down to creative accounting. Amazon  despite all the PR and propaganda that youre seeing about their solar farms, about their electric vans  is expanding its fossil fuel use, whether its in data centers or whether its in diesel trucks.

I guess creative accounting is Romeros facts.

Sad.

Carissa Sipp

Midtown

Dahl is compassionate

I met Kevin Dahl at the city council meetings during the Free Pali uprising at city council meetings. He showed compassion for both sides and did what was the right thing to do for the city. He is more concerned with the day-to-day city problems than entering national problems and dividing our wonderful city. He is kind and compassionate, the real deal. I can truly call him a friend who advocates for our needs that we can pay for. The flat tax has damaged our budgets in every major city in Arizona.

There is no one finer than Kevin. He will never divide the city but will continue to work to keep us a shining city to be proud of, I ask you to support him and have him continue a successful career as our city councilman.

Andrew Kunsberg

East side

TUSD cost concerns

The news headline was simple: Arizonas voucher program costs struggling district $20M as parents flee public schools. While it can be exciting to get your name in the newspaper, this example falls short of the exciting part. The state gave the parents a choice as to where they will have their children educated and the results are in, TUSD is not a preferred choice for a quality education. How can that be when TUSD is part of the National Teachers Union, which gives so much influence to the teachers instead of the parents? Do we still believe that dollars speak? The parents are yelling loudly that TUSD is third-rate instead of pushing excellence? Can the problem be fixed? Yes, but it means making changes starting with the leadership and the teachers. Can TUSD learn anything from the charter schools? Can TUSD ask for suggestions and then listen? DOGE identified every dollar spent and identified the misuse of funds, should TUSD see the same results?

Loran Hancock

Northwest side

Income disparity consequences

How did the rich get so rich? In short, because they do not pay their fair share of taxes. In the early 1960s, we were the richest nation in the world and with some exceptions, all society benefited. We also had income tax brackets, which increased the tax paid on each segment of income as one made more money. The highest rate was 90%. Over the years, Congress passed laws that effectively reduced taxes by shielding certain income from being taxed, reducing the number and size of the tax brackets, etc. All these greatly benefited the wealthy. We need to return to those earlier brackets and reduce the massive income inequality that we have. It would require the elimination of the hundreds of laws passed that made this inequality possible. Then we could have a tax surplus to pay down our debt and assure that Social Security, Medicare and other vital programs are fully funded.

Michael Mount

Foothills

Project Blues true need

July 16 headline in Scientific American: China Is Putting Data Centers in the Ocean to Keep Them Cool. The article goes on to report that they will get 97% of their energy from a nearby offshore wind farm; meanwhile, American data centers are locating in the hottest, driest locations because dry air reduces the risk of damage to the equipment from humility.

So Project Blue wants our low humidity. Sunday Stars article, sparring over Project Blues water, made clear to me that City Manager Tom Thomure has worked out a complex water reclamation net zero proposal. But what guarantee does the City have that whoever Project Blue may be will honor it in the future?

Its a crazy time. Could federal MAGA policies negate any agreement? Could the U.S. suddenly declare a Chinese catch-up, mandating new service centers to go into the newly named Gulf of America?

Lets not forget: Project Blue wants our dry heat, but do we want its long-term impact on our fragile environment?

Ruth Beeker

Midtown

Will Project Blue make us next Kerrville?

Lack of water control to protect people resulted in over 100 deaths in the hill country of Texas on July 4. Vested interests, both political and business, expanded development along a well-known Flash Flood Alley. They negotiated changes in FEMA maps to allow childrens cabins to be built right near the river and then argued about the cost of warning systems for years. They had too much water, and we have too little water.

We live in a beautiful desert. The entire southwestern United States is in a long-term drought. Its not complicated. Data centers that use vast amounts of any type of water should not be built here. The warning sirens are already going off in places like rural Georgia, where the Meta center drained wells and sediment build up and destroyed appliances and water taps went dry. This happened within one year.

Why would Project Blue want to build here and not along the Great Lakes? Do we have blinders on like Kerrville?

Diana Barnes

Northwest side

Suppressed evidence

Here is a general information tip for Republicans and Democrats:

Suppressing evidence that can prove your innocence doesnt make a bit of sense.

Having three different reasons how the Epstein files were created doesnt make a bit of sense.

Having already been found guilty by a group of your peers of sexual assault doesnt help you either.

Its obvious youre guilty.

Terry Louck

East side

News reporting going south

ABC News with David Muir is the most-watched nightly news program for a reason, and it is not a good reason.

On a recent program, in no particular order, Mr. Muir entertained his audience like a circus impresario with news of the largest great white shark ever tagged in the Atlantic, one of the Menendez brothers suffering from a kidney stone, a drowning on a beach famous for rip tides, a brief life history of Ozzy Osbourne, king of heavy metal, a Delta Airlines jet nearly getting clobbered by an AeroMexico jet landing on the same runway over top of it, the killer Brian Kohbergers possible prison destination, Trump accusing Obama of treason and Billy Joel looking through the window of a New York City pedicab to the delight of two of his fans.

All of this deliciousness took the place of what might have been serious news analysis of serious issues.

Kimball Shinkoskey

Downtown

News or opinion?

Ken Cooks Building Tucson Business column should be labeled opinion.

It is not a news story, although it appears in the Sunday business section as if it were. It is rah-rah for business, a press release rather than a balanced, objective story.

From Cooks July 20 column, describing a collaboration among local business organization mavens: They have created a competitive advantage rooted in solving the most pressing challenge facing American businesses today.

Cook provided no information to support that statement. It was his opinion, with no confirmations or opposing views from others, as there would be in a news story.

He is a professional business consultant who is unabashedly pro-business. Nothing is wrong with that, but the Star needs to inform readers of it.

Michael A. Chihak

West side

Support the Apaches and Palestinians

I spent a wonderful weekend July 18-20 at the Oak Flat campground near Superior where the Apache Stronghold organization has been fighting to prevent a foreign company from mining the area, which is sacred to the San Carlos Apaches. Oak Flat may be the first of many new mines in southern AZ as part of the latest gold rush which will doom remaining water supplies and accelerate climate change, not to mention AIs huge thirst for water and energy (mainly nuclear).

An open-mic session was held during the weekend gathering, and one indigenous woman commented on how the general population of this country is now getting a taste of what its like to be an Indian  oppressed and not listened to. Solidarity with the Palestinian people was expressed as they are currently experiencing the genocide that Indians suffered starting in 1492. The Pima County Board of Supervisors and Tucson City Council need to pass resolutions now supporting the Apaches and Palestinians, before it is too late for humanity.

Richard Boren

Midtown

Immigration/famine

In reading Mr. Morales conclusion, I decided to carry my passport on my last trip to the NW part of the country in case I got stopped by ICE agents. But my friends did warn me to not shop at the big stores and that Im not the correct color (brown) for the American passport. I see too that the ambush/killing continues in the Middle East famine areas, and our American people called our Vietnam brothers baby killers, which I know from experience was never the case.

Vicente Rivera

Northwest side

Thumb on the scale?

In regard to the balance of opinions presented in this LTE forum, I personally know of one submission that never even made it to the scale. After inquiring of the Star Editorial Board via email what might have happened to this LTE submission, (Was it rejected, lost, or simply ignored?) I have received no response (It has been seven days since the query was emailed). To potential contributors who have never ventured here, you have been warned. The scale is skewed.

And now, on a completely different topic:

The largest, most influential city in the USA is on the verge of electing a communist for mayor.

This should be a red flag for anyone opposed to statism.

Resist.

Dewey Bidwell

Northeast side

Slanted opinions

Two opinion pieces that missed the mark. Michael Chihak tries to convince us that a free press is essential and hilariously used reporting on Bidens mental decline as an example of keeping tabs on government. This after every mainstream press outlet denied and pushed back on his decline for his entire presidency. Literally, until even a child could see it. Just one example of many. Yes, we need a free press, but it must be completely unbiased and truthful. Barbi Reuter tries to convince us that Project Blue will strengthen Tucson by adding tax revenue. I question her numbers, as the city leaders like to give away huge sums in tax breaks to lure businesses. What good is more tax revenue if water and electricity are consumed so heavily that Tucson becomes unlivable for its residents? Who wants to live with extreme water rationing and rolling blackouts?

Dan Rusciolelli

East side

Unachievable savings

Seniors and those with desperate prescription drug needs  according to Trumps announcement yesterday, Were gonna get the drug prices down  not 30% or 40%, which would be great. Not 50% or 60%. No, were gonna get them down 1,000%, 600%, 500%, 1,500%. Adding, something that nobody else can do, numbers that are not even thought to be achievable. Theyre not.

Pharmaceutical companies will now send me money for taking my meds?

Off his dementia meds, he leaned over a desk and delivered his pronouncement.

The unfortunate thing is not his psychosis. UPenns Wharton School of Business must be embarrassed. His father purchased a BS in Economics for him while paying someone to take his classes. His records are sealed, but he does not rank in the top 95%. Still using the degree, hes been practicing BS since 1968.

Sheldon Metz
Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

OKLAHOMA CITY  What Oklahomans eat and how it affects their health, the states economy and the pocketbooks of taxpayers all may be open for discussion as lawmakers hold a series of interim studies on nutrition in the coming months at the Capitol.

Policymakers in both the Senate and the House have proposed dozens of interim studies on topics that may shape legislation in the coming year. The studies give them opportunities to hear perspectives on issues from subject matter experts and everyday Oklahomans.

Interim studies have been proposed to investigate topics such as the nutritional value of meals served in school cafeterias and how those meals should be funded. Others will reflect recent efforts at both the state and national levels to eliminate dyes and other artificial ingredients from foods sold in stores. Lawmakers also have shown interest in finding out more about policies that address what kinds of groceries Oklahomans should be allowed to buy with help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Sens. Aaron Reinhardt, R-Jenks, and Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, both made requests to take deep dives into issues surrounding school meals.

Reinhardt wasnt available to comment on his plan for Healthy Meals for Oklahoma Kids, a study to examine the benefits and costs of universal healthy meals for all students attending public schools, but Pugh said the topic may also come up in his study into how to make meals served in school cafeterias more nutritious.

Among other things, Pugh said he wants to investigate how to get more locally grown whole foods on menus and how to reduce the reliance of schools on processed foods loaded with preservatives, sugar and salt.

Pugh said hes concerned that the poor nutritional value of school breakfasts and lunches may hinder both health and learning outcomes.

Many school cafeterias dont even have kitchens anymore, Pugh said. They simply serve prepackaged meals heated in microwaves. He said it would make sense to tap into the strengths of Oklahoma  a farming state  to provide meals prepared onsite with homegrown ingredients.

We want to create a program that isnt relying on a one-size-fits-all federal program or processed food contracts, he said.

Pugh said Senate Bill 806, legislation he authored earlier this year that was signed into law, empowers the State Department of Education to assist schools in applying for grants and programs to increase access to fresh and nutritious food.

But the study discussions may also turn to a recent notice sent out from Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters that school districts in Oklahoma should budget to provide free meals for all students. Pugh said he would welcome any conversation about how to make the most efficient use of funding and suggested that lawmakers might consider alternatives for using the Oklahoma State Department of Education as the pass-through state agency for U.S. Department of Agriculture funding of school nutrition programs.

Many school administrators expressed alarm after hearing about Walters mandate. Some lawmakers, including House Education Committee Chair Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, said Walters overstepped his authority in issuing the order.

Pugh, who chairs the Senate Education Subcommittee, noted that school budgets typically include local, state and federal funds committed by law to be used for dedicated purposes, and he said administrators wouldnt easily be able to make transfers to pay for free meals. He added that to expect such a wholesale shift of funds so close to the start of a new school year would be unreasonable.

I would gladly invite districts (to take part in the interim studies). I want to hear their perspectives, (but) that conversation (about providing across-the-board free meals) cant take place four weeks before school starts, he said.

As for whether Walters overstepped his authority in issuing a mandate that many have said might only originate in the Legislature, Pugh said, I wouldnt have rolled it out that way. I believe in a more collaborative approach, not something that comes from being isolated and in a vacuum, but Ill wait for the AGs opinion.

Lawmakers proposed other interim studies on the topic of nutrition, including:

Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, want to take a deep dive into the hidden costs of synthetic food additives on public health, workforce productivity and Oklahomas economy.

Thompsons Senate Bill 4 to eliminate 21 dyes and other artificial ingredients from retail products fell short of advancing to the governors desk this year. But now, she said, the food industry is beginning to respond to President Donald Trumps Make America Healthy Again program and to the Make Oklahoma Healthy Again initiative launched recently by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Through this study I intend to show why and how Oklahoma can become a model state for others as we try to improve health outcomes, Thompson said.

Reps. Emily Gise, R-Oklahoma City; Daniel Pae, R-Lawton; and Tim Turner, R-Kinta, and Sens. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair; and Lisa Standridge, R-Norman, have proposed studies of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Oklahoma.

The House lawmakers said they want to explore how to prepare for anticipated federal changes to maximize SNAP benefits and improve outcomes for Oklahoma families. Specifically, they want to evaluate work requirements, review fraud detection and prevention efforts, and explore rural food access barriers and opportunities to increase the availability of locally grown, nutritious food in underserved communities.

Bergstrom said his SNAP study would focus on how to ensure the integrity of the first line of defense against hunger in Oklahoma while also addressing how to ensure that taxpayer money isnt used to buy junk food, soda and other items with little to no nutritional value.

Standridge said she also wants to find out more about the nutritional value of food that consumers are allowed to buy with food stamps.
Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Reporter Follow Randy Krehbiel 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

He said, they said: U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin again found himself in the middle of controversy after it was reported that he said he blocked a Democratic resolution to release information from the Jeffrey Epstein case because he wanted to give President Donald Trump cover.

A producer of the Rachel Maddow Show, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and others grilled Mullin after his Thursday floor speech in opposition to Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallegos resolution.

They arent even trying to hide it, said Newsoms X account, quoting Mullin as saying: What were simply trying to do here is give President Trump cover.

But that isnt what Mullin said. While his speech may have included some questionable assertions about the Democrats and Trumps two impeachments and numerous legal problems, Mullin did not say he was trying to protect Trump from the public eye.

What were simply wanting to do here is give them cover, he said, with them apparently referring to Democrats. Apparently, some people thought Mullin said him, meaning Trump.

The remarks, though, came at the end of a passage about Democrats alleged mistreatment of Trump.

Im sure this would be like anything else they tried to go after, like the baseless impeachments, or the baseless special counsels, or the unbelievable amount of charges they tried to file against the president. Im sure this would be handled in the exact same way. What were simply wanting to do here is give them cover, Mullin said.

Mullin twice blocked Gallegos nonbinding resolution concerning the Epstein investigation; Democrats, in turn, blocked Mullins.

Mullins resolution calls for Federal and State courts to immediately unseal all materials, including grand jury materials, sealed as part of any criminal investigation, proceeding, or prosecution of (Epstein)  subject only to continuing redactions to protect victims and preserve ongoing prosecutions.

Gallegos resolution is more detailed. It tweaks Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino and calls for the release of all materials related to the Epstein investigation in possession of the Department of Justice.

Gallegos offered to combine the two resolutions; Mullin declined.

Family peacemaker: After the blowup about the Epstein resolutions, Mullins communications office circulated a Fox News feature on the senators role in getting House and Senate Republicans to play nice with each other on the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Theres an inherent mistrust between senators and representatives, Mullin said. Theres a deep, deep mistrust, and its like were playing shirts and skins with our own team.

And trying to break down that barrier and let people know, Hey, were all on the same team, is a little tougher than what people think.

Mullin, who served in the House 10 years before moving to the Senate two years ago, said his association with Senate Majority Leader John Thune has changed his approach to negotiating.

I took his lead  to let people talk, Mullin said. Sometimes youre going to find out that theyre actually upset about something that had nothing to do with the bill, but theyre taking that and theyre holding the bill hostage to be able to let this one point be heard.

Sign language: Some interpret a plaque affixed next to 4th District Congressman Tom Coles seat as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee as an indication that hes about had enough of the White House trying to run Congress.

No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law, the plaque reads, quoting the U.S. Constitution.

It was installed shortly after White House budget chief Russell Vought criticized the appropriations process.

There is no voter in the country that went to the polls and said, Im voting for a bipartisan appropriations process, Vought said, while also calling for further rescission of funds appropriated by Congress that the administration refuses to spend.

Later, in a CSPAN interview, Cole stressed the importance of bipartisanship but put most of the onus on Democrats.

In the end, the Democrats need to decide. Do you want to deal? You want a shutdown? You want a CR (continuing resolution)? What do you want to do? It is really not our choice, Cole said.

Republicans narrow majorities in the House and Senate and the Democrats ability to filibuster in the latter make it impossible for the GOP to pass appropriation bills without some minority support.

Getting it, in the current environment, is difficult.

The Democratic base is in a mood, Cole said. They think if youve made a deal with Trump, youve made a deal with the devil and theres no possible good outcome. Thats unfortunate. Because the president is going to be the president for the next four years and you better learn how to deal with him.

Cole has not addressed the plaque, but the Washington Post and others report that even Republican lawmakers are tired of being ordered around by the administrative branch. House and Senate funding bills have largely ignored administration desires to consolidate law enforcement agencies, including Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill 26-2 that goes against administration wishes by protecting the Environmental Protection Agencys research office.

Penny pincher: Third District Congressman Frank Lucas bill to stop minting pennies passed the House Financial Services Committee.

Lucas said pennies cost $85 million to mint last year and no longer serve a real purpose.

The one-cent piece has run its course, he said. The world has changed.  Lets just be practical and move forward.

Sunday programs: Mullin is scheduled to appear on CNNs State of the Union, airing live at 8 a.m. and replayed at 11 a.m.

Dots n dashes: The Senate will meet this week, but the House is in recess through August.  U.S. Sen. James Lankford told Newsmax he believes that Trump will be on a winning streak for a while on trade.  Mullin backed his friend Trumps efforts to push out Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, saying, What we dont want to do is the Fed to be playing politics. And it appears like it is being political right now.  Cole and Lankford asked Army Secretary Dan Driskill to reconsider plans to close the Fort Sill National Historic Landmark museum and an associated horse-drawn ceremonial artillery unit.  Second District Congressman Josh Brecheen achieved his goal of getting the administration to withdraw a rule that would have required speed-limiters, also known as governors, on certain trucks.  Fifth District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice signed onto legislation protecting Pope Leo XIVs U.S. citizenship and exempting him from U.S. taxes while hes in office.  Mullin was among a group of lawmakers formally complaining to Elon Musk about an anti-Semitic response of his X artificial intelligence engine Grok.  New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez holds no formal leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives but has raised almost twice as much this election cycle as Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and about 2 times as much as Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, OpenSecrets.com reports.
Nazeem & Mel, the opposite of sexual tension.

The closing scene of their Great Australian Road Trip to the red centre may look like a romantic movie, but don't expect Nazeem Hussain and Melissa Leong to oblige.

When Nazeem Hussain and Melissa Leong finally sit down atop Kings Canyon in Central Australia, after a very long drive and hike, it looks so photogenic it could be the end of a romantic movie.

But like a question raised in When Harry Met Sally these two are just platonic friends. If the scene is screaming out for a pash, it isnt coming anytime soon.

I dont know what the opposite of sexual tension is, but thats what me and Mel have, Hussain tells TV Tonight.

There was tension about playlists to be honest, when Id run out of mine and there was no Wi Fi.

Hitting the road for new SBS series Great Australian Road Trips, the pals furst met in 2020 as guests on Hughesy We Have a Problem.

I remember she was the newly announced judge on MasterChef. Shed done some SBS stuff, but was about to explode in Australias mainstream screens. I think we took a cab to the airport together, or we were hanging out at the airport lounge in Sydney. We just got along real quick, a similar sense of humour.

We both felt like we somehow were the glitches in the matrix being on mainstream television as people of colour from SBS. Like, we had somehow broken through. Well, I felt like that anyway. Something happens when two people of colour from mainstream television meet. Theres a bit of a head nod, like, Hey, were in here. So howd that happen? But, shes just really fun and we just clicked straight away.

Weve never really had a proper chance to spend good time together. During covid, we used to go on lots of walks. Shes met my family, weve had sporadic catch ups here and there, but its always been busy. So our friendship has been held back by our busy schedules which is why, when this show came across my table, I was like, Awesome. I finally get to actually hang out with Mel.'

The series, sees them undetake 3 road trips including to Tasmanias western coast and Arnhem Land NT, while Bumps Claudia Karvan & Steph Tisdell tackle Great Barrier Reef Drive in northern Queensland, Kangaroo Island in South Australia and the iconic Grand Pacific Drive south of Sydney.

Filming for Mint Pictures, the commitment became the most amount of time Hussain and Leong had ever spent together.

Up until the point, I thought, Im pretty happy with this friendship, he admits. So it was big risk deciding to travel with each other, I guess because we could have really stuffed the friendship. They say, if you want to know someone, travel with them or do business with them, then you really know what theyre like.

And you know, part of me was like the better to to, you know, to not trouble with her, in case we just hate each other.

Travelling along the iconic Red Centre Way from Uluru through Arrernte Country to Kings Canyon, shooting comprised about 10 hours per day, with a skeleton crew and stopping around every 2 hours. They visit Standley Chasm, a Desert Song Festival in Ormiston Gorge, Aboriginal community Hermannsburg (Ntaria) and undertake a camel ride.

Hussain admits he thought much of the trip would be cheated for the cameras, but it wasnt the case.

Before I did Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here I actually thought it was going to be a very heavily produced TV jungle, where its all just smoke and mirrors. And I thought the same sort of thing for this show, in a way. I was like, I will be driving around, but were not going to be doing all the driving all the time,' he recalls.

But actually it was very much Heres where were going, the cameras are set up. Go! and then wed just talk for hours and stop whenever we wanted to stop. Wed point out the window, distract each other. It was a genuine road trip. Wed be reminded that we wer filming TV, when sometimes the GoPro would start beeping that it ran out of battery. Or theyd talk to us on the two way radio and say, Weve been trying to tell you youve taken the wrong turn!'

It wasnt long before they let down their guard on the open road.

For that amount of time, its too tiring to kind hold that up constantly be using a filter. So we kind of dropped it. I guess we just trusted the editors and probably ourselves that our real tired selves can come out and do without what you will. From what weve seen, theyve done quite a good job with what theyve gotten.

While the six part series showcases Australian landscapes, history and culture, the long road trip didnt implode the friendship between Hussain and Leong, nor make them decide to leave their respective partners either. Hussain reckons the friendship outweighs all.

Theres so many people that you meet on a fleeting basis, but you dont actually have, a genuine, trusting friendship. Its kind of hard to know that you can rely on someone else, in this industry. Its pretty cut throat.

Great Australian Road Trips screens 7:30pm Thursday on SBS.
The arrival in Eswatini of five "criminal illegal aliens" deported from the US under Washington's tough anti-immigrant measures has sparked a rare wave of public dissent in the small African kingdom. Rights groups and the main opposition party are concerned over the lack of transparency involved in the operation.





The five, nationals of Vietnam, Laos, Yemen, Cuba and Jamaica, were flown to Eswatini's administrative capital of Mbabane on 16 July on a US military plane and imprisoned after US authorities labelled them "criminal illegal aliens".

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The US Department of Homeland Security said the men were convicted of violent crimes "so uniquely barbaric that their home countries refused to take them back".

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is Africas last absolute monarchy and has been ruled by King Mswati III since 1986.

The government has confirmed the men's presence. They are being held in the Matsapha Correctional Centre, 30 kms south of Mbabane.

The facility, notorious for holding political prisoners and overcrowding, has been undergoing renovations and expansions since 2018, reportedly funded by the United States as part of a programme covering all 14 of the country's penal centres.

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Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the five men would not stay permanently, and "will be repatriated in due course to their different countries".

But such reassurance has failed to quel concerns from both rights groups and the Pudemo opposition party.

Lack of transparency

Civic and rights groups are wondering whether further deportees from the United States will arrive, and what rights the five detained men have.

Sources within the penitentiary administration said the men were being held in solitary confinement in a high-security section of the facility. Their requests to make phone calls were denied.

The sources said the men have access to medical care and the same meals as the thousand other inmates, as well as a toilet, shower and television in their cells.

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On Wednesday a coalition of womens rights organisations in Eswatini delivered a petition to the US Embassy in Mbabane.

It called for the urgent recall of the deported criminals which were sent without proper consultation with citizens, a coordinated dialogue and stopping the forcing of migrants into the country.

It also called for clarity and accountability from both the United States and Eswatini governments over the legal status and treatment of the deported individuals.

On Friday arcund 150 women protested outside the US embassy demanding the prisoners be returned to the US.

Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, holds elections where the king calls the shots

'Criminal dumping scheme'

Eswatinis largest opposition party, the Peoples United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), said in a statement last week: Pudemo vehemently condemns the treacherous and reckless decision by King Mswati IIIs regime to allow the United States of America to dump its most dangerous criminals on Swazi soil.

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This is not diplomacy but human trafficking disguised as a deportation deal. It is an insult to all Emaswati who value peace, security, and the sanctity of our homeland.

Prime Minister Russell Dlamini has dismissed calls by lawmakers and civil society groups for the secrecy surrounding the agreement with Washington to be lifted.

"Not every decision or agreement is supposed to be publicly shared," he said.

Eswatini is the second African country to receive such deportees from the United States, after South Sudan earlier this month accepted eight individuals.

The situation has sparked concerns about the potential implications for Eswatini, a country already grappling with its own challenges under the absolute monarchy of King Mswati III.

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The 57-year-old ruler has been criticised for his lavish lifestyle and has faced accusations of human rights violations.

Mswati III buys new fleet of luxury cars as eSwatini economy falters

Controversial third-country deportations

US President Donald Trump has used the threat of high tariffs against other countries, such as Colombia, to coerce them to take in people deported from America.

Eswatini is currently facing a baseline US tariff of 10 percent  less than the 30 percent levelled at neighbouring South Africa  which the government has said will negatively impact the economy.

Trump has directed federal agencies to work hard on his campaign promise to expel millions of undocumented migrants from the US.

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His government has turned to so-called third-country deportations in cases where the home nations of some of those targeted for removal refuse to accept them.

Rights experts have warned the US deportations risk breaking international law by sending people to nations where they face the risk of torture, abduction and other abuses.

Trump mass deportation pledge faces legal, economic barriers

(with AFP)
Calls for ban on police pointing Tasers at children

Human rights experts called for a ban on the traumatising use of Tasers against children by police, warning the unacceptable use of force runs contrary to childrens rights.

Rhian Croke, of the Childrens Legal Centre Wales, said mounting evidence shows systemic discrimination  with black, disabled and poorer children more likely to be the target.

Dr Croke expressed concerns about the UK Government potentially authorising the use, including on children, of Taser 10  a new more powerful model  in the weeks ahead.

She warned of increased risks of physical harm and psychological trauma, with children describing Tasers as frightening, painful and traumatising  even when not discharged.

Nearly a quarter of recorded Taser use on children in Wales and England involved black boys aged between 11 and 17, according to a briefing for Senedd members.

Wales can and must do better

Children with mental health conditions or additional learning needs and those from poorer backgrounds were also found to be disproportionately affected.

In 2023, a United Nations committee called for a ban on the use of Tasers on under 18s, warning of potential breaches of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The decision to authorise Taser 10 will impact children in Wales, wrote Dr Croke. Wales can and must do better. Despite policing not being devolved, Wales is a childrens rights, trauma-informed, and anti-racist nation.

Urging the Welsh Government to lead calls for a pause on Taser 10, Dr Croke called for a wider ban on Taser use against children or at least a strong legal presumption against.

Police in Wales and England deployed Tasers on children 2,900 times last year, including five instances against children under 11, with 66 discharges  all on those aged 11 to 17.

He flopped on the floor

Wales four police forces used Tasers on children 112 times and fired on three occasions, according to the Home Office statistics for 2023/24.

South Wales Police pulled Tasers on children the most (56 times) followed by Gwent (35, including two discharges), North Wales (12, one discharge) and Dyfed Powys (nine).

Dr Croke pointed to research showing Taser use  or the threat of it  causes significant distress, fear and trauma in children. Some children reported experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder following such an encounter with police.

One child told researchers: I just saw the little dot there and I just went all warm, scared. I thought Im going to get hurt now, Im going to get a shock in a minute. They just stunned him [his friend] and he flopped on the floor.

In the briefing, jointly prepared with Louise King from the Childrens Rights Alliance England, Dr Croke warned Tasers also pose a major risk to childrens physical health.

State-inflicted violence

The researchers wrote: Unlike earlier models, Taser 10 barbs must embed in the skin. Childrens thinner skin and reduced body wall-to-organ distance significantly heighten the risk of deep tissue or organ injury.

Barbs from Taser 10 are heavier, travel at higher velocity and have increased kinetic energy, increasing the likelihood of severe internal harm, including to the eyes, brain, lungs and liver. Given that children frequently wear lighter clothing, this danger is compounded.

Warning no child rights impact assessment had been published on Taser 10, Dr Croke argued such assessments should be mandatory for all new policing technology.

She said: Taser use, which includes threatening a child with a Taser, can constitute a form of state-inflicted violence, especially in cases where the child poses no serious threat.

This is particularly concerning when used on children already traumatised by abuse, exploitation or neglect. Taser use may re-traumatise children.

Alarmed

Jenny Rathbone and Buffy Williams, who chair the Senedds equality and childrens committees respectively, were similarly concerned about the impact on childrens rights.

In a joint letter, the Labour Senedd members wrote: We are sufficiently alarmed at the impact including the potential psychological and physical harm to children that these weapons can inflict, that we felt it necessary to signal our concerns immediately.

The pair questioned how sanctioning the use of Taser 10 on children would be consistent with Welsh law which places a duty on ministers to have due regard to the UNCRC.

Dr Croke had pointed to a mismatch on policy between Wales and Westminster, drawing a parallel with concerns about children being strip-searched by police.

She said: Taser use against children is a further example of how UK Government policy is contrary to Welsh Governments commitment to the UNCRC and Welsh-specific legislation.

Grave oversight

Ms Rathbone and Ms Williams also echoed concerns about a lack of disaggregated data on the disproportionate and discriminatory use of Tasers against children in Wales.

In her response, Jane Hutt stated the Welsh Government does not want to see the use of tasers on children by police forces but responsibility remains with Westminster.

Wales social justice secretary said she would write to Labour colleague Diana Johnson, the UK policing minister, expressing concerns and seeking assurances.

Concluding her briefing, Dr Croke told Senedd members: The continued use of Tasers and the deployment of Taser 10 on children by police if authorised, will represent a serious breach of international human rights standards and Welsh childrens rights legislation.

The UK Governments failure to conduct a child rights impact assessment prior to authorisation is a grave oversight that disregards its obligations under the UNCRC.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Llangollen beauty spot visitors urged to park responsibly this summer

Visitors to a Llangollen beauty spot are being urged to park responsibly this summer or risk facing a fine.

Denbighshire Council officers will patrol Horseshoe Falls and the surrounding areas over the coming weeks with visitors expected to increase over the school break.

The local authority is also asking those visiting the area to plan ahead to visit other nearby attractions that are available across the Dee Valley if this area is busy.

A number of preparations have already been made to manage an increase in visitors:

Extra countryside rangers will be on site to manage the area and provide support and information for visitors.

Civil enforcement officers will also monitor the site and surrounding area, especially at predicated peak busy time.

Fencing has been installed at the Horseshoe Falls car park entrance to stop parking on the grass verges which can obstruct other traffic.

Awareness signs are prominent at the site advising drivers to park responsibly.

The Council will also liaise with partners including North Wales Police to monitor any increased traffic issues at the site

Councillor Alan James, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: We do want visitors to enjoy Horseshoe Falls and the surrounding areas but would strongly urge them that parking restrictions are important for both road safety and ensuring there is a fair turnover of parking spaces.

Drivers need to be aware that while visiting, anyone not complying with parking restrictions risk receiving a Penalty Charge Notice from our civil enforcement officers.

Our rangers are on site at Horseshoe Falls to provide advice and guidance to visitors coming to the site and I would ask that the public also respect the important role they are there to carry out.

Please plan your day in advance and make sure you have other options planned for visiting and parking if you cannot stop at your first choice of venue as the Dee Valley has plenty of attractions to visit.
Boeing in Hot Seat Again as 737 Max 8 Tire Catches Fire at Denver Airport 2

Boeings troubled 737 Max series is back in the spotlight after a dramatic incident at Denver International Airport on Saturday, when an American Airlines flight was forced to abort takeoff due to a fire in its landing gear. Flight AA3023, en route to Miami with 173 passengers and six crew on board, came to an abrupt halt at 2:45 p.m. when the right landing-gear tire failed and burst into flames, sending thick smoke across Runway 25L.

Emergency slides were deployed as fire crews rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze by 5:10 p.m. All passengers and crew safely evacuated the aircraft, though one person sustained minor injuries. Social media videos showed panicked passengers sliding down, some clutching carry-on luggage despite warnings from aviation authorities that such actions can delay evacuations and put lives at risk.

This marks the second Boeing-related emergency involving American Airlines in Denver this year. In March, Flight 1006operating a 737-800suffered an engine fire while taxiing, later attributed to maintenance oversight. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating both events, with a particular focus on Boeings landing gear and tire-system design and the effectiveness of its maintenance documentation.

The 737 Max family has faced intense scrutiny since the 2018 and 2019 crashes of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights, which led to a worldwide grounding of the fleet until late 2020. While Boeing has since introduced software upgrades and revamped pilot training, mechanical problems continue to shadow the aircrafts safety reputation.

In the wake of the Denver fire, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a directive mandating immediate inspections of all 737 Max 8 landing-gear trunnion pins and tire-pressure sensors. Boeing has pledged full cooperation and launched an internal audit of its quality-control practices. American Airlines, meanwhile, has temporarily grounded the affected 737 Max 8 aircraft and shifted impacted passengers to Airbus A320-family jets.

With peak summer travel underway, the aviation industryand the flying publicawaits reassurances that Boeings next-generation jets wont again dominate headlines for the wrong reasons.
Haridwar Tragedy: Stampede at Mansa Devi Temple Kills 6, Sparks Crowd Safety Concerns 2

A devastating stampede at the revered Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar early Sunday morning claimed six lives and left several others injured, triggering nationwide concerns over crowd safety at religious sites. The incident unfolded as thousands of devotees thronged the hilltop shrine atop Bilwa Parvat, which is accessible by a narrow footpath and a popular ropeway service.

Eyewitnesses reported that a sudden bottleneck on the pathway created a wave of panic, resulting in a crush that overwhelmed pilgrims who had little space to escape or breathe. Emergency services were quick to respond. Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, who arrived at the site soon after the incident, confirmed that police, fire personnel, and medical teams coordinated swift rescue operations. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, which remain on high alert.

Commissioner Pandey stated that an official report detailing the cause and sequence of the stampede would be released following the conclusion of rescue and relief efforts. The Mansa Devi Temple, a revered Siddh Peeth established in 1811 and part of Haridwars Panch Tirth pilgrimage circuit, attracts more than a million visitors annually, especially during auspicious periods. While the 2017 introduction of the Mansa Devi Udankhatola ropeway was meant to reduce congestion, Sundays tragedy has sparked serious questions about the effectiveness of such measures in the absence of robust crowd control strategies.

Indias history with stampedes at religious events is alarming. Past disasters like the 2013 Ratangarh bridge collapse that killed 115 and the 2024 Hathras tragedy that claimed 121 lives are grim reminders of the dangers posed by poorly managed large gatherings. A 2019 study of the Ardh Kumbh Mela found inadequate spatial planning and weak enforcement of safety norms to be consistent contributing factors. The Archaeological Survey of India has also recently flagged the growing threat of overcrowding at Uttarakhands heritage sites.

As the nation mourns yet another preventable tragedy, calls for systemic change in managing religious tourism are growing louder.
After two days of searching, the Florence Police Departments dive team recovered the body of a Franklin County man who had drowned in the Tennessee River in Florence on Saturday.

We have recovered the body. The name has not been released, Joshua Meza, a spokesperson for the city of Florence told AL.com.

On Saturday, boats from the Florence Fire Department, Police Department, Sheffield Fire Department and the Marine Police Division of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency were in the water searching for the man, who is believed to be in his 30s, according to reports from the Times Daily.

Several state and local agencies are on scene at McFarland Park due to a possible drowning, Florence Police Department posted to Facebook on Saturday.

Brad Holmes, Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency director, said the Saturday search, which began around 5 p.m., was suspended due to darkness at 8:50 p.m. Officials continued searching early Sunday morning, according to reports from the Times Daily.

The person was at the park with a group at the beach area and swam out to a buoy and had turned around to return to the shoreline. He then began to struggle and went under, Holmes told the Times Daily.
Pictured is a folding knife allegedly used by 42-year-old Bradford James Gille during a mass stabbing attack at the Traverse City Walmart on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Photo provided by Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP)  A man accused of entering a Walmart in Michigan and randomly stabbing 11 shoppers before being detained by bystanders in the store parking lot is expected to face terrorism and multiple assault charges, authorities said Sunday.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said a motive behind the attack by Bradford Gille of Afton, Michigan, remains unclear. Gille, who Shea said had prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations, said very little as he was arrested. He is expected to be charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder.

Shea praised the quick response by law enforcement officers who arrived within three minutes after receiving the call about the stabbing  as well as a group of bystanders who intervened and detained Gille in the parking lot. Calls began coming in to authorities at 4:43 p.m. on Saturday and a sheriffs deputy arrived at 4:46 p.m.

He said the remarkable efforts likely prevented others from being harmed.

I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough, Shea said at a press conference. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute.

Terrorism charges

Gilles name did not appear Sunday in Michigans online jail records. Messages left Sunday with phone numbers and an email listed for Gille were not immediately returned. His previous court cases did not have an attorneys name listed in public records.

Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg told reporters that the terrorism charge will be brought due to the fact the attack impacted the community, rather than one individual.

Its something that is done not to individual people, not to those individual victims  obviously they are most affected  but it is we believe in some ways done to affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis, Moeggenberg said. So that is why we are looking at that terrorism charge.

Shea said the 11 victims were both men and women and they ranged in age from 29 to 84 and included one Walmart employee. Munson Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Schermerhorn said at a press conference Sunday that one patient was treated and released; two were in serious condition; and the rest are in fair condition. All were expected to survive.

Witness accounts

Steven Carter was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cut a womans throat with a knife.

About five minutes later, the man was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group of five or six people kept yelling to the man drop the knife, he said, and the man responded: I dont care, I dont care. He kept backing away from the crowd, before someone tackled and subdued him.

At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack, said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.

Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders gathered in the parking lot of the shopping center that houses several other retail stores. Authorities also were seen interviewing employees, still wearing blue uniform vests and name tags, nearby as the response gave way to an investigation.

Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Traverse City, said she was in the stores parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.

It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out, she said. This is something you see out of the movies. Its not what you expect to see where youre living.

Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife, adding that the stabbing started near the checkout counter of the store and that his victims were not predetermined.

Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. A Sunday statement said the stores associates would be paid while the store remains closed and that it made available counseling services. It wasnt known when the store would reopen.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to provide any necessary support.

Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Casey reported from Boston. Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen contributed from Chicago.
Officials are searching for a man believed to have drowned Saturday afternoon in the Tennessee River near McFarland Park in Florence. (Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com)

Rescue workers are on the second day of their search for a man who is believed to have drowned Saturday afternoon in the Tennessee River near McFarland Park in Florence.

We dont have any additional details at this time. Our dive team along with EMA (Emergency Management Agency) are continuing to search the area, Joshua Meza, a spokesperson for the city of Florence told AL.com.

Boats from the Florence Fire Department, Police Department, Sheffield Fire Department and the Marine Police Division of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency were in the water searching for the man, who is believed to be in his 30s, according to reports from the Times Daily.

Several state and local agencies are on scene at McFarland Park due to a possible drowning. Please avoid the area to prevent congestion. No other details are available at this time, Florence Police Department posted to Facebook on Saturday.

Brad Holmes, Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency director, said the Saturday search, which began around 5 p.m., was suspended due to darkness at 8:50 p.m and officials would continue searching early Sunday morning, according to reports from the Times Daily.

Holmes told the Times Daily that the Florence Police and Lauderdale EMA are also using drones to locate the man.

The person was at the park with a group at the beach area and swam out to a buoy and had turned around to return to the shoreline. He then began to struggle and went under, Holmes told the Times Daily.
This is an opinion column. Get Kyle Whitmires newsletter, Alabamafication. Sign up here for free .

There are many things Donald Trump would rather we forget, but Ill always remember the night he got booed in Alabama.

In August of 2021, Trump kicked off his political comeback campaign at York Family Farms, outside Cullman, in a north Alabama county where Trump had just won nearly 90% of the vote. Hard as it is to imagine now, it was far from certain then whether anyone would show. Could the former president, politically singed by January 6, still draw a crowd?

But despite late afternoon thunderstorms and a growing surge of support for Ron DeSantis, thousands turned out. Trump was a bit rusty, but the crowd cheered him anyway. At least until he brought up the vaccines.

The former and future president bragged on his first terms greatest, genuine accomplishment  the record-breaking development of multiple COVID jabs. There should be no dispute: It was a momentous scientific undertaking and a national achievement to put in the American trophy case somewhere between the moon landing and the Manhattan Project.

There should be no dispute. But there was. To Trumps surprise that night, the crowd began to boo. And they werent booing with him. They were booing at him. Trump had gotten sideways with his people.

Youve got your freedoms! Trump said, beginning a mid-air pivot. But I happen to take the vaccine. If it doesnt work, youll be the first to know.

After reassuring the audience again they had the freedom to stay unvaxxed, he quickly reverted to his old hit grievances and finished the night with applause.

I keep time-traveling back to that moment for a couple of reasons.

First, it may seem inevitable now, but at that point, Trumps political future hung perilously in the air, like a daredevil stunt gone wrong. If he had said one more wrong word to that crowd, we might be living in a different world today.

Second, that night gave us an answer to critical questions. Is Trumpism more than Trump? Is he really in charge of the social phenomenon that put him in the White House? Was Trump the bullrider or the bull?

But what that boo of Warp Speed confirms is that Trumpism exists independently of Trump. It always has. It was here before he lent it his name, and it will be here when hes gone. It can buck him off in a second if hes not careful and leave him a bloody mess in the rodeo dirt.

And hes in danger of slipping again.

Trumpism is not all one thing. It is a coalition of aggrieved constituencies  some of which harbor beliefs that might be best described as quasi-religions. Anti-vaxxers are one. Another is an army of amateur pedo-hunting sleuths who gather in Facebook groups and Reddit threads, where they attempt, like Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple, to unspool their tribes biggest mystery.

Who killed Jeffrey Epstein?

That sub-constituency might have forgiven an off night in Cullman. But now hes telling them to forget what theyve been obsessing over for the last six years, and were watching Trump again with only hand connecting him to the saddle.

After consistently promising to release Epsteins case file  including a rumored client list  the Trump Administration is now struggling to pretend thats yesterdays news and aiming a firehose of putrid invective at anyone who brings it up.

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 on Truth Social. They havent learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.

Trumps seeming immunity to any accountability  political or legal  will leave a lot of folks clucking their tongues and reminding us all that weve been here before. But this time feels different. Trump isnt at odds with Democrats or the media this time, but with that subset of MAGA.

The bull is mad. And the rider seems to be losing his grip.

Trump quickly appeased his restless anti-vaxxers that night in Alabama. But this time he seems unable to indulge them. Instead, what Trump is threatening is political amputation  severing a once-devoted segment of his base in a desperate bid for political survival.

Anyone in that crowd now must make a choice  swear off the cause theyve devoted themselves to and recommit blindly to him, or go back to living in a political wilderness. A significant slice of Trumps following is staring into a mirror today trying decide which is worse.

Theres only one reason for Trump to force his own people into making such a choice  the alternative for him is something much worse.

Thanks to the Wall Street Journal, we now have a good sense of what that might be. Trumps relationship with Epstein went beyond attending the same parties, and the evidence goes deeper than a few photographs of the two men standing together in the same corner. The Journal reports that it includes birthday wishes, lewd doodles on a card, and a shared understanding of each others secrets.

It was bad enough that this news came from Rupert Murdochs newspaper, which Trump is now suing, but now the New York Times has corroborated at least some of their reporting. And theres always the specter of more  especially in the FBIs files.

Why did Trump indulge this segment of his base when he had to know these things were lingering in a drawer somewhere? The simple answer is that he needed those people to win. Now that hes in the White House, its tempting for him to think he doesnt need them anymore.

However, political support is a finicky thing. When it slips a little, it can break hard. The cracks here arent only between Trump and his once-dotting pedo-sleuths, but also between the president and his party officials in Congress. This has so divided his supporters on Capitol Hill that, this week, House Republicans retreated to their home states early rather than taking a stand now.

Delay and defer might have worked before. Its not going to work this time.

It is an article of faith that the truth bats last. Yes, its taking its time getting here. But its coming.

Kyle Whitmire is the Washington watchdog columnist for AL.com and winner of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize. Subscribe to his newsletter, Alabamafication. Its free.
A heat wave begins today in Alabama and could last through the middle of the week. The Alabama counties in orange above will be under heat advisories on Sunday. More heat advisories will be likely on Monday through Wednesday. National Weather Service

Another heat wave has started on Sunday in Alabama, and it could last through mid-week, according to forecasters.

And this weeks temperatures could be some of the hottest so far this summer in many areas.

Heat advisories will be in effect on Sunday for a large part of the state, and forecasters expect more advisories to be issued for Monday through possibly Wednesday.

The reason? An area of high pressure parked nearby that is steering very hot air over the state. Here it was on Sunday afternoon:

Pretty easy to see where the area of high pressure is located by looking at the visible satellite. It's currently located across southern Mississippi, which puts us on the drier and hotter side of it. Heat Advisories are in place again tomorrow. #FLwx #GAwx #ALwx pic.twitter.com/Ox9NV2Q37d  NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) July 27, 2025

The National Weather Service expects high temperatures to climb into the mid- to upper 90s in many areas today through at least Wednesday, and there wont be as many chances for rain for several days.

The combination of air temperatures and Alabama humidity will make it feel hotter, and some spots could see the heat index climb above 110 degrees this week, according to forecasters.

There is high chance for dangerous heat conditions to continue through Wednesday. This will be a long-duration period of extreme heat conditions with no overnight relief, affecting people and pets without adequate cooling and hydration, the weather service in Birmingham said in its Sunday forecast discussion.

And that will be true statewide for the next few days.

SUNDAY

Here are Sunday's expected high temperatures. NWS

High temperatures will range from the low to mid-90s today across all of Alabama, and heat advisories will be in effect for a large part of the state (those are listed at the bottom of this post).

MONDAY

Here are Monday's expected high temperatures. NWS

Expect temperatures to climb by a few degrees on Monday, according to weather service forecasts.

Highs will range from the low 90s in the northeast part of the state to the mid- to upper 90s for everyone else.

Expect rain chances to remain on the low side. North Alabama has a 20-30 percent chance for rain, but the rest of Alabama will have less than a 20 percent chance of seeing any showers.

TUESDAY

Tuesday's highs will get very close to 100 degrees in some areas. NWS

Tuesday will be another very hot day across Alabama.

The weather service is forecasting hight to climb into the mid- to upper 90s, and some spots might hit 100 degrees.

Rain chances will be a bit higher on Tuesday. North Alabama will have a 30-40 percent probability of rain, and the odds increase to around 50 percent for most of central and south Alabama.

WEDNESDAY

The heat could back off a few degrees across Alabama on Wednesday. NWS

Wednesday could see the heat back off for some spots in Alabama and increased chances for rain.

The weather service is forecasting high temperatures to range from the low to mid-90s on Wednesday.

Rain chances will range from 60-70 percent statewide.

THURSDAY AND BEYOND

The weather service expects temperatures to moderate some from Thursday through the weekend.

It will still be warm, with highs in the 90s expected, but they will be in the lower 90s for a change.

Scattered showers and storms will be in the forecast each day through at least Saturday.

SUNDAYS HEAT ADVISORIES

Here is a look at the heat advisories in effect on Sunday (and beyond) for Alabama.

NORTH ALABAMA

HUN updates Heat Advisory (extends time and expands area to include 3 zones, extends time of 11 zones) till Jul 29, 9:00 PM CDT https://t.co/5dhY8VQOIj pic.twitter.com/sKfCdud4Ap  IEMBot HUN (@iembot_hun) July 27, 2025

A heat advisory has been expanded and extended for north Alabama as of Sunday afternoon. The advisory will now be in effect for all north Alabama until 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

The counties in the advisory are Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Marshall, Jackson, DeKalb and Cullman.

The National Weather Service in Huntsville said the heat index could range from 103-107 degrees in those counties each afternoon through Tuesday.

CENTRAL ALABAMA

Hot and muggy conditions expected today across Central AL. Highs will reach into the 90s with heat indices in excess of 105 for many locations. pic.twitter.com/uAJ5RBnbbr  NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) July 27, 2025

A heat advisory for central Alabama has also been expanded and extended and now will be in effect until 9 p.m. Tuesday for the following counties: Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Winston, Walker, Blount, Etowah, Calhoun, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Marengo, Dallas, Autauga, Lowndes, Elmore, Montgomery, Macon, Bullock, Pike, Barbour, Chambers, Cherokee, Lee and Russell.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham said the heat index could climb up to 105 degrees today.

SOUTH ALABAMA

The heat is on as we round out the week into the beginning of the work week. Today will be the "cooler" day out of the next few days with highs topping out in the middle 90's and heat index values within the heat advisory area approaching 109 degrees. pic.twitter.com/shEuZIm7Y5  NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) July 27, 2025

A heat advisory will be in effect on Sunday until 5 p.m. for Mobile and Baldwin counties.

Another heat advisory will go into effect on Monday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. for the following counties: Mobile, Baldwin, Choctaw, Washington, Conecuh, Escambia and Covington.

The National Weather Service in Mobile said heat index values up to 108 degrees are expected today.

For southeast Alabama, a heat advisory will be in effect Monday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. CDT. That will affect Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said the heat index on Monday afternoon could top out at 109 degrees.
Even if indictments are handed down and courtroom prosecutions ensue for any of the Russia hoax-cum-coup co-conspirators, it is highly doubtful that the Dept. of Justice could secure a conviction in any blue jurisdiction.

After all, 60% of registered Democrats still believe  to this day, without evidence  the medias baseless conspiracy theory that Donald Trump colluded with Russia to steal the 2016 election. More than half of registered Democrats are proponents of murderous political violence, willingly telling pollsters theyd like to see Trump assassinated.

In short, there is practically zero chance any jury with more than two or three registered Democrat jurors would vote to convict one of their #Resistance heroes.

And what to do with the great deity himself? The self-proclaimed The One who would heal the planet by calming the rising, turbulent oceans? The One who would grudgingly offer typical white people a tiny morsel of atonement for their racial guilt if they voted for him and agreed to embrace his entire demagogic, treasonous agenda?

Whereas the equally bigoted, thin-skinned, and acid-tongued Michelle Obama routinely vented her racial hostility through gritted teeth amid slavish media gushing over her toned triceps and powerful, ripped deltoids, Barack Obama smoothly exploited and fanned every racial controversy in less threatening tones, whether successfully conning the public about his decades long partnership with the genocidal Rev. Jeremiah Wright, or inveighing against an allegedly racist white cop stupidly confronting  in good faith  a belligerent Henry Louis Gates Jr. (yo mama! taunted Gates) who was trying to break into his own house without a key.

Everything about Obama was groundbreaking, the media assured us. If he passed the darling little curlicue stool in the White House, it was historic, and worthy of adulatory exegesis, perhaps even a display in the Smithsonian. The media (comprised almost entirely of starry-eyed ninnies like CBSs Scott MacFarlane, who courageously faced down his PTSD in 2024) were Praetorian pit bulls for this conquering, almost mythical divination of an American president.

Ben Rhodes, Obamas ditzy national security boy toy, who comes across as a couch-surfing Kato Kaelin-type hanger-on, boasted about how easy it was to pull the strings of media marionettes who literally know nothing. Besides, Obama was sort of God, according to Newsweek. The secular messiah had as many get out of jail cards as he would ever need, and he knew it.

If you objected to Obamas serial groveling prostrations before the Muslim world, or his dismissing massive terror attacks like Fort Hood in 2009 (renamed Fort Cavazos in 2023) as workplace violence, you were a racist and an Islamophobe. If you objected to Obamas spread the wealth, you didnt build that encomiums to big government, or his climate apocalypse perorations, you were, ipso facto, a racist.

If you scoffed at Cash for Clunkers and a bizarre new economic metric called jobs created or saved, or shovel-ready jobs that werent, you were a racist. If you advocated for leaner government or took issue with Obama green-lighting the IRSs destruction of the TEA party movement (teabaggers, slurred Obama, not even a smidgen of corruption) you were a racist.

But the messiah could hardly stop there. If Obama had had a son, Trayvon Martin wouldve looked just like him (God too sacrificed his only son for our sins; Obamas rhetorical evocations were intentional).

In Obamas pious straw man narratives, white racist superstructures, once visible above ground and apparent to all, had now gone subterranean, had become invisible, but more insidious than ever. Blacks, nay, all people of color were still in chains; its just the chains were now invisible, and nothing had changed over the centuries. All proclaimed with Obamas customary elan, of course.

Racism was in the DNA of all white people and could not be erased or expunged. No amount of white penance and self-flagellation would ever be enough. America would always be Selma, Alabama, circa 1825, frozen in time, forevermore.

Obamas poisonous legacy on race relations maintains that if a person of color (POC) encounters any frustrations, disappointments, criticisms, setbacks, perceived slights, or personal failures in life, it is all because of white racism.

If individual POC dont achieve the fulfillment of all their dreams, ambitions, hopes, and desires, or encounter any of the countless pitfalls and obstacles and toe-stubbings that afflict every human on earth, well, white racism is the explanation.

The media ascribed the paranoid style in politics to Barry Goldwater. But if Super Bowl trophies were handed out for the paranoid style, Barry Obama would be Tom Brady to Barry Goldwaters Doug Williams.

Obamas nonstop sanctimonious racializing of everything under the sun inevitably resulted in a huge upsurge in black urban violence during Obamas second term (the Ferguson Effect), along with a series of indiscriminate killings of individual cops, culminating in the massacre of five police officers in Dallas by a BLM activist in 2016.

Conservative critics say Obama is a Marxist leading an economic class struggle. But the real revolutionary transformation wrought by Obama is that he re-positioned the Marxist class struggle as a race struggle.

Yet the supposedly post-racial ex-president, who waxed nostalgic in his largely fictitious autobiographies about his choom gang, and composite characters, and bragged about stubbing out cigarettes on dormitory carpets during his college days (yeah, thatll show them, stick it to The Man!) is still venerated by swooning progressives as a demigod or Augustus-type figure.

In reality, he was and remains a malignant, Commodus-type cult of personality held aloft by fawning Obamabots throughout government, media, pop culture, and the brainwashed progressive half of the American electorate.

Lost in all the current minutia is the fact Obama summoned his boot-licking Intelligence Community gofers (Brennan, Comey, Clapper, Rice, et al.) to secretive Loya Jirga-style meetings to strategize the overthrow of a duly-elected president (FBIs Lisa Page/Peter Strzok: POTUS wants to know everything were doing). All by the book, wink wink, as Susan Rice strangely emailed herself.

Obama wouldve feared no repercussions because throughout his life nobody had ever held him to account for his actions.

The nihilist with the majestic self-regard was the Golden Calf, there to be worshiped, not questioned or second-guessed. His every diktat was as holy writ. One almost gets the sense that if hed directed the attendees to get into a conga line and await their turn to fellate him, they wouldve obediently queued up and done so, one by one.

The culture of unaccountability for Democrats in general and Obama in particular remains in force today.

During his interminably delayed sham investigation of the FBIs Crossfire Hurricane putsch, Special Counsel John Durham scrutinized most of the same raw intelligence current Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard later examined, and Durham chose to significantly downplay his findings, going so far as to secrete highly classified and damning evidence of treason in a clandestine annex.

Indicting or otherwise prosecuting Obama or any of his top cabalists is fraught with significant risk not limited to acquittals by Democrat zealot juries overseen by ideological judges, and the attendant political fallout. And, just yesterday, Trump announced Obama had full immunity.

Massive urban rioting, yet more indiscriminate racial violence directed at white people or Trump supporters, and assassinations of known conservative figures are all live options on the table for the progressive mob. This is the result of Obamas fundamental transformation of America.

Brothers Erik and Todd Gregory are previous contributors to American Thinker.

Image from Grok.
IMAGINEgrowing up in a beautiful country where your family lived for generations, and enjoyed a wonderful cultural lifestyle and professional status within their communities.

Then, to show their allegiance to their country, 100,000 fought during World War I and 12,000 sacrificed their lives.

IMAGINEas the political atmosphere slowly changed, many ignored signs that the new regime was not in their best interests. Only a few recognized the problem early enough to leave their beautiful homeland.

Sadly, the majority didnt want to believe they would be in dangeruntil it was too late, and their lives were stripped away from them.

They were forced to wear a symbol identifying them as inferior to other citizens and they became the scapegoat for the countrys economic and cultural failures.

Their places of worship and businesses were eventually burned to the ground. Laws were passed depriving them of their citizenship, nor could they work in their professions or attend schools and universities.

Deportation from the Lodz Ghetto (fewer than 1,000 Jews in the ghetto survived the war). United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. No known restrictions.

IMAGINEsuddenly, a loud pounding on the door to their homes! Soldiers forced their way in to see who lives there. The families were ordered to pack one suitcase for each person and told they must leave to be relocated to a better place. With guns pointed at them, they had no choice but to obey.

They thought they were going to the train station, hoping the comfortable passenger cars would be there. Instead, shockingly, there were long rows of sinister wooden cattle cars. The soldiers ordered everyone into the dark, dirty cars. They were squeezed in so tightly that no one could move. There was no water or food, and only one latrine bucket for each closely packed car.

The hope of being sent to a better place was replaced by abject fear. Parents desperately clutched their children. Tears streamed down their cheeks.

IMAGINEthe dark, heavy wooden door of the cattle car noisily starting to close. And the sound of the metal-on-metal steel wheels loudly screeching until that final, shocking, earsplitting, CLICK...as they were locked in as prisoners. They gasped for air, not knowing where they were going. Many would die from suffocation or exposure.

Upon arrival at their destinations, many were immediately sent to their deaths in gas chambers. Others were sent to concentration and death camps. At the end, 6 million were murdered.

These are the stages of antisemitism, how it slowly transforms and reveals itself, then escalates into a convulsive, savage, and deadly culmination. Now do you get it?

That was then, this is nowwith the current rise of antisemitism since October 7, 2023, and incidents of violent Jew-hatred worldwide akin to World War II Germany, we cannot ignore (as our relatives and ancestors did) the dangers these radical situations present.

An incredible organization, Hate Ends Now, created a Mobile Holocaust Cattle Car Exhibit to educate audiences and raise awareness about the Holocaust, exemplifying the dangers of Jew-hatred, intolerance and racism.

Randy Osborne, President of the Florida Eagle Forum and Brigitte Smith, Chair of the Marion County Republican Executive Committee, are devoted friends of the Jewish community and supporters of Israel, as seen at this October 7 rally in Ocala, Florida.

Recently, they raised $5,000 to bring the Holocaust Cattle Car Exhibit to the students at the Ocala Christian Academy (OCA) and Ocala residents. It was an experience I will never forget.

The introductory presentation concentrated on how extreme hate can manifest. The OCA administrators, city and county officials, gave impassioned speeches on the dangers and warning signs of hate and that it must not be tolerated. It was truly emotional and their message powerful.

The students and guests, totaling 424 throughout the day, were then able to go into a World War II Cattle Car replica. After the heavy wooden door closed, they watched a 360-degree multi-media presentation projected onto the Cattle Car walls narrated by Holocaust survivors telling their painful stories of loss of freedom, persecution, dehumanization, loss of loved ones, and, since they lived to tell their tales, their miraculous survival.

When the presentation was over and the students and guests exited the Cattle Car, you could see from their expressions that they had a new understanding of how extreme hate, with a diabolical purpose, can morph into an unimaginable scale.

Then it was my turn to go into the cattle car. I entered into this dark, confined space, walked to the rear of the car, and was fully enveloped by this macabre wooden prison. All of a sudden, tears were streaming down my cheeks.

Then the Hate Ends Now presenter started to close the heavy wooden door. The sound of the metal-on-metal steel wheels loudly screeching until that final, shocking, earsplitting, CLICKlocking me incaused me to remember pictures of Jews in Cattle Cars arriving at Auschwitz, only to be gassed to death in fake showers and their bodies burned in grotesque ovens.

And with that, my whole body started to tremble, and I couldnt stop shaking and crying throughout the entire presentation. For all I could think of was, It could have been me.

This brought back troubling memories from years ago when I was in training at a commercial real estate firm. I was sent to special classes around the United States. One week, I roomed with a woman who was born in Germany. Her family came to the United States in 1939.

I asked her if she could tell me how Hitler indoctrinated the population with Jew-hatred. She told me she grew up on a farm and her parents would tell her to be careful and not fall into their water well for the Jewish rats lived in the bottom and would harm her. She then realized how horrible this sounded and wouldnt discuss it any further.

A second horrific event occurred at this same firm two years later. At the beginning of a sales meeting, before our manager arrived, an arrogant male agent smiles and says, I have a Holocaust joke. I felt the blood drain from my face and my body get cold. Then he laughingly declared, Too bad there werent microwaves. Sickeningly, everyone else laughed. I had never heard anything so despicable.

With that, I abruptly stood up and yelled, You are all disgusting antisemites, and left the room. I never told my manager about this incident, which was a big mistake, for I was ostracized until I left the company two years later to work at a new commercial real estate firm.

I had great success and sold a major corporate headquarters. Commercial real estate deals usually take six to nine months to close. Because of the high-level training and negotiating skills I learned at the previous firm, I closed this deal in three months.

To celebrate, I called the manager who taught me these skills, and invited him to lunch to thank him for his dedication to teaching and wisdom. I told him about the Holocaust microwave joke incident. He asked, Why didnt you tell me? I could have helped you? Embarrassed, I told him, I was afraid I would lose my job. He looked me straight in the eye, reached across the table, put his hand on my arm, and compassionately responded, That never would have happened.

If only what he said were true. What did happen was that, on October 7...Jewish babies were burned to death in kitchen ovens.

Adrienne Skolnik has been published in American Thinker, The Forward and has a Times of Israel Blog.
The great Satchel Paige once said, Dont look back -- something may be gaining on you. Well, I think for Barack Obama and his cohort, something is gaining on them, and so, too, I believe it is happening now for those who engaged with Jeffrey Epstein in his illicit activities. Stuff kept hidden by the wrongdoers in the Obama and Biden administrations is coming to light, and you can expect they will amp up their deflection and distraction moves to keep the focus off what they did. Surely, many people with the concentration span of a few minutes and the critical thinking abilities of a Lego piece will fall for it. You shouldnt.

Tuesday, DNI head Tulsi Gabbard released a report that declassified reams of material gathered by the House Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which detailed how the Obama Administration -- at Obamas direction -- manufactured the hoax that Trump colluded with Russia to gain the presidency. I dont see much coverage of this in the legacy press, but online accounts have summarized the most salient portions in case you arent up to reading and analyzing the entire report.

The top distillations I found are by attorney Jeff Childers, Matt Taibbi, and Professor Margot Cleveland.

Matt, whos been saying for years that Russiagate was a hoax, details how Russiagate was built on bogus, even ridiculous information that was contradicted by professionals in the intelligence community whom John Brennan ignored:

It was worse than we thought. The January 6, 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment concluding that Russian President Vladimir Putin developed a clear preference for Donald Trump and aspired to help his chances of victory is revealed in a report released this morning by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to have been based on four pieces of evidence. One was the Steele Dossier. The surprise is that the other three were even less credible, each included over objections of the reports CIA authors. The first item was a scant, unclear, and unverifiable fragment of one sentence that the reports five CIA authors read five ways and initially left out, only to have Director John Brennan order it back in. The second item was an email with no date, no identified sender, no clear recipient, and no classification. The third was supposedly backed by liaison, diplomatic, and press reporting, as well as signals intelligence (SIGINT), except the SIGINT didnt mention Trump, the liaison reporting didnt mention Trump and was from 2014, and the diplomatic and media reporting was a post-election review by a U.S. Ambassador citing a Russian pundit who said Putin and Trump should work together like businessmen. This was evidence that Putin developed a clear preference for Trump. All three reports werent just unsourced and unreliable, but discarded fictions pulled out of the CIAs trash heap. They manipulated the manipulations, is how ODNI Deputy Chief of Staff Alexa Henning put it. The Assessment was written by just five CIA analysts hand-picked by Brennan, but even these most favored lieutenants couldnt accept the key pieces of evidence. Two of the five went to Brennan to say, We dont have direct information that Putin wanted to get Trump elected, only to be overruled. The same thing happened when members of the group objected to the Steele material, saying it didnt meet even basic tradecraft standards. When confronted on this point, Brennan reportedly said, Yes, but doesnt it ring true?

According to Margot Cleveland:

Someone asked me my top take-aways: 1) Corruption of creating 3 new reports to back up fake conclusions re Russia; 2) SOOOO much more dirt on Hillary that Russia had (and that we didn't know of) that Putin didn't release; 3) evidence contradicting Putin backing Trump was overwhelming and yet excluded from ICA; 4) Obama-Brennan planned this not just for fake news but for fake Congressional briefings.

The information Russia had on Hillary was this:

"As of September 2016, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service had DNC information that President Obama and Party leaders found the state of Secretary Clintons health to be extraordinarily alarming, and felt it could have serious negative impact on her election prospects," the report states. "Her health information was being kept in strictest secrecy and even close advisors were not being fully informed." The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service also allegedly had DNC communications that showed that "Clinton was suffering from intensified psycho-emotional problems, including uncontrolled fits of anger, aggression, and cheerfulness.'" "Clinton was placed on a daily regimen of heavy tranquilizers and while afraid of losing, she remained obsessed with a thirst for power," the report states. The Russians also allegedly had information that Clinton "suffered from Type 2 diabetes, Ischemic heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." The Russians also allegedly possessed a "campaign email discussing a plan approved by Secretary Clinton to link Putin and Russian hackers to candidate Trump in order to distract the American public from the Clinton email server scandal."

Here's Childers analysis: a day after Gabbards presser and document release, the President openly accused former President Obama of Treason. Childers explains this was like Caesar crossing the Rubicon -- theres no turning back from such a bold, unprecedented action, and then he expresses astonishment at Obamas weak response:

Barack Obamas office responded to Trumps Oval Office treason accusation by calling it a distraction. Not defamation. Not libel. Not even baseless. Just a distraction. Distraction is a bizarre word to choose when a sitting president has just accused you of the most serious crime in the Constitution, on camera, from the Oval Office, with foreign heads of state watching and evidence allegedly in hand. Wheres the angry denial? The threats of legal action? The righteous fury? Youd expect Obamas office -- following Trumps example, a perfect setup -- to unload both barrels, to drop the full weight of prestige, moral clarity, and legal firepower. But nope. Instead, we got Obama spokesweasel Patrick Rodenbush blinking in the sunlight and muttering something about a distraction. How oddly underwhelming. And what about the media? In a normal political reality, this would be a constitutional earthquake. Instead, corporate media is treating the story like an unflattering wardrobe malfunction -- awkward, barely publishable, and not worth looking at too closely. Trump accused a former U.S. president of treason -- a capital offense -- and they went with Obamas distraction. They even headlined it. Where are the emergency panels? Where are the breathless editorials about Trumps Hitler-like authoritarianism? Where are the calls for Trump to be impeached for abuse of authority? Why arent they opportuning this to wind up a whole new scandal cycle?

The material Gabbard released shows how confident the plotters were that they could keep this all secret -- the report is full of emails -- leaving an irrefutable and very damaging paper trail.

A name you know -- I won't say who -- many years ago advised that whenever you need to discuss something important that could be misconstrued by people out to get you, always do it over the phone. Never, they told me, put it in an email or a text message. They warned me never to put anything sensitive in writing -- no emails, no texts. Paper trails get people burned. And if what youre discussing wouldnt need to be twisted to land you in hot water? All the more reason to keep it off the record. Heh. Going a bit further, anybody who's ever watched a mobster movie knows that even over the phone, it's best to speak in code. So what to make of high-ranking Democrats emailing one another about Hillary's daily regimen of "heavy tranquilizers," former Obama intel chiefs discussing how to bolster the Biden campaign, or Obama Himself ordering the intel community to alter its Russiagate findings to hamstring the incoming Trump administration? I'm not 100% certain what to make of it, but Gabbard releasing the paper trail for all to see is just as revealing about Deep State hubris as it is about their schemes and methods. The conclusion I'm forced to draw -- keeping in mind that this is purely speculative -- is this. The Swamp failed to keep Trump from winning the White House in 2016. They redoubled their efforts to tilt the playing field in 2020 and 2024 -- and never expected, due to Trump's first-term failure to drain the Swamp, that they'd get caught. But Trump 2.0 the DGAF Edition isn't messing around. Gabbard is doing the difficult and risky work that Trump just didn't have the right people in place to do during his first term.

If the Democrats thought they could deflect and distract by promoting another lie -- that Trump was somehow involved with Jeffrey Epsteins wrongdoings and was hiding his involvement -- thats not going to work either. The grand jury testimony that led to Epsteins conviction is under seal by the judge who heard the case, and that same judge denied Attorney General Pamela Bondis request to release it. But, wait -- look whats coming down the pike!! The first (and very lengthy) interview of Ghislaine Maxwell by a federal official, and heres why thats something thatll be gaining on a lot of people.

After years of Biden Administration stonewalling (and file padding), Ghislaine Maxwell got a two-day DOJ interview. [snip] They sent Trumps former personal defense attorney turned Deputy Attorney General -- the DOJs second in command. Comparing it to a deposition, two days of DOJ interviews requires at least four days of prep time. In other words, DOJs number two cleared his calendar for this. It wasnt an interview; it was a mission. Democrats, who ten minutes ago were pounding podiums demanding full transparency of the carefully curated Biden FBI files, were shocked to discover that Trump has another untainted source of information -- Ghislaine Maxwell, chilling in a Florida prison like a long-forgotten, sealed box in the bottom of the evidence locker. Now Democrats are suddenly sweating like an OnlyFans producer in church. The Blanche-Maxwell discussion, the Times soberly reported, has stoked concerns from critics of Mr. Trump that he may grant Ms. Maxwell a reprieve. (Unnamed critics, of course.)  Ghislaine is unspoiled evidence. Astonishingly, no one had ever bothered interviewing her before. Not during the original Epstein investigation, not during her trial, not during five years of media blackout, strategic amnesia, and hot-potato footwork with the Epstein client list. And now, after she spilled the tea for ten hours over two days to Trumps former lawyer turned top DOJ official, suddenly its a constitutional crisis. Maxwells lawyer, David Markus, said DOJ officials had asked about every possible thing imaginable. Todd Blanche asked Maxwell about over 100 named individuals, and she dished the dirt. Markus said his client answered every single question asked of her over the last day and a half. Uh oh. It was the most hilariously ironic twist yet. Late yesterday, reporters (obviously primed by someone) demanded to know whether Trump would pardon Maxwell in exchange for her testimony. President Trump, classically noncommital, replied, Im allowed to do it, but its something I havent thought about.  Democrats are losing their minds. Senate minority leader Chuck Chuckie Schumer wildly speculated it was some kind of a corrupt deal so that she can exonerate Donald Trump [snip] So lets add this up. First, Democrats demand full transparency. Then, as soon as Trump sends DOJs second-in-command to find the facts, they started rioting like caged rhesus monkeys who just found out the banana shipment got rerouted to El Paso and incinerated. A pardon would be a travesty of justice! Reporters sure have short memories. What about Bidens pardons? That was what, less than 12 months ago? [snip]  Apart from Epstein himself -- who is currently unavailable due to an unfortunate mishap of being suicided in a poorly run, high-security federal facility in New York -- there is no better witness on Earth than Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell might even be better than Epstein. As Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown has said many times, man-baby Epstein never did anything for himself. No. Maxwell did it for him. Epstein was the front of the house. Maxwell was the kitchen, the accounting department, and the security system. She holds the map, the manifest, and --most importantly -- the motive. This is exactly why the political class is panicking. Because it wasnt just an airy, high-level interview. This was an authorized data download from the last living hard drive, carefully preserved in a Florida (not New York) prison.

As to why the Democrats are frantically waving the pardon issue, Childers nails it:

Theyre desperately trying to discredit Ghislaine Maxwell before her testimony surfaces. Its narrative preemption -- classic information warfare. If she names someone inconvenient, say, Chuck Schumer, the response is already baked into the narrative custard: She only said that to get herself out of prison! But it wont work. The reason will become clear in a couple more paragraphs. The FBIs years-long non-investigation of Epstein is backfiring spectacularly. In a sane world, by now Maxwell would have sat for thousands of hours of interviews, if only to get herself out of the hole and be assigned to laundry duty. The Times insinuated (not very subtly) that Trump is dangling a pardon to get Maxwell to clear his name. But what is he supposed to do? Not question the best living witness? And as recently as yesterdays edition, the Times demanded all the Epstein evidence come out. Seriously, you just cant please these people.  They thought they had Trump right where they wanted him, dead to rights, with a compromised FBI file. But one news cycle later, the press, the Democrats, and the entire institutional ecosystem are flailing like they just realized the ground theyve been standing on might be made of quicksand.

For over a decade, Obama and Biden controlled the White House and managed a compliant press. They repeatedly used their powers in office to try to destroy Trump. They nearly succeeded when they advanced defamatory claims about him and Russia. But for such an outrage, they had to rely on using corrupt officials so stupid that they left a paper trail of their perfidious conduct. For years, evidence of this conduct that a House Committee uncovered was forcibly bottled up by the same malefactors. Now the evidence is out in the open. Trying to distract attention from this, they then implied a nonexistent Trump-Epstein connection to rape and other criminality by accusing the administration of lacking transparency on Epstein. But what prior administrations hid or refused to examine is in the process of being revealed. The Democrats asked for transparency, and theyre going to get it good and hard. Some things are gaining on them.
There has been a noticeable shock emanating from the capital of free enterprise, the epicenter of international capital markets in Americas largest city, New York A Democrat candidate for mayor who openly states he is a socialist is leading all candidates in the polls. Historically, Democrat candidates see fit to masquerade the advance of socialism, while claiming adherence to the countrys original principles, like our free enterprise marketplace.

It is a fact that Adam Smiths publication of the Wealth of Nations coincided with Thomas Jeffersons Declaration of Independence in 1776. Free Enterprise and its cornerstone of private property is a fundamental principle of our founding. Yet socialists in America, for a century, have masqueraded that they are still loyal to our founding principles, while maneuvering socialism into our original systems of economic and political governance.

Woodrow Wilson laid the seeds of socialism during his presidency by instituting the progressive income tax and founding the constitutionally unenumerated power of our Administrative State. Wilson believed as avidly in utopian socialism as a Russian Bolshevik, but he attested that Russia had it wrong. They choose to found socialism through revolution; he believed America would attain the same end, but through incremental evolution. Wilson masqueraded this concept for advancing socialism behind the title of a New Democracy.

Wilsons hiding of socialist policy behind marketable titles proved a good idea. Norman Thomas helped draft the Socialist Party plank in 1927, then he and his party promptly lost the election of 1928, attaining only 1% of the national vote. Democrats have hidden socialism under their planks ever since.

When Zohran Mamdani openly claims in his platform that hell fund challenges to utility companies, so that Con Ed cant raise prices without a fight. He should know he is a successor of FDR who hid behind the fallacy that It was his administration which saved the system of private profit and free enterprise by, among other things, founding the Tennessee Valley Authority and destroying the utility company Commonwealth and Southern through an industrial takeover worthy of Benito Mussolini.

What New York voters should know is that the TVA is still being subsidized by taxpayers and the bills consumers pay for their energy within the system is as high as anywhere else in the country. The solutions of Democrats have always involved higher taxes and higher prices.

Mamdani has vowed to crack down on New York landlords, by having the city take control of their properties, in order to make rents more affordable. Again, he is just a successor of Harry Trumans National Housing Act of 1949, a part of the masquerade Fair Deal which allowed cities to confiscate urban areas to improve urban blight. The outcome of the policy was mass eminent domain, whereby a disproportionate number of African American citizens were dispossessed of their private property rights to their homes and businesses in favor of projects and government dependence. Every major city in America and the African American community generally, is still suffering the effects of this socialist policy, that the Housing and Urban Development spent $52 Billion to eradicate -- again -- in 2024.

New Yorkers should know that allowing African American areas in cities to mature under the blessings of unfettered free enterprise would not cost a dime, and their lives and their prosperity would become their own.

Mamdani proclaims he will improve education by implementing free childcare with high quality programming for all families, to help them out of poverty. Further, Mamdani has called to abolish private health insurance and medical bills.

LBJ was way ahead of Zohran, but he masked his policies behind the name The Great Society. You see, he was warned by Tom Hayden that the Democrat Party would be out of power if it were explicitly socialist, but would be further in power if they called socialism, liberalism: they did. Another advisor, socialist Michael Harrington, said, Of course, there is no real solution to the problem of poverty until we abolish the capitalist system.

Since the implementation of The Great Society $23 trillion has been spent to end poverty. Yet, the percentage of poor people in America today is identical to 1970. The average cost of education in the U.S. is among the highest in the world at $17,277 per pupil, while our educational performance is among the lowest in the developed world. Finally, since 1970, when government first invaded the health sector of the economy, the average citizens healthcare costs per capita have risen from $353 to $14,570.

By 1977, fifty years after the Socialist Party Platform was publicized, the entire platform had been implemented in the United States by the Democrat Party, while always calling it something else; and we are still suffering the horrific effects. New Yorkers and Americans should know that Mamdanis cure for healthcare will kill it; his cure for poor education will increase it; his cure for poverty will expand it.

Mamdanis modern solution is more socialism. Zohran plans to raise property taxes and taxes on individuals and businesses. He also plans to hire a new cadre of auditors to plunder, police, and persecute his own constituents, while the citys tax base collapses.

It is time this national masquerade ended, with the advance of this clown, who openly states he plans to make a mockery of our free enterprise system, that has been a part of our founding, since New York was called New Amsterdam.

Richard C. Lyons, author of The DNA of Democracy Series: The DNA of Democracy:Volume I, Shadows of the Acropolis: Volume II and Passages Through The Shadows: Volume III, a third-generation printer whose early career centered on religious and special education publishing; Lyons has since engaged in literary pursuits as a poet, essayist, screenwriter, and indie publisher.

Image: Bingjiefu He
As an Iranian who chose to make America my home, I stand in a nation that, despite its struggles, embodies the liberty I envision for Iran. America, once the unassailable Land of the Free, now grapples with its challenges to liberty, such as encroaching bureaucracy, polarized discourse, and threats to open expression. Yet, it remains my home, a place where I can speak, dream, and act without fear.

My heart, however, burns for Iran, a land suffocated by the Mullahs tyranny. I did not flee; I chose to leave to build a life where freedom thrives, with a mission to make Iran a reflection of Americas greatest ideals. These two nations, bound by a shared desire for liberty, must unite to overthrow the regime in Tehran and forge a future where freedom prevails.

Image created by ChatGPT.

Americas foundation, its Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, remains a blueprint for liberty. The Declarations claim that all are endowed with rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is a rebuke to Irans theocratic stranglehold. The Bill of Rights, protecting speech and belief, stands in stark contrast to Irans censorship and persecution.

Yet, Americas freedom is no longer unblemished. Recent years have seen growing restrictions: speech chilled by cultural pressures, surveillance eroding privacy. As the Cato Institute revealed, 74% of Americans are worried about declining liberty. Americas framework allows dissent and correction, a model I dream of for Iran - a nation where voices rise unpunished.

Americas defiance of tyranny inspires me. Its rebellion against British rule parallels the courage of Iranians protesting today, from the 2009 Green Movement to the 2022 uprisings sparked by Mahsa Aminis death. These struggles show Irans potential to mirror Americas resilience, but only if the Mullahs grip is broken. America, with its history of supporting democratic movements, must stand with Irans people to topple this regime.

America, my home, gave me the opportunity when Iran could not. Its economic freedom, ranked high by the World Bank, allowed me to build a life unlike that of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where corruption and sanctions stifle ambition. Immigrants like me, over 14% of the population, fuel innovation and growth. Persian businesses thrive here, from cafes in Chicago to tech startups in California, showing what Iran could become. Yet, Americas opportunity is fraying. Rising regulatory burdens challenge the American dream. Iran, freed from the Mullahs, could adopt this model, fostering a vibrant economy where talent, not connections, prevails.

I envision an Iran where markets flourish, where women and youth drive innovation as they do here. But this requires Americas partnership; not just moral support, but active collaboration. Joint sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and support for Iranian resistance movements can dismantle the regimes economic and political power, paving the way for a free Iran.

Americas freedom is a battle, not a given. Its history of overcoming slavery and segregation shows a nation that can self-correct, but today, it faces new threats. In poll after poll, over 60% of Americans worry about social medias control, which echoes Irans state-controlled propaganda. Here, though, I can criticize without fear, a right denied in Iran.

My vision is for Iran to adopt Americas resilience, where protests lead to change, not prisons. The U.S. must aid this fight, supporting Irans dissidents as it once backed Eastern Europes liberation. The 1979 Islamic Revolution stole Irans future; America and Irans people can reclaim it together.

As an Iranian-American, I see Americas flawsover-policing, economic disparitybut also its strength: the ability to debate and evolve. Iran, under the Mullahs, has no such chance. The regimes brutality, documented by Amnesty International, crushes dissent. Americas resourcesits technology, intelligence, and global influencecan empower Irans resistance, from cyber tools to amplify protests to sanctions that starve the regimes coffers.

Americas influence once inspired the world, from the Berlin Walls fall to democracys spread. Today, its moral clarity wanes, yet it remains a symbol of possibility. Irans youth, risking death for freedom, look to America not as a savior but as a partner.

I dream of an Iran that exports culture and innovation, not fear, standing alongside America as equals. Historical ties, like Cyrus the Greats liberation of the Jews 2,500 years ago, bind our peoples. America can repay that debt by helping Irans people overthrow their oppressors, as Israels support for Iranian dissidents suggests a broader coalition.

America, my home, is no longer the untarnished Land of the Free, but it is a land of hopea place where liberty, though tested, endures. Iran, my hearts home, languishes under tyranny, but its people are ready for change. I dream of an Iran that reflects Americas best: free speech, open markets, fearless dreams. This vision demands action. America and Irans people must unite through sanctions, technology, and global pressure to end the Mullahs rule. Together, we can build an Iran where freedom is not a whisper but a roar, a nation that stands with America as a beacon of liberty in a fractured world.
As I write this, in my northern-tier state, a lethal warning has been issued for extreme heat.

This is the umpteenth time this summer that previously unheard of warning has been posted.

The predicted high temperature for the day?

Eighty-seven degrees.

That is only 3 degrees warmer than the average high for this date!

Three degrees.

By contrast, on a February day when the average high is 24 degrees, we dont get lethal warnings for the extreme cold when the predicted high is 21, 3 degrees lower than average.

And yet, if one were to be naked outdoors at 21 degrees one would eventually freeze to death  while quite a few people are relatively comfortable outside when the temperature is 87 degrees.

So, what gives?

Agenda, thats what.

Man-caused global warming will be the death of us all.

I call B.S.

In the past several weeks, tens of millions of Americans have been urged to stay out of the sun, stay indoors (and drink plenty of fluids) due to lethal heat, stay out of the water due to windy conditions, waves and cold lake temperatures, and stay indoors due to toxic smoke. Oh, and if you are drinking plenty of fluids, make sure none of them contain alcohol or caffeine, as temperatures were purported to be so high that folks could spontaneously dry up and blow away, apparently, due in part to alcohol or caffeine-induced dehydration.

Its too sunny! Its too hot! Its too smoky! Its too wavy, stay out of the water! Have a nice summer vacation everyone!

What the hell are we allowed to do?

The Climate Change Fanatics are really pouring it on now, desperate to scare Americans into inactivity, economic and otherwise. This is eerily reminiscent of the experts reactions to The Plandemic. Wear a mask! Take the jab! Dont get within six feet of another person! Dont go to a wedding or a funeral! Stay inside!

Dear God, are we the same people who refused to bow before a king and who defeated the greatest military on Earth at the time? I bet experts would have urged American troops to seek heat  and shoes when at Valley Forge. Problem was, there wasnt any of either. Yet they persevered  and birthed a nation.

Are we the same people who survived the Great Depression and won two World Wars?

Have we all become pathetically effete wimps? Or do experts (and those that use them) want us to be? I am so sick of authorities warning Americans against going outside, going in the water, being in the sun, breathing the air-- and just about anything else you can think of-- that I could [fill in the blank]. We need an alert warning us against extremism in the use of alerts.

Therefore, I am urging Americans to immediately quit listening to these controlling asshats with an agenda in the guise of experts, and to proceed with going on about their lives, using simple common sense as their guide.

And remember to look both ways before crossing the street.

Image:
Its a tried and true maxim that if you have news unfavorable to you or your favored narrative, and you have no choice but to get ahead of it by making it public, you do so on the eve of a holiday, or, in the absence of a holiday, a Friday night, when people are done with serious things for the week and want to par-tay.

The New York Times, which won Pulitzers for its fabulism on all things Russia, Russia, Russia, and finds itself in a tough spot having to report out the inarguable news Tulsi Gabbard has been making, decided this past Friday evening was a good time to finally, at long last, have one of its people do a lengthy rebuttal.

It was notable that there was only one name on the byline: Charlie Savage. Prior to these Gabbard events, theyve had endless articles with more  sometimes many more  than one name on the byline for Russiagate stories, when they were proud of their work. Seems...not so much now.

There is another maxim: If youre explaining, youre losing. The Times spent 1,823 words  or if you chose to have it read to you, 12 solid minutes  explaining. On the fact vs. spin scale, it was heavy on the spin, but we take what we can. It was as if the entire piece were a stack of triple-stuffed Oreo cookies  each cookie one aspect of Russia, Russia, Russia and each cookie stuffed with lots of fatty, sugary spin, attached to some flat, crunchy facts. Too bad for them, the crunchy facts were pretty loud.

Lets see what few facts they conceded, even though it surely killed them to do so.

Even if the administrations use of the reports is wildly overstated, some of the information has not been made public before.

Charlie throws in the wildly overstated, but its pro forma. He did the deed. He acknowledged there was actual news  information not made public before  in Gabbards documents. Very good! Thats better than the initial reaction among the Democrat Media Complex, which was Old news. Move along. Nothing to see here. Baby steps.

Charlie goes on:

It provides some messy details about how the intelligence community assessment was hurriedly produced during Mr. Obamas final months in office.

Ah. Messy. You can now definitely see where this is going. Its messy, not what it clearly was: the (arguably criminal) beginning of the worst, most malign betrayal ever perpetrated by one president on another.

The dossier, a compendium of later-discredited claims about Trump-Russia ties compiled by a former British spy, was part of a Democratic-funded political opposition research effort.

Excellent. We now have this wildly understated concession: that the dossier has been discredited. Of course, it hasnt merely been discredited. Its been eviscerated. A proven fiction. What he doesnt say is that it was not some faceless Democrat who funded it; it was Hillary Clinton. (Hell protect her later in the piece, too. Well get to it shortly.) I guess Charlie values breathing. In any event, its yet another data point, like the use of the word messy, which tells you this is a butt-covering piece, not actual journalism worthy of the paper of record.

Mr. Brennan has publicly said the Steele dossier material was not incorporated or used in the assessment itself because of the C.I.A.s concerns. In 2017, he told Congress that the dossier was not in any way used as a basis for the intelligence community assessment [I.C.A.] that was done. The newly disclosed material complicates that narrative.

Oh, it complicates it, all right. The newly disclosed material proves conclusively the fictional dossier was used in the ICA, making Brennans testimony perjurious (and, sadly, past the statute of limitations). Again, Mr. Savage wildly understates things when the facts hurt a Democrat.

Aaaaaand thats about it. The rest of the piece, which amounts to roughly the second half of it, is almost all Oreo-stuffing filler. He talks about the newly revealed derogatory information the Russians had on Hillary (that she was on tranquilizers and psychologically unstable) but never publishes what it was, and further, he never points out the obvious: The Russians never used it!

Thinking for just a moment makes it all very clear: Had the Russians genuinely wanted a Trump win, one would think Mrs. Clinton being such a mess might be something theyd want to make public. But they didnt. One might also presume theyd prefer to keep it quiet because they anticipated a Hillary victory and might want to blackmail a President Hillary Clinton later with it. None of this  none of it  is addressed by Mr. Savage in this piece. Why? Because he cant. It defies logic. And not doing so keeps him breathing. Hes protected Mrs. Clinton again.

Charlie uses the word logic to describe the following claim:

Most analysts judged that denigrating Clinton equaled supporting Trump; they reasoned that in a two-person race the trade-off was zero-sum.

He seems to be saying that the mere existence of derogatory information about Mrs. Clinton means the Russians preferred Trump, which, sorry Charlie, as we outlined, isnt logic unless its taken in such isolation that theres no light or oxygen. Thats a nice two-man straw man, though!

The New York Times published this because it had to. ODNI Tulsi Gabbard is making too much news to ignore  and promises to make yet more  and those Pulitzers are looking awfully fragile.

One can only hope subsequent ODNI releases knock them right off the shelf.

Image: Adam Jones via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
Donald Trump is visiting Europe. Upon arriving there, when asked about migration, he had a blunt response, which is that unlimited immigration is killing Europe. The elites were outraged, but I suspect that the common man in Europe had the same response that the dissidents did in 1983, when Ronald Reagan bucked the sophisticated elites and accurately called the Soviet Union an evil empire.

Trump didnt mince words when a reporter in Scotland asked him about Europes migration situation:

On immigration, you better get your act together or youre not going to have Europe anymore, Trump said to reporters after landing at Prestwick airport on Friday evening. You got to get your act together and last month we had nobody entering our country. Nobody. Shut it down. And we took out a lot of bad people that got there with Biden. [snip] But youre allowing it to happen to your countries and you got to stop this horrible invasion thats happening to Europe. Many countries in Europe, some people, some leaders have not let it happen. And theyre not getting the proper credit. They should. I could name them to you right now, but Im not going to embarrass the other ones. But stop this. Immigration is killing Europe.

Youd think that the memory of Romes fall would cause at least some of Europes elite in politics and the media to stop a moment to think about what Trump said, but the lure of unlimited power through an Islamo-socialist fusion overrides all rational thought. (My bet, when that fusion attains total power in Europe, is that the Islamos brutally conquer the socialists.)

The Euro elites pushed back. The Daily Beast reports that King Charles is very concerned that Trump could launch into an unfiltered rant about immigration... In London, the mood is reportedly quite tense. (I bet.) A Dutch artist in France unveiled a giant mural of the Statue of Liberty covering her eyes.

Naughty Trump.

Meanwhile, Suella Braverman, a conservative British politician, writes that ordinary Brits are increasingly becoming second-class citizens in their own country. She describes Hadush Kebatu, who arrived illegally in the UK and, within eight days, had assaulted a teenager in Epping, an ancient British town.

In Waterlooville, which Braverman represents, the government is housing 35 illegal aliens in the middle of the main shopping center, even as 1.3 million British citizens are waiting for promised government housing. Twenty-five percent of all sex offenses in the UK...yup, foreign nationals.

(UPDATE: Shortly after publishing this post, I saw this report out of Germany. Indeed, I could go on updating this post indefinitely.)

And then there are the street scenes in Europes ancient towns and cities:

Brussels, the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium . pic.twitter.com/nSQDg1WbYo  Carlos Abadi (@NewSamawal) July 23, 2025 Rome was once famous for valor of its brave gladiators, but today it is sadly famous for brawls between Pakistanis and Bangladeshis outside Colosseum. An absurd decline. Let's take back Rome. pic.twitter.com/HgAUWoBM0A  RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) July 27, 2025 Paris is always very romantic. pic.twitter.com/zQpiG1FGYP  RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) July 9, 2025 If a woman has to pass with a stroller in Paris she cannot because streets are occupied by Muslims praying to Allah. This is what an Islamic invasion looks like. pic.twitter.com/MZmqJCood8  RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) June 15, 2025

(Those last two tweets, incidentally, are why France is recognizing an imaginary nation called Palestine.)

Those ordinary Europeans who dare to protest are routinely told that theyre racist and Islamophobic, hate-filled and selfish, mean-spirited and fascistic. The police, rather than address sex crimes, assaults, and other violence, sit at their desks and look for mean tweets.

However, I hope, for these ordinary people, Trumps blunt and honest words have the same effect that Reagans Evil Empire speech had on Russian dissidents. Up until he spoke, the Western elite, including in America, made it clear that we had to pretend that the Soviet Union, which was responsible for indescribable death and suffering in the Soviet bloc and everywhere else it could reach, was just another nation.

On March 8, 1983, though, when speaking to the National Association of Evangelicals convention, Reagan blew that idea to pieces (and was derided as a bumpkin and simpleton for having done so):

So, I urge you to speak out against those who would place the United States in a position of military and moral inferiority. You know, Ive always believed that old Screwtape reserved his best efforts for those of you in the Church. So, in your discussions of the nuclear freeze proposals, I urge you to beware the temptation of pridethe temptation of blithely..uh..declaring yourselves above it all and label both sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil.

The establishment was shocked! Shocked!

However, the dissidents imprisoned in the gulags for daring to oppose their government were delighted. In The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror, Natan Sharansky writes,

One day, my Soviet jailers gave me the privilege of reading the latest copy of Pravda. Splashed across the front page was a condemnation of President Reagan for having the temerity to call the Soviet Union an evil empire. Tapping on walls and talking through toilets, word of Reagans provocation quickly spread through the prison. The dissidents were ecstatic. Finally, the leader of the free world had spoken the trutha truth that burned inside the heart of each and every one of us.

For ordinary Europeans, Trump is the leader who has spoken a truth that burns inside each one of them. But theyre running out of time. The elites, sheltered in their nice, safe neighborhoods, with their well-padded bank accounts, from the horrors theyve unleashed, are almost done with their evil work, so that the new Islamo-socialist empire can arise.

Image created using ChatGPT.
Policing in blue cities and states has undergone destructive changes in the last five years. The 2020 Summer of Love, which involved a lot more arson, looting, and general thuggery than one normally associates with love, combined with Defund the Police lunacyno coincidenceto do enormous damage.

Not only were police officers prevented from doing their jobs, allowing mostly peaceful protests to run wild, but they also rapidly discovered that if they arrested members of favored identity groups, the people they arrested wouldnt be prosecuted. Worse, it was likely the arresting officers would be disciplined, even arrested and prosecuted. Losing their jobs, tiny fortunes and liberty wasnt worth it.

Officers who could retire did. Others fled to red states where they were allowed to be police officers. Many quit the profession. Those that remained settled into a pattern of doing as little as possible. Proactive policing all but died as officers avoided the criminals responsible for most crimes, and crime rates went through the roof.

Recruiting became a nightmare. Even in red states, agencies that used to have far more applicants for a small number of openings than they could possibly use found themselves scraping the bottom of the barrel. Even offering generous signing bonuses didnt help much. In blue states and cities, it was necessary to dramatically lower qualifications, which, with DEI mandates already in place, meant hiring people they would have disqualified in the earliest phase of the hiring process in the past.

Many police agencies have long hired candidates who are average, or just below average, in intelligence. That sounds insane but police executives reason that if they hire smart people theyll quickly become bored and the time and money invested in their training will be lost. Amazingly, courts have upheld this counterintuitive principle.

Graphic: Minneapolis Police Department. Public Domain.

Wildly unqualified people become police officers. Minneapolis, ground (George Floyd) zero in the Summer of Love, has lost 40% of its officers and is struggling to put anyone in a blue suit. Even the vaunted New York City Police Department has lost nearly 6000 officers since 2000, a 14% reduction. On top of that, the NYPD has a self-inflicted personnel problem:

The New York City Police Department recruited over 30 convicted criminals after the department's former top recruitment officer inexplicably ignored their sketchy records. The New York Post reported last week that NYPD Inspector Terrell Anderson, who oversaw candidate screenings, allegedly ignored the checkered pasts of the new hires, according to court filings.

Those sketchy records included 31 people who failed psychological screening and background checks. Many were convicted criminals, including drug users, people who solicited prostitutes and serial traffic violators. This is unheard of in police hiring:

One female recruit who failed her psychological exam after she "openly discussed arguments and conflicts with other people in a boastful manner," and even threatened the NYPD psychiatrist who questioned her, was passed through by Anderson.

Anderson accused NYPD management of pressuring him to hire and keep unqualified recruits, noting NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch relaxed recruiting standards to fill the ranks.

NYPD recruitment numbers have been lagging in recent years due to a surge in early retirements and increasing demoralization in the ranks, as New York's Democrat political establishment promoted 'woke' soft-on-crime policies.

According to the New York Post, Anderson allowed 70 people who failed psychological screening into the NYPD ranks. The NYPD tried to fire the people who should never have been hired in the first place, but this is New York City and the police union is defending the unqualified and dangerous:

These police officers arent responsible for the NYPDs broken hiring process, [Union President Patrick] Hendry said before the temporary order was issued. As far as they know, they were qualified to be New York City police officers, because the NYPD hired and trained them. [skip] We are exploring all legal options to protect our members rights and hold the NYPD accountable for this complete management failure.

Unsurprisingly, a state court judge has blocked the NYPD from removing the affected officers. Because its New York State, its possible these unqualified, potentially dangerous, officers will be allowed to remain on the force despite, as the NYPD claims, state law preventing it.

Police agencies can hire officers of below-average intelligence. It now appears they may be required to hire and retain the psychologically and criminally disqualified. Its certainly a self-inflicted wound.

Blue, and to a lesser degree, red states get the politicians and police they deserve. Blue states just seem happy and smug about it.

On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
The Russia-Russia-Russia co-conspirators are on television and in print telling us that ODNI Gabbards document releases are out of context and that we poor plebes just cant understand the big picture.

Oh. Okay. Keep talking, fellas.

From NBC News:

[Interviews with more than half a dozen people who worked in Obamas White House or on his campaigns reveal] theyre grappling with how to contain the unprecedented accusations National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard has leveled, even as they dismiss them as asinine. [snip] The battle now is to play this even to make sure that thoughts dont start to creep into more mainstream audiences, a former Obama administration official said. That person said it was important to reach mainstream Republicans, who would listen to editorial boards and those in Congress who deemed the allegations against Obama as beyond the pale.

Yeah, thats creepy, all right. Notice what they didnt say: These documents are false. The story they portray is false. The whole thing is false! None of that. It is, as it was when Obama was in the White House, all about control. Control the message. Control the messengers.

One messenger who may have to be controlled is John Brennan. Hes hanging his fanny out there pretty far in furtherance of the conspiracy with the below statement. How he didnt burst into flames when he said it is a wonder to me.

I just find all of this very troubling when it is being done by individuals who serve in such important positions and know what they are doing is wrong.

If hes lawyered up, as his compatriot the former ODNI James Clapper has conceded he has, its astonishing to me that Brennan or any of them is still on television flapping his gums. Im no lawyer, but lawyers Ive read say that the five-year clock on a grand conspiracy starts anew with each overt act, and Brennan lying his fanny off here sure seems like an overt act to me. Knowing they may have legal exposure here, it seems to me that any competent attorney would tell them to STHU about all things Russia-Russia-Russia from this point forward.

National Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard and CIA director John Ratcliffe leveled claims last week that Obama administration officials manipulated intelligence and conspired to undermine the legitimacy of Trumps electoral victory in 2016.

Yeah...and? Again, NBC provides no factual rebuttal. They just blather on about how asinine these Obama bros find the whole thing.

There is no factual basis for the allegations that Tulsi Gabbard is making. Shes cherry-picking things from various documents that are out of context and mischaracterized, [John] Brennan said. To me, its clear either she has not read the intelligence community assessment or she is purposely, willfully lying about the contents, he added.

The rest of the piece, like every other piece Ive seen in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, and elsewhere, pushes the narrative that ODNI Gabbard is using such hot language as treason to distract from Trumps Epstein troubles.

Of course, its no such thing. Its deadly serious. Attorney General Pam Bondi has stood up a multi-agency Strike Force, which is a particular kind of team, not just any team of investigators. These guys specialize in the incredibly complex, in fraud, and even in mob-type things, which this certainly has the whiff of, doesnt it?

So keeeeeeep talking, John. Youre only helping the cause.

Image: John Brennan. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Has there ever been a peacemaking president like President Trump?

Here is his latest:

PEACEMAKER IN CHIEF



Grateful for this outcome. Blessings on the people of Cambodia and Thailand.



Thank you, @realDonaldTrump - youre a blessing to America and our neighbors around the world.

@POTUS is the Peacemaker in Chief.



Prove me wrong. pic.twitter.com/rmWrwPlf0q  Pastor Travis Johnson (@BasedPastorTrav) July 26, 2025

According to the Epoch Times:

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that leaders of Thailand and Cambodia sought to end their deadly border clashes just moments after he threatened to withhold potential trade deals with both Southeast Asian countries unless the fighting stops. In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he had spoken separately with Thailands acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet, urging an immediate ceasefire. Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace, Trump wrote . They are also looking to get back to the Trading Table with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS. They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!

This makes war six he's ended or made significant progress on ending and he hasn't even been in office for a full year in his second term.

He halted war between India and Pakistan, ending the prospect of a conflict that could easily go nuclear.

He put a stop to Iran's nuclear ambitions and ended the Israeli-Iran conflict, a big one, given the blessings that brings to the entire Middle East. He's also made tremendous progress in hashing out peace in Gaza, a terrorist hellhole if there ever was one.

He ended the Rwanda-People's Republic of Congo war, another plague on that catastrophe-prone part of the world that nobody else cared about. The African people rejoice.

He's made tremendous progress on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, at least trying to get that war to stop.

Now he's taken care of business between Thailand and Cambodia, halting a three-day war there with the simple, blunt weapon of witholding a free trade pact. Both nations decided they would rather have the trade pact with the U.S. and access to its vast markets instead of fight with each other.

For people in that region (and all of these regions), it's a tremendous blessing, like petals from Heaven.

War has been a horrific curse in land-based Southeast Asia since at least the Vietnam conflict. My friend, the late, great journalist Nate Thayer, often told me of terrible inhumanity and underdevelopment he saw in both Thailand and Cambodia as a result of the continuous warfare. It was not for nothing that monster arms profiteer, Russia's Viktor Bout, turned up in Bangkok when he was apprehended several years ago. He was comfortable with arms trafficking connections in that country.

Next door in Burma, there is warfare, too. At my church in San Diego, last week we had a visit from a missionary Burmese nun, Sister Leona of an order named after St. Francis Xavier, who told us of the plight of the poor in Burma, where the sisters dedicated their entire lives to serving them. The nuns helped the people who had lost their homes in the war in the north, also near the Thai border, but they also helped the people on the outskirts of Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the largest city in Burma.

Poor people ended up in the shantytowns on the outskirts of the big city, she said, because they were fleeing gunfire and bombs in their villages, displaced war refugees in the unfamiliar cities living in misery.

(The same dynamic happens in a lot of places -- Colombia, for one, where the shantytown dwellers on the outskirts of the big cities were refugees from FARC Marxist narcoterrorists and other drug-dealing groups. Peru, too.)

These kinds of wars are absolute curses to those who live in them.

I asked the nun if the recent earthquake in Burma was a big problem -- she said it was in certain parts of the capital and other cities, but emphasized that the war was much, much more widespread with a worse impact.

I was surprised by that answer because I had expected she would make her appeal based on the quake which was in the news. The war, by contrast, is not.

That's the same story with Thailand and Cambodia, where rebel forces and often the governments themselves fight trashcan wars with useless carnage.

That's what Trump just ended, using U.S. might and muscle and markets to make it happen, all the levers of American soft power that's a sight better than anything the feckless United Nations ever does.

It's peacemaking, real peacemaking as a defining feature of his great presidency. How many people are going to be alive because of it?

And what weird pretzel logic will the Nobel committee come up with to deny President Trump, who's brought more peace than any U.S. president in living memory, the Nobel peace prize? President Trump doesn't seem to care what they think -- as he posted on his Facebook page, "peace is the prize."

Image: Facebook // President Trump // public domain
News / Local

by Staff reporter

A chilling wave of armed robberies has shaken Zimbabwe's second-largest city, with four shops - including three Sai Mart outlets and one Hamara store - hit in a string of co-ordinated attacks that have sparked public outrage and renewed fears over law enforcement effectiveness.The violent robberies, described by eyewitnesses as "like a movie scene," unfolded in quick succession across Entumbane, New Lobengula, and Nkulumane 11. At each location, heavily armed suspects stormed the stores, threatening staff and customers while looting cash and goods. In Entumbane, the targeted shop sits just metres from a police station, further highlighting the criminals' audacity and the fragility of public security in the city.Employees reported being terrorised at gunpoint, with one worker recounting the moment masked men burst in, ordering everyone to lie down while they emptied tills and shelves. "They had no fear," the employee said. "We thought it was a movie."The suspects used a blue Honda Fit hybrid as their getaway car - a vehicle with no number plates, which police say was spotted at multiple crime scenes. The lack of registration raises concerns that the robbers were either confident in their ability to evade detection or operating under some form of protection.Business leaders and residents are now demanding answers and action. "What's the point of a police station if criminals can strike right outside it and get away?" one Entumbane shopkeeper asked.The psychological impact of the attacks is mounting. Beyond the material losses, shop owners fear for the future of their businesses, while community members are increasingly anxious about their safety. The attacks risk undermining confidence in Bulawayo's local economy, already strained by broader national challenges.Security analysts say the level of planning involved - striking multiple branches of a single chain - suggests a well-organised criminal network. The robberies also shine a spotlight on the shortcomings in police visibility, patrol coverage, and intelligence-gathering capabilities.The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) armed robbery in 2023, in which staff were similarly attacked, remains fresh in the city's collective memory. That incident prompted calls for reform, but many now believe not enough was done to prevent further escalation."This cannot be allowed to become the norm," said one resident, who called on the government to treat urban security with the same urgency as other national priorities. "We are not at war - but it feels like we are under siege."Experts and community leaders are calling for a multi-faceted response. This includes increased police presence in hotspots, investment in surveillance infrastructure, community patrols, and tougher penalties for armed robbery. But many also point to the need for long-term solutions - tackling poverty, unemployment, and youth marginalisation that often fuel criminal activity.Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) representatives urged authorities to protect the backbone of the economy. "Small businesses can't survive in an environment of fear," said one ZNCC official. "We need decisive leadership, now."As Bulawayo reels from this disturbing crime wave, pressure is mounting on law enforcement to restore order and show that no criminal gang is beyond the reach of justice.Whether the city's authorities will step up to the challenge remains to be seen - but for many, the message is clear: Bulawayo is at a crossroads, and the time for action is now.
Almost 275m of government-allocated funds are being hidden from disadvantaged young people and going unclaimed, charities have warned.

Child Trust Funds (CTFs) are long-term, tax-free savings accounts for people born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, which they can access when they turn 18.

Children received around 250 each from the government at the time their CTF was started, or 500 if they were from low-income families or in local authority care.

A second top-up was added when the child turned seven years old for those who qualified for Disability Living Allowance between 6 April 2009 and 5 April 2011, or turned seven between 1 September 2009 and 31 July 2010.

The accounts could also be added to by a parent, with the average amount held in CTFs totalling around 2,000. If no action was taken by families to claim the accounts when they were set up, they were allocated by HMRC.

However, according to The Share Foundation, a charity that helps track down unclaimed funds, more than 400m is sitting unclaimed in HMRC-allocated accounts waiting for people to claim them. And more than half of the accounts belong to young adults on low incomes, with 274m meant for disadvantaged young people left unclaimed.

The charity has warned that if no action is taken, there will be nearly 1bn lying dormant and unclaimed for low-income young adults by the end of this parliament.

Dawn Smith, 21, said her Child Trust Fund helped her achieve the best grade possible at university, where she was later offered her first job.

Dawn Smith, 21, said her Child Trust Fund helped her achieve the best grade possible at university, where she was later offered her first job (Supplied)

However, she said it took her over a year to access her fund due to a name change.

My parents were aware of it, but we had no idea where it was or how much money was in it  we knew nothing, she said.

She then searched online and found The Share Foundation, which helped her to claim her fund.

The Share Foundation is calling on the government to implement a new automatic release mechanism to ensure all HMRC-allocated funds are paid out when account holders turn 21  without the need for them to make a claim.

Child Trust Funds were set up for every child born between September 2002 and January 2011 (Getty/iStock)

Ms Smith told The Independent: I managed to claim mine in the second year of university. I studied music at university in London, which was very expensive. While my parents were doing as much as they could, once I got that trust fund, it all went towards uni.

It went towards my equipment and anything I could use to get the best grade possible. I used it for things that were very needed at the time.

Its helped me invest in my future. With having that trust fund helping me do so well, the uni has actually offered me a job, so Ill be a tutor for them.

Chairman of The Share Foundation, Gavin Oldham, described the money as being hidden from young people.

He said: The government has no funding for low-income young people, not because it lacks intent, but because it lacks the means. So why not release the 400m that is currently sat unclaimed in HMRC-allocated Child Trust Funds belonging to young people aged 21 or over?

This would provide an immediate resolution at no cost to them  and 274m of this would be delivered immediately to low-income young people.

The Share Foundation say the funds could help young people to pay for driving lessons to access work (PA Archive)

The proposed changes would mean that if an unclaimed HMRC-allocated fund matched the national insurance number of someone either claiming benefits, on a payroll or student loan system, the money would be released to the corresponding accounts.

Labour peer David Blunkett, who has also called for changes to be made, told The Independent: A simple means of releasing the money directly to them using modern technology is a no-brainer. The trawl for contact details would be the same as banks uses when checking for unclaimed assets and cross-reference with national insurance numbers would also help.

Not only would this be a boon to the young people concerned at a moment when they need it most, but also an injection of cash into local economies across the country, which is bound to help the overall economy.

An HMRC spokesperson said it works closely with providers to support young people to track their funds down and every young person is sent information about finding their account with their National Insurance letter.

The Treasury has been contacted for a comment.

How you can claim your Child Trust Fund cash

To find your CTF, the government website advises you to contact your provider directly, if you know who the account is with.

If you dont, you can ask HMRC or contact The Share Foundation for help here: www.sharefound.org
Honours even: Captains Shubman Gill of India and Ben Stokes of England shake hands (Getty Images)

Ben Stokes' latest injury-defying act failed to inspire England as just a second draw of the Bazball era following stubborn India resistance kept the Rothesay series alive.

A troublesome left leg and a fresh problem in his right shoulder failed to deter Stokes, who snared KL Rahul for 90 on the last morning of the fourth Test to give England hope of moving into an unassailable 3-1 series lead.

Jofra Archer then dismissed Shubman Gill for 103 on the stroke of lunch but Joe Root dropping Ravindra Jadeja from the next ball proved crucial as he and Washington Sundar batted out the rest of the day.

However, there were farcical scenes at the finish when it became clear there would be no winner as India's batters elected against shaking hands with 15 overs left - the earliest opportunity a draw could be agreed - so both could get their hundreds.

Root and Harry Brook provided buffet bowling to speed things along, with Jadeja getting to his ton first and and Sundar followed to signal the end of proceedings, with India on 424 for four and a lead of 113.

It was an unnecessary distraction to what had been a brilliant India rearguard, with England barely acknowledging either century, as the tourists head to the Kia Oval still only trailing 2-1.

With the fifth Test getting under way on Thursday, much of the focus will likely centre on Stokes' availability after he was left weary and wounded in Manchester.

He battled cramp in his left leg when batting on Friday and reported general soreness on Saturday, which meant he did not bowl as Rahul and Gill took India from nought for two to 174 for two overnight.

More fitness problems emerged almost as soon as he started bowling from the Sir James Anderson End, as he grimaced and repeatedly rubbed his right shoulder after sending down the second over of the day.

Despite being in visible discomfort, straightening his arm after every delivery in an eight-over spell, Stokes caused problems, with Gill's drive on 81 bursting through a leaping Ollie Pope's hands close in.

England burned their final review as the ineffective Liam Dawson erroneously thought Rahul had gloved down the leg-side, but the India opener was lbw as Stokes made the breakthrough with his 20th delivery.

With variable bounce in play at Stokes' end, Rahul was beaten by a nip-backer that thudded into his knee roll in front of middle stump, with the England captain immediately celebrating.

Gill wore a painful blow to a right hand already heavily bandaged after one leapt off a length and struck him in the glove and helmet but the India captain soldiered on.

Having moved on to a titanic 700 runs for the series, Gill brought up a fourth three-figure score of the trip off 228 balls with a push into the offside for a single.

By then, England had the second new ball, taken 40 minutes before lunch, and Archer claimed the prize wicket of Gill, who fiddled outside off down the wrong line and feathered through to Jamie Smith.

England should have ended the session with a spring in their step but Root parried then dropped the rebound at head height after Jadeja flirted at a rising delivery from Archer first up.

Dawson was tidy but nonthreatening at the beginning of the afternoon, with the slow left-armer unable to take advantage of the footholes outside the off-stump of India's left-handed pair.

Against an old ball and with the pitch flattening out, Sundar and Jadeja grew increasingly confident.

This was evident in the way they went after Stokes in his three-over burst from the Brian Statham End, which culminated in Sundar belting a six then a four and Jadeja cutting away to the boundary to take both batters to fifty and India into the lead.

Having conceded 15 from his allotment, Stokes seemed to accept one last moment of magic was beyond him and he hooked himself from the attack - finishing with 11-2-33-1 - to seemingly end England's flickering hopes of victory.

It seemed Dawson, who finished with nought for 95 from 47 overs, and Root would administer the last rites after tea but India were in no hurry to get off the field when the match ticked over into the last hour.

Both teams must agree on the draw and England were clearly unhappy at Jadeja and Sundar continuing, with Brook eventually called upon to send down some floaty off-spin while Root was kept on.

Jadeja got to his hundred in a blizzard of boundaries, eventually finishing on 107 not out, before Washington brought up his first Test century in Brook's next over before hands were shaken five overs after England had first offered them.
Britain is ready to fight in the Pacific if conflict breaks out over Taiwan, the Defence Secretary has suggested.

John Healey was speaking on board the HMS Prince of Wales alongside Richard Marles, Australias deputy prime minister, as the ship docked in Darwin to join war games with allies, including the US.

Asked by The Telegraph about what the UK is doing to help countries like Taiwan to prepare for potential escalation from China, Mr Healey said: If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together. We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together.

His comments are among the most robust from a British representative on the subject of possible engagement in a future war in the region.

Mr Healey, however, said he was speaking in general terms, and said the UK would prefer to see any disputes in the Indo-Pacific resolved peacefully and diplomatically.

He added: We secure peace through strength, and our strength comes from our allies.

John Healey, the Defence Secretary, with Richard Marles, Australias deputy prime minister, on board the HMS Prince of Wales in Darwin - Robbie Stephenson/PA Wire

Xi Jinping, the president of China, has not ruled out the use of force in the reunification of the motherland. Beijing maintains it has sovereignty over Taiwan, which the government in Taipei firmly rejects.

Experts have cautioned that an invasion of Taiwan could result in a conflict that would involve countries across the globe.

Mr Healey acknowledged that threats are increasing in the Indo-Pacific region, where Chinas military has seized contested reefs and is accused of intimidating its neighbours.

The HMS Prince of Wales carrier group has sailed with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time since 1997, and will continue towards Japan, where it is likely to sail close to Taiwan.

The British Government has previously refrained from commenting on whether it would intervene if a conflict were to break out. The Royal Navy has two permanent patrol vessels in the region.

HMS Prince of Wales Pacific tour

Most countries follow the United States in its position of strategic ambiguity where it generally refrains from commenting on whether or not it would come to Taiwans defence in the event of a war.

Joe Biden, the former US president, broke this rule of thumb on several occasions and had said the US would support the island in pushing back against China. Donald Trump has refrained from taking the same outspoken approach, but officials in the Pentagon are preparing for conflict.

The current US government has also said that it will be reviewing its part in the Aukus agreement, a trilateral security agreement between the US, Australia and the UK, as part of the Trump administrations America first strategy.

Regarding Taiwan, Australia has also taken a more cautious approach. Anthony Albanese, the countrys prime minister, last week refused to comment on whether the country would join with the US and other allies in fighting back against China if a conflict broke out.

As part of its National Security Strategy published earlier this year, the UK Government recognised that there is a particular risk of escalation around Taiwan.

Gavin Williamson, who served as the UKs defence secretary from 2017 to 2019, said that the UK is probably speaking more candidly as the increasing threat in the Indo-Pacific becomes clearer.

I think theres a realisation that by being completely silent it doesnt make it more or less likely. Deterrence is about setting out the consequences that will come about as a result of other peoples dangerous or malign actions, Sir Gavin told The Telegraph.

Its really important that people like the UK Defence Secretary are being clear about the consequences of actions.

The HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier approaching Darwin harbour in Australia - REUTERS

The decision to send the HMS Prince of Wales, which is the UKs largest strike carrier group, on a nine-month deployment through the Pacific is indicative of the UKs awareness of this rising threat level.

The ships deployment to Darwin, a city in northern Australia, is also telling of the close ties between London and Canberra, which would be key to any potential future conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

Mr Healey noted as threats are increasing, the partnerships like the UK and Australia matter more than ever.

This is the first time in nearly 30 years that a British carrier strike group has docked in Australia and the first time that a non-US carrier has participated in Australias annual military drills known as Talisman Sabre, which were the largest ever this year.

The two countries also signed the Geelong Treaty this weekend, a new 50-year agreement cementing their part in the Aukus pact and committing to build a new class of nuclear-powered submarines.

The arrival of the HMS Prince of Wales in Darwin is also part of the UKs effort to assert the right to freedom of navigation through the Taiwan Strait  the narrow body of water separating China from Taiwan.

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary who was also on board the HMS Prince of Wales earlier in the day, has previously said that the UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait.

We have a direct interest in the international rules, the freedom of the seas, the freedom of navigation and the stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, said Mr Healey.

David Lammy, who was also aboard HMS Prince of Wales, said the UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait - Robbie Stephenson/PA Media

Last month, the HMS Spey, a Royal Navy patrol ship, transited the Taiwan Strait, drawing praise from Taiwan and strong criticism from China.

The UK does not comment on its ships future movements, but many suspect the HMS Prince of Wales will transit through the contested Strait as it sails to its next destinations in South Korea and Japan.

However, while the UK may be increasing its attention towards the Indo-Pacific, this will not involve greater engagement with Taiwan.

When asked whether the UK may engage more formally with Taiwan, Mr Healey said: Theres no change in the UKs approach to Taiwan.

Sir Gavin, who also faced the question of engagement with Taiwan while he was in office, said that the UK is only likely to shift its approach if China becomes ever more and more aggressive.

Conflict over Taiwan would probably have massive global implications as the country produces much of the worlds most advanced computer chips.
Rapper Drake has had a concert at Co-Op Live cancelled due to unforeseen travel issues.

The Canadian musician was due to perform at Manchesters Co-Op Live Arena on Monday July 28, however, has had to reschedule the gig due to unforeseen ferry schedule and travel logistics.

The 38-year old, whose full name is Aubrey Drake Graham, will instead perform at the venue on August 5.

Drake attending the UK premiere of Top Boy at the Hackney Picturehouse in London (Ian West/PA)

The news was shared in a statement on the Co-Op live website, which said: Due to unforeseen ferry schedule and travel logistics, tomorrows performance in Manchester on July 28th has been rescheduled.

The good news is that Drake will now perform in Manchester on Tuesday, August 5th, and its set to be an unforgettable night.

All tickets remain valid for the new datewe cant wait to see you there!

This comes after Drake released a new song, Which One, on Thursday with British rapper Central Cee.

Drake is midway through the UK leg of his Some Special Shows 4 U tour with Partynextdoor, marking his first return to Europe in six years.

Drake performing at the Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park, central London (Ian West/PA)

Earlier this month Drake performed at Wireless Festival in London after signing a multi-million pound deal to top the bill each night of the three nights.

The Canadian brought out UK heavyweights Dave, Central Cee and J Hus as surprise guests during one of his performances on the main stage in Finsbury Park.

He also performed with Lauryn Hill on one of the three nights.

The five-time Grammy-award winning artist will head to mainland Europe in August with concerts scheduled in Amsterdam, Zurich, and Milan and Paris.

The artist is best known for his hit songs One Dance, Hold On Were Going Home, and Hotline Bling.
Substitute Chloe Kelly fired in the winning penalty as England completed another spectacular shootout comeback to defend their title and beat world champions Spain 3-1 on penalties in the Euro 2025 final.

The Lionesses came back twice to reach the decider in Basel and book this revenge mission against the same side who beat them at the 2023 World Cup in Sydney.

And Mariona Caldentey ensured England would need another when she nodded in a 25th-minute opener, cancelled out by her Arsenal team-mate Alessia Russo with a header of her own from Kellys cross after the break to make it 1-1.

Hannah Hampton made two spectacular saves in the shootout before Kelly  who made the difference in extra time at Wembley three summers ago  netted another dramatic winner after Salma Paralluelos miss.

Lauren James was deemed fit enough to start after coming off at half-time of Englands semi-final comeback over Italy with an ankle issue, while Jess Carter returned to the defence in place of Esme Morgan.

Lucy Bronze overtook Jill Scott to become the Lionesses all-time appearance leader in major tournaments, featuring  and starting  for a 36th time.

England had a chance to take an early lead when Russo, released on the right, forced Cata Coll into a save, and James could not connect when the rebound returned in her direction.

England keeper Hamptons big block denied Esther Gonzalez, who directed a second effort off-target, before Spain nearly gifted England a huge chance just before the 20-minute mark.

Laia Aleixandri was caught sleeping on Colls pass, allowing Lauren Hemp to intercept and test the Spanish keeper, who stuck out a leg to let Aleixandri off the hook.

Spains patience deep in Englands half paid off when Caldentey finally found the back of the net, the opener initially facilitated by Aitana Bonmati winning her battle with Georgia Stanway near the touchline.

Spain took the lead through Mariona Caldentey (Peter Byrne/PA)

The back-to-back Ballon dOr winner then found a composed Athenea del Castillo  earning a start in place of Claudia Pina  who her time before working it to Ona Batlle, whose pinpoint delivery allowed Caldentey to power her header into the top right.

Spain were in the drivers seat by the 41st minute when James, who had taken a knock, was replaced by Kelly, who got herself involved immediately with a wide effort.

Hampton denied Bonmati, then Caldentey before Russo, sandwiched between two Spain centre-backs, drew the sides level, nodding home another sumptuous cross from Kelly in the 57th minute.

Kelly then nearly got herself on the scoresheet with just over 20 minutes remaining, forcing Coll into a low fingertip save.

Russos evening was over two minutes later, replaced by 19-year-old breakout star Michelle Agyemang, and it took a spectacular reaction from Hampton to deny Pina, two minutes after the Spanish substitutes own 71st-minute introduction.

A big Carter block denied Paralluelo, who blazed over, and neither side was able to make the difference after 30 minutes.

A top-class ball is met by a top-class header  Russo with the equaliser vs Spain! pic.twitter.com/EGuYHWKFDi  Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 27, 2025

Spain looked likelier to score, first through Pinas curled effort, then Paralluelo came up short in her attempt to cleverly flick in a winner late in the first 15-minute period of extra time.

England resolutely defended against more waves of Spanish attack, but their own was found wanting as they looked to avoid another shootout, their hopes kept alive by two more Hampton saves before Vicky Lopez blazed over.

Coll picked out Kellys corner with just under five minutes remaining in extra time, there was another huge Carter intervention to deny Bonmati another chance, and four minutes of stoppage time passed without anyone finding the back of the net.

Bronze, who fired in the winning penalty in Englands semi-final comeback over Sweden, had been forced off in extra time.

Mead found the back of the net with Englands first attempt, but was forced to retake it after VAR determined it had been double-hit after the substitute slipped, and was denied by Coll on her second try.

Englands Chloe Kelly scores the winning penalty (Peter Byrne/PA)

Patri Guijarro and Alex Greenwood both converted before Hampton leapt to her left, refusing to let Caldentey beat her again, then kept out Bonmatis effort after Niamh Charles had beaten Coll.

Coll kept out captain Leah Williamsons attempt, but Paralluelos miss opened the door for Kelly  who netted the winner three summers ago.

And just like she did three summers ago at Wembley, Kelly stepped up and scored when it mattered most.
The students tracked down the archived records of the Kings hike when he was at the school - Ryan Balharry/Gordonstoun/PA

Gordonstoun pupils have recreated the Kings 28-mile Caingorms hike 60 years later.

The teenage Prince of Wales went on a three-day hike through rain and stormy wind in October 1965 for his silver Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award.

This year students from the Kings old school tracked down the archived records of his route before setting out to recreate the challenge, following the Kings footsteps across the Highlands in their hike from June 19 to 21.

While handwritten notes detail how Charles ascended 2,788ft peaks to find a view shrouded in mist, the students chose a warmer time of year for their hike. Temperatures reached as high as 27C (80F).

They followed Charless route from Balachroich, through Kingussie, to Rothiemurchus Lodge in Aviemore, taking in Glenfeshie Forest and passing by Ben Macdui on the way up Glen Dee. Another group followed the same course in reverse.

With the help of the handwritten notes and accompanying map, a team of seven  five girls and two boys  retraced Charless route to obtain their own silver awards.

The cohort comprised five girls and two boys - Ryan Balharry/Gordonstoun/PA

Hiker William Griffin, 16, said: The most standout thing for me on the expedition was how diverse all the landscape was.

We started off in dense woodland, going along the banks of a dried-up river that led out into a wide valley with thick heather.

We then went through the mountains into a massive open plain with the river meandering through it. It was so impressive.

The records reveal Charles was a member of group two, under its pupil leader Michael Fabianski. The group was found in good spirits when a Mr Varney checked in with them on the Saturday, according to the notes.

Prince Charles with his father the Duke of Edinburgh, left, arrives for his first day at Gordonstoun in 1962 - PA

Mr Fabianski said: My memory from the expedition was camping for the first night on the banks of the River Feshie and wading across the River Dee, while walking up Glen Dee to the Corrour bothy, where we camped for the second night.

Its very atmospheric walking up Glen Dee, with Cairn Toul on one side and Ben Macdui on the other. I appreciated the steepness of the valley later, when we scrambled up its side to Carn a Mhaim during the gold expedition in which I took part the following July.

Mr Varneys written account talks of overcast skies and stormy wind but suggests the Sunday was a fine day and the princes group reached their final destination just after group one at 3.20pm.

When we thought we couldnt do it we were still able to keep going, said India Lewis - Ryan Balharry/Gordonstoun/PA

India Lewis, 16, one of the pupils who went on the expedition, said it was cool to follow in the Kings footsteps and she really enjoyed the challenge.

Miss Lewis said: In the back of everyones mind we remembered our motto, Plus Est En Vous, and we remembered that you have more in you.

We do have more in us because even at times when we thought we couldnt do it we were still able to keep going and we all got there in the end. Mindset does really matter.

The DofE award has its roots at Gordonstoun, where it was known as the Moray Badge until Prince Philip championed the experience. It evolved to become a national programme in 1956.

In the 12 months to March a record 572,802 pupils participated in the scheme at bronze, silver and gold levels.

Peter Green, the Gordonstoun principal, said: In the spirit of our founder Kurt Hahn, I firmly believe that students must be regularly challenged to grow, both inside and outside the classroom.

The recent expedition through the Cairngorms, retracing the footsteps of the King, was a powerful illustration of that philosophy in action.

Spending four days camping in one of the most remote regions of the UK presented a genuine test of the students resilience and teamwork, and they responded with remarkable perseverance and strength of character.
Credit: Reuters

Wildfires raged through Greece for a second day with several popular tourist islands among the worst-hit areas.

Firefighters battled five fires on Sunday across the islands of Evia, Kythira and Crete, as well as in the Peloponnese area, west of Athens, as temperatures reached highs of 40C.

Giorgos Komninos, the deputy mayor of the island, told ERT News channel: If air assets dont come here, we will burn.

He spoke of unimaginable destruction and claimed there had been delays in the aerial response, with flames now threatening monasteries and tourist areas.

The Canadair came, they dropped for an hour and left, he said. Houses, beehives, olive trees have been burnt.

The blaze in Kryoneri was mostly contained by Sunday morning - Costas Baltas/Anadolu

Czech firefighters and Italian aircraft have been deployed to assist Greek emergency services in battling the blazes, which have been worsened by strong winds.

Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a fire department spokesman, said on Sunday that the situation had improved after an all-night battle, though the risk of new fires still remained very dangerous.

While forecasters predicted the high winds would die down across much of Greece on Sunday, they continued to warn of worrying conditions on the popular tourist island of Kythira, which has around 3,600 inhabitants.

Dozens of firefighters were supported by three helicopters and two aircraft to tackle the fire in Kythira, which erupted on Saturday morning and forced the evacuation of a popular tourist beach.

Firefighters and volunteers try to put out a fire in a house - Yannis Kolesidis/Shutterstock

In Evia, teams worked through the night to repair serious damage to the islands electricity network, while some villages faced issues with their water supply.

Giorgos Kelaiditis, the deputy governor of the island, said the flames had ripped through a livestock unit, killing some 3,000 animals, including 1,000 sows and 2,000 piglets.

It was an absolute disaster. We have suffered great damage, which we still cannot calculate. We are trying to save the remaining animals, he told APE-MPE.

Fighting the wildfires on Saturday was a titanic struggle, according to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister of Greece - Yannis Kolesidis/Shutterstock

Evacuation messages were sent to those living and staying on the island , which lies off the south-easten tip of the Peloponnese, early on Sunday.

Officials have reported 11 regions of Greece still face a very high fire risk.

It was reported that fires in the south of Crete, which broke out on Saturday afternoon and destroyed four houses and a church, had been largely contained.

In Kryoneri, north of Athens, police were reportedly bolstering security amid fears that looters could target houses abandoned by residents fleeing a fire that erupted on Saturday afternoon. By Sunday the blaze was mostly contained.

Greece called on its EU allies to fight the flames in Kythira - Stamatina Tamvaki/Reuters

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the prime minister of Greece, wrote on social media that anyone who lost possessions should know that the state will be by their side.

He said Saturday was a titanic struggle but the picture today looks better and the battle continues with all available resources.

Greece has endured heatwave conditions for almost a week, with temperatures passing 40C in many areas.

On Saturday, the temperature reached 45.2C in Amfilohia, in western Greece.

The extreme heat is expected to die down from Monday.

Last month, fires on Greeces fifth-biggest island Chios in the northern Aegean Sea, destroyed 4,700 hectares (11,600 acres) of land, while in early July, a wildfire in Crete forced the evacuation of 5,000 people.

Credit: Anadolu Agency

On Saturday, Turkeys environment ministry said that meteorologists had registered a reading of 50.5C in the south-east of the country, a nationwide record.

The record temperature was registered on Friday in the south-eastern city of Silopi, the ministry said.

Across the country, 132 weather stations had registered record temperatures for the month of July, the statement added.

Turkey is also in the grip of a heatwave and fighting fires across a number of regions - Onur Yurtsever/AFP

Firefighters have been struggling for four days to contain one in the northern Karabuk province, forcing the evacuation of several villagers.

On Wednesday, 10 people perished fighting a fire in the western Eskisehir province.

The heatwave, which is expected to last several days more, has forced some local authorities to announce restrictions on water consumption, including the seaside resort of Cesme, near Izmir on Turkeys west coast.
A lobby group pushing for a third runway at Heathrow has been accused of distributing incredibly misleading leaflets to homes in west London  while receiving funding directly from the airport.

Back Heathrow recently sent out flyers suggesting that an expanded airport would be greener, claiming only the cleanest and quietest aircraft would fly from the site.

The leaflet campaign comes as Heathrow prepares to submit its long-awaited planning application by July 31  a plan already backed by the Government, according to Sky News.

Back Heathrow describes itself as a local campaign group representing over 100,000 residents, but its newsletter does not disclose that it receives funding from Heathrow Airport. The group's website is similarly ambiguous, stating it was initially launched with funding from the airport and has since grown  without clarifying its current financial ties.

A disclaimer at the bottom of each page reads: Back Heathrow is a group of residents, businesses and community groups who have come together to defend the jobs that rely on Heathrow and to campaign for its secure future.

Heathrow Airport has not disclosed how much it contributes to the campaign but says it has always been transparent about funding the project.

Back Heathrow is led by former Labour MP for Gloucester Parmjit Dhanda, who also sits on the partys National Policy Forum, which helps shape Labour policy. The group's accounts name a second director, John Braggins, a former campaign adviser to Tony Blair.

Its most recent filings show the organisation holds 243,961 in cash reserves.

In the newsletter, executive director Mr Dhanda responds to a question about sustainability.

He writes: "We can build a cleaner, greener and smarter airport - using more sustainable aviation fuel, ensuring only the cleanest and quietest aircraft fly here, reduce stacking in our skies and modernise our airspace to cut emissions in flight."

But campaigners have rejected Back Heathrow's environmental arguments as "myths".

Climate activist and aerospace engineer Finlay Asher described the emissions savings from sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as "highly debatable" and that usage of these fuels is "relatively low".

"Air traffic growth at Heathrow will wipe this out," he said. "There is no policy in place which prevents older generation aircraft from being operated out of any airport."

Regarding Back Heathrow's claims about reducing "stacking", where aircraft are left waiting over an airport to land, Mr Asher said: "Adding more aircraft to the sky won't make this easier."

Heathrow Airport announced plans earlier this month to raise its capacity by 10 million passengers a year, before a third runway is built, and to increase charges paid by passengers to finance the development.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Back Heathrow represents tens of thousands of local people who want to make their views known on the importance of Heathrow to their communities and livelihoods today and into the future.

"We have always been clear that, alongside individual residents, local business groups and trade unions, we provide funding for Back Heathrow to provide a voice for local people who historically have not been heard in the debate about expanding Heathrow."

On behalf of the campaign group, Mr Dhanda said: "At Back Heathrow we are proud of our link to Heathrow Airport (the clue is in the name).

"We have always been open about the fact that we receive support from the airport and that they helped set the organisation up to balance the debate about expansion at a time when the voices of ordinary working people from the diverse communities around Heathrow were not being heard."

"Back Heathrow also receives support from trade unions, local businesses and residents from amongst the 100,000 registered supporters it now has.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

Bulawayo's central business district has become the latest battleground in a simmering turf war over vending space, with ZANU PF-linked "space barons" accused of illegally converting municipal parking bays along George Silundika Street into informal trading stalls.The takeover has sparked outrage, after makeshift vending structures were seen last week being erected directly on top of marked parking bays, effectively transforming prime vehicle space into bustling informal markets. Eyewitnesses alleged that vendors operating at the new sites were claiming political backing, with many asserting they had been allocated the stands by individuals connected to the ruling party.Bulawayo mayor David Coltart confirmed the developments in an interview on Sunday, voicing alarm at what he described as politically motivated encroachments on public space."We are aware of these developments and they have been discussed extensively within BCC," said Coltart. "There is undoubtedly a political element driving the illegal allocation of stands."The mayor said the Bulawayo City Council had already initiated engagements with key government bodies to address the situation, including the office of the Provincial Affairs Minister and the local Joint Operations Command (JOC)."We are actively speaking to the Provincial Minister and JOC requesting their cooperation in dealing with this exceptionally worrying development," Coltart added.Efforts to reach ZANU PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Jabulani Sibanda for comment were unsuccessful.The latest incidents echo a similar saga earlier this year along 5th Avenue, where vending stalls were reportedly seized by politically connected individuals. That situation prompted public uproar and accusations that the city's informal economy was being captured for private gain by individuals hiding behind political influence.Despite a directive issued by the council earlier this year for all vendors to vacate undesignated spaces within the city centre, illegal vending has persisted. In both George Silundika and 5th Avenue, space barons allegedly continue to collect vending fees from traders, depriving the municipality of critical revenue.City officials have said the growing trend of politically protected vending syndicates is undermining urban planning efforts and enforcement of municipal by-laws. Authorities have in recent months attempted to bring order by relocating informal traders to designated areas such as Egodini Mall and Bhaktas Mall, but with limited success.Mayor Coltart has previously stated that clean-up operations must be conducted "humanely," noting the economic hardships facing many informal traders. However, the continued flouting of regulations and occupation of public infrastructure under the guise of political immunity has put the city under growing pressure to act.Residents and business owners have voiced frustration over the deterioration of order in the CBD, warning that unchecked encroachment threatens to erode investor confidence and the overall image of the city.
It is estimated as many as 500 protesters gathered outside the Bell hotel in Epping, Essex, on Sunday. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian

Hundreds of people gathered outside a hotel in Epping on Sunday for the fifth time to demonstrate over the premises being used to house asylum seekers, as protests spread to other hotels over the weekend.

A large police presence containing officers from multiple forces restricted contact between anti- and pro-immigrant protesters, with Essex police saying restrictions were necessary after what it described as repeated serious disruption, violence and harm to the community since the first demonstration took place on 13 July.

Two men were charged with public order offences after a protest of about 400 anti-immigration and 250 counter-protesters outside a hotel in Diss on Saturday, Norfolk constabulary said. There was a further protest outside a hotel in Canary Wharf in London on Sunday, with the number of protesters appearing to be in the low hundreds.

The demonstration in Epping in Essex on Sunday  where as many as 500 anti-immigrant protesters gathered behind metal barriers outside the Bell hotel  was the latest in a series of protests that began after an asylum seeker was charged with sexual assault for allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and is in custody.

Protesters wore T-shirts and held up signs bearing the slogan protect our kids, while others waved England flags. Other flags seen included one for Reform UK, and a white flag with a red cross on a blue square, as seen in the US at anti-abortion demonstrations.

Counter-protesters held banners including one that read Dont let the far right divide us with their hatred and violence, and Care for refugees. They chanted Refugees are welcome here and Nazi scum off our streets.

Police said three people were arrested during the peaceful protest, two from the anti-hotel protest group and the other from the counter-protest group. I want to thank those who attended for the peaceful nature of both protests, said Ch Supt Simon Anslow of Essex police. I am pleased that today has passed off without incident and I am grateful to our colleagues from other forces for their support.

In a letter sent to the Guardian, asylum seekers said harmful stereotypes about refugees did not reflect the truth. There are some refugees who do not behave respectfully or who do not follow the rules of the host society. But those individuals do not represent all of us, they said. As with any group of people, there are both good and bad  and it is unfair to judge the majority by the actions of a few.

The letter mentioned fleeing persecution and violence. We refugees are not here to take advantage of the system. We are here to rebuild our lives, to work, and to contribute, they wrote, adding: This letter is not a plea for sympathy, but a call for understanding and fairness.

Outside the Bell hotel, one local woman, who did not want to be named, said residents had complained about an increase in antisocial incidents since it began housing asylum seekers but felt ignored and unfairly labelled as far right.

Im not saying everyone in any of these hotels is up to no good. Im not going to judge everyone, but there is no vetting, she said. We wont stop until they start listening and shut this hotel down.

Activists from far-right groups including Homeland, Patriotic Alternative and the neo-Nazi White Vanguard movement have been present at previous protests. On Sunday Kai Stephens, the Norfolk branch organiser for Homeland, held a sign that said: Put local people first.

Stephens said: Unfortunately, there has to be a certain point where we turn around and say, the British people should be put first, the indigenous British people.

Supporters of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson were also present. Robinson, 42, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had said he would attend before changing his mind and saying it would not be helpful to protesters.

Other local protesters said far-right agitators were not welcome. Its 100% unhelpful, because it just gives them a message which is not what were trying to achieve here, said one man, who did not want to be named.

Stand Up to Racism, the group that organised the counter-protest, estimated about 700 people had gone to Epping. Lewis Nielsen, an officer at Stand Up to Racism, said Nigel Farages Reform UK had emboldened the far right.

Its a really dangerous situation at the moment because you havent just got the protest here, youve got other protests coming up around the country, Nielsen said. We stopped the riots last August with these kinds of mobilisations, and thats why were pleased the one today has been successful.

One protester, Joshua Bailey, who said he grew up in Epping, said increasing anti-immigration sentiment had made people of colour in his friend group feel vulnerable and threatened. Its very important that we have a positive stance towards refugees, who are people fleeing genuine tragedy and disaster.

He said he did not agree with chants that labelled protesters as fascists or Nazis. There is room for nuance, he said. Id like to be able to sit down in a pub with someone who had opposing views and be able to speak about it.

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The Irish premier has welcomed a deal between the European Union and the United States, which will see a 15% tariff on most EU imports to the US.

The deal was reached during a meeting between Donald Trump and the president of the European Commission on Sunday.

The US president met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to hammer out the final details on the trading relationship between Europe and the US.

Reacting to the deal, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the agreement was very welcome.

I welcome the outcome of trade talks today between the European Commission and the US. pic.twitter.com/xpx7tK5Aji  Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) July 27, 2025

It brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US  the biggest in the world, the Fianna Fail leader said.

That is good for businesses, investors and consumers. It will help protect many jobs in Ireland.

The negotiations to get us to this point have been long and complex, and I would like to thank both teams for their patient work.

We will now study the detail of what has been agreed, including its implications for businesses exporting from Ireland to the US, and for different sectors operating here.

The agreement is a framework and there will be more detail to be fleshed out in the weeks and months ahead.

Mr Martin said the higher tariffs will have an impact on trade between the EU and the US, which will make it more expensive and more challenging.

However, it also creates a new era of stability that can hopefully contribute to a growing and deepening relationship between the EU and the US, which is important not just for the EU and the US, but for the global economy, he added.

Given the very real risk that existed for escalation and for the imposition of punitively high tariffs, this news will be welcomed by many.

The deal was also welcomed by deputy Irish premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris, who said it brings clarity to businesses.

While we have yet to see the detail, I welcome that an agreement has been announced by Commission President von der Leyen and US President Trump, Mr Harris said in a statement.

A deal provides a measure of much-needed certainty for Irish, European and American businesses who together represent the most integrated trading relationship in the world. Ireland makes a key contribution to this with the Ireland-US economic relationship valued at more than one trillion euros.

The US had made clear, and this has been replicated in other recent agreements, which the US has reached with other countries, that a baseline tariff was always going to be part of the outcome.

I have always stressed that tariffs are damaging and will have a negative impact on companies exporting to the US.

While Ireland regrets that the baseline tariff of 15% is included in the agreement, it is important that we now have more certainty on the foundations for the EU-US trade relationship, which is essential for jobs, growth and investment.

President von der Leyen described this as 15% tariffs across the board, all-inclusive.

He said further detail is needed around pharma, aviation and other sectors.

Mr Harris said he will examine the details of the agreement over the coming days to establish the effect on Irish businesses and the economy.

Earlier, EU commissioner Michael McGrath said the meeting was a significant and decisive moment.

Mr McGrath, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, said it would involve substantive negotiations between both sides.

US President Donald Trump enjoyed a round of golf before his meeting with Ursula von der Leyen (Jane Barlow/PA)

Its a significant moment, we hope a decisive moment, and it builds on an enormous amount of work that has been done over quite a period of time, Mr McGrath said ahead of the meeting.

President Trump invited President von der Leyen to Scotland for a meeting.

This follows on the back of intensive negotiations over a number of months.

He added: It is not a case of turning up and signing on the dotted line. There will be a real discussion that will happen, and it will take on a dynamic of its own, and lets see what happens over the course of the afternoon.

But from the EUs point of view, we are determined to do all that we can to get a deal for European businesses, because we recognise the cost of uncertainty.

It manifests in trade and in investment decisions and ultimately in employment and of course tariffs can cost consumers at the end of the day.

We want a good deal. We have negotiated hard, and were at a point now where hopefully the two leaders can today bring it to a concluding phase.
Ron Feiner used to serve as a captain in Israels 933rd Nahal Brigade - Matan Golan

Ron Feiner looks philosophical as he points to where the bullet struck the side of his helmet, knocking him off his feet.

Just a few millimetres difference and he would have been killed, like six of his comrades were when they walked into a house in southern Lebanon last October, believing  wrongly  that it had already been checked for terrorists.

It was a really horrible day, the 26-year-old recalled. They opened the door, and behind the door were two Hezbollah fighters who immediately started firing with their rifles. Four soldiers died immediately.

Mr Feiner, a captain in Israels 933rd Nahal Brigade, acquitted himself well, picking himself up and dragging wounded colleagues to safety as the battle raged for five hours.

Palestinians at an aid point in Gaza City - Getty/Khames Alrefi

It was his destiny, having dreamed of becoming  like his father  an infantry officer for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) since he was a child. It is a role that carries elite status in Israel and has been the foundation stone for many a stellar business or political career.

But he now chooses a different path. He is refusing to report for another stint of reserve duty and a potential deployment to Gaza, in disgust at the ongoing war that has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

He said: When the bombing of Gaza started again, it became clear to me that our government wants to make this war as long as they can  they dont want to end it.

I knew then I cant go back to serving in this war.

Sentenced to 25 days in jail by Israel for refusing to serve, Mr Feiner is believed to be part of a growing wave of young Israeli reservists who feel they can no longer participate in their countrys war in Gaza.

The majority are not showing up to call-ups, either forgetting to check their emails or pleading medical or family emergencies. Mr Feiner believes the images of starving children inside Gaza will mean fewer soldiers will turn up.

Ron Feiner was sentenced to 25 days in jail by Israel for refusing to serve the IDF - Matan Golan

Immense pressure has been building on Israel over the dire humanitarian conditions inside the strip, with aid agencies warning of mass malnutrition and widespread hunger. France on Thursday said it would move to recognise Palestine as a state. On Sunday, the IDF said it was introducing a tactical pause in fighting in some areas of Gaza.

Mr Feiners opinion on the futility of the conflict appears to be shared by a rising number of serving and retired senior officers who are turning against Benjamin Netanyahus war.

Gen Assaf Orion, the former head of strategic planning at the IDF, said while there were clear strategic goals in the Israel campaigns against Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, there was no longer any clear military imperative for the continuation of military operations in Gaza.

He told The Telegraph: In Gaza, I suspect that the strategic train of ends, ways and means was kidnapped by ulterior motives.

I think the main reason for a prolonged war in Gaza is political expediency.

Somoud Wahdan and her child wait for aid trucks to arrive - AP/Abdel Kareem Hana

Eran Etzion, a former deputy head of Israels national security council, was even blunter.

He said: By now it has long been clear to most Israelis that the main reason the Gaza campaign lingers on is because of Netanyahus political, personal and judicial interests, and he needs the war to go on in order to sustain and even enhance his grip on power.

Many believe Mr Netanyahu fears his government will collapse if the war ended as ultra-nationalist parties in his coalition would abandon him.

Thats the main reason. It has nothing to do with Hamas and everything to do with Netanyahu.

If even some of the spate of leaks from Israels security cabinet are to be believed, the scepticism is not confined to retired generals.

Gen Assaf Orion believes the main reason for a prolonged war in Gaza is political expediency. - Telegram/IDF

Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, the IDFs chief of staff, is said to have argued that there is little more to be gained by continuing the campaign  particularly without risking the lives of the approximately 20 remaining living hostages.

Although degraded into a series of, in effect, independent guerrilla units, Hamas continues to fight amid the rubble, sending a stream of IDF body bags back to Israel.

Mr Netanyahu insists that Hamas must not just be broken as a military and governing force, but eradicated entirely, arguing at the same time that the best way to secure a hostage deal is to fight even harder.

Israels negotiating team returned home from Doha empty-handed this weekend, amid widespread pessimism that a deal will be agreed any time soon.

The Jewish states reputation on the international stage is in crisis, with traditional allies such as Britain, France, Canada and Australia queuing up to condemn the escalating reports of starvation.

Professional servants of democratically elected leaders, like Lt Gen Zamir and those under him, are caught in the middle.

This was perhaps best demonstrated this month by his opposition to a scheme of Israel Katz, the defence minister, to order the entire civilian population of Gaza into a so-called humanitarian city built on the ruins of the southern city of Rafah.

The military chief was reportedly anxious to protect his officers from potential complicity in a war crime, amid outrage that the zone  described by former prime minister Ehud Olmert as resembling a concentration camp  could be a precursor to forced population transfer.

It would also put his troops, who would ultimately police the perimeter and facilitate the entry of aid, under significant practical pressure.

The military was further worried that Hamas would interpret the humanitarian city as a signal that Israel wanted to restart fighting after the proposed initial 60-day ceasefire, thus threatening a potential deal.

0907 IDF Gaza control

The IDF leadership earned the ire of Mr Netanyahu by reporting the project could take a year and cost $4bn.

While the Israeli prime minister demanded a shorter, cheaper, more practical plan, it is not clear whether the initiative will ever take place.

The scheme may have been too much for senior generals who are already deeply unhappy about the position their troops have been placed in under the new US-backed aid system.

The UN accuses the IDF of killing more than 1,000 civilians near the new aid distribution sites in Gaza.

According to multiple videos and eyewitness testimony, crowd flow in and near these sites is extremely poor, and Israeli soldiers, who provide an outer ring of security for the American contractors, open fire if Palestinians come too close.

In one heated security cabinet exchange, Lt Gen Zamir reportedly forced an ultra-nationalist minister to watch a video of an incident showing how close aid seekers came to his soldiers.

Credit: Social media

The IDF has now captured 75 per cent of the Gaza Strip  the goal when it began Operation Gideons Chariot, which started in May.

Last week, it pushed into the town of Deir Al-Balah, the first time it is thought troops have deliberately sought to seize an area where intelligence indicated a high likelihood that hostages are being held.

Mr Netanyahu and his allies argue that leaving even remnants of Hamas intact in the Strip would eventually precipitate another October 7-style massacre. They have so far rejected Arab proposals for an interim government to administer the enclave in the event of a permanent ceasefire.

We are past the culmination point

Gen Orion said: The Gaza war is a long way past its culmination point.

Every military operation, like many human endeavours, has the rule of diminishing returns.

At some point, great successes meet growing resistance and lose their efficiency. The costs rise and the benefits are lower. In Gaza, we are way past that point.

Although the true figures are closely guarded, some campaign groups and politicians believe the rate of attendance could be as low as 60 per cent.

The majority are so-called grey refusals, who are people who plead medical problems, family issues, or who simply go abroad during the call-up window and forget to check their emails.

Refusals on explicit political grounds are rarer but increasing, reflected in the growing number of public letters signed by reservists denouncing Mr Netanyahus conduct of the war, and subsequent reprimands and dismissals.

Accounts have emerged of officers frantically reaching out to reservists on social media, begging them to turn up, because their ranks are so depleted.

At the same time, the acrimonious issue of Haredi conscription rumbles on, with Mr Netanyahu expected to give in on promises to force ultra-orthodox Jewish young men to turn up for military service.

Mr Feiners prison sentence was considered a relatively harsh penalty for refusal, given the maximum is 30 days. But he only served one night, as the prison was largely evacuated when Iran started firing ballistic missiles at Israel in June.

Waiting to see if he will be recalled to jail, he believes the pictures and videos of whats happening in Gaza will further decrease the rate of call-up response.

He said: There are always a lot of people who are not sure if they are willing to go and every little thing can affect them.

Maybe if they are sitting with their family on a Saturday evening watching the news and see the pictures and the video of whats happening, they will decide they cant.
Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have parachuted aid into the Gaza Strip as the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory deepens.

Israel said on Sunday that it would halt military operations each day for 10 hours in parts of Gaza and allow new aid corridors into the strip. Israel has been facing growing international criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as images of starving Palestinians have alarmed the world.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomed the pause but said it was long overdue and called for land routes to be opened urgently, warning that air drops alone cannot alleviate the needs of those desperately suffering in Gaza.

An aircraft drops humanitarian aid packages over the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel (Reuters)

Military activity will stop from 10am to 8pm until further notice in al-Mawasi, a designated humanitarian area that stretches along the coast, as well as in the central city of Deir al-Balah, and in Gaza City, to the north.

The military said designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will also be in place between 6am and 11pm, starting from Sunday.

Jordan and the UAE delivered 25 tonnes of aid by parachute in the first airdrop in months. Palestinian health officials in Gaza City said at least 10 people were injured by falling aid boxes.

The Egyptian Red Crescent also said it was sending more than 100 trucks carrying 1,200 metric tonnes of food to southern Gaza.

Aid groups have warned of mass hunger among Gazas 2.2 million people, and international alarm has grown.

The United Nations food agency welcomed the steps to ease aid restrictions, but said that a broader ceasefire is needed to ensure that the goods reach everyone in need. Unicef called it an opportunity to save lives.

Israel has faced growing calls to deal with the aid crisis (Reuters)

The World Food Programme said the pause could allow a surge of urgently needed food aid. It added on X that it has enough food already in or on its way to the region to feed Gazas population for almost three months.

Dr Muneer al-Boursh, the director general of Gazas health ministry, called for a flood of medical supplies and other goods to help treat child malnutrition.

This [humanitarian] truce will mean nothing if it doesnt turn into a real opportunity to save lives, he said. Every delay is measured by another funeral.

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said staff would step up efforts to feed the hungry during the pauses in the designated areas.

Our teams on the ground ... will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window, he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City (AP)

Meanwhile, health officials at al-Awda and al-Aqsa Hospitals in Gaza said Israeli firing had killed at least 17 people and wounded 50 people waiting for aid trucks on Sunday. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Dozens of Palestinians have died of malnutrition in recent weeks, according to officials in the Hamas-run territory. The Gaza health ministry reported six new deaths over the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total number of deaths from malnutrition and hunger to 133, including 87 children.

Israel is facing increased international pressure to end the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, after US-led peace talks in Qatar were cut short on Thursday.

Washingtons special envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of having a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire.

The deal under discussion is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire in which Hamas would release 10 living hostages, and the remains of 18 others, in phases, in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Aid supplies would be ramped up under the deal, and the two sides would negotiate towards a lasting truce.

Israel, which halted aid in March before partially reopening it in May under new restrictions, insists it must control shipments to prevent them from being diverted by militants.
Ruben Amorim hailed Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes leadership after his brace in their 2-1 pre-season Premier League Summer Series win over West Ham.

Then 30-year-olds double put United in the driving seat before Jarrod Bowen brought one back for the Hammers.

Following a trophyless season and their worst Premier League finish of 15th, United have added Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to their squad.

Amorim acknowledged that his skipper can get frustrated but says he needs to trust his team-mates.

Bruno with a beauty  pic.twitter.com/3hrOt1ar3O  Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) July 27, 2025

It was so clear last season, you can see it with the goals and assists. But its not just that. I think now he has more players, I feel, to help him to lead the group and that is a good thing, Amorim said about Fernandes on MUTV.

He is our leader and really important, not just on the field, but off the field. He leads by example.

He works really hard, is always available and, sometimes, he plays with pain. Sometimes, the problem is he gets frustrated and loses a little bit of focus of his job.

Sometimes, he wants to help the team-mates so much, it is not the best thing to do. They have to do their job and Bruno has, for example, to wait for the ball.

Mbeumo was not part of the squad and Amorim confirmed he will not play in their next match against Bournemouth as he builds fitness following his move from Brentford.

United took the lead after just five minutes, with Irons keeper Alphonse Areola clumsily fouling Ayden Heaven in the area to allow Fernandes to convert his penalty into the bottom-left corner.

Goodnight, New Jersey!  MOTM Bruno Fernandes and @ManUtd signing off with a win from MetLife  pic.twitter.com/mpXC18sbrn  Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) July 27, 2025

After Amad Diallo had one chalked off for offside, the Portugal international continued to showcase his quality in the second half with a guided long-range effort into the top-left corner.

It was completely different to last season. We didnt suffer, we scored and that can help you play better, Amorim added on his sides improved display.

We had some possession, we defend well, one against one, we press high, especially the goal-kicks and it helped us to win the ball sometimes.

I think we need to have more long possession when we win the ball, so that we are near the box and try to find the small spaces. We can handle the ball and work the ball a little bit more.
At least 6 killed in stampede as huge crowds gather at temple in Indian holy city

At least six people died and several others were injured following a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple in the northern Indian city of Haridwar, according to local news reports.

The stampede occurred at the staircase leading to the temple and the injured are being rushed to hospital, Indian news agency ANI reported.

Upon reaching the site, around 33 people were rescued, out of which 6 have died. The injured have been admitted to the hospital, senior police officer Pramendra Singh Dobal told Indias IANS news agency.

Some 29 people were injured from the incident, according to Mr Dobal.

Someone in the crowd shouted about an electric current on the pathway around 9am, according to reports.

"Since the path is narrow and meant only for foot traffic, confusion and panic spread instantly," local priest Ujjwal Pandit told AP.

"A wall along the path is also suspected to have worsened the crowd bottleneck," he said.

The temple town receives a large influx of pilgrims between July and August every year, especially at the Manasa Devi temple, with local reports suggesting there was an overwhelming crowd this year.

The incident reportedly occurred after a high-voltage electric wire fell on a temple path, triggering panic among devotees.

"At around 9 am, we received information about a stampede on the pedestrian road towards Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, the temple towns district magistrate Mayur Dixit told PTI news agency.

The states chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami shared on X that relief and rescue operations are being closely monitored.

Relatives stand outside a hospital as the injured from temple stampede were brought, in Haridwar, India (AP)

It is extremely distressing to receive news of a stampede on the route to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar, the chief minister said in a post on X.

Local police, and other rescue teams have reached the site and are engaged in relief and rescue operations, Mr Dhami said.

This is the latest in a string of stampedes at Hindu religious gatherings in India.

Last month, at least three people were killed and nearly 50 injured in a stampede after a crowd went out of control at a religious gathering in the eastern Indian city of Puri.

More than 600 people required medical assistance as they gathered for a temple chariot festival amid intense heat.

In February, 79 Hindu pilgrims died in a stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Indias Prayagraj, a toll far exceeding the official numbers, according to a local news investigation.

Pilgrims attempting to board a train to the same event at a New Delhi railway station were also caught in a stampede that killed over a dozen people.

In yet another incident in May, eleven people, including two children, who had come for a victory parade of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Royal Challengers Bengaluru died in a stampede.
A man has died after suffering cardiac arrest onboard a boat attempting to reach the UK.

The vessel turned back towards Equihen beach on the French coast yesterday morning.

A nurse tried to resuscitate the man but was unsuccessful.

French authorities have now launched an investigation into the circumstances.

A spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, has criticised authorities on both sides of the Channel.

Jacob Burns said: "Yet again we have a tragedy in the Channel, that is the consequence of the deadly, costly and ineffective security policies implemented by the UK and France."

Later on Saturday, a lifeboat carried migrants who have made the voyage into the Port of Dover.

Photographs showed them huddled under blankets and orange life jackets on board.

Read more from Sky News:

Israel resumes airdrops into Gaza

11 stabbed at US supermarket

Provisional statistics from the Home Office suggest almost 24,000 people have arrived on small boats in the UK so far this year.

Towns and cities across the UK have seen protests in recent days, primarily outside hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers.
From the spot: Bruno Fernandes puts Man United ahead after five minutes (Manchester United via Getty Imag)

Bruno Fernandes bagged a brace to help Man United to a 2-1 pre-season win over West Ham on Saturday night.

The Portuguese, so often Uniteds saviour last season, was again at the forefront in New Jersey as he scored on either side of the break to cancel out Jarrod Bowens second-half effort.

Both sides are looking to bounce back from underwhelming 2024-25 campaigns, but it was United who looked the more likely to climb the table as they ran out deserving victors in New Jersey.

Ruben Amorim has waited patiently for pre-season to cement his tactical philosophy, which finally seems to be taking root among the United squad.

They were promptly rewarded for a spell of early pressure. Alphonse Areola challenged for a high ball with just a few minutes played and fumbled, dropping it into the path of Ayden Heaven before tripping the 18-year-old as he scrambled to recover. Fernandes dispatched the resultant penalty coolly to score Uniteds first goal of pre-season.

Amad Diallo thought he had doubled Uniteds advantage with 38 minutes played as he finished from Manuel Ugartes pass, which was preceded by a mazy dribble, but the Ivorian was flagged narrowly offside in the build-up.

Through the rest of the half, United did the bulk of their work off the ball, but still enjoyed the better chances. Out of possession, they kept West Ham pinned for long stretches with a high-energy press, winning the ball in dangerous areas on several occasions.

They were not clinical with their possession, though, with both Matheus Cunha and Fernandes lashing speculative long-range efforts into the stands before the break.

Similar could be said of the Hammers, who finished the half with 57 per cent possession and showed off some snappy passing moves, but a close-range header from Tomas Soucek cushioned into the hands of Altay Bayindir was their best chance of the half.

United started the second period at pace, forcing two good saves from Areola. He was quick off his line to deny Fernandes a one-on-one, before a full-stretch save was required to deny a De Ligt header moments later.

Fernandes would not be denied twice, though. He found himself in plenty of space on the edge of the box and nonchalantly curled a shot into the top corner to double Uniteds lead, leaving Areola flat-footed.

As energy faded from the tie, Bowen produced a moment of brilliance. Tomas Soucek found him in the wide space, and the Hammers captain skipped past Heaven before hitting a tidy finish beyond Bayindir to halve the deficit.

Amorim introduced ten pairs of fresh legs with 25 minutes to play, handing a cameo to the newly signed Diego Leon in a blend of first-team regulars and academy hopefuls.

While United pressed with renewed vigour following the shuffle, the rhythm of the match was disrupted by the changes, and there was no change to the scoreline as the clock wound down despite Bowen forcing another strong save from Bayindir.

There are plenty of positives for both managers to take. Cunha was impressive again in his second United outing, while West Ham displayed strong foundations for Potter to build on ahead of the new campaign.

United return to action on Thursday, facing Bournemouth in Chicago, while West Ham take on Everton in their next Summer Series outing.
Emergency services respond to the scene in Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday. Photograph: Jan-Michael Stump/AP

At least 11 people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City, with six people in a critical condition, Michigan authorities said.

At about 4.45pm on Saturday, a 42-year-old man allegedly entered the store and used a folding knife to stab 11 people, the Grand Traverse county sheriffs office said, adding that it appeared to have been a random act of violence.

A sheriffs deputy arrived within minutes and took the man into custody. People in the store helped apprehend the suspect and treat victims, the sheriffs office said.

Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders gathered in the parking lot of the shopping centre, which houses several other retail stores.

Authorities also were seen interviewing employees, still wearing blue uniform vests and name tags, as the response gave way to an investigation.

Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles (40km) from Traverse City, said she was in the stores parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.

It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out, she said.

Related: Group confronted suspect who stabbed 11 at a Michigan Walmart, video shows

Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the regions largest hospital in northern Michigan. A spokesperson said six people were critical and five were in serious condition late on Saturday.

The hospital requested patience and understanding from the public as our emergency department is currently experiencing a higher than usual volume of patients.



Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding knife. The suspect in custody was believed to be a Michigan resident.



The Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer, posted on social media that she was aware of the incident and in touch with law enforcement.

Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence, she said. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.



Walmart said it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders, a statement said.



Traverse City is about 255 miles (410km) north-west of Detroit and is a popular holiday spot on the coast of Lake Michigan.
A 17-year-old boy is under investigation for alleged corruption of minors (PA Archive)

Spanish police said on Sunday they were investigating a 17-year-old on suspicion of using artificial intelligence to deepfake nude images of female classmates for sale.

Sixteen young women at an educational institute in Valencia, in southeastern Spain, complained about the AI-generated images of them which were circulating on social media and online.

In December, a teenage girl complained to police that AI-generated video and faked photos resembling her "completely naked" were posted on a social media account started under her name.

Photos of various people, all of them minors, appeared on this account. All these photos had been modified from the originals, which had been manipulated so that the people in them appeared completely naked, the Spanish Civil Guard said in a statement on Sunday.

A 17-year-old boy is under investigation for alleged corruption of minors.

The Spanish government said in March said it would put forward a law to treat such deepfaked sexual imagery created by AI without consent as a crime but the bill has so far not been passed by parliament.

In September 2023, Spain was shocked when 15 minors in Extremadura, in southwest Spain, were investigated for using AI to produce fake naked images of their female schoolmates. They were later sentenced to a year's probation.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Government is preparing to launch a far-reaching Urban State Land Management Policy aimed at stamping out rampant land corruption, controlling illegal settlements, and ensuring orderly, sustainable urban development as cities rapidly expand across Zimbabwe.Spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the draft policy signals a decisive shift in the country's approach to urban land governance. It comes in response to growing public outrage over the activities of land barons, weak regulatory enforcement, and the unchecked growth of informal settlements that lack basic infrastructure such as roads, water, and sewerage systems.The new framework builds on findings from the Justice Uchena Commission on the Sale of Urban State Land, which exposed deep-seated flaws in how urban land is allocated and managed. The commission found that much of the land had been illegally parcelled out by politically connected individuals, often without proper engineering plans or environmental assessments. This has led to unregulated sprawl, land speculation, and the erosion of public confidence in municipal authorities.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Dr John Basera, described the policy as a product of collective effort and a cornerstone for Zimbabwe's development ambitions under Vision 2030. He said the policy is a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together a broad range of stakeholders to shape a more effective and sustainable urban land management framework.The policy's primary objectives include improving public health and safety through properly planned settlements, eliminating fraudulent land deals, and strengthening institutional coordination to ensure land is allocated fairly and cities grow in an orderly fashion. It will also see the establishment of dedicated urban state land management offices at provincial and district levels to drive implementation and ensure compliance with national urban planning standards.To support its implementation, the policy outlines a clear strategy for government coordination and enforcement, including the creation of inter-ministerial task forces and technical committees. It also includes a fair and transparent compensation framework for residents affected by development-induced displacement, as well as provisions to bring in private sector investment for critical infrastructure development.The urgency of the policy is underscored by recent revelations from Harare City Council, which estimates that more than 100,000 houses in and around the capital have been constructed irregularly. In testimony before the Justice Maphios Cheda Commission of Inquiry into the governance of Harare, the council's principal housing officer, Mr Edgar Dzehonye, said councillors have become central players in the proliferation of illegal settlements. He alleged that land barons now operate with the protection of certain councillors, who serve as conduits for shielding them from legal consequences and evictions.The Government believes that if fully implemented, the new policy will finally put an end to years of chaotic urban expansion and restore the integrity of the country's urban planning systems. It is also expected to usher in a new era of transparent governance in local authorities, promote investment in urban infrastructure, and reinforce the broader national vision of achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Russian tourists are returning to Europe in growing numbers, despite the war in Ukraine, with France, Italy and Spain their favoured holiday destinations.

The three travel hotspots are all Nato and EU members and have imposed sanctions on Moscow.

Hotel stays by Russians in Italy and France surged by more than 19 per cent in the past year, which Ukrainian diplomats branded disturbing and a security risk.

But France, which spearheads the coalition of the willing nations supporting Ukraine with Britain, defends keeping borders open to rich Russian tourists, as does Italy.

The trend was revealed by Telegraph analysis of data on hotel room stays and rentals on websites such as booking.com and Airbnb, and of visas issued to the EUs Schengen free-movement zone.

Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraines ambassador to the EU, warned that ignoring the returning Russians would be short-sighted and dangerous.

He told the Telegraph: In the fourth year of Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, it is extremely surprising to see statistics showing an increase in the number of visas issued to Russian citizens and a growth in tourist traffic from Russia to EU countries.

We know that Russian society overwhelmingly supports the war. Moreover, it prefers to think that Russia is at war with the West and not with Ukraine, where the Russian army commits war crimes on massive scale.

Russian society overwhelmingly supports the war, says Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraines ambassador to the EU - Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters

He added: With increasing number of Russias cyberattacks against EU member states, acts of sabotage and all sort of hybrid activities aimed at undermining European democracies, it is disturbing that Russian citizens can easily enjoy the benefits of travelling to Europe.

Continuing to ignore this reality is short-sighted. Its a matter of European security.

Fires in warehouses known to be part of logistical supply chains have taken place across Europe, including in Britain, while there have also been reports of sabotaged train tracks.

In the past, Russian spies posing as diplomats would be linked to these incidents, but since the 2018 poisoning of the Skripals, Moscow is known to also deploy agents on tourist visas.

Stop EU visas for Russians

Sir William Browder is an American-born English financier turned anti-Putin activist and campaigner. He urged France, Italy and Spain to stop issuing visas to Russians.

Unless the Russians can demonstrate in a visa interview that theyre opposed to the Putin regime, they shouldnt be allowed to come to Europe, he said.

European capitals have hit the Kremlin with waves of sanctions since Putin launched his illegal invasion in 2022.

Both Britain and the EU closed their airspace to Russian airlines, triggering a drop in tourist numbers. There are still dozens of routes to Europe through Turkey, Georgia, Serbia and other countries.

In order to get to Rome, for example, a Russian tourist would have to stop over in Turkey or the UAE and switch flights.

The additional costs put the trip out of the reach of most ordinary Russians, but those that do make it to Europe also face difficulties because of the sanctions, which means their bank cards dont work.

However, Istanbuls Ataturk airport is brimming with currency exchanges where Russians can swap roubles for euros to sustain their visits to Europe.

Russians can easily swap roubles for euros at Istanbuls Ataturk airport currency exchanges - Evren Kalinbacak/iStockphoto

There are many Russians who support the war, and particularly the Russians who have money, Sir William said.

What we absolutely dont want to do is allow these Russians to enjoy the privileges and resources of Europe, while at the same time theyre supporting Putins war efforts.

Europe should be open for people in the Russian opposition who are being persecuted, but no visa should be issued to Russian oligarchs or mini-garchs and others who support Putin, and I think we should err on the side of non visa issuance in that respect.

He said refusing visas would put pressure on Putins regime and lessen the security risk posed by Russias hybrid war against the West.

Sanctions undermined

Sir William said EU governments had to be consistent because if one country grants a Schengen visa, the supposed tourist can travel anywhere in the passport-free zone.

Western governments have been reluctant to issue outright travel bans, except in the case of sanctioned individuals such as Putins cronies and apparatchiks.

In contrast, the Baltic nations and pro-Ukraine countries bordering Ukraine and Russia stopped issuing tourist visas to Russia or heavily restricted their numbers.

Jan Lipavsky, foreign minister of the Czech Republic, accused those welcoming Russian holidaymakers of undermining the EUs sanctions against Moscow in return for wealthy tourists cash.

He told The Telegraph, It is deeply troubling to see some EU countries returning to business as usual with Russian tourists while Ukraine continues to suffer under brutal aggression.

Czechia has taken a principled stance  we do not process any tourist visa applications and we believe this should be the standard across the European Union.

Countries welcoming Russian holidaymakers are accused of undermining sanctions against Moscow in return for tourism cash - Kevin Coombs/Reuters

Mr Lipavsky said the numbers of tourists coming to the EU last year was totally excessive and raised serious concerns not only from a security standpoint, but also from a moral one.

He said, At such volumes, we cannot rule out the possibility that individuals complicit in war crimes are among those vacationing in our resorts. That is unacceptable.

He added, I also see that some countries have a self-interested motive  they want the income from Russian tourism. Its not just about visa fees; its about money spent on hotels, shopping, tickets and so on. Russians are known to spend a lot.

This undermines the credibility of our sanctions regime and sends a confusing message about our values.

Lifeline for dissidents

Andrei Soldatov is a senior fellow with the Center for European Policy Analysis think tank and a Russian investigative journalist specialising in the activities of the Kremlins secret services.

He said the visas were valuable for dissidents and families that wanted to visit them abroad.

He said, it is a problem which doesnt have a simple solution. These are also the countries which help people with anti-Kremlin views move out.

To make it safe for these people one needs to hide their applications in a stream of other applications. One cannot really expect a Russian dissident to come to a foreign embassy for a dissident visa, given the high level of repression in the country.

Popular locations

Across the EU, visitor numbers are just a tenth of what they were in 2019, before the pandemic and the invasion, but this varies substantially across the bloc.

In 2024, just six EU countries saw an increase in guest nights booked by Russians via websites such as Airbnb, according to figures from Eurostat.

Italy saw the largest increase of 18.9 per cent, with 321,678 guest nights across the year, the highest in Europe.

France remains the third most popular location for Russian tourists with 203,072 guest nights per year, which is an increase of 7.8 per cent - the fourth highest spike in Europe.

Spain is second at 259,068 guest nights, down 3.6 per cent from the previous year, according to the figures obtained from the EUs statistics agency.

There was a rise of 13 per cent in the number of nights booked by Russians in Hungary, which has a government that is notoriously soft on Putin.

The UK, whose data differs slightly from the EUs, would rank seventh on the list for Russia visitors after Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus.

Unlike France and Italy, Britain saw its visitor numbers fall by around 1.3 per cent year-on-year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

Other statistics, which look at nights across hotels rather than Airbnb-style websites, suggest that France is hosting 27 per cent of the level it was in 2019, compared to just 9.8 per cent in the United Kingdom.

The UK has always required Russian tourists to apply for visas, including when it was part of the EU. It never joined Schengen.

Schengen members also require that Russians obtain visas. There was an agreement, which made it faster and cheaper to obtain those tourist visas to enter the EU but it was suspended after Putin invaded Ukraine.

Analysis of Schengen area visas also showed that Italy and France were leading the tourism rapprochement with Russia.

Italy issued 152,254 Schengen area visas at its two Russian consulates last year, which was almost 19,000 more than in 2023.

France issued a total of 123, 890, according to European Commission figures, 25,000 more than the year before. Spain issued 111,527, an increase of 15,000.

Figures first reported by the EU Observer website showed a rebound in Schengen visas for Russians with 552,630 issued in total last year, an increase of nine per cent. Greece issued 59,703 visas and Hungary 23,382.

Rome and Paris unrepentant

Italy continues to regularly issue visas to Russian tourists who meet our requirements, A spokesman for Antonio Tajani, the Italian minister of foreign affairs and deputy prime minister, said.

Our opposition is to the Russian armys military operations in Ukraine, not to the Russian people.

The Elysee was presented with the statistics but did not respond to requests for comment. France has previously defended issuing visas to Russians.

People-to-people relations and cultural ties can play a positive role in fostering mutual understanding and dialogue between populations, the French foreign affairs ministry told EU Observer.

We work hard at maintaining a differentiation between the regime responsible for the war and the population, its civil society, and the opposition, it said.

It is essential to maintain this window, to enable Russian society to get access to a plurality of reliable sources of information.

Italy says their opposition is to the Russian armys actions in Ukraine, not to the Russian people - Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters

The British and Spanish government were asked for comment.

The European Commission said the EU had taken unprecedented action to convince Russia to stop its unjust and unprovoked aggression.

As well as suspending the Visa Facilitation Agreement, it issued guidance to member states to deprioritise visas for Russians and focus on security and border control. This includes extra security checks.

A spokeswoman said:The Commission guidelines have had a significant impact on the number of visas issued to Russian nationals.

Visas issued to Russians dropped from 27 per cent of total visas in 2019 to just five per cent in January to August 2024. That year, Visa refusals rose to 7.5 per cent from 1.5 per cent.

In absolute terms, the number of visas issued has dropped from 4m to 500,000, the spokeswoman added.

Eurostat, the EUs statistics body, has collected data on the number of guest nights spent in collaborative economy platforms, which includes sites such as Airbnb and Expedia since 2018.

The UKs Office for National Statistics has collected similar data since mid-2023, meaning pre-invasion figures are not available and there might be minor methodological differences between the two bodies.

Data on broader hotel stays across Europe have not been updated for the entirety of Europe in 2024.

Additional reporting by Josephine McKenna, Henry Samuel, James Badcock and Kieran Kelly
Sarina Wiegman to keep on dancing after chaotic and ridiculous Euro 2025 win

England boss Sarina Wiegman promised to do some more dancing after the Lionesses completed their third successive comeback to defend their European crown with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Spain in Basel.

Substitute Chloe Kelly, whose extra-time winner at Wembley secured the Lionesses their first major trophy three summers ago, was once again the hero, coolly converting in the shootout with the World Cup holders following a 1-1 extra-time stalemate.

Wiegman has now led teams  first the Netherlands, now England  to the trophy at the last three European Championships, though none, admitted the Dutchwoman, was more chaotic and ridiculous as this.

Im very happy, said Wiegman. I actually cant believe it myself. It was like, how can it happen? but it happened. I am so incredibly proud of the team and the staff.

Wiegman was spotted busting a move after Kelly once again rose to the highest occasion, and plans to keep letting loose  perhaps to the chagrin of her phone, which twice reminded the England boss during her post-match press conference that she was due a workout.

Ill do some more dancing, said Wiegman. And Ill have a drink, but I dont think I will drink as much as the players.

Englands record at the Euros (PA Graphics)

Though the Lionesses insisted they had moved on, Sundays triumph also avenged the 2023 World Cup final, where England were beaten by Spain 1-0 in Sydney in their first global showpiece final.

Spain were first-time finalists in this competition but the favourites, and came one step closer to the title when Arsenals Mariona Caldentey nodded home a 25th-minute opener.

But Kelly teed up Russo for a header of her own and 57th-minute equaliser, while two spectacular saves by Hannah Hampton in the shootout opened the door for Kelly to write more history as the Lionesses became the first senior English football team to lift a major trophy on foreign soil.

Englands Chloe Kelly celebrates with the trophy (Nick Potts/PA)

I must admit that this is the most chaotic and ridiculous tournament we have played, Wiegman added.

Every time we could come back, in the quarter-final and the semi-final and the final, we came from behind. Of course we have players that have talents, and the togetherness of this team is really, really incredible, but also the belief that we can come back.

The players say we can win by any means, and we just never, ever give up.

Englands title defence was hanging by a thread following their 2-1 opening defeat to France, but group stage victories over the Netherlands then Wales kept their title defence alive.

Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang scored late in their Sweden quarter-final, ultimately setting up a chaotic, error-strewn shootout, won by Bronze with Englands seventh try.

It took Kellys extra-time winner from off the bench in their Italy semi-final to book their place in the Spain showdown  after 19-year-old standout Michelle Agyemang had netted another incredible equaliser.

England manager Sarina Wiegman collects her medal (Peter Byrne/PA)

Even before her heroics in Basel, Kelly, at these Euros, had come in with the joint-most chances created (eight) and most successful crosses (10) of any substitute in a single tournament since Opta started analysing major womens tournaments in 2011.

And while Wiegman conceded there had been moments in this campaign  and particularly the Sweden and Italy matches  Sundays comeback was never in doubt.

Asked if there was a moment her belief had wavered, Wiegman replied: To be honest, tonight, I didnt.
The accident happened in Riedlingen just after 6pm on Sunday - Thomas Warnack

At least three people were killed and others seriously injured after a regional passenger train carrying around 100 people derailed in southern Germany.

The crash happened in Riedlingen just after 6pm on Sunday. Its cause was still being investigated on Sunday night and the exact number of injured was unclear.

The accident occurred at around 6.10pm (5.10pm GMT) near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg state, a police spokesman said. The Reutlingen control centre nearby called it a mass casualty incident.

The passenger train was travelling from the German town of Sigmaringen to the city of Ulm when at least two train carriages derailed in a wooded area.

Footage from the scene of the accident showed yellow and grey train carriages lying on their sides, as firefighters and emergency services were trying to gain access to the passengers.

Rail replacement services were set up and at least four helicopters were deployed to the scene, as well as emergency reinforcements that came from the neighbouring state of Bavaria.

Thomas Strobl, the interior minister of Baden-Wuerttemberg, drove to the scene of the accident after he learnt about the news.

He told the Bild newspaper: At the moment, we have to mourn three deaths. In addition, several dozen injured, including several seriously injured. All passengers from the wagons have been brought to safety. But now wagons need to be lifted to make sure no one is under the train.

Friedrich Merz, Germanys chancellor, said he was in close contact with the interior minister and transport minister.

He said: The train accident in the district of Biberach upsets me. We mourn for the victims. I express my sympathy to their relatives.

Rescue workers searched the wreckage of the train in which three people and several dozen people were injured - Thomas Warnack

Rescue workers searched the wreckage of the train in which three people and several dozen people were injured

Patrick Schnieder, the federal transport minister, said: The situation on site was shocking.

We are in close contact with the railway and are providing support wherever we can. My thoughts are with the injured, their families, and rescue workers.

Train accidents of this seriousness are rare in Germany, though the countrys railways have become increasingly beset by delays and disruptions.

Around 35 per cent of state-owned railway company Deutsche Bahns trains have arrived late in the first half of this year. The problem has reached such a level that Switzerland suspended trains to the border city Basel, citing chaos caused by the lateness.

Richard Lutz, the chief executive of Deutsche Bahn, told the dpa news agency: Punctuality was lower in the second quarter because of equipment malfunctions and unplanned construction work.
Archaeologists excavating the Ibero-Roman town of Castulo have uncovered evidence of an apparent Jewish presence. Photograph: Francisco Arias

Seventeen centuries after they last burned, a handful of broken oil lamps could shed light on a small and long-vanished Jewish community that lived in southern Spain in the late Roman era as the old gods were being snuffed out by Christianity.

Archaeologists excavating the Ibero-Roman town of Castulo, whose ruins lie near the present-day Andalucian town of Linares, have uncovered evidence of an apparent Jewish presence there in the late fourth or early fifth century AD.

As well as three fragments of oil lamps decorated with menorahs and a roof tile bearing a five-branched menorah, they have also come across a piece of the lid of a cone-shaped jar bearing a Hebrew graffito. While experts are split over whether the engraving reads light of forgiveness or Song to David, its very existence points to a previously unknown Jewish population in the town, which eventually fell into decay and abandonment 1,000 years later.

The discovery of the materials has led the team to consider whether the ruins of a nearby building, assumed to be an early Christian basilica dating from the fourth century AD, could perhaps have been a synagogue where Castulos Jewish community came to worship.

When the site of the supposed church was first excavated between 1985 and 1991, archaeologists assumed it was a Christian edifice. During the 2012-2013 [dig], we found the roof tile with the five-armed [menorah], said Bautista Ceprian, one of the archaeologists working on the Andalucian regional governments Castulo Sefarad, Primera Luz project, which aims to uncover the towns Jewish history. Until that moment, we didnt know that there could have been a very small Jewish community in Castulo.

In a recently published paper, Ceprian and his colleagues David Exposito Mangas and Jose Carlos Ortega Diez consider the possibility that the church could in fact have been a synagogue.

They argue that the lack of Christian materials in the site, combined with an absence of evidence of burials or religious relics  which would normally be expected in a Christian church of the era  could point to its use as a Jewish temple. A nearby baptistry, in contrast, has already yielded Christian finds and burials. Jewish religious law, however, forbids burials within 50 cubits (23m) of a residential area.

When we looked at the interior of the building a little more closely, there were some strange things for a church; there was something that could have been the hole for a big menorah, said Ceprian. Its also strange that this building doesnt have any tombs.

The authors also point to the sites architectural features, such as its layout, which is reminiscent of some synagogues found in Palestine.

Synagogues of that time could be more square in shape than Christian basilicas because in Jewish worship, theres usually a central bimah [raised platform], which people sit around, said Ceprian. In a church, the priest performs the rituals in the apse, which means things are more rectangular.

Then there is the location of the possible synagogue; it would have sat in an isolated part of town near a ruined Roman bathhouse that would have been feared and hated by the local bishops.

The Roman baths were the last pagan place that remained in a city, said Ceprian. It was something diabolical and therefore something that had to be outside the Christian world. It seems to be the case that the baths in Castulo had already been closed by the end of the fourth century, or the beginning of the fifth century.

He argues that the synagogues location, so close to a font of paganism, would have helped the local Christian hierarchy in its efforts to conflate Judaism with unholy practices: The Jews would have had few options and at that moment its clear that its the bishops who are fundamentally organising the town  and it would allow them to relate Jews with evil.

If the researchers theories were to be confirmed, the Castulo synagogue would be among the very oldest Jewish temples on the Iberia peninsula. Spains handful of surviving original synagogues are mainly medieval. The most recently discovered synagogue, in the Andalucian city of Utrera, dates from the 1300s.

The problem for Ceprian and his colleagues  as they acknowledge  is the lack of written historical corroboration. Im sure there will be criticism, which is totally legitimate  thats how science works and how it has to work, he said. But of course we believe weve provided data with enough seriousness to allow ourselves to posit it.

Whether the building was a church or a synagogue, those digging up Castulo have uncovered evidence of what would appear to be a small Jewish community living, if only for a while, in peaceful coexistence with their Christian neighbours. As the centuries wore on and the church propagated the otherness of Spains Jewish inhabitants in order to forge and galvanise a Christian identity, there were pogroms and, finally, the expulsion of the countrys Jewish population in 1492.

It shows us that there was a good coexistence between all the different social groups or faith groups that were there at that time, said Ceprian. But later, from the time when the Christian church begins to grow stronger in the Roman government, you start to get powerful groups opposed to those who are weaker in society. Oddly, thats something thats happening now, too.
Kemi Badenoch has offered to work with the Labour government in the national interest to tackle the militant doctors strike  but only if Keir Starmer reverses a key election pledge.

With resident doctors  previously called junior doctors  in the middle of a five-day strike over their demand for a 29 per cent pay rise, the Tory leader has warned that people are going to die as a result.

And speaking to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News, she said the government needs to go back on its plans to scrap the minimum service guarantee during strikes which the previous Conservative government brought in to tackle striking doctors.

She also wants the government to ban doctors from going on strike in the same category as the police and military.

Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch wants doctors to be banned from striking, like the police (PA Wire)

The row comes at a difficult time for the government with health secretary Wes Streeting facing a legal challenge from physician associates after he limited their roles at the same time as doctors going on strike.

But Ms Badenochs remarks have provoked fury among trade unions who have pushed the government to stick to its workers rights package.

They have also fuelled anger over the way Tory and Lib Dem peers are holding up the workers rights legislation in the House of Lords with more than 600 amendments proposed.

The bill is at its third and final reading with peers when they come back from the summer recess but looks set to be amended and sent back to the Commons for a rethink. There are fears that the delay by so-called ping pong between the two houses of parliament will mean that the package may not be implemented for months.

It is understood that before the election, chancellor Rachel Reeves had been in favour of watering down the workers rights package which is being pushed through by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner. However, a last-ditch meeting with union leaders, Sir Keir Starmer and Ms Rayner before the manifesto launch saw the plan restored as a priority.

In her comments, Ms Badenoch made it clear that there will be a push to remove the part of the bill which will take away the minimum service guarantee.

She said: We need to bring this sort of strike action by doctors to an end. The Conservative Party is happy to work with Labour in the national interest, versus the BMA, which has become increasingly militant.

We need to introduce minimum service levels. Thats something that we brought in when we were in government. I did that as business secretary. Labour scrapped that. But this is the 11th strike that were seeing since 2023.

She pointed out that doctors had a 28 per cent pay rise last year, calling their demands for 29 per cent this year unrealistic.

Doctors on the picket line (AFP/Getty)

Ms Badenoch added: What we need to look at is, who suffers. The last set of strikes meant that patients died. People die when these strikes happen. Its not a joke. And I dont think that Labour know how to negotiate.

Speaking later on the programme, BMA chair Dr Tom Dolphin insisted doctors do not want to strike.

He repeated the line that the dispute is about pay restoration because they have lost a fifth in the value of their salaries. And he warned that doctors are leaving the country to find better pay elsewhere.

He said the problem was that the government this time is insisting on senior doctors carrying out pre-planned operations during the strikes when they should be covering emergency care instead.

He said: Senior doctors cant be in two places at once. They cant both be looking after the planned-care patients and also looking after the emergencies. So of course, theyre going to go and look after the emergencies because theyre an emergency, and planned-care patients are going to end up being cancelled on the day.

Mr Streeting has blasted the BMA for trying to hold the country to ransom.

But unions warned the government against taking up Ms Badenochs offer and watering down workers rights legislation.

A TUC spokesperson said: Attacking the right to strike is not the way to resolve disputes  it will just escalate tensions.

Not one single employer has used minimum service levels since they were introduced under the last Conservative government  employers know they are unworkable and would poison industrial relations.

What is needed here is a negotiated settlement  not the Tory leader cynically and opportunistically stirring the pot.

Meanwhile, the physicians associates union UMAPs has sent Mr Streeting a pre-action letter notifying them of an intended judicial review claim. This comes after a decision to limit physician associate contracts following recommendations made in a review by Professor Gillian Leng which raised safety concerns because of a lack of qualifications.

They point out that physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs) had previously carried out 20 million appointments a year and limiting their scope has played into the hands of striking doctors.

Stephen Nash, general secretary of UMAPs, said: It is hard to see Mr Streetings decision as anything other than an attempt to mollify the increasingly radical BMA, which has spent the last few years waging a vindictive and highly coordinated campaign against medical associates.

Now he has played right into the BMAs hands, preventing qualified medical professionals from treating patients properly so that their strikes bite even harder.
A 42-year-old man faces terrorism charges in connection with a mass stabbing at a Michigan Walmart that left 11 people hurt.

Bradford James Gilley was identified as the suspect by authorities a day after the random attack at the center in Traverse City. Munson Healthcare, which was treating the victims, said one patient was treated and released, two were in serious condition and the rest were in fair condition.

One of the victims was identified as a Walmart employee. The victims were both men and women, and ranged in age from 21 to 84.

Weve have seen encouraging signs of recovery among our patients, hospital spokesperson Megan Brown said, according to the Associated Press.

Gilley faces 11 counts of assault with intent to murder and one terrorism charge. He is being held at Grand Traverse County Jail, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Mike Shea said during a Sunday press conference.

A 42-year-old man is accused of stabbing 11 people at a Michigan Walmart. (AP)

Michigan State Police said the sheriffs office was investigating, though current details on the suspects motivation remained limited. Authorities said Gilley entered the store Saturday afternoon and began to randomly stab shoppers.

Gilley was quickly subdued by some brave shoppers, including one who was armed, before authorities took him into custody. Walmart employees told Channel 2 NOW that no shots were fired during the exchange.

Shea, the sheriff, said the quick actions of bystanders likely saved lives.

I cannot command everyone that was involved enough. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute, Shea said. That is remarkable. When you look at it in that mitigated Lord knows how many additional victims.

Steven Carter was loading his truck outside Walmart when he saw a man cut a womans throat with a knife.

Bradford James Gilley faces 11 counts of assault with intent to murder and one terrorism charge, authorities said. (AP)

Carter told the Associated Press that within five minutes, the suspect was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group continually yelled at the man to drop the knife, Carter said, as the man reportedly replied, I dont care, I dont care.

Eventually, the man was tackled and subdued by one of the bystanders, Carter said.

At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack, said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.

Another witness, Tiffany DeFell, 36, described the chaotic scene as being like something you see out of the movies.

It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out, she said. This is something you see out of the movies. Its not what you expect to see where youre living.

The weapon used in the attacks appeared to be a folding-style knife, Shea said, noting the stabbings started near the stores checkout counter and the victims were not predetermined.

Authorities said the man used a folding-style knife in the random attack (AP)

A statement from Walmart said violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders (AP)

Im in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on social media. Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also announced that FBI agents were on the scene to assist local law enforcement.

Walmart corporate spokesperson Joe Pennington said that the company was working with police and defer questions to them right now.

A later statement from the company read: Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and were thankful for the swift action of first responders.
Amber McNulty, 43, is accused of fatally shooting a 75-year-old woman at an apartment complex as the victim picked up aluminum cans. (Houston police)

A woman faces a murder charge after the fatal shooting of a 75-year-old woman who was collecting aluminum cans at a Houston apartment complex, police said.

Amber McNulty, 43, was charged with murder on July 24 in connection to the July 15 shooting.

She was initially charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Around 11:15 a.m. on July 15, Houston police responded to a shooting at an apartment complex on Griggs Road. When officers arrived, they found 75-year-old Linda Edwards with multiple gunshot wounds.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Amber McNulty, 43, is accused of fatally shooting a 75-year-old woman at an apartment complex as the victim picked up aluminum cans. (Houston police)

Edwards was known for collecting cans that had been set out for her on an apartment porch by a resident, police said. McNulty lived in the apartment and saw Edwards gathering the cans. She put on an armored vest, grabbed the gun and started firing through a window at the victim.

Edwards claimed that she felt she was in danger and was trying to protect herself, authorities noted.

Police detained McNulty at the scene while it was being investigated. This week, authorities announced the murder charge against McNulty..

She is now being held at the Harris County jail.

An anonymous neighbor told KPRC in Houston that she called 911 after the shooting.

She shot that woman cold blooded, the unnamed neighbor told the outlet. I heard something like pow, pow, pow, pow. Then I jumped on the floor. Next thing I know, it got real quiet.
Tadej Pogacar sealed victory by finishing in Paris (REUTERS)

Tadej Pogacar celebrated his fourth Tour de France title in Paris but was denied what would have been a stunning final stage victory as Wout van Aert rode away on the wet cobbles of Montmartre to win on the Champs-Elysees.

Pogacar looked keen to take what could prove to be a unique opportunity to win in yellow in Paris as the introduction of three ascents of the climb to Montmartre reshaped the usual final day procession, but Van Aert broke clear on the last time up to take the glory.

Although the general classification times had been neutralised in the soggy conditions, Pogacar still had to finish to secure his title yet was willing to risk it all on the greasy cobbles in pursuit of a fifth stage win of this Tour.

The Slovenian attacked each time up the narrow climb to whittle down a leading group to just a handful of riders, but had no response when Van Aert made his move 400 metres from the summit of the final ascent, winning solo by 19 seconds from Davide Ballerini.

Wout van Aert won stage 21 of the Tour de France (REUTERS)

It was a special day out, said Van Aert, who took his 10th career stage win at the Tour and first since 2022. It is really special to win here on the Champs-Elysees once again and on the first occasion we climbed to Montmartre.

Tadej Pogacar celebrated with his teammates after safely finishing the race (AP)

The rain made it quite sketchy but I managed to stay upright. I had the full support of my team and I really have to thank them, to keep believing in me over and over again...

Going into the last climb, to leave it all out there was our plan and it worked.

Pogacar sat up to safely bring home the yellow jersey and beat his rival Jonas Vingegaard by a final margin of four minutes and 24 seconds, moving level with Chris Froome on four titles, one shy of the record jointly held by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and Jacques Anquetil.

I'm just speechless to win a fourth Tour de France, six years in a row on the podium," the 26-year-old Pogacar said. This one feels especially amazing and I'm super proud I can wear this yellow jersey.

Pogacar had been in the running for a famous victory on the Champs-Elysees (AFP via Getty Images)

I found myself in the front even though I didn't really have the energy to motivate myself to race today. I was really happy they neutralised the times in the GC, then it was more relaxed to race. I found myself in the front but hats off to Wout, he was incredibly strong.

Pogacar also paid tribute to Vingegaard, his closest challenger, as the pair shared the top two spots on the podium for the fifth Tour in succession. We raised the level of each other much higher, and we push each other to limit to try to beat each other. Battling against Jonas was a tough experience but I must say to him, respect and a big, big congratulations for his fight and incredible race.

German Florian Lipowitz finished third overall, some 11 minutes down on Pogacar and one minute 12 seconds ahead of 22-year-old Scot Oscar Onley who has enjoyed a breakout Tour.

On the 50th anniversary of the first Champs-Elysees finish, the Tour returned to the French capital after last year's enforced absence due to the Olympics. Race organisers had been inspired by those Games to add the climb to this day and were rewarded with a dramatic finish.
Kemi Badenoch has pledged to ban doctors strikes if the Conservatives return to power.

The Tory leader said that her party would introduce primary legislation to block medics from taking widespread industrial action, placing the same restrictions on them that apply to police officers and soldiers.

Thousands of resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, began a five-day walkout on Friday after relations between the Government and British Medical Association (BMA) soured over a dispute about pay.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said the union will not be allowed to hold the country to ransom after receiving a 28.9% pay award over the last three years, the highest across the public sector.

The BMA says that despite this uplift, pay for resident doctors has declined by a fifth since 2008 once inflation is taken into account.

NHS resident doctors outside Bristol Royal Infirmary (Ben Birchall/PA)

On Sunday, the Conservatives said they would introduce minimum service level requirements, which were brought in for some sectors by the previous government and scrapped by Labour, across the health service.

The only people restricted from going on strike in the UK under existing laws are police officers and members of the armed forces.

Mrs Badenoch said: The BMA has become militant, these strikes are going too far, and it is time for action.

Doctors do incredibly important work. Medicine is a vocation, not just a job.

That is why in government we offered a fair deal that supported doctors, but protected taxpayers too.

She said the Tories were making an offer in the national interest, we will work with the Government to face down the BMA to help protect patients and the NHS.

Patients have been urged to attend appointments unless told otherwise while the action is ongoing, with NHS England saying hospitals are aiming to reschedule any cancellations due to strikes within two weeks.

Mr Streeting has warned of a challenging few days for the health service but said we are doing everything we can to minimise harm.

The BMA said the Tory pledge was a desperate intervention from a Conservative Party that spent nearly 15 years failing the NHS  and is now trying to shift blame by attacking the rights of doctors.

The chairman of the unions council, Dr Tom Dolphin, said: Threatening to ban strike action is not the right response for a modern democracy.

Doctors arent militants  theyre professionals sounding the alarm about a health service in crisis. Silencing them wont fix the NHS. Listening to them might.

Patients are having operations or appointments postponed every single day in the NHS due to understaffing and lack of beds, and undervaluing staff contributes to that.

The BMA says it remains ready to respond to any emergency requests for striking doctors to return to work in the event of an unforeseen emergency or mass casualty.

The union has agreed a number of derogations  processes whereby hospitals experiencing the most pressure can ask for some medics to come off picket lines  with NHS England since Friday.

Hospitals including Nottingham City, the Northern General in Sheffield and University Hospital Lewisham and St Georges Hospital in London have been granted such requests.

A Labour source said: Not only did the Tories drive our NHS into the ground, they failed to put patient safety first during strikes, allowing the BMA alone to take decisions on patient safety and cancelling far more scheduled and elective care than they needed to.

They didnt have a grip then and they dont have a clue now.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: We know that previous rounds of strikes caused much wider levels of harm and so this Government is doing things differently.

Working with NHS leaders, weve put in measures to keep as much urgent and planned care available and safe as we possibly can.
Ukrainians clear up debris at the site of a Russian strike on a sports complex in a residential area in Kharkiv, northern Ukraine on 26 July.

Ukrainians clear up debris at the site of a Russian strike on a sports complex in a residential area in Kharkiv, northern Ukraine on 26 July. Photograph: Sergey Kozlov/EPA

Ukrainian drones also hit a railway power supply in the Volgograd region , the administration of the region in Russias south said on Sunday. Air raid alerts were introduced in several other regions in Russias west and south, warning of Ukrainian drone attacks, according to posts by regional officials.

Russias civil aviation authority said it again had to shut down an airport as Ukrainian drones attacked . Rosaviatsia said it suspended flights soon after midnight on Sunday at the airport serving the city of Volgograd , which is the administrative centre of the broader Volgograd region.

Ukraines drone forces were on the attack against Russian strategic targets on Saturday and into Sunday. Drones hit the Signal radio and electronic warfare equipment plant in the Stavropol region , an official from Ukraines SBU security service told Reuters. Two facilities at the Signal plant in the city of Stavropol, about 540km (335 miles) from the Ukrainian border, were damaged. Videos online showed an explosion and a large column of dark smoke rising into the sky. The plant was one of Russias leading producers of electronic warfare equipment, including radar, radio navigation equipment, and remote control radio equipment, the official said. Each such attack stops production processes and reduces the enemys military potential. This work will continue.

Related: The Shahed blitz: can Russian drone onslaught break Ukraines resolve?

Drones again targeted Moscow, said the mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, and an industrial facility in the Penza oblast south-east of the capital, according to the regions governor, Oleg Melnichenko. In the Rostov region, officials said Ukrainian drones killed two people.

Ukraines regions of Dnipro in the south and Sumy in the north-east came under combined rocket and drone attack into Saturday, local officials reported. The head of the Dnipro regional administration, Serhii Lysak, said at least two people died and five were wounded. In the city of Dnipro, a multi-storey building and business were damaged and outside the city a fire engulfed a shopping centre.

In Sumy, the military administration said three people were injured. Russian drones hit a central square in Sumy city, and damaged the building of the regional administration. Kharkiv sustained an intense aerial bombardment with Ukraines state emergency service reporting six people were hurt, including four rescuers wounded in a double tap where a second attack targeted emergency workers trying to help the victims of the first.

According to Ukraines air force, Russia launched 208 drones and 27 missiles overnight into Saturday. It said according to preliminary data, air defences and electronic warfare took down or intercepted 183 drones and 17 missiles, but hits from 10 missiles and 25 drones were recorded in nine locations.

Russias defence ministry claimed its forces had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine: Zelenyi Hai in the Donetsk region and Maliivka just inside the Dnipropetrovsk region. The Ukrainian militarys general staff mentioned Zelenyi Hai as one of several frontline areas that had come under Russian attack 11 times over the past 24 hours. It said Maliivka was one of several villages where 10 Russian attacks had been halted.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, said Ukraines top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had identified Pokrovsk as an area requiring special attention due to constant attack. A military spokesperson, Viktor Trehubov, told national television that Russian forces were attacking Pokrovsk in a small torrent  that simply does not stop. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had recorded successful actions in Sumy. The Reuters news agency, which reported on the developments, could not independently confirm battlefield accounts from either side.

Russias defence ministry on Saturday claimed that it struck military facilities in Ukraine that manufacture components for missile weapons, as well as produce ammunition and explosives. The claim could not be independently verified. Zelenskyy posted that that there can be absolutely no silence in response to such strikes, and Ukrainian long-range drones ensure this. Russian military enterprises, Russian logistics, Russian airports must feel that the Russian war has real consequences for them.

An Indian firm that shipped $1.4m worth of an explosive compound with military uses to Russia said on Saturday that it complies with Indian rules and the substance was for civilian industrial purposes. A Reuters investigation found that HMX, also called octogen, was sent to two Russian explosives manufacturers despite the threat of international sanctions. Ukraines drones have attacked the factory of one of the Russian companies after security services linked it to Russias military.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Pastor Bothwell Phiri, founder and leader of the River of Life International Church in Bulawayo, has once again found himself in legal trouble-this time facing fraud charges in connection with the alleged illegal sale of family properties worth US$40,000.The 57-year-old clergyman, who earlier this year made headlines after reportedly shooting his son in a case of mistaken identity, was arrested alongside his brother-in-law, Peter Brian Juma, on July 14. The two are accused of conspiring to sell two family-owned houses without the consent of the rightful beneficiaries.Phiri and Juma appeared in court in Harare last week before magistrate Ruth Moyo, who granted them US$100 bail each. As part of their bail conditions, the pair were ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to report to their respective police stations every Friday. Their next court appearance is scheduled for August 13.According to court documents, the complainant in the case is Mr. Gerald Juma, who is the biological brother of Peter Juma and brother-in-law to Pastor Phiri. Gerald and Peter are both sons of the late Enock Wilbert Juma, who died in September 2005, leaving behind various properties, including a house at 8 Gooding Road in Paddonhurst, Bulawayo, and another at 114 Sturgess Road in Cranborne, Harare.The family had not yet agreed on how to distribute the properties among all the beneficiaries. Gerald had been entrusted with the title deeds for the Bulawayo house, while Peter held the documents for the Harare property. However, when Gerald became ill in 2011 and left for South Africa for medical treatment, he handed over the Bulawayo deeds to Peter for safekeeping.It is alleged that Phiri and Peter took advantage of this trust and illegally sold both properties for personal gain. Gerald reportedly discovered the transactions years later and filed a police report at Harare Central Police Station on June 13, 2025. The matter was referred to the CID Commercial Crimes Division on June 23.This fresh court case further tarnishes the public image of Pastor Phiri, who has long been regarded as a prominent figure in Bulawayo's religious circles. His ministry came under intense scrutiny in March this year after a shooting incident at his Kumalo home in which his son was injured under disputed circumstances.The ongoing legal woes are casting a long shadow over Pastor Phiri's spiritual leadership, reigniting debates around ethics, accountability, and the personal conduct of influential religious leaders in Zimbabwe.
New signing Viktor Gyokeres watched on as Arsenal beat Newcastle 3-2 in their pre-season meeting in Singapore.

The 27-year-old striker completed his 55million move from Sporting Lisbon to the Gunners on Saturday and was presented to fans at the National Stadium before kick-off on Sunday.

Great to have you with us, Viktor  pic.twitter.com/UTohPE17Ez  Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 27, 2025

One of Newcastles new recruits made his impact on the pitch almost instantly as Anthony Elanga fired the Magpies ahead on his first start for the team after slicing home from Sandro Tonalis low cross.

However, the Gunners struck twice in quick succession when Mikel Merino tucked home into the bottom corner and two minutes later Alex Murphy turned the ball into his own net.

Jacob Murphy equalised for Newcastle after the break with a low finish from outside of the box, but Martin Odegaard snatched victory from the penalty spot in the 84th minute.

Arsenal are back in pre-season action against rivals Tottenham on Thursday, while Newcastle face an all-star K League side on Wednesday.
Many of the big companies that have left California had their roots in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Big companies continue to leave California.

Overall, research shows the number of companies leaving is small.

But the departures include some of the nation's largest companies.

Big companies continue to leave California.

Some executives, including Tesla's Elon Musk and Palantir's Alex Karp, have made it abundantly clear why they left.

"This is the final straw," Musk wrote on X in 2024 after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that barred school staff from informing parents of a student's gender identity.

The number of companies leaving California is small. According to a 2025 report from the Public Policy Institute of California, only 3% of firms in California moved to a different state. However, larger companies are more likely to leave than smaller ones.

Outside of businesses, people, too, have been leaving California at a high rate. US Census data from October 2024 showed nearly 700,000 people left California between 2022 and 2023. Lifestyle and affordability were the main factors for moving elsewhere.

Company relocations are trending upward. Business Insider compiled some of the biggest names so far.

McKesson Corp.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Pharmaceutical giant McKesson left California in 2019. In terms of public companies, only Apple loomed larger in the Bay Area.

Then-CEO John H. Hammergren said that McKesson was moving its headquarters to Las Colinas, Texas (near Dallas) to "improve efficiency, collaboration and cost-competitiveness, while providing an exceptional work environment for our employees."

McKesson remains the highest-ranking Fortune 500 company to leave California in recent years.

Chevron

Chevron's Houston headquarters Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Houston Chronicle via Getty

Oil giant Chevron had deep roots in California, going back to the 1870s when an early predecessor discovered oil north of Los Angeles. That didn't stop the company from moving to Houston in 2024.

Looking back on its move, the energy giant says that California's leaders have taken steps that made it "unappealing."

"While our relocation has very real benefits to our business, we also believe California policymakers have pursued policies that raise costs and consumer prices, creating a hardship for all Californians, especially those who can least afford it," Ross Allen, a spokesperson for Chevron, said in a statement to Business Insider. "These policies have also made California investment unappealing compared with opportunities elsewhere in the US and globally."

Tesla

Tesla's Austin headquarters Brandon Bell/Getty

Like some of his fellow tech CEOs, Elon Musk grew frustrated with the limitations of the Bay area before Tesla left for Austin in 2021.

"There's a limit to how big you can scale in the Bay Area," Musk said at the time.

Before the move, Musk had also clashed with officials over keeping Tesla's Fremont, California, factory open despite COVID-19 orders.

Oracle

Oracle office in Santa Monica, California Richard Vogel/AP

In 2020, Oracle left its longtime home in California. The computer technology giant isn't done moving yet.

Last year, CEO Larry Ellison said the computer technology giant would move its headquarters from Austin, where it had been for less than half a decade, to Tennessee.

"Nashville is a fabulous place to live," Ellison said, according to an Associated Press report. "It's a great place to raise a family. It's got a unique and vibrant culture .... It's the center of the industry we're most concerned about, which is the health care industry."

CBRE

CBRE's logo Illustration by Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty

Global real estate company CBRE monitors the number of companies leaving California. The firm itself left Los Angeles in 2020.

"Designating Dallas as CBRE's global corporate headquarters formalizes how our company has been operating for the past eight years," Lew Horne, head of operations in the Southwest, said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times in 2020.

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab's former San Francisco headquarters Justin Sullivan/Getty

Charles Schwab left for Westlake, Texas, in 2019 after it agreed to buy Omaha-based TD Ameritrade.

Schwab chairman and founder Charles Schwab singled out the business climate in California as motivation for the move: "The costs of doing business here are so much higher than some other place" he told Forbes.

The companies said in a joint statement that their new home would "allow the combined firm to take advantage of the central location of the new Schwab campus."

In 2023, SFGate reported that Schwab further reduced its presence in San Francisco, its former home.

"We've had an extremely positive experience in Texas," a spokesperson from Schwab said in a statement to BI. "From day one, the energy, innovation, and welcoming spirit of North Texas has far exceeded our expectations."

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

HPE CEO Antonio Neri Business Wire/AP

In 2020, Hewlett Packard Enterprise announced it was leaving California, another COVID-19 era departure.

"Houston is also an attractive market for us to recruit and retain talent, and a great place to do business," CEO Antonio Neri said in a statement announcing the move.

Neri praised HPE's new home in Spring, Texas (a Houston suburb), but stressed that the company was not leaving Silicon Valley entirely.

"Our San Jose campus will remain a hub for technological talent and innovation," he said.

Palantir

Alex Karp Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Software giant Palantir left Silicon Valley in 2020. Before the tech company moved, CEO Alex Karp said he had concerns about California.

"I'm pretty happy outside the monoculture in New Hampshire," Karp told Axios in May 2020 when asked if he would move back to California as the COVID-19 pandemic was receding.

Karp said at the time that Palantir was narrowing down its list of future homes, which potentially included Colorado.

Palantir has been in Denver since August 2020.

SpaceX

Elon Musk's SpaceX Starbase is in Boca Chica, Texas. CHANDAN KHANNA/Getty Images

Elon Musk promised to move SpaceX to Texas in 2024, part of a series of announcements that positioned his companies away from California.

In announcing SpaceX's relocation, Musk singled out a California law that forbids schools from requiring staff to inform parents of a student's gender identity.

"This is the final straw," Musk wrote on X in July 2024. "Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas."

AECOM

AECOM CEO Troy Rudd Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP

Global consultancy firm AECOM left Los Angeles in 2021, saying that Texas offered more benefits.

"Dallas has emerged as a US hub for corporate headquarters and a compelling corporate talent magnet, particularly among our peers and public companies in the engineering and consulting sectors," a company spokesperson told The LA Times.

FICO

FICO logo on a smartphone screen. illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images

Financial data analytics firm FICO, officially known as the Fair Isaac Corporation, quietly moved to Bozeman, Montana, sometime in 2021.

The company, best known for its FICO score, previously moved its corporate headquarters from Minneapolis to San Jose in 2013.

It's not entirely clear why FICO left California.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams hits a two-run double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  CJ Abrams had a three-run double against Minnesota All-Star Joe Ryan, Alex Call homered and drove in three runs and Luis Garcia Jr. also went deep as the Washington Nationals beat the Twins 9-3 on Saturday night.

Mitchell Parker (7-10) allowed two runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to win his second straight start for the Nationals. Luis Garcia got four outs, and Jackson Rutledge allowed a run in the eighth before Andrew Chafin closed it out with a scoreless ninth.

Drew Millas went 3 for 4 and had a leadoff single against Ryan in the third before stealing second. Call had an RBI pinch-hit single to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Call was called on to hit with the count 0-2 after Jacob Young was forced to leave when he took a pitch off his right index finger on a bunt that went foul.

Garcia led off the fourth with his eighth home run for a 2-0 lead.

Abrams' three-run double came with nobody out in the fifth after second baseman Brooks Lee dropped a pop-fly in shallow right for an error to load the bases. Ryan (10-5) retired the next three before leaving. He allowed four earned runs and six hits.

Royce Lewis had an RBI single and Ty France had a two-out RBI double to chase Parker in the sixth and cut it to 5-2.

Call led off the seventh with his third homer  an opposite-field shot to right off Justin Topa for a 6-2 lead. Garcia doubled and scored on Josh Bell's single in the eighth. Bell scored on a wild pitch and Call had an RBI fielder's choice for the final runs.

Byron Buxton went 0 for 3 before leaving after six innings with soreness in his left side. He is day to day.

Key moment

Abrams' double came on the first pitch from Ryan following Lee's dropped pop-up and Washington never looked back.

Key stat

Washington's victory evens the all-time series at 13-all.

Up next

Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (7-5, 4.81) starts Sunday. The Twins have not announced a starter.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Arkansas state police are investigating a double homicide in Devils Den State Park and looking for the suspect who is still at large.

A 43-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman were found dead on a walking trail about 2:40 p.m. on July 26, state police said. The case is being investigated as a pair of suspected homicides.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said law enforcement wouldnt rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.

News out of Arkansa

We are heartbroken by todays horrific news from Devils Den State Park and are in close contact with State Police and the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism as they work to apprehend the suspect, Sanders said.

We are praying for the family and friends of the victims, and know that law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice.

The suspect in their deaths was described as a white male wearing dark shorts, a dark tank top and weight-lifting type gloves. He was seen driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan, which may have been a Mazda, with a license plate covered by tape.

The Arkansas State Crime Lab will determine what caused the victims deaths.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Arkansas police investigate double-homicide in Devil's Den State Park
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino vowed on Saturday to uncover the truth in a cryptic post on the social platform X, proclaiming that we cannot run a Republic like this.

Bongino said that he and FBI Director Kash Patel are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations.

It is a priority for us. But what I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core. We cannot run a Republic like this. Ill never be the same after learning what Ive learned, the deputy director wrote.

It is unclear what Bongino was referring to. The Hill has reached out to the FBI for additional comment.

Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and podcaster, was at the center of the debate over the files related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein earlier this month.

The FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a joint, unsigned memo that Epstein died by suicide in 2019 in prison while awaiting trial and that he did not keep a client list.

Bongino was frustrated with leaders at the DOJ and the handling of the Epstein files earlier in July. He clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi over the issue and has reportedly considered resigning from his post.

A few days later, despite the infighting, President Trump told reporters he still has confidence in Bongino and that he is in good shape.

Bongino also wrote Saturday on X that the FBI will conduct these righteous and proper investigations by the book and in accordance with the law.

We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE, Bongino wrote. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not my truth, or your truth, but THE TRUTH.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Jessica Cox Jessica Cox while with her airplane.

For Travel + Leisures column Traveling As, were talking to travelers about what its like to explore the world through their unique perspectives. We chatted with Jessica Cox, the worlds first licensed armless pilot, who is now working on building the first exclusively foot-controlled plane with the Experimental Aircraft Association, called The Impossible Airplane. She also travels the world as a motivational speaker, encouraging people to not look at disabilities as inabilities. Heres her story

I was born without both my arms for no medical reason. They never developed in utero, and it's still a mystery to this day as to what exactly caused itit was just one of those fluke things. But because it was from birth, I had my whole life to figure it out. In a sense, that was a gift because if you're born a certain way, and its all you've ever known, you start with a clean slate.

From the beginning, I made the connection that if there are no arms, why not use my feet? Our toes and feet have the same type of bones as our hands and fingers, so it was a normal transition for replacement.

Quite frankly, I didn't even realize how different I was until I left my community. But the moment I did, I was constantly reminded I was different. That was hard and took some getting used to, especially dealing with the stares and reactions.

I did everything to satisfy that norm, trying to blend in with prosthetic limbs for 11 years. But I never connected with them, so I said, why not just let them go? I made that decision as a 14 year old. I decided to give up the arms and figure out how to stand tall as someone who's different. It wasn't overnight, and it wasn't always easy.

Jessica Cox Jessica, at age 14 with her prosthetics.

Travel was my love from a very early age. I got that from my mom. Shes Filipino and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s. She was a well-established nurse there, so they invited her to come when there was a need for nurses here. She fell in love with being in the U.S., and met my father at an international party. Hes rooted in the Deep South, so they couldnt be more different. But then they had this wonderful family with three children, and instilled in me the best of both worlds and a love for both worlds.

I took my first big international trip to the Philippines when I was 8. It was life-changing to know there's a different world, and it never stopped. I've now spoken in 28 countries around the world and traveled to even more.

Now, I will say, the difficulty for someone without arms to travel is magnified. Universal designthat is, designing products and environments to be usable by allis something most people are aware of, but every person with a disability has individual needs and preferences.

For example, I don't need an ADA-compliant hotel room. The benefit is that everything is lower down, so I can reach things more easily with my feet. But there are aspects that don't work for me. A roll-under sink, for example, is actually a disservice because if I'm using my feet as my hands, I have to be seated on the countertop. There's an assumption I need an ADA room, and I have to tell them, that depends on the room.

We need to treat each person we encounter with the mindset that everyone's different. I've been speaking for 18 years now and its a message that resonates with everyone: think outside the shoe.

Jessica Cox The exterior of Jessicas Ercoupe airplane.

While I love travel, it has also meant conquering something anxiety-provoking for me: flying. When I flew commercially as a child, I would get so much tension from the experience, I'd have to take some medication.

For many people, the fear comes from not having control. For me, it was the fear of the unknown. When you don't understand flying, and you take Hollywood as your example of what happens if a flight isnt smooth, it sparks fear. When I was 21 and straight out of college, I was approached to fly in a small plane. I thought, this is my chance to overcome this fear.

The more I learned about aviation and aerodynamics, I realized I shouldn't be afraid. If you lose an engine, you just glide down to the ground and find somewhere to landit's not like the plane falls out of the sky. Turbulence is going to happen.

It's different when you're seeing all that has to come together to fly a plane, and to be there holding on to the controls. It's a very different position than being a passenger.

I went up for my first flight in the cockpit of a small planea Cessna, typically a starter plane for beginners. The airplane had dual controls, meaning you can fly it from the right or left seat. I sat on the right side and the pilot in command (PIC), Bill, was in the left seat. While we were in the air, he said, Why don't you try and see what it's like to fly?

I wasn't the type of person to say no, so I took my shoe off and hesitantly brought my foot up to the yoke, the control wheel for steering. I grabbed a hold of it between my big toe and second toe.

I looked over at Bill to my left and he had his hands off the controls. He said, You're flying the airplane! It hit me at that momentI wanted to do everything I could to become a pilot.

When you overcome your fears, you get everything you've ever wanted on the other side of thatand so I became the first licensed pilot to fly a plane with her feet.

I have a sport pilot certification to fly light sport aircraft, so I can take one passenger up to an altitude of 10,000 feet in the daylight. They call it the "$100 hamburger" because it means flying to a little neighboring airport, going in for breakfast, and then flying back.

My most exciting flight was my first solo journey. My instructor stepped out of the airplane and said, Take her up, fly it around. Knowing I was doing this myself was incredible. It gives you a sense of empowerment, like I have my life in my own feet.

Of course, there have been challenging moments, too, that they call a near-miss. These occurrences sometimes happen among students. In my case, it was another student pilot who wasn't doing their radio calls correctly in the pattern. The only reason we knew it was a close call was because we had GoPros rigged up on my plane.

When I show up at these airfields with small planes, its usually older white men. You feel like a minority, undoubtedly. People see the exterior and think you can't do it. I've had to develop a thick skin and say, Yes, I can. Once I showed them what I could do with my feet and the controls of an airplane, they were just like, Oh, you're a pilot.

Jeff Hamilton/EAA Jessica with with EAA Chapter 898 working on the Impossible Airplane.

Every year, Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) hosts the worlds largest airshowAirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I've been going since about 2009. Its like a big party with airplanes.

Most planes are designed for people with four limbs. I usually fly an Ercoupe, designed in the '30s and built in the '40s. It's the only airplane that was built without rudder pedals. The rudders are interconnected with the ailerons, meaning someone with two limbs can fly it. Its the only reason I'm flying today.

For 18 years, Ive been making my feet work on an airplane meant for hands. There are plenty of compromises in comfort, as you can imagine. My feet are up high and I'm not sitting comfortably.

Now, were working on another pioneering project with EAA Chapter 898, spearheaded by Bob Newman, to build the first-ever experimental airplane with unique modifications that can be flown with feet alone. For the last four years in Toms River, New Jersey, weve been building a custom four-seat RV-10 airplane, called The Impossible Airplane until it's built, at which point it will be named the I'm Possible Airplane.

Were building it through my nonprofit Rightfooted Foundation International, which is focused on empowering that message that disability doesn't mean inability, as well as helping children and adults born without arms and various disabilities. Aviation is just one of our four programs. Another is providing a tool that helps people without arms get dressed on their own since it's the difference between independence and dependence.

We have some ambitious goals. Im hoping to become the first woman with a disability to fly around the world in a small aircraft in 2028. There are so many places around the world where having a disability has such a strong stigma. Children are hidden at home. People with disabilities aren't given a chance to go to school. They don't get to have a job. Some aren't seen as candidates for marriage or family life. We want to shift that. This flight around the world is going to show that if I can fly a plane with my feet, we should not hold back other people with disabilities.

When you don't get to see the world, you have a limited perspective. The moment you see there's more, it opens up your world to possibilities.

For instance, when I travel on my own, it's a great feeling of not just seeing another destination, but also the act of doing an international solo trip. Even the small things, like carrying luggage, requires a creative solution. Sometimes, its scary not to have anyone to lean on, but when you put yourself in a bit of a scary position, it stretches the best version of yourself.

Last March, I was on a long international flight sitting in economy plus. I couldn't use the table for eating a meal. The flight attendant thoughtfully brought out a huge traythe one that holds meals in the top part of the cartand put it on the floor in front of me, and we made a makeshift table. Solo travel is a celebration of these moments.

When you have a physical disability, people often feel like they don't have the luxury of travel, but it's not true. I encourage people to not shy away from the things that scare them, and instead embrace them and see they can be great experiences. Face your fears and it can change your life.



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Before one of its planes crashed just after takeoff last month, killing at least 260 people, Air India had been a symbol of the countrys global rise.

Only two years earlier, chief executive Campbell Wilson had inaugurated a brand-new Airbus A350, Air Indias first, calling it a declaration of Indian aviations resurgence on the world stage.

The aircrafts delivery made headlines across the country, where the public cheered Air Indias transformation from a neglected state-owned flagship carrier into a modern airline that its new owners, the Tata Group, hoped would become the worlds biggest.

Under the Indian conglomerate, which founded the airline in 1932 and bought it back in 2022 after it spent decades under government operation, Air India was making big moves, announcing a record order in 2023 of 470 aircraft valued at more than $70 billion.

A year later, the airline said it had begun a $400 million retrofit of its legacy fleet, accelerating the upgrade by leasing jets from other airlines, including Delta.

That momentum came to a grinding halt last month when a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed seconds after takeoff in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people aboard plus 19 others on the ground in one of Indias worst aviation disasters.

The site of the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, on June 13. (Raju Shinde / Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Air India has since been under immense pressure to answer for the crash, but bereaved families were left with more questions after investigators released a preliminary report this month that said the planes fuel switches had been wrongly cut off, leading to speculation that one of the pilots might have done it accidentally or even intentionally.

Indian investigators and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, which is involved in the crash investigation as the aircraft is U.S.-made, said such conclusions were irresponsible.

Investigations of this magnitude take time, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said, while Indias Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau urged the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives.

But Indian commentators were already irate.

Why do this rumor mill mongering about possible problems with the pilot? Arnab Goswami, a firebrand anchor, said on his conservative Republic Media Network. So that across the world the impression goes that Indian pilots cannot fly?

Capt. C.S. Randhawa, a former pilot for Air India and the Indian air force, said the suggestion that one of the pilots may have crashed the plane deliberately has demoralized the pilots in the country.

All pilots are up in arms, and its not a good thing. The pilots have to fly with that mental attitude, Randhawa, who is currently the president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, told NBC News.

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that the crash did not appear to have been caused by a mechanical issue with the Boeing fuel control unit. The final report is due next year.

On top of the lack of clarity, some British families hoping to bury their loved ones said they had received the remains of the wrong people, according to the Daily Mail, which cited a lawyer representing them. The Indian foreign ministry said Wednesday that all remains were being handled with utmost professionalism and that it was working closely with the British side to address concerns.

Air India was also warned last week by Indias aviation regulator that it could face enforcement action over more than two dozen safety violations from this year and last year, Reuters reported, citing government notices. They include pilots not being given mandatory rest and poor compliance with simulator training requirements.

The airline, which voluntarily disclosed the problems last month, said Friday that it would respond to the regulator and that it remains fully committed to ensuring the safety of its passengers and staff.

Air India was already under enormous pressure to clean up its reputation after falling into disrepair during its nearly 70 years of government ownership. Its reform nevertheless aligned perfectly with Prime Minister Narendra Modis nationalist narrative of turning India into a global superpower.

Given its legacy, the brand remains synonymous with India, said Shelley Vishwajeet, a New Delhi-based aviation journalist and author of The IndiGo Story, a book about the Indian airline. He added that the cultural transformation within Air India has been a challenge for its new owners.

Things moved quickly after the takeover by the Tata Group, which consolidated several airlines it controlled, including Vistara and Air Asia India, into two entities: the full-cost carrier Air India and its budget arm, Air India Express.

Vistara, which was partly owned by Singapore Airlines, was particularly beloved by Indians, known for its modern planes and best-in-class customer experience. When it merged with Air India, travelers and crew hoped that Air India would be the true Vistara successor.

But Air India has struggled to deliver change as fast as some had hoped.

Theyre struggling with maintenance issues, disrepair issues, and all these things are taking time, Randhawa said.
The Tea Dating Advice app on Apple's app store. - Rebecca Wright/CNN

The company behind the popular app Tea Dating Advice, which allows women to anonymously share information about the men they date for safety purposes, confirmed on Friday that 72,000 images  including about 13,000 user images submitted during account verification  were accessed in a data storage breach.

When creating an account on the Tea app, users are asked to submit a selfie to verify that you are a woman. The app says photos are deleted following account approval.

Another 59,000 images that were accessed were publicly viewable in the app from posts, comments and direct messages. Tea said the breach impacted users who registered before February 2024.

The breach raises privacy and safety questions about sharing selfies on apps and how users can protect themselves.

Rachel Tobac, CEO and co-founder of SocialProof Security, told CNN that while a selfie by itself is seemingly innocuous, it could be used to hack bank accounts and other programs when coupled with government-issued identification.

She recommended that Tea users consider freezing their credit, using data brokerage site removal tools, making social media accounts private, using a password manager and multifactor authentication.

Tobac said identity verification or age verification has become increasingly popular but is a risky choice for companies.

Any information that you collect, you have to protect. And the more information you collect, the more interesting of a target you are for cyber criminals, Tobac said.

And accepting facial recognition as the norm can also add to the risk of how law enforcement agencies or hackers can use information against consumers, said Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.

We all know online dating can be toxic, but the solution isnt more surveillance, Cahn said.

Cahn recommended that consumers think twice about sharing data with companies because opting out is really the best protection we have.

Tea is hardly the first dating-related service to have a security breach. In February 2014, dating app Tinder was revealed to have a technical issue that could provide the physical location of it users without their consent. In July 2015, the company behind Ashley Madison, a dating site for people interested in cheating on their spouses, said hackers had obtained the personal data of millions of members.

Some companies and governments have taken action. Tinder offers a verification process using government-issued documents. In May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law requiring Google and Apple to verify app store users ages.

Additional threats from AI-driven attacks

Selfies and images can be a data goldmine for artificial intelligence-driven data attacks, said Richard Blech, CEO and co-founder of AI security firm XSOC Corp.

That data could be used to train facial recognition spoofing, biometric bypassing and deepfakes.

Images accessed in a breach could also be used for fraud and other misrepresentations, said Blech.

He said anyone whose images were accessed should be more diligent with their credit reports because biometric data isnt going to expire.

Youre not getting a new number or changing your password, Blech said. Theres going to be action on that stolen information. Theres no question about it.

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Birte Pfleger poses for a photo in her home in Long Beach, California, in 2017. Photograph: Reed Saxon/AP

The daughter of a woman murdered by a man from Laos who is among those controversially deported from the US to South Sudan has spoken out about her familys pain but also to decry the lack of rights afforded to those who were expelled to countries other than their own.

Birte Pfleger lives in Los Angeles and was a history student at Cal State University in Long Beach when her parents came to visit her from their native Germany in 1994 and ended up shot by Thongxay Nilakout during a robbery while on a sightseeing trip. Pflegers mother, Gisela, was killed and her father, Klaus, wounded.

Nilakout, now 48, is Laotian and was among eight convicted criminals from countries including Mexico, Cuba, Vietnam and Myanmar who were deported to the conflict-torn African country, amid uproar over Donald Trumps extreme immigration policies.

In an interview with the Guardian, Pfleger said: Its been 31 years living with the irreparable pain and permanent grief, so, on the one hand, I wanted him gone. On the other hand, Im a historian and I have taught constitutional history. He was denied due process and thats a constitutional problem.

The government of South Sudan has not disclosed the mens exact whereabouts since arriving in the country earlier this month, after legal problems had caused them to be stuck in nearby Djibouti after legal wrangling, or provided any details about their future.

A lawyer representing the men said their situation is fragile, noting their relatives have not heard from the deportees since a US military plane flew them to Juba, South Sudans capital, before midnight on 4 July.

A police spokesperson in South Sudan, Maj Gen James Monday Enoka, indicated that the men may ultimately be moved on.

They will be investigated, the truth will be established and if they are not South Sudanese they will be deported to their rightful countries, Enoka said. But few details are forthcoming. The US Department of Homeland Security called the men sickos.

The deportations had been initially blocked by US district judge Brian Murphy, who had ruled that the group needed to receive notice and due process before being taken to South Sudan, including the opportunity to express fear of being harmed or tortured there.

But in a 7-2 ruling, the US supreme court paused Murphys orders, clearing all obstacles preventing the Trump administrations plan.

Just days after the ruling, the administration issued a memo suggesting officials would ramp up deportations to third countries with little notice and due process. The directive by Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), said US officials may deport migrants to countries other than their own with as little as six hours notice, even if those third party nations have not made assurances about their safety.

Legal experts have objected.

We are going to continue to fight the policy that conflicts with the statute, the regulations and with the constitution, said Trina Realmuto, executive director of the National Immigration Litigation Alliance, an organization leading a class-action lawsuit against Ice.

The UN human rights office denounced the action and urged the US to halt deportations to third-party countries. More than 250 Venezuelans have just been repatriated after being deported by the US without due process to a brutal anti-terrorism prison in El Salvador. Previously a multinational group of migrants was sent to Panama from the US and ended up trapped in a hotel then caged in a jungle setting, while more recently another group was deported to the tiny African kingdom of Eswatini, which critics there described as human trafficking and lamented the prospect of more to follow.

International law is clear that no one shall be sent anywhere where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to serious human rights violations such as torture, enforced disappearance or arbitrary deprivation of life, the UN said in a statement.

Nilakout was 17 when he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for his murderous attack on Birte Pflegers parents. In 2012, the US supreme court ruled that life without parole was unconstitutional for minors. After nearly 30 years behind bars, Nilakout became eligible for parole in 2022, despite a challenge from Pfleger, and was released from a California state prison the following year. He was picked up in Trumps mass deportation dragnet after the Republican president returned to the White House in January.

Pfleger, now a history professor at Cal State University in Los Angeles, said she felt conflicted when she found out that Nilokaut had been deported to South Sudan.

The moral dilemma here is that he should have never been let out of prison. But once he was released from prison, Ice should have been able to deport him, or he should have self-deported to Laos. But of course, what happened is he was put on a Gulfstream jet headed for South Sudan that violated a federal judges orders to give notice. He and the others were denied due process, she said.

Pfleger continued: I am not involved in victims rights organizations or anything like that. I have not gone to law school, but I have read the constitution and the history of it. And I think that due process rights are fundamental. And when theyre no longer fundamental, we all have a problem.

The pain for Pfleger and her sister of losing their mother and their father being wounded having watched his wife get shot and being unable to help her persists, and the family had not expected Nilakout to be freed, she said, adding that her father, Klaus, is 93 and frail.

My mom was everything to him, she said.

In a statement, the government of South Sudan cited the longstanding support extended by the United States during its fight for independence and its post-independence development, for the latest cooperation.

Between 2013 and 2016, a civil war killed 400,000 people in South Sudan. Earlier this year, the threat of a new war breaking out pushed the US embassy to issue a level 4 warning to Americans not to go to South Sudan because of crime, kidnapping and armed conflict there.

The German government recently warned, via the foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, posting on social media that: After years of fragile peace, South Sudan is again on the brink of civil war.

The UN commission on human rights in South Sudan warned We are witnessing an alarming regression that could erase years of hard-won public progress.

The UN added that a humanitarian crisis was looming with half the country already suffering food insecurity and two million internally displaced, with a further two million having fled the violence to seek sanctuary in neighboring countries.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today joined fellow heads of revolutionary parties at the Liberation Movements Summit, which enters its decisive final phase amid growing concerns over the future and relevance of the region's liberation movements.Held under the theme "Defending the Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa," the three-day summit in Johannesburg has drawn senior leaders from six Southern African liberation movements: the ANC (South Africa), ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe), MPLA (Angola), SWAPO (Namibia), FRELIMO (Mozambique), and CCM (Tanzania).This year's edition marks a significant shift from previous meetings, with party leaders themselves - rather than just secretary-generals - taking part, signalling the seriousness of the strategic deliberations.President Mnangagwa, who arrived in South Africa on Saturday, was received at Waterkloof Air Force Base by ANC National Executive Council member Bejani Chauke, Zimbabwe's Ambassador to South Africa David Hamadziripi, and ZANU-PF Secretary for External Affairs Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, among other senior officials.Speaking ahead of the summit, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (Presidential Communications), Mr George Charamba, described the gathering as a critical reflection point for liberation movements operating in a rapidly changing global and regional environment."We are in an environment which is completely and radically changed," Charamba said. "Geo-politically, there are major power shifts. Within our region, we've seen the growth of negative forces that seek to undermine, if not overthrow, liberation movements."He cited examples of destabilising influence, such as the recently disbanded Brenthurst Foundation, accusing it of working covertly to weaken liberation governments across the region.Charamba said President Mnangagwa's participation underscored the urgency of forging united strategies to safeguard the political and socio-economic legacies of the liberation era."This is why the President is going down south - to confer, share notes with his counterparts, and strategise against changing times," Charamba added.ZANU-PF Secretary-General Dr Obert Mpofu, who has been leading pre-summit deliberations since Friday, said the summit comes at a critical juncture, with political developments across the region requiring coordinated responses from liberation parties."There have been attempts to destabilise some of the countries in our region during and after elections," said Dr Mpofu. "This summit is about protecting our shared gains, countering forces that seek to divide us, and reinforcing unity."He noted that the participation of most Heads of State highlighted the importance attached to addressing the growing threats to regional cohesion and stability.The summit has also seen participation from parties beyond the traditional liberation movement bloc, as well as institutions like The Museum of African Liberation, which are contributing historical and ideological context to the discussions.In a symbolic moment during the official opening dinner on Friday, former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano was honoured with a portrait for his role in Africa's liberation and post-independence leadership. His keynote address, delivered under the sub-theme "Wisdom of the Ages", reminded delegates of the deep sacrifices that shaped the continent's path to freedom.ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula also addressed the gathering, calling for renewed unity, ideological clarity, and collective action among liberation movements.As the summit concludes, leaders are expected to issue a joint communique reaffirming their commitment to regional solidarity, political stability, and socio-economic integration, while mapping out concrete strategies to address modern-day challenges threatening the movements' survival and credibility.For ZANU-PF and its counterparts, the summit is more than a political ritual - it is a high-stakes effort to reposition themselves in a world where liberation credentials alone no longer guarantee political longevity.
Students who miss eight or more days under the new policy can be referred to juvenile court, regardless of whether they were out sick or had a doctor's note on file.

Toughen up!

An overly strict new attendance policy for a Tennessee school district says a doctors note no longer excuses a students absence  and threatens to send kids to juvenile court after just eight missed days.

Under the new rules all absences are treated the same, whether a student is out with strep throat or just skipping class, the Lawrence County School District announced in June. Even kids who are sent home by the school nurse are marked tardy, and three of those equal a full absence.

Theres a real danger of that alienating kids and families, said Hedy Chang, executive director of Attendance Works, a national nonprofit focused on attendance policy. It shows schools are not responsive to the real issues and challenges kids face.

Students who miss eight or more days under the new policy can be referred to juvenile court, regardless of whether they were out sick or had a doctors note on file.

The district claims the move is aimed at tackling chronic absenteeism and teaching students work ethic and reliability.

If you have the sniffles, that is fine, Michael Adkins, Lawrence Countys director, said during a June school board meeting. You are going to have them when you go to work one day.

We have all gone to work sick and hurt and beat up.

Doctors notes are still accepted under the new policy, Adkins told The Post, but they do not remove an absence or exempt students from being counted in federally required attendance reports.

Many parents see the rules as punitive and out of touch.

Under the new policy, even students who are visibly ill and sent home by the school nurse are marked tardy  and three tardies count as a full absence.

Once a student accumulates eight absences, they can be referred to juvenile court. Other penalties include failing a class, losing access to school events like prom and graduation, or being denied a drivers license.

Exemptions exist, but theyre narrow.

Students must have a documented chronic illness, a death in the family, a religious observance or another emergency beyond their control, according to the policy. Even then, families are expected to make special arrangements with the school.

I know where I wont be ever sending my children, one parent wrote on the districts Facebook post announcing the new policy.

Lauren Graves, another local parent, is planning a protest.

We will not stand for our children being punished for being sick, having disabilities or needing mental health days, she wrote in a Facebook post last week. They want attendance?! Theyre about to get it.

The rule applies equally to all absences, meaning a student recovering from the flu is treated the same as one skipping class without reason.

Chang warned that early referrals to court dont just fail to improve attendance  they can actually make it worse.

She cited research showing that legal action often increases absenteeism rather than curbing it, particularly when schools skip over more effective, lower-cost steps like outreach and support.

We have to have a system that allows us to notice when kids miss 10% or more school and then build a relationship to find out why theyre missing school  and whats going to motivate them to show up, Chang said.
Doug Savant Reflects on Decades-Long Friendship with Michael J. Fox originally appeared on Parade.

Doug Savant is opening up about his 40 year-long friendship with Michael J. Fox after meeting on the set of 1985's Teen Wolf.

At Lifetime's Summer Soiree event, Savant opened up to People about his time working on the cult classic and the unexpected connection he formed with Fox.

"I have such great memories from that film," Savant said. "I grew up in Burbank, California, and I went to school with Philip McKeon and Nancy McKeon  Nancy McKeon from Facts of Life and Phil McKeon from Alice. And we were dear friends."

Early in his acting career, Savant booked Teen Wolf alongside Fox, who happened to be dating Nancy at the time.

"He went home and Nancy asked, 'Who's in the movie with you? Let me see the call sheet.' And she said, 'Doug Savant? We were family friends,'" he explained.

"One day, Michael comes to work, he says, 'Why didnt you tell me that?' He was upset with me that I had not told him," Savant continued. "I just wanted to do my job and be professional, but I had not said anything."

From then on, Savant says he and Fox "were quick to be friends and hang out," noting that they "had a great time" together on set.

While Savant's role in Teen Wolf was small, he said he's proud to have been part of something that still has audiences talking 40 years later.

"The movie has had a stunning lifetime, and people love it. They made sequels, and it resonated. So I'm just grateful to have been a small part of it," he said.

The film finds ways to surprise him to this day, including on set of one of his most recent projects.

"The craft service person would play movies, and he puts on Teen Wolf," Savant added. "And there I was doing my job on a new show, but watching Teen Wolf in the craft service trailer."

Since the 2000s, Fox's focus has shifted from acting to working towards a cure for Parkinson's disease after being diagnosed in 1991 at the age of 29.

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Doug Savant Reflects on Decades-Long Friendship with Michael J. Fox first appeared on Parade on Jul 26, 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
Collage of the wrong-way crash, the damaged car and a photo of victim Kirk Walker, 38.

The Long Island teen accused of driving the wrong-way on the Henry Hudson Parkway and killing a man 24 hours before the victims wedding was allegedly drunk and being chased by an off-duty NYPD cop at the time of the crash.

Jimmy Connors had allegedly spent the night drinking at Nebula on West 41st Street, where staff served him alcohol despite him being visibly intoxicated in the hours before the horrific Aug. 24 collision, according to a lawsuit.

After Connors, 17, left the club, he allegedly got behind the wheel of a white Chevy Silverado with Ontario plates and crashed into another car  prompting off-duty cop Boubacar Barry, who witnessed the wreck, to pursue him in his personal SUV instead of calling 911, according to the Manhattan Supreme Court filing.

Kirk Walker, a Manhattan dad of three, was just one day from marrying his fiancee when he was killed in the head-on crash.

Both vehicles then barreled south in the northbound lanes of the parkway, where the Silverado slammed head-on into a car driven by Kirk Walker and his cousin, Rob McLaurin, authorities said.

Walker, 38, was one day from his wedding when he and McLaurin were killed.

Walker and McLaurin had just left the groom-to-bes bachelor party and were driving north near West 154th Street in a Dodge Challenger when the 2:20 a.m. crash occurred, said Walkers fiancee, Shauntea Weaver, who filed the lawsuit this week against Connors, Barry, Nebula, the NYPD and the city.

Connors fled after the wreck, leaving behind his injured 21-year-old passenger. Police said the passenger tried to run but was caught 30 feet away.

The deadly 2:20 a.m. wreck happened as Walker and his cousin were returning from the groom-to-bes bachelor party. G.N.Miller/NY Post

Mayor Eric Adams even put up $1,000 of his own money to help catch the suspect.

Connors, of Syosset, was nabbed the next day at the Canadian border, limping, bloodied and without ID. Customs agents identified him using NYPD images that allegedly showed him bolting from the crash.

He was taken back to New York and indicted on charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal crash. He pleaded not guilty.

His attorney Jonathan Perez previously told The Post that Connors is sick, autistic, has epilepsy and believes he was manipulated by someone else in the car.

Connors has been held without bail since his arraignment, the Manhattan District Attorneys office said.

Jimmy Connors, 17, was allegedly drunk and fleeing an off-duty NYPD officer when he drove the wrong way on the Henry Hudson Parkway, killing two men. G.N.Miller/NY Post

Walker, a Manhattan father of three and rental-car-business owner, was set to marry Weaver in a lavish New Jersey ceremony.

Kirk was taken from me just as we were starting our new life together, Weaver said in a statement released through her attorneys to The Post. He was the love of my life  Weve been left trying to pick up the pieces of our lives and come to terms with a future without him in it. Our lives will never be the same.

Weaver, now the administrator of Walkers estate, argued in court papers that Barry acted as a cop  not a civilian  making the city and NYPD responsible for the unauthorized chase, which she contends isnt covered by emergency-response laws.

Nebula also violated the states Dram Shop Act, which allows victims to sue bars that serve alcohol to underage or visibly intoxicated patrons who later cause harm, Weaver said in the legal filing.

Walkers fiancee, Shauntea Weaver, is suing the city, NYPD, Nebula nightclub and Connors, alleging negligence and wrongful death.

Weaver is seeking unspecified damages for wrongful death, conscious pain and suffering, negligence, emotional and psychological loss, funeral expenses and punitive damages.

The NYPD and Nebula did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Mayors Office referred questions to the NYPD.

Connors and Barry could not be reached for comment.
Farm workers labor in the fields south of Bakersfield, in Kern County, California's breadbasket, on April 9, 2025. Farms are losing the help of farmworkers as President Trump steps up mass deportations of undocumented workers.

For Candice Lyall, cherry harvest is always a race against the clock.

Eastern Washington is famous for its cherries, and in the fourth-generation farmers lush orchards, not far from Columbia River, theres just a short window when they are the perfect ripeness. Wait too long and they are too soft for sale.

And they must be picked by hand. Lots of them.

Finding those hands locally can be a challenge. Like other growers, some of her workers are foreign-born, whose presence is reflected in the Hispanic restaurants in the nearby 3,300-resident town of Mattawa.

But this summer the harvest coincided with President Donald Trumps mass deportation sweeps. Rumors swirled of roadway checkpoints. More than 100 workers who started Lyalls harvest dwindled to 30 by the second week, leading her farm to struggle to get cherries picked in time.

Some were picked too late, she said, but the financial hit to her farm was likely to be far less than what some other growers experienced.

There's a lot of farms that didn't pick because they didn't have enough labor, she said.

Lyall is a Trump supporter in a conservative farming region. She favors stricter border security because of worries of drug cartels. But she wants to see a path toward a stable workforce.

There needs to be some solutions put on the table, Lyall told USA TODAY.

Washington State farmer Candice Lyall

Across the country, Trumps immigration raids have roiled farms and farming communities  with cases of worker shortages and fears of unpicked crops. And it has fueled growing calls for the Trump administration to protect agricultural workers critical to the U.S. food supply.

Of the 2.6 million people working on U.S. farms, about 42% lack legal status, according to the Department of Agriculture and other estimates.

Farmers say few nativeborn residents will pick fruit or tend cows. The countrys foreign agriculture worker visa program can be costly, burdensome and limited. And farmers say Congress has failed for decades to pass comprehensive immigration reforms.

Those long-standing struggles are now compounded by the lurking presence of Trumps masked immigration forces as harvest season approaches or is underway.

Earlier this month, raids on farms in California left hundreds detained, and soon after, a group of farmworkers in California held a three-day strike and called for boycotts. At stake are potential disruptions to the U.S. food supply and higher consumer costs.

Farm employers are holding their breath, trying to keep operations afloat without knowing whether their workforce will show up tomorrow  or stay away for fear of a raid, said Ben Tindall, head of the Save Family Farming advocacy group, based in Washington state.

The Trump administration in June suspended farm enforcement but then reversed that decision. More recently, Trump has cited the importance of farm labor and said his administration would look into ways for farmworkers to be here legally, they can pay taxes and everything.

Other administration officials, including border czar Tom Holman, said there would be no amnesty but cited ongoing discussions about policy changes related to farmworkers. A bill in Congress would create a legal pathway for longtime workers and streamline worker visas.

The push for changes comes amid signs of a shift in public attitudes reflected in a recent Gallup poll that found a record-high of 79% of U.S. adults say immigration is good for the country, while only 35% said they approve of Trumps handling of the issue.

Manuel Cunha, the president of the Nisei Farmers League, which represents 500 farmers employing about 75,000 California farmworkers, said hes hopeful that policies will change.

Federal agents and National Guard members block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a nearby licensed cannabis farm on July 10, 2025 near Camarillo, California. Protestors stood off with federal agents for hours outside the farm in the farmworker community in Ventura County.

For now, he said, workers in places like the San Joaquin Valley are holding steady despite raids that have caused temporary shortages.

Still, farmers are on edge, knowing it could change at any moment.

Why foreign-born workers are critical to farmers

In Lincoln County, Wisconsin, where the rural landscape of pastures and fields is dotted with barns and silos, Hans Breitenmosers parents emigrated here in 1968 from Switzerland to raise dairy cows on a small farm.

He grew up amid the daily rhythms of feeding and milking. When the farm grew, they had to hire more workers. But they could find few native-born residents willing to take the jobs in the sparsely populated area. And over time, fewer younger people were sticking around the farms.

Now, the 56-year-old relies on about a dozen foreign-born workers, mostly from Mexico, to operate the 460-cow farm, not far from a shuttered church with peeling paint about five miles outside a town of 9,000 residents.

If it wouldn't be for immigrants, my dairy farm wouldn't run, he said.

In recent months, dairy farms in Texas reported absenteeism while ICE has detained or deported people at dairy farms in New York and Vermont, where one Trump-voting farmer told a news outlet he didnt think deportations would impact the industrys workers.

Dairies are particularly vulnerable to labor shortages because cows need daily care to survive, Brietenmoser said, and cannot be temporarily shut down like a construction site or restaurant.

Am I concerned about it? Absolutely, said Breitenmoser, who said he was among a minority in Lincoln County who did not support Trump in 2024. They don't get fed and they don't get watered, and they don't get milked and they don't get cleaned up after, they will die.

Across the nation today, about 70% of workers in the U.S. farm sector are foreign born, according to the Federal Reserve of Kansas City. The National Milk Producers Federation says milk prices could nearly double if the U.S. dairy industry loses its foreign-born workforce, the group said.

The uncertainty that undergirds agricultural labor and immigration in the U.S. continues to harm workers and their families, farm employers, rural communities and national food security, according to the federation.

Farmers typically hire workers with documentation such as Social Security cards or permits the government says must reasonably appear to be genuine. The governments E-Verify system, required in some places, isn't foolproof.

Breitenmoser argues Trumps political rhetoric painting immigrants as criminals and invaders, when most are workers filling jobs no one else will, is a self-defeating strategy.

We've built an economy that relies on people, but we have a public policy that demonizes them. And to my way of thinking that just doesn't make any sense, he said. American farming cannot survive without foreign-born staff.

The dairy farmer noted that we had immigration reform in front of the Congress prior to the election, but because all of the Republicans were scared of Donald Trump, it didn't happen.

The solution, he said, is stupid simple: Accept the realities of farm labor. Hand out more work visas. And create pathways to vet longtime workers who need legal work permits.

He hopes the recent turmoil will lead to long-needed changes.

Somebody's going to drive through McDonald's to buy a freaking latte and a hamburger. And guess where that comes from? It comes from my farm. And it doesn't happen magically. It takes human beings, be they brown, Black, White, green or otherwise, to get the job done, he said. And that's what our public policy should reflect.

A protestor holds a sign reading "Undocumented Hands Feed You!" near federal agents blocking a road during an ICE immigration raid at a nearby licensed cannabis farm on July 10, 2025 near Camarillo, California.

Workers face stains, worry

In a Colorado agricultural area northeast of Denver, Maria has worked in fields of watermelon, pumpkins and tomatoes for years. But not now.

The 56-year-old, who didnt want to use her full name because she doesnt have legal status, emigrated from Chihuahua, Mexico 20 years ago to escape violence and find better pay.

Jobs on farms are hot, grueling and physically challenging. But some farmworkers can earn in one hour what theyd make in a full day back in Mexico.

She said she sees an ICE presence in her part of Colorado. One friends brother was detained on the street earlier this year. Her husband is still working in a dairy to make ends meet, but she said some farms have had to look for workers out of state.

For now they want to stick it out. Their lives are here. They have children and U.S. citizen grandchildren who live in the United States and are concerned about them.

There's a lot of anxiety about, you know, grandmother, are they going to take you away? she said.

Migrant workers work on a farm in Homestead, Florida, on April 25, 2025.

Many have reluctantly returned to work after raids that have taken place in places like Californias San Joaquin Valley for financial reasons, said Teresa Romero, head of United Farm Workers.

It is a little misconception, assuming that workers are not going back to work. Some workers are, of course, scared of what could happen, she said. They might be scared for a day or so, but they go back to work. They need their jobs and they need to support their families.

Romero said the crackdown is also impacting the communities in which they live and work. Many are staying inside and not going to parks, school functions, churches and restaurants.

Federal agents and National Guard members block people protesting an ICE immigration raid at a nearby licensed cannabis farm on July 10, 2025 near Camarillo, California. Protestors stood off with federal agents for hours outside the farm in the farmworker community in Ventura County.

In raids earlier this month at cannabis farms in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, immigration agents descended on Glass House Farms near Camarillo and in Carpinteria. They clashed with protesters and detained more than 200 farmworkers.

A Mexican farmworker, Jaime Alanis Garcia, 57, died after falling from a greenhouse roof hed climbed atop in an alleged attempt to evade officers, according to multiple reports,

The farmworkers detained in these raids are clearly in the United States to fill jobs that employers cannot otherwise fill, U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Thousand Oaks, said in a letter to federal officials. Their undocumented status is not by choice, but a direct result of Congress ongoing failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would allow a sufficient number of workers into the country and provide a viable pathway to citizenship.

Thats what Gabriel, a 42-year-old from Puebla, Mexico, who didnt want to use his name because he lacks legal status and fears detention, would like to see, too. The farmwork in Californias Central Valley has lived in the U.S. for 25 years. He has worked in fields of crops from eggplant to pumpkin, waking up at 4 a.m. and earning $16.50 an hour.

He said the majority of his fellow workers are also immigrants without papers and are still working, but some are considering going home.

He blames past and current administrations for failing to deliver on immigration reform. He said some longtime workers were angry at former President Joe Biden for enacting more legal pathways to migrate and not focusing on legalizing the status of longtime workers.

Let workers work, he said. These are people who help feed the country and pay taxes.

Even legally present farmworkers are uneasy.

ICE officials have argued they dont need probable cause to detain people and the agency could deport people with just six hours notice.

Maurico Sol, an H-2A worker who supervises dozens of fellow visa holders on a farm that spans Idaho and Oregon, said some colleagues have asked if its safe to go to Walmart on weekends. He advised them to always carry their passport and visa.

Ive also heard people that say, well, maybe this is going to be my last year, he said. Because it feels different  Even when we are in a good space here, where it's not happening a lot, you feel like, eh, we don't know. We don't want to go out. Because maybe they're going to confuse me if they see me in the mall and I'm going to be chained for, I don't know, 48 hours, or maybe they're going to deport me even though I have papers.

A search for a solution

Sol works for Shay Myers, a farmer whose onions grow in fields not far from where the Snake River separates Oregon and Idaho.

The third-generation farmer operates Owyhee Produce, which grows one in every 20 onions consumed in America.

Myers, 45, is also TikTok influencer with 692,000 followers and posts videos about his farm and the intricacies of agriculture.

Shay Myers, is a third-generation farmer in Idaho and Oregon who operates Owyhee Produce, which grows one in every 20 onions consumed in America.

But lately the Republican farmer has been highlighting his mostly foreign-born laborers  from Mexico, Central America, Peru and Colombia  who he says are critical. The majority of his workers, which can number 350 during harvests, are here on H-2A visas.

While such workers represent about 13% of the nation's farmworkers, the number of certified H-2A workers grew by 64.7% between 2017 and 2022. Meanwhile, the share of unauthorized workers has dropped to about 42% from from 55% in 2001.

But its also a bureaucratic and expensive program, he said. Farmers have to prove no domestic workers are available or willing to do the job. They provide housing and adhere to wage-premiums meant to keep the program from pushing down wages of U.S. residents who do similar jobs, and must follow rules such as overtime that differ among states. And its time-limited.

Labor groups also criticize the H-2A visa program, saying it often requires workers to stick with one employer which makes them vulnerable to wage theft or poor housing.

Myers said thats not the case at his farm. He grew up and went to school in the area with undocumented families. And today his children do, too.

We lose from every angle. The right-wingers come at us  You won't give jobs to Americans, Myers said. And then the left wing side of the discussion is, well, all you do is bring H-2A workers and they work for you like slaves.

He, too, wants a more flexible worker program and creating a path to legal status for undocumented workers here for 10 years and longer. He said the deportations have proved a problem both ethically for farm families and economically for the industry.

Let's find a solution, he said on one video.

Earlier this month, Trump suggested in Iowa  a leading corn and pork producer that relies heavily on migrant workers  that his administration would seek to permit some migrants without legal status to stay on farms, the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

"If a farmers willing to vouch for these people, in some way, Kristi, I think were going to have to just say thats going to be good, right?" he said, referencing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem who was with him on the Iowa trip. "You know, were going to be good with it. Because we dont want to do it where we take all of the workers off the farms. We want the farms to do great like theyre doing right now."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins cited plans to make the H-2A program cheaper, more efficient and more effective for those farmers.

Shay Myers is a the third-generation farmer who operates Owyhee Produce in Idaho and Oregon.

The United Farm Workers favors paths to legal status for those already here over simply expanding the guestworker program for new arrivals, who they say would still be more prone to labor abuses.

In Congress, Republican U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, and Veronica Escobar of Texas introduced the DIGNITY Act. Among its many provisions is a seven-year earned legal status program allowing undocumented immigrants to live and work legally, with renewable status based on good conduct and restitution.

"We have 10 million people or more working in construction, hospitality, agriculture, dairy, fisheries, slaughterhouses who are undocumented but are not criminals," Salazar said at a news conference.

But House Speaker Mike Johnson told the Wall Street Journal that immigration overhauls would face an uphill battle.

Rollins has also suggested that the country could fill jobs with Americans who will face Medicaid work requirements, something farmers immediately shot down.

Farming groups call for realism

Cunha, head of Nisei Farmers League, was among those very blunt about that idea: That's just not going to work, he said.

He knows firsthand.

In 1998, during President Bill Clintons Welfare-to-Work push, Cunha helped launch an effort in 10 California counties to recruit welfare recipients and unemployed workers to help fill tens of thousands of farmworker jobs.

People would be aided with child care, transportation and training. Just 500 people applied. And only three took jobs. None of them lasted more than two days, he said. Crops were lost.

It was a total disaster, he said.

A similar result took place in North Carolina, according to a 2013 report by the Partnership for a New American Economy and the Center for Global Development. When North Carolina had more than 489,000 unemployed residents, a growers association offered 6,500 jobs. Of 245 domestic workers hired, only seven lasted the entire season.

It's not likely he contended that higher wages alone would have Americans flocking to the jobs, he argued. Not only can the work be physically grueling or dangerous, Cunha said it is not the unskilled work that many people assume. It takes experience and skill to prune a fruit tree or know which fruits to pick now and which to return for later.

A demonstrator wears an American flag as National Guard soldiers block protestors during an ICE immigration raid at a nearby cannabis farm on July 10, 2025 near Camarillo, California. Protestors stood off with federal agents for hours outside the farm in the farmworker community in Ventura County.

At a recent farm training in California that included topics like heat illness, Cunha said workers instead were full of questions about avoiding run-ins with ICE.

Should they drive different routes or not wear hats and bandanas? One asked if he should shave his beard to look less like a farmworker.

For now, he said, as the areas remaining harvests are closing in, it's stressful for both farmers and farmworkers.

Labor is tight, but it's holding. And as long as  we pray every day  they stay out of the valley, then we'll make it through this season, he said. But we do need to deal with it. We should not have to go through this type of tension. And workers should not have to worry about shaving their beard.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's immigration raids are hitting farms hard. So what's next?
TRAVERSE CITY, MI  Authorities said they will file terrorism and attempted murder charges against a Michigan man accused of wounding 11 people in a stabbing rampage at a local Walmart.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said July 27 that bystanders were "absolutely instrumental" in preventing further injuries after the attack began July 26 at about 4:43 p.m.  a busy time for the sprawling store. One of the citizens who stepped in was armed with a gun, Shea said.

"I commend them, it's not very often we have citizens that are willing to step up and take action," Shea said at a briefing July 27.

Shea identified the suspect as Bradford James Gille, 42, and said charges would include one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. Shea said Gille has a history of "assaultive type allegations as well as controlled substance." He said no motive had been determined, but that the FBI and local investigators were interviewing the suspect.

County Prosecutor, Noelle Moeggenberg, said arraignment was expected July 28 or 29. She said the terrorism charge was because the attack was a "very random act of violence... to put fear in the entire community, to change how we operate on a daily basis."

Shea said emergency calls began coming in at 4:43 pm. from the Walmart in Garfield Township. A deputy arrived at 4:46. to find "multiple citizens including one who was armed with a pistol were confronting the male suspect in the parking lot," preventing him from stabbing more people and from leaving. The deputy took the suspect into custody without further incident, Shea said.

Condition of those wounded improves

Nine of the stabbings took place in the store, one in the vestibule and one outside the store, Shea said. He said he believed all the incidents were "to some degree" captured on video and that the video was being studied.

Six people were initially listed as critically injured and five were in serious condition, Munson Healthcare said in a social media post. At the briefing, however, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tom Schermerhorn said one person had been released, two remained in serious condition and the others were in fair condition.

Stabbing spree at Michigan Walmart leaves 11 injured, six critically

More than 10 police cars sit in the Walmart parking lot in Traverse City, Michigan, after a mass stabbing incident left 11 injured.

Bystander tackled suspect

Steven Carter told The Associated Press he was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cut a womans throat. Minutes later, the man was surrounded by several shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun, Carter said.

The group repeatedly yelled to the man drop the knife, Carter said, adding that the man responded: I dont care, I dont care. Someone tackled and subdued him, Carter said.

At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack, said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.

Fleeing the suspect, 'blood everywhere'

Julia Martell told the New York Times she was in the canned vegetables aisle when she heard screams and saw a man with a knife run through the pharmacy and elsewhere, shoving and stabbing people before he started running toward her. She ran, but the man didnt follow her and instead turned back toward the store entrance, she said.

She saw three people with stab wounds as she fled the store. There was blood everywhere, she said.

Angela Helfrich, shopping with her fiance, told clickondetroit.com she saw bystanders comforting two stabbing victims while other customers chased the attacker out of the store. She said she felt "awful" for those who were stabbed.

It was just very panicky, very scary, said Angela Helfrich. Ive never witnessed anything like that, and Ive lived in Traverse City my whole life. I was way too close.

Traverse City, on the upper part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, is home to over 15,000 people with a metropolitan area of 150,000. The city, about 250 miles north of Detroit, sits on a bay off Lake Michigan and is a popular tourist destination. The 99th annual National Cherry Festival, an eight-day celebration that can draw 500,000 people, wrapped up two weeks ago.

"No area is immune to this kind of activity, Shea said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan Walmart stabbing: 11 wounded, terrorism among likely charges
One thing was clear about a vague trade deal announced Sunday by President Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: a headline tariff rate of 15% on European goods.

Its the latest example of a new tariff floor for Trump that has been backed by other recent deals and letters, including one with Japan this past week that also saw a 15% rate.

"We'll have a straight, simple tariff of anywhere between 15% and 50%," Trump asserted.

Both Trump and von der Leyen highlighted the 15% rate on Sunday after their meeting in Scotland. Trump claimed a straight-across tariff of 15% for automobiles and everything else, adding that US exports to Europe would face a 0% rate.

Von der Leyen confirmed the 15% tariffs across the board and inclusive," adding that it would bring stability and predictability to US-Europe relations.

Comments later in the day from the European Commission president suggested that it might be a little more complex and that the deal also included "zero for zero tariffs on a number of strategic products," including aircraft components and other products like some minerals.

Read more: The latest news and updates on Trump's tariffs

Trump added that the deal includes hundreds of billions of dollars in new EU purchases of US energy as well as military equipment.

The 15% rate may get a mixed reaction in Europe after negotiators had previously pushed for free trade (or more recently, a 10% rate), but its a halving from the 30% tariffs Trump promised in a letter earlier this month.

Sundays agreement with the European Union  Americas largest trading partner  follows agreements with Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, which have tariff rates between 19% and 20%.

Only one negotiation has seen Trump agree to a tariff below 15%  a pact with the UK in May  with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent writing earlier this month that "usually the first person who makes a deal makes the best deal."

European stocks rose on Monday after the tariff deal with the US was established, with the Stoxx 600 (^STOXX) up 0.6%.

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

Some details unclear

Trump also said Sunday that many of the remaining countries facing a deadline of Aug. 1 would face a letter dictating rates, saying they would be very universal for most and that the European deal is the big one.

The president said three to four additional countries could be in for deals in the coming days, while most nations would simply get letters.

In any case, the 15% baseline is a shift  even from recent weeks.

Trump earlier this month said that many countries would see a rate of probably 10% or 15%, we havent decided yet. Even last Sunday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CBS: "You should assume that the small countries ... will have a baseline tariff of 10%."

This new standard is also notable fulfillment of an oft-made campaign trail promise that saw the then-candidate pledge to create a "ring around the collar" of the US economy with a blanket rate of between 10% and 20%.

Fulfilling that pledge  which was often dismissed as unrealistic at the time  has now become not only accepted but even a plus for markets after six months of Trump's second term have seen threats of higher duties that have reordered world trade actions.

The recent announcement of the deal with Japan with a 15% tariff on goods like autos was welcomed by traders and helped fuel rises in US markets as well as the Japanese Nikkei 225, which immediately surged on the news.

President Donald Trump speaks alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (not seen) in Scotland on July 27. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images)

Japanese automakers in particular saw a jump after that deal, as those companies celebrated a lowering of auto tariffs from 25% to 15%. European automakers now find themselves in a similar position.

Trump, meanwhile, says he has no plans to amend his other sector-specific tariffs as part of the European Union deal  even as Von der Leyen suggested they would largely be covered by the deal.

There are 50% tariffs currently levied on steel and aluminum (with planned duties at the same rate on copper), and Trump said Sunday that those tariffs are a "worldwide thing that stays the way it is."

Trump also reiterated his promise to roll out sectoral tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, which could be much higher than 15%  unless Europe gets a carveout.

And Von der Leyen suggested the 15% rate would apply in comments later Sunday when she said the 15% rate would apply to "the vast majority of EU exports ... including cars, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals," as she called the rate "a clear ceiling."

Also on Sunday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that new semiconductor tariffs are nearly ready and would be unveiled in about "two weeks' time."

This story has been updated with additional developments.

Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Click here for political news related to business and money policies that will shape tomorrow's stock prices

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President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Scotland on Sunday to iron out a U.S.-EU trade deal. Without an agreement, the EU was due to get hit with a 30% tariff rate on Aug. 1, up from the current reciprocal duty of 10%. Last week, Trump reached a trade deal with Japan that set a 15% rate.

The U.S. and European Union agreed on trade terms that include a 15% rate on most EU products as well as hundreds of billions of dollars of investments in American industry.

President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Scotland on Sunday to iron out the agreement.

Trump said the EU will invest $600 billion in the U.S. and buy $750 billion worth of U.S. energy products, with vast amounts of American weapons in the mix. He also said the EU will be opening up their countries at zero tariff.

Von der Leyen said the 15% rate was all inclusive, but Trump later added that it didnt apply to pharmaceuticals and metals though it does to autos.

I think that basically concludes the deal, he told reporters. Its the biggest of all the deals.

Von der Leyen also said the agreement would rebalance trade between the two partners. The U.S. goods trade deficit with the 27-member EU was $235.6 billion in 2024, a 12.9% increase from 2023, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

She later confirmed that the $750 billion in U.S. energy purchases would come over the next three years, while adding that both sides will drop tariffs to zero on aircraft, plane parts, certain chemicals, and chip equipment, as well as some farm products, generic drugs, and raw materials. No decisions have been made on a rate for wine and spirits, she added.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States hailed the agreement, though U.S. and EU tariffs on spirits still must be negotiated.

We are optimistic that in the days ahead this positive meeting and agreement will lead to a return to zero-for-zero tariffs for U.S. and EU spirits products, which will benefit not only our nations distillers, but also the American workers and farmers who support them from grain to glass, CEO Chris Swonger said in a statement.

But von der Leyen also introduced some uncertainty by saying the 15% rate does apply to pharmaceuticals while also suggesting more details will come from the U.S. and that pharma overall is on a different sheet of paper.

A deal with Americas biggest trading partner removes a key source of market uncertainty and the threat of a damaging trade war.

Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone, said in a note that European carmakers are among the big winners from the deal as tariffs on autos will drop to 15% from the current 25%, securing a carve-out similar to what Japan obtained last week. U.S. defense and energy stocks also stand to gain.

Stocks hardly need much of an excuse to rally right now, and agreement of the biggest ever dealTrumps words, not minenot only removes a key left tail risk that the market had been concerned about, but also yet again reiterates that the direction of travel remains away from punchy rhetoric, and towards trade deals done, he wrote.

Heading into their meeting, Trump and von der Leyen said they saw a fifty-fifty chance of reaching a deal. Trump ruled out pharmaceuticals from any deal and said the tariff rate on the EU wouldnt go below 15%.

The EU already faces a 50% U.S. tariff on steel and aluminum. Without a deal by Aug. 1, the EU was set to get hit with a 30% reciprocal tariff, up from 10%.

Last week, Trump reached a trade deal with Japan that set a 15% rate and included a pledge for Tokyo to invest $550 billion in key U.S. industrial sectors, with Trump able to direct the funds.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Japans investment offer was key to clinching a trade deal and suggested it could help other countries get a comparable rate, though Wall Street analysts have expressed skepticism that the money will fully materialize.

In fact, Trump hinted that the EU would have to buy down the threatened tariff rate of 30% and pointed to the Japan deal.

In case no deal with the U.S. was made, the EU had already preplanned retaliatory tariffs of up to 30% on more than $100 billion worth of American exports, such as aircraft, cars, and bourbon.

Meanwhile, other U.S. trading partners are staring down the Aug. 1 deadline, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday that no further extensions will be given.

But the U.S. and China are reportedly extending their trade truce by 90 days as talks between Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng are scheduled to start on Monday in Stockholm. Without an extension, their tariff pause was scheduled to end on Aug. 12.

When Japan broke down and made a deal the EU had little choice. The biggest piece in the trade deal puzzle still remains, and the Chinese are unlikely to be as willing to fold, Jamie Cox, managing partner for Harris Financial Group, said in a note. The next big durable theme in markets is security, and the EU deal only accelerates it.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Columbia County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Brian and Jill Griffeth

Four adult family members in Florida have been arrested and charged with alleged child abuse of several adopted and foster children in their care.

Brian, 47, Jill, 41, Dalllin, 21, and Liberty Griffeth, 19, were charged with aggravated child abuse on July 22, after being accused of abusing nine children aged 7 to 16 living at the familys residence in Fort White, Fla., the Columbia County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) said in a news release on Facebook.

On July 3, 2025, Columbia County sheriffs deputies were called to assist the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) with a court-ordered pickup of nine children residing at the residence of Brian and Jill Griffeth, the CCSO said. This pick-up order was a result of an investigation of alleged child abuse that was happening in the home stemming from concerns by a mandatory reporter at their local church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Branford, Fla.

The nine children mentioned in the investigation included five biological children and four who are adopted. Concerns were raised after the church noticed that one of the Griffeths children had a "functioning electronic stun gun" a few days prior, causing worry as to whether the adopted children were being treated unfairly compared to the biological children," the CCSO said.

Columbia County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Dalin Griffeth

According to authorities, the children claimed during police interviews that they were caged under the bunk bed and unable to escape after being screwed down in the plywood, sprayed in the face with vinegar as a form of punishment, allegedly beaten with a cane and forced to lie on the floor with a piece of plywood on top of them and pressed down.

The kids were also allegedly not being taken to school or taught how to read and write and were given non-prescribed medication.

According to an arrest warrant, Brian and Jill adopted their children in Arizona before recently moving to Fort White. They allegedly insisted that the stun gun at the church was a fake toy, which was later proved to be a real weapon.

The arrest warrant reportedly stated that a church employee told child welfare authorities that the Griffeths "primarily foster or adopt African American children and expressed concerns that these foster/adoptive children are being treated unfairly." They also alleged that none of the foster or adopted children are familiar with their last names or basic personal information.

Columbia County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Liberty Griffeth

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The CCSO said that a tenth foster child also lives at the home, but they were not present at the time. The child was later located safe and healthy in Arizona with their biological parents.

A foster child with a redacted name in the arrest warrant also accuses the Griffeths' adult son, Dillan, of sexual assault.

Brian, Jill, Dalin and Liberty were transported to the Columbia County Detention Facility and are being held there on $500,000 bond.



Read the original article on People
The former CEO of My Faith Votes, a nonprofit that encourages "Christians in America to vote in every election," has pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse images, months after his arrest.

Jason Christopher Yates, 56, pleaded guilty to two of eight felony counts of possession of child pornography on Tuesday, July 22, in a district court in McLeod County, Minnesota, according to a plea petition obtained by USA TODAY.

Yates was initially charged and arrested in October 2024, according to Minnesota state court records. My Faith Votes told Religion News Service that Yates served as its CEO until August 2024.

In early August 2024, the My Faith Votes board of directors separated Jason Yates from My Faith Votes and board member Chris Sadler assumed the position of Acting CEO," the statement reads. "Over the last three months Chris has been working with the dedicated My Faith Votes team to encourage millions of Christians to vote, pray and think biblically about this election in America.

Yates became the CEO of My Faith Votes in 2015 during the nonprofit's inception, according to his Truth & Liberty Coalition bio.

USA TODAY contacted My Faith Votes on Saturday, July 26, but has not received a response.

The Tamburino Law Group, whose attorneys served as Yates' legal counsel in the case, told USA TODAY in an email, "We are not commenting on this matter."

People talk at a booth for My Faith Votes in the sponsor hall as conservative leaders and personalities attend Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 16, 2023.

What did Jason Yates do?

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY, an individual gave the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension a hard drive that contained child sexual abuse images on July 31, 2024. The person told agents that they received the hard drive from a relative of Yates who "accidentally discovered it" inside a dresser in the former CEO's office in McLeod County, Minnesota, according to the affidavit.

Yates' relative stumbled upon the child sex abuse images when they tried putting the hard drive in their computer for more storage, the affidavit reads. The hard drive contained more than 100 sexually explicit images of children, according to the document.

When agents met with Yates on Sept. 13, 2024, he confirmed that the child sex abuse images on the hard drive did not belong to the relative who found them, the affidavit states. He also told the agents that he had a prior conviction for possessing child sex abuse images, but it had been expunged, the document continued.

What is My Faith Votes?

My Faith Votes describes itself as a "non-partisan movement" that motivates Christians in the U.S. to vote in elections, according to the Fort Worth, Texas-based nonprofit's website.

"We desire to see an America where God is honored in the public square and biblical truth is advanced in our culture," My Faith Votes' website states.

The nonprofit was founded in 2015 by Sealy Yates, an attorney who previously served on President Donald Trump's evangelical advisory board, according to Politico. He is also Jason Yates uncle, according to Christian news site The Roys Report. Both are also literary agents representing Christian authors.

While My Faith Votes claims to be "non-partisan," the nonprofit has backed several Republican officials and conservative views, including anti-abortion.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee was My Faith Votes' honorary national chairman before becoming the U.S. Ambassador to Israel under Trump's administration, according to the nonprofit. Dr. Ben Carson was the founding honorary national chairman for the nonprofit before he became the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during Trump's first presidency.

Jason Yates is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29, according to Minnesota court records.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former My Faith Votes CEO pleads guilty owning child pornography
ABC Lori Milliron and Larry Rudolph

The girlfriend of Larry Rudolph, the Pennsylvania dentist convicted of killing his wife while they were on safari in Zambia, has broken her silence from prison.

Lori Milliron began an affair with Larry in 2002, and she was ultimately convicted for her involvement in the 2016 shooting death of his wife of 34 years, Bianca Rudolph.

At the time, prosecutors argued that Milliron gave Larry an ultimatum that he needed to choose between her or his wife, and that she also knew about his crime while they continued to date after the murder. Millron is currently serving a 17-year sentence for perjury and being an accessory to a murder after the fact, as well as obstructing a grand jury.

Now, in Hulus new three-part docuseries about the case, Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari, Milliron maintains that she had no involvement in the crime.

ABC Lori Milliron (left) and Larry Rudolph (right).

There was no ultimatum. Why would I wait 15 years to give him an ultimatum? It just didn't make sense," Milliron said over a prison phone, according to video shared by Inside Edition.

The police did an investigation, and they said it was an accident. Everyone believed it was an accident. So I assumed it was an accident as well, she added.

In another part of the series, Milliron said she never planned on becoming romantically involved with Larry when they first met as coworkers at his dental practice.

I was reluctant, but after a little while, I slowly, slowly got to know him, she said, explaining that she eventually became the girlfriend despite the fact that he was married.

ABC Larry Rudolph (left) and Bianca Rudolph (right).

While Biancas death was initially declared an accident by Zambia law enforcement, federal authorities in the U.S. were not convinced and ultimately accused Larry of killing his wife so he could collect millions of dollars in life insurance benefits.

He was eventually sentenced to life in prison in 2023 on charges of foreign murder and mail fraud.

During his trial, which took place in July 2022, Larry told jurors, I did not kill my wife. I could not murder my wife. I would not murder my wife.

However, a witness for the prosecution testified that he had overheard Larry making statements that indicated otherwise.

According to Brian Lovelace, a bartender at a Phoenix steakhouse that Larry and Milliron frequented, he heard the dentist confess to the crime during a heated argument.

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.

Larry and Lori were having a drink," federal prosecutor Bishop Grewell said during opening statements. The music in the background made it difficult for Brian Lovelace to hear the conversation going on around him, but at some point, all of a sudden, the music stopped. And in that brief interlude, that brief silence between the songs, Larry Rudolph growled, I killed my f------ wife for you! 

Both Milliron and Larry continue to maintain their innocence and are currently appealing their convictions.

Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari premiered on July 21 and airs weekly.



Read the original article on People
News / National

by Staff reporter

A bitter feud has erupted within the Zvimba East Veterans Investment Company (Zevic), pitting two rival factions of liberation war veterans against each other in a chaotic battle over control of prime land earmarked for residential development in Nyabira. The fallout is threatening to derail a major housing project and has left hundreds of desperate home seekers stranded and in financial limbo.Zevic, a veterans-owned company engaged in agriculture and property development, is currently embroiled in internal turmoil after both factions claimed ownership of the land, producing separate offer letters allegedly issued by the Ministry of Local Government. However, investigations have revealed that one of the factions obtained its letter through alleged backdoor dealings, misrepresenting facts to authorities.Despite a standing court order barring the disputed group from conducting any business under Zevic, the faction has reportedly continued operations with the backing of a senior police officer in Nyabira - raising concerns over political protection and abuse of power.The rogue faction, reportedly led by Michael Changadzo, Douglas Mandaza, Clifford Rutsate, and Jowel Samuel Muzhamba, is already facing a pending court case involving serious allegations of embezzlement of company funds and forgery of banking documents. Yet, they continue to interfere with official operations, most recently storming a Zevic stakeholders' meeting in Nyabira."This level of lawlessness is shocking," said a Zevic board member. "We are operating under a valid court order, yet these individuals continue to defy it, backed by some elements in the police force. Meanwhile, innocent home seekers are suffering."The power struggle has resulted in double allocations of residential stands, causing panic among buyers who now fear they may lose their investments."I paid for my stand in full, only to discover that it has been sold to someone else," said one frustrated buyer. "Now I don't even know who to talk to, and the police are not helping."The escalating conflict has brought the once-promising Zevic housing project to a standstill. The development, which was expected to deliver over 5,000 housing units across Porta Nharire, Lumanda, and Penrose Chitangazuva in Zvimba District, is now mired in confusion and legal wrangling.Stakeholders have urgently called on the Ministry of Lands, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of War Veterans, and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to intervene before the situation spirals out of control."The infighting and impunity we are witnessing are destroying what could have been a transformative project for the community," said another concerned stakeholder.Efforts to get official comment from the Ministry of Local Government and the police were unsuccessful at the time of going to print. Zevic CEO, Retired Major Joe Chimonyo, and Mashonaland West war veterans chairperson Cornelius Muoni, who also serves as the company's patron, could not be reached for comment.As legal battles drag on and tensions remain high, the fate of the Zevic housing project - and the dreams of hundreds of hopeful homeowners - hangs in the balance.
Katie Smith

Youve likely had a Greek salad before, but if you live in the Detroit area, you know theres something special about a Detroit Greek salad.

I definitely did. Growing up in the citys suburbs, I can attest that this salad was a staple in my household. My family would regularly grab them for a quick dinner. As I got older, my friends and I would meet for a cheap Greek salad, which cost about $6 in my teenage years. Now, when I return to Michigan, its a must-eat during every visit.

Heres where the difference lies: A classic Greek salad has no lettuce, built instead from cucumbers, red onions, green peppers, Kalamata olives, and a block of feta, with a simple dressing of olive oil, oregano, and sometimes a splash of red wine vinegar.

In Detroit, a Greek salad does, in fact, have lettuce: specifically, iceberg. And while my hometowns version does include tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, often red onions, and feta cheese (crumbled, not in a tidy block), the Detroit Greek salad also includes pepperoncini, occasionally some garbanzo beans, and the signature addition: canned, pickled beets. When it comes to the dressing, youll find oil and vinegar-based and creamy versions, often depending on which diner youre eating at.

I know that you can find Americanized Greek salads in pizza shops and Panera Bread cafes throughout the country, but I would argue that those are a shadow of what we represent in Detroit, especially when it comes to the beets.

Thats a Detroit thing.

How Detroit Created Its Own Greek Salad

The story of the Detroit Greek salad begins with waves of immigrants beginning around the turn of the 20th century and swelling in 1912, as Greeks fled persecution in Turkey, and boosted just two years later by Henry Fords offer to pay $5 a day to workers at his Detroit factory. Among those immigrants were entrepreneurs eager to open restaurants with dishes and recipes from home, but that also adapted to American tastes and began innovating new creations like hot dogs topped with a meaty chili.

Possibly inspired by taking in the pleasurable sights of New York City before moving to the Midwest, those early Greek cooks dubbed them Coney Island dogs. The name stuck and eventually grew to include the names of Greek-owned diners. In fact, two historic Coney Islands are still around: American Coney Island, opened by Gust Keros in 1917, and Lafayette Coney Island, opened by his brother William in 1924.

Over time, the evolution of salad followed. All the other salads in America had iceberg lettuce or romaine, Yanni Dionisopoulos, co-owner of The Golden Fleece in Detroits Greektown neighborhood, told Taste. So this became the add-on to get Americans more familiar with it. To make them think it was a regular salad. Dionisopouloss theory about the pepperoncini and the beets? People associate pickled things with Greek cuisine, he said. Traditional Greek salads were often still on the menus, but were called Village Salads. The best of all worlds.

What About Those 2 Dressings?

Detroit Greek salads feature not one but two standard dressings, not to mention loyalists for each. Some, like Leos Coney Island, run by the brothers Leo and Peter Stassinopoulos and one of the largest Coney Island chains with locations across the metro Detroit area, use an oil and vinegar-based dressing with a variety of spices and other ingredients. The dressing was so popular that the brothers began bottling and selling bottles of it in 2018.

Detroits other Greek salad dressing, usually called just Pink Dressing, lives up to its name with a pale pink and creamy texture, getting its color from beet juice and sometimes some red wine vinegar, and its texture from emulsification (or using the shortcut of adding olive-oil-based mayonnaise). But dont try to get the recipe out of that diner ownermost remain tightly held family secrets, just like whats in the chili atop a Coney dog.

But thats the fun of Detroits Coney Islands and their Greek salads. Its all wrapped up in history, family, and tradition. Panera? No thanks. Ill take my iceberg lettuce with a touch of pickled beets, please. In Detroit.

Allrecipes / Abbey Littlejohn

How to Make Your Own Detroit Greek Salad

Locals continue to tinker with this classic recipe, from removing the beets or cucumbers, replacing raw onions with grilled or burnt (my personal favorite!), or adding a protein like grilled chicken or gyro meat. Serve the Detroit way with pita bread, which you can toast, brush with oil and grill, or butter and throw on a griddle.

Serves: 1-2

Ingredients

3 to 4 cups chopped iceberg lettuce

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1 small beefsteak tomato, cut into wedges

3 to 4 cucumber slices

4 canned beet slices (save some of the canned liquid for the dressing)

4 pepperoncini, for garnish

4 Kalamata olives

1/4 cup canned garbanzo beans (Optional)

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (Optional)

Directions

On a large plate or bowl, assemble lettuce and top with feta, tomato, cucumbers, beets, pepperoncini, olives, beans, and onion. Serve with Pink Dressing on the side.

How to Make Pink Dressing

This creamy version relies on olive oil mayonnaise for its texture. If youre looking for a non-creamy dressing, give this Absolutely Fabulous Greek Dressing a try.

Ingredients

3/4 cup olive oil mayo (less if you want it less creamy)

1/2 cup beet juice (from a can of sliced beets)

1/2 cup feta

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon oregano

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Combine mayo, beet juice, feta, milk, olive oil, vinegar, sugar, garlic powder, oregano, dill, salt, and pepper in a blender and blend until thoroughly combined. Store in the fridge until ready to serve. Dressing will last for up to one week.



Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
AccuWeather hurricane experts are monitoring several areas across both the central and eastern Pacific basins for potential tropical development, as well as Tropical Storm Iona well south of Hawaii, which can increase the wildfire risk across the island chain this week. Tropical Storm Gil also formed in the eastern Pacific early Thursday morning.

Tropical Storm Iona is located about 700 miles south of Honolulu, Hawaii. Earlier this week, Iona peaked as a major Category 3 hurricane, which was the first for the central Pacific basin this year. Iona will continue to lose wind intensity over the next few days.

This image was captured early Wednesday morning (local time), July 30, 2025, and shows a much less organized Hurricane Iona, now tropical storm, (left of center) and former Tropical Storm Keli (right of center). Hawaii appears in the upper center of the image. (AccuWeather Enhanced RealVue Satellite)

Iona is expected to stay well south of Hawaii. While no direct impacts are expected across the Hawaiian Islands, Iona will work with the circulation of an expansive area of high pressure to the north of the islands to enhance existing trade winds in between.

AccuWeather.com

"Gusty trade winds can start to pick up across the Hawaiian Islands and can last through the end of the week and into the start of next weekend," said AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva.

The increased trade winds combined with moderate or greater drought conditions across over half of the Hawaiian Islands will heighten the wildfire risk through much of this week. The dry grass and vegetation will provide plenty of fuel for any fire that sparks.

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"While this setup is not the same as the one that allowed the Maui wildfires to spread rapidly, high wildfire danger can still exist across the islands this week," adds DaSilva.

Elsewhere across the Pacific

An area southeast of the island chain is being monitored for development early this week. This medium chance of development would likely be short-lived and not have any direct impact to Hawaii.

AccuWeather.com

Farther to the east, AccuWeather hurricane experts are monitoring two more areas for tropical development southwest of Mexico including a high risk for tropical development in early August. Any development from either area in August could bring impacts to Mexico as well as impact any shipping interests.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
The unexplained removal of the first female head of the U.S. Naval Academy last week is the latest in a string of top military women who have either been fired or moved to largely invisible roles under the Trump administration.

The ousting of Vice Adm. Yvette Davids from her post as the first female superintendent of the academy in Annapolis, Md., makes her one of at least five senior female service members who have been moved out of their roles since January.

That trend, coupled with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths well-documented antipathy toward women in combat roles prior to becoming Pentagon chief, could have a chilling effect on women enlisting in the armed forces, experts say.

Its hard not to come to the conclusion that its going to weaken our military force by undermining the role of women who have become, I believe, an intrinsic part of our military capability, said Leon Panetta, a former Defense secretary in the Obama administration.

Panetta, who in 2013 announced that all combat roles would soon be open to women  a shift that eventually came in 2015  told The Hill that the Trump administrations removal of female leaders from the ranks, often without explanation, will have impacts on morale for female service members.

Just to remove commanders from their positions without cause sends a clear signal that this is not about merit, its not about performance, its about the fact that theyre women. Its the only conclusion you can come to, he said.

Davids was not outright fired but moved to the position of deputy chief of naval operations, a senior position but largely out of the public eye. But the shift was only after she had led the academy for 18 months rather than the typical three- or four-year tenure of the schools superintendent.

Nora Bensahel, a professor of civil-military relations at Johns Hopkins University, said the fact that she was removed from the Naval Academy really sends a message from the Pentagon that they do not think that a woman is qualified to be in charge of educating and training the next generation of fighters.

This sends a terrible message to the women who are currently serving in the U.S. military, or young women and girls who are thinking about joining the U.S. military  that they are not welcome at the highest levels, Bensahel told The Hill.

The purge of top female officers began the day President Trump was inaugurated, with Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Lee Fagan fired only hours after she was sworn in. She had been in the role since June 2022 and was the first uniformed woman to lead the military branch.

At the time, officials at the Homeland Security Department, which oversees the Coast Guard, reportedly said the reasons for her firing were issues with border security and an excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that diverted resources and attention from operational imperatives.

That was followed by the February ouster of Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first female chief of naval operations, and Air Force Lt. Gen. Jennifer Short, who served as the senior military assistant to the secretary of Defense. Both of those came without explanation, though Hegseth has called Franchetti, who boasted a four-decade career that included numerous command posts, a DEI hire.

And in April, Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the sole female flag officer on NATOs Military Committee, was fired reportedly because of her longtime advocacy for DEI within the armed forces, including a Womens Equality Day presentation she gave in 2015.

All women have now been purged from the militarys top jobs, with no female four-star officers on active duty and none in pending appointments for four- or three-star roles.

Asked about the reasoning for the firing of Franchetti, Short and Chatfield, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson appeared to indicate there was an issue with their overall performances, even as no glaring mistakes had come to light while all three were in their previous roles.

Under the leadership of Secretary Hegseth, the Department of Defense no longer makes personnel decisions on the basis of sex, she said in a statement to The Hill. Promotions, reassignments, and removals are all decided on the basis of merit and overall performance.

While numerous male senior military officials also have been removed under the Trump administration  most notably Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. CQ Brown Jr.  the already few female generals and admirals make firing five a disproportionately large number, Bensahel said.

She added that with 18 percent of the force made up of women, the military may not hit its recruiting numbers without them.

Hegseth had made no secret of his views on female service members since last year, when in his book titled The War on Warriors he allowed that women have performed well in support roles in combat, but women in the infantry  women in combat on purpose  is another story.

Dads push us to take risks. Moms put the training wheels on our bikes. We need moms. But not in the military, especially in combat units, he pointedly wrote.

And only a week before he was named as Trumps pick for Defense secretary, Hegseth said he was straight up just saying that we should not have women in combat roles while on a podcast.

It hasnt made us more effective, hasnt made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated, he said on a Nov. 7 episode of the Shawn Ryan Show podcast. Weve all served with women, and theyre great. But our institutions dont have to incentivize that in places where, traditionally  not traditionally, over human history  men in those positions are more capable.

To win confirmation as Pentagon chief, however, Hegseth publicly softened his stance to receive votes from Republican senators who expressed misgivings about his previous comments on female troops. Among them was Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army National Guard who commanded troops in Iraq and Kuwait.

At his nomination hearing, Hegseth said that he wasnt against women in combat jobs, but he seemed to suggest that standards for such roles have been lowered to meet diversity quotas  a claim that past Defense officials say theres no evidence of.

Yes, women will have access to ground-combat roles, given the standards remain high, Hegseth told Ernst, who later voted to confirm him in a narrow 51-50 vote.

Once in the building, Hegseth quickly got to work dismantling any program or effort with a whiff of DEI  an obsession in Trumps second term. On Jan. 29, he moved to strike race and sex as considerations for military promotions, with plans for a new Pentagon task force to promote merit-based, color-blind policies throughout the armed forces. DEI efforts, Hegseth has claimed, are damaging to recruiting and force readiness.

In April he took an axe to a Pentagon program meant to advance womens participation in peace building and conflict prevention, known as Women, Peace and Security, calling it a UNITED NATIONS program pushed by feminists and left-wing activists and claiming that troops HATE it.

The program was created in part by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, then a member of the House representing South Dakota; co-sponsored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, then a Florida senator; and signed into law by Trump in his first term.

Also this spring, Hegseth moved ahead with an effort to review and potentially overhaul combat and physical-fitness standards  viewed by some as a backdoor effort to keep women out of combat roles.

But Panetta said taking steps to undermine the role of women in the military doesnt make a lot of sense if Hegseth is indeed only looking to maintain a strong military, as he has claimed.

Its been clear that hes been opposed to women in the military for a long time. That attitude is now impacting our military capability. I think bottom line is that it weakens our force, Panetta said.

Women ought to be judged, like every other military warrior, by their capability, by their ability to do the job. Thats why I felt it was important to give them that opportunity, he added. They had to meet the standard, they had to be able to do the job, thats exactly what theyve been able to do.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Joseph Czuba at his arraignment, Image 2 shows A mother and her young son, Image 3 shows Mourners carrying a coffin at a funeral

A landlord jailed for decades after he attacked a Palestinian American boy and his mother has died.

Three months ago, Joseph Czuba was sentenced to 53 years behind bars for the attack. He was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of the boys mother, Hanan Shaheen.

The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which started days earlier.

Joseph Czuba, who was convicted of murdering a Palestinian American boy and injuring his mother, has passed way at the age of 73. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File

Czuba attacked Wadee Alfayoumi, 6, and his mother Hanan Shaheen days after the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel in 2023. Facebook / Hanan A Shaheen

Czuba died Thursday in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to a statement from the Will County Sheriffs Office.

Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations Chicago office, said in a statement on Saturday that this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.

Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.

Czuba was sentenced to 53 years in prison for murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges. WILL COUNTY STATE ATTORNEY/AFP via Getty Images

Czuba targeted the mother and child for their Muslim faith in response to the terror attacks in Israel. Family Handout

The family had been renting rooms in Czubas home in Plainfield, about 40 miles from Chicago when the attack happened.

Central to prosecutors case was harrowing testimony from the boys mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim.

Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czubas wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Wadees father Odai Alfayoumi leaving Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., following Czubas sentencing on May 2, 2025. Felix Sarver/The Herald-News via AP

Mourners carrying Wadees coffin at his funeral at at Parkholm Cemetery on Oct. 16, 2023. Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the childs body.

Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadees relatives.

The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community.

Wadees funeral drew large crowds, and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.
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Spoilers below.

As Untamed makes clear, as often as it can, the wildlife are far from the most violent creatures in Yosemite National Park. Humans are always the most dangerous beasts. The new Netflix limited series shares this thesis with any number of contemporary dramas, post-apocalyptic, crime-focused, or otherwise. (Yellowstone and The Last of Uswhich, like Untamed, also concern the consequences of griefspring immediately to mind.) Thus, theres a level to which Untamed is predictable by default. Despite the shows gorgeous visuals, solid performances, and compelling opening, we know the kind of lesson were in for.

Still, Untamed is ultimately less successful than its Hollywood brethren, in part because the threads of its various crimes fail to coalesce in a satisfying manner. The big twists dont land as pulse-pounding revelations. Instead, they manage to be rote, frustrating, and convoluted all at once. By the time National Park Service Investigative Services Branch agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) leaves Yosemite behind in the final episode, were left wondering what, exactly, were supposed to have learned from his experience.

Untamed primarily addresses three main mysteries within the national park, each involving a death or disappearance: the death of Jane Doe/Lucy Cooke, the death of Caleb Turner, and the disappearance of Sean Sanderson. Over the course of the series six episodes, Kyle digs deeper into the Cooke case, but it isnt until the finale that all the secrets are laid out for the audience. These details are revealed in such a whirlwind (and yet anticlimactic) manner that its easy to confuse them. If youre left squinting at your screen by the time the credits roll, lets retrace our steps. Heres what we learn by the end of Untamed.

RICARDO HUBBS/NETFLIX

Who happened to Jane Doe/Lucy Cooke?

At the beginning of the series, a woman tumbles to her death off the edge of El Capitan, an infamous vertical rock formation in Yosemite. (The New York Times accurately referred to this inciting incident as a deceptively high-adrenaline start to the series. What comes next is, generally, much less thrilling.)

Slowly, Kyle begins to work with ranger Naya Vasquez (Lily Santiago) to uncover Jane Does identity: She is a half-Indigenous woman named Lucy Cooke, formerly known as Grace McCray, and she went missing for the first time many years ago. Back then, Kyle assumed that her father, an abusive man named Rory Cooke, killed her. But when her adult body shows up off El Capitan, Kyle is forced to reexamine the facts of her case.

A DNA test soon reveals that Rory Cooke was not, in fact, Lucys biological father. And when a random boy shows up at the park ranger headquarters with a photograph of Grace McCray (a.k.a. Lucy) as a child, Kyle begins to understand a much more convoluted story is at play.

Still, hes initially convinced that wildlife management officer Shane Maguire (Wilson Bethel) had a role in her death. Kyle has good reason to despise (and suspect) Shane, as we later learn, and his theories are all but confirmed when he discovers video footage of Shane on Lucys phone. The two of them were indeed involved in an illegal drug operation from within Yosemite, but, as it turns out, Shane didnt kill Lucy. Her father did.

In the finale, Kyle finally travels to Nevada to locate the abandoned church seen in the boys photograph of young Grace. Next to the church, he finds a crumbling home occupied by a senile woman named Mrs. Gibbs. Further inspection confirms Kyles worse suspicions: Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs kept a group of foster children locked in their basement, barely fed, in order to secure continued government funding. When Kyle finds Native American etchings carved into one of the walls, he understands that Grace was one of these children.

Kyle then meets with a casino employee named Faith Gibbs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs, who confirms that Grace is Lucy Cooke, and that Lucy ran away at some point after realizing her dad, a cop, was never coming back to get her.

So, whos the cop? And did he kill Lucy? Nextthough Ill admit its not clear to me exactly howKyle draws the investigation directly back to his own park rangers.

RICARDO HUBBS/NETFLIX

Wait, so whats the deal with Paul Souter?

Paul Souter (Sam Neill) is Yosemites chief park ranger, and as such, hes Kyles boss and close friend. (He was also, once, godfather to Kyles now-deceased son, Caleb.) After reexamining Lucys DNA test results, Kyle realizes that Pauls daughter, Kate, was scrubbed from the list (despite being in the parks system thanks to her prior arrest). He thus surmises that Paul is the cop Lucy once claimed would rescue her.

Perhaps Kyle puts the pieces together thanks, in part, to Pauls own suspicious behavior. After Naya kills Shane in the penultimate episode (after Shane himself almost kills Kyle), Kyle wants to continue to pursue Lucy Cookes case. Paul discourages him from doing so, claiming Kyle should move on with his life. In refusing to do just that, Kyle finally turns on Paul...and wheedles the full story out of him.

Paul was indeed the father of Lucy Cooke. After having an affair with Lucys mother, an Indigenous woman named Maggie who later died of cancer, Paul refused to acknowledge Lucys existence. (He was afraid it would destroy his marriage and ruin his reputation.) Maggie raised Lucy with her abusive husband, Rory, until she died. Her last wish was for Paul to get Lucy away from Rory. Paul did so by giving Lucy the name Grace McCray and placing her under the Gibbs foster care in Nevada. (I thought Lucy would be safe there, Paul tells Kyle in the finale. I have a hard time buying this coming from a cop, but it doesnt seem Paul is the most thorough investigator on the planet.)

Kyle tells Paul hell need to run ballistics on Pauls hunting rifles, and Paul panics. He initially tries to pretend hes lent his rifles to friends, and so one of them might have killed Lucy. But he cant lie to Kyle, and he soon admits that he chased Lucy throughout Yosemite after Lucy started extorting him for money. When that extortion turned into kidnappingLucy kidnapped Sadie, Pauls granddaughter, as a bargaining chipPaul became desperate. He managed to get Sadie back home after she was abandoned on a ridge inside Yosemite, but he continued to pursue Lucy, wanting to make her listen somehow. After firing a warning shot in her direction, Paul accidentally hit Lucy in the leg with a bullet. Believing she was being hunted, Lucy fledbut was soon attacked by coyotes. Tired, injured, and ready to stop her running, she decided to let herself fall off El Capitan.

Upon learning this, a horrified Kyle demands that Paul make this right by owning up to his crime. But Paul claims he cant, and when he realizes Kyle will try and make it right for him, he pulls his pistol on his old friend. Kyle calls his bluff and continues walking away. At last, Paul instead turns the gun on himself, pulling the trigger and falling, dead, into the river below.

RICARDO HUBBS/NETFLIX

What happened to Caleb?

But wait! Lucy and Pauls arent the only awful, preventable deaths to have taken place in Untameds Yosemite National Park. Five years before the series events, Kyle suffered his own loss: the death of Caleb, the young son he shared with his now ex-wife, Jill Bodwin (Rosemarie DeWitt). We learn midway through the show that Kyle discovered Caleb dead in the park after he went missing from camp. But it isnt until the finale that we learn who killed Caleb: a missing person named Sean Sanderson, whose case Kyle never solved.

Well, what happened to Sean Sanderson?

Jill killed him! Or, rather, she had him killed.

Alas, heres where Shane finally factors into the story, beyond the red-herring drug operation he ran with Lucy: In one of the finales more shocking revelations, Jill reveals to her husband, Scott (John Randall), that she hired Shane to kill Sean Sanderson. Who is Sean, exactly? Apparently just some random, horrible man who sought to prey on children.

Some important backstory: After Calebs death, Shane surveyed footage from motion-capture cameras he had placed throughout the park in order to track wildlife migration. It was from one of these cameras that he first spotted Sean stalking Caleb. Shane then brought this footage to Kyle and Jill, telling them they should let him kill Sean in retaliation for his crime. Kyle refused this offer, in part because he wanted 100-percent confirmation that Sean had killed Caleband he could only be certain after hed arrested Sean and brought him to trial. But Jill couldnt live with the unpredictability of a courtroom. So she hired Shane to blackmail and kill Sean behind Kyles back.

Kyle only discovered Jills secret after Sanderson was reported missing, Jill tells Scott. More than anything, more than losing Caleb, it was me betraying Kyle that ended us, she says of their consequent divorce. Nevertheless, Kyle agreed to lie on Jills behalf...thus why he never solved Sandersons missing-persons case. As he later tells the lawyer pursuing a wrongful death suit for the Sanderson family: Sometimes things happen that just dont make sense.

RICARDO HUBBS/NETFLIX

Where does Kyle go at the end of the series?

Finally, the series ends with Kyle escaping Yosemite National Park. After being placed on suspension thanks to his earlier fight with Shane, Kyle decides to give up his park ranger job together and leave Yosemite in the dustat last moving on from the place of Calebs death. In giving up his vigil, Kyle promises the apparition of his son that hell always take a piece of Caleb wherever he goes. He turns over his horse (and, by extension, his trust) to Naya, who seems eager to take up Kyles mantle.

Its a touching moment, seeing Kyle take ownership of his grief and choose to move forward with his life. But its unclear how exactly he plans to do so, nor how the destruction wrought within his inner circleCalebs death, Jills betrayal, Pauls corruption, Shanes violencehas shaped him now. Has he decided that the best path forward is to leave it all behind? Or, like Lucy, will he realize that theres no escaping the past? Maybe hes simply driving out of the park to find a good therapist. That, dear reader, should be every viewers earnest hope.

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After a tense morning in June, Estrella Quiroz set out for a quiet lunch to clear her mind.

On the way, she noticed an older woman walking in the heat and, although it wasnt something the Miami-native had done before, she felt compelled to offer the woman a ride and some food from Wendys.

What began as a spontaneous act of kindness led to an unexpected friendship, and despite their age difference, 29-year-old Estrella and 97-year-old Lilian discovered a surprising connection neither of them saw coming.

In the car she was like, Why are you taking me? And that's when I was like, you remind me of my grandma, Estrella tells PEOPLE exclusively. If that was my grandma, I would 1000% want a stranger to do the same  a nice stranger.

While driving Lilian to run errands, Estrella was surprised to learn that she is a former accountant who lives alone on government assistance and relies on public transportation to get around.

She's very savvy. Even after we pulled out of Wendy's, and I was going to drop her off at home, she was literally directing me, Estrella recalls. She was very aware of where I was drivingI was really impressed by her sharpness.

Estrella just so happened to capture their first encounter. Although it was her first time vlogging and showing her face on TikTok, Lillian was a natural in front of the camera.

I did reels with voiceovers, but never with my face, Estrella explains. So I posted [the video] just on a whim, and then overnight it went viral, and the next morning people were asking how they could support [Lilian], and so I opened a GoFundMe with the goal of making $5,000.

Estrella Quiroz Estrella Quiroz and Lilian.

In less than 10 hours, supporters had raised over $8,000 to help Lilian with food, bills, and a new walker, as the majority of her social security checks go towards rent, with very little leftover for herself.

At the time of publication, the GoFundMe has raised over $22,000. It was beautiful to see people still overpouring in Lillian's cup, Estrella says. Even Wendys sent her a gift card.

I don't even think she understands, Estrella admits. I tried to explain the virality. I tried to explain a video. She was super confused.

Despite this, Lilian was visibly grateful for the support, as seen in a follow-up video where Estrella gives her an envelope full of cash.

However, of everything Estrella learned about Lilian that day, what struck her the most was the fact that she was from the same city as her late father.

She was born in Leon, Nicaragua, and that surprised me because my dad passed away, and he's currently buried in Leon, Nicaragua, Estrella reveals. It's not the capital. It's not a popular city at all. So it was very surprising.

When Estrella was just 17 years old, her father was deported to Nicaragua. Three days after her 18th birthday, the 50-year-old collapsed while getting off a bus and died alone in the hospital.

In the days leading up to his death, Estrellas father left her three voicemails, which she didnt listen to until after the grim news.

Estrella Quiroz Estrella Quiroz and Lilian.

My dad left me these voicemails, and he tells me that he hopes a million angels look after me, and that he loves me, Estrella recounts. Since then, shes felt a deep sense of guilt for missing his calls, not knowing they would be his last.

But the voicemails he left behind became a quiet source of comfort  something she could return to. In time, they helped her find a new sense of direction and meaning.

http://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

In college, Estrella decided she wanted to see the world and, despite not having the money, she made it happen through credit cards, scholarships, and loans.

I'm the daughter of immigrants. So you grow up with having very little, and so there's a lot more gratitude with everything that you do get, she explains.

Estrella Quiroz Estrella Quiroz and Lilian.

After visiting 45 countries, she met her co-founder, who helped her create Last Farewell  a company incorporated in June 2024, whose mission is to leave no words left unspoken through planned last messages and personalized memorial pages.

Being a first-time founder has been terrifying, but I think about my dad and I think about the courage he had and my mom, how resilient she's been, Estrella said in a video on her company's website.

"I feel self-called to it because I know the words that my parents have left behind are so meaningful to me. And my dad  penniless  left something that has impacted me so greatly.

During her travels, Estrella met strangers who opened up their homes and hearts to her  small acts of kindness she plans to pay forward. And even if it's not moneyif we have nothing. Well, at least we can give our energy to someone, she says.

Estrella Quiroz Estrella Quiroz and her late father.

Estrella believes her father deeply influenced her generosity  growing up, he gave all he could, and she feels a responsibility to do the same.

I really do think Lilian was an angel in my life, a living angel, she tells PEOPLE. I just think she came at the right time.

Estrella didnt expect a random day in mid-June to carry such weight, but the encounter ended up changing the course of both her life and Lilians.

Since giving the 97-year-old a ride, Estrella has remained committed to checking up on her new friend and has even offered more rides to strangers in hopes of making a small difference in people's lives, just like Lilian did in hers.



Read the original article on People
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said he believes Ghislaine Maxwell, a key associate of Jeffrey Epstein currently serving 20 years in prison for conspiring to sexually abuse minors, should face "a life sentence."

"If you're asking my opinion, I think 20 years was a pittance," Johnson told NBC's Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press" July 27. "I think she should have a life sentence, at least."

His remarks to NBC come as many, including supporters of President Donald Trump, clamor for testimony from Maxwell. Some followers of the case have proposed a pardon in exchange, but Trump told reporters on July 25 he hadn't considered the move.

"I'm allowed to do it, but it's something I have not thought about," the president said.

Epstein was charged with sexually trafficking minors and died by suicide while in detention in 2019. Maxwell, his longtime girlfriend, has been accused of recruiting minors for the disgraced financier's predation.

Maxwell maintains her innocence and is appealing her 2021 sex-trafficking conviction.

Johnson in his interview with NBC reiterated that pardons aren't up to him, telling the outlet, "obviously that's a decision of the president."

"I won't get in front of him," Johnson said. "That's not my lane."

But, later in the interview he noted, "It's hard to put into words how evil this was, and that she orchestrated it and was a big part of it."

"So, again, not my decision," he added, "but I have great pause about that, as any reasonable person would."

Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell sits at the defense table as a juror answers questions in a courtroom sketch in New York City on March 8, 2022. Maxwell was convicted on five of the six counts she faced for helping the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls

The Trump administration for weeks has faced backlash over its handling of Epstein's case. Critics from Democratic lawmakers to prominent Republicans and slices of Trump's voter base accuse the president and other officials of not being transparent with the American people.

The speaker has faced his own ongoing Epstein-related criticism, as some House Republicans have zeroed in on the Justice Department's recent review of Epstein's case and are calling for related documents to be released publicly.

Democrats in Congress have piled on too.

Reps. Ro Khanna, D-California, and Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, introduced a bipartisan measure to force the Trump administration's hand in releasing the federal government's files.

Also on "Meet The Press," the pair split on pardoning Maxwell.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) takes questions from reporters at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

"That would be up to the president," Massie said. "But if she has information that could help us, then I think she should testify. Let's get that out there. And whatever they need to do to compel that testimony, as long as it's truthful, I would be in favor of."

Khanna disagreed, saying Maxwell shouldn't receive a pardon.

"Look, I agree with Congressman Massie that she should testify," the California Democrat said. "But she's been indicted twice on perjury. This is why we need the files. This is why we need independent evidence."

Contributing: Bart Jansen and Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Johnson reacts to possible pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell
Jordan Strauss/January Images/Shutterstock Nathan Fillion onstage at Funko: Welcome to the Funderdome at San Diego Comic Con Panel on July 24, 2025 in San Diego.

Nathan Fillion is ready to take The Rookie abroad!

Hot off the heels of season 7's conclusion in May 2025, the 54-year-old actor was joined by executive producer Alexi Hawley at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, July 26. The pair debuted a trailer for the upcoming season and discussed filming the premiere of the ABC procedural in Prague.

When I first said, hey, I want to go to Prague for season 8, I got some looks, because that's not a normal network television thing to do, Hawley said, referring to the budget restrictions of filming network TV. But I'm like we can absorb it, because we've gotten really good at making the show.

I've said this, it felt like we were making Casino Royale, Fillion added of filming in the capital city of the Czech Republic.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

[It's been] a double-edged sword, our show is becoming very popular in Los Angeles, Fillion explained as he noted it can make it difficult to film on the streets of the city.

It is an added extra challenge that people driving by in a car will scream, 'We love The Rookie,' and [then we have] cut, go back to the beginning. I'll take it, though, he said.

Jordan Strauss/January Images/Shutterstock Nathan Fillion signs Funko Pops before the Funko: Welcome to the Funderdome at San Diego Comic Con Panel on July 24, 2025 in San Diego.

Fillion shared that his family has always been fans of the show, saying, When I first started doing The Rookie, and The Rookie started airing, my youngest niece Jordan said to me, Nathan, you're finally on a show I like! I said, Ive actually been on TV since before you were born. She said, I know.

As for what else fans can expect from season 8, Hawley teases, We have an undercover Lucy (Melissa O'Neil) story that were working on in the writers room right now.

Fillion would also like to see one star return to the show: Pete Davidson, who played Peter Nolan. He noted the Saturday Night Live alum wants to come back but is hard to get a hold of.

Calling Davidson a joy to work with, he added, He vibrates on a different plane, and no two takes are alike. He's feeling his way through stuff, and he's, yeah, he's very sensitive, very concerned about doing a great job, and he really loves his work. Hes so kind.



Disney/Mike Taing Nathan Fillion and Lisseth Chavez on 'The Rookie'

The Rookie is one of ABC's most successful series.

Premiering in October 2018, the show follows John Nolan (Fillion) as he joins the Los Angeles Police Department in his 40s after going through a divorce. As the oldest rookie in the LAPD, John has to deal with all the complications of being a new cop and facing adversity due to his age, while also starting a new life in California.

The show is based on the true story of LAPD officer William "Bill" Norcross, who continues to serve in the LAPD and is an executive producer.

The series  which was recently nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Stunt Coordination For Drama Programming  also stars Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey, Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez, Melissa O'Neill as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim Bradford, Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez.



With seven seasons under his belt, Fillion has previously raved about the show and its longevity.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in 2018, Fillion opened up about why The Rookie has connected with audiences so much over the years.

[John Nolan] is literally starting his life over, from scratch, he said. He has an incredible history behind him, but hes starting everything brand new. Its a very attractive prospect that people can relate to.



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.

San Diego Comic-Con 2025 is being held at the San Diego Convention Center from July 24 to July 27.



Read the original article on People
A view of the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego on Feb. 7. The private institution has been plagued by allegations of medical negligence, abusive and retaliatory behavior against immigrants, sexual harassment, poor food and water quality, and other dangerous conditions. (Anadolu via Getty Images)

A deaf Mongolian man who uses sign language to communicate has been released from immigration custody in Southern California after spending months in detention without access to an interpreter, a family member confirmed Saturday.

CalMatters reported earlier this month on the mans detention. His family requested he be identified only by the name Avirmed because of their fear that he could be harmed by the Mongolian government if he is eventually returned to his home country.

U.S. Southern District of California Judge Dana Sabraw on July 9 ordered officials at the Otay Mesa Detention Center to provide Avirmed with a Mongolian Sign Language interpreter. So far, Immigration and Customs Enforcement had not provided him access to anyone who spoke his language, which his attorney equated to holding him in solitary confinement.

Immigration agents tried using Google Translate to ask Avirmed if he feared returning to Mongolia, according to court records. They badly misunderstood him, identifying his sponsor as a daughter named Virginia Washington, but he does not have a daughter, according to a legal complaint filed on his behalf. His sponsor is his sister, who lives in Virginia.

She confirmed, He is home with me.

Avirmeds attorneys with the Disability Rights Legal Center and Disability Law United argued that holding immigration court proceedings without allowing him access to an interpreter violated Avirmeds legal civil rights. They drew on federal disability laws prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities by any federal program, including the immigration court system.

Sabraw agreed. He has a right, doesnt he? To be able to fully participate in any significant proceeding? the federal judge asked the attorney for the federal government.

The U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of California would not comment on the mans release.

Sabraw also ordered the federal government to redo two assessments that could have affected the 48-year-old mans request for asylum. The government did the assessments in a language Avirmed did not understand, the judge ruled. One examined his mental health, and the other evaluated whether he has a credible fear for his safety if he returns to his country.

Avirmed was held in the Otay Mesa Detention Center since he entered the U.S. in February seeking asylum from persecution because of his disability. A 2020 assault in Mongolia left him with a traumatic brain injury that causes seizures and memory loss. He was attacked because of his disability, according to court records. His family declined to say how he reached the U.S.

It remains unclear why Avirmed was released after being detained since February. He did not have any additional bond hearings, according to an immigration court docket. His attorneys could not immediately be reached for comment. ICE did not return a request for comment.

Wendy Fry writes for CalMatters, where this article originally appeared.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Shoon Naing, Chantha Lach and Artorn Pookasook

SISAKET, Thailand/PHNOM PENH (Reuters) -The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia will attend mediation talks over their deadly border conflict in Malaysia on Monday, the Thai government said, even as both sides accused each other of launching fresh artillery strikes across contested areas.

Talks are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. local time (0700 GMT) on Monday, with acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai leading the Thai negotiating team, the government announced in a statement on Sunday night.

Malaysia, which chairs the ASEAN regional cooperation forum, has informed the Thai government that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet would also be attending the talks, the statement said.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia have intensified since the late-May killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief border skirmish. Border troops on both sides were reinforced amid a full-blown diplomatic crisis that brought Thailand's fragile coalition government to the brink of collapse.

Hostilities resumed on Thursday and, within just four days, escalated into the worst fighting between the Southeast Asian neighbours in more than a decade.

The death toll has risen above 30, including 13 civilians in Thailand and eight in Cambodia, while authorities report that more than 200,000 people have been evacuated from border areas.

Monday's talks come after Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last week proposed a ceasefire and U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the two leaders had agreed to work on a ceasefire.

CALLS FOR PEACE

Bangkok and Phnom Penh have each accused the other side of sparking last week's hostilities.

Cambodia's Defence Ministry said Thailand had shelled and launched ground assaults on Sunday morning at a number of points along the border. The ministry's spokesperson said heavy artillery was fired at historic temple complexes.

"For me, I think it is great if Thailand agreed to stop fighting so both countries can live with peace," Phnom Penh university student Sreung Nita told Reuters.

The Thai army said Cambodian forces had fired shots into several areas, including near civilian homes, on Sunday, and were mobilising long-range rocket launchers.

"The situation remains tense and Cambodian troops may be preparing intensified military operations to inflict maximum damage in the final stages before negotiations," the army said in an update.

In the Thai province of Sisaket, Reuters reporters heard shelling throughout Sunday and said it was unclear which side of the border it was on.

A government health clinic about 10 km (6 miles) from the border had shattered windows, collapsed walls and exposed wiring. Local media reported it was hit by artillery on Saturday, two days after the building and surrounding neighbourhood was evacuated.

Only a few men remained to look after their homes, camping near a makeshift bunker they had dug for protection. Intermittent sounds of artillery fire could be heard in the distance.

"It's great that America is insisting on the ceasefire because it would bring peace," Sisaket resident Thavorn Toosawan told Reuters.

Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th century Preah Vihear central to the disputes.

Preah Vihear was awarded to Cambodia by the International Court of Justice in 1962, but the situation worsened in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Skirmishes over several years brought at least a dozen deaths.

Cambodia said in June it had asked the International Court of Justice to resolve its disputes with Thailand. Bangkok says it has never recognised the court's jurisdiction and prefers a bilateral approach.

(Reporting by Shoon Naing and Artorn Pookasook in Sisaket, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu Wongcha-um, Chayut Setboonsarng, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Juarawee Kittisilpa in Bangkok, Chantha Lach and Zaw Naing Oo in Phnom Penh, Rozanna Latiff inKuala Lumpur; Writing by John Mair; Editing by William Mallard, Kate Mayberry and Clelia Oziel)
News / National

by Staff reporter

A 27-year-old teacher employed by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been sentenced for assaulting a 15-year-old Grade 7 pupil at a primary school in Gwai.Shyleen Nenduva appeared before the Hwange Magistrates' Court where she was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison for the offence. However, six months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while the remaining nine months were commuted to 315 hours of community service.The court heard that the incident occurred on July 9, 2025, at around 10am, when the pupil was reportedly misbehaving outside the classroom. Nenduva summoned the boy and attempted to reprimand him. A verbal confrontation ensued, escalating into a physical altercation.Prosecutors said Nenduva struck the learner multiple times with a wooden stick before punching him and knocking him to the ground. During the scuffle, the child's right elbow became swollen after hitting a desk and landing on a hard surface.The boy reported the matter to his parents, who then filed a police report, resulting in Nenduva's arrest and prosecution.The court condemned the use of excessive force against minors, emphasising the legal prohibition of corporal punishment in schools and the duty of educators to uphold the welfare and safety of pupils under their care.The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has not yet issued a statement regarding the disciplinary action to be taken against Nenduva following the court ruling.
SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country would achieve victory in "anti-imperalist, anti-U.S." battles, as the country marked the anniversary of the Korean War armistice, state media reported on Sunday.

Kim "affirmed that our state and its people would surely achieve the great cause of building a rich country with a strong army and become honourable victors in the anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. showdown," KCNA state news agency said, referring to his visit to a war museum on a previous day.

North Korea signed an armistice agreement with the United States and China on July 27, 1953, ending the fighting in the three-year war. U.S. generals signed the agreement representing the United Nations forces that had backed South Korea.

North Korea calls July 27 "Victory Day" even though the armistice drew a border dividing the Korean peninsula roughly equally in area after the two sides had made major advances back and forth during the war.

South Korea does not mark the day with any major events.

But in a speech read out on Sunday at a commemoration ceremony honouring Korean War veterans in Washington, D.C., South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung pledged to further cement the country's alliance with the United States and protect freedom and peace.

"Through efforts in various fields including politics, economy, security, and culture, we will further strengthen the noble South Korea-U.S. alliance forged in blood and make even more efforts to firmly protect freedom and peace on the Korean Peninsula," Lee said.

North Korea is now fighting alongside Russia in the war in Ukraine. Thousands of North Korean troops were deployed to Russia's Kursk region, while Pyongyang has also supplied Russia with munitions. It may deploy more troops in July or August, South Korea has said.

Kim also visited memorials honouring the veterans of the 1950-53 war including the Tower of Friendship remembering the Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers who fought with the North Koreans, and met soldiers in an artillery regiment to celebrate the day, state media KCNA said.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Kate Mayberry)
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! The Writing Process

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

EDEN (25D: "Lempicka" actress Espinosa) Lempicka is a musical based on the life of Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980), a Polish painter who fled to Paris, France during the Russian Revolution. EDEN Espinoza played the role of Tamara de Lempicka when the musical opened on Broadway in 2024. For the role she received a Tony Award Nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.

IRAN (17D: Country that celebrates Sizdah Bedar) In IRAN, Sizdah Bedar is celebrated thirteen days after Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. The festival is also known as Nature's Day and is celebrated by spending time outdoors.

ALOO (13A: Hindi for "potato") The clue here is giving the reminder I occasionally provide.

EPEE (20A: Slowest form of fencing) There are three swords used in the sport of fencing: foil, saber, and EPEE. Part of the reason that EPEE is the slowest form of fencing is that the EPEE is the heaviest of the fencing weapons. EPEE is also slower because the entire body is a target area, so fencers must be cautious not to get hit.

BO DIDDLEY (28A: Blues legend known for his rectangular guitar) BO DIDDLEY (1928-2008) was a rock and roll musician. HE was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. BO DIDDLEY's trademark instrument was a rectangular guitar nicknamed "The Twang Machine."

PAELLA (34A: Valencian rice dish) PAELLA is a traditional dish in Spanish cuisine. It originated from Valencia, one of Spain's autonomies (administrative divisions of government). "PAELLA" is the word for "frying pan" in the Valencian/Catalan language, and the wide, shallow pan used to cook the dish gave PAELLA its name. Recipes vary, but PAELLA consists of rice, vegetables, meat, and seasonings. Its yellow color comes from saffron or turmeric.

NEIL (39A: Young with the album "Trans") Trans is NEIL Young's thirteenth studio album, released in 1983. The album incorporated the use of vocoders (speech encoders), synthesizers, and electric beats and was of a different style than his previous albums.

BOO RADLEY (44A: Misjudged neighbor in "To Kill a Mockingbird") To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel written by Harper Lee. The novel is narrated by an adult Scout Finch who is remembering events of her childhood. BOO RADLEY is a neighbor of the Finch family.

BOOK A TRIP (59A: Use Kayak, perhaps) The capital K of Kayak alerts solvers that the word is referring not to the boat, but to the travel service company, which one might use to BOOK A TRIP.

ELLE (63A: "The Great" actress Fanning) The Great (2020-2023) is a satirical historical fiction TV series very loosely based on Catherine the Great. In the first and third seasons, the show was titled onscreen as The Great: An Occasionally True Story. During the second season, the title used was The Great: An Almost Entirely Untrue Story. ELLE Fanning portrays Catherine, who was the empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796.

ALPS (2D: Mont Blanc's range) Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in the ALPS. It is located on the France-Italy border and has an elevation of 15,766 feet.

BRO (9D: Mario, to Luigi) Mario and Luigi are the brothers in the Mario Bros. video games  they are fraternal twins. Mario, who wears a red shirt, is the oldest of the twins. Luigi wears a green shirt.

EPIPEN (21D: Lifesaving allergy device) EPIPEN is the trademark name for a brand of epinephrine autoinjector, a medical device used to inject a measured dose of epinephrine to treat anaphylaxis (a life-threatening type of allergic reaction).

CAIRO (26D: Capital near the Sphinx) The Great Sphinx is a statue located in Giza, Egypt. It is one of the oldest known sculptures in Egypt, dating to the 2500s BCE. A sphinx is a mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion. Giza is located across the Nile River from CAIRO, the capital of Egypt.

YALE (31D: New Haven school) YALE is located in New Haven, Connecticut. It was founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School, and is the third-oldest college in the United States, following Harvard and College of William & Mary. In 1718, the Collegiate School was renamed YALE College after Elihu YALE, who was persuaded to donate money to construct a new building for the school.

ARAB (32D: Like most people in Jordan) Jordan is a country in West Asia. Its capital is Amman. 95% of Jordan's residents are ARABs. Jordan was mentioned two days ago in the clue for PETRA, [World Heritage Site in Jordan].
Courtesy of Austa A Prego sandwich at Austa in Algarve, Southern Portugal

There's a lot to love about Portugal. Its coastline is simply epic, with every inch providing one more breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean crashing onto sandy shorelines protected by towering, craggy cliffs. Its cities, like popular destinations Lisbon and Porto, are abundant with culture and history, and plenty of azulejos (those beautiful painted tiles) to inspire your next home renovation. However, there's one thing Portugal has above all this for food-loving travelers: the world's best sandwiches.

Yes, I said what I said. Portugal is home to the world's best sandwiches. And it all starts with its fantastic bread.

"There's a great culture of breads in Portugal," Hugo Nascimento, the chef behind the celebrated restaurant Naperon, in Odeceixe, and the author of O Livro das Sanduiches, tells Food & Wine. "Every time we host someone at our home, we always have bread and something to put on the bread  cheese, charcuterie, ham, chorizo, things like that."

Bread here is magical thanks to both the fresh flours milled in the countryside and the technique of making it, which Nascimento says is usually in a "wood oven." Portuguese bread is an art form crafted out of necessity.

"Portugal was a poor country and everything was about bread," Nascimento shares. "If you see some recipes from the countryside, the poor people just had bread, garlic, and some herbs." But out of that came dishes like PicaPau, which translates to "woodpecker." It's a dish that includes chunks of beef (or pork) sauteed in a garlicandbeer gravy, which is served with bread for dipping. It's hearty, warm, and will keep you full for days.

But, again, we're here for the sandwiches. Here are Nascimento's recommendations for what every visitor to Portugal should try, along with a few other national sandwich favorites that deserve a spot on your next plate.

Bifana

I love takeing photos / Getty Images

The Bifana is a staple snack across Portugal, eaten essentially any time of day. "There are a lot of different recipes from north to south, but I prefer the north," Nascimento says. In the north, travelers will find bifanas cooked in a sauce rather than pan-fried, he explained. "There are thin strips of pork cooked in pork fat, garlic, bay leaf, and wine. This is going to boil slowly, and then just shred it in the sauce." To finish, slap it between two slices of bijou bread. "It's marvelous," Nascimento adds. If you're in Lisbon, you can visit just about any tasca (a small shop, similar to a bodega) to try one. Though if you're willing to wait in line, The Bifanas of Afonso is worth the hype.

Tosta Mista

Courtesy of Austa

The Tosta Mista is usually enjoyed for breakfast, though it can double as an anytime snack. It's a pretty classic ham and cheese on toast, though it's heavily buttered for added richness and finished with seasonings like oregano and garlic. Travelers can typically find it in any tasca, as well as in bakeries, and there are some high-end versions in restaurants around the nation, including Austa in the Alentejo, which could inspire your next at-home lunch. "Our Oss-ta Tosta is a bold twist on the beloved breakfast cheese and ham 'tosta mista,'" says Emma Campus, co-owner of Austa. "Instead of pao de agua, we use crunchy, soft sourdough, stuffed with cured Sao Jorge cheese from the islands, sobrassada, and homemade orchard pickles."

Related: 16 Portuguese Recipes to Add to Your Repertoire

Francesinha

JackF / Getty Images

For something that is truly so over the top, you'd be hard pressed not to want to take a nap when you're done, it's time to head to O Porto for a Franchesinha. The sandwich, which originated/gained popularity in the 1950s, is made with layers of ham, linguica (smoked sausage), and more sausage or steak, all between two pieces of toast, topped with cheese, and then smothered in a tomato-and-beer sauce. Not enough? You can get it topped with a fried egg and with fries on the side. The most famous place to try this dish is Cafe Santiago in Porto, a spot that delivers on taste, quality, and the diner vibes you're after with a meal like this. Another option, Casanova Porto, offers a vegetarian version, ensuring everyone can enjoy this decadence.

Prego no Pao

Brandon Rosenblum / Getty Images

Who says you can't have a sandwich for dessert? In Portugal, that comes in the form of the Prego no Pao sandwich. "In seafood restaurants, they always have the prego for dessert," Nascimento explains. "So you eat a lot of shrimp, crab, lobsters, things like that. But in the end, they ask if you want a dessert, and it's this sandwich." As the chef explains, a prego is made with beef steak and typically served rare, with garlic. They may also serve it with cheese in the north, and it's usually stacked in a bolo do caco flatbread. It's perfect with a cold beer. While visiting Lisbon, book a table at Ramiro, renowned for its decadent take on the after-dinner sandwiches.

Cachorrinho

Kanawa_Studio / Getty Images

Heading north? There's one more Porto street food classic you need to try: a Portuguese hot dog (which, yes, qualifies as a sandwich, according to Padma Lakshmi). Known as a Cachorrinho, this usually includes a fresh sausage topped with cheese, maybe some ham, thats pressed and grilled. It's then topped with piripiri sauce, which is indeed very spicy, so know that a drop will do. The sandwich is also typically chipped into bite-sized pieces before being served, making it easy to eat. Head right to Snack-Bar Gazela in Porto to try the original recipe. If you're in Lisbon, make your way to the Time Out Market for new-school varieties at Tartine, where they're made with brioche buns.

Related: 7 Essential Portuguese Foods You Need to Try at Least Once

Pataniscas de Bacalhau

Stacey Leasca

Bacalhau is life in Portugal, so naturally, there's a sandwich for that, too. Nascimento explains that he makes pataniscas, which are small, fried fish cakes comprising shredded fish, mixed with onion, garlic, and parsley, then dredged in flour, eggs, and "sometimes beer" to bind the batter together. "Then, we deep fry the little cakes and put them in bread." You can eat the cakes without the bread, but where's the fun in that? Try it at Merendinha do Arco in Lisbon, where it's a house specialty.

Sandes de Pernil

Bex Walton cc-by-2.0

Have one more meaty bite by ordering a Sandes de Pernil, made with slow-roasted pork shoulder that is shredded and piled high, topped with cheese (this is a sandwich from the north, after all), and served inside a tasty roll. For this one, there's no better spot to go than Casas Guedes in Porto, which is said to be where the sandwich originated. Luckily, it has several locations, so you won't have to wait long for a bite. Just make sure to leave room for your dessert sandwich later.

Read the original article on Food & Wine
Visit Brisbane A humpback whale breaching in Moreton Bay near Brisbane, Australia.

Each year, as temperatures drop in Antarctica, a great migration begins. Tens of thousands of humpback whalesmore than 45,000 by some estimatesset off on an epic 6,200-mile journey north that runs along Australias east coast. They are bound for warm tropical waters where they breed and calve before taking the same route back to the Southern Ocean. Locals call it the Humpback Highway, and from June through November, it offers one of the worlds most reliable and awe-inspiring whale-watching experiences.

At the heart of the spectacle is Moreton Bay, a protected stretch of water just offshore Brisbane that the whales pass through. The migration reaches its peak in August, when larger pods appear and there is a surge in social behavior: tail slapping, pectoral waving, and the unmistakable breach.

This year, the outlook is especially promising. Sightings are already up, and with the humpback whale population increasing, some skippers are predicting it could be the most active season yet. For travelers, access couldnt be easier. Brisbane is one of the only major cities in the world where you can leave your hotel after breakfast and be scanning the ocean for whales by midmorningno long drives or complicated transfers required.

Tour companies like Brisbane Whale Watching pick up guests 40 minutes north of the city and boast a whale-sighting guarantee. For larger groups, or a small, VIP experience, Sovereign Lady Charters has a 74-foot private-use yacht that fits up to 35 guests and departs 30 minutes east of downtown Brisbane.

You might also be able to glimpse the massive migration by taking a ferry to North Stradbroke Island in Moreton Bay and watching from. Cape Moreton on Moreton Island is another land-based viewing point. To reach the cape, take a ferry to Moreton Island and walk the Cape Moreton track to the Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Queenslands only stone lighthouse. It is a great place to catch the Humpback Highway as it passes by the shores of the island.

Not all whale watching requires a boat. North Stradbroke Island (known to locals as Straddie) is reachable by ferry and offers commanding views from Point Lookout, a clifftop path where whales can often be seen breaching just offshore. For something even wilder, head to Moreton Island, a national park of towering sand dunes and quiet beaches. From the ferry landing, hike the Cape Moreton Track to the historic Cape Moreton Lighthouse (the only stone lighthouse in Queensland) and take in sweeping views of the Pacific.

Whale season off the coast of Brisbane runs from June to November and peaks in August. According to new research from Griffith University, Moreton Bay is becoming more than just a migratory corridorits now a key resting and nursing zone for mother whales and their calves on their return journey south.



Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Car theft lead

Range Rover owners can relax, but Hilux owners need to be on high alert. Thats the message from the Governments latest car theft statistics, which show that the undesirable title of Britains most stolen new car has shifted from Land Rovers flagship to the humble Toyota pickup truck.

Analysis of official data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) conducted by insurance specialist QuestGates shows that Toyota Hilux thefts were up 549 per cent in 2024 compared with the previous year, with 584 going missing over the year.

While overall UK vehicle thefts were down 4.5 per cent in 2024, the figure for cars younger than three years old rose by 6.6 per cent. In contrast, Land Rover models saw substantial decreases. Range Rover Evoque thefts in particular were down 77 per cent last year, helping to shift the brand out of the top 10.

This reflects the success of recent security enhancements introduced by Land Rover after it was battered by bad publicity and customer complaints after a crime wave made some Range Rovers almost uninsurable, especially in cities.

Previous crimewaves had made certain Range Rovers virtually uninsurable - Nick Dimbleby

The 17m cost of security upgrades

In an unprecedented move, Land Rovers parent company JLR invested 1m to fund proactive policing to tackle the organised crime groups targeting vehicles in the UK. It then spent 17m to update the security of its vehicles, including retrospectively upgrading the key systems on 300,000 cars to the latest technology, which uses scan-resistant wavebands and keyfobs which go into sleep mode if they are not moved.

And it has worked. As a result, there are now no Land Rover models in the top 22 most stolen models for 2024  and monthly theft figures for the Land Rover and Jaguar brands are at their lowest levels for five years.

Philip Swift, technical director at QuestGates, said: JLR deserves huge credit for security upgrades which are apparently highly effective in deterring the professional criminals who target new cars. Fewer thefts mean fewer claims, lower costs and better outcomes for policyholders.

Toyotas Top Gear test

But it seems as though the crooks have moved on to another rugged vehicle  the Toyota Hilux. The tough pickup was made famous for being seemingly indestructible in a 2003 series of Top Gear, yet while it might appear unbreakable, it seems the security systems are less sturdy and it is now highly sought after by thieves who are using electronic bypasses to take them without the key.

The stolen 4x4 vehicles have a ready market in foreign countries where its ruggedness is prized, while the buyers are not worried by its stolen status. Richard Billyeald, chief research and operations officer at the insurance industrys Thatcham Research, said: Top destinations for stolen UK vehicles include the Democratic Republic of Congo, UAE, Cyprus, Jamaica and Georgia, driven by global shortages of car parts, high vehicle desirability and geopolitical disruption.

The Hilux theft craze has led to a wave of warnings from police forces across the country. Last summer, Bedfordshire Police urged owners to take extra precautions after 11 were stolen overnight from addresses in Luton over a few days. North Yorkshire Police and Nottinghamshire officers issued similar warnings and stepped up crime prevention patrols in rural locations, speaking to owners of Hiluxes to warn them of the risks.

Like Land Rover, Toyota is fighting back. A spokesman said: Toyota GB has invested millions of pounds in a variety of solutions that help protect cars from theft. These include protective plates, immobilisers, blockers and trackers.

We conducted a trial last year, at a cost of more than 10 million to Toyota, where selected customers were provided with a free tracking service. We are rolling out Tracker installation as an option for buyers of certain models, including Hilux, to help add a level of customer reassurance. Some of those customers were targeted by criminals and their cars were stolen. As a result of the installation of tracking devices, a 96 per cent recovery rate was achieved.

Our anti-theft measures form part of a nationwide customer care offering. Owners can contact their local dealer to establish whether their model would benefit from additional security devices.

Toyota and Jaguar Land Rover are the only car makers currently engaging with the newly formed National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership, recognising their vehicles have vulnerabilities and giving significant funding to the police-led scheme to disrupt and target gangs involved in vehicle crime. But they are not the only brands with serious issues.

Worrying trends

While BMW has retained its second place in the most stolen list of younger cars, owners will be worried to see the rise of Korean brand Kia, which moves from fifth to third place. Along with sister brand Hyundai, the South Korean companys cars have been plagued by thefts, with criminals apparently using a simple gadget bought on the internet to mimic the cars real key.

Hyundai says its vehicles placed in the market after February 2024 have all received the latest hardware and software technology and should be safe, while it is actively working to offer a range of options to enhance the security of customers vehicles for earlier models.

A police source told us that Fords big-selling rival to the Hilux, called the Ranger, is also proving popular with thieves looking to export them  although their stronger security means they tend to be acquired through fraud rather than conventional methods.

Regionally, thefts of vehicles less than three years old increased significantly in 2024 in Bedfordshire, Essex and Warwickshire, while Greater Manchester recorded a notable 20 per cent reduction.

It seems that the electronic technology designed to keep our cars secure can offer crooks any easy way into them and the best way to prevent it is a switch to old-fashioned physical locks. A Bedfordshire Police spokesperson said: Where possible, park cars on driveways, in well-lit areas or where they are covered by CCTV. Extra security such as immobilisers or steering locks could also help deter thieves, along with lockable covers for diagnostic ports on newer models. And please keep keys in a secure location and as far from the vehicle as possible.

Top tips on how to protect your car

Make sure your car is locked

...Even if you are in a place you think is safe, such as a rural location or your driveway. Cost: 0

Fit a steering wheel lock or other physical security device

Look for products with a Sold Secure approval, as they will take thieves longer to remove. Cost: from 70

Where to keep your fob

If your car has keyless entry (you dont have to press buttons to unlock it), keep the fob as far away from the car as possible when it is parked to prevent high-tech relay theft using signal boosters. Also try to keep the keys in a Faraday bag or box to prevent them transmitting. Cost: 15

Tracking devices

Consider a tracking device to help locate your vehicle if its stolen. Professionally fitted and insurance approved trackers cost about 200 plus a monthly subscription. Cheaper alternatives are available but are unlikely to bring a discount on premiums. Cost: from 100

Have the car marked to help identification

Old-fashioned window etching is effective, but modern DNA swabbing applies an almost invisible paint to parts across the car. It can only be seen under UV light, while microscopic analysis will reveal a unique code. Cost: 59.50 (selectadna.co.uk)

When buying or selling

Be especially careful when buying or selling a car to make sure you are not a victim of fraud or distraction theft. Insist on seeing ID and make sure payments are cleared before letting a car out of your sight. Cost: Free

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An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Tyler Boebert's mugshot from February 2024, Image 2 shows Lauren Boebert with her teenage son

Rep. Lauren Boeberts troubled eldest son has been charged with child abuse following an incident involving her grandson.

Tyler, the 20-year-old son of the Republican congresswoman and her ex-husband, Jayson, was slapped with the misdemeanor charge in Colorado on July 11, Denver Westword reported Saturday, citing Windsor Police Department records.

Rep. Boebert downplayed the charge, saying it was the result of a miscommunication on monitoring my young grandson that recently led to him getting out of our house.

Tyler Boeberts mugshot from February 2024. Rifle Police Department/Facebook

In a statement, the 38-year-old grandmother, who represents Colorados fourth congressional district, called it a one-time incident, and said the boy was not injured.

Child Protective Services met with the family.

I am confident this is a one-time incident that we have addressed as a family, Boebert said.

Tyler Boeberts girlfriend became pregnant with his child when he was 17, the three-term congresswoman announced in 2023.

Boeberts office did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

It is the latest in a string of legal issues involving the MAGA Republicans eldest son.

Lauren Boebert with her son Tyler in 2021. Instagram/Lauren Boebert

In September 2022, Tyler flipped his fathers SUV while driving, leaving his passenger with multiple concussions and sever lacerations, according to reports.

He was ticketed for careless driving, but the case was eventually dropped down to a defective vehicle for headlights ticket under a plea deal with Garfield County prosecutors.

In January 2024, Tyler called the police and said his father was assaulting him at their home.

Jayson Boebert was arrested after he allegedly pushed Tyler to the ground and pushed his thumb into his mouth, according to a Garfield County arrest affidavit.

At the time of the most recent incident, Tyler was serving a 24-month probation after pleading guilty to attempting to commit identity theft in October 2024.

Lauren Boebert walks in the Capitol Building on July 2, 2025. Getty Images

The guilty plea was negotiated with officials after he was arrested on 22 criminal charges, including five felonies, for his role in a string of thefts around Colorado in February 2024.

One of his victims was a 33-year-old woman who was saving up for brain surgery and left with nothing after the robbery, she claimed in a lawsuit.

Tyler had made a sex tape with one of his female accomplices and distributed the video to another person in the theft ring, another lawsuit claimed.

Part of his probation required Boebert to complete 80 hours of community service and he was banned from using controlled substances, Westword reported.

It is unclear if the misdemeanor charge violates his probation order.

Tyler Boebert is scheduled to appear in Weld County Court for the child abuse charge on Sept. 8.
A group of Democratic senators led by Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is urging the Trump administration to suspend American financial support for the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a private food distribution organization that has been heavily criticized for the way it delivers food aid to Gazans and because so many have been killed trying to reach its distribution sites.

The U.S. and Israel have advocated for the recently established GHF to replace the United Nations, which has built an extensive network of humanitarian workers inside Gaza over decades. Israel accuses the U.N. of bias and collusion with Hamas.

In a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio Sunday, the 21 senators expressed "grave" concerns about "the U.S. role in and financial support for the troubled GHF."

"We urge you to immediately cease all U.S. funding for GHF and resume support for the existing UN-led aid coordination mechanisms with enhanced oversight to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need," the letter reads.

The U.N. warns that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is growing increasingly dire as more Palestinians are in danger of starvation after a months-long Israeli blockade, and recent military operations complicated humanitarian efforts to help. The IDF claims there is no starvation.

Van Hollen, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as the powerful Appropriations Committee, told CBS News "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" Sunday, "American taxpayers should not be spending one penny to fund this private organization backed by mercenaries and by the IDF that has become a death trap," noting that scores of Gazans were shot and killed as starving people crowded the GHF sites to obtain food.

The letter focuses on a $30 million pledge from the State Department, announced last month, and on GHF's operations, particularly its use of armed contractors who stand behind IDF soldiers at food distribution sites in four designated military zones. Starving Gazans must travel to those areas, which is difficult for those too weak to move.

"Blurring the lines between delivery of aid and security operations shatters well-established norms that have governed distribution of humanitarian aid since the ratification of the Geneva Conventions in 1949," the letter says.

U.S. allies have also been critical of the tactics used by the U.S. and Israeli-backed GHF.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told Margaret Brennan Sunday on "Face the Nation" that Gaza is on the "brink of food catastrophe" and that France expects "the Israeli government to stop the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation that has caused [a] bloodbath in humanitarian health distribution lines in Gaza."

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Friday that a thousand Palestinians have been killed trying to access food since May 27.

"We hold video calls with our own humanitarians who are starving before our eyes," Guterres said. "We will continue to speak out at every opportunity. But words don't feed hungry children."

The U.N. human rights office said 1,054 people were killed while trying to obtain food since late May, and of those, 766 were killed while trying to reach sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The others were killed when gunfire erupted around U.N. convoys or aid sites.

The group of senators led by Van Hollen are seeking answers about whether necessary oversight is being bypassed to benefit the GHF. Their letter cites public reports that the Trump administration authorized the funds under a "priority directive," which meant it could avoid "a comprehensive audit that is usually required for groups receiving USAID grants for the first time."

The senators want to see the GHF's "complete funding application and all supporting documentation" and demand to know whether any statutory and regulatory requirements were waived.

They also asked Rubio about the procurement mechanism that resulted in the $30 million in funding, and they want to know who signed the agreement, who might be liable for compliance violations and whether officials were aware of potential concerns raised by USAID about "GHF's ability to protect Palestinians while delivering food aid."

The State Department said it generally does not comment on congressional correspondence. A department spokesperson said Friday that the funding has been allocated, but it has not yet been disbursed to GHF.

On Saturday, amid international outcry, the Israel Defense Force began airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza and said it would establish humanitarian corridors to "enable the safe movement of UN convoys delivering food and medicine to the population."

The U.N. has said the airdrops are insufficient. Past airdrops have fallen on Gazans and killed them. Now the approximately 2 million people live in Gaza and have been herded into an even more limited zone that lacks extensive open space where air-dropped pallets can land.

Israel's announcement came after extensive international outcry at images of starving children, and reports of death. Leaders in Europe, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Fredreich Merz, coordinated Saturday by phone. A readout of the call released by the UK said the three leaders said the situation in Gaza is "appalling" and "emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid and urgently provide those suffering in Gaza with the food they so desperately need."

On Friday, two Jordanian officials said they were considering airdrops and the United Arab Emirates sent a 7,000-ton aid ship to Gaza's shores. But it has not been determined who will distribute the food once it arrives.

The GHF says it has distributed more than 91 million meals to Gazans, but there have been almost daily reports of civilians being injured or killed as they try to reach one of the group's four distribution hubs, all located in southern Gaza.

In an interview with BBC News this week, Anthony Aguliar, a U.S. Army veteran and former contractor for GHF, detailed what he says he saw on the ground behind IDF lines during humanitarian aid distribution, calling the operation "amateur."

"I witnessed the Israeli Defense Forces shooting at the crowds of Palestinians. I witnessed the Israeli Defense Forces firing a main gun tank round from the Merkava tank into a crowd of people," Aguilar said. "In my most frank assessment, I would say that they're criminal. In my entire career, I have never witnessed the level of brutality and use of indiscriminate and unnecessary force against a civilian population, an unarmed, starving population."

In a statement to CBS News, the GHF called Aguilar's claims "materially false" and said he had been terminated from his position for "misconduct."

The group has also been criticized by the U.N., which said GHF's tactics are neither adequate nor safe and make it more difficult for Gazans too weak to travel to military zones to secure food.

Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, which provides support for Palestinian refugees, condemned the GHF in June, calling it "an abomination" and "a death trap costing more lives than it saves."

As the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated further this week, the GHF and U.N. groups continued to blame each other.

In several public statements and social media posts last week, GHF said the responsibility for the mass starvation lies with the U.N. for allowing their full aid trucks inside Gaza to sit untouched and undistributed.

"The U.N. cannot deliver this humanitarian aid to the people who need it most, and I'm not sure what the reason is," said GHF spokesperson Chapin Fay in a video posted to X, which showed him standing in front of U.N. aid trucks. "Whether it's looters, safety or whether they're playing politics, it just doesn't matter. The people of Gaza deserve better."

The executive chairman of GHF, Reverend Johnnie Moore, in an interview with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro this week accused the U.N. of "playing politics with people's lives."

"They're actually basically a willful participant on the Hamas side of the negotiating table in the ceasefire negotiations, by refusing to distribute aid and spreading this narrative around the world that the people of Gaza are going to starve if Hamas doesn't, in effect, get its demands at the negotiating table," Moore said.

The U.N. World Food Programme says hundreds of aid trucks are ready to move, but the approval needed from the Israeli military to transport and distribute that aid is not coming quickly enough. In a statement Friday, they said just over half of their requests to collect cargo were approved and convoys were typically delayed, sometimes up to nearly two days, awaiting permission to travel within Gaza.

Meanwhile, a UNICEF spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that their supplies of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food or RUTF  used for treating severely acutely malnourished children  is expected to run out in mid-August if more is not allowed into Gaza.

"We are now facing a dire situation that we are running out of therapeutic supplies," said Salim Oweis, a spokesperson for UNICEF in Amman, Jordan. "That's really dangerous for children as they face hunger and malnutrition at the moment," he added.

Oweis said UNICEF had only enough RUTF left to treat 3,000 children. In the first two weeks of July alone, UNICEF treated 5,000 children facing acute malnutrition in Gaza.

The UNICEF spokesperson said the agency is unaware of whether GHF is distributing this type of specialized food and emphasized that it must be given to children after they are assessed by professional health workers to be suffering from acute malnutrition. GHF did not respond to CBS News when asked if the foundation also distributes specialized high-nutrient food for acutely malnourished children.

UNICEF is the main procurer of RUTF in the world.

Read the full letter sent by Senate Democrats to Secretary of State Marco Rubio here:

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SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea will prepare a trade package that is mutually agreeable with the United States ahead of minister-level meetings planned next week and a U.S. tariff-pause deadline of August 1, the presidential office said on Saturday.

The package will include shipbuilding cooperation, a sector of high interest to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who discussed the matter with South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan on Friday, it said in a statement.

Friday's meeting was a follow-up to a meeting on Thursday, where Lutnick and Kim reaffirmed their commitment to reach a trade deal by August 1, after a joint meeting of finance ministers and top trade envoys that had been scheduled for Friday was postponed.

South Korea, facing 25% tariffs, is rushing to reach a trade deal with Washington, with National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac visiting the U.S. recently for high-level talks and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo also in the U.S. for negotiations, as pressure grows on officials to clinch a deal that is no worse than Japan's that cut tariffs to 15%.

South Korea's trade negotiations with the U.S. have included non-tariff barriers in the agricultural and digital service sectors, but foreign exchange has not been part of trade talks beyond usual consultations, according to South Korean officials.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Scotland on Friday for bilateral talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, which could yield a trade deal with the European Union, after making a deal earlier this week with Japan and the Philippines.

Next week, U.S. officials will hold a new round of trade talks with China in Sweden for an extension to a separate deadline of August 12 set between the two countries.

South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will also hold meetings with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and State Secretary Marco Rubio, respectively, next week.

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
A Cambodian soldier stands on a truck carrying a Russian-made BM-21 rocket launcher travelling along a street in Oddar Meanchey province on July 26, 2025. - Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images

Ceasefire talks between Cambodia and Thailand were underway in Malaysia on Monday after days of deadly clashes on their disputed border sent civilians scrambling for safety and relations between the two neighbors cratering.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai met at the Prime Ministers official residence in Putrajaya, just south of the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Fighting between the two continued on Monday, with Cambodian authorities accusing Thailand of striking at least two locations in the early hours, while the Thai army said clashes were still ongoing in three provinces.

Both sides have accused the other of starting the latest border flare-up, and traded blame for the ongoing fighting that has continued despite calls from the United Nations and other global powers for the fighting to stop. The dispute over their border goes back decades.

At least 35 people have been killed, over 200 injured, and more than 200,000 displaced since fighting broke out on Thursday, according to a CNN tally of figures from Thai and Cambodian officials.

Hopes for peace are now focused on whether the talks in Malaysia will provide a breakthrough.

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the Southeast Asian nations had agreed to ceasefire talks but localized fighting continued throughout the weekend.

US State Department officials will be on the ground Monday to assist with the negotiations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

He added that he and President Trump remain engaged with our respective counterparts for each country and are monitoring the situation very closely. We want this conflict to end as soon as possible.

Earlier on Sunday, after Trumps announcement, Thailands government said it was not ready to stop military operations and accused Cambodia of continuing to fire heavy artillery at civilian areas in its Surin province, on the border, and several other areas.

Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law, Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Trump said he had warned the Thai and Cambodia leaders that he would not make trade deals with either country if the deadly border conflict continues.

Border temples

Some of the projectiles launched by Thailand over the weekend landed near the ancient Preah Vihear temple, a UNESCO world heritage site in Cambodias northern province of the same name, according to Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata. The temple complex has been at the center of previous clashes between the two nations.

I have written to UNESCO, and I would like to appeal to all international communities, and the United Nations: please help (us) take good care, this is a cultural heritage, Cambodias Minister of Culture Phoeurng Sackona told CNN on Sunday. Please help demand the ceasefire.

This pool photo released on July 24, 2025 by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) shows damage to the Preah Vihear temple near the Cambodia-Thailand border. - STR/AFP/Pool/Getty Images

This government handout photo shows damage to Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. - Kingdom of Cambodia

Cambodia slammed what it said were Thailands deliberate and premeditated acts of aggression.

Those acts have occurred despite ongoing efforts led by President Donald Trump to seek a ceasefire, efforts that have been publicly and clearly supported by Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said.

Thailand has also accused Cambodia of continuing to fire across the border. The state-run National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) reported that Cambodian forces had fired artillery into the Thai border province of Surin, west of Preah Vihear, damaging residential homes. Thai forces were responding, it reported.

Thailand on Sunday said 22 people have been killed since hostilities began, 14 of whom are civilians. There are more than 139,000 from seven provinces displaced and staying in government shelters, according to the Thai army.

Cambodia said Saturday that in Oddar Meanchey province, which borders Thailands Surin, 13 people had been killed, including eight civilians, and 50 wounded. At least 80,000 people in Cambodia have been displaced by the fighting, according to the defense ministry. Cambodian authorities have not released updated casualty figures on Sunday.

An aerial view shows people, who fled their homes near the border area between Cambodia and Thailand, taking shelter near a pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province on July 26, 2025. - Suy Se/AFP/Getty Images

The strongman and the telecoms billionaire

Ties between Thailand and Cambodia have previously been close, thanks partly to the relationship between two former leaders  Cambodia strongman Hun Sen and Thailands telecoms billionaire and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Neither man holds office, but both remain hugely influential in their respective countries.

Recent tension at border had been simmering since a clash in May, in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. Relations soured further following the release of a leaked phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra  Thaksins daughter  and Cambodias Hun Sen.

In the call, Paetongtarn could be heard calling Hun Sen uncle and appeared to criticize her own armys actions in the border dispute.

Paetongtarns comments struck a nerve in Thailand, and opponents accused her of compromising the countrys national interests. She defended her actions but was later suspended by the Constitutional Court pending an ethics review and could face dismissal.

Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen delivers a speech during his visit to the Cambodian armed forces stationed along the border with Thailand in Oddar Meanchey province on Saturday. - STR/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

Hun Sen has since taken to Facebook posting scathing remarks against Thaksin, accusing him of resorting to war, the ultimate consequence of which will be the suffering of the people.

Thaksin, in a post on X, accused Hun Sen of ordering Cambodian troops to fire into Thai territory.

Trump diplomacy

President Trump said Saturday that he had spoken with both the Cambodian Prime Minister and the acting Thai Prime Minister in his efforts to restore peace.

They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE! Trump wrote on Truth Social in a series of posts outlining his diplomatic efforts, but offering no details on the negotiations.

They are also looking to get back to the Trading Table with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS, Trump wrote.

Earlier this month, Trump wrote letters to Thailand and Cambodia threatening a 36% tariff on most of their exports to the US, starting August 1. Cambodia and Thailand both delivered substantial offers to their US counterparts in an effort to move to the front of the line for a trade agreement, officials said at the time.

In the early hours of Sunday morning local time, Hun Manet thanked Trump and said that Cambodia agreed with the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces. He added that he had previously agreed to a ceasefire proposal from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

A statement from Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs was more measured, saying it wished to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side  but that Phumtham had also requested President Trump to convey that Thailand wants to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to bring forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Bangkok and Phnom Penh have been fighting over territory disputed since colonial power France drew the border between them more than a century ago. The renewed deadly conflict pits longtime US ally Thailand, with decades of experience, against Cambodias relatively young armed force, which has close ties to China.

The United Nations has condemned the violence, with Secretary General Antonio Guterres urging in a post on X for both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue.

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News / National

by Staff reporter

A men's conference aimed at raising awareness on prostate cancer and wellness was abruptly shut down by an anti-riot police unit in Kadoma on Saturday, in a move that has triggered strong condemnation from organisers and rights advocates.The event, themed "Men Rising: Leading with Purpose, Living with Responsibility," was being held at the Salvation Army Citadel in Rimuka suburb and had drawn over 400 attendees. It featured a medical doctor and a reverend as keynote speakers and was focused on health education, particularly men's health issues often overlooked in public discourse.Despite receiving prior clearance from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), organisers were stunned when anti-riot police stormed the venue nearly two hours into the proceedings and ordered participants to disperse. The incident forced the immediate suspension of the gathering.Kadoma Central Member of Parliament Gift Mambipiri, the event convener and host, confirmed the development and expressed outrage at what he described as a calculated move by authorities to suppress civic engagement."The meeting started off very well with over 400 men in attendance. I think it shocked the system, which then had to send the police to close the meeting that they had cleared and approved almost two hours into the meeting," said Mambipiri, who represents the constituency under the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).According to Mambipiri, the district police commander (Dispol) later justified the shutdown by citing "health concerns" and the alleged risk of disease spread due to the size of the gathering. However, the MP challenged the explanation as baseless and inconsistent."Ironically, the venue was a church which ordinarily hosts over 700 congregants every Sunday without issue," he said.Mambipiri further accused police of selectively enforcing restrictions, pointing out that a nearby event hosted by telecommunications giant Econet attracted over 1,000 attendees at a venue with no toilets or water, yet faced no interference. He also highlighted a separate Zanu-PF-affiliated gathering at Kadoma Swimming Pool on the same day, which reportedly had similarly poor sanitation facilities."This is clear political harassment and a direct attack on the constitutional freedoms of association and assembly," Mambipiri said.The incident has drawn the ire of civil society groups, who view it as part of a worrying trend of state interference in non-partisan civic events, particularly those organised by opposition figures or in support of public health awareness.As of Sunday, neither the Zimbabwe Republic Police nor the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued a formal statement on the matter.Observers warn that such actions not only undermine public confidence in law enforcement neutrality but also risk deterring vital grassroots efforts aimed at addressing health and social issues in the country."The right to gather peacefully for educational and wellness purposes should never be politicised," said one health rights advocate in response to the shutdown.The event was part of a broader campaign to promote men's health awareness, particularly concerning non-communicable diseases such as prostate cancer - one of the leading causes of death among men in Zimbabwe.Despite the disruption, organisers say they remain committed to continuing their awareness efforts and have vowed to pursue legal and advocacy channels to protect the right to civic engagement.
President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a trade agreement with the European Union that would set tariffs at 15%, ending what had been months of uncertainty surrounding trade with the United States largest trade partner.

The tariff rate is a reduction from the 30% that Trump threatened on July 12 and the 20% he said he would impose on April 2.

Announcing the agreement, Trump said the E.U. will not impose a tariff on U.S. imports. He added this agreement was satisfactory to both sides.

Bremerhaven is the biggest German port for the automotive industry and the country's second-largest container port. (Focke Strangmann / AFP - Getty Images)

Potentially more tariffs on the way

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday alongside Trump that the pact will bring stability. It will bring predictability. Thats very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

However, Trump said 50% tariffs on steel would remain unchanged and more tariffs could still be on the way for pharmaceutical products, which Ireland is one of the top sources of. Trump recently threatened 200% tariffs on pharma goods.

In the meeting with von der Leyen, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said semiconductor tariffs could also be announced in the coming weeks.

Outlining parts of the agreement, Trump said "the European Union is going to agree to purchase from the United States $750 billion worth of energy." He said the E.U. would also invest $600 billion into the United States. It was not immediately clear what form that investment would take or over what time period it would be deployed.

Trump added that E.U. nations will also be purchasing "a vast amount of military equipment," though a definitive purchase amount was not yet set. The European Commission has been bulking up its military supplies but has been focused on buying primarily from European companies so far.

Trump said this arrangement would lead to the "opening up of all of the European countries, which I think I could say were essentially closed." However, the E.U. buys hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. goods each year. In 2024, that value was nearly $400 billion.

The agreement appears to closely mirror the trade agreement announced with Japan on Tuesday, under which Japanese imports will face a 15% import duty, which was also lower than Trump earlier threatened.

In a press briefing after the meeting with Trump, von der Leyen said that the 15% tariff would not stack on top of any other tariffs already in place. She said the U.S. and E.U. have both agreed to apply zero tariffs to a number of categories of imports: all aircraft and component parts, certain chemicals, generic pharmaceuticals, semiconductor equipment and some agricultural products.

We will replace Russian gas and oil by significant purchases of U.S. [liquified natural gas], oil, and nuclear fuels, she said. Von der Leyen said she estimates the union will buy $250 billion worth of the energy products per year over the course of a three-year period.

Fifteen percent is not to be underestimated but it is the best we could get, she added of the still high rate of duties that exports from the 27 European countries will face. Fifteen percent is certainly a challenge for some, but we should not forget it keeps access to the American market.

She described the meeting with Trump as very difficult because we started far apart from each other. In the end, she said it was good and satisfactory.

But last year, the average U.S. tariff on imports from the European Union was just 1.2%, according to Capital Economics chief Europe economist.

Ireland's prime minister said in a post on X that he welcomed the deal but "it does mean that there will now be higher tariffs than there have been and this will have an impact on trade between the EU and US, making it more expensive and more challenging."

Germany's prime minister responded by saying, "A trade conflict has been averted that would have hit the export-oriented German economy hard. This is especially true for the automotive industry, where the current tariffs will be almost halved from 27.5% to 15%. This is precisely where the rapid reduction of tariffs is of utmost importance."

The European Union has been in active negotiations with Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for weeks and had believed it was extremely close to a deal before Trump suddenly fired off a letter on Truth Social saying he would hike tariffs to 30%. The E.U.s top trade negotiator made multiple trips across the Atlantic to meet with his U.S. counterparts and was set to speak by phone with Lutnick again Wednesday, according to a spokesperson for the E.U.

Imposing 30% tariffs on E.U. exports would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic, von der Leyen said after Trumps July letter.

Immediately after the letter, the E.U. said it would continue working toward an agreement of some type by the new deadline of Aug. 1. But the bloc continued to simultaneously prepare an extensive list of U.S. products against which it could apply retaliatory tariffs if an agreement werent reached amid fears that Trump could end talks.

Some of those products included Boeing aircraft, U.S. vehicles and imports from politically sensitive states such as bourbon from Kentucky and soybeans from Louisiana. At the time of the announcement, the E.U. had about $100 billion worth of retaliatory tariffs ready to deploy.

Agricultural and business groups had warned that 30% tariffs on the European Union could dramatically impact the price and availability of wines, cheeses and pasta, and called the proposed levy incomprehensible.

Cars and other vehicles produced in the E.U. could still face increased prices. The costs for our companies have already reached the billions  and with each passing day, the total continues to grow, the German auto trade group VDA told NBC News in a statement on July 14.

The 27 countries of the European Union are the United States largest trading partner  its $605 billion worth of imports into the U.S. surpass Mexico, Canada and even China. The most valuable category of imports in 2024 was drugs and pharmaceuticals primarily from Ireland, followed by autos, aircraft and other heavy machinery from nations such as France and Germany.

Trump has separately threatened to impose a 200% tariff on any drugs imported into the U.S., though it would not be applied for at least 18 months. It was unclear if the deal with the E.U. would prevent that.
A multiagency response is underway off the coast of Pacific Grove, Calif., following a confirmed private plane crash on Saturday night. (KSBW)

The U.S. Coast Guard recovered three bodies in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday after a small plane the trio were in crashed off Monterey, California, on Saturday night.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office Coroner Unit identified the deceased on Sunday as California residents Steve Eugene Clatterbuck, 60, of Salinas; James Vincent, 36, of Monterey; and Jamie Lee Tabscott, 44, also of Monterey.

The Coast Guard said in a statement that a boat-based rescue team from the city of Monterey that was helping with search and recovery efforts found the first of the three unresponsive in the area of the crash at 3:01 a.m. Sunday.

A private dive team helped the Monterey Fire Department crews find the other two bodies at 6:31 a.m. and 9:08 a.m. in the downed fuselage of the plane, the Coast Guard said.

The agency received a notification at around 10:55 p.m. Saturday that a twin-engine Beechcraft with three people aboard crashed approximately 300 yards away from the Point Pinos Lighthouse, which is in the city of Pacific Grove. The aircraft originally took off from San Carlos Airport on the southern end of the San Francisco Bay.

"Station Monterey launched a 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew, which arrived on scene approximately 15 minutes after notification," the Coast Guard said in a news release. "Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Francisco also coordinated the launch of an Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter air crew."

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash, it said in a post on X. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office Coroner Unit said family of the deceased asked for privacy.

"The family and friends of the deceased have expressed that they wish to extend their gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community," it said.
By Gleb Bryanski

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Ukrainian drones targeted St. Petersburg on Sunday, Russian authorities said, forcing the airport to close for five hours as Vladimir Putin marked Russia's Navy Day in the city, despite the earlier cancellation of its naval parade due to security concerns.

St. Petersburg usually holds a large-scale, televised navy parade on Navy Day, which features a flotilla of warships and military vessels sailing down the Neva River and is attended by Putin.

Last year, Russia suspected a Ukrainian plan to attack the city's parade, according to state television.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Sunday that this year's parade had been cancelled for security reasons, following first reports of its cancellation in early July.

Putin arrived at the city's historic naval headquarters on Sunday by patrol speed boat, from where he followed drills involving more than 150 vessels and 15,000 military personnel in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and Baltic and Caspian Seas.

"Today we are marking this holiday in a working setting, we are inspecting the combat readiness of the fleet," Putin said in a video address.

The Russian Defence Ministry said air defence units downed a total of 291 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones on Sunday, below a record 524 drones downed in attacks on May 7, ahead of Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9.

Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region surrounding St. Petersburg, said that over ten drones were downed over the area, and falling debris injured a woman. At 0840 GMT on Sunday Drozdenko said that the attack was repelled.

St. Petersburg's Pulkovo airport was closed during the attack, with 57 flights delayed and 22 diverted to other airports, according to a statement. Pulkovo resumed operations later on Sunday.

Russian blogger Alexander Yunashev, part of an official group of reporters travelling with Peskov, said Peskov had told him their flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg had been delayed by the drone attack for 2 hours on Sunday.

(Additional reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Key Points

Camecos stock recently hit an all-time high.

Uraniums soaring commodity price is driving that rally.

But it still looks reasonably valued relative to its growth potential.

10 stocks we like better than Cameco 

Cameco (NYSE: CCJ), one of the world's top uranium miners, usually isn't a high-growth stock. But over the past three years, its price surged about 250% and now hovers near its all-time high. The S&P 500 only rose 60% during the same period.

Let's see why Cameco's stock crushed the market, and if it can keep climbing over the next three years.

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A look back at Cameco's lost decade

Cameco, which is based in Canada, owns uranium mines and mills across Canada, the U.S., and Kazakhstan. It mined roughly 17% of the world's uranium in 2024, making it the second largest uranium miner after Kazatomprom (OTC: NATK.Y), Kazakhstan's national mining company.

A nuclear power plant.

Image source: Getty Images.

From 2011 to 2021, Cameco's annual revenue dropped from $2.41 billion to $1.18 billion (in U.S. dollars) without a single year of revenue growth. That decline started after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011, which triggered a global collapse in uranium prices as many countries cautiously reined in their nuclear energy plans.

Uranium's spot price plunged from more than $70 per pound before the Fukushima disaster to less than $20 in 2017, and Cameco was forced to suspend work at its biggest mines and throttle back its production to conserve its cash. Before the uranium market could recover, the COVID pandemic disrupted the market again and forced the company to temporarily shut down more of its mines.

The weak Canadian dollar exacerbated that decline because the miner sold its uranium in U.S. dollars.

What happened over the past three years?

But from 2021 to 2024, Cameco's revenue had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29% in Canadian dollar terms. Its gross margins also expanded to the double digits over the past two years.

Metric 2022 2023 2024 Revenue growth 27% 39% 21% Gross margin 0.1% 21.7% 25%

Data source: Cameco (all figures in Canadian dollar terms).

That robust recovery was driven by uranium's spot prices, which soared from $29.63 in January 2021 to $78.50 this June. That rally prompted Cameco to restart its mining operations at McArthur River in Australia and Key Lake in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in 2022 after being suspended in 2018.

It also partnered with Brookfield Asset Management to acquire the nuclear power plant designer and builder Westinghouse Electric in late 2023. Its new 49% stake in Westinghouse should offset the volatility of its core mining business and make it the top uranium supplier for those plants.

Several catalysts drove uranium's price higher over the past few years. The global supply shrank as Cameco and Kazatomprom curbed their production, but the demand rose as more countries initiated new nuclear energy plans and resumed their idled projects.

Other global challenges are keeping uranium prices elevated. Russia, which was a major exporter of enriched uranium products and services to the U.S. and Europe, was hit by sanctions and export bans after its invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Kazatomprom's supply chain issues and a coup in Niger (another key producer of uranium) in 2023 further reduced the global supply while driving more nuclear energy companies to buy their uranium from Cameco.

What will happen to Cameco over the next three years?

The bulls expect uranium's price to soar even higher as the market's demand continues to outstrip its available supply. The rapid growth of the cloud and AI data center markets -- which are driving more companies to consider using next-gen nuclear energy solutions like small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors -- could amplify those gains.

Looking ahead, Cameco's 49% stake in Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) -- its uranium enrichment joint venture with Silex -- could transform it into a one-stop shop for nuclear power as it integrates those uranium enrichment capabilities into its core mining and conversion businesses. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expects the world's nuclear capacity to expand by up to 2.5 times from 2024 to 2050, so Cameco could still have plenty of room to grow over the next few decades.

From 2024 to 2027, analysts expect Cameco's revenue to have a CAGR of 8% (in Canadian dollar terms) as its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) have a CAGR of 16%. Its growth should cool off as it laps the big spike in uranium spot prices, the restarting of its mines, and its investment in Westinghouse Electric, but it still looks reasonably valued at 25 times this year's adjusted EBITDA. So even though Cameco's stock is trading near its all-time high, it could rise even higher over the next three years.

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Gray Goose with young white goslings in green grass. A flock of geese enjoy a walk in a Russian village.  Kanyshev Andrey/Shutterstock.com

While most people think of dogs when it comes to guarding animals, geese are surprisingly effective protectors. Loud, alert, loyal, and tough, these reliable, feathered sentries are essentially natures own security system. These vigilant birds have a long history as guardians and sentinels dating all the way back to Ancient Rome. Geese have historically been used as guard animals in parts of Southeast Asia, the high Andes, and Europe, and they continue to be used for this purpose in some areas today.

What Makes Geese Great Guard Animals?

Sharp Senses and Constant Vigilance

Toulouse geese can be gentle to people they know, but their large size and loud honking make them excellent guardians. Dan Shachar/Shutterstock.com

Geese are incredibly watchful animals, making them excellent natural guardians. They have exceptional eyesight and can see ultraviolet light and finer detail than many mammals. They can even move each eye independently, giving them an almost 360-degree field of vision that allows them to spot threats from nearly any direction. Their long necks also act like periscopes, and their acute hearing further enhances their ability to stay vigilant. Even while sleeping, geese remain on guard. They sleep with half of their brain active and often keep one eye open, allowing them to remain aware of their surroundings in a way that few other animals can match.

A Honk You Cant Ignore

Honking is one of the primary ways geese communicate. Eric Amoah/Shutterstock.com

Geese are excellent natural alarms. When they sense danger, they do more than just make noise; they unleash a loud, unmistakable honk that is almost impossible to ignore. They also flap their large wings and make a menacing hissing sound to scare off threats. Unlike dogs, geese cannot be easily distracted or bribed with food. Their naturally aggressive behavior and piercing calls make them highly effective for alerting people to intruders or disturbances.

Loyal, Discerning, and Territorial

Experts believe geese were first domesticated around 3000 BCE. TheBirdyStore/Shutterstock.com

Geese are surprisingly perceptive animals and can recognize familiar faces, whether those belong to people, other animals, or even vehicles. They are also loyal and have long memories, especially when it comes to anyone or anything that has threatened or harmed them. Geese are also naturally territorial, especially around their nests and goslings. Even a lone adult goose will diligently guard its space, aggressively using its powerful bill and wings to fend off threats.

Low-Maintenance and Affordable

A group of geese is often called a gaggle. Serhii Hrebeniuk/Shutterstock.com

Geese are incredibly cost-effective. Unlike trained guard dogs, geese require little to no specialized training and, in most climates, do not even need housing. As natural grazers and foragers, they can often find much of their own food, especially in pastures or wetlands where they eat grasses, aquatic plants, roots, bulbs, and small aquatic animals. Geese are also durable animals and can thrive in various climates with minimal care.

A History of Guard Geese in Action

Ancient Romes Honking Heroes

The Roman goose is believed to be one of the oldest breeds. Milo the eye/Shutterstock.com

During the Battle of Allia in 390 BCE, the Ancient Romans found themselves in a difficult situation against the Gauls. The Romans thought they were safe on the Capitoline Hill, holding the advantage of higher ground. However, under the cover of night, the Gauls secretly scaled the hill. They were so incredibly quiet that not even the Romans guard dogs  known for their keen senses  noticed a thing.

Fortunately for the Romans, the Temple of Juno was home to a gaggle of geese, animals considered sacred to the goddess. According to the Ancient Roman historian Livy, these birds suddenly erupted in such a loud clamor that it woke one of the Roman soldiers, Marcus Manlius. Manlius quickly roused the others, and they successfully forced the Gauls to retreat.

Scotlands Whisky Watch

Ballantines geese also provided lawn trimming and eggs while at the Dumbarton warehouse. iStock.com/K_Thalhofer

In 1959, Ballantines, a Scottish whisky brand, began using geese to protect its whisky warehouses near Glasgow. Famously known as The Scotch Watch, the special flock initially included five female geese and one male gander named Mr. Ballantine. Over the next 50 years, this small flock grew considerably, eventually including more than 100 Chinese white geese and Roman geese. These birds stood sentry at the companys Dumbarton site for over 50 years.

The warehouse once held a large amount of maturing whisky, valued at hundreds of thousands of pounds. For over 50 years, any would-be thieves had to contend with The Scotch Watch geese, which at one point numbered 120 birds. The last seven guard geese of The Scotch Watch were retired in 2012 and assimilated into a local flock of geese.

Cold War Sentinels in Germany

The Chinese goose is a popular guarding breed due to its aggressive behavior and loud, high-pitched honk. Iva Vagnerova/Shutterstock.com

During the Cold War, in 1986, the United States military deployed a security force of geese across its European bases. Nine hundred geese were sent to various stations, including a platoon tasked with guarding the 32nd Air Defense Command in West Germany. Their mission was to prevent Soviet spies from accessing critical anti-aircraft weapons, radar systems, and communication equipment. This unique security strategy was inspired by a soldier who had seen the effectiveness of Ballantines geese in Scotland.

Chinas Feathered Police Force

The Chinese goose is often referred to as the swan goose due to its long neck. iStock.com/leekris

In 2013, Chinese police in the Xinjiang Province began using geese to guard police stations at night. This practice wasnt entirely new, however, as geese have long been employed as guard animals for farmland in rural areas of China due to their vigilance and loud honking.

The use of geese for security purposes expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 500 geese were deployed to patrol Chinas southern border with Vietnam to prevent any unauthorized crossings. In Chongzuo, a city near the Vietnamese border, the geese worked alongside dogs and human patrols to help contain the spread of the virus. The geese proved particularly effective in the regions rugged and hilly terrain, as the areas mountains, plains, and rivers made traditional patrolling methods difficult.

Brazils Unique Prison Security

Geese are very loyal and even express mourning behaviors when they lose a mate. iStock.com/Olga Evtushkova

Brazils Sao Pedro de Alcantara Penitentiary currently uses a squad of geese to patrol the area between the inner fence and the prisons outer wall, complementing human, canine, and electronic surveillance. The geeses patrol area is grassy and includes a pond, helping the feathered sentinels feel right at home while on duty. Prison staff have noted that Piu-Piu, the lead gander of the group, has a distinct honk that makes it immediately clear when something is wrong, providing an effective early warning system. The prisons geese agents are always alert. While human guards have shifts, and cameras can have blind spots, the geese provide continuous, 24/7 surveillance.

South Koreas Guard Geese

Geese are incredibly protective and will often help sick or injured members in their group. mykhailo pavlenko/Shutterstock.com

South Korean farms and factories, especially in rural areas, are increasingly swapping guard dogs for geese. Traditionally, Jindo dogs  a Korean breed known for their ferocity and loyalty  were the go-to choice for security in these areas. However, these dogs can be quite expensive to purchase and manage. Geese, on the other hand, are more affordable and easier to manage. So far, guard geese in South Korea have proven highly effective, particularly in deterring trespassers. While they are mainly used on farms, an increasing number of industrial facilities are also employing guard geese.



The post Why Geese Make Surprisingly Good Guard Animals appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Getty Woman holding the hand of an infant (stock image).

A newborn is awaiting a heart transplant for a life-threatening condition after doctors dismissed her parents' concerns that something was wrong.

Stephanie Mulhall-Atkinson, 37, and Justin Atkinson, 33, welcomed their baby girl, Sloane, in October 2024, according to The Daily Mail. The couple almost immediately noticed that Sloane was making an unusual grunting sound, but doctors assured them that everything was normal.

'We raised concern [about her grunting noises] to many different doctors and nurses while we were in the hospital for five days post-birth, including the pediatrician. They all said that her lungs sounded clear, so she was fine and that she was just a vocal baby making normal baby sounds, Stephanie told the outlet.

However, about six weeks later, Stephanie said she and her husband noticed a faint blue tint around Sloanes mouth and immediately took her to the local ER, where doctors asked them if she had always been making the grunting noises.

Getty Hands holding the feet of an infant (stock image)

"We were then told that it actually is a sign of distress and not normal at all, Stephanie told the Daily Mail, adding, Everything escalated from there.

Doctors eventually performed an echocardiogram on Sloane and later informed Stephanie and Justin that their babys heart was barely pumping.



She was rushed up to the PICU [pediatric intensive care unit], sedated and intubated immediately, Stephanie recalled.

https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf

Doctors ultimately told Stephanie and Justin that Sloane was suffering from a condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, which is caused by a genetic mutation that makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.

They also said that Sloane was in the late stages of heart failure and would require a heart transplant, Stephanie told the Daily Mail.

There are no words to describe those first acute days and weeks, and hearing that your tiny baby needs a heart transplant. It was an out-of-body experience. Your brain cannot comprehend that, she added.

Getty Baby in a hospital (stock image)

Stephanie told the Daily Mail that realizing Sloane had been showing signs of discomfort and distress for weeks made it all the worse.

For the six weeks we had her home, we just thought her noises were cute. Finding out that it meant she had been in distress that whole time was unbearable,' Stephanie said.

Sloane is currently on a life support device and has been living in the hospital for over six months while awaiting her transplant.

In a GoFundMe established to help support the family as they focus on Sloanes condition, Stephanie described the past seven months as truly a nightmare, but also a timeframe mixed with some of the most beautiful hope and kindness.

Our girl went from happy, smiley and chatty to intubated in the PICU within a matter of hours. The shock of a lifetime, she wrote, stating that mamas intuition is what caused her to rush to the hospital that fateful day.

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.

Stephanie added, How do you even begin to process except by holding onto ALL the hope. Our girl will be OKAY. She has to be. Her life will be long, full, and beautiful. We know it. This will be her story to tell one day.

The family's GoFundMe has reached over $25,000 towards an ultimate goal of $36,500 as of Saturday, July 26.



Read the original article on People
Toronto is headed into a "two-day heat event" with scorching temperatures exceeding 30 C, Environment Canada says.

The federal weather agency has issued a heat warning in Toronto for Thursday and Friday, with the possibly continuing into the weekend for some areas in the city.

Thursday will see temperatures hitting the mid-30s, said Steven Flisfeder, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. With the humidity, Flisfeder says it will feel more like the mid-40s.

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He said people should ensure they stay hydrated, especially if participating in outdoor events or strenuous activities.

"Make sure you are replenishing all your bodily fluids by drinking lots of water and finding a cool place to rest," Flisfeder said.

WATCH | Why staying cool is impossible for these Toronto residents:

Friday will see a slight dip in temperature, but the mercury will still fall in the low 30s range. Night time temperatures are expected to be in the low 20s.

People hoping for a break from the intense heat and humidity might have to wait, as the federal environment agency predicts higher-than-average temperatures in the coming weeks.

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"We do expect above seasonal temperatures to continue through the latter half of the summer," Flisfeder said.

Environment Canada advises people to regulate their body temperature by staying away from direct sun. (Canadian Press)

People are advised to periodically cool down by seeking air-conditioned environments or to get away from the sun to regulate body temperature, Flisfeder said.

There is some respite over the weekend, with temperatures expected to drop to the mid-20s on Sunday.

The temperature should be back up to near 30 C on Monday, Flisfeder said.
The Vietnamese Catholic Church celebrated the 400th anniversary of the birth of its first martyr, who was killed at the age of 19, with a live-streamed event involving communities across the country and the diaspora, which was also attended by the Pope.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - While Rome is beginning to welcome hundreds of thousands of young people for their Jubilee event, which will culminate in a vigil and Mass at Tor Vergata on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, an interesting prologue has taken place in recent days, featuring the Vietnamese Church and Pope Leo XIV.

On Friday, July 25, the pontiff participated in an online event together with several hundred young catechists from the country and Catholic communities in the diaspora to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the birth of Andrea Phu Yen, considered the first martyr of Vietnam, beatified by John Paul II during the Jubilee of 2000.

Twenty-five years after that event, the relics of this very important figure in the history and devotion of this great Church in Asia arrived in the Vatican, in the Chapel of the Annunciation in Palazzo Pio, the headquarters of the Vatican media.

From here, the Vietnamese editorial staff of Vatican News coordinated a two-hour live stream in which, after retracing the life of this saint through manga-style images, participants were able to listen to the words of the Archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City, Msgr. Joseph Nguyen Nang, president of the Vietnamese Bishops' Conference, and of Pope Leo XIV himself.

St. Andrew Phu Yen was a catechist killed in hatred of the faith in 1644, when he was only 19 years old. For this reason, Pope Francis included him among the young saints from every continent, held up as models for their peers in the apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit, published in 2019 after the Synod on Young People.

Andrew Phu Yen was baptized at the age of 15 by Father Alexandre de Rhodes, the great Jesuit missionary, author of the first Vietnamese catechism and the first Portuguese-Latin-Vietnamese dictionary, thanks to which the country adopted the Latin alphabet that it still uses today.

Brought before the authorities of Quang Nam province for his missionary activity, faced with those who tried in various ways to convince him to abandon his crazy conviction, he replied that he was a Christian and more willing to suffer than to abandon his faith.

He asked God to grant him the grace to be faithful until the end and to respond with the fullness of love to the infinite love of his Lord, who gave his life for mankind. When he was killed on July 26, he died shouting the name of Jesus at the top of his voice.

The Pope wanted to bring this testimony to life by addressing the 64,000 catechistsmost of them young peoplewho animate parish life in Vietnam and in Vietnamese communities around the world.

By giving his life at the age of only 19, Andrea responded to Christ's call to return love for love to Our Lord, said Pope Leo XIV during the live stream. Today, we ask the patron saint of catechists to intercede for us, so that, like him, we may invoke the name of Jesus with unshakeable faith, even when we find ourselves in difficulty."

Expressing his gratitude to the Vietnamese catechists, Leo XIV emphasized one aspect of this service in particular: It is said that while he was in prison, Andrew encouraged his fellow Christians to remain steadfast in their faith and asked them to pray that he might remain faithful until the end.

This attitude shows that the service of the catechist is "never a solitary endeavor: we teach and our community prays; we bear witness and the Body of Christ sustains us in our trials. This unity of prayer and service, commented the Pope, emphasizes the unity of the Church and the peace that Christ gives us.

Prevost also noted how the ministry of the catechist is deeply rooted in a solid family and cultural heritage. Keep alive your love for your family and your homeland," he told the Vietnamese. These treasures of culture and faith have been handed down to you, especially the heroic faith of your parents and grandparents, who, like Blessed Andrew, bore witness in suffering and taught you to trust in God. Your roots and traditions are gifts from God; may they fill you with confidence and joy as you share your faith with others."

Leo XIV finally invited young Vietnamese to be united in spirit with the young pilgrims arriving in Rome for the Jubilee. Share with them and with all your brothers and sisters in Vietnam the joyful confidence that Christ lives and wants you to live.
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27 July 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Azerbaijan is steadily transforming itself into Eurasias rising logistics power. At the forefront of this shift is the Astara Terminal in Iranbuilt, managed, and operated by Azerbaijan Railways (ADY). Situated just 1.4 km from the Azerbaijani border in Irans Astara city, this facility is poised to redefine cargo connectivity between Russia, Iran, and beyond.

ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov and Iran Railways chief Jabbar Ali Zakeri confirmed that nearly 90 percent of the terminals design work and 75 percent of construction have been completed, including an 8.3km rail link and one completed bridge over the Astarachay River among seven key bridges. Work is slated for completion by the end of 2025 under a Strategic Cooperation Plan signed in early 2025.

Already, the terminal is showing strong performance: 692,000 tons of cargo were handled in 2023, rising to over 777,000 tons in 2024. Once fully operational, it will boast a capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per year, with some estimates targeting as much as 4 million tonnes. This expansion is not just about numbers; its about strategic impact. The Astara Terminal is a keystone of the NorthSouth corridor stretching roughly 7,200 km from India through Iran and Azerbaijan to Russia and Northern Europe. ADY reports a 28 percent increase in transit freight traffic along this corridor in 2024, totaling 814,000 tons and promising even greater growth ahead.

Once the RashtAstara railway is completed in Irana $1.6 billion project largely financed by Russiait will eliminate the corridors final missing link, dramatically boosting throughput toward India and the Gulf.

Why this matters:

Diversifying Eurasian transit beyond Russia-centric routes. The Astara Terminal offers efficient alternatives to the congested Suez Canal or the embattled northern logistics options.

Strengthening Azerbaijans role as a regional hub. Leasing 35 hectares in Iran for 25 years, Azerbaijan is no longer a passive transit state but a key operator in a trilateral transport network.

Economic leverage. With transit cargo-rates expected to rise by 1015 percent through 2025, Azerbaijan gains both influence and revenuebenefiting a growing logistics ecosystem.

It is also a diplomatic and geoeconomic signal: Azerbaijan is actively deepening ties with Iran, aligning infrastructure initiatives not just for regional gain but for broader connectivity between Europe and South Asia.

Debates over the corridor's future are only opening. Full terminal commissioning, rail completion, and expanded customs coordination will determine whether cargo flows reach 3.54 million tons annually. Once achieved, this infrastructure positions Azerbaijan firmly at the crossroads of NorthSouth and Middle Corridor trade axes.

For Azerbaijan, the Astara Terminal is more than bricks and tracksit is the concrete illustration of a national strategy: to become a trusted transit partner, a logistics innovator, and a constructive force in a postSuez Eurasian trade era.
27 July 2025 13:35 (UTC+04:00)

As part of the mentorship program of the Yukslis competition, meetings are underway between the competition's management leaders and winners, Azernews reports.

Chairperson of the Management Board of the State Examination Center (SEC) Maleyka Abbaszade, held a subsequent meeting with Seymur Huseynov, one of the winners of the Yukslis competition.

During the meeting, discussions took place about the projects of the SEC that Seymur Huseynov was involved in based on his personal development program, and an exchange of ideas was conducted. Maleyka Abbaszade answered the winner's questions regarding programming, process automation, and innovative development, and offered recommendations.

Seymur Huseynov is undergoing an internship within the framework of a one-year mentorship program in cooperation with Chairperson of the Management Board of the State Examination Center (SEC) Maleyka Abbaszade.

The Yukslis competition was established based on a decree by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, dated July 26, 2019.

Winners of the competition receive a one-year personal development plan from mentors and a monetary reward of 20,000 manats for self-improvement.
27 July 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has warned that escalating global tensions are increasing the likelihood of a worldwide conflict that could potentially lead to a third world war.

Azernews reports that speaking in Baile Tusnad, Romania, Orban emphasized that while the risk of global conflict may decrease if Donald Trump is re-elected as U.S. President, the threat has not disappeared entirely, Report cited foreign media as saying.

He pointed to a combination of factors contributing to rising instability, including the growing number of international conflicts, intensified arms races, expanding economic sanctions and trade restrictions, the fragmentation of the world into opposing military blocs, and increased migration from poorer to wealthier regions.

Orban said a growing number of people now fear that any armed confrontation between NATO and Russiaparticularly after the recent NATO summitcould trigger a third world war. He called on the international community to avoid any steps that could lead to such a dangerous escalation.
27 July 2025 14:10 (UTC+04:00)

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Cambodia and Thailand agreed to promptly start ceasefire negotiations after three days of deadly armed conflict, Azernews reports citing Azertag.

"Both Parties are looking for an immediate Ceasefire and Peace ... They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE," Trump, who is currently on a visit to Scotland, wrote on Truth Social after speaking with leaders of the two countries on the phone.

Earlier, the US president said he had spoken with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart in the hopes of brokering a truce.

Trump, who returned to the White House six months ago, linked his diplomatic outreach to ongoing US trade talks with both nations.

"They are also looking to get back to the 'Trading Table' with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS," said the US president. "I look forward to concluding our Trading Agreements with both!"

"We happen to be, by coincidence, currently dealing on Trade with both Countries, but do not want to make any Deal, with either Country, if they are fighting  And I have told them so!" he said in an earlier post.

He likened the current crisis to past South Asian tensions, stating: "Many people are being killed in this War, but it very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt."

Through another Truth Social post, Trump noted that he spoke to the acting prime minister of Thailand as well, saying: "It was a very good conversation."

"Thailand, like Cambodia, wants to have an immediate Ceasefire, and PEACE. I am now going to relay that message back to the Prime Minister of Cambodia. After speaking to both Parties, Ceasefire, Peace, and Prosperity seems to be a natural. We will soon see!" he stated.
Joint Medevac Off Oregon Coast Includes Coast Guard, Canadian Air Force - Video

Published 07/26/25 at 4:25 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon)  A combined effort of both Canadian and U.S. rescuers took place Thursday afternoon off the Oregon and Washington coast. (Photos and video US Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Air Force)

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) officials said a Canadian fisherman was safely medevaced from a vessel operating roughly 180 miles offshore from Astoria, Oregon, thanks to a coordinated international rescue effort between the USCG and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The operation began shortly after 1 a.m., when watchstanders at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria, British Columbia, received a distress call from a commercial fishing vessel approximately 300 miles west of Astoria  on the north Oregon coast. The crew reported a medical emergency involving a Canadian national. The center promptly alerted the U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District Command Center in Seattle.

Following consultation with a duty flight surgeon, U.S. Coast Guard officials recommended an urgent medical evacuation and maintained ongoing contact with the vessel as it navigated closer to shore.

By early afternoon, conditions permitted deployment. A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Astoria launched toward the vessel, joined overhead by a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-295 Kingfisher aircraft from 19 Wing Comox in British Columbia. The Kingfisher crew provided crucial support with real-time weather updates and communication relay.

Both aircraft arrived on scene around 2 p.m. The patient was hoisted aboard the Jayhawk and flown to Air Station Astoria, arriving at 4 p.m. Emergency medical services were waiting to transport him for further care.





Video provided by U.S. and Canadian officials shows sometimes intense moments as the patient is lifted into the helicopter via the rescue rig. At a little over two minutes, there is more video than usual for a sea rescue, involving many stages of the effort. At one point, Canadian airmen can be heard expressing their thankfulness that the USCG was there, while another clip shows a Coast Guard rescuer trailing along below the helicopter by cable. It would be an overwhelmingly white knuckle for most but you can hear colleagues over the radio calmly cheer him on.





Royal Canadian Air Force Capt. KP Brar praised the collaboration.

When a Canadian mariner needs urgent help far from home, our U.S. Coast Guard partners answered the call, said Capt. With support from the 19th Wing, this mission shows how trusted allies work together to save lives. Our SAR professionals train side-by-side for missions like this.





Cmdr. Chelsey Stroud, U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue mission coordinator, also gave the operation high makrs.

This rescue highlights the interoperability and mutual support between Canada and the United States in maritime Search and Rescue operations, said Cmdr. Stroud.

Earlier in July, the USCG had to rescue two teens and part of a rescue team in Lincoln City. Oregon's US Coast Guard Saves Two Teens and a Rescuer from Lincoln City Cliff - Sometimes even rescuers need rescuing

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Oregon State Police Seek Coast Range Hit-and-Run Suspect Who May Have Left U.S.

Published 07/24/25 at 1:25 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff





(Tillamook, Oregon)  State authorities are looking for a Tillamook man believed to have left the country after he allegedly caused an accident in the Oregon Coast Range, one that resulted in the death of a teen.

On July 12, Oregon State Police (OSP) responded to a hit-and-run incident on Highway 18 in Tillamook County, arriving at the Grand Ronde-area incident about 3:15 a.m.

Initial investigations by OSP indicated a white Honda Civic was traveling eastbound on Highway 18 near milepost 14 when it hit a black Nissan Altima on the side of the road, stranded there because of a flat tire. Outside the Nissan were three 17-year-old males changing the flat: they were all struck by the Honda.

The Honda did not stop after hitting the vehicle and those outside, instead continuing east.

OSP said driving the Honda was 34-year-old Tillamook resident Alejandro Christopher Velazquez Lopez.

All three male juveniles were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries, OSP said. A 17-year-old female passenger was inside the Nissan at the time of the crash and was not injured.



Highway 18 - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

OSP detectives from the Major Crime Sectio were called to investigate but they were unable to find Lopez.

Two days later, on July 14, OSP was notified that one of the teens died from the injuries sustained in the crash. The crash incident was then considered a fatal one.

It is now believed that Lopez has left the U.S. and there is an active warrant for his arrest.

The highway was impacted for approximately 11.5 hours during the on-scene investigation, OSP said.

Oregon State Police was assisted by the Tillamook County Sheriffs Office, Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, Lincoln City Police Department, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tribal Police, and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

Highway 18 in this part of the north Oregon coast is not as statistically as dangerous as nearby Highway 6. That section of the coast range saw a record run of injuries and fatalities back in 2021. See Three Fatal Wrecks Along Hwy 6: Oregon Coast Leaders Urge Caution

See Oregon Coast Highway, Coast Range Passes Traffic, Road Conditions | | Portland, Oregon Highway Traffic, Road Conditions - Traffic Cams: I-5 - I-205 - I-405 - Hwy 217 - I-84

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Former Obama CIA Director John Brennan was instrumental in putting together Obama's Russiagate scam against President Trump to hogtie his first presidency. The Federalist has a good article on Brennan's five lies that set Obama's Russiagate hoax in motion after Obama directed the op be initiated. The article can be read at this link:

https://thefederalist.com/2025/07/25/john-brennans-5-lies-that-set-russiagate-in-motion/

One wonders why someone like Brennan, an admitted communist sympathizer, was ever allowed anywhere near the CIA much less chosen by Obama to head it. Brennan has even admitted to voting for Communist Party USA Chairman Gus Hall, a longtime stooge of the USSR for US President in 1976 instead of Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter. Brennan's own statements about having been a communist sympathizer actually suggest he may have also been a communist party MEMBER.

https://spectator.org/john-brennans-president-remembering-comrade-gus-hall/

https://freebeacon.com/politics/cia-director-once-voted-for-communist-presidential-candidate/

Jonathan Turley also has a good article on "The Rise and Fall of John Brennan"

https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5421124-the-rise-and-fall-of-john-brennan/

Now, in the second Trump administration, we have a rotten cabal of politically corrupt Democrat federal judges appointed by Obama and by Biden's autopen who are the ones abusing power to try to thwart Trump.

Meanwhile, the MSM Democrat propaganda media, which was itself complicit in the Russiagate hoax, is now trying to do all it can to cover it up. They should be investigated criminally, too.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/07/mollie-hemingway-media-not-reporting-new-russiagate-developments/
The Western Trusts Human Milk Bank  the only human milk bank on the island of Ireland  is making a fresh appeal for more donor mums.

Based at the South West Acute Hospital in Co Fermanagh, the service helps to provide essential lifesaving donor breast milk for babies in neonatal units throughout the whole of Ireland.

Susan Rogers, lead nurse for public health at the trust, said: "We are indebted to our donor mums who have continued to provide essential donor breast milk for babies in neonatal units in hospitals throughout the whole of Ireland.

The Human Milk Bank staff are working very hard to ensure this vital service remains available to all our vulnerable premature babies as the demand for donor expressed breast milk at this time is exceptionally high.

We are continuing to experience a high demand for human milk over the summer period, she added.

Last year the Human Milk Bank provided over 1,000 litres of donor breast milk to units across 27 hospitals throughout Ireland.

This precious lifesaving donor milk has helped 783 premature babies, of which 223 were either a twin or a triplet.

The Wetern Trust Milk Bank Service team

Breast milk gives premature and sick babies the best possible start in life as it helps build their immune system, as well as their eye and brain development.

It also helps to prevent devastating diseases which can affect premature or low birth weight babies.

We have been very busy processing requests for donor milk to neonatal units across the province and in the Republic of Ireland over the past number of months, Susan continued.

It is essential that we recruit donors on a continual basis. I would appeal to expectant mums to consider becoming a donor and for anyone to help spread the word about the Human Milk Bank as this is the best way to help us recruit new donors!

We are also extremely grateful for the support of the Voluntary Blood Bikers, who continue to help support the transport of this much needed donor breast milk in all weather conditions.

Human Milk Bank Techncians Vivienne and Tory

We have so many wonderful supporters who kindly help us raise awareness of our Human Milk Bank service on social media channels. This helps us to spread the word throughout Ireland of the need for donor mums to come forward to keep this vital service going.

If you would like to find out more about the Human Milk Bank and becoming a donor please contact the Human Milk Bank on Tel: (028) 6862 8333 or email tmb.swah@westerntrust.hscni.net.
A flick knife and drugs were seized from a passenger on the Glider bus in west Belfast on Friday, police have said.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said officers from the Safe Transport Team had been conducting patrols on board the Glider network.

"During our patrols many people commented how they were pleased to see Police on board services due to ongoing anti social behaviour concerns, they said.

PSNI conducting Glider patrol - 25th July, 2025

Whilst on board, officers detained one male passenger for a search and located a small quantity of Class B Drugs and more concerningly, a flick knife.

"The dangers of carrying a knife are self explanatory and can some times lead to tragic consequences. The male will now be investigated for these offences.

It comes after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins outlined plans in February to extend the Glider service to north and south Belfast.

As part of the development, there will be more bus priority measures in the city.

And there is anger after two elements of the scheme were dropped for now, with plans to run the Glider to Carryduff, and separately to Glengormley, not proceeding.

The full scheme will not be completed until 2030 at the earliest.

The Glider service of tram-like buses opened in September 2018.

It currently runs from the McKinstry roundabout in west Belfast to Dundonald park-and-ride in east Belfast via the city centre.

A second line connects the city centre to the Titanic Quarter.

File photo of a Glider

Ms Kimmins said the Glider has been a huge success and has helped transform and modernise public transport services in east and west Belfast.

She said extending the service to the north and south will bring the benefits of the Glider service to communities living along this route.

But there was anger after plans to extend the service beyond Cairnshill Park and Ride to Carryduff, and separately to Glengormley, were dropped.

Ms Kimmins said that funding and feasibility studies led her to conclude "that any extension of the Glider service beyond Cairnshill Road Park and Ride towards Carryduff is not economically viable at this time but will be re-examined when further development along this route is realised.

She also said that significant congestion within Glengormley, as well as the pending public realm scheme and limited funding make it challenging to extend the service into Glengormley.
Samantha Lewthwaite, widely known as the White Widow, is reportedly living in Somalia as the wife of a senior militant leader, according to MailOnline .

Now believed to be in a polygamous marriage with Islamist commander Osman Abdullahi Dhaga'ade and his two other spouses, the Banbridge-born woman has reportedly given birth to two additional children, while evading capture as one of the worlds most sought-after terror suspects.

The 41-year-old was previously married to 7/7 London bomber Germaine Lindsay  who blew himself up on a London Underground train in July 2005  and is thought to have had four children from two earlier marriages linked to extremist circles.

Lewthwaite is accused of being involved in numerous terror attacks in Kenya, where she lived for a time after leaving the UK, and has been linked to as many as 400 deaths, also appearing on Interpols most wanted list.

Sources reportedly told MailOnline the fugitive was last seen on July 8 in the southern city of Jilib  the de facto capital of the Islamic Emirate of Somalia, controlled by al-Shabaab.

It's claimed Lewthwaite had also been spotted recently in other areas in the south with the family regularly switching locations for security reasons while protected by an elite squad of heavily armed bodyguards.

Samantha Lewthwaite

News Catch Up- Monday 28th July

Somali intelligence allegedly revealed that in 2023, she tried to leave Somalia to go to Yemen or Kenya, but al-Shabaab failed to find her a safe route, so had to stay in Somalia.

"The British woman helps recruit foreign fighters, especially women. She gets protection from her husband as he is high up in al-Shabaab. She speaks Somali and Arabic.

An al-Shabaab source said Lewthwaite was 'highly regarded and respected' within the terror group.

Samantha Lewthwaite

He also told MailOnline: She lives in several houses located in different areas. She does not move during the day but only at night and is highly protected by heavily armed elite Amniyat close protection security guards, which also includes women guards.

The white woman also always carries a pistol and sometimes a rifle for her protection.

'She does not stay in one location for long with her husband; they move around a lot."

Lewthwaite was born and spent much of her childhood in Banbridge, before moving to Aylesbury and later converting to Islam.

In Kenya, she is alleged to have posed as a Northern Irish charity worker to conceal her identity. She was reportedly using Italian documents and claimed she was working for a charity called Friends of Africa, based in Newry.

The charity confirmed it had no knowledge of such a person.

Her story is now being turned to film, with Lewthwaite set to be portrayed by Game of Thrones and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey.
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Israels military has announced that airdrops of aid will begin on Saturday night in Gaza, and humanitarian corridors will be established for UN convoys, after increasing accounts of starvation-related deaths.

The statement late Saturday followed months of experts warnings of famine.

International criticism, including by close allies, has grown as several hundred Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while trying to reach aid.

The militarys statement did not say when the humanitarian corridors for UN convoys would open, or where.

It also said the military is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas.

International criticism about the situation in Gaza has been growing (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

The statement added that the military emphasises that combat operations have not ceased in Gaza against Hamas and it said there is no starvation in the territory.

Witness accounts from Gaza have been grim. Some health workers are so weakened by hunger that they put themselves on IV drips to keep treating the badly malnourished.

Parents have shown their limp and emaciated children.

The Israeli military statement said the airdrops would be conducted in co-ordination with international aid organisations.

It was not immediately clear where they would be carried out and it was not clear what role the recently created and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, meant as an alternative to the UN aid system, might play.

Israeli airstrikes and gunshots killed at least 53 people in Gaza overnight and into Saturday, most of them shot dead while seeking aid, according to Palestinian health officials and the local ambulance service.

Witness accounts from Gaza have been grim (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Deadly Israeli gunfire was reported twice within hours close to the Zikim crossing with Israel in the north.

In the first incident, at least a dozen people waiting for aid trucks were killed, said staff at Shifa hospital, where bodies were taken.

Israels military said it fired warning shots to distance a crowd in response to an immediate threat and it was not aware of any casualties.

A witness, Sherif Abu Aisha, said people started running when they saw a light that they thought was from aid trucks, but as they got close, they realised it was Israels tanks.

That is when the army started firing, he told The Associated Press. He said his uncle was among those killed.

We went because there is no food and nothing was distributed, he said.

On Saturday evening, Israeli forces killed at least 11 people and wounded 120 others when they fired toward crowds who tried to get food from an entering UN convoy, Dr Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa hospital, told the AP.

Palestinians carry the bodies of people who were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza that has been used as a shelter (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

We are expecting the numbers to surge in the next few hours, he said. There was no immediate Israeli military comment.

Elsewhere, those killed in strikes included four people in an apartment building in Gaza City, hospital staff and the ambulance service said.

Another Israeli strike killed at least eight, including four children, in the crowded tent camp of Muwasi in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to the Nasser hospital.

Also in Khan Younis, Israeli forces opened fire and killed at least nine people trying to get aid entering Gaza through the Morag corridor, according to the hospitals morgue records. There was no immediate comment from Israels military.

Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas were at a standstill after the US and Israel recalled negotiating teams on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday his government was considering alternative options to ceasefire talks.

A Hamas official, however, said negotiations were expected to resume next week and called the recall of the delegations a pressure tactic.

Egypt and Qatar, which mediate alongside the United States, called the pause temporary and said talks would resume. They did not say when.
Dr David Colemans tips to help prepare your child emotionally, socially and academically for going back to school
LENOX  How can schools prepare students for the impact of artificial intelligence? Lenox and Lee school districts have an answer, thanks to a partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The schools are teaming up with MIT's AI for Social Empowerment and Education, or RAISE, program and are taking part in its Day of AI initiative, which offers school districts a full year of no-cost guidance, support and resources to develop policies, said Lenox Schools Superintendent William Collins.

It aims to support schools by creating AI literacy programs for students, teachers, administrators and families, he said. For educators, training is offered on how to use AI and its tools to assist them in their work.

"We have partnered with Day of AI with professional development for us last spring," said Lee Schools Superintendent Michael Richard, who's also principal of Lee Elementary School. "I am committed to continue to evolve with AI and to learn more in order to strengthen our educators and our students in the responsible use of these technologies."

The program also aims to ensure student safety through responsible and equitable AI policies in their schools, Collins said.

We dont want to say 'never use AI or use AI for everything,' he commented. We want to find a happy medium, such as AI assisting students who have drafted essays that may need polishing. We still want to have critical thinking skills, we dont want to hand everything over to AI.

Collins learned about the program at an MIT conference where former state Commissioner of Education Jeffrey Riley  Day of AI co-founder and senior adviser of RAISE  was a speaker. Riley was keen on enlisting a few Massachusetts public schools for Day of AI.

Collins applied immediately, and Riley notified him within several days that Lenox had been accepted. Riley will attend the districts annual convocation for its staff on Aug. 26, where he'll learn more details about the program, aimed at early adopters, nay-sayers and maybe sayers, Collins pointed out.

Riley also will deliver the keynote address at the Lee Public Schools convocation on Aug. 21, Richard said.

The MIT program has 25 different district-level trainings in Massachusetts this year, including Lee and Lenox, the only two in Berkshire County, according to Dan Rea, head of business development and strategy at Day of AI.

"That equals training for 225 teachers in Berkshire County and 2,735 teachers statewide," he said. "We hold regular virtual professional development trainings for teachers, and Massachusetts teachers regularly lead the way on the virtual side for us as well, so we've definitely trained additional teachers from Berkshire County outside of those district-level, in-person trainings."

"We want to be conscientious about how we do this, Collins emphasized. We have a very traditional educational system that has served us well, we were just designated as the No. 1 district in the county [by the Niche rating website], so we dont want to throw that out. At the same time, we dont want to ignore this world the kids are going to inherit, whether to go to college, trade school, the military or the work force.

Professional development days for Lenox Public Schools teachers this fall will include a dive into what Collins called his AI Think Tank, co-chaired by Brenda Kelley, the Morris Elementary School principal, whos phasing in as district curriculum director, and Randy McLeod, director of technology.

To ensure that all students gain equal exposure to the technology, a level playing field is the goal of the public school district, Collins explained.

I dont exactly know what that may look like, he acknowledged, but what I do know is shame on me if I do nothing and shame on our school district if we dont recognize that this is going to be a very powerful tool. Its mind-boggling and we want to make sure that our kids are as well situated as any in the country.

Early adopters can attend 15 weeks of one-hour, after-school master class sessions. Others will be given more basic training in the technology.

Day of AI is going to help us build a framework for a set policy, Collins predicted. He pointed out that ChatGPT will be able to help teachers develop lesson plans and create handout summaries.

But students would not be able to hand those in as their homework. No, because its all about the learning, said Collins. Its how we use this for learning.

He also predicted that its the elementary school students who will benefit the most from a system with guardrails on how to be a thoughtful, wise consumer of AI tools.

Ready or not, its coming, Collins asserted when asked how school administrators have reacted to the Day of AI program. Everyone agreed, we cant do nothing. Heres an opportunity to have MIT help us instead of fumbling through this by ourselves in the dark or contracting with a for-profit third party.

Im 60, four years to go on my contract, this isnt going to be my generations thing," he said. "But these kiddos, in the Morris school right now, it is going to be theirs. ... The next four years, thats what I get to influence."

He hopes that when todays youngest students graduate, they may credit the former school leaders with being forward-thinking, even if they didnt grasp what AI could do.

Hard and fast policies should be avoided, Collins noted, because AI is changing so rapidly.

Instead, guidelines that can be modified more frequently are the way to go, he said.

As for the well-publicized pitfalls of AI, Collins asks, Can you use this for evil? Yes, you can. But at the same time, would we not want all of the benefits? I see the glass as half-full.

Day of AI at a glance ...

 The MIT program works with school districts worldwide to create artificial intelligence literacy programs for students, teachers, administrators and families.

 It trains and educates teachers on how to use AI and AI-enabled tools to support their work and ensures student safety by developing responsible and equitable AI policies in their school.

 The partnership provides free lessons that cater to all levels and abilities K-12, including staff without technology backgrounds.

 Students engage in hands-on projects designing AI tools tied to climate, community or ethics, and tying in real-world issues, such as regional environmental challenges.

 There is a core focus on responsible AI: exploring bias, privacy, misinformation, deepfakes and the White House AI Bill of Rights developed in 2022, helping staff guide nuanced conversations. Curriculum aims to promote trust, critical thinking and evaluating source credibility, which is crucial for students in research and beyond.

 The partnership will link Lenox with a global network of 173 countries, offering cross-cultural exchanges and inspiration. Day of AI features student voices and projects, encouraging Lenox students to present and engage at local or online showcases.

Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
With the August slowdown looming, the Senate this week is poised to vote on two issues of interest to Berkshire residents: student cellphone use and transportation funding.

Senators on Monday gave initial approval to a $1.185 billion bond bill, and plan to take the vote necessary to pass it at a formal session Thursday, according to a spokesperson for Senate President Karen Spilka.

In addition, the Senate is poised to vote on a bill that would limit student cellphone use during the school day statewide after it cleared another hurdle last week.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee advanced a redrafted version of a proposal (S.2549) the Education Committee recommended, which would add Massachusetts to a growing list of states with clear policies on the books dealing with cellphones in classrooms. Several school districts in Berkshire County already ban cellphones during school hours.

"Three months ago, I amplified the concerns many parents, teachers, and mental health advocates have about allowing cell phones, the most distracting devices ever created, in our classrooms," Spilka said in a statement last week. "Now I am proud to say that next week the Senate will bring to the floor for debate a bill to make our schools cell phone-free. I look forward to seeing this bill through to Senate passage."

The underlying legislation would require K-12 public school districts to have policies on the books before the 2026-2027 academic year banning student use of personal electronic devices such as cellphones during school days. Local education officials could include "variations" in their bans "that align with the developmental level of students and the structure of the school day in each grade level and school," according to a Senate Ways and Means Committee summary.

Students would be allowed to use devices in certain cases such as when a health care provider indicates doing so is necessary to treat a health condition, and each district's policy would need to allow for "at least one method" by which students could communicate with parents and guardians during the day, the summary said.

Many districts already have their own cellphone limits in place, and supporters have been pushing for statewide action to fill any gaps, arguing that the devices are a persistent distraction that can fuel social tension and mental health issues.

Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell have expressed support for limiting student access to cellphones during the school day, while House Speaker Ron Mariano has not taken a definitive stance.

Support for rural roads

The transportation bill would recharge the Chapter 90 program with $300 million for a year, 50 percent more than the typical annual allotment over the past decade-plus. The $100 million addition would be distributed to cities and towns based only on road mileage, a boost for rural communities that do not receive as much from the traditional program formula.

It also includes $500 million for the road and bridge lifecycle asset management program, $200 million for repair of culverts and small bridges, and $185 million aimed at tackling persistent traffic hot spots.

Under the formula, dozens of cities and towns in central and western Massachusetts could see a 75 percent to 90 percent increase in combined Chapter 90 funds. In the Berkshires, rural towns would benefit the most.

Healey's original bill sought approval for five years of Chapter 90 funding at once, but the Transportation Committee narrowed the scope to a single year.
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
A wide range of stories feature across Sunday's newspaper front pages, including the identity of the prime suspect in the Fermanagh shootings.

The Sunday Independent reports that the Government is making a bid to stave off rising energy bills this winter, with plans to extend the lower rate of VAT on gas and electricity.

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The Business Post says high legal fees are set to be capped under the latest reforms to the insurance industry.

The Ireland edition of The Sunday Times reports that gardai have launched an investigation into alleged abuse of a Government healthcare fund.

The Irish Mail on Sunday claims that Ireland is facing its first austerity budget in a decade.

The Irish Sunday Mirror has an exclusive interview with an Irish mother whose two children were abducted by her ex-partner.

Sunday World and Sunday Life reveal the identity of the prime suspect in the murder of a woman and her children in Co Fermanagh.
The death toll from an attack on a Catholic church in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo by Islamic State-backed rebels has risen to 34, officials said.

The incident took place in the place of worship in Komanda, Ituri province.

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Dieudonne Duranthabo, a civil society coordinator, said: The bodies of the victims are still at the scene of the tragedy, and volunteers are preparing how to bury them in a mass grave that we are preparing in a compound of the Catholic church.

At least five other people were killed in an earlier attack on the nearby village of Machongani, where a search is ongoing.

They took several people into the bush; we do not know their destination or their number, Lossa Dhekana, a civil society leader in Ituri, told reporters.

Both attacks are believed to have been carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Force (ADF) armed with guns and machetes.

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The military has confirmed at least 10 fatalities, while local media reports put the total death toll at more than 40.

Mr Duranthabo said attackers stormed the church in Komanda town at around 1am. Several houses and shops were also burnt.

Lt Jules Ngongo, a Congolese army spokesperson in Ituri province, confirmed 10 were killed in the church attack.

Video footage from the scene shared online appeared to show burning structures and bodies on the floor of the church. Those who were able to identify some of the victims wailed while others stood in shock.

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A UN-backed radio station said 43 people were killed, citing security sources. It said the attackers came from a stronghold around seven miles from the centre of Komanda and fled before security forces could arrive.

Mr Duranthabo condemned the attack in a town where all the security officials are present.

He added: We demand military intervention as soon as possible, since we are told the enemy is still near our town.

Eastern Congo has suffered deadly attacks in recent years by armed groups, including the ADF and Rwanda-backed rebels.

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The ADF, which has ties to the so-called Islamic State, operates in the borderland between Uganda and Congo and often targets civilians.

The group killed dozens of people in Ituri earlier this month in what a United Nations spokesperson described as a bloodbath.

The ADF was formed by disparate small groups in Uganda in the late 1990s following alleged discontent with President Yoweri Museveni.

In 2002, following military assaults by Ugandan forces, the group moved its activities to neighbouring Congo and has since been responsible for the killings of thousands of civilians. In 2019, it pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

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The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), which has long struggled against the rebel group, has been facing attacks since the renewed hostilities between the Rwanda-backed M23.
Scotland's first minister John Swinney welcomed the President of the European Commission ahead of her meeting with Donald Trump.

Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Glasgow on Saturday ahead of her meeting with the US president at his Trump Turnberry resort to discuss maintaining trade relations.

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However, she met with Mr Swinney on Saturday evening to discuss the UKs relationship with the European Union, and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Mr Swinney said: I was pleased to welcome the president of The European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to Scotland.

During our meeting, I outlined Scotlands continued support for the European Unions leadership in demanding free and safe humanitarian aid in Gaza, alongside efforts to bring an end to the unbearable suffering unfolding.

I also took the opportunity to reiterate Scotlands steadfast commitment to Ukraine and the countrys commitment to work with European partners on key issues, including energy.

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On Friday, Ms von der Leyen announced her plans on X, formerly known as Twitter, and wrote: Following a good call with @Potus, we have agreed to meet in Scotland on Sunday to discuss transatlantic trade relations, and how we can keep them strong.
The United States has struck a framework trade deal with Europe, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, averting a spiralling row between two allies who account for almost a third of global trade.

The deal, that includes a 15 per cent tariff on EU goods entering the U.S. and significant EU purchases of U.S. energy and military equipment, will bring welcome clarity for EU companies.

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However, the baseline tariff of 15 per cent will be seen by many in Europe as a poor outcome compared to the initial European ambition of a zero-for-zero tariff deal, although it is better than the threatened 30 per cent rate.

The announcement came after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travelled to Scotland for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump to push a hard-fought deal over the line.

Trump, who is seeking to reorder the global economy and reduce decades-old U.S. trade deficits, has so far reeled in agreements with Britain, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, although his administration has failed to deliver on a promise of "90 deals in 90 days."

Trump has periodically railed against the European Union saying it was "formed to screw the United States" on trade.

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His main bugbear is the U.S. merchandise trade deficit with the EU, which in 2024 reached $235 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

The EU points to the U.S. surplus in services, which it says partially redresses the balance.

In a statement, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: "The agreement achieved this afternoon in Scotland between Presidents von der Leyen and Trump is very welcome.

""It brings clarity and predictability to the trading relationship between the EU and the US  the biggest in the world.

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"That is good for businesses, investors and consumers. It will help protect many jobs in Ireland.

"The negotiations to get us to this point have been long and complex, and I would like to thank both teams for their patient work.

"We will now study the detail of what has been agreed, including its implications for businesses exporting from Ireland to the US, and for different sectors operating here.

"The agreement is a framework and there will be more detail to be fleshed out in the weeks and months ahead.

"It does mean that there will now be higher tariffs than there have been and this will have an impact on trade between the EU and the US, making it more expensive and more challenging.

"However, it also creates a new era of stability that can hopefully contribute to a growing and deepening relationship between the EU and the US, which is important not just for the EU and the US, but for the global economy.

"Given the very real risk that existed for escalation and for the imposition of punitively high tariffs, this news will be welcomed by many."
A humble suburban bowls club may have thwarted a multibillion-dollar American casino companys attempts to introduce its brand to Australia via its planned takeover of the embattled Star Entertainment Group.

Shareholders of Star, which operates casinos in Brisbane, Sydney and the Gold Coast, last month approved Ballys planned takeover of the company.

During a visit to Australia in April, the chairman of Ballys Corporation, Soo Kim, told this masthead the company planned to overhaul Stars assets, with a shift away from a VIP-focused business. But if the casino giant was betting all its chips on a Ballys rebrand, it might just be out of luck.

Tony Wagener from the Balgowlah Bowls Club applied to register The Bally last year. Credit: Jessica Hromas

When it tried to trademark its name for hospitality use in Australia earlier this year, Ballys found a bowls club in Sydneys north shore had beat it to the punch by only half a year.
A Fiji Airways Boeing 737 MAX has been damaged at Brisbanes international airport after an aerobridge incident  the third in as many months at the airport.

Flight FJ923 from Nadi, which landed at Brisbane Airport at 11.02pm on Saturday, was damaged at the gate when the aerobridge smashed into the cockpits left-hand windscreen.

All passengers safely disembarked via forward stairs.

The aerobridge struck the Fiji Airways Boeing 737 late on Saturday night at Brisbane Airport. Credit: Facebook

It came a little more than a month after a Qantas Boeing 737 was damaged in similar circumstances, and two months after an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 struck an aerobridge as it was being pushed back on May 22.
The news

Queenslands major public sector union will push for a staff-led approach to artificial intelligence use in white-collar and administrative roles where it can help workers without undermining jobs.

The Together unions campaign will launch today with a survey of the sector to help understand the level of access to AI tools, how they are being used, and if they are improving working conditions.

This will inform the unions bargaining claims when government negotiations begin in September for some health and education agreements, and to the core public service negotiation in 2026.
There seems to be a natural human tendency to reduce complex reality by seeing masterminds behind every bad thing, Michael Nelson, a presidential scholar at Rhodes College in Tennessee, said. Trump has always played to that and now the Epstein scandal is rebounding on him. Indeed, Trump brought much of this on himself by encouraging dark views of the government that he derides as the deep state, views that prove hard to dispel now that the supposed deep state answers to him. The administrations flip-flopping on whether it would release the Epstein files has fuelled talk of a cover-up, not only by Trumps critics but by his own allies. JFK in Dallas, Texas, on the day of his assassination on November 22, 1963. Credit: AP Conspiracy theories have a long place in American history. Many Americans still believe that someone else had a hand in killing President John F. Kennedy, that the moon landings were faked, that the September 11 terrorist attacks were an inside job or that the government is hiding proof of extraterrestrial visitors in Roswell, New Mexico. Sixty-five per cent of Americans told Gallup pollsters in 2023 that they think there was a conspiracy behind Kennedys assassination. Some conspiracy theories do turn out to be true, of course, or have some basis. But presidents generally have not been the ones spreading dubious stories. To the contrary, they traditionally have viewed their role as dispelling doubts and reinforcing faith in institutions. President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Warren Commission to investigate his predecessors murder specifically to keep rumours and guesswork from proliferating. (Spoiler alert: It didnt.)

Trump, by contrast, relishes conspiracy theories, particularly those that benefit him or smear his enemies without any evident care for whether they are true or not. There have been other conspiratorial political movements in the countrys past, Geoff Dancy, a University of Toronto professor who teaches about conspiracy theories, said. But they have never occupied the upper echelons of power until the last decade. During the 2016 Republican primaries, Trump tied the father of one of his rivals, senator Ted Cruz of Texas, to the Kennedy killing, citing a photograph with Lee Harvey Oswald. During Trumps hush money trial in New York last year, his one-time compatriot David Pecker of The National Enquirer acknowledged under oath that the whole thing was made up to damage Cruz and elect Trump. Former president Barack Obama emerged from political hibernation to reject Trumps claims about him. Credit: NYT Unrepentant, Trump stuck to his false assertions about Obamas birthplace for years, only grudgingly admitting late in the 2016 campaign that his predecessor was, in fact, born in the United States. Trump nonetheless went on to falsely accuse Obama of spying on him, among other unfounded assertions. At one point, Trump spread the claim that Osama bin Laden was not actually dead and that Obama and Biden had the Navys SEAL Team 6 killed. He likewise casually accused a television anchor of murder. The presidents repeated discussion of multiple conspiracy theories, most recently about the 2016 election, has no parallel in American politics, Meena Bose, the director of the Peter S. Kalikow Centre for the Study of the American Presidency at Hofstra University, said.

Presidential allegations that have no factual basis undermine public confidence in the political system and present dangerous challenges to constitutional principles and the rule of law, particularly if they are not subject to checks by other institutions. Conspiracy theories are not the exclusive preserve of Trump and the political right. Around the time of last months anniversary of the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, some on the left once again advanced the notion that the whole shooting episode had been staged to make the Republican candidate into a political martyr. Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron at the British Museum in London this month. Credit: Bloomberg Some Democrats have now dived into the Epstein fever swamp head-first, suddenly exercised by a closed case that had hardly been on the partys priority list just weeks ago, as they pile on Trump and maximise his political troubles. After Roy Black, who was Epsteins defence lawyer, happened to die at age 80 this past week at the height of the furore over the case, some on the left saw suspicious timing. Americas conspiracy craze has also drawn in foreign allies in recent days. President Emmanuel Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte, this past week filed a defamation lawsuit in Delaware against Candace Owens, a far-right YouTube commentator known for antisemitic rhetoric, for repeatedly claiming that the French first lady is actually a man.

Trump, however, has stirred the plot pot more than any other major political figure. In the six months since retaking office, he has remained remarkably cavalier about suggesting nefarious schemes, even as he heads the government supposedly orchestrating some of them. He suggested the nations gold reserves at Fort Knox might be missing, resurrecting a decades-old fringe supposition, even though he would presumably be in position to know whether that was actually true, what with being president and all. If the gold isnt there, were going to be very upset, he told reporters. The US depository for gold reserves at Fort Knox, Kentucky, pictured in 1974. Credit: nna\advidler It fell to Scott Bessent, the decidedly non-conspiratorial Treasury secretary, to burst the bubble and reassure Americans that, no, the nations reserves had not been stolen. All the gold is present and accounted for, he told an interviewer. Trump has played to long-standing suspicions by ordering the release of hundreds of thousands of pages of documents related to the assassinations of Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., an act of transparency for historians and researchers that may shed important light on those episodes.

But Trump has gone beyond simple theory floating to make his own alternate reality official government policy. Some applicants for jobs in the second Trump administration were asked whether Trump won the 2020 election that he actually lost; those who gave the wrong answer were not helping their job prospects, forcing those rooted in facts to decide whether to swallow the fabrication to gain employment. Trump has likewise claimed that Biden was so diminished toward the end of his term that his aides signed pardons without his knowledge using an autopen. Biden was certainly showing signs of age, but the autopen story was conjecture. Asked if he had uncovered proof, Trump said, I uncovered, you know, the human mind. I was in a debate with the human mind and I didnt think he knew what the hell he was doing. An automatic signing machine, known colloquially as an autopen. Credit: AP The past week or so has seen a fusillade of Trumpian conspiracy theories, seemingly meant to focus attention away from the Epstein case. Tulsi Gabbard, the presidents politically appointed intelligence chief, trotted out inflammatory allegations that Obama orchestrated a years-long coup and treasonous conspiracy by skewing the 2016 election interference investigation  despite the conclusions of a Republican-led Senate report signed by none other than Marco Rubio, now Trumps secretary of state. She also claimed that Hillary Clinton was on a daily regimen of heavy tranquillisers during the 2016 campaign. Relying on this, Trump accused Obama of treason, suggesting he should be locked up and going so far as to post a fake video showing his predecessor being handcuffed in the Oval Office and put behind bars. The idea of a president posting such an image of another president would once have been seen as a shocking breach of etiquette and corruption of the justice system, but in the Trump era it has become simply business as usual.

For all that, the conspiracy theorist in chief has not been able to shake the Epstein case, which reflects the rise of the QAnon movement that believes America is run by a cabal of Satan-worshipping paedophiles. Most of the files, the ones that his attorney-general told him include his name, remain unreleased, bringing together an unlikely alliance of MAGA conservatives and liberal Democrats. Loading It was well known that Trump was friends with Epstein, although they later fell out. So its not clear what his name being in the files might actually mean. But Trump is not one to back down. Asked last week about whether he had been told his name was in the files, Trump again pointed the finger of conspiracy elsewhere. These files were made up by Comey, he told reporters, referring to James Comey, the FBI director he had fired more than two years before Epstein died in prison in 2019. They were made up by Obama, he went on. They were made up by the Biden administration. The theories are endless.
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San Diego Comic-Cons Hall H was abuzz Thursday as South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone took the stage, just 24 hours after the shows Season 27 premiere, Sermon on the Mount, aired on Comedy Central. The episode sparked immediate controversy with its unflinching satire of Donald Trump and its pointed jabs at Paramount, the shows own corporate parent.

According to wide media reports, the White House dismissed the series as a whole, with spokesperson Taylor Rogers saying, This show hasnt been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention.

Asked by moderator Josh Horowitz whether they had seen the reaction to the episode  which featured Trump nude in bed with Satan, his penis debated by demons and censors alike  Parker deadpanned, Were terribly sorry, earning laughs from the packed hall.

The premiere was emblematic of the shows infamous last-minute production process. Just three days ago, we were going, I dont know if people are going to like this, Parker admitted. We were reading stuff in the newspaper, and were like, Lets put that in there!

One particularly contentious element was the portrayal of Trumps anatomy. Theyre like, OK, but were gonna blur the penis. And Im like, No, youre not gonna blur the penis, Parker said. Stone added, We put eyes on the penis, explaining the workaround: Then its a character. That absurd conversation reportedly lasted four days.

Despite, or perhaps because of, the backlash, the episode drew national attention, making the show as or more relevant than it has been at any point in the past two decades.

The premiere also addressed Trumps alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein, parodied NPRs cuts, and referenced CBS canceling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. These choices paralleled real-world upheaval at Paramount, which had just finalized a five-year, $1.5 billion deal with Parker and Stones Park County production company. The timing coincided with the FCCs approval of Skydances $8 billion acquisition of Paramount Global.

While much of the panel focused on South Park, it was part of a broader Comedy Central showcase featuring Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge and Digman! co-creator Andy Samberg.

Parker confessed that even on the morning of the panel, the team was still trying to figure out next weeks episode. Right now, we dont know. But thats how the shows always been.

Despite the provocations, South Park remains a cornerstone of Paramounts programming strategy. And on Thursday night, the duo behind it all was honored with the Comic-Con Inkpot Award for excellence in animation.
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Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. kicked off San Diego Comic-Con 2025 with an announcement-packed panel titled Gundam Showcase  Featuring 30 Years of Gundam Wing. Celebrating the iconic animes legacy, the panel revealed theatrical releases, manga, and commemorative content spanning multiple Gundam franchises.

In honor of Gundam Wings 30th anniversary, a new illustration inspired by the classic anime was unveiled alongside a special video titled Mobile Suit Gundam Wing  Operation 30th, directed by Toru Iwasawa. Available now on GundamInfos YouTube channel, the video introduces new characters and mobile suits, including a Cloaked Custom unit and characters such as Adin Lowe and Meilan.

Adding to the celebration, illustrator Sakura Asagi and screenwriter Katsuyuki Sumizawa have teamed up for a new manga series titled Mobile Suit Gundam Wing 0.5 Point Half Prevernter-7, bridging the events between Endless Waltz and Frozen Teardrop. Chapter 1 is available now in English.

The fan-favorite Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz is set for a limited theatrical re-release this fall at the Japan Society with Japanese audio and English subtitles.

Also announced was the Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans 10th anniversary project, reuniting original staff including director Tatsuyuki Nagai. A special compilation film, Urdr-Hunt  Path of the Little Challenger, will be released theatrically in Japan on October 31, with a North American release forthcoming.

Finally, the panel revealed the next chapter in the Hathaway saga: Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway  The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, slated for a Japanese theatrical release next winter, with a North American premiere planned.
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If youre an animation professional or student looking for creative fuel this weekend, The Animation Showcase has just released its Annecy 2025 Highlights Collection, a streaming lineup of six of the years most acclaimed animated shorts from the Annecy Festival.

Available exclusively through The Animation Showcase platform, this curated selection features award winners and festival favorites, including The Night Boots by Pierre-Luc Granjon, which swept the awards at Annecy, winning both the Cristal for best short film and the audience award. Also featured is The Girl Who Cried Pearls, a new surreal fantasy from Oscar-nominated filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, the team behind Madame Tutli-Putli.

The collection is designed to give animation professionals and students around the world a virtual front-row seat to the most original voices in animation today.

Year after year, Annecy continues to be the beating heart of animation, and its become a tradition for us to capture that energy and share it with our community, said Benoit Berthe Siward, CEO of The Animation Showcase. This is our way of bringing you a front-row seat to the most inspiring short films of the year and extending the magic of Annecy to creators, producers, and animation lovers around the world.

The full collection includes:

Sulaimani  A richly emotional tale by Vinnie Ann Bose exploring memory and migration. (France)

Shadows  Rand Beiruty presents a haunting visual meditation on identity and displacement. (France, Jordan)

Dog Ear  Peter Vacz delivers a whimsical yet poignant journey of a forgotten character. (Hungary)

Hairy Legs  A comedic, quirky short by Andrea Dorfman celebrating self-acceptance and body hair. (Canada)

The Night Boots  A gothic-inspired fantasy by Pierre-Luc Granjon, praised for its moody aesthetic and storytelling. (France)

The Girl Who Cried Pearls  A surreal, visually stunning tale by Lavis & Szczerbowski, full of dreamlike imagery. (Canada)

Accessing the platform is easy: industry professionals and students can apply with a valid work link (IMDb, LinkedIn, Vimeo, etc.).
Thomas Earl Thurman, 79, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on July 25, 2025.

Born on November 9, 1945, to George and Stella Thurman, in Mascot, Tennessee, Tom lived a life defined by quiet strength, integrity, and deep devotion to those he loved. A proud veteran, he served honorably in the United States Air Force, a chapter of his life that shaped his sense of duty, discipline, and patriotism.

He went on to build a 34-year career as president of operations at Knox-Tenn Rental and Sales Co., where he was known for his leadership, loyalty, and work ethic. He took great pride in his work and the relationships he built throughout his career.

Tom was a loving husband, devoted father, and beloved Papa, whose greatest joy was spending time with his family. His steady presence, gentle wisdom, and warm smile will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Susan Thurman, his children, Erin (Lena) and Jim (Ashley) and his two grandchildren, Gray and Charlotte.

His legacy lives on in the lives he touched - with love, generosity, and the example of a life well-lived.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 31, from 12:30-2 p.m. at Concord Baptist Church with a Celebration of Life following.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Jude Childrens Hospital or the Missionary Projects at Concord Baptist Church.

Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com

Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
A misty dawn breaks over the legions camp. The powerful Roman army begins to simmer, restless, like a volcano about to erupt. The first advance guards deploy. Thousands of soldiers equip themselves and take turns forming up with rigorous discipline, ready to enter combat against the dangerous enemy waiting on the other side of the front. A commander, accompanied by high-ranking officers, inspects the disposition of the troops. Everyone greets him as he passes with a respect bordering on veneration. The charismatic leader is not General Maximus Decimus Meridius, the protagonist of Gladiator, but a real figure, the martial emperor Marcus Ulpius Trajan. And were not in the forests of Germania in 178 AD on campaign against the Marcomanni, but by the Danube in 101 AD, about to begin Trajans First Dacian War, the first of two brutal conflicts that would end with the annihilation of the Dacian state, a geopolitical threat to Rome, as they would say today. And the scene isnt described in a Hollywood film but in a book, a monumental biography of Trajan stretching over more than 700 pages written by David Soria, a doctor in ancient history at the University of Murcia.

Its not usual, of course, for an academic biography, no matter how informative it seeks to be, to start off the way Trajan, el mejor emperador (Trajan, the Best Emperor, 2025, with a luxurious prologue by Jose Soto Chica) does, with the obvious influence of the most striking scene of the Roman army in action that cinema has ever given us. But Sorias aim is clear from the outset: to draw us in, in an erudite yet passionate way, to follow the sensational historical and life story of the first Roman emperor of Hispanic origin (Trajan was born in Italica, near present-day Seville, in 53 AD), who led the empire to its maximum territorial reach and whom his contemporaries christened Optimus Princeps, the Best Emperor.

With Soria and Trajan  and the legions  we journey on a breathtaking historical adventure from the blood-stained Sarmizegetusa, the Dacian capital, to the sacked city of Ctesiphon, the Parthian capital, the twin nerve centers of two of the great political entities of the time and rivals of Rome  the Dacian Kingdom and the Parthian Empire  and two cities that Trajan conquered; from the forests of the Carpathians, where the deadly curved swords of the Dacians await, to the deserts of Arabia and the dusty expanses of Mesopotamia, where the cataphracts gleam and the great camel drums of the Arsacids resound, to finally arrive at the waters of the Persian Gulf (Trajan personally went further than any Roman magistrate or general had ever gone, or would ever go).

The biography, with a special focus on military matters and surprising considerations about the use of unusual special troops by the Roman army (Soria identifies Germanic ecstatic warriors, berserkir and ulfhednar, side by side with Trajans personal guard), offers a very favorable portrait of the emperor.

A bust of the emperor Trajan.

Would we like Trajan if we met him? (As long as we werent Dacians or Parthians, or any of the peoples against whom he led his campaigns.) I think so. He was a man, according to sources, who was very approachable, down-to-earth, easy-going, and not at all elitist, very accessible. He liked to consider himself just another citizen and avoided pomp and ceremony. When he arrived in Rome in 99 AD, after being proclaimed emperor the year before, he left his personal escort behind, opting to enter not in a chariot or sedan chair but on foot, and he didnt wait for the senators to emerge to greet him, but went to find them and addressed them one by one without formalities. He didnt want to be courted. Energetic but not harsh, he was sometimes too direct, almost brusque, the result of an excess of frankness. He recognized talent, accepted advice, and took criticism well. We would have liked him, yes, says the historian.

Soria believes that we would like Trajan more than his successor, Hadrian, another of the so-called five good emperors along with Nerva, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius, and the protagonist of Marguerite Yourcenars famous novel Memoirs of Hadrian. We would have liked Hadrian a little less. He was more devious, more duplicitous, and had a need to excel in everything, which doesnt mean he wasnt also a great politician, but he found it harder to empathize. We know Hadrians great love, his favorite Antinous. What do we know about Trajans private life? He was a very good friend to his friends and protected them. When one of them, Lucius Licinius Sura, from Barcino, present-day Barcelona, was accused of plotting against him, he went to his house, left his escort at the door, put himself in the hands of his doctor, and let himself be shaved by his barber. Erotically, he was bisexual, with an attraction to young boys, just like Hadrian. He had no children and adopted his successor, his second cousin.

When asked why he was interested in Trajan, Soria replies that he was drawn to him because he was relatively unknown to the general public, despite Santiago Posteguillo and his trilogy. He is certainly not as well-known as Julius Caesar, Augustus, or Nero, and people know less about his era than about the Punic Wars, for example. On the other hand, he was Hispanic, of course, and his military campaigns are a goldmine.

The historian also points out the interest in the transition from the Flavian dynasty (Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian) to the Ulpio-Aelian, or Antonine, dynasty (96-192 AD, ending with the assassination of Commodus, the son of Marcus Aurelius). He explains how Nerva and Trajan were actually part of the entourage of the last Flavian emperor, the reviled Domitian, who was condemned to damnatio memoriae after his assassination in a conspiracy of the palace staff. Soria believes that Domitian (who started the Parthian War that Trajan would finish) was not a bad emperor at all, and that the change to the next dynasty, with Nerva as the bridgehead, was actually a continuation of politics and names. Negatively, he says, it was a way of justifying a change that was actually a continuation of both personal (the same establishment) and ideological aspects. In fact, its surprising that Trajan didnt carry out any of the purges that new emperors usually did. He was part of the regime of Domitian and Nerva; the same elites of the empire placed him on the throne amid complete consensus, the same circles of power; there was no resistance.

Historian David Soria, biographer of Trajan, in an image provided by Desperta Ferro publishing house.

To what extent was it relevant that Trajan was Hispanic? He came from Baetica, one of the most Romanized and prosperous provinces of the empire, with an elite greatly enriched by the trade of oil, garum, and also bricks. They were entering the Senate and playing their cards very well. Trajans father rose significantly under Vespasian and placed the family on the starting line for the great Hispanic uprising. When there was a power vacuum, connections allowed Trajan to contend with the empire. I get the feeling that being Hispanic wasnt at all surprising to the elite. He must have been seen as a novelty, the first provincial emperor, but they dont seem to lend it much importance. Hispanics were already ubiquitous in other strata of the empire, such as in the military leadership, and were highly regarded. Perhaps something was noticeable in Trajans pronunciation; it seems that Seneca, from Corduba (Cordoba), was criticized for his accent. Hadrian also spoke sonorous Latin, but in his case more due to his habitual preference for Greek than for being Hispanic; he was also from Italica like Trajan.

Roman soldiers display heads of Dacian enemies to Hadrian, on the Trajan Column in Rome.

Was Trajans reign the finest hour of the Roman Empire? Until then, yes. Then there was another peak, in the 4th century with Constantine, and then the Valentinian dynasty. But certainly the 2nd century is one of the peaks of the Roman Empire. I dont like to choose, and there are other moments of splendor. Yes, but the book is titled Trajan, the Best Emperor. Thats what the Senate calls him, and the publisher thought it better to use that than the Latin Optimus Princeps. From then on, the Senate also began to greet new emperors with the formula 'sis felicitor Augusto, melior Traiano: may you be happier than Augustus and better than Trajan."

Be that as it may, his wars against the Dacians and Parthians alone reveal him to be a formidable emperor. I like the comparison that its as if the United States were fighting against Russia and China. The Dacian kingdom and the Parthian empire were two superpowers. Not at all tribal armies. The Parthian army was almost a medieval feudal army, with a core of professional troops and an elite with extensive military training, like the knights of the Middle Ages, as well as specialized troops. They had learned from the Hellenistic powers. The Parthians successors, the Sassanids, would further improve that army. The Dacians [see, as a good complement to the biography of Trajan, Dacia: The Roman Conquest by Radu Oltean, 2017] also had a core of professional fighters, and theirs was an army of citizen soldiers, like the Spartans or the Athenians. They were highly motivated and very tough fighters, with weapons and tactics not very different from those of the Romans. They didnt launch disorderly charges like the Germans and even performed the testudo, the tortoise. Although there was a huge difference in scale between the Dacian kingdom and the Parthian and Roman empires. The Dacian kingdom was a major threat to Rome, and Rome assessed it very well. It was no longer a question of turning it into a vassal kingdom, but of destroying it completely. Trajan was completely successful in this."

The Parthians were more difficult. With them, Trajan found it very difficult to achieve his objectives. He needed to open a second front in the Parthian rearguard through alliances with the Kushan empire or with China, with which he had contacts. But he didnt achieve these and also had to face a Jewish war in his own rearguard  stoked by Parthian military intelligence  that burned as far away as Egypt. In the end, he had to accept that he couldnt win definitively and opted for a long peace. His campaign was on the verge of success; he even conquered the Parthian capital, Ctesiphon. Its a bit reminiscent of Napoleons Moscow campaign. Yes, to take the enemys capital and still have them continue fighting. But Trajan didnt have a disastrous retreat like Napoleon. His retreat was a tactical success.

Trajan took the golden throne of the Parthian kings to Rome, along with a daughter of the monarch, the shahanshah, king of kings, Osroes I. Is there scope for an Indiana Jones and the Golden Throne? Id love it! That would be amazing. It was among the spolia optima, the trophies of the state. It probably disappeared with the sacking [of Rome] by Alaric, if it hadnt been lost or reused before then.

Metope of the Tropaeum Traiani showing a Roman legionary facing a warrior with the characteristic curved Dacian sword.

In any case, Trajans army prevailed in its battles. He inherited a well-oiled war machine, undoubtedly at a point of excellence, optimal for the challenges it had to face. Was it the best Roman army of all time? The best to fight those enemies; if Trajans legions had had to face the Goths, they would have had serious problems. There is no such thing as a pinnacle of the Roman army; it always continued to evolve, adapting to new enemies. That was probably one of its secrets, along with discipline, planning, and communication, the ability to adapt. And implacability. In war, Rome was a brutal and terrifying power, employing terror as a weapon of deterrence. It often carried out prophylactic massacres, exterminating entire tribes, such as the Bructeri. The head of Decebalus, the Dacian king (who took his own life), ended up thrown down the Gemonian Steps, the classic haunt for Romes enemies. Romes prestige always goes hand in hand with terror.

The best-known representation of Trajans army is Trajans Column in Rome (where his ashes were buried after his death in Cilicia upon his return from the Parthian campaign). It is a great propaganda piece for the campaign against the Dacians, aimed at the capitals public. The war is greatly softened when compared to another, much cruder representation, that of the Tropaeum Traiani, in Adamclisi, Romania. The troops have been reproduced so that they can be easily identified from a distance. It represents Trajans triumph as a great conqueror, and the success of his regime.

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Home News Amnesty International says Iranian missile attacks on Israeli civilians violated humanitarian law

An Amnesty International report published on Thursday concluded that the Iranian regimes deliberate use of cluster bomb warheads against Israel last month violated humanitarian law.

Cluster munitions are inherently indiscriminate weapons that must never be used, stated Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty Internationals senior director for research, advocacy, policy and campaigns. Iranian forces deliberate use of such inherently indiscriminate weapons is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, she emphasized. Some 100 countries worldwide have already banned the use of cluster bombs due to the danger they pose to the civilian population.

The Amnesty International report criticizing Iran is noteworthy because the human rights organization has a history of hostility towards the Jewish state.

Iran fired over 500 ballistic missiles against largely Israeli civilian areas. At least 28 Israelis were killed, hundreds were injured and some 12,000 lost their homes as a result of Irans deliberate attacks on residential buildings in Israeli cities. Almost 100% of the Israeli victims were civilians, including women and elderly.

By contrast, Israel mainly focused on striking Iranian nuclear and military assets during its Operation Rising Lion. Israel also issued evacuation instructions to the Iranian public in cases where the Iranian military targets were located adjacent to civilian areas.

During last months Iran Israel war, one Iranian missile hit the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva, severely damaging the Israeli hospital. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who visited the damaged hospital, condemned the Iranian's deliberate attack on Israeli civilian patients.

"We see the face of evil and terror spread by the Ayatollahs in Tehran, and at the same time we see the resilience and strength of Israeli society, united in our desire to see all the peoples of this region live in peace, Herzog stated.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar echoed similar sentiments.

This is exactly the place where the Iranian regime targeted  a civilian hospital. This is clearly a war crime. It reflects the Iranian regime's consistent strategy, they are deliberately targeting civilian population, civilian targets, civilians, children, elderly people. It is unacceptable, Saar said.

The hospitals officials have estimated that it could take up to a year before the severely damaged hospital operates normally again.

Miraculously, no patients were injured in the Iranian attack because the impacted hospital ward had been evacuated 24 hours ahead of the missile assault.

In late June, German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt personally inspected the devastation caused by Iranian missiles in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam.

"Anyone who sees what the Iranians did to civilians here should fear what they could do with a nuclear bomb. We are 100% behind Israels actions in recent days, including the strike on nuclear sites, Dobrindt stated while being accompanied by the Israeli foreign minister.

"There is no justification for attacks on a civilian population, as occurred here," the German minister continued.

He emphasized that the international community must prevent the Iranian ayatollah regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The nuclear threat is not only a danger to Israel but to all of Europe. Israel, Germany, and the United States will not accept a nuclear-armed Iran.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
Home News 'Beloved pillar of our community': ICE arrests Maryland pastor who overstayed his visa 24 years ago

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a pastor living in Maryland for over two decades for overstaying his visa. He was transferred to a federal detention facility in Louisiana, where he awaits an immigration hearing.

Daniel Fuentes Espinal, 54, originally from Honduras, was apprehended by ICE officers on Monday in Easton, a town in Maryland's rural Eastern Shore. The pastor of Iglesia del Nazareno Jesus Te Ama was detained while returning to a construction site after buying materials from a nearby Lowe's and picking up breakfast at McDonald's, The Baltimore Banner reports.

In a statement, an ICE spokesperson said that "Fuentes entered the United States on a 6-month visa and never left in 24 years."

"It is a federal crime to overstay the authorized period of time granted under a visitors visa," the spokesperson said.

A GoFundMe campaign to support Espinal's family has raised over $29,000 as of Saturday morning. The pastor is described as "a beloved pillar of our community."

"He has been in the U.S. for 24 years, has no criminal record and is known throughout Easton for providing food, shelter, clothing, emergency funds and emotional support to its most vulnerable residents," the campaign states. "This has devastated his family and traumatized a community that depends so heavily upon him."

His daughter, Clarissa Fuentes Diaz, told CNN her father was unaware of why he was being stopped and only realized what was happening after a uniformed officer asked for his identification and placed him in handcuffs. Fuentes told her that the officers were nice to him.

Espinal was initially held for a day in Salisbury, then transferred to a Baltimore facility, before being moved to Louisiana on Thursday, where he will be provided with his medication for heart and stomach conditions.

"He is doing a lot better than in Baltimore," Fuentes Diaz told The Banner. "The nurse in Louisiana was going to provide the medication today."

While being held at the Baltimore ICE Field Office, Espinal spent the night on a bench in a holding room. His daughter said there were no beds. He reportedly experienced joint pain due to the temperature and lack of rest.

Since being transferred to Louisiana, the pastor has continued to minister to those around him, including ICE agents, according to his family.

Espinal has no prior deportation orders and no criminal record, the family says. They are now working with an attorney to request a bond. More than a dozen letters from community members have been submitted in support of Espinal for any future court proceedings.

The arrest has deeply affected his wife and three kids, the youngest of whom is 18.

Fuentes Diaz described her mother as too distraught to eat or sleep, saying she was consumed by concern over whether her husband had access to food and medical care while detained.

Espinal fled poverty and violence in 2001 and arrived in the U.S., hoping to build a safer life for his family, according to family members. His daughter said relatives had been killed back home and that the country's instability left her father with little choice but to leave.

In Maryland, he initially worked in construction and later drew on his religious background as a former youth minister in the Catholic Church to join the local Nazarene church in 2010. He was appointed pastor five years later.

Though Espinal's visa had long expired, his family says he was trying to legalize his status. Fuentes Diaz was in the process of becoming his sponsor for a green card and had been waiting for her interview date when her father was arrested.

The pastor's congregation, where he has led services since 2015, is reeling.

Church member Sandra Perez told The Baltimore Banner she first met Espinal when she arrived from Guatemala 10 years ago and has come to admire his leadership and compassion.

"I have learned a lot from him, and I have seen his great work in the congregation as well as in the Easton community, and it has been very sad that they have arrested him," she was quoted as saying. "He is not a criminal. His work as a person, father and pastor is necessary for the congregation."

Espinal's case is one of many immigration arrests that have increased across the country this year as the agency pushes to fulfill President Donald Trump's campaign vow for mass deportations and border security.

Some Evangelical immigration advocates warned that mass deportations would "directly impact" churches in the U.S., especially immigrant-heavy congregations. In April, a coalition of Christian organizations  including the National Association of Evangelicals and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Refugee and Migration Services  estimated that about 80% of the 10 million illegal immigrants who could be at risk of deportation from the U.S. are Christians.

Maurilio Ambrocio, an Evangelical pastor in Florida who led the 50-member Iglesia de Santidad Vida Nueva and ran a landscaping business, was detained in April by ICE officers despite having complied for over a decade with the conditions of a stay of removal that allowed him to remain in the country after entering illegally. He was deported to Guatemala this month after living in Florida for 20 years.

Last month, an Iranian pastor in Los Angeles said five members of his congregation were detained by federal agents, including one couple seeking asylum from Iran. The arrests were confirmed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which claimed the "two Iranian nationals unlawfully present in the U.S." and were both "flagged as subjects of national security interest."
Home News Christian in Nigeria pray for relief as govt fails to stop killings

ABUJA, Nigeria  Terrorism-scarred Christians in Nigeria are praying for Gods intervention as they await help from the government and the international community.

Christians in an area of Bassa County, Plateau State, prayed for relief and strength in worship centers on July 9. Church leaders in Miango District, among the predominantly Christian Irigwe ethnic group, said the longstanding failure of the government to stop Fulani herdsmen attacks forced them to gather to seek Gods mercy.

The Rev. Joshua Bari, area chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Rev. Adamson Gado, president of the Irigwe Ministers Forum (IMF), stated in a press release that their purpose was to seek Gods healing for their land and communities.

As horrific attacks and killings continue across the nation, we must rise and stand in the gap  for Irigwe, Plateau state and Nigeria as a whole, they said. We are calling on every family, church, workplace, and place of business to take this day seriously.

The call to prayer came on the heels of continued violence, including a herdsmen attack on Jebbu Miango village the night of June 26, when one Christian was killed and two were wounded. On the same day, herdsmen mounted large-scale destruction of farmlands and crops at Nzhwerenvi and Nkienwhie villages in Bassa County, residents said.

In Teegbe District, herdsmen attacked Zowrru and Taegbe villages on June 23, killing three Christians, including two children, and injuring two others, said community leader Joseph Chudu. Slain were Sibi Monday, 30; Bako Mali Dih, 15; and Ladi Bala, 13. Esau Bala, 20, and 16-year-old Asabe Bala were injured, he said.

This attack mirrors previous incidents where Fulani militias targeted Christians, Chudu told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. In spite of this, we will continue to demand justice and peace in our communities.

Also attacked by herdsmen in the area in the recent past were the villages of Kpachudu and Nkiendowro, with a 9-month-old baby slain along with three other Christians, including two women, he said.

At about the same time, a prayer for persecuted Christians was included in the Baptist World Congress in Australia. The July 7-12 congress in Brisbane devoted a major part to prayer for persecuted Christians.

The event, which attracted thousands of Baptist delegates from across the world, including Nigeria, was hosted by the Baptist Church of Australia in Brisbane.

A powerful solidarity moment as the global Baptist family stood in the gap, lifting prayers for persecuted believers around the world, a church statement read. May Gods comfort, strength, and justice abound for our sisters and brothers facing trials.

Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report.

They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states.

Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam, as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds.

Nigeria remained among the most dangerous places on Earth for Christians, according to Open Doors 2025 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Of the 4,476 Christians killed for their faith worldwide during the reporting period, 3,100 (69%) were in Nigeria, according to the WWL.

The measure of anti-Christian violence in the country is already at the maximum possible under World Watch List methodology, the report stated.

In the countrys Northcentral zone, where Christians are more common than they are in the Northeast and Northwest, Islamic extremist Fulani militia attack farming communities, killing many hundreds, Christians above all, according to the report.

Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and the splinter group Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), among others, are also active in the countrys northern states, where federal government control is scant and Christians and their communities continue to be the targets of raids, sexual violence, and roadblock killings, according to the report. Abductions for ransom have increased considerably in recent years.

The violence has spread to southern states, and a new jihadist terror group, Lakurawa, has emerged in the northwest, armed with advanced weaponry and a radical Islamist agenda, the WWL noted. Lakurawa is affiliated with the expansionist al-Qaeda insurgency Jamaa Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM, originating in Mali.

Nigeria is ranked No. 7 on the Open Doors' World Watch List of the 50 worst countries for Christians.

This article was originally published at Christian Daily InternationalMorning Star News
Home Opinion The hidden costs of 'staying married for the kids'

Its been almost a week since the Coldplay kiss cam scandal rocked the world, initiating a global conversation about tragically familiar topics like abuse of power, betrayal, infidelity, and, significantly in the Christian world, the d word  divorce.

Because I try to write mostly about things I know, Ive written about divorce in the church a number of times, each time feeling more redundant and, perhaps a bit more jaded, than the last. I often feel like Im swimming upstream against a heavy current of Thou shalt not divorce, or your children will certainly die messaging.

And I get it. We live in a throwaway culture that refuses to treat marriage as the sacred covenant that it is, and too much of this casual attitude seems to have crept into the church, where divorce rates are strikingly close to those of the secular world  around 2732% for practicing Christians compared to 3337% for non-religious individuals, according to a 2008 Barna Group study. The gap narrows further when including nominal believers who rarely attend church. You will not hear me say divorce is inconsequential, and I understand why so many Christian influencers feel compelled to reiterate how important it is for adults to put their grown-up pants on, prioritize their vows, and do what it takes to remain faithfully committed to each other through thick and thin as best they are able. Divorce does hurt children. You wont hear me disputing this.

You will, however, hear me loudly calling for more nuance in these important conversations, specifically as it relates to marriages where abuse and toxicity are present.

As a previously single divorced mother, I remember being constantly inundated with messaging insisting that children would turn out terribly as a result of my decision to divorce. It was perpetually discouraging, and it was shortsighted guidance. This obsession with staying married at all costs ignores the kids who grow up watching mom cower under dads verbal tirades or worse, learning that love means enduring pain. What do kids learn about what it means to be a man when they see their father belittle, control, or harm their mother? Do they grow up believing masculinity is about dominance and rage? What do they learn about womanhood when their mother shrinks under abuse or sacrifices her dignity to keep the family intact? Do they internalize that being a woman means silently enduring suffering? Do boys learn to wield power without accountability, and do girls learn to accept cruelty as part of love?

These dysfunctional cycles, often perpetuated in the name of preserving marriage, can scar children far deeper than a divorce ever could, with studies showing kids in high-conflict homes face a 3050% higher risk of anxiety and depression. They are 2-3 times more likely to have behavioral issues. They have a 15-20% likelihood to have poorer grades than their peers from stable homes. They are 50% more likely to struggle with relationship issues. They possess a 10-20% higher risk of stress-related health issues.

Typically when I bring this up, Im immediately met with a fairly predictable chorus of, Abuse is bad, but statistics indicate that most divorces are not the result of abuse. Then theyll link me to some study, fold their arms, and insist theres nothing left to discuss.



Data are important. I wont dispute this. But its also true that there are truths the data dont reveal.

My no-fault divorce says we divorced for irreconcilable differences, when, in fact, it was the quickest, safest route out of abuse and infidelity. Family values groups often use data like this to claim abuse isnt the cause of divorce, but they arent working with the whole picture. In states where no-fault divorce is standard, reasons like abuse or betrayal are rarely documented, leaving us with a skewed picture that downplays their prevalence.

If you dive into available data with a fine-tooth comb, though, you will find research to support the belief that reasonably high percentages of divorces are, in fact, linked to some pretty serious issues. A study cites infidelity as a cause of 59% of divorces, with substance abuse and domestic violence also ranking high as contributing factors. Another source suggests that domestic violence alone is cited in roughly 23.5% of divorces, though some surveys push this closer to 36% when including emotional or verbal abuse. When you factor in that 78% of American men (including 75% of Christian men) watch pornography, with 88% of the most popular porn including physical aggression and 48% including verbal aggression against women, youve got a troubling picture of how deeply intertwined these issues can be in the breakdown of marriages, especially when some studies claim that as many as 56% of divorces involve one spouses obsessive interest in pornography. These are complex problems with spiritual roots that can be profoundly difficult to overcome, challenging the narrative that most divorces stem from frivolous reasons.



The truth is, the data we do have only tell part of the story. When you account for overlapping issues like infidelity, substance abuse, and domestic violence, the percentage of divorces tied to serious, toxic behaviors likely climbs into the 4060% range. Yet, these figures are often buried under the broad brush of irreconcilable differences in no-fault divorce states, masking the real pain behind many separations.

Infidelity and abuse dont neatly fit into checkboxes on court forms. When family values advocates wave around statistics claiming abuse is a minor factor, theyre often leaning on incomplete data that fail to capture the lived experiences of survivors.

When we reduce divorce to a moral failure or a lack of grit, we ignore the courage it takes to leave a toxic situation, especially when children are involved. The churchs reflex to double down on stay married at all costs can trap people in cycles of harm, teaching kids that love means enduring chaos, enabling sin, and playing the martyr rather than finding peace.

Im not advocating for a cavalier approach to divorce. Marriage is a sacred covenant, and every effort should be made to honor it when possible. But we must stop pretending that staying in a toxic marriage is always the godly choice. Kids dont just need a two-parent household; they need a healthy one. We cannot continue to whitewash or ignore the scars of growing up in a war zone disguised as a family. And we must be especially careful not to unwittingly guilt battered, broken spouses into dangerous decisions that prioritize institutions above their physical safety.

We need to listen to survivors, not silence them with statistics that dont tell the whole story. We need to acknowledge that divorce, while painful, can sometimes be the most redemptive path forward  for both parents and children. The Coldplay scandal has reopened wounds and questions that deserve better than knee-jerk judgment. Lets use this moment to foster a conversation that honors the complexity of marriage, the reality of abuse, and the hope of healing.



By all means, speak the truth that divorce is less than Gods perfect design for marriage. Remind people that children are often the casualties of it. Encourage people to fight tooth and nail for the vows they made. But be intentional about telling a more complete picture and seasoning these conversations with critically important nuance. Because when we cling to rigid rules over real people, we risk missing the heart of the gospel: love that restores, not destroys.
Home Opinion Will Russiagate scandal forever taint Obamas legacy?

Russiagate is one of the most significant scandals in American history, and it totally shatters the media-manufactured myth of Barack Obama.

Newly released details by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about the Trump-Russia collusion scandal paint a picture of an Obama administration that used official power to tarnish and destroy a political opponent.

My colleague Virginia Allen had an excellent write-up on the Wednesday release from the House Intelligence Committee report, which, according to Gabbard, exposes how the Obama administration manufactured the January 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment that they knew was false, promoting the LIE that Vladimir Putin and the Russian government helped President [Donald] Trump win the 2016 election.

Gabbard doubled down Wednesday, saying that Obamas national security team knew it would promote this contrived narrative that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help President Trump win, selling it to the American people as though it were true. It wasnt.

As details of the Russia collusion hoax drip out from the White House, the whole thing keeps looking worse for the Obama administration.

The origin of the Russia collusion narrative, which was a constant source of media coverage through Trumps first term, began without any credible evidence. But top officials in the Obama White House used their final days in office to create the implication that Russia was backing Trump. This, despite the intelligence community telling them that they had no evidence connecting Russia to Trump.

In fact, according to the files, its not clear at all that Russia even wanted Trump to win. That conclusion, according to the report, was based on a scant, unclear, and unverifiable fragment, from a single source.

After Gabbards report simmered for a while, Obama issued this very Obama-esque 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, the statement said. But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.

As usual, the holier-than-thou former president said nothing in particular while pretending, as always, that hes above the petty workings and accusations of mere mortals.

But Obama cant just eject from this scandal.

If the report is true, then it suggests that the Obama administration, at the very highest level, attempted to weaponize the intelligence community, the deep state, to create a narrative about Trump and Russia that was meant to damage and delegitimize Trumps presidency.

Thats a massive betrayal of public trust and makes Watergate seem like a nothingburger.

Obama was a change agent focused on changing institutions to serve his political movement. On this end, he achieved a remarkable amount of success but ultimately sowed the seeds for a total collapse in American institutional trust.

For the constant talk about how Trump breaks norms, it was the Obama administration that destroyed the notion of an amicable transfer of power between presidential administrations.

This may be hard to come to grips with for some people who still buy into the notion of a moderate Obama who was above petty politics and the partisan fray, but the actions of his administration were ruthlessly partisan.

Obama effectively wedded the power of the federal government to the Democrat political machine. His political movement co-opted the private sector and corporate America, too  once the bogeymen of the Left  into the larger project. The regime was set to carry out the Lefts objectives no matter who sat in the Oval Office.

In 2016, what Obama once called the bitter clingers  the basket of deplorables, as Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton even more obnoxiously called them  struck back and elected Trump. But the Obama machine wouldnt let this stand. So instead of gracefully accepting defeat, they weaponized the bureaucratic leviathan Obama built to stonewall and damage Trump at every turn.

With the narrow election of President Joe Biden, it seemed the strategy worked. That Biden was a barely there empty suit may have even been a positive for the collection of Obama advisers and deep state bureaucrats who clearly ran the executive branch as the president snoozed and ate ice cream.

They set the precedent for using official power to destroy enemies of the regime. And they had a vast bureaucratic apparatus that was eager to help them do it. So when the Biden administration worked with leftist prosecutors to jail Trump, it was done in the spirit of the Russia collusion hoax.

And thats the line that runs through the Obama-Biden joint apparatus that created and linked two of the biggest scandals in American political history. The first was the Obama administrations weaponization of the deep state; the second was the deep state presidency where Biden operated as little more than a figurehead.

The return of Trump to the White House is the ultimate rebuke of the institutions that Obamas minions corrupted.

If Gabbards report is true, it should forever put to rest the notion of the scandal-free Obama administration.

Obama entered office promising hope and change, but he left us with malaise and cynicism.

Originally published at The Daily Signal.
Home News Richmond Road Baptist Church pastors son says he was wrongfully arrested day of church shooting

The son of a longtime pastor at Richmond Road Baptist Church in Kentucky says he was wrongfully arrested on the day of a mass shooting that left two of his family members dead and two others injured. He was charged with menacing while trying to learn whether his father had survived.

Jerry Gumm II said he rushed to the church in Lexington on July 13 after receiving a call from a relative saying someone had shot them all up, according to Lex18.

At the time, Gumm didn't know who was dead or alive and was told that his stepmother, Beverly Gumm, and stepsister, Christina Combs, had been shot at the scene along with his father, Jerry Gumm, and Combs husband, Randy.

The shooter, Guy House, was later killed by police.

Gumm was quoted as saying he drove from Nicholasville to the scene and tried to identify himself to officers, asking about his fathers condition. In a citation filed by Kentucky State Police, a trooper wrote that Gumm was belligerent and grabbed the handle of his gun.

Gumm denies the accusation, saying he never reached for his weapon and had only tried to back up and raise his hands as he sought information. I was asking for the condition of my father the whole time, and they said, Watch the news, thats all the information youll need to get, he said.

Gumm was charged with menacing and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 29. He and his attorney are seeking to have the charge dismissed.

Gumm said he still respects the police, though he questioned the conduct of some officers at the scene.

The 47-year-old suspect killed Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 32. Pastor Jerry Gumm and Randy Combs were hospitalized with critical injuries. House had also shot a Kentucky State Police trooper earlier that day at Blue Grass Airport.

Before the church shooting, House had reportedly been searching for the mother of his child. She was not at the church. Instead, he shot her mother and sister.

His former partner told WKYT that House had recently threatened suicide and expressed a desire to harm her. She filed for an emergency protective order, which she said was never served despite providing authorities with his known address.

Court records indicate that House had a criminal history and was released from probation in January. He had previously tested positive for methamphetamine in violation of that probation. He also had a court date scheduled for a domestic violence case the day after the shooting.

House was known in local circles as a rapper who went by the name HonKy Kong and had over 9,000 followers on Facebook. Following the shooting, several people who knew him posted online expressing grief and disbelief, describing him as someone who snapped due to not being allowed to see his daughter.

In one of his music videos titled Struggle Made Me, House rapped about his difficult upbringing.
Home News Pulpit Freedom Sunday churches react to IRS allowing pastors to endorse candidates

The Internal Revenue Service announced earlier this month that it would no longer enforce a measure that prohibits pastors from endorsing political candidates from the pulpit.

The Johnson Amendment, which had been in effect since 1954, made religious leaders and other entities liable to lose their tax-exempt status if they endorsed specific candidates ahead of elections or engaged in other political activities, such as raising money for political candidates.

While supporters of the amendment viewed it as an important provision of the separation between church and state, critics charged that it violated religious freedom and freedom of speech.

In 2008, the religious freedom legal nonprofit Alliance Defending Freedom launched Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an annual event held to raise awareness and protest the Johnson Amendment.

As part of the observance, hundreds of churches nationwide would film worship services in which pastors would discuss electoral politics from the pulpit, and then send the recordings to the IRS, in the hopes of creating a test case to get the measure struck down by the courts.

The Christian Post reached out to a couple of churches participating in Pulpit Freedom Sunday to get their perspectives on the IRS' decision to allow pastors to endorse candidates from the pulpit.

Its about time

Dan Fisher, pastor at LifePoint Bible Church of Oklahoma, told CP that he has participated in every official Pulpit Freedom Sunday, but also spoke to his congregation about the issues and candidates every time there has been an election, whether there was an official Pulpit Freedom emphasis or not.

I have always believed a Christian cannot separate their faith from their politics. That would be akin to separating our faith from our education, job, hobbies, etc. It is simply ludicrous, said Fisher.

So, when I received an invitation to participate and the elders of my church encouraged me to do so, it was a natural outflow of everything I had been preaching, teaching and doing all my ministry.

While Fisher recounted being criticized and ridiculed for my stand, he never encountered any legal resistance from progressive groups "nor was I prosecuted or sued for my stand.

Regarding the recent change by the IRS, Fisher told CP he believes its about time that they had done so, adding that they simply admitted what many of us have known all along  the government nor any of its agencies have the right or power to censor speech  whether that speech is political or religious.

Furthermore, a churchs tax-exempt status is not a gift from a benevolent government. It is a right recognized by our Founders from our earliest days and one that has been confirmed time and time again by our courts, he continued.

Regarding possible concerns that speaking about politics from the pulpit might alienate those in the pews, Fisher stressed that the pastor is not the church, but rather an individual who pays taxes just like everyone else.

Just because he declares his view on political issues based upon his understanding of Scripture and personally endorses a candidate from the pulpit does not mean the church is endorsing that candidate or necessarily agrees with everything the pastor says, Fisher said.

As with any other subject, those attending the church can come to their own decisions and conclusions apart from those of the pastor.

More bold

Pastor Daren Mehl of Warroad Community Church of Warroad, Minnesota, told CP that one of the clergy at his church participated in Pulpit Freedom Sunday.

Unlike Fisher, Mehls church did experience legal backlash, with the IRS opening a case against the church over its involvement in the observance. However, they experienced no punishment for their actions.

The pastor continued to speak his mind when it came to politics, and it didn't change his truth-telling. In fact, it made him more bold, recounted Mehl. So, did we get in trouble taking part? Not trouble, per se, but [the] IRS did attempt an investigation and then shut it down.

Mehl believed that the Johnson Amendment was unconstitutional and detrimental to the conscience of the country as the church should be the one holding our moral compass pointing to Jesus, our Creator, and His ways.

Mehl, who identifies as an outspoken former homosexual set free by Jesus, briefly described his history of political activism, including campaigning against Minnesotas conversion therapy ban and denouncing the states pro-choice abortion laws.

The Johnson Amendment being shot down is going to remove the excuse cowards in some church leadership have used to not speak about the issues of life and death that the churches are called to be the salt and light to, he added.
Home Opinion 10 traits of a faithful evangelist

We are living in an age of platforms without presence, microphones without the mantle, and influence without intimacy. It has become far too common for preachers to assume the title messenger of God without first being shaped by the presence of God.

In the book of Ezekiel, we see a powerful picture of what it means to be truly commissioned by the Lord. Ezekiel was not merely a man with a messagehe was a man marked by encounter, commission, and consecration. His life serves as a prophetic blueprint for those today who dare to stand in the counsel of the Lord and speak on His behalf.

As A.W. Tozer once said:

The messenger must first be a worshiper. He must first be touched by the fire of God before he dares touch the lips of others.

And Leonard Ravenhill warned:

The pulpit can be a place of death or a platform for divine confrontation. A preacher not touched by God will only tickle the ears of men.

The following are 10 traits of every true messenger of the Lord, as modeled by Ezekiel:

1. They have an encounter with Yahweh (Ezekiel 1)

Ezekiels ministry did not begin with a strategyit began with a supernatural encounter. The heavens were opened, and he saw visions of God. His first chapter is not a sermon outline but a revelation of the glory of God riding on a throne above the cherubim.

Every true messenger of God is first a man or woman of divine encounter. They cannot preach what they have not seen. They do not manufacture revelationthey receive it through intimacy. Before Ezekiel spoke, he trembled.

2. They are commissioned by God to speak for Him (Ezekiel 2:3-7)

Ezekiel was personally commissioned by the Lord to be a prophet to a rebellious house. He did not volunteer for this role, nor was he voted into office. True messengers are not self-appointed  they are God-sent.

In an age of self-promotion and spiritual entrepreneurship, we must return to the biblical standard of divine commissioning. If you havent been sent by God, your words will be empty, no matter how eloquent they sound.

3. They are commanded to consume the Word of God (Ezekiel 3:1-3)

Before Ezekiel could proclaim the Word, he had to digest it. The Lord said, Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.

The true messenger doesnt just quote Scripturehe is nourished by it. The Word becomes part of his very being. He doesnt speak from opinion, but from a heart that has been cut, healed, and shaped by the Word.

4. They are commanded to be faithful irrespective of receptivity (Ezekiel 2:5-7)

Ezekiel was warned that Israel would be stubborn and obstinate, yet he was still commanded to speak. The measure of his faithfulness was not results, but obedience.

In contrast to todays metrics of success  followers, likes, online conversions  Gods messengers are measured by fidelity. Whether they listen or not, the prophet must proclaim: Thus says the Lord.

5. They sit where the people sit (Ezekiel 3:15)

After receiving his commissioning, Ezekiel sat where they sat, astonished among the exiles for seven days. He took time to understand their condition.

False messengers encounter the people before they encounter God, and thus shape their messages to please them. But true messengers encounter God first, and only then are they able to rightly interpret the needs of the people through the lens of divine truth and holiness.

6. They understand the severity of their commissioning (Ezekiel 3:17-21)

God told Ezekiel that if he failed to warn the wicked, their blood would be on his hands. This was not a suggestion  it was a divine burden.

The biblical messenger lives with a holy trembling, knowing that silence in the face of sin is complicity. He is a watchman on the wall who will not be silent, even if the people ignore the trumpet sound.

7. They discern the true spiritual condition of Gods people (Ezekiel 8-11)

In Ezekiel 811, God lifted Ezekiel in the Spirit and showed him the hidden abominations of the temple  the secret idolatry of the leaders and the corruption of the priesthood.

Todays messengers must also be spiritually discerning. The true condition of the church is not revealed in attendance reports or social media, but in the spirit of prayer, repentance, and righteousness. A true prophet sees past appearances into the heart of the people.

8. They stand in the gap through prayer (Ezekiel 3:17; 22:30)

God sought a man to stand in the gap, to build a wall of intercession so that He would not destroy the land. The prophet is not just a preacher  he is a priestly intercessor.

Ezekiels call was not only to declare judgment, but to weep before it came. A true messenger weeps in the secret place before he speaks in the public place. He contends for mercy on behalf of the guilty.

9. They boldly rebuke idolatry (Ezekiel 16)

Ezekiel 16 contains one of the most sobering rebukes in all of Scripture. Ezekiel exposes Jerusalems spiritual adultery in graphic terms, likening it to prostitution and betrayal.

A biblical messenger does not soften sin to be more palatable. He calls idolatry what it is. He weeps, yes  but he also rebukes with holy clarity. He calls the people to forsake their idols and return to covenant love.

10. They operate under the hand of the Lord (Ezekiel 1:3; 3:14, 22)

Repeatedly, Ezekiel declares that the hand of the Lord was upon me. This speaks of divine enablement, pressure, and presence.

The true messenger is not sustained by talent, charisma, or emotional hype, but by the mighty hand of God. He moves only when the Spirit moves. He prophesies only when the Word comes. He does not minister out of self-effort, but out of divine compulsion.

In conclusion, we do not need more communicators  we need more messengers. Men and women who have stood in the presence of God, eaten His Word, wept over His people, and spoken with the fear of the Lord. Let us return to the model of Ezekiel  one whose life was consumed by the glory of God, commissioned by His Word, and anchored in His burden for the people.
Despite President Donald Trumps team claiming otherwise, experts say his One Big Beautiful Bill will have devastating effects on the health of millions. With cuts of nearly $1 trillion to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) over the next decade, and potential repercussions for Medicare on the horizon, the law could cause more than 16 million Americans to lose their health coverage, especially among low-income, disabled, and rural populations.

Massive cuts and new work requirements

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that Trumps bill will cut federal funding for Medicaid and CHIP (Childrens Health Insurance Program) by $1.02 trillion by 2034. These cuts are mainly due to new eligibility restrictions, frequent income and residency verification, and the imposition of 80-hour monthly work requirements for many adult enrollees between the ages of 19 and 64 without dependents.

This could cause at least 11.8 million people to lose Medicaid coverage. Regardless of the precise effect, this is undoubtedly the largest regressive cut in federal health benefits ever enacted in the United States, says health economist Dr. William H. Dow of the University of California, Berkeley. The Center for American Progress echoes this warning, noting that the cuts will hurt those who depend most on Medicaid.

Although the bill includes exemptions for people with disabilities, many could lose coverage due to bureaucracy or difficulty proving their eligibility. In Arkansas, a 2018 pilot program with similar work requirements resulted in 18,000 people losing Medicaid in seven months, mainly due to administrative hurdles rather than ineligibility.

Impact on immigrants

The law introduces several provisions that will restrict access to health coverage for immigrants, both documented and undocumented. Under the new law, the definition of who is eligible for ACA subsidies is narrowed, preventing access for thousands of refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants with humanitarian visas.

In addition, states that provide Medicaid coverage to undocumented immigrants will face financial penalties. Therefore, this reduction in federal support is likely to pressure states to withdraw support. For example, California announced a freeze on new Medi-Cal enrollments for undocumented immigrants, and Illinois suspended a similar program due to cost concerns.

In addition, immigrants with legal status who have contributed to Medicare may lose their eligibility due to a provision that eliminates their access to the program.

These changes come despite the fact that immigrants, especially undocumented ones, are already largely excluded from most federal healthcare programs and tend to use fewer public benefits than native-born citizens.

Impact on people with disabilities and chronic illnesses

On the other hand, it is estimated that 2.6 billion adults with disabilities who do not receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) could be penalized by the new requirements, even though many have difficulty working due to their health condition. Experts argue that the bureaucratic burden, such as submitting monthly employment verification, could cause eligible individuals to be excluded simply because they cannot deal with the red tape.

A report by Dr. Sanjay Basu, chief medical officer at Waymark, warned that the loss of Medicaid coverage under the bill would lead to a deterioration in health services. His teams analysis, published in JAMA Health Forum, predicts more than 1,000 additional deaths per year, nearly 100,000 hospitalizations, and $7.6 billion in new medical debt due to delayed health care. In the worst-case scenario, the number of deaths could double.

Risks for rural populations

The consequences of the legislation are likely to be most severe in rural areas, where Medicaid accounts for a large portion of hospital revenue. Although the bill includes a $50 billion rural stabilization fund over five years, experts say it is not enough to offset the damage that will be caused by the loss of $1 trillion in Medicaid funding. With nearly 300 rural hospitals at risk of closure and 44% operating at a loss, any revenue shortfall could cause them to disappear.

Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association, told ABC News that rural patients could have to drive three or four hours to give birth or receive emergency care. Rural residents with disabilities are especially vulnerable, as they rely more on Medicaid than their urban counterparts and have fewer alternative providers.

Medicare in jeopardy

Although the bills greatest direct impact is on Medicaid, Medicare could also be affected. According to the CBO, the bill could trigger automatic cuts of nearly $490 billion in Medicare between 2027 and 2034 under the 2010 Mandatory Pay-As-You-Go Act, unless Congress intervenes. Trumps bill will also block expanded access to Medicare savings programs for low-income seniors and eliminate Medicare eligibility for some legal immigrants who have contributed to the system.

State-level responses

Some states may try to soften the blow, such as California, where funding has been provided to expand Medicaid benefits for undocumented immigrants. However, William Dow warns that budget pressures caused by the bill may force even progressive states to cut programs. California has already announced a freeze on new immigrant enrollments in Medi-Cal due to federal funding restrictions.

There are still opportunities to reverse or mitigate these changes. Many provisions will not take effect until 2027 or later, leaving room for possible legislative reversals.
The Medina Community Recreation Center is looking to partner with FitOn Health. Emily Canning-Dean, Special to Cleveland.com

MEDINA, Ohio -- City Councils Finance Committee has approved an agreement with FitOn Health that will allow the organizations clients to take advantage of Medina Community Recreation Center memberships.

This is a similar program to Silver Sneakers, which is a program that many of the senior citizens at our facility are utilizing, Parks and Recreation Director Jansen Wehrley said.

It is a reimbursement program based on daily scans and includes admission to the facility and access to program classes.

Wehrley said that if an individual who is eligible for the FitOn Health program shows up at the recreation center four times in a month, the organization will pay the center $56.70 for that month.

That is prorated, so if they dont make it that many times then we would collect a reduced rate, Wehrley said.

Wehrley said folks at the recreation center learned about the program from a member who had recently joined Blue Cross Blue Shield, which sponsors the FitOn Health program.

I think adding this program will be beneficial to the rec center, Wehrley said. We have about 2,500 members at the rec center who take advantage of programs like these.

Water main work

In other news, city officials have announced that contractors will be completing water main tie-ins the week of July 28 at the intersections of West Liberty Street and North Elmwood Avenue and West Liberty Street and South Court Street.

The contractor will also begin work on transferring water service lines on South Elmwood Avenue between West Smith Road and Lafayette Road.

West Liberty Street will continue to be maintained in the westbound direction utilizing the south lane while work is occurring in the north lane.

South Elmwood Avenue between West Liberty Street and West Washington Street will be reopened as normal for the week of July 28.

Two-way traffic on South Elmwood Avenue between West Smith Road and Lafayette Road will be maintained with flaggers.

Read more from the Medina Sun.
Vijaya Emani, pictured in 2008, took a rare step in the Asian Indian community when she broke her silence about domestic violence and began counseling other immigrant wives trapped in abusive relationships. (Joshua Gunter/ The Plain Dealer, file) The Plain Dealer

In a rampant display of xenophobia, the Ohio Senate, on a party-line vote, has passed Senate Bill 172, which would allow for the arrest of anyone in Ohio who is suspected of being unlawfully present in the United States. The bill is currently pending in the Ohio House. As a licensed attorney whose legal education consisted of internships where I advocated for immigrant survivors of domestic violence, I know that bills like SB 172 do not keep our communities safer.

Contrary to President Donald Trumps slanderous characterizations of immigrants, the clients I helped as a law student were not bringing drugs or crime into our country. They were not rapists. In fact, many of my clients were victims of sexual assault and/or rape. And I never met a client who ate pets. Rather, most of the clients I had the honor of meeting as a law student had been victims of domestic violence or had to flee their home countries to escape gender-based violence.

Yet GOP politicians continue to erroneously cast blame on undocumented immigrants. After hearing that law enforcement would cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, many of the clients I worked with as a law student simply would not report the violence happening in their homes to police. So, they endured horrific acts of physical abuse to avoid being deported, since deportation meant leaving their children behind with an abusive spouse in the United States.

For other clients who had fled to the United States to escape gender-based violence, deportation was a death sentence. The clients I worked with as a law student lived in countries where law enforcement regularly aided and abetted abusers and failed to intervene in domestic violence cases. Being deported meant being forced back into a country where an abusive spouse enjoyed total immunity for his unlawful acts.

Even clients whom we helped apply for lawful status in the United States, or whose status was tied to an abusive spouse, had to wait months to receive work authorization, and often remained economically dependent on their abusers. For a victim who was economically dependent upon an abuser, these long delays and wait periods often forced them to stay in a dangerous relationship.

Sarah Kolick is a local lawyer who advocates for womens rights and LGBTQ+ rights through grassroots activism. She is a proud graduate of Smith College and The George Washington University Law School. Courtesy of Sarah Kolick

Instead of passing legislation that would enable ICE to conduct unconstitutional and racially motivated raids in Ohio, our legislators need to acknowledge that immigrants are not the problem. According to a 2020 study of Texas arrest data, undocumented immigrants were less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens. And, despite GOP racist claims to the contrary, statistically, the greatest danger to women in the United States is not from an undocumented immigrant but from her own husband or boyfriend, as a majority of female homicide victims are killed by a current or former intimate partner. Cuts to public benefit programs and expansion of gun laws are the true accelerants of domestic violence in the United States.

Ohio should not pass SB 172, a bill that would create additional barriers for victims of crime to protect themselves by reporting violent crimes without fear of deportation. Yet instead of considering policies that would protect our communities and survivors, GOP politicians continue to use immigrants as their scapegoats.

Sarah Kolick is a local lawyer who advocates for womens rights and LGBTQ+ rights through grassroots activism. She is a proud graduate of Smith College and The George Washington University Law School.

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On December 30, 2019, Trinidad Alberto de la Cruz Miranda  known as El Pelon de Playas (The Bald Man of the Beaches)  was arrested. As the leader of Los Zetas, one of the most dangerous Mexican drug cartels in the state of Tabasco, he was wanted for kidnapping, extortion, drug trafficking, arms dealing, illegal fuel sales and for co-opting government officials.

His arrest triggered the torching of vehicles and buildings, along with the appearance of banners that demanded his release. One of these messages named Hernan Bermudez, who at the time was the newly-appointed secretary of Security and Citizen Protection for the state. Bermudez had been in office for 19 days at the time, having been appointed by Tabasco Governor Adan Augusto Lopez. The narco-banner read: Were coming for you, Hernan Bermudez Requena, for being a traitor. This was the first of many times that the Regional Intelligence Fusion Center (CERFI) and the Ministry of Defense identified Bermudez, who would later adopt a code name. Following his appointment as head cop in Tabasco, he would be known as Commander H.

The latest crisis involving Morena, Mexicos ruling party, bears his name. Hernan Bermudez  who has been a fugitive since January and has a Red Notice issued by Interpol  has leapt into the national spotlight, implicating one of the partys heavyweights: Senator Adan Augusto Lopez, the former state governor who also served as secretary of the Interior under the previous administration. Members of the party in the state of Tabasco had already been warning about the former police chief for months.

Incumbent Governor Javier May publicly denounced Bermudez back in November 2024 and again in January 2025 for having led La Barredora, a criminal gang, in the face of what he described as the negligence or apathy of his predecessors. Last weekend, the case exploded when the states military commander, General Miguel Angel Lopez, revealed that an arrest warrant had been issued for the former secretary (who is also a member of Morena) back in February.

Morena party members were quick to use the argument that previous governments have already used: just as former President Felipe Calderon (2006-2012) appointed Genaro Garcia Luna  now serving time in a U.S. prison  as his secretary of the Interior, Adan Augusto Lopez had no idea what his appointee was doing. He probably had no clue, legislator Ignacio Mier opined. Its all nonsense, added Senate President Gerardo Fernandez Norona.

Its not [Augusto Lopez] who has to clarify matters; the person under investigation is the former secretary of Security, affirmed Luisa Maria Alcalde, the president of Morena, in an attempt to excuse him. However, on July 18, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum changed her tune: It would be [advisable] for him to give his version of events.

After this veiled order, Adan Augusto Lopez finally emerged, if only online: Even though I havent been summoned, Im at the disposal of any authority that requests my presence, he wrote on X, after days of silence.

Adan Augusto Lopez and Hernan Bermudez Requena, in Acapulco, in August 2022. SSPC Tabasco

Mexican Army documents released by the Guacamaya hacking group and accessed by EL PAIS show that the Ministry of Defense and its Regional Defense Center had identified Hernan Bermudez as a key player in Tabascos criminal network. In 2021, he appeared as one of the officials giving orders to criminal groups. And, a year later, he was described as the head of La Barredora, the local cell of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which has been sowing chaos and violence in the state since last year. The military also collected several mentions of Governor Adan Augusto Lopez in the emails sent between criminal leaders.

Kalimbas execution

On December 4, 2020, a shock wave changed the criminal landscape in the state of Tabasco. Pantera and Toro (Panther and Bull)  the aliases of two independent criminal leaders dedicated to fuel theft  executed Kalimba, a huachicolero (fuel thief) leader linked to Los Zetas. With his assassination, they took control of four municipalities and part of Cardenas, the second-most populous city in the state. They had permission to do so: it had been given to them by Commander H, the state head of Security and Citizen Protection. Pantera even received a call from the man in Villahermosa to express his gratitude, telling [Pantera] he could take the [territory], the Army noted, in a report from January 2021. The same report asserts that two state police commanders had offered to provide [the fuel thieves] with support should they require it, both from the government and from individuals engaged in illicit activities (hitmen). Weapons were also offered.

The state is a haven for fuel theft. And control of the municipalities means controlling PEMEX pipelines, the extraction and sale of fuel, as well as drug-trafficking, extortion, executions and migrant-smuggling. With Hernan Bermudez as the states top cop, the Jalisco Cartel made its triumphant entry into the state. And, in the months following the organizations arrival, banners in the name of the cartel and La Barredora began to appear.

On May 13, 2021, the Ministry of Defense for the first time identified Hernan Bermudez as the head of the criminal network in Tabasco. He was the one who settled disputes between local leaders: he ordered executions and determined when it was appropriate for gangs to settle their differences. He dictated when a criminal group could enter a specific territory, while setting the price of releasing gang members.

Pantera received a call from [Commander] H. The deal [consisted of him] sending half-a-kilo (possibly 500,000 Mexican pesos, or $27,000) with the three wives of [three] detainees to free them. Furthermore, he doesnt want any [lawyers involved]; he doesnt want anyone to find out about the deals being made, the Mexican Army reported more than four years ago.

The state at the service of the CJNG

In his only statement about the case, Senator Adan Augusto Lopez has defended the reduction in violence that his gubernatorial administration oversaw between January of 2019 and August of 2021. Homicides fell from more than 500 in 2018 to 250 under his tenure as governor. Kidnappings, meanwhile, plummeted by 87%, while extortion cases fell by 83%. However, what Mexican Army documents from those years reveal is that, clearly, the authorities [within] the Prosecutors Office and the [Tabasco Public Safety Secretariat] are the [parties that] control the plaza bosses in their jurisdiction.

The Mexican Armys map of the criminal structure in Tabasco identifies Hernan Bermudez as the leader. He also acted through Javier Reyes, the coordinator of the Municipal Police; Ulises Pinto, known as El Mamado, his second-in-command at the Secretariat, and Carlos Tomas Diaz Rodriguez, known as Licenciado Tomas, who had been an advisor to the director of Mexicos Federal Ministerial Police (PFM) in the Tabasco Prosecutors Office. Furthermore, according to reports from the Ministry of Defense, Jose Felipe Padilla Castaneda, the coordinator of the National Guard in Tabasco, and Leonardo Arturo Leyva Avalos, who was simultaneously the director-general of the State Police and leader of the CJNG in Tabasco, were also part of the criminal structure.

This demonstrates the ongoing corruption of the authorities, highlighting that the CJNG can utilize the capabilities of the operational, technological, intelligence and information structures available in the state of Tabasco. [Theres total institutional neglect] of the objective of combating the organized crime prevalent in [Tabasco], which is being exploited by the cartel for its criminal purposes, read the final comments drafted by the Southeast Regional Intelligence Fusion Center (CERFI) in July of 2021. At the time, Adan Augusto Lopez was still the governor of Tabasco.

Pantera is with the governor

Benjamin Mollinedo is the real name behind the alias Pantera. He operated in the cities of Cardenas, Huimanguillo, as well as in the state capital, Villahermosa. He changed his cell phone every two weeks and had an operational structure consisting of approximately 50 people, who travel in Ford Platinum vehicles (possibly armored) with high-caliber weapons (Barretts, AK47s, AR15s, M4s, etc.). He was arrested in September 2021, but before that, he went on a rampage of shooting and dismembering people in the state of Tabasco. Through him, two mentions of Adan Augusto Lopez were found.

Adan Augusto Lopez in Mexico City, August 15, 2024. Nayeli Cruz

The Ministry of Defense, the Navy and the National Intelligence Center provided information to CERFI. On December 13, 2020, following surveillance of members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), communication was obtained between Taca and Joncha, two cartel members involved in fuel-trafficking in Cardenas. It was [determined] that the person responsible for the execution of Andres Rodriguez Vasconcelos, alias Kalimba, was Benjamin Mollinedo (Pantera), with the support of officers who received orders from the governor (perhaps referring to Adan Augusto Lopez Hernandez, governor of Tabasco), the CERFI report notes.

The information center adds just below that Toro, whose real name is Samuel Paz, specified that Pantera is [working] with the government, with the governor (perhaps Adan Augusto Lopez Hernandez, governor of Tabasco) [...] In fact, the state leader offered him [payment] in exchange for [some work]. The CERFI report explains that this refers to Kalimbas murder.

In its latest mapping of cartel structures, from August 2022, documents from the Mexican Army emphasize what theyve been documenting for years: A climate of insecurity has prevailed in the state of Tabasco.

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This week marks the busiest week of the second-quarter corporate earnings season, and some of the world's biggest companies are on the docket. In coming days, 151 companies in the S & P 500 are slated to release their latest quarterly results. That includes four of the "Magnificent Seven," Meta Platforms and Microsoft on Wednesday and Amazon and Apple on Thursday. They will follow those from two other notable megacap technology companies, YouTube and Google parent Alphabet and Tesla . Alphabet shares closed higher Thursday after second-quarter earnings and revenue topped expectations, while Tesla shares nosedived after the electric vehicle maker saw auto sales decline for a second consecutive quarter . Corporate earnings have proven strong so far, with more than 82% of the 169 S & P 500 companies that have reported beating Wall Street's expectations, according to FactSet data. Here is CNBC Pro's breakdown of what to expect in some of the coming week's most notable reports. All times are ET. Tuesday Procter & Gamble is scheduled to report earnings before the opening bell, followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Last quarter: Procter & Gamble slashed its 2025 guidance for core earnings per share and revenue, citing a slowdown in consumer spending and the effect of President Donald Trump's higher tariffs. CEO Jon Moeller also said price hikes were likely. This quarter: Analysts surveyed by LSEG expect slight year-over-year earnings and revenue growth from the Tide detergent and Charmin toilet paper owner. What to watch: Heading into the results, JPMorgan's Andrea Teixeira downgraded Procter & Gamble to a neutral rating from outperform on Friday. The analyst cited the outlook for "another lackluster quarter and normalization of category growth" as justification. "We are taking a pause because we think PG organic sales growth will remain soft for the next few quarters as the categories have decelerated," Teixeira added. That followed a downgrade from Evercore ISI in mid-July to an in-line rating from outperform . While P & G performs well in traditional brick-and-mortar stores like Costco and Walmart, Evercore ISI found it was losing share on Amazon. What history shows: Procter & Gamble has a strong earnings track record, with data from Bespoke Investment Group showing the Cincinnati-based company beating earnings estimates 85% of the time. Bespoke data also shows that P & G has surpassed analysts' earnings expectations for nine consecutive quarters. Boeing is scheduled to report earnings before the market opens, followed by a conference call at 10:30 a.m. Last quarter: Boeing narrowed its losses and said it planned to seek approval from the Federal Aviation Administration later this year to increase production of 737 Max jets. This quarter: The Street anticipates that the commercial jet maker and defense contractor will post revenue growth above 29% compared to the year-earlier period, according to LSEG. What to watch: Analysts at Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan are bullish heading into Boeing's quarter. "Absent any unexpected Defense charges in 2Q25, we see the setup as largely positive for BA heading into the print," Morgan Stanley's Kristine Liwag wrote. "With good progress on deliveries and potential upside to near-term cash flow, we remain comfortable into earnings and lean positive," JPMorgan's Seth Seifman said. What history shows: Boeing has beaten Street earnings estimates 67% of the time, according to Bespoke, and shares have seen average gains of 0.5% in the following session. Wednesday Meta Platforms is scheduled to report earnings after the market closes, followed by a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Last quarter: Meta revenue surpassed Street expectations , and its second-quarter forecast matched what analysts were expecting. This quarter: Analysts expect the Facebook and Instagram parent to post year-over-year earnings and revenue growth of more than 14%, LSEG data shows. What to watch: Bernstein analyst Mark Shmulik recently raised his price target to $775 from $700 and reiterated an outperform rating on the stock. "Despite some eyebrow-raising offers tied to their high profile AI talent hiring spree, Meta appears to be the easiest name to own in digital ad land. They continue to be a clear AI winner, with positive ad checks supporting company commentary on improving ad efficacy," he wrote. What history shows: Data from Bespoke Investment Group shows that Meta has beaten earnings expectations in 10 straight quarters and revenue estimates in 11. Shares average about a 2% rise in the next session. Microsoft is scheduled to report earnings after the closing bell, followed by a conference call at 5:30 p.m. Last quarter: Microsoft earnings and revenue beat Wall Street estimates, and the Windows parent offered strong guidance. This quarter: Analysts expect that Microsoft, led by CEO Satya Nadella, will see earnings and revenue growth of roughly 14% versus last year, according to LSEG. What to watch: Analysts at UBS and Citigroup are among those who grown more optimistic ahead of Microsoft's quarterly results. Last week, UBS hiked its price target to $600 per share from $500 while maintaining a buy rating. "Bottom line, the outlook on the two biggest factors driving Microsoft shares on prints  Azure growth and EPS revisions  appears to be positive," wrote analyst Karl Keirstead. "We conclude that 4Q/Jun c/c Azure growth of 36% seems doable." What history shows: Microsoft has a history of beating expectations, with the company topping Street earnings estimates 11 quarters in a row and revenue forecasts for nine straight quarters, according to Bespoke. In total, the owner of Xbox videogames beats earnings estimates 82% of the time. Thursday Amazon is scheduled to report earnings after the stock market closes, followed by a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Last quarter: Amazon issued light guidance , citing "tariffs and trade policies" and "recessionary fears." This quarter: LSEG data indicates that analysts expect the dominant e-commerce platform in the U.S. to report single-digit earnings and revenue growth compared to the same period a year ago. What to watch: Bank of America recently reiterated its buy rating and lifted its 12-month price target on the stock by $17 to $265. "We think 2Q Retail is setting up for a solid quarter, plus a strong 1Q for [Amazon Web Services] backlog and accelerating quarterly AWS capex spending should drive accelerating 2H AWS growth," wrote analyst Justin Post. Amazon may issue solid third-quarter revenue guidance, Post added, pointing to a longer Prime Day event in July as a potential catalyst. What history shows: Bespoke data finds that Amazon has topped earnings estimates for nine consecutive quarters, and the stock has historically advanced almost 1% the day after reporting results. Apple is scheduled to release earnings after the closing bell, followed by a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Last quarter: Apple's Services revenue in the fiscal second quarter reported in May missed analyst expectations , with CEO Tim Cook saying it was "very difficult" to predict tariff costs beyond June "because I'm not sure what will happen with tariffs." This quarter: Analysts see single digit top- and bottom-line growth year over year for the iPhone maker, according to LSEG. What to watch: Goldman Sachs analyst Michael Ng recently trimmed his price target to $251 from $253, but kept his buy rating. "Apple should deliver a revenue and EPS beat, driven by (1) double-digit growth in Services (+11% yoy); (2) strength across Products including iPhones, Mac, iPad, and Wearables; and (3) better-than-expected gross margins reflecting on better tariff-related costs and forex headwinds," he wrote. Service revenue will expand as a result of continued spending in Apple's App Store, Ng said. What history shows: Apple has beaten both earnings and revenue expectations for nine straight quarters, with an overall earnings beat rate of 89%, Bespoke said. The stock averages a gain of 1.2% on the first trading day following each earnings release.  CNBC's Lisa Kailai Han contributed to this report.
Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data

In 1987, Trump published his autobiographical The Art of the Deal, in which he offered advice on how to succeed in business. The book was a huge success and made it onto The New York Times bestseller list, helping its author rise to fame. In one of the most famous passages, the now president stated: I play to peoples fantasies. People may not always think big themselves. but they can get very excited by those who do. That is why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest, the greatest and the most spectacular.

Trump continues to apply this technique to the letter, but now not only in business, but also in politics. The president has taken to the extreme what political communication expert Javier del Rey Morato warns about in his book Political Communication, the Internet, and Election Campaigns: Rhetoric is not based on truth, but on what is plausible. He knows that reality exists in the human mind, and that he can construct a parallel truth if he sells it well enough.

Trump has a wide repertoire of techniques for positioning his own truths. Sometimes he uses the age-old rhetorical device of hyperbole, which consists of exaggerating or downplaying a fact. Other times, he confuses his audience with an overwhelming amount of data. And in some cases, he simply lies, plain and simple. But he does so with confidence and earnestness, enough to generate doubts in the average citizen and maintain the trust of his loyal followers. During his first term in office, it was estimated that he made a false statement every five minutes of speech, and the Wikipedia page that compiles his misleading statements warns at the beginning that the article may be too long to navigate comfortably.

In a world where competition for attention is increasingly fierce, Trump deceives to capture interest. In a world where mistrust has surged and there is less and less consensus on what the truth is, Trump deceives to position his ideas. In a world where citizens are increasingly in need of heroes who fight for justice and vindication, Trump deceives to present himself as the savior.

Below, we present five facts and examples that show how and why Trump has applied the art of deception during his second presidential term and earlier:

A failing grade after fact-checking

According to popular culture, all politicians lie. But does Trump lie more than the rest? To evaluate this, we turned to PolitiFact, a website dedicated to verifying controversial statements. Trump fails this test. The site was created in 2007 by the Poynter Institute, a journalism and research school based in St. Petersburg, Florida. In 2009, they won the Pulitzer Prize for their fact-checking work during the 2008 presidential election. Trump has the worst score of the three presidents the website has evaluated since it went live.

Declaring emergencies to increase his power

Since his return to the White House, one of Trumps most often repeated strategies to extend his decision-making power and justify his most controversial measures has been to declare a national state of emergency or warn that national security is at risk. Of the 171 executive orders signed by the president as of July 17, one in five has been justified with these arguments. He first did so to reinforce border control, reduce the influx of illegal immigrants, and combat the drug cartels. Later, he also applied it to impose tariffs on different countries and completely upend global trade.

The machine gun of fallacies

In his speeches and electoral debates, Trump tends to apply a technique that was popularized by the biochemist Duane Gish, one of the most influential figures in the creationist movement. It is called the Gish gallop, and it consists of throwing out a huge amount of data, regardless of whether it is inaccurate or outright false. The goal is to overwhelm the audience and opponents, who are often unable to refute everything that has been said and run out of time to share their own ideas.

Deceive to surprise?

The president uses the so-called madman theory as a negotiating tool. According to analysts who believe that behind all his chaotic appearances there is a certain method and strategy, what Trump is doing is deceiving others to make them think that he is capable of anything and thereby get his rivals to give in and give him what he wants. Whether or not it is planned, the truth is that his threats, advances, and retreats have made his presidency highly unpredictable, which undermines his position in the world. According to the latest Pew Research study on the United States and China, the formers image has deteriorated in the last year, while that of its rival has improved.

The deterioration of political discourse

The rise of fake news is not solely Trumps fault. However, his style has contributed to the deterioration of political discourse and has fueled mistrust in institutions and their leaders. The United States has traditionally defended liberal democracy, characterized by strong institutions capable of checking each other. The new ways of the US president allow the actions of illiberal regimes, such as that of Vladimir Putin, to gain ground and not be so easily challenged. Democracy is the loser. This has been the case since the beginning of Trumps first term, when his advisor Kellyanne Conway popularized the expression alternative facts to defend the falsehood that more people had attended Trumps inauguration ceremony than Barack Obamas.

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media during a tour of the Federal Reserve Board building, which is currently undergoing renovations, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 24, 2025.

I think most would agree that the news cycle has been relentless for most of 2025, but certain stories do seem a little "Groundhog Day" at the moment.

Earlier this month, I wrote about the conundrum facing the newsroom over how to approach President Donald Trump's then-trade talk deadline of July 9. Now, at the end of the month, we find ourselves in a similar position, but this time the date we are all watching is August 1.

Why? Once again, it's another deadline for countries across the globe to try and agree a trade truce with the United States, with the European Union in particular focus this time round.

Debate in the newsroom resurfaces  when is a deadline not a deadline?

The week has become even trickier to predict, with talks between the U.S. and China now taking center stage in Stockholm on Monday and Tuesday  potentially further complicating the picture for Europe.

A U.S. trade agreement with the European Union has seemed tantalizingly close, with CNBC's Silvia Amaro reporting that a 15% baseline tariff rate is the base-case scenario, according to an EU diplomat. These reports drove stock markets across Europe and the U.S. higher last week.

On Friday, however, Trump told reporters there was only a "50-50 chance" of a deal.

As CNBC's Holly Ellyatt explains, the EU is keeping its so-called "trade bazooka"  or Anti Coercion Instrument  warm in case an agreement is not reached by the August deadline.
US President Donald Trump (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin speak during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7, 2017

In heady times  and with trade wars dominating the news agenda  it's easy to forget that Russia and Ukraine's soldiers continue to fight for every inch of frontline territory in Ukraine.

Conflict in Gaza, ongoing economic uncertainty in the U.S. and Europe and the shifting geopolitical landscape with strengthening, and opposing, 'axes of power' are also at the fore of global policymakers' minds, pushing more than three-and-a-half years of war in Ukraine down the agenda.

It seems increasingly that both Russia and Ukraine are being left out in the cold, with even this week's talks in Istanbul, involving negotiating teams from both sides, barely getting a mention in the media. As things stand, there's an uneasy air when it comes to the direction of the war and prospects for peace.

Trump appeared to lose his patience when he stated on July 14 that Ukraine could receive more U.S.-made weapons  as long as NATO allies paid for them  and gave Russia a 50-day deadline to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. If it did not, he said, Russia would face "very severe" sanctions and "secondary" tariffs of up to 100%.

Those could hit Russia hard, as well as its remaining trading partners, including India and China, who buy Russian oil and gas, among other commodities.
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after the announcement of a trade deal between the U.S. and EU, in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 27, 2025.

President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the U.S. reached a trade deal with the European Union, following pivotal discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen days before the Aug. 1 tariff deadline.

Trump said that the deal imposes a 15% tariff on most European goods to the U.S., including cars.

Some products, including aircrafts and their components, some chemicals and pharmaceuticals, will not be subject to tariffs, von der Leyen said in a briefing after the agreement was announced. She also said that the new 15% tariff rate would not be added to any tariffs already in effect.

The 15% tariff rate is lower than the 30% rate Trump had previously threatened against the United States' largest trading partner, but higher than the 10% baseline tariffs the EU was hoping for.

Trump said that the 27-member bloc also agreed to purchase $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest an additional $600 billion worth of investments into the U.S. above current levels.

He said that the bloc would also be "purchasing hundreds of billions of dollars worth of military equipment," but did not provide a specific dollar amount.

"It's a very powerful deal, it's a very big deal, it's the biggest of all the deals," Trump said Sunday alongside von der Leyen.

"It's a good deal, it's a huge deal, with tough negotiations," von der Leyen said after the meeting.

While questions remain about the specific details and timeline of the EU investments, the agreement marks a pivotal moment for Trump, following weeks of uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-EU trade talks.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks from the Oval Office of the White House, flanked by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, on the day he signs executive orders for reciprocal tariffs, in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13, 2025.

The Trump administration will announce the results of a national security probe into imports of semiconductors in two weeks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Sunday, as President Donald Trump suggested higher tariffs were on the horizon.

Lutnick told reporters after a meeting between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the investigation was one of the "key reasons" the European Union sought to negotiate a broader trade agreement that would "resolve all things at one time."

Trump said many companies would be investing in semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, including some from Taiwan and other places, to avoid getting hit by new tariffs.

He said von der Leyen had avoided the pending chips tariffs "in a much better way."

Trump and von der Leyen announced a new framework trade agreement that includes across-the-board 15% tariffs on EU imports entering the United States.

Trump said the agreement included autos, which face a higher 25% tariff under a separate sectoral tariff action.

In April, the Trump administration announced that it was investigating whether the extensive reliance on foreign imports of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors posed a national security threat.

The probe, being conducted under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, could lay the groundwork for new tariffs on imports in both sectors.

The Trump administration has begun separate investigations under the same law into imports of copper and lumber. Earlier probes completed during Trump's first term formed the basis for 25% tariffs rolled out since his return to the White House in January on steel and aluminum and on the auto industry.

Trump has upended global trade with a series of aggressive levies against trading partners, including a 10% tariff that took effect in April, with that rate set to increase sharply for most larger trading partners from August 1.

The U.S. relies heavily on chips imported from Taiwan, a fact that Democratic former President Joe Biden sought to address during his term by awarding billions of dollars in Chips Act funds to lure chipmakers to expand production in the United States.
Indian seafood exporters are set to gain significantly in the UK market following the signing of a new trade agreement that eliminates long-standing tariff disadvantages, the Ministry of Fisheries has announced.The "balanced" trade arrangement places Indian marine exports on an equal footing with regional competitors such as Singapore and Vietnam, which have previously enjoyed preferential access under the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and a similar UK-Singapore agreement.Until now, Indian exporters faced tariff barriers that hampered their competitiveness, particularly in high-value categories such as shrimp and processed seafood products. With the removal of these tariffs, Indian companies are now better positioned to leverage the countrys robust production capabilities, skilled labour force, and improved traceability systems to increase their share in the UK's seafood market."This agreement offers a level playing field for Indian exporters and is expected to accelerate our marine exports to the United Kingdom," the ministry said in a statement. Industry projections suggest a potential 70% increase in seafood exports to the UK over the next few years.The ministry highlighted that the trade pact allows Indian exporters to diversify their markets, reducing reliance on traditional destinations like the United States and China. The UK, with an annual seafood import market valued at USD 5.4 billion, presents a lucrative opportunity for Indian suppliers.Indias seafood industry has invested heavily in strengthening quality control and traceability in recent years, in line with global standards. These improvements now place Indian exporters in a favourable position to capitalise on the new market access.Industry experts believe the timing of the agreement is strategic, as global supply chains undergo restructuring and importing nations seek to diversify their sourcing partners. This development aligns with Indias ambition to emerge as a global leader in sustainable and competitive marine trade, the ministry added.In FY24-25, India's total seafood exports stood at 60,523 crore, at about 1.78 million tonnes. Of this, exports to the UK accounted for 879 crore. Despite which, India holds just about 2.25% share of the UK's overall seafood import market, a figure expected to rise under the new trade deal.
In the first 24 hours after Trumps re-election, we received 1,177 requests for assistance from the United States. Fifty-one percent of these requests were from trans people: 35% from trans women, 16% from trans men, says Timothy Chan, spokesperson for Rainbow Railroad, an NGO with offices in Canada and the U.S. that helps LGBTQ+ people experiencing persecution and violence start a life in another country. Panicked by a government that threatens their civil rights, many LGBTQ+ Americans, especially trans people, are seeking to immigrate to Canada. Some are even requesting humanitarian asylum. Hannah Kreager, a 22-year-old American, is one of them.

Three months ago, Kreager decided it was time to leave her country. The [U.S.] federal government is threatening to criminalize trans identities, she explains. So, in April, she drove 1,000 miles from her hometown of Tucson, Arizona, to Calgary, in the Canadian province of Alberta, where she has lived ever since.

Like her, many American citizens have considered fleeing to their northern neighbor. The avalanche of aid requests received by Rainbow Railroad represents the largest number received in a single day from a single country, Chan notes. To put this in perspective, at the height of the Afghanistan crisis (in August 2021), the peak number of daily requests was 119.

So far in 2025, we have received 3,524 applications from U.S. residents; a 994% increase compared to the same period last year, Chan emphasizes. To give an idea of the scale of the crisis, the organization receives an average of 10,000 applications annually from around the world. This NGO  whose name recalls the Underground Railroad, the network of secret routes established in the 18th century to transport Black people from slave-owning areas of the U.S. to abolitionist territories  has been collaborating since June 2023 with the Canadian Governments Refugee Assisted Program, through which various organizations submit to the Canadian government the profiles of potential refugees seeking to settle in the country.

There have been threats to implement gender fraud laws [which make it a crime for official documents to show a gender other than the one recorded at birth]. Theyre changing voter ID regulations, requiring all IDs to match, which would prevent people like me from voting, Kreager says. Theyre erasing information about trans people from government websites and encouraging dangerous behavior in society  citizens now feel empowered to act hatefully without being punished for it."

Kreagers passport and birth certificate dont reflect her name or gender: I started hearing stories of trans people with X markers [indicating that a person does not identify as male or female] on their documents  like me  who were getting their passports returned shredded when they tried to update them, she says.

A rumor about the possible implementation of martial law, which began circulating on social media in April, led her to decide to leave the country, as the idea of living in a police state without proper documentation did not seem like a viable option.

Donald Trump after signing an executive order banning trans women from participating in women's sports. The Washington Post (The Washington Post via Getty Im)

In fact, Kreager knew she wanted out as soon as Trump won his second term. During his election campaign, the Republican laid out a deeply anti-trans rhetoric: he pledged to roll back long-standing rights if elected, vowing, among other things, to punish doctors and hospitals that provide gender-affirming programs and to ban trans women from competing in sporting events. Since taking office, and fulfilling his campaign promises, the U.S. president has signed 12 anti-trans executive orders, according to Trans Legislation Tracker, an independent research organization that tracks bills affecting trans people across the U.S.

The Rainbow Railroad spokespersons account is echoed by Canadian immigration law firms; many report receiving an influx of inquiries from American transgender people about moving to Canada. One such firm is Smith Immigration Law, whose founder, Adrienne Smith, notes that there has been a significant uptick in the number of people urgently seeking to leave the U.S., whether through the refugee protection program, immigration programs, or spousal sponsorship.

Smith says that several of the people who have contacted her seeking representation describe different forms of persecution: Lack of healthcare, the inability to have their official documents reflect their correct gender, officials who feel emboldened to deny them services There are several types of abuse that the community is currently experiencing.

A group of people protested in New York after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law banning certain medical care for transgender youth. Kylie Cooper (REUTERS)

However, despite the evidence and Canadas history of welcoming LGBTQ+ refugees, many experts are skeptical that Americans asylum claims will ultimately be accepted. From Rainbow Railroad, Chan clarifies that in addition to demonstrating that their experience in the U.S. falls under what is legally considered persecution, applicants must prove that their government is unable or unwilling to protect them, and that they cannot live safely anywhere in the country. This represents a particular challenge for American citizens, as the country has many of the typical indicators of a safe democratic state, which, furthermore, has historically been a place of welcome for LGBTQ+ refugees from around the world.

Although federal laws currently exist in the U.S. that target LGBTQ+ individuals, the issue, explains attorney Smith, is accepting that these laws have directly affected asylum seekers. Then theres the question of how these laws will be enforced in different states; whether there are governors who will actively disobey some of these federal laws, she clarifies. We have to figure out how these executive orders will be enforced in places like California or New York.

This is called internal flight or relocation alternative, which, in the context of asylum law, refers to the possibility for a person seeking refuge from persecution to find a safe area within their own country, rather than being forced to migrate.

A serious situation

There are lawyers who believe the situation is serious enough to allow asylum claims to be successful in Canada, such as Calgary-based Yameena Ansari, who advises Hannah Kreager. A few months ago, she recommended she file an asylum application.

My client has an X marker in her passport, even though shes a woman. She had an appointment in February to change this on her passport, but she canceled it because she was afraid of losing the document. She didnt want that to happen to her because she needs a passport to leave the country. She adds: My client would be in a country where the political climate is against her, where she cant even vote to change course, and where she cant leave because her documents could be revoked.

Since arriving, Kreager has been trying to start over in Calgary. She lives with a friend, and despite the worries of starting over in a new place and looking for work in a foreign country, she prefers this temporary instability to the darkness and fear she was feeling back home: Its really tough waking up and seeing the headline of the day read, Youre banned. Its like you dont exist. Shes hopeful that her case will be successful: I hope it sets a precedent that allows other trans people to leave the U.S.

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If you hit 71 and youre still not a celebrity, then you can start worrying

Its cool that Tim Allen was able to squeeze in an acting career between endangering peoples lives with drugs and alcohol.

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14 The Car Talk Guys Focused on the Car Part Before the Talk Tom and Ray Magliozzi were actual automechanics who had opened a couple of mechanic shops and dabbled in local radio, when they were approached by NPR to contribute to a weekly show. They debuted Car Talk in 1987 when the older brother, Tom, was 50. Advertisement

13 Wayne Coyne Was a Fry Cook Before The Flaming Lips charted with She Dont Use Jelly, Coyne spent over a decade working at Long John Silvers.

12 Toni Morrison Was an Editor Shed spent an entire career finding, editing and printing Black authors before she finally published her own book, The Bluest Eye, at age 39, and would go on to win a Pulitzer and a Nobel for her subsequent work.

11 Julia Child Was a Chef (and a Spy) She was a spy in World War II and a normal chef until the age of 49, when she published the bestselling Mastering the Art of French Cooking, catapulting her to a successful television career. Advertisement Advertisement

10 Ken Jeong Was a Doctor He had an entire career as a medical doctor before he began dabbling in stand-up. He quit the doctoring biz to focus on acting, and it paid off big time with his breakout role in The Hangover.

9 Harrison Ford Was a Carpenter Legend has it that he landed Han Solo at the age of 33 because he was working on Francis Ford Coppolas house, and Coppola recommended him to George Lucas. Advertisement

8 Samuel L. Jackson Was an Activist His early life was defined by his social activism, and he was even an usher at Martin Luther King Jrs funeral. He dabbled in theater before hooking up with Spike Lee, and was 46 when he finally got his standout role in Pulp Fiction. Advertisement

7 Ang Lee Was a Stay-at-Home Dad He went to film school with Spike Lee, but while Spike was off jump-starting a successful career, Ang stayed home to help his molecular biologist wife kick off her own career. He finally got his big break  in Taiwan. He spent a few years producing films for a Taiwanese company before making his American directorial debut at 41. Advertisement

6 Tiffany Haddish Was Unhoused She was a struggling comedian in and around Los Angeles for years before finally getting on TV. Even then, it took until she was 37 to break out with Girls Trip.

5 Nick Offerman Is a Woodworker Offerman runs an entire woodshop in LA, and says his preferred life would be nothing but wood and live theater. In fact, his television success is cramping my style at the woodshop. Advertisement

4 Kathryn Joosten Was a Psychiatric Nurse She started doing community theater at the age of 42, and didnt land a starring role until The West Wing started when she was 70. Advertisement

3 Joy Behar Was a Teacher, a Receptionist and a Producer She had a low-profile career as an English teacher before becoming a receptionist at NBC, being promoted to producer and parlaying that into hosting a new show called The View at the age of 55. Advertisement

2 Tim Allen Was a Drug Dealer and Drunk Driver In 1978, Allen was caught with enough cocaine to put him away for life, but he narced on some other dealers and wound up with a little over two years in prison. Thirteen years later, hed begin his starring role on Home Improvement! Seven years after that, hed be arrested for a DUI while driving at almost twice the legal blood-alcohol limit.
The Simpsons isnt giving up its title as the longest-running cartoon in American history any time soon.

At The Simpsons panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, creator Matt Groening opened up about the shows nearly four-decade run, revealing that even ahead of the shows 37th season, theres still no end in sight for Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie.

I honestly thought 36 would be where wed end it, Groening joked when asked about The Simpsons humble beginnings on The Tracey Ullman Show, per Gold Derby. Were going to keep going until somebody dies.

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Speaking of death, Groening then segued into how the show plans on handling the future passing of President Donald Trump. When you know who dies, The Simpsons predicts there will be dancing in the streets  until President Vance bans dancing in the streets, Groening continued.

As for the shows future  Vance or no Vance administration  back in January, four months before Fox renewed the show through its 40th season, showrunner Matt Selman revealed that there had been some discussion about how The Simpsons planned on eventually wrapping things up, a conversation he said ultimately led to the faux Bart Simpson birthday fake-out in last seasons meta premiere.

The discussion that it would be so hard to do a last episode is what led to the fake series finale, he told the New York Post, dubbing crafting a series finale as sort of an impossible thing.

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The show isnt meant to end, Selman added, noting that creating a sappy crappo series finale, like most other shows do, would be so lame. So we just did one that was like over the top.

But what about when the series actually does come to a close? The final installment, Selman said, would be nothing more than a regular episode.

The characters in this crazy show dont age, he explained. I think later well just pick an episode and say that was the last one. No self-aware stuff. Or, one self-aware joke.
Have you ever turned on an episode of The Simpsons and felt like there was something missing? A pub somehow even grimier than Moes Tavern? A Golden God screaming amid a sea of yellow? Five of the absolute worst people youve ever seen scheming, scamming and plotting their way through Springfield?

If so, you just might be in luck.

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During The Simpsons panel at San Diegos Comic-Con on Saturday, producers revealed that one member of the Paddys Pub Gang will soon drop by Evergreen Terrace, confirming that Its Always Sunny in Philadelphias Glenn Howerton will appear in the shows upcoming 37th season.

The third Always Sunny actor to be featured on The Simpsons  Kaitlin Olson and Danny DeVito have both previously lent their voices to the long-running series  Howerton is just one of several guest stars slated for a trip to Springfield next TV season.

Joining a stacked slate of celebrity cameos, including Succession star Kieran Culkin, Communitys Dan Pudi and newly minted Broadway darling Cole Escola, its unclear what doh!-ing, animated antics Howerton will get into on the show  or whether or not it will represent some sort of official Simpsons/Always Sunny crossover (a la the one Always Sunny just did with Abbott Elementary).

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Either way, fans were still stoked to hear Phillys resident Five Star Man would be bringing a bit of Always Sunnys signature chaos to the animated series. Theyre gonna make me watch modern-day Simpsons, joked one fan while another dubbed Howerton, Culkin and Pudi as their dream rotation.

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At the Comic-Con panel, Simpsons showrunner Matt Selman also hinted at yet another element of the shows newest season, teasing how The Simpsons plans on celebrating its upcoming 800-episode milestone. Its a big deal to do 800 shows, and so, were going to be doing two brand new original episodes that night, he explained.

Despite remaining tight-lipped on the details of this two-part celebration  Theyre top secret for now, he said  Selman assured fans that theres still a whole lot to look forward to. I promise you, theyll be the best 800th episode of anything youve ever seen.
Zambia Chinese Association (ZCA) General Secretary Wang Chunyan speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Lusaka, Zambia, July 25, 2025. About 100 Chinese companies are expected to exhibit at the 97th Agricultural and Commercial Show to boost business ties, the ZCA revealed on Friday. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun)

LUSAKA, July 25 (Xinhua) -- About 100 Chinese companies are expected to exhibit at the 97th Agricultural and Commercial Show to boost business ties, the Zambia Chinese Association (ZCA) revealed on Friday.

The enterprises will showcase their products and services under the Chinese Pavilion organized by the ZCA, during the event scheduled to run from July 30 to August 4 in Lusaka, the Zambian capital. This year's show will be themed "Adapting to Climate Change."

ZCA General Secretary Wang Chunyan said the delegation will include about 80 enterprises already operating in Zambia, along with around 20 companies from China's Jiangxi Province.

"It is a great platform to support China-Zambia economic cooperation and help Chinese companies grow," Wang said.

She noted that the association has participated under the Chinese Pavilion for the past three years, a move that has yielded positive results for participating companies and strengthened business cooperation between China and Zambia.

Bernard Moonga, president of the Agricultural and Commercial Cooperative Society of Zambia Limited, the organizer of the event, commended the ZCA for its sponsorship.

According to Moonga, China is among the countries with the largest exhibitors at this year's show.

The show presents an opportunity for Chinese enterprises to not only showcase their products but also forge new business relationships in Zambia, he added. 
Experts at CACI International have shared impressive before and after photos

Forget Botox and surgeries, these days many women are opting for non-invasive procedures - and the results are no less incredible.

With an increased awareness of the benefits of skincare thanks to social media, people appear to be wanting more 'natural' and less 'over surgery-ed' looks, in a phenomenon that has been dubbed 'Notox'.

Incredible before and after pictures taken by skincare experts at CACI International - who describe themselves as pioneers of the 'non-surgical face lift' - show the epic results that they claim can be achieved through these methods.

According to the experts, targeted treatments can improve the appearance of jowls and help aid the symptoms of Bell's Palsy.

The transformation pictures appear to show tighter and more sculpted jawlines, as well as glowing and brighter skin.

For those with Bell's Palsy, the after pictures seem to signify a return of symmetry in the face.

Lena Bratschi, the founder of The Carasoin Day Spa in West Hollywood, boasts celebrity clients including Michelle Williams, Elizabeth Debicki, Caitriona Balfe and Sarah Paulson.

She said: 'Not only is there a shift towards more non-surgical options but it's something we've seen increasing in popularity steadily over the past few years.

 Slide me  More and more women seem to be opting for 'Notox' - or, non-surgical procedures. Pictured: The before and after of a jowl lift at Lindsey Anne Beauty and Cosmetics in Penkridge, without going under the knife

'It's a clear push back against the 'over surgery-ed' look and while people still want to look their best, they don't want to look like they've clearly had work done.

'Because of this, I think people want to explore other options that don't have the downtime or risk of complications, so they're opting for non-invasive procedures.'

Lisa Franklin, a leading skin expert at CACI's Clinic Prive in Knightsbridge, told MailOnline that the advantages of opting for non-surgical solutions can include 'delivering visible skin rejuvenation without the need for invasive procedures, downtime or recovery', unlike surgical options 'which can be drastic and carry risks'.

She said: 'It's a non-surgical, pain-free approach that works in harmony with your skin's natural processes - stimulating collagen, improving muscle tone, and restoring radiance.'

The experts liken the procedures to a 'gym routine' as they tend to build it up over time.

JOWL LIFT

 Slide me  Incredible before and after pictures of CACI's non-surgical jowl lifts seem to have resulted in sharpened and more chiselled jawlines. Pictured: Before and after at Comfort Zone Beauty by Emma, Prescot

While many people have traditionally opted for surgical facelifts, non-surgical 'jowl lifts' have, in some cases, also proven effective. Pictured: Before and after at Skincode Clinic, CA

Jowls are the sagging and loose skin below the jawline that often develops with age, as the skin becomes thinner and looses elasticity - commonly for those in their late 30s and early 40s.

While many people have traditionally opted for surgical facelifts, non-surgical 'jowl lifts' have, in some cases, also proven effective.

Incredible before and after pictures of CACI's non-surgical jowl lifts seem to have resulted in sharpened and more chiselled jawlines - all without going under the knife.

The procedures target muscle laxity around the jawline and can improve the appearance of sagging jowls by lifting and firming the muscles.

The treatments may also use LED light therapy and microcurrents to aid in boosting the skin.

Richard, 37, from Staffordshire, is a cardiac nurse who said he had 'always been bothered' by his jowls.

 Slide me  The procedures target muscle laxity around the jawline and can improve the appearance of sagging jowls by lifting and firming the muscles. Pictured: Jowl Lift at The Beauty Salon Selby

He said: 'This is something that has always bothered me. Growing up I never liked my jowls and as I have aged, I dislike them even more.'

Richard completed a course of treatments at The Chase CACI Clinic in Penkridge, Staffordshire, in 2023, continuing to have them monthly.

He added: 'Although I know there are invasive treatments I could use, I find it difficult to trust others to inject my face as I do this for a living. I much prefer to have non-invasive treatments, and I love the time out for myself.

'I now feel I can't go without it, and I always ensure I pre-book my appointments. I look forward to them and always feel like my face has had a work-out straight after my facial.'

To prevent jowls forming, cutting out smoking, limiting exposure to the sun and screen time can also help, according to Healthline.

FACIAL TONING

One of CACI's statement treatments is facial toning - which takes a variety of forms. Pictured: The Gentleman's Facial

One of CACI's statement treatments is facial toning - which takes a variety of forms.

At a basic level, it is the lifting and toning facial muscles while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Methods can include microcurrent gua sha, which combines modern technology with traditional techniques.

This promotes lymphatic drainage, enhances circulation, and reduces puffiness. At the same time, the presence of microcurrents works to contour and sculpt the face for a more defined and youthful experience.

Non-surgical facial toning uses skin exfoliation techniques to brighten and smooth the skin, toning and lifting the face and firming the neck.

In addition, treatments may include LED light therapy, hands-on therapy and energising masks, stimulating collagen and elastin.

For men, deep exfoliation and cleansing can be used to tackle razor bumps and ingrown hairs from shaving.

Elaine Hendry, 57, from Scotland said she began getting toning facials around 15 years ago, when she was 42.

She said: 'I was starting to see fine lines appearing and felt my skin was very dull.

'I didn't want to go down the road of Botox and fillers as I wanted a more natural way forward. Plus, I'm a hairdresser and I saw some clients with Botox that had gone wrong, and they wished they hadn't got it done.

'I started noticing how clear my skin was, and my eyebrows were higher. People were starting to tell me how well I looked.'

Now, fifteen years later, Elaine, who is a client of Brownz Beauty in Largs, says: 'My jawline is toned, and my lines are minimal. What I love about it is that I have managed to avoid Botox and fillers and I still look like me.'

Krystyna Gibbons, 65, from Lincolnshire says she's 'never' taken for her real age, as people usually assume she's 10 years younger.

Krystyna, who visits Enhance Beauty in Grantham, says she's been having non-surgical facials for 16 years and credits it with changing her life.

'From my first facial I was hooked,' she said. 'My appearance was crucial as I worked with high-end blue-chip clients and organisations and attended events gala dinner awards ceremonies.

'I am always being complemented on my glowy skin. I can honestly say I will never give it up. As well as being a great facial it is also my "me time" once a month to relax and shut the rest of the world out - a true luxury experience.'

BELL'S PALSY

 Slide me  Bell's Palsy is a sudden form of facial paralysis that usually affects one side of the face. Pictured: Before and after at Scented Garden Retreat in Chester

Bell's Palsy is a sudden form of facial paralysis that usually affects one side of the face.

According to the NHS website, effective treatments can include steroids and most people get better within six months.

If symptoms do not improve, those with the condition can return to their GP.

Experts at CACI also recommend non-surgical procedures to help with symptoms.

Martin Scott decided to visit the Float Spa in East Sussex after discovering CACI was originally designed to treat Bell's Palsy.

He said: 'I found Bell's palsy to be very tough mentally  not being able to talk, eat or drink properly, and having to tape my eye down each night.

'I wanted to start it immediately.'

As the whole of the right side of Martin's face was paralysed, he couldn't close his eye or smile on that side.

Martin's skin therapist Lorraine recalled: 'It was extremely difficult and distressing for him as he was slurring his speech, and dribbling.

'He also had to tape his eye down as he couldn't close it to sleep. I needed to focus on the whole of his right side particularly his mouth and eye area.'

For Martin's treatment, Lorraine explored the use of probes to hold his muscles for a set period of time, using microcurrent power and allowing space in between treatments to allow the muscles to rest.

Ramsay Hunt Syndrome - (After The Rain Skin & Wellness, Frinton-on-Sea)

A day or so after his initial treatment, Martin saw an encouraging sign - slight eyebrow movement.

He then started to see progress after each treatment, eventually regaining full use of his facial muscles and recovered symmetricity.

Lorraine says: 'I was extremely pleased with the result. After only four treatments, he regained full use of all his muscles and his face was symmetrical. After the fourth treatment (over 10 days) he was able to fully close his eye at night.'

Martin added: 'The results were nothing short of miraculous for me. I was in and out of Bell's palsy in 24 days. Once treatment was over, I felt fantastic. I basically had my face and my life back.'

Another client, Ken, 71, came to the Lindsey Anne Beauty and Cosmetics Clinic in Penkridge with his third episode of Bell's Palsy.

Lindsey said: 'He had been down many different avenues to find the right treatment - physio, medicines - but nothing worked.'

He began treatments twice a week, starting gently as he had severe sensitivity.

Lindsey began began doing jowl lift movements on the one side of his face where his Bell's palsy occurred. She could then start to put more pressure and time behind each movements.

She later began jowl movements to lift both sides of his face, before moving onto eye revive treatments to improve facial symmetry.

Ken said he was initially 'sceptical' as nothing previously had worked for him, but said it had changed his life, giving him the confidence to go out and start to re-live again.

If somebody's face is drooping on one side, they cannot lift up their arms and keep them there, or they have difficulty speaking, it could be the signs of a stroke rather than Bell's Palsy and 999 should be called as soon as possible.
A woman who claims to have the 'world's biggest lips' has revealed what she looked like before undergoing drastic surgery and getting copious amounts of lip filler.

Andrea Ivanova from Bulgaria regularly hits the headlines due to her enhanced appearance, which has seen her fork out an estimated 20,000 on lip filler alone after starting her transformation in 2018.

The 27-year-old has previously admitted she struggles to find love because of her dramatic look, but it hasn't stopped her from achieving her goal of having the biggest lips and cheeks in the world.

Now, she has revealed what she looked like before altering her face via cosmetic enhancements.

In her 'before' photos, a youthful Andrea can be seen with regularly proportioned lips. But since undergoing her enhancement journey, she has become scarcely recognisable.

Her long list of treatments included chin shaping, enlargement and lengthening, jaw shaping and lip augmentation, as well as cheekbone enhancement - all at once.

She's previously spoken about how she likes to stand out from the crowds with her unique look.

'I like exaggerated things like huge lips, a face with many fillers, heavy and eccentric make-up, Andrea said.

Andrea Ivanova from Bulgaria has become known for having the world's biggest lips after splashing out on 20,000 of filler (pictured)

The 27-year-old regularly hits the headlines due to her enhanced appearance, which has seen her fork out an estimated 20,000 on lip filler alone

'I don't like boring ordinary appearances and I am a fan of huge shapes and eccentric beauties. Natural beauty is boring to me so I decided to change my appearance radically.'

The social media influencer has spoken openly about having had six procedures done in a single day as an 'experiment' - even though her usual doctor refused to do it.

'My doctor was afraid to inject more hyaluronic acid into my lips, but I was adamant that I wanted more, and I will not stop,' Andrea said.

'I wanted to do six procedures at once. Until now, I always did these on different areas of the face on different days.'

Andrea had previously only ever had a maximum of three needles in her face at the same time.

'But this time, I wanted to experiment with myself to see how many injections and [amounts of filler] would affect my body,' she said.

She even had to seek out a doctor in Germany to do the procedures, which went ahead in February last year, as her usual surgeon simply refused.

And even though Andrea was excited about the experience, she confessed it had been extremely painful.

Now, she has revealed what she looked like before altering her face via cosmetic enhancement (pictured before her procedures, which she started in 2018)

In her 'before' photos (left), Andrea has regularly proportioned lips. Since undergoing her enhancement journey (right), she has become scarcely recognisable

The social media influencer has previously admitted she struggles to find love because of her dramatic look (pictured after)

'I have pain all over my face right now and my jaw and chin hurt a lot,' she said at the time.

'It's hard for me to smile because of the pain in my cheekbones and there's a pulling sensation over my face.'

But Andrea insisted the feeling was normal after treatment because the 'filler hadn't settled into place'.

Although she finds eating difficult, Andrea is adamant her lips 'don't hurt'.

She added: 'I only feel a slight discomfort, but that's where I have the most amount of filler and where I've had injections the most amount of times. The more filler there is, the less the area hurts.'

Despite the pain, Andrea doesn't have any plans to slow down or reduce her voluptuous look.

The former philosophy student planned to go to Germany to visit the same surgeon, as her usual doctor is sceptical about going forward with her transformation.

But now even the German medical practitioner has revealed their concerns.

Andrea, pictured before surgery, has spoken openly about having had six procedures done in a single day as an 'experiment' - even though her usual doctor refused to do it

Her treatments included chin shaping, enlargement and lengthening, jaw shaping and lip augmentation, as well as cheekbone enhancement (Before and after surgery)

Despite the pain and health warnings, Andrea doesn't have any plans to slow down or reduce her voluptuous look

'I had no fears about having so many injections at once because I trust my doctor and they are a great professional in cosmetic surgery,' she said.

'But they are afraid I'll get necrosis and have to have the tissue surgically removed from my lips if I carry on.'

Necrosis is the death of body tissue, which occurs when not enough blood flows to the site, according to the NHS.

This condition can be caused by radiation, chemicals or injury, and in some cases can be fatal.

'There are risks involved, such as inflammation, and raised body temperature, especially with so much at once,' Andrea added.

'I have facial swelling and bruising right now, which is normal due to the many needles, but I think in a few days, I'll recover.'

She continued: 'You shouldn't judge people for their looks. It's their taste and no one has the right to be offended because of it.

'I think I'm going to carry on doing multiple injections in one day going forward, as it makes me very happy.'
The Prince and Princess of Wales marked their oldest son's 12th birthday by sharing a charming portrait of Prince George pictured outdoors, smiling and relaxed as he leaned on a rustic wooden gate in Norfolk.

Delighted royal fans were quick to point out the resemblance between the future King and his father, Prince William, at that age.

Yet it's not only their facial features that are similar - they share the same destiny to one day lead Britain's Royal Family and become a reigning monarch.

But while his father apparently had 'King lessons' from the late Queen Elizabeth II during his school days, Prince George won't be rushed into any kind of formal royal training, according to the Editor in Chief of Majesty magazine, Ingrid Seward.

The royal biographer told FEMAIL: '[Kate and William] wont push [George] as there is no need to do so. They are not those sorts of parents, but they will encourage him when he shows an interest.'

She continued: 'Prince George is learning to be an adult and to think about himself in new and challenging ways. His parents will include him as much as they feel is right. That way he can gradually get used to the idea of what his future might hold.

'They already take him to the sort of public engagements he might enjoy as we have seen with the Buckingham Palace tea for the veterans and the sporting events he attends with his father.

'He will continue to be asked his opinion on things,' claimed the royal biographer.

In May, George, second in line to the throne after his father, was provided with a small taste of his future duties as King as he attended a tea party at Buckingham Palace without his siblings Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven.

The young royal, who is usually joined by his siblings for public engagements, was polite and listened attentively as he made a surprise appearance, and spoke with veterans to commemorate VE Day.

Dressed in a smart suit with a blue tie, William and Kate's eldest son beamed as he posed for photos with attendees and joined in conversation with guests.

'A highly significant moment occurred when George attended a tea party for veterans given at Buckingham Palace during the VE Day 80 commemorations and chatted to them, it was unexpected but timely,' royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told FEMAIL.

He added: 'It will undoubtedly be followed by similar events, as it was considered a great success.'

'George is blessed with parents who are determined to privately prepare him for his duties in as practical a way as possible and they will undoubtedly be supported by his grandparents too', the royal expert claimed.

He continued: 'Naturally we are not privy to this, but the background knowledge required for kingship is considerable and will also involve his responsibilities as Head of the Commonwealth, which is not automatic but very likely.'

Joe Little, Managing Editor at Majesty Magazine, echoed Mr Fitzwilliams thoughts that William and Kate will continue to privately prepare George for the crown before urging him onto the public stage more.

Prince George and the Princess of Wales join Second World War veterans at a tea party in Buckingham Palace in May

Prince George and Prince 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 09, 2025 in Paris

Prince George beams in a photo released to mark his 12th birthday. The young prince was photographed by Josh Shinner in April in Norfolk

He said: 'We won't be seeing a lot more of Prince George, or indeed his siblings, any time soon.

'The Prince and Princess of Wales will continue to be selective about their children appearing in public.

'Apart from set-piece occasions such as the King's Birthday Parade, significant national events such as the VE-Day 80th anniversary commemorations and what now seems to be the annual trip to Wimbledon, their priority will be education and as much normality as their positions will allow.

'George will be well aware of what lies ahead of him, and no doubt it's a topic of discussion with his parents and grandparents, but it's too soon for him to dive into it in a meaningful way.

'He has the perhaps daunting prospect of a change of school in the autumn of 2026 and all the challenges that will present to process in the coming year.'

On Tuesday, a sweet film was released by the Prince and Princess of Wales to mark Prince George's 12th birthday, showing him larking about with his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Filled with laughter, the clip showed the future King walking hand-in-hand with his sister and brother, while another adorable moment saw the two eldest royal children lift up the beaming youngest.

The joyous footage was captured behind-the-scenes of George's birthday photoshoot, which took place earlier this year in Norfolk.

A sweet film was released to mark Prince George's 12th birthday, showing him larking about with his siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis

George's last public appearance prior to his 12th birthday was at SW19 for the Wimbledon men's final, which he watched with his parents and sister Princess Charlotte (pictured)

King Charles III with his son Prince William and his grandson Prince George during the coronation

Earlier on Tuesday, Kensington Palace shared the new charming photograph of the young prince to celebrate his special day.

Looking as angelic as ever, George, who was born on July 22, 2013 at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, was all smiles as he posed for the picture in the British countryside.

Dressed in a white checked shirt layered with a khaki gilet, the prince leans over a wooden gate and smiles into the camera in the photo.

Adding a playful addition to his smart attire, George sported a friendship bracelet made of blue-coloured threads - in a Taylor Swift-inspired trend that he and his sister Charlotte have previously taken part in.

The snap, taken by one of the family's favourite videographers and photographers, Josh Shinner, echoes Prince Louis's seventh birthday portrait, released in April.

After delighting royal fans with the new snap of George, Kensington Palace then released the slick clip of the making of the sweet portrait.

George was first introduced to the world when his mother Kate and father William stepped out of the Lindo Wing with him in their arms.

Dressed in a summery powder blue frock, Kate glowed as she and William revealed their first child, George Alexander Louis, to the world.

George joins his father at an event in Buckingham Palace meeting World War Two veterans

George with his mother and two siblings, Louis and Charlotte, during the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE day

George, who currently attends Lambrook School in Berkshire, will move to secondary education when he reaches the age of 13 - although it has not yet been confirmed which institution his parents have chosen to send him to.

Among the schools reportedly being considered were his father's alma mater; Eton College, and his mother's; Marlborough College.

While nothing is confirmed yet, the Mail on Sunday reported last month that 63,000-a-year Eton was the frontrunner for Kate and William. A source told the paper: 'All roads lead to Eton.'
Sophia Loren's son has described how her husband Carlo Ponti - who was 37 when he began an affair with the legendary 15-year-old actress in 1950 - acted as a 'father figure' for his mother.

Speaking to The Times, director Edoardo Ponti, 52, spoke of the how the 22-year age gap affected the budding star, who is now 90.

'In addition to the romantic love and the attraction, he provided that sense of security, that sense of protection, which my mother was always in want of,' he explained.

Sophia, who grew up not knowing real real dad that well, was brought up just outside Naples - but aged around 16, her mother Romilda relocated them to Rome and tried to track him down for financial support.

He refused. But whereas Romilda decided to make her way back, Sophia decided to set up camp in the Italian capital.

'Imagine today a 16-year-old daughter telling her mother, "I'm not leaving. You go, I'll stay",' Edoardo continued.

'I mean, it's absolutely unthinkable. Every character that my mother has built on screen comes from the fabric of her trauma - there's no question. She understood that poverty for an artist is gold, because adversity, not knowing where your next meal is going to come from, all of those elements create such a wealth of inner life.

'[She understood] the humility of being in the service of something, her characters, her directors. She has never been the diva. She's always a team player.'

Sophia Loren's son has described how her husband Carlo Ponti - who was 37 when he began an affair with the legendary 15-year-old actress in 1950 - acted as a 'father figure' for his mother. Both pictured in 1966

Speaking to The Times , director Edoardo Ponti, 52, (pictured with his mother in 2015) spoke of the how the age gap affected the budding star, who is now 90

Sophia has previously recounted meeting her husband at a small town beauty pageant.

And in excerpts of her memoir Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life - shared in an issue of Closer Weekly, the actress had also recounted similar sentiments of feeling a paternal fondness for her late husband.

'By that time whenever I went out it was with Carlo,' she reminisced in her autobiographical book. 'True, he was married and we had to be careful, only later would our fondness turn into love.'

He helped launch her career as a sought-after star when the Italian film producer casted her in some of her first starring roles in Anna and I Dream Of Zorro.

Upon meeting him, Sophia knew Carlo would be someone in her life forever.

'I was content to be lucky enough to finally have someone beside me who knew how to speak to me, who could give me advice, who supported me in the parts I chose, which is crucial when an actor is just starting out,' she said.

Sophia added: 'I was trying to get ahead but without taking any false steps, and knowing that Carlo was on my side was a huge help. There was something fatherly about his presence, too, and I'd never had a real father.'

'He gave me a rootedness and stability that kept me grounded, while the world around me seemed to swirl dizzyingly, excitingly.'

Affectionate affair: The couple first met in 1950 and shortly started dating when he was already married

Sophia has previously recounted meeting her husband at a small town beauty pageant. Pictured when they were younger

Two years later the couple welcomed their first child Carlo Ponti, Jr and another son, Edoardo, in 1973; their eldest is an orchestra conductor while the latter is a director whose debut film Between Strangers also starred his mother

During their early years of courtship, he was still married to first wife Giuliana Fiastri. But during the summer of 1954, both Sophia and Carlo knew they were destined to be.

'It was there, while making Woman Of The River, that we finally understood we'd fallen in love. Our intimacy had turned into love,' she wrote.

He had proposed marriage to Sophia in 1957, prompting for a divorce from Giuliana which was forbidden in his native country at the time.

However, Carlo could not deny his strong feelings for the sex symbol and married her by proxy after obtaining annulment documents in Mexico.

As a result Sophia and Carlo would have wound up on the hook for concubinage and bigamy in their native country and so they annulled their marriage in 1962.

The pair eventually worked out a deal with Giuliana whereby they all moved to France and obtained citizenship there.

Giuliana gave Carlo a divorce under French law in 1965, and the next year he remarried Sophia whom he stayed with until his death in 2007.

Two years later the couple welcomed their first child Carlo Ponti, Jr and another son, Edoardo, in 1973; their eldest is an orchestra conductor while the latter is a director whose debut film Between Strangers also starred his mother.

Sophia drew international acclaim for the 1960 film Two Women which was also about the ravages of World War II in her native Italy

She has kept working since Nine - she dubbed a role in Italian for the 2011 Pixar movie Cars 2 and has appeared in a short film. Pictured in 2019, Sophia receiving the Lifetime Achievement award during the European Culture Awards

Sophia has four grandchildren and told Closer she regularly keeps up with them, chatting daily with her family on FaceTime during lockdown.

'My approach to life is very simple,. Enjoy all the good news that my children tell me about their lives,' shared the Marriage Italian Style star.

Sophia, who lives in Geneva where she gave birth to both her sons, said: 'The beauty of my grandchildren fills me with joy although they are far away in California.'

A few years ago she told the New York Times that what she enjoys about life in Switzerland is that 'Its calm. When you live in a big city like Rome or like New York, theres so many things going on and the streets and the cars. Here, its a really very peaceful place. And then, of course, its the center of Europe.'

In the Times article however, Edoardo also revealed that his brother often complained is mother 'wasn't like the others' at school drop off, despite the star wearing jeans to be as lowkey as she could.

Sophia drew international acclaim for the 1960 film Two Women which was also about the ravages of World War II in her native Italy.

Her performance in the Vittorio De Sica movie made her the first person ever to earn an acting Oscar in a language other than English.

However she has not appeared onscreen in a feature film since Nine, Rob Marshall's 2009 movie adaptation of a Broadway musical of the same name.

Nine was based on the seminal Italian movie 8 1/2 directed by Federico Fellini whom Sophia never worked with despite the two being stars at the same time.

She has kept working since Nine - she dubbed a role in Italian for the 2011 Pixar movie Cars 2 and has appeared in a short film.

A decade ago she also played her own mother Romilda in the Italian miniseries My House Is Full Of Mirrors, based on a book by her sister Maria Scicolone, who once spent a decade married to Benito Mussolini's jazz pianist son Romano.
After decades of trying to heal her fractured relationship with her mother, Chloe Ballatore gave up the fight.

Twelve years ago, she finally decided to put herself and her immediate family first, ending their relationship for good.

It was a long time coming.

'It was death by a thousand cuts. Everything always had to be done her way. She criticised everything I did and never understood how I felt. To her, feelings weren't important,' Chloe, 56, from Los Angeles, tells me.

'I was at her beck and call. Not only was it ruining my marriage, but it was ruining my life, too.'

It had been this way since her childhood.

Growing up, Chloe's parents showed her little affection, and she always felt like the 'protector' of her three younger siblings.

'Home was a war zone and my parents fought a lot. I thought I'd never get married or have kids if this is what it was like. I didn't know any better. I was really shy up until Year 3, but I had an amazing teacher who brought me out of my shell,' she says.

After 44 years, Chloe Ballatore finally decided to put herself first by ending their relationship

Chloe was relieved to leave home when she went to Princeton University to study law.

She went on to marry. While Chloe's mother approved of her husband Brent, she was 'constantly trying to convince him to take her side' in every situation.

Chloe says her mother was always preoccupied by what other people thought of her, and liked to maintain the appearance of being an upstanding, caring person.

This was easy to pull off, as she was a children's librarian and volunteered at an abused women's shelter.

But to those closest to her, says Chloe, her mother lacked emotional depth.

She had been adopted during the Second World War and was likely traumatised by early childhood neglect as she spent the first nine months of her life in an orphanage.

Chloe says her mother had narcissistic traits, characterised by a need for approval and a superficial approach to relationships.

Throughout her childhood, Chloe's parents barely showed her any affection and she always felt like the 'protector' of her three younger siblings

'She's more concerned with how she appears to others than with her children's actual wellbeing,' Chloe says.

In May 2012, Chloe and her family temporarily moved in with her mother while her home was being renovated.

One night, as Chloe walked down the stairs barefoot, she stumbled on the last step, which was uneven and in need of repair.

She twisted her ankle and fell awkwardly, breaking bones in both feet.

'I screamed and was in so much pain, I saw stars. My husband came rushing down from the bedroom to help and I couldn't walk,' Chloe says.

'I yelled out to my mother for help but she never came.'

When Chloe's mother did eventually offer assistance, it was just a couple of Advil. She needed a wheelchair for two months.

'The fact that she left me at the bottom of the stairs jolted me. It was a wake-up call from life which was trying to get my attention,' Chloe says.

'I was really unhappy but, at the time, didn't know the root cause or how to fix it. It was like the broken step was a metaphor for our relationship: unstable and unpredictable.'

When Chloe confronted her mother about why she didn't rush to her aid, she made an excuse that she thought Chloe and Brent were in the middle of a domestic dispute and didn't want to interrupt.

After the incident, Chloe decided to seek therapy.

Six months later, she found the courage to tell her mother: 'I'm not going to have interactions with you unless you cherish my feelings.'

Despite being well-educated with an English degree, Chloe's mother claimed she 'didn't understand' what her daughter was asking.

Later, Chloe's therapist told her: 'You've got to tell her you can't serve her anymore or you're going to lose everything. It's a fight to the death and you're protecting your mother, not yourself or your family.'

A few weeks later was the final straw for Chloe, when her mother insulted her in front of a group of people at a private women's group.

And that was it. Chloe decided in that moment to cut her mother out for good.

'You don't want to question if your own mother loves you. I had to make a choice for the sake of my wellbeing - and I have no regrets.'

In the weeks and months that followed, Chloe's mother continually tried to reach out, but Chloe refused to speak with her.

'She'd say things like, "We're missing out on so much time together - we could be at lunch or go for walks on the beach." We never did those nice things before  not once,' she says

Over the last 12 years, Chloe has received birthday cards from her mother filled with the same well-wishes, but has never taken a call.

'I'm still open to a miracle but have accepted we likely will never reconcile. If she just took accountability for her actions and said sorry, things might be different,' Chloe says.

Today, Chloe works as a relationship expert, helping other women like herself navigate difficult family issues.

'I broke a toxic cycle and if I can, anyone can. But you can't do it alone,' she says.
Plunging fertility rates mean nine in ten neighbourhoods face the terrifying threat of 'underpopulation', MailOnline can today reveal.

Laying bare the reality of Britain's 'baby bust', staggering analysis shows only 5,000 out of 36,000 communities are having enough babies.

Nationwide, fertility rates have sunk to their lowest levels since records began in the 1930s.

Women in England and Wales, on average, now only have 1.44 children.

Yet, in parts of the country, this is as low as 0.1  the equivalent of one child for every ten women of childbearing age.

Experts fear the freefalling trend will leave the country reliant on immigration to prop up the economy, with Britain otherwise left with too few younger people to work, pay tax and look after the elderly.

MailOnline analysed fertility rates by lower layer super output areas (LSOAs)  home to around 2,000 people. Across England and Wales, there are 36,000 in total.

Full results of our probe  employing methodology backed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS)  can be viewed below in our postcode search tool below.

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For a population to stay the same size without relying on immigration, nations must achieve a 'replacement' level fertility rate of 2.1.

Yet scientists studying the demographic phenomenon  dubbed the 'greatest risk to the future of civilisation' by Elon Musk  claim the real target should be upped to 2.7 to avoid extinction.

Only 679 LSOAs (1.9 per cent) recorded a total fertility rate above that threshold, our figures showed.

The fertility rate  calculated by comparing populations of birthing-aged women with the amount of babies born for each area  was below one in 6,000 LSOAs.

In seven neighbourhoods, no births were recorded at all in 2023  the last year with available data.

Excluding LSOAs where no children were born, the area with the lowest fertility rate was in the western quadrant of leafy Guildford (0.07).

Behind it in the league table came the south western corner of Darlington, in between Hummersknott and Skerne Park, (0.09) and the Paignton area of the Devon seaside town of Torbay (0.11).

At the other end of the spectrum was the Stamford Hill area of Hackney, where 76 babies were born to 354 women.

Four of the top five areas were located in that north London borough, with Shoreditch (5.54), Woodbury Wetlands (5.4) and the area next to South Tottenham (5.33) ranking third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

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The second top spot belonged to a pocket of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, next to the village of Hockwold cum Wilton (5.78).

Fertility replacement doesn't account for the impact of immigration, meaning overall population levels can still increase in a country despite a drop in fertility rates.

Yet becoming reliant on immigration to offset low birth rates would only fuel the fire, on what is already a hugely controversial topic in British society.

Immigration levels have spiralled to all-time highs over the past few years, with tens of thousands having arrived on small boats.

Experts also say the fertility rates of immigrants' descendants tend to converge with those of the native population over time as second and third generation immigrants are influenced by social norms of their birth country.

It means that to sustain population growth through immigration, a continuous influx of new migrants is required.

World-leading demographer Dr Paul Morland told MailOnline: 'We have been below replacement fertility levels for over 50 years now.

'That's why we've had mass migration, why our economy is in such a bad way and it's just decades of problems.

'It's also a major lag that we'll be dealing with for many years'.

Oxford University-educated Dr Morland, the author of No One Left: Why the World Needs More Children, added: 'We are only now suffering the effects of our fertility rate in the 2000s.'

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Women prioritising their education and careers, and couples waiting to have children until later in life have fuelled the freefalling trend.

Rising costs, especially the price of childcare and housing, is another factor thought to be putting people off starting families.

There is no evidence that Covid vaccines are to blame, with scientists insisting there is no proof they harm fertility.

Britain's fertility rate as a whole is forecasted to fall to 1.3 by 2100.

The US is on track for a similar downward trajectory, researchers warned last year in the respected medical journal The Lancet.

Sharing their shock findings, the University of Washington team warned 97 per cent of nations face the threat of underpopulation by 2100. By then, half of all babies may be born in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr Morland said that, as nations become more prosperous, fertility rates typically fall.

He said: 'The only western country with a birthrate above two is Israel and there is a countervailing religious ideology to that - if you don't have that then Western countries fall behind.'

Last week, Keir Starmer refused to align with his Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's line that she harboured 'worrying repercussions for society in the future' if the UK's birth rate didn't improve.

A No 10 spokesman said that the Prime Minister would not 'tell people how to live their lives'.

The move comes as comparable Western countries with similar birth issues such as France and Italy have taken steps in recent years to right the ship.

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Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron brought in free fertility checks for those aged 18 to 25.

And Giorgia Meloni, Italy's Prime Minister, set a target of 500,000 births annually.

Asked why Sir Keir would not weigh in on the debate in the way Mr Macron and Ms Meloni have in France and Italy respectively, the No 10 spokesman said: 'It's for the members of the French and Italian government to speak for their policies.'

Last year, the Office for Budget Responsibility warned that Britain's falling birth rate could see the national debt soar over the next 50 years.

It said the country would have to become reliant on migration to boost the population as deaths will outnumber births in Britain from the middle of the next decade.

A waning population could mean there are not enough workers to care for the ageing members of society and to pay taxes to keep funding public services.

Immigration remains a hot button voter issue in Keir Starmer's premiership.

In May, the PM announced plans to 'significantly' reduce net migration over the next four years, with the Home Office suggesting his eight core policy areas could lead to a 100,000 per year drop by 2029.

In his recent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer said that a 'one in, one out' policy was scheduled to come into force within weeks.

Our search tool also lays bare the rising average age of mothers across the nation.

Nationally, the average age of mums now stands at 30.9 years old. This is an all-time high. During the 1970s, it was closer to 26.

The oldest mothers in the country, on average, live in the City of London (38.2) and Kensington and Chelsea (35). Westminster (34.8), Camden and Islington (both 34.7) followed closely behind.

At the other end of the spectrum was the Nottinghamshire town of Mansfield and the region of North East Lincolnshire, both with an average age of 28.2.
There's no pill or instant fix for jet lag.

But with more than 20 hours of flight time from New York to Australia on my horizon, I was eager to unearth any solution in a bid to make the most of my 10-day trip.

Friends had suggested everything from the prescription anti-anxiety drug Xanax (alprazolam) to melatonin supplements to pack in some sleep. but then another recommendation from a travel pro piqued my interest: Methylene blue.

Methylene blue, which is a cobalt blue-hued synthetic dye, has a long history of being used as treatment for ailments, including for malaria and a rare blood disorder called methemoglobinemia.

But in recent years, an increasing number of people believe it may offer various other health benefits, particularly for cognitive function and potentially as an anti-aging agent. Research even suggests that it can kill cancer cells under specific conditions.

And In February, footage emerged of Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, 71, on a plane using a pipette to add droplets of a blue liquid to his drink.

It is unclear where and when the video was filmed and the footage doesn't show him consuming the concoction. But the clip spread widely on social media, leading to speculation about what it could be.

Some medical experts said the blue liquid was likely methylene blue, although he has never commented on what it was. Mel Gibson and Joe Rogan are also among the fans of methylene blue.

DailyMail.com's Sadie Whitelocks tried methylene blue as a solution to jet lag on a recent trip from New York to Sydney

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Brandon Dawson, co-founder and CEO of 10X Health, an individualized wellness company, told me he is also a big advocate of methylene blue to mitigate the tiring effects of long travel journeys.

Dawson says he swears by the supplement and he never suffers from jet lag, despite hopping on multiple flights a week around the world.

Following his revelation, I stocked up on 10X's methylene blue drops.

A 30ml bottle costs $37, with this amount set to last a month if you take it on a daily basis.

Dr Johnny Parvani - who runs 10X's IV arm of the business, offering patients infusions of vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes to boost their health - recommended that I start taking methylene blue one day before travel and then throughout the journey and during the trip.

Explaining the benefits, he told me: 'This supplement can facilitate the role of oxygen in generating energy in high altitude environments such as with air travel.

'The supplement should help you remain more focused and energized and help you adjust to the new time zone quicker.'

Currently methylene blue is not FDA-approved for jet lag, only for methemoglobinemia, and there have been no clinical trials or studies specifically evaluating the effectiveness of it for long-haul air travel.

Research is limited, but a 1995 study found the substance can increase oxygen levels in the blood and improve the blood's ability to carry oxygen throughout the body.

Some experts argue that, by increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, methylene blue can improve the health of the mitochondria  the powerhouse of cells in the human body.

In doing so, they argue, this can slow down aging or even prevent cancer  which occurs when cells malfunction and mutate.

However, perhaps the most excitement is over the potential use of methylene blue for preventing dementia  the incurable degenerative brain disease that affects more than 7million Americans.

The exact cause of dementia is unknown, but one theory is that it is triggered by malfunctioning mitochondria in the brain.

In 2020, a Chinese paper published in the medical journal Translation Neurodegeneration suggested that methylene blue be considered as a possible preventative treatment for dementia.

Another proposed use for the blue dye is treating the mental health disorders depression and bipolar.

By improving the function of the mitochondria, supporters argue, this should also boost levels of serotonin, the 'happy hormone,' in the brain.

In fact, studies do show that methylene blue can increase serotonin levels. Some research even suggests it can alleviate mental health issues.

But back to me - I decided to trial the concoction for myself.

In liquid form, you take methylene blue by using a dropper to add it to water.

Dr Parvani advised me to drink it through a straw as the liquid can stain your teeth and he also warned me that it could turn my urine blue.

The clip, posted on X, shows RFK Jr speaking to someone behind him on the plane before squeezing a bright blue dye in what looks like water. It's unclear when the video was filmed

Methylene blue is FDA approved to treat the rare blood disorder methemoglobinemia, though it has been used off label for anti-aging and cancer, among other issues

Before my trip, I discovered that methylene blue is actually illegal if it is imported into Australia without a prescription as it is a classified as a Schedule 4 substance.

After learning this, I hatched a plan to ditch it while changing planes in California and to pre-mix a drink for the 15-hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney.

Dr Parvani said I should still get the benefits of methylene blue despite not continuing to take it during my trip.

The label on 10X's methylene blue drops instructs you to start with five drops diluted in water, with this increasing by five drops weekly until you reach a full pipette (20 drops).

Following Dr Parvani's orders, I started by taking the supplement the morning before I traveled.

When you first put it in water, the color is barely visible but as it dilutes, it gets increasingly blue.

The mesmerizing color change filled me with vague concern as to what it could do to my internal organs.

The 10X product says it has a 'pina colada' flavor but I didn't taste anything vaguely fruity while sipping it.

To my relief, I also didn't experience any signs of blue pee.

At the airport, I took another dose of methylene blue before the next flight on my journey.

Sadie stocked up on 10X's methylene blue drops. A 30ml bottle costs $37

I'm not sure if it was a placebo effect or the methylene blue working its magic, but I did feel strangely energized and alert the day I traveled.

I also went on to have some of the best sleep I had ever had on a plane despite being cooped up in economy.

However, there were a couple of side effects I believe may have been from the substance.

Firstly, I appeared to lose my sense of taste, and then as I was sleeping, I suffered from pins and needles in my legs and arms.

A quick Google, showed that these can be side effects of methylene blue.

Other common complaints include dizziness, a fast heartbeat, a headache, shivering and a sore throat.

Luckily, I didn't experience any other discomfort while taking the supplement and when I landed in Australia, I found the benefits outweighed not being able to taste my plane pasta dinners and having a dead leg mid-flight.

On landing into Sydney at around 7am after more than 24 hours of travel, I felt surprisingly perky.

In fact, I managed to stay awake the whole day before rolling into bed at 10pm. The next day, I ran three miles in the morning and embarked on a 12-mile hike in the afternoon.

Maybe RFK Jr is on to something.

Next time I travel, methylene blue is something I would consider using but if losing my taste is a consequence, it's not something I'd take on a daily basis.

Experts say some people are more sensitive to the substance than others, and my friend who took a dose from my bottle returned from the bathroom an hour later exclaiming 'my pee is blue!'
As starts in life go, Briel Adams-Wheatley didn't have the best; born with a rare condition which meant her arms and legs didn't develop in the womb, she was abandoned by her parents when she was just a baby.

But fast forward 26 years later, and Mrs Adams-Wheatley is now regarded as one of the most inspiring influencers on social media, with millions of followers across her Instagram and TikTok accounts.

Fans avidly watch her makeup tutorials and leave thousands of likes and impressed comments on videos of her dancingyes, reallyas she shows off a natural sense of rhythm which many able-bodied people could only dream of.

With the support of a (huge) loving family behind her, she's happily married, and living her best, authentic life after coming out as a transgender woman two years ago.

It's an incredible trajectory, and one which wouldn't sound out of place in a fairytale or Charles Dickens novel.

Infant Mrs Adams-Wheatley was tiny, vulnerable and facing an uncertain future at the mercy of the Brazilian adoption system in her birth city of Sao Paulo when her adoptive mother overheard of her plight as she shopped in a supermarket in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mrs Adams-Wheatley told Mail Online: 'She was seven months pregnant, but when she heard my story she felt an instant connection to me. She knew that I was supposed to be her kid.

'She went home and she prayed about it, and she received her own revelation that it was supposed to happen.'

Briel Adams-Wheatley has become an internet star thanks to her positive attitudeand dancing

She has been happily married to Adam since 2021

Mrs Adams-Wheatley's mother, a devout Mormon, claims that she was visited by Angel Gabriel as she prayed for guidance, and the next day she confidently told her husband that they had a baby waiting for them... 6,000 miles away.

And, in honour of the spiritual being who had visited her, the child would be called Gabriel.

However, her husband, who worked at a Seminary Institutea religious school which teaches members of the Latter Day Saints Church about scripturehad his doubts, and for good reason.

'He was like "are you crazy? We already have 11 children. There's no way we can support one that has no arms and legs with all the medical attention and everything they're gonna need",' laughs Mrs Adams-Wheatley.

But after praying it over, and receiving a vision of their unborn, twelfth, child and the mysterious Brazilian baby growing up together as brothers, he agreed that they needed to adopt him.

'To start with the adoption agency tried to block it,' she says. 'They thought that my parents already had too many kids and didn't have the right finances to support my needs.

'But eventually the adoption agency came around. They said "this is the perfect family for this baby. They've been in the hospital now for nine months, and they need all the stimulation they can get. What could be better than a family with 11 kids?"'

It wasn't long before Mrs Adams-Wheatley had swapped the frenetic energy of Brazil's largest city for a different sort of chaos, and she began her new life as the second youngest of thirteen kids.

But while you might think having so many siblings would make life a breeze for the youngster, her mother banned them from helping her, instilling in the young Briel a ferocious sense of independence which continues to drive her to this day.

She said: 'She told my siblings that they weren't allowed to do things for me and that I needed to figure out how to do it myself.

'A lot of people looking in thought that was really rude.

'But now, being a successful 26-year-old who is married, and has their own job and income, I have nothing but the deepest gratitude for my mum and all the tough love that she gave me when I was younger.

'She made sure that I would be able to live the life that I truly wanted in the end, instead of one that was taken care of by other people around me.'

Mrs Adams-Wheatley was born with Hanhart Syndrome, an incredibly rare genetic condition which affects less than 1 in 1,000,000 people. She also has scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine.

On paper, you wouldn't expect that she would be a natural dancer, but as she discovered early on, she has a natural talent for movement.

She said: 'I always was doing little tricks and spins around the house.

'I had been struggling to make friends at school as people couldn't see beyond my wheelchair, so I decided to audition for the annual talent show.'

After performing a routine which she spent months crafting and practicing, she received a standing ovation from her peers, who finally began to see her in a new light.

Later, after signing up to dance classes 'to be outside of my wheelchair for at least an hour and a half during the school day', she was encouraged by a friend to join her at auditions for their high school dance team.

Mrs Adams-Wheatley and her pal gave their all for the try outs, but her confidence was shattered when she overheard some of the other hopefuls making cruel comments about her.

'I was going out to lunch one day, and I heard two girls behind me saying "they're only going to put them on the team because they're handicapped".

'I went home and I told my mum that I was going to drop out, and she said, "you're not going to quit something you started. You're going to finish it, no matter what the outcome is".'

Mrs Adams-Wheatley's mum's tough love approach again got results, and the teen was thrilled to make it on to the team, kickstarting years of hard work, dancing and cheerleading, winning prizes at a state level.

Later, her dreams came true when a college offered her a full-ride dance scholarship, but her father forced her to turn it downhe had his own vision for her future.

Mrs Adams-Wheatley is happy in her body and lives a full life

She has amassed millions of followers thanks to her fun content

Mrs Adams-Wheatley said: 'My dad told me to turn it down to focus on motivational speaking, which was something that I started when I was 15 years old.

'The first one that I ever did was in front of 10,000 people, at some kind of medical conference.

'My parents always told me growing up that I was going to be a motivational speaker and that that was going to be my set career in life.

'It was something that I could fall into naturally.'

Mrs Adams-Wheatley worked the motivational speaker circuit 'for about four or five years' and although she admits she was 'getting pretty good at it', it was making her deeply unhappy.

She said: 'I was too good at it, to the point where I was able to mentally shut down and just word vomit what I needed to say on stage.

'Then I'd get backstage and I would start hyperventilating, but then I'd have to go instantly into doing meet and greets, and turn it right back on.'

It didn't help that at the time she was struggling to come out as gay to her parents which was, she says, a stepping stone to admitting she was transgenderand the pressure of feeling like she was living a lie on multiple fronts seriously affected her.

She loves fashion, and shows off her sense of style in her videos

Mrs Adams-Wheatley's adoptive parents wanted her to become a motivational speaker

'When the time finally came for me to come out, I told them that I resented them for making me do motivational speaking because they thought that it was my God given talent and something that I had to do, when it really wasn't,' she said.

Then, just as her adoptive mother had swooped in and removed her from that Sao Paulo hospital, another act of God saved Mrs Adams-Wheatley from a torturous fate: the pandemic derailed a scheduled speaking tour which would have seen her visit eight different states.

She said: 'It all came crashing down when COVID hit, and that was a blessing in disguise for me, it was my way out.

'I was sitting in my room, and I was like, "wait, what do I do? Though I don't have a college degree, I have a high school diploma, I have no arms and legs. What am I going to do for a job and income now?"'

The answer, her sister told her, was a new app called TikTok.

'I didn't know that you could make a living off of it,' she said, quickly adding that she doesn't see herself as an 'influencer'.

After sharing some fun content from her wedding 'that went crazy viral', Mrs Adams-Wheatley rapidly gained a following, 'and that kind of just propelled me into doing social media full time.'

Posting as @no_limbs_ on both TikTok and Instagram, Mrs Adams-Wheatley shares insights from her day-to-day life.

'The only thing I'm physically not able to do is drive myself,' she said, adding that she successfully runs a household and looks after two dogs while her husband is at work or studying.

She's also passionate about using her platform to campaign for better disability rights, and this weekend she is climbing the 41 stairs of the Utah State Capitol in honour of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Find out more, and donate, here.

A quick scroll through her feeds reveals that thousands of people from across the world are delighted by her resilience, abundant energy, resourcefulness, and of course, her true God-given gift... for dancing.
Two drugs already approved by the FDA for cancer treatment may hold the key to reversing Alzheimer's disease in patients, experts say.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) believe that letrozole, a hormone-based breast cancer drug, and irinotecan, a lung and colon cancer chemotherapy medication, can help reverse brain damage caused by the incurable neurodegenerative disease.

In an animal study, the UCSF experts found that both cancer drugs were seen to reduce brain degeneration in mice and even improve their memory and learning capacity.

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects adults over the age of 65. About 7million Americans live with the condition and over 100,00 die from it annually.

The disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid proteins and/or tau proteins in the brain, which can accumulate and damage cells responsible for memory and learning.

Amyloid protein molecules stick together in brain cells, forming clumps called plaques. While tau proteins twist together in fiber-like strands called tangles.

As of now, there is no cure for AD and only two FDA-approved therapies, Lecanemab (Leqembi) and Donanemab (Kisunla), are available for early-stage Alzheimer's treatment.

However, because letrozole and irinotecan are already approved for other treatments, this could fast-track clinical trials and the potential approval for use in Alzheimer's patients.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) believe that letrozole and irinotecan can help reverse AD-caused brain damage (stock image)

Co-senior author Dr Marina Sirota, a professor at UCSF, said: 'Alzheimer's disease comes with complex changes to the brain, which has made it tough to study and treat, but our computational tools opened up the possibility of tackling the complexity directly.

'We're excited that our computational approach led us to a potential combination therapy for Alzheimer's based on existing FDA-approved medications.'

In Alzheimer's patients, the plaques and tangles block the ability of the brain's neurons to send electrical and chemical signals back and forth.

Over time, this disruption causes permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's and dementia, causing patients to lose their ability to speak, care for themselves and interact with the world around them.

While the exact mechanisms of how the Alzheimer's-related brain damage begins are still under investigation, age and genetics are known risk factors.

Experts also believe that lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity and high blood pressure can also contribute to the development of Alzheimer's.

Despite rigorous preclinical and clinical research efforts, drug development for dementia faces significant challenges, with a 98 percent failure rate in recent decades.

Neuroscientist Dr Yadong Huang, co-author of the study and professor of neurology at UCSF, explained: 'Alzheimer's is likely the result of numerous alterations in many genes and proteins that, together, disrupt brain health.

'This makes it very challenging for drug development  which traditionally produces one drug for a single gene or protein that drives disease.'

However, researchers at USCF believe their discovery can help reduce or reverse the cognitive decline caused by the disease.

Doctors usually prescribe letrozole, also known by the brand name Femar, to treat some types of breast cancer

Irinotecan, which is sold under the brand name Camptosar and Onivyde, is prescribed by doctors to treat colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian and lung cancers

First, the team looked at how dementia changes gene expression in the brain.

Then, they scoured a database of over 1,300 drugs, including antipsychotics, antibiotics, antifungals and chemotherapy drugs, to determine which, if any, reversed any of these gene expressions.

If any existing drugs were found to be effective, they could be repurposed to treat the condition in a reduced the time in which the drugs could be made available to patients.

During their search, the team specifically looked for drugs that would target the harmful Alzheimer's-related changes in neurons and in brain cells called glia that are responsible for supporting the nervous system.

Then, the researchers analyzed millions of digital medical records to find patients who took some of these drugs as part of cancer treatments and their likelihood of developing Alzheimer's.

Ultimately, they identified letrozole and irinotecan as the best candidates to lower Alzheimer's risk in patients.

By combining the two drugs together, the researchers were able to target different types of brain cells affected by the disease.

They noted that letorozole could counter the effect of Alzheimer's on neurons and irinotecan helped reverse damage on the glia cells.

When the combination was tested on mice, the scientists saw that the harmful clumps of tau protein were reduced significantly and the mice showed improvements in learning and memory tasks.

The study authors noted that it remains unclear how the cancer drugs are able to reverse the damage.

Despite rigorous preclinical and clinical research efforts, drug development for dementia faces significant challenges, with a 98 percent failure rate in recent decades (stock image)

However, they theorized that it was possible that letrozole blocks the production of estrogen, a hormone that controls the working of a large number of genes, which therefore reduces the genetic risk factor of developing Alzheimer's.

Additionally, they believe that irinotecan may also block inflammation in the brain by preventing the rapid reproduction and DNA damage of glial cells.

As this was an animal study, the researchers hope to test the drugs in a clinical trial with human Alzheimer's patients.

Dr Huang said of the results: 'Developing a new drug can take hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars, on average take more than 10 years. 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 haven't generated or produced any very effective drugs that can really slow dramatically the cognitive decline.'

However, despite their groundbreaking discovery, risks continue as letrozole is known to cause hot flashes in patients while irinotecan can cause severe diarrhea. Both drugs can also lead to nausea and vomiting.

Dr Sirota said: 'These drugs have huge side effects, so you need to always balance and figure out whether those types of side effects would be amenable to somebody with Alzheimer's. It's not that it's a slam dunk.'

The research was published in the journal Cell.
Leading medical experts have called for women to stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy over fears that they could cause harm to unborn children.

Doctors speaking at a prestigious panel of the US drugs safety watchdog, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), on Monday warned that there was accumulating evidence that antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, were linked to birth defects and may harm the developing infant brain.

One in 13 pregnant women in the UK  equivalent to around 42,000 women  were prescribed the drugs last year to treat depression and anxiety disorders.

Official NHS guidance is that antidepressants are largely safe during pregnancy, and continuing to take them is necessary for many women. The benefit for the mother usually outweighs any slightly increased risk to the unborn baby, the NHS says.

But some prominent doctors raised concerns at the FDA panel, citing a growing number of studies which suggest possible harmful effects from taking the drugs  from withdrawal symptoms in newborns and post-partum haemorrhage in mothers, to longer-term effects for the baby including heart defects, spina bifida and autism.

They say the true picture of the risks is being played down to women and that  at the very least  women should be better informed of the dangers before ever starting to take the pills, and especially once they become pregnant.

In his opening remarks to the panel, FDA commissioner Marty Makary said that although SSRIs were an effective treatment for depression, they may be unique because of the effects they could have during pregnancy. Serotonin may play a crucial role in the development of organs of a baby in utero, specifically heart, brain and even the gut, he said during the meeting.

SSRIs have also been implicated in different studies to be involved in postpartum haemorrhage, pulmonary hypertension and cognitive downstream effects in the baby, as well as cardiac birth defects.

Massachusetts-based obstetrician Adam Urato also told the panel, alarmingly: Never before in human history have we chemically altered developing babies like this, especially the developing foetal brain, and this is happening without any real public warning and that must end.

One in 13 pregnant women in the UK  equivalent to around 42,000 women  were prescribed the drugs last year to treat depression and anxiety disorders

Professor Joanna Moncrieff, from University College London, took part in the meeting and told The Mail on Sunday that the suggestion antidepressants were not that harmful during pregnancy was misleading  and that women should try, where possible, to come off the drugs during pregnancy because of the risks and ideally, before trying to conceive.

Prof Moncrieff, a vocal critic of psychiatric medicines, said: We may not have absolutely watertight evidence of harm but when youre talking about harm to pregnancy, or to unborn children, you want to err on the side of caution.

We shouldnt be using them in pregnancy where theyre more likely to be harmful to the developing brain. Im not suggesting that pregnant women who are currently taking antidepressants should flush them down the toilet, but I do think women and doctors should be better informed about the risks  both at the point of starting to take them in the first place and then at the point of when they are either pregnant, or considering becoming pregnant.

While I dont want to frighten women, I do think they should not be falsely reassured that there are no worries.

SSRIs are a class of antidepressants which includes fluoxetine, sold as Prozac, paroxetine, sold as Seroxat, and citalopram, sold as Cipramil, and were designed to improve mood by boosting levels of a feel good chemical messenger in the brain called serotonin.

Prof Moncrieff, among others, has argued that the link between low serotonin and depression is a myth  and equally, that there is no good evidence SSRIs can increase serotonin levels.

In 2018 13.4 per cent of pregnant women in the UK were prescribed an antidepressant.

Many women opt to come off them gradually when they become pregnant, and resume taking the drugs after they give birth. But the roughly 7 per cent of pregnant women who stay on them do so for good reason. Maternal suicide  including drugs and alcohol misuse  is one of the leading causes of death among women between six weeks pregnant and a year after birth in the UK, behind stroke and heart disease. Stopping or tapering off medication can itself come with risks to mental health.

Professor Joanna Moncrieff told The Mail on Sunday that the suggestion antidepressants were not that harmful during pregnancy was misleading

As Kay Roussos-Ross, a specialist in high-risk pregnancies at the University of Florida College of Medicine, told the FDA panel: Research shows that in women who stop their medications in pregnancy, they are five times more likely to experience a relapse in their mood symptoms compared to those who continued their medications during pregnancy.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists separately warned this week that untreated mental illness also affects unborn infants, potentially putting them at risk of premature birth and low birth weight, and problems bonding with parents which can lead to attachment issues. But  while important  this should be considered a separate issue to the risks of drug treatments, says Dr Urato. Like most medicines, antidepressants are not routinely tested on pregnant women so there is little robust evidence around how safe they are.

There are animal studies which show an impact on birth defects and brain development.

But human studies are observational, and tend to contradict each other. Some say that means any risks are likely to be extremely small.

The most common and well-documented side effect is withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies who become dependent on the drugs in the womb, which affects about 30 per cent of births.

This might include jitteriness in a newborn, difficulty breathing, low blood sugar and high blood pressure in the lungs, which may all result in an admission to neonatal intensive care.

These symptoms tend to be typically mild and transient, according to Prof Christiaan Vinkers, psychiatrist at Amsterdam University Medical Centre.

The most common and well-documented side effect is withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies who become dependent on the drugs in the womb

A recent Swedish study found 14.6 per cent of women taking a moderate dose of SSRIs, and 23.9 per cent taking a high dose, experienced potentially life-threatening bleeding known as post-partum haemorrhage, after giving birth.

This is because the drugs are thought to reduce the level of serotonin contained in platelets  fragments in the blood that form clots and prevent bleeding. But some studies have found the same thing in people with depression, so it is hard to distinguish whether it is down to the drugs or a result of inflammation caused by the condition itself. The UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, says the risk is thought to be low.

Other studies suggest more serious risks for unborn children, including septal heart defects  a hole between the hearts chambers which can resolve itself or require surgery.

One large study found the antidepressant sertraline (sold as Lustral) could triple the risk (15 cases in every 1,000 births compared with five) and citalopram could double it.

Other research has particularly associated paroxetine in early pregnancy with any kind of malformation, and fluoxetine with heart defects, and women are generally recommended to switch to a different drug if they are pregnant or planning to have children.

There have been additional concerns about a link with autism from observational studies, but this evidence is inconclusive and could be linked to depression, Prof Vinkers points out.

However, the possible link remains under review by the MHRA. Prof Moncrieff points to compelling evidence from animal studies showing the offspring of those given SSRIs are more withdrawn and less sexually active.

Studies linking the drugs with cleft palate and spina bifida are inconclusive.

Prof Vinkers adds: It is plausible that SSRIs could influence foetal development, as serotonin plays a key role in brain formation and SSRIs cross the placenta. However, we lack direct evidence for harmful developmental effects.

The bottom line is the risks are small  and most women who use antidepressants during pregnancy will have a healthy baby, he says.

But for Prof Moncrieff and Dr Urato, and others on the panel, the main point is that women should be better informed of the risks.

This is about having compassion for patients, says Dr Urato. And its something every woman should discuss with their doctor.
JERUSALEM, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Knesset, the parliament, entered a three-month summer recess on Sunday, halting legislative activity and most of the committee work during this period.

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was grappling with corruption charges and an increasingly fractured governing coalition, the recess of the Knesset seems to have provided him with a much-needed breather.

A week ago, the Prime Minister's Office announced that Netanyahu was on the mend after a bout of food poisoning, saying he would be resting at home for the next three days while still handling his duties.

The message immediately fueled speculation that he was delaying his court appearances, since he was set to face two hearings in his corruption trial on July 21 and 22.

Both hearings were postponed as a result, and are not expected to get underway until the judiciary wraps up their summer recess.

Marking a first in Israeli history, Netanyahu is the only sitting prime minister to stand trial while in office. He was formally indicted in 2020 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

Prosecutors allege that between 2007 and 2016, he and his family received gifts worth approximately 280,000 U.S. dollars -- including champagne, cigars, and jewelry -- in exchange for political favors. If convicted, he could face a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.

According to Israeli media, Netanyahu has repeatedly postponed court proceedings by citing war-related duties, overseas visits, or health issues. This pattern of "strategic delay" has stirred intense debate over whether the prime minister is intentionally undermining judicial due process.

"This is not the first time Netanyahu has played for time," Roee Kibrik, head of research of Mitvim, the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, told Xinhua. "By aligning his legal schedule with the Knesset's long recess, he is clearly using the political calendar to gain leverage and buy time."

Beyond the swirling accusations of corruption, Netanyahu also finds himself grappling with growing fissures threatening to fracture his governing coalition.

The latest political storm came in mid-July, when two ultra-Orthodox parties -- United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Shas -- announced their withdrawal from the governing coalition. Together, the two parties hold 18 Knesset seats. Netanyahu's coalition initially commanded 68 seats in the 120-member parliament. If the two parties complete their departure, the government would lose its majority and face a real risk of collapse.

At the center of the rift is the military draft exemption policy for ultra-Orthodox Jewish students. In June last year, Israel's Supreme Court ruled that the longstanding exemption was unconstitutional and demanded that the government enact new legislation to restore its legal basis. Yet no such law has been passed, fueling anger among ultra-Orthodox leaders.

According to Kibrik, the withdrawal threat from both parties appears to be more tactical than decisive. By announcing their exit without calling for new elections, they seem to be seeking greater leverage in policy negotiations while keeping their options open, said the analyst.

Li Zixin, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told Xinhua that Netanyahu's overriding concern is to remain in power, not only to shape policy but also to retain the legal immunity granted to a sitting prime minister.

"The corruption trial creates a powerful incentive for Netanyahu to cling to office," he said. "That's why he's constantly conceding to far-right coalition partners in exchange for their loyalty."

However, this approach has consequences. "Such political bargaining may help Netanyahu survive in the short term," Li added, "but it's eroding the government's cohesion and narrowing its policymaking space."

On the potential withdrawal of UTJ and Shas, Li emphasized that both parties have avoided aligning with the opposition. "It's a form of calculated disengagement," he said. "In Israel's highly fragmented political landscape, a coalition can fracture without falling apart."

Even so, recent polls suggest Netanyahu's far-right bloc would likely lose its majority if elections were held today.

The country's next election is scheduled for October 2026, yet insiders warn that mounting tensions could bring it forward. Under pressure from legal entanglements, a discordant coalition, and a war-weary populace, Netanyahu's possible tactic to maintain power by prolonging the country's wartime dynamics is losing its edge.

"If the coalition collapses," Kibrik opined, "Israel would enter a caretaker government and must hold elections within 90 days. Much of what the government is doing now is not long-term policy -- it's just buying time, crisis by crisis." 
New care home residents should be given an additional pneumonia jab when they move in to reduce deaths from a deadly bacterial lung infection, experts have said.

A major study suggests that a second dose of a pneumococcal vaccine  targeting the bacteria that causes pneumonia and other serious illnesses  could prevent up to 80 per cent of deaths from invasive pneumococcal disease in care home settings.

It would be far more effective than the current NHS policy of offering a single dose of the jab to all adults when they turn 65, according to the research.

Pneumonia is contagious, and while anyone can catch it, babies and the elderly are most at risk of being badly affected.

Over-65s in the UK are usually jabbed with Pneumovax 23, which is usually given just once (stock photo)

LIFE-THREATENING: A 3D scan of lungs affected by pneumonia

Pneumonia symptoms and steps to take Adults over 65 are offered a single pneumonia vaccine, often alongside the annual flu jab. Babies, children and vulnerable adults also get one. If you have a long-term health condition your GP may decide to offer you a booster dose every five years.

Not getting vaccinated can drastically increase the risk of hospitalisation and death from pneumonia, so doctors urge everyone to take up the current jab.

Symptoms are similar to flu. They include a fever, a dry cough, trouble breathing, a rapid heartbeat, sweating, shivering, a loss of appetite and chest pain.

If you suspect you have pneumonia, contact your GP or call 111. Call 999 if you or someone you care for is struggling to breathe, coughing up blood, has blue lips or a blue face, becomes confused or collapses. Advertisement

Studies show over-65s are ten times more likely to end up in hospital with pneumonia than those aged 18-50.

In the new study, led by the UK Health Security Agency, scientists analysed health data from more than 120,000 people newly admitted to care homes.

They compared the impact of giving this group either the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) or the newer, more effective 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) when they moved in  alongside routine vaccination  and tracked potential cases and deaths prevented over five years.

They found that giving the PCV20 jab to new residents would prevent 75 per cent of serious pneumococcal infections and 80 per cent of related deaths.

The PPV23 vaccine would prevent 36 per cent of infections and 48 per cent of deaths.

By contrast, the current single-dose programme for the general population at 65 was found to prevent just a fraction of the number of deaths per dose.

Protecting older adults, especially those in care facilities, from infectious diseases is necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality, Dr Claire von Mollendorf, a vaccine expert at the University of Melbourne, wrote in The Lancet.

Vaccination, including against pneumococcus, is an effective way to promote healthy ageing.
When 47-year-old Caroline Norman woke up to the room spinning, a continuous ringing sound and deafness in her left ear, she knew something was wrong.

Yet she tried to carry on as normal. She recalls having to hold on to the fridge to stay upright while making her son breakfast, before staggering to the sofa.

After 20 minutes the symptoms subsided and she booked an emergency GP appointment that night. The doctor said there was nothing to worry about  the cause was a build up of ear wax. It would go away by itself, he reassured her.

A month passed and, still unable to hear out of her left ear, Caroline booked an appointment with an audiologist.

They saw no sign of infection or blockage so referred Caroline to a specialist at the local hospital. That was when the true cause of her symptoms was revealed  sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

I nearly passed out when they told me, said Caroline. I was so surprised, especially after being told it was just ear wax.

Worse still, she had missed the crucial window  within a week of first experiencing symptoms  to receive the treatment that can prevent deafness. Her hearing loss would, they said, be permanent.

There was of course the initial shock, and the frustration of a delayed diagnosis, but then came the grief, says Caroline, a psychotherapist from Essex.

Caroline Norman, who had sudden hearing loss which the doctor said was ear wax build up

Everyone saw me the same way, but it had a huge effect on me for six months. I lost a lot of confidence initially, particularly socially, I really did not want to have to tell people about my hearing loss.

I have learned to come to terms with it but I still wish I could hear that song the way I used to, or hear that family member who is talking quietly.

Now Caroline says she has managed to make small adjustments to day-to-day life to help her, such as positioning herself on the right-hand side of a social group.

Collating her advice for people with the condition she has just written Sudden Hearing Loss: Stories Of Hope, Guidance, And Support to help others who have suffered from sudden hearing loss.

She says the biggest challenge is that she struggles to hear where a sound is coming from, so finding a phone when it is ringing or crossing the road can be a problem.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a rapid, unexplained loss of hearing  usually affecting one ear  that comes on over the course of hours or days. It is considered a medical emergency, as prompt treatment with steroids  drugs that dampen inflammation  within 48 to 72 hours can significantly improve the chances of recovery. In most cases, the cause is never found. However, experts believe it may be triggered by viral infections, autoimmune reactions, or disruptions in blood flow to the inner ear.

Less commonly, it can be caused by benign tumours, head trauma, or side-effects of some medications. Other common symptoms include vertigo, tinnitus and difficulty with speech.

While we do not know what fully causes sudden hearing loss, we do believe is likely a combination of a variety of conditions, says Professor Nish Mehta, chairman of the Ear Institute at University College London.

One of the strongest hypotheses is that viral infections are often the cause, particularly in patients under 40, but hearing loss is likely to occur between a week and three after feeling ill, not straight away.

The other cause, often in older patients, is a change in blood flow. In the brain this would be known as a stroke, but in the ear it causes this condition. This is important because it can also be a marker of potentially cardiovascular problems down the line that require further medical examination.

It is estimated up to 15,000 people suffer from the condition each year in the UK. Last year researchers at University College London Hospitals found there was a critical window for administering steroids.

While we do not know what fully causes sudden hearing loss, we do believe is likely a combination of a variety of conditions, says Professor Nish Mehta

To prevent permanent damage the drugs have to be administered within seven days of symptoms developing, but the ideal time was 72 hours, the team discovered.

Yet they also found that only about 60 per cent of these patients were treated within a week.

There is a real lack of awareness of the condition among patients and even some medical professionals, says Professor Mehta. Often we see patients who have sat on this for a couple of days and then we are halfway through the critical window for treatment  this is a medical emergency and patients need to be persistent.

To ensure that patients are able to seek urgent medical attention, experts say that there are key symptoms that can help distinguish between sudden hearing loss and more benign problems.

Often people will wake up with the hearing loss, but it may also be gradual over three days when the patient is awake, says Franki Oliver, who is audiology manager at RNID, a hearing loss charity.

We often find patients also experience a popping sound as well. Generally the changes in hearing happen on one side, it is rarely in both. Other symptoms include sudden tinnitus or a loss of balance, vertigo.

Experts say that anyone experiencing these symptoms must act quickly. You need to pursue an answer and get help as quickly as you can, do not be put off by being unnecessarily concerned, it is a medical emergency, says Ms Oliver.

A patients first port of call should be their GP, but if they are particularly concerned or cannot get an appointment then they should go to A&E.
Me, You, Them by Evie Sage (Michael Joseph 20, 304pp)

Me, You, Them is available now from the Mail Bookshop

On a dull Tuesday afternoon in 2019, the businesswoman and author Evie Sage turned up at an ordinary shopping centre with an extraordinary mission: to meet the woman she and her husband had arranged to have a threesome with.

It was the first time theyd organised such a thing, and Sages state of mind was understandably anxious. In a Starbucks, they found the woman theyd been messaging online, and made small talk, avoiding the elephant in the room. Shall we do this? the woman finally asked.

They agreed and headed, all three, to a Travelodge by a motorway, where they enthusiastically got down to the matter at hand.

In her eye-opening and unashamedly steamy memoir, Sage (not her real name) explains what led to that Travelodge tryst, and recounts the sexual adventures that came afterwards.

She was, she writes, a high-achieving girl, who grew up in a nice house with a loving family. But she was soon yearning for more  as a teenager she wrote in her diary: Do not accept an ordinary life. And though she basked in the attention of boys, her first love was a girl: a classmate who was rebellious and stop-traffic good-looking.

The girls spent all their time together, doing normal stuff best friends do (clubbing, drinking, hanging out) along with quite a bit of not-so-standard stuff (kissing, buying sex toys together, falling asleep in each others arms).

But their bond was tested when they went to different universities, and Sage met the man who was to become her husband. When the pair got married, he and Sage moved to a farmhouse close to his parents in the Scottish countryside, and readied themselves for an idyllic country life full of home-cooked bread and children reared in the great outdoors.

But the children never arrived  and once Sage had moved from grief about her and her husbands inability to conceive, to acceptance, she set about building a new life: one relieved of responsibility, and bent around the fulfilment of her and her husbands desires.

Three in a bed: Evie and her husband opened up their marriage after they stopped trying to have children

The book skips back and forth in time, and unsurprisingly, the bits set after Sages sexual awakening are rather more absorbing than those set before.

At a sex party in London, she leads a woman into a large cage, and has her way with her in front of the womans husband, as well as her own (both men end up joining in). At another party, a white pill is presented to Sage on a silver tray; she takes it, and eventually allows an Amazonian giantess wearing long patent boots to whip her so ferociously her mind goes blank, but the feeling is delicious, clear, she writes.

At yet another gathering, she and her husband meet a couple who invite them to join their holiday in Ibiza. The couple take them out on a boat to a cave lapped by azure waves, where Sage gets to know her male host very well indeed, and finds the acoustics of the cave to her liking.

The book tackles many of the questions youd have if your friend told you shed embraced polyamory. No, Sage doesnt get jealous: she feels her husbands attention is usually partly on her, even if he is physically with someone else; in fact he becomes more attractive to her when she sees him attracting (and administering to) other women.

Yes, sometimes she just doesnt fancy the people she has organised to have sex with, and it can be awkward. No, her family doesnt know (she is tempted to tell her kindly father, but realises she never will).

And yes, there is a split between Sages normal self and the self she is at orgies.

Sage and her husband run a cottage rental and wedding business, and quite a bit of the book is given over to descriptions of how they got the business up and running. Their clients have no idea what they get up to.

After one party in London, she washes her underwear in the sink and hangs it indoors, rather than let it dry outside where people staying in the cottages might see it. Its not that she isnt proud, she explains; she just wants the privacy to explore this new adventure alone.

All this adventuring does bring odd moments of peril. At one rather yucky get-together in a private house, Sage is repelled by the advances of a man in a hot tub, who tries to get to work on her in full view of the house next door. (Afterwards, she goes looking for her husband  and finds him under a pile of three women. Just checking hes still alive, she trills at them.)

Freeing: opening her marriage has freed Sage from the responsibility of being the sole keeper of her husbands pleasure

At a hotel meet-up with another couple, a man puts his penis inside her without asking and without a condom. The violation shakes her, and she goes to the bathroom. In the mirror, I see a whore, with bleary, smudgy eyes and slutty lingerie, she writes.

These moments aside, Sage argues that her new life has freed her in a number of ways: from the responsibility of being the sole keeper of her husbands pleasure, from the conventional life she grew up dreading, from feelings of insecurity. Theres nothing like striding through a packed room in your underwear to boost your inner confidence, she notes.

And, she writes, she and her husband are still very much in love. Yet she knows this sexual gallivanting wont last forever. Some day, she writes, when she and her husband are old and tired and sitting in rocking chairs on a veranda, they will turn to each other and say: Do you remember when
Joe Rogan has lashed out at the Trump administration over its handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

The famed podcaster singled out FBI Director Kash Patel in his explosive take on the fallout over an alleged cover up relating to the convicted pedophile.

Rogan said: 'When Kash Patel was on here and he was like "there was nothing", my thought was I'm going to put this out there and let the internet do its work.

'The guy's saying there are no tapes, no video. That doesn't make any sense, everybody knows that doesn't make any sense.'

Rogan, who endorsed Trump, added: 'Then hes like, "Well, we have a film, were gonna release that film", and the film has a f****** minute missing from it.'

The footage he had been referring to is surveillance clips of Epstein's New York City cell where he hung himself in 2019. The clip was released earlier this month.

'Do you think we're babies? Like, what is this?', the comedian and UFC color commentator added.

Messy missteps by Trump and his officials have driven his core MAGA support mad and risk alienating the president from his base.

Rogan expressed his anger over the Trump administration and their handling of the Epstein files

FBI Director Kash Patel was singled out by Rogan who fumed that he has not delivered on promises to expose the truth

Earlier this week the Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump in May that his name appeared in the Epstein files.

Bondi also allegedly acknowledged that the administration should withhold the files due to them containing images of child sexual abuse.

The president associated with Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in the 1980s and 1990s.

Maxwell was questioned this week by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. She is serving 20 years behind bars for his involvement in Epstein's crimes.

The 63-year-old made it clear earlier this month that she was willing to speak in front of Congress about the case.

Trump has not been implicated in any crimes and just because a name appears in the files does not mean imply they were involved in Epstein's child sex trafficking.

On July 7 two months after Trump's May meeting with Bondi an internal DOJ memo was released.

It said an investigation found that Epstein died by suicide and that no other people named in the files would be charged. It also said there was no 'Epstein client list'.

The latest from Rogan comes after after he praised Hunter Biden as being the Democrats' next hope to reclaiming the White House.

The president associated with Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, seen here, in the 1980s and 1990s

He said that Biden 'could be president' after the presidential scion gave an interview in which he discussed the failures of the party and his problems with crack-cocaine.

Rogan lauded Biden for his frankness and intellect around the subject of addiction, adding that 'he's a lot smarter than people give him credit for'.

Biden had sat down with YouTuber and host of Channel 5 News Andrew Callaghan, in which he explained the psychology behind addiction.

'If crack wasn't terrible for you, this guy makes me want to try crack,' Rogan told guest Joe DeRosa on his podcast Wednesday.

'I'm not going to. I'm not giving any advice, but I'm saying this guy, like legitimately this might be the best advertisement for crack of all-time.

'He's a lot smarter than people give him credit for,' Rogan continued.
Port-au-Prince is no longer a capital. It is now a war zone under the reign of brutal gangs.

Almost four years after Haiti's president was assassinated in his own bedroom, the country has spiralled into complete collapse.

Heavily armed gangs now control an estimated 90 per cent of the capital city.

The streets are littered with bodies, hospitals are burning, and children are being raped and recruited as soldiers. The state has all but disappeared.

Gangs now wield more power than the government, according to senior United Nations officials, and they rule with unspeakable brutality.

One resident of Port-au-Prince, who chose to remain anonymous for security reasons, told MailOnline: 'Nothing shocks me anymore. I have seen the worst of the worst.

'Death is now all around. I have seen more bodies on the streets than I could care for. I have witnessed many people being killed in front of my eyes.

'We are trapped here and there is nothing we can do. We just have to stay put and pray we are not next.'

The streets of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince are littered with dead bodies after gangs took over

The body of a man is dragged across the street as Haiti contends with a power vacuum now occupied by criminal gangs

Residents watch on as a man lays dead in a pool of blood on the street

He adds: 'This is hell on earth. You are forced to walk on eggshells and be careful of who you can trust. This is no way for anyone to live.'

This week, the UN reported that more than 3,000 have died in this year alone as a direct result of the gang violence.

The bloodbath began on July 7, 2021, when Haitian President Jovenel Moise was gunned down inside his private residence in the hills above Port-au-Prince.

He was shot 12 times by foreign mercenaries in what remains an unresolved conspiracy.

Since then, no president has taken office. A string of interim caretakers have since resigned or have been fired. The national police force has been overwhelmed.

The country's institutions, from courts to customs, power stations to schools have been overrun or abandoned.

Into this vacuum surged the gangs, looking to seize the opportunity. Last week, the UN warned that criminal gangs have now gained control of a majority of the capital.

Led by former police officers, drug traffickers and warlords, Haiti's gangs have formed brutal alliances.

The bloodbath began after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise

Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier is a former cop who now runs the country's most powerful gang

Residents told MailOnline that bodies are now left to rot in the streets on a constant basis

The most powerful is the G9 Family and Allies, a federation led by Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier, a former cop turned notorious militia boss.

Cherizier, who styles himself as a revolutionary, has openly declared war on the government and promised to lead a 'cleansing' of the elite.

His methods are far from political - they are horrifying.

His men have been filmed burning civilians alive, dragging mutilated bodies through the streets, and beheading police officers with machetes before setting their corpses alight.

Citizens have been forced to witness innocent people getting their throats slit, and women being raped.

Bodies are often left on the street for days as no one dares to move them.

The 400 Mawozo gang, which operates on the city's outskirts, specialises in 'express kidnappings'.

They abduct ordinary Haitians for as little as $100 in ransom and sexually assault women in front of their children.

Executions are not just to target enemies - they are also to send a message to those who dare challenge the gangs

People look at the body of a person who was killed by the members of a criminal gang

Dead bodies laying cold in front of homes have become a norm for the frightened citizens of Haiti's biggest cities

In one infamous attack, they kidnapped 17 missionaries, including several children, and held them for weeks.

The slaughter in Haiti has intensified to shocking levels.

In December 2024, in the Cite Soleil district, gang members slaughtered nearly 200 people, mostly elderly residents accused of being 'witches.'

Some were shot point-blank and others hacked to death, with their homes set ablaze.

In October, another group, Gran Grif, one of the most violent, stormed the town of Pont-Sonde, killing at least people including infants and pregnant women.

Many were stabbed or burned alive in their homes.

In January 2023, 18 police officers were ambushed and executed by gangs.

Their bodies were dismembered and hung from poles as a message to the state.

The footage circulated on WhatsApp before the government could even respond. The killings sparked riots by police and pro-police gangs in the capital.

Over 1.3million Haitians have been displaced in the last six months alone as many are forced to cross back and forth between the United States and Mexico

The UN has warned about the huge humanitarian crisis happening in the country

Children have been left orphaned while parents have been forced to bury their children since Haiti descended into chaos

The human toll in the ongoing crisis is devastating - over 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced in the past six months. Many now live in makeshift tents without food or clean water.

UNICEF has documented a dramatic increase in sexual violence against girls under 18. While some are sexually exploited by the gangs, others are forced into prostitution.

In some neighbourhoods, girls as young as three have been gang-raped during home invasions, according to local journalists.

I have witnessed many people being killed in front of my eyes. 'We are trapped here and there is nothing we can do. We just have to stay put and pray we are not next.

Some have gotten pregnant as a result of the rape and since abortion is legalised in the country, many have resorted to unsafe methods to terminate unwanted pregnancies, according to Amnesty International.

Boys as young as 10 are also recruited into gangs and are often used as spies, delivery people, or construction workers.

Others are trained to kill and commit atrocities.

Six in ten hospitals have shut down or are barely functioning.

Gangs routinely loot emergency wards, steal medicine and oxygen cylinders, and murder patients suspected of working with the police.

Messaging platforms are awash with videos of families burned alive in their homes.

Electricity grids have failed, schools have been shuttered, and roads are blocked with burning tyres and corpses. Armed checkpoints demand bribes or blood.

People left bloodied and injured after a group of armed men opened fire on journalists

A man collects the remains of a person killed and left in the streets

People walk past the body of a man shot dead in the morning of March 18, 2024 in Port-au-Prince

Even the international airport was stormed by gangs, forcing it to close on numerous occasions.

Earlier this year, Haitian officials were reduced to using commercial FPV drones to strike back, bombing gang-held streets with explosives dropped from the sky.

To prevent reporting of the full scale of the crisis, several journalists have been killed, kidnapped, or left injured. In 2022, nine reporters were killed.

Many have now been forced to go into hiding. Sources told Mail Online that some have resorted to writing under pseudonyms out of fear they or their families will be targeted.

In December last year, a gruesome picture showed people injured on the floor after a group of armed men opened fire on journalists.

A Kenyan-led peacekeeping mission, approved by the UN, has deployed just 1,000 troops.

That is far short of the 2,500-plus needed. Many countries have been reluctant to send forces, fearing a repeat of the 2004 to 2017 UN occupation, which was marred by abuse and scandal.

Armed men wield guns as they protest against Haiti's insecurity last month

Bystanders watch on as a group of suspected gang members are burned alive by an angry mob

A woman is comforted after the bodies of a group of people shot dead are removed by an ambulance

Meanwhile, the gangs are growing stronger. With weapons smuggled from Florida and police armouries, they are now better armed than state forces.

Even food has become a weapon. Gangs control fuel depots, supply chains and humanitarian aid routes.

In some areas, residents must pay 'gang taxes' through extortion and other abhorrent means.

But there's also a growing number of civilians who have picked up arms to defend themselves against the gangs.

Their tactics can be just as deadly as the people they are protecting themselves from. It's either kill or be killed.

With elections pushed to 2026 and the transitional government barely clinging to life, many fear Haiti could become a permanently failed state.

It would be the first in the Western Hemisphere.

If that happens, the humanitarian fallout will be catastrophic. A mass refugee exodus, more mass killings, and a capital city ruled indefinitely by warlords.

A woman clutches a child as she makes her way to safety after gangs set fire to car tyres

In Haiti, it is common for bodies to lay dead in the street for days as no one dares to move them

Paramedics carry the body of a man who was killed by gang members in scenes witnesses say was reminiscent of a violent Hollywood movie

Haiti has been forced to deal with difficulties in the past, from 2010's devastating earthquake that killed over 2,000 people to Hurricane Matthew in 2016, where it is feared that over 1,000 people lost their lives.

But this is no natural disaster. It has been orchestrated by criminal gangs who now have an iron grip on the nation.

The country is known for its resiliency. But many have now been left questioning whether it can ever bounce back from this.
The following is an edited extract from Unmasking the Killer of the Beaumont Children by Stuart Mullins and Bill Hayes

Over the decades, several suspects have been put forward and investigated by the South Australia Police Major Crime Investigation Branch, with all, bar one, coming to a dead end.

In 2006, an individual was put forward who has stood head and shoulders above all other suspects over the past five decades.

This individual is Harry Phipps, a man of wealth and standing in the community, a millionaire whose vast property portfolio included Castalloy, a large factory located in North Plympton with the front office facing the main thoroughfare of Mooringe Avenue, and which produced an array of parts for the Australian automobile industry and household products.

The company also carried out casting work for the Adelaide City Council, most notably the Victoria Square Three Rivers Fountain in the CBD. Phipps also owned an array of residential properties around Adelaide, including his main Glenelg residence, located on the corners of Augusta and Sussex Streets; a property at Flagstaff Hill; and a holiday house at Goolwa, a coastal town located seventy-six kilometres from Adelaide at the mouth of the Murray River.

He also owned another property on Sussex Street, one on Kincaid Avenue across from the back of his Castalloy factory, and a house located in Cygnet Terrace, Kingston Park - the suburb next to the seaside location of Seacliff. In all of these real estate locations, Phipps had access and control.

Phipps was a man with connections to the church and state, and was an individual who came into police focus in 2007, three years after his death, following the publication of Alan Whiticker's book Searching for the Beaumont Children, the first definitive account of the event.

The release of that book ignited a media frenzy, and wayward and outlandish accounts abounded, full of rumour and gossip. Many calls were received from well-intentioned members of the public providing their proposed explanations and suspicions about the case.

Jane, nine, Arnna, seven, and Grant, four, disappeared from Glenelg Beach in January 1966

Others used the opportunity to release pent-up emotions, highlighting the poignant effect this disappearance still has and the emotional attachment the Australian public has to it. Not long after his book was published, Whiticker received a telephone call from Angela Fyfe (nee Phipps), who was formerly married to Harry Phipps' eldest son, Haydn.

What she said to Whiticker dramatically changed the course of this tragic tale. Angela presented an extraordinary possibility: that her ex-husband's father, Harry Phipps, may have been involved in the children's abduction.

She described him as a person of wealth, power, influence and standing in the community - part of Adelaide's upper establishment.

However, behind the walls of his Glenelg mansion, according to his now-deceased son Haydn, Harry exhibited deviant sexual behaviour, including alleged paedophilia and a fetish for wearing and making women's satin clothing.

Angela lived in Queensland in the 1990s and was married to Haydn Phipps for a decade until the early 2000s. Angela and Haydn had met at a cafe in south-east Queensland where they both lived and worked - Angela as a clinical nurse and Haydn for a short time in real estate. Even though she sensed he was troubled, she couldn't put her finger on the cause. She saw a tender side to him and found him intelligent.

The pair could talk for hours about world events, and, for a time, they were happy. As the years went by, their marriage became turbulent due to Haydn's growing dependence on alcohol and prescription drugs.

His behaviour grew more erratic, with his mood swings becoming frequent and severe. At times, Haydn fell into depression and also suffered from anxiety attacks.

Angela had found it difficult to sleep in the same bed as Haydn because his sleep pattern was one of constant restlessness. There were times when Angela needed to wake Haydn as his head was buried face-down in his pillow, making loud, panicked, muffled groaning noises, and he was hypervigilant if touched while he slept.

Angela's suspicions were validated when she finally spoke to her husband about his erratic behaviour and sleep patterns. A few years into their marriage, Haydn made a startling admission: he had been sexually abused over many years by his father.

No trace of the three children (pictured) was ever found. Their devastated parents Nancy and Jim went to their graves never knowing what happened to them

Angela had no doubt Haydn was telling the truth. She had worked with victims of sexual abuse while employed in prisons and was well aware that only a small percentage of the people who say they were sexually abused as minors are lying.

Even though Angela believed him, she was also aware that Haydn had a brother, Wayne, four years his junior, with whom he shared a bedroom at the time of the alleged abuse. She asked Haydn whether his brother knew of or witnessed the abuse, to which Haydn replied that, in his opinion, he did not.

This sexual abuse - according to Haydn when speaking with us, and his former wife Angela on different occasions over the years - nearly always occurred in the early hours of the morning, when Haydn would hear the swish of satin rubbing together moving ever closer to his and Wayne's bedroom door.

Wayne was a newborn when this sexual abuse began. The sexual abuse finished when Haydn was 14 and Wayne had barely turned nine. It's more than likely that, at 2am, a very young Wayne was sound asleep and unaware, as these types of predators ply their sexual deviant behaviour by stealth. As we have seen over the decades, if a paedophile can fool adults close to them, fooling a small child would be easy.

Meanwhile, Haydn has said he protected Wayne and threatened to kill his father if he ever touched him. (Editorial note: Haydn died in 2016. Wayne has cast serious doubt on claims his father abused his 'mentally deranged' older brother.)

While Angela says she had little contact with Haydn's family, she claimed to have spoken to extended family members regarding Harry's deviant behaviour after learning her then-husband may have been a victim of his. She later formed the view Harry's proclivities were not exactly a secret.

Harry Phipps, a suspected sexual deviant who died in 2004, has been linked to the missing Beaumont children. He was a wealthy factory owner and social figure in Adelaide

Being a clinical nurse, she had some understanding of the stealth and secrecy with which paedophiles ply their criminal trade.

Masters of deception, they fool everyone around them. Angela asked her husband if he had told anyone else of the abuse. He had not. Who would have believed him? Harry, after all, was powerful, wealthy, and influential.

Around the time that these matters surfaced, Angela watched a TV documentary with Haydn on the disappearance of the Beaumont children.

During the program, Haydn had unexpectedly told her, 'I believe my father had something to do with that.'

'Surely you don't think your father could have done something like that?' she replied.

Haydn responded: 'They are in the pit.'

She asked what pit he was referring to. Was it the car pit at the family home in Glenelg - the one used to service vehicles?

Haydn said simply, 'The sandpit,' and then changed the subject.

Angela did not connect the dots until she read Whiticker's book.

When she considered the information set out in the book - combined with Haydn's comment and his mental state - alarm bells went off. Could her former father-in-law Harry Phipps have been involved in the abduction of the Beaumont children?

Angela had reason to be concerned.

She had already concluded that Harry Phipps - who died in 2004 - had sexually abused his eldest son. This concern was amplified by her conversations with some of Phipps' relatives who had heard whispers of sexual abuse in the Glenelg residence.

Adding to all this was the physical description of the man seen playing at the beach with the Beaumont children on the day they vanished.

When considering photographs of Harry taken in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Angela noticed the description fitted him. She also knew that Harry was a keen swimmer at Glenelg.

What further worried Angela was the fact Jane Beaumont was given a one-pound note by the man they had met that day. The police regarded this one-pound note as a pivotal piece of evidence in 1966, and have continued to do so ever since.

She knew through speaking with associates of the Phipps family and a former friend of her ex-husband's that Harry was known to hand out pound notes to Haydn and his friends.

Interviews with former senior Castalloy factory managers also revealed Harry's habit of tipping pound notes to waiters so he could secure their undivided attention.

This tipping in one-pound notes in the 1950s continued until a little over two weeks after the children's abduction on February 14, 1966, when pounds, shillings and pence were replaced by dollars and cents in Australia.

The tipping habit, the private talk of Harry's sexual deviance, and Harry's physical description in the '60s matching the man seen with the Beaumont children that day... when Angela put all of these together, alarm bells rang.

Also concerning was the location of Harry Phipps' home in relation to Colley Reserve. His residence was also 200 metres from Wenzel's Bakery, where the children were last seen.

Angela's suspicions are now shared by many with an interest in the case. Could it be that, for four decades, a predatory paedophile was living undetected near Colley Reserve? A man who was able to fly under the radar, camouflaged by a cloak of social respectability. A man who may have abducted the Beaumont children.

In order to create a clear picture of Harry Phipps, researcher Stuart Mullins, with Angela's assistance, began the arduous task of identifying and contacting people who had known the man. This included family, former friends, and acquaintances of the extended Phipps clan, as well as retired Castalloy factory managers and workers.

What Mullins soon found was that Harry Phipps' public persona was the polar opposite of his private life. He was an upstanding, successful businessman, well known in the local area - and a father hated passionately by his son Haydn and the subject of vile rumours regarding his sexual proclivities.

From as early as 2006, Mullins went on a long and, at times, frustrating journey to discover who Harry Phipps was. He sourced his birth, death and marriage certificates, his will and information about his real estate assets, club memberships, and the Castalloy factory that he built from scratch. After painting a clearer picture of Harry's professional background, Mullins then delved into his private life.

After vetting Angela and finding her to be a reliable witness, Mullins contacted her former husband's son from his first marriage, Nicholas, in 2008.

With his assistance, Stuart finally got to meet Haydn later that year. Then followed meetings with Haydn's closest friends from the '50s, '60s and '70s. As the net was cast progressively wider, it became clear that Mullins had uncovered a hornet's nest of sexual depravity and abuse, much of which was hidden from public view.

As the circumstantial evidence mounted of Harry Phipps' culpability in the disappearance of the Beaumont children, Stuart contacted the SAPOL Major Crime Investigation Branch and presented it with his detailed findings in a sizeable dossier which he'd compiled over two and a half years.

Initially, Mullins was in contact with the detective assigned to the Beaumont cold case, who found his information to be worthy of investigation.

However, this officer felt no need to interview Haydn Phipps or his former wife Angela to ascertain their truthfulness. This task should have been one of the first things to do, straight out of any detective manual.

Around this time - in Mullins' view - the officer cherry-picked subjects to interview, namely Haydn's younger brother Wayne, his third wife Irene, and select relatives who did not wish to speak to Mullins. They apparently disparaged Haydn's and Angela's character and alleged that both had made up stories to damage Harry's reputation.

They claimed Haydn was delusional and that he and Angela were both after money and revenge as they'd been left out of Harry's will.

Mullins would later learn that SAPOL's Major Crime Investigation Branch had been bombarded over the years with 'whodunnit' theories about the case, as well as reporters requesting interviews or comments when chasing new leads. Mullins is now of the view this is why his dossier was treated with scepticism.

Frustrated by the efforts of serving police, Mullins met with former detective Mostyn Matters, who was stationed at the Glenelg station that fateful day in January 1966.

After reviewing the dossier, Matters said: 'If this information is corroborated, it's the most provocative, detailed information I have read pertaining to this case.'

So concerned was Matters that he introduced Mullins to his old detective mate Ken Thorsen, former head of the South Australia Major Crime Squad in the 1980s.

After Thorsen read the dossier, he agreed 'this information has red flags all over it and you should shake the tree and see what falls out'. Both recommended that Mullins take his findings to respected private investigator Bill Hayes, and he did in late 2008.

Before moving into private investigations, Hayes had spent more than a decade as a detective with SAPOL, at least two of those with the Major Crime Squad, during which time he had access to the official Beaumont file.

Forthright and with an eye for detail, Hayes is known not to suffer fools gladly.

He was initially sceptical and left his office door open as he expected it to be a quick meeting, having heard every conspiracy theory about the Beaumont children to date.

Unmasking the Killer of the Beaumont Children by Stuart Mullis and Bill Hayes is out now

Hayes told Mullins that it had always been his belief that the perpetrator was most likely a local. Transporting three unwilling, distraught children any significant distance in a car would cause alarm.

The evidence Mullins presented that day had a lasting effect on Hayes, who described the dossier on Harry Phipps as being the most incriminating circumstantial evidence he had encountered.

Hayes was always of the view that the man seen with the children at the beach that day was not a classic villain. It was more likely a respectable, well-presented and articulate individual - like the man Harry Phipps pretended to be.

This opinion has only been strengthened by Mullins and Hayes working together on this case since 2008, gathering a mountain of corroborated circumstantial evidence linking Harry Phipps to paedophilia and the disappearance of the Beaumont children.

These accounts are supported by Australian criminologist Dr Xanthe Mallett, together with former detective and award-winning true crime author Duncan McNab, polygraph expert Steve Van Aperen, and criminal psychologist Terrance G. Lichtenwald, PhD.

All have stated that, as far as they can ascertain, Angela and Haydn have been truthful in their statements to Mullins and Hayes about Harry Phipps' behaviour and the abuse Haydn claims he suffered.

We believe that if Haydn is being truthful - which he appears to be - then Harry Phipps must now be considered the main suspect in this baffling mystery.

It is our case that Harry Phipps - a deviant, callous, serial, predatorial paedophile - on January 26, 1966, was waiting for his unsuspecting prey to arrive at Colley Reserve - and arrive they did.
In the blink of an eye, life can end without warning.

One minute, someone is smiling for a photo, capturing a moment of joy or everyday normality - then the next, disaster strikes.

These final moments, frozen in time by a camera lens, can be haunting, especially when the people pictured had no idea what was about to unfold.

Some are seen laughing with friends, enjoying the sunshine, or embarking on an adventure.

Others are surrounded by loved ones with their faces lit up with happiness.

But what the pictures don't reveal is the horror that came next.

For these people, their final minutes were filled with terror and unimaginable pain.

From holidaymakers swept to their deaths, to thrillseekers taking one step too far, these photos and videos have become chilling reminders of how fragile life really is.

Hanggliding disaster

Marcelo Arboz Diniz, 54, had just launched from the popular Morro Santo Antonio ramp in Caraguatatuba on Sunday, July 13, when disaster struck

Rescuers raced to the crash site but found the pilots body deep within a hard-to-reach area of thick forest.

This week, a video showing a man plummeting 40 metres to his death in a densely wooded area in Brazil went viral on social media.

Marcelo Arboz Diniz, 54, had just launched from the popular Morro Santo Antonio ramp in Caraguatatuba on Sunday, July 13, when disaster struck.

The chilling clip shows Diniz poised confidently on the edge of the mountain as his hangglider lifts off into the open sky.

At first, he dips low, briefly appearing to falter, before rising back up as he begins to bank and turn.

But within seconds, the craft begins to lose altitude.

Diniz makes another attempt to steer, but the glider suddenly veers and drops, smashing through treetops at terrifying speed before crashing out of sight.

Rescuers raced to the crash site but found the pilots body deep within a hard-to-reach area of thick forest.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, having suffered multiple fractures in the fall.

Local witnesses suspect that a critical equipment failure, possibly in the hang loop, the harness that attaches the pilot to the glider, may have led to the fatal plunge.

Police have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the crash.

The tragic footage has sparked an outpouring of grief online, as well as renewed calls for safety inspections and stricter checks on hanggliding equipment.

His final flight was captured in harrowing mobile phone footage and has been shared several times.

Haunting picture before drowning

A group of girls smiled as they posed for a photo and filmed videos on their phones before drowning

One of the girls slipped and was quickly dragged into deeper water by the strong current - all six drowned within minutes

A group of six girls stood in the shallow waters of the Yamuna River near Agra, India, smiling as they posed for a photo and filmed videos on their phones. Moments later, tragedy struck.

The girls, all between the ages of 12 and 18, had gone to the river to enjoy a break from the sweltering heat last month.

According to police, they were having fun and even began to take videos and selfies while in the water.

But they didn't realise the danger lurking beneath - a sudden rise in water levels caught them off guard.

One of the girls slipped and was quickly dragged into deeper water by the strong current. As they were holding hands, all six drowned within minutes.

Bystanders tried to save them but were unable to reach them in time. Rescue teams managed to retrieve their bodies hours later, downstream from where they vanished.

Tragically, their phones, still containing the selfies and videos they had taken just before their deaths, were recovered from the riverbank by grieving relatives.

Their devastated relatives said they had allowed the girls to bathe in the river because it dries up in the summer months. Unbeknownst to them, the water levels had suddenly risen.

The victims were all members of the same extended family.

Deadly snake bite

Ch Jagadish, 24, appeared brave as he took the snake from Gurunadham Ramesh and placed it around his neck in the village of Sullurpeta, Andhra Pradesh

According to local media, the snake charmer fled the scene after the man began to exhibit signs of illness

In a shocking video filmed in India, a young man can be seen playing with a live cobra after visiting a snake charmer.

Ch Jagadish, 24, appeared brave as he took the snake from Gurunadham Ramesh and placed it around his neck in the village of Sullurpeta, Andhra Pradesh.

Jagadish can be seen taunting frightened locals with the snake in the video filmed by his friend.

But what started as a daring stunt quickly turned deadly. As he gripped the snake's head for one final pose, the cobra lashed out, biting him hard on the hand.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The venom had already spread through his system.

According to local media, the snake charmer fled the scene after the man began to exhibit signs of illness.

He is said to have claimed to have an antidote for snake bites.

Police said that although the snake's venom and fangs had been removed just weeks prior, it had produced poison again.

India sees thousands of snakebite deaths each year, but experts say most are the result of accidents in rural areas, not avoidable stunts.

Man mauled by bear

Omar Farang Zin was viciously dragged into a ravine and mauled by a bear in Romania

An Italian tourist was mauled to death earlier this month after taking a selfie with a bear cub.

Omar Farang Zin, 49, who was riding along the Carpathian Mountains in the central region of Arges, was viciously set upon by an incensed bear.

The beast then dragged his body down into a ravine. Police said that witnesses had called to report the shocking incident.

After an hour of searching for him, they discovered his lifeless body in the ravine.

Just a day before the attack, Omar had posted pictures of himself standing dangerously close to a large bear.

He had also posted a selfie standing near a bear cub. In another post, he is seen filming massive bears as he rides a motorcycle.

In the clip, Omar says: 'Here's the bear!', he can be heard saying. 'How beautiful. It's coming towards me.'

Officials noted that the bear responsible for the attack had been put down.

Omar, who was a travel enthusiast, had been working for Milan Malpensa airport before the tragedy.

Volcano plunge

Juliana's tragic last photo showed her in happy spirits and enjoying the views from the mountain

Emergency crews worked tirelessly to rescue her but it was too late by the time they got to her

It was meant to be the ultimate holiday snap - a stunning shot on the edge of an active volcano. But it ended in horror.

Brazilian dancer Juliana Marins slipped and fell 1,600 feet last month.

She fell from a hiking trail along the crater rim of Mount Rinjani in Indonesia.

After her fall, Juliana was trapped for four days as emergency crews tried their best to rescue her.

She was unable to climb back up due to her severe injuries.

Juliana, who also worked as a publicist, was backpacking through Southeast Asia before tragedy struck.

In her last video, she was seen admiring the view at the top of the mountain with Federica, another traveller she had met the day before.

Speaking to local media after the disaster, Frederica said: 'I met Juliana the day before the trip. We were both travelling alone. We made it all the way to the top. It was very difficult. We climbed about 1,500 meters.'

Although Juliana survived the fall, she had no access to food and water, and emergency services could not reach her.

When rescuers finally got to her after four days, she had unfortunately passed away.

In a heartbreaking tribute, her family said: 'Today, the rescue team managed to reach the place where Juliana Marins was.

'With great sadness, we inform you that she did not survive.'

Avalanche disaster

In her last picture, Giorgia was seen with a bright grin as she went on a hiking trail

Alessandro was an amateur filmmaker who was described as a lover of the great outdoors

In May this year, a young woman shared smiling photos from a breathtaking hike with her friend just moments before both were killed in a devastating avalanche in the Swiss Alps.

Giorgia Rota, 29, and Alessandro Aresi, 30, had set off early in the morning to explore the Jungfrau massif, a popular alpine area in the Bernese Oberland region, when disaster struck.

The pair, who were both from Italy, were reportedly caught off guard by a massive wall of snow that tore through the valley, burying them under several feet of snow on Saturday, May 17.

Their final Instagram post, uploaded just before the fatal climb, shows Giorgia, a physiotherapist, grinning in full hiking gear as she poses against the glittering, snow-covered mountains.

Behind the camera was Alessandro, an amateur filmmaker and her close companion on many mountain adventures.

The poignant caption reads: 'Photo by Alessandro, super member for a super climb (and a super descent on a glacier).'

Rescue teams were scrambled after other hikers witnessed the avalanche and quickly alerted the authorities.

Emergency crews managed to locate the pair, but tragically, both were already dead.

The two friends were reportedly caught off guard by a massive wall of snow that tore through the valley

The accident is believed to have been triggered by several days of unseasonably warm weather, which had destabilised the snowpack and increased the risk of avalanches.

Swiss authorities launched an investigation into the exact cause of the deadly slide.

Friends and family say Giorgia and Alessandro were experienced hikers and lovers of the great outdoors who regularly travelled the Alps together.

Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed consular support is being provided to the grieving families and made arrangements to repatriate their bodies.
Australia's housing emergency is now so dire nurses are living in cars while thousands of mothers and their children are sleeping rough or crammed into crisis accommodation with no path out.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to fix the housing crisis but Australia today is home to some of the most expensive real estate in the world, with near record low rentals available and the worst levels of homelessness in living memory.

Recent data by Homelessness Australia reveals the number of people accessing their services each month has grown by 10 per cent since the Albanese government came into power in May 2022. The situation is even more dire for women and girls, with an increase of 14 per cent.

But while women and children go without a roof over their heads, immigration is booming, which experts say is putting unprecedented strain on the local property market.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show in the year to May, 1.1million permanent and long-term arrivals hit Australian shores, including international students and skilled workers.

In cities soaking up the bulk of the arrivals like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and increasingly Brisbane, the competition for rentals is fierce, sending rents and house prices soaring.

Australian Population Research Institute president Bob Birrell blamed the housing crisis on record overseas migration, which meant working Australians were being pushed out of the market, unable to buy or rent.

'The Albanese government is completely irresponsible on this issue,' he said.

Rents and house prices are soaring across the nation's capitals off the back of record migration

Freelancer CEO Matt Barrie (pictured) said the Great Australian dream of home ownership is out of reach for many now and he places the blame on record migration

'They have neglected it ever since they got back into power in 2022, they've just let immigration rip.

'We've had enormous levels of migrants, which is just unprecedented, and irresponsible in the context of the housing crisis.'

Dr Birrell said part of the problem is the skilled migration program recruits hardly any tradespeople, especially for the beleaguered building industry.

'Migration is not adding to the supply of those important trades at all,' he said.

'Although a lot of temporary migrants who are adrift in Melbourne and Sydney would probably like to take up an apprenticeship in these areas, they can't, because they're temporaries.'

Freelancer CEO Matt Barrie said the Albanese government had created a system so perverse doctors were living in share houses and nurses were sleeping in their cars.

'The Great Australian Dream is now mathematically impossible for the average Australian,' he said.

'In Sydney it now takes 46 years just to save a house deposit. Think about that, for a child born in Sydney today, their retirement party will come before they've saved enough for a house deposit.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) told federal parliament the Labor Party had inherited a decade of neglect by the Liberal Party

Mr Barrie said the housing crisis had been 'engineered' by the government which has flooded the country with the largest immigration wave in history.

'Why, in a cost of living crisis, would they allow nearly one million international student enrolments?

'Why, in a cost of living crisis, would they allow 2.46million people on temporary visas into a country of 27million when there's only 36,000 rental vacancies?'

Refuge workers and frontline services are also sounding the alarm on the crisis which is leaving women and children behind.

As politicians returned to Canberra for the first sitting week of the new term, Everybody's Home spokeswoman Maiy Azize said the Albanese government has a chance to deliver a lasting legacy on housing or risk being remembered for letting it slip away.

It comes after the public release of a written warning to Treasurer Jim Chalmers that the Albanese government could not meet its commitment of supplying 1.2million homes by 2029.

'This is a national crisis that is now pricing out everyday people right across the country,' she said.

'The government can't ignore the increasing number of Australians who are sleeping on streets and couches, forgoing food and medicine to pay rent, and living in unsafe and makeshift housing.'

Shocking new data from Homelessness Australia reveals a record surge in families without stable accommodation, with women and children fleeing domestic violence at home

Ms Azize said warnings the government is unlikely to meet its ambitious housing target are further proof that relying on the private market alone won't work.

The organisation said social housing has declined to around 4 per cent of all homes, down from 4.7 per cent in 2013.

'To reach six per cent social housing Australia must build more than 36,000 additional social housing dwellings every year for the next decade,' she said.

'If we want one in ten homes to be social housing, we need to build an extra 54,000 social homes every year for 20 years.

'Whichever way you look at it, the scale dwarfs current government commitments and lays bare both the enormous demand and decades of chronic underinvestment.'

During Question Time on Wednesday, Opposition leader Sussan Ley pushed Mr Albanese on whether he would abandon his failing policies to tackle the housing crisis.

In his defence, Albanese said Labor had 'inherited a decade of neglect' and it would take time to catch up.

One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson said Australian cities were full, housing is unaffordable, and services are stretched to breaking point.

A homeless man packs up his tent in the central business district of Sydney

She said One Nation will cut permanent and temporary migration and restore the population to a level the country can support.

'This isn't extreme. It's common sense,' she said.

'Mass migration must stop. The system is broken. Let's fix it and give our people the chance to thrive.'

For many it is too late.

Shocking new data from Homelessness Australia reveals a record surge in families stuck in temporary refuges, with thousands of mothers and children sleeping rough or crammed into crisis accommodation.

CEO Kate Colvin said one reason for the dramatic deterioration in families and women being pushed further into crisis is rising rents, with Labor's investment in social housing failing to keep pace with demand.

Ms Colvin said many were one health tragedy away from losing a stable roof over their heads.

'It's heartbreaking when you meet people who have cancer and due to the number of hospital visits they attend they can no longer work. They lose their home and end up living in their car because you can't afford rent on income support payments,' she said.

'I've spoken to lots of young people who have been in and out of refuges for years, slept in parks or are couch-surfing with dubious people.

'There's always someone who'll offer a 16-year-old girl a bed but it comes with obligations.'

Ms Colvin said homelessness is increasing for all, but women and girls are copping the brunt of this crisis.

'The Prime Minister talks about leaving no one behind but the harsh reality is that with 45 per cent of women and girls seeking homelessness support having experienced domestic and family violence, more women and girls are returning to violent homes.'

Housing and Homelessness Minister Clare O'Neil said the government has invested more than $1.2billion in crisis and transitional housing.

'We're acutely aware of just how complex the challenge of homelessness is, which is why we continue to listen to people with first-hand knowledge right across the homelessness sector,' she told the ABC.

'In this new term the government has appointed a special envoy for social housing and homelessness, Josh Burns, to work with the sector on a variety of complex problems affecting different communities.'
A Wyoming woman who hired an undercover agent posing as a hitman to take out her daughter's boyfriend claims the law enforcement officer 'entrapped' her.

Wendy Dawn Coe, 56, will appear before a jury in rural Park County next month on trial for one count of felony solicitation to commit murder in the first degree.

Coe began to solicit potential hitmen in 2023 to kill her daughter's boyfriend, an affidavit obtained by Cowboy State Daily alleges.

An undercover agent with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation pretended to accept the job and agreed to meet outside her workplace on December 20.

Coe told the agent the boyfriend, identified only in court documents by the initials CN, was 'fully in control' of her daughter and 'treats her like crap', the affidavit says.

She also claimed that CN would get her daughter 'back on drugs' whenever he came into money.

She provided the agent with CN's work address and suggested the murder be staged as an overdose, claiming such circumstances would not appear 'out of the ordinary', prosecutors allege.

Her defense has now alleged that Coe was entrapped by the undercover officer.

Wendy Dawn Coe, 56, will appear before a jury in rural Park County next month on trial for one count of felony solicitation to commit murder in the first degree

Coe began to solicit potential hitmen in 2023 to kill her daughter's boyfriend, an affidavit alleges. The scheme reportedly took place in rural Cody, Wyoming (pictured)

Coe's attorney Sam Krone put the state of Wyoming 'on notice' Thursday, saying that he plans to assert a defense of entrapment at the upcoming trial.

'The evidence in this case demonstrates that the Defendant was entrapped by law enforcement, as the government induced the commission of the alleged crime and the defendant lacked predisposition to engage in the criminal conduct,' Krone wrote in court documents obtained by the newspaper.

Under Wyoming law, the defense of entrapment requires a defendant prove the government induced the crime and the defendant lacked the predisposition to commit the crime.

The attorney is also seeking to to delay the start of the trial and has requested a change of venue, alleging news coverage of the case in the town of just 10,200 people has been widespread and is 'prejudicial'.

Attorney Sam Krone (pictured) put the state of Wyoming 'on notice' Thursday that he plans to assert a defense of entrapment

A judicial ruling on Krone's request has not yet surfaced. Daily Mail has approached the defense attorney for comment.

Cody police first launched an investigation into Coe in December 2023 after receiving reports she had 'solicited several people' to murder CN.

The force arranged for an undercover agent to call Coe on a recorded line on December 20 and set up an in-person meeting.

She told him to visit the store where she worked and said they would 'walk out back' to discuss the job in further detail, Cowboy State Daily reports.

The agent asked if the store was under surveillance, with Coe allegedly claiming there were some in the store but not behind the building.

The pair met behind the store. The agent, in an audio recording of the encounter, is heard asking Coe: 'First off, how much are you willing  like 10 grand, is that fair?'

She reportedly told him the $10,000 price was 'fair' but admitted she did not have the funds readily available.

He then asked if the job was 'time sensitive', to which Coe said 'no' but admitted: 'I just want him gone'.

Coe ultimately did not strike a deal with the agent, texting him the next day: 'I can't afford what we discussed.'

He suggested he could do the job for a lesser amount, but Coe refused, reportedly claiming there was 'too much risk involved.'

She was arrested later that day and booked into the Park County Detention Center.

Coe (pictured) told the undercover agent the intended target, identified only in court documents by the initials CN, was 'fully in control' of her daughter and 'treats her like crap'. She also claimed that CN would get her daughter 'back on drugs' whenever had money

CN, the man allegedly targeted in the murder-for-hire scheme, was arrested just days after Coe's arrest.

He was taken into custody on unrelated charges of driving while impaired, shoplifting and drug possession, the Powell Tribune and SVI News reported at the time.

CN was allegedly caught trying to steal a $78 beef roast and $137 worth of products from the local Walmart.

He appeared drunk and impaired while driving and also was in possession of meth, charging documents obtained by the news outlets alleged.

CN was also wanted in connection to other criminal cases in Oregon.

Coe, as part of her bond conditions, is forbidden from having any contact with her daughter and her partner.
It's been described as looking like an eerie scene from a post apocalyptic film, a beastly place where vandalism, drug addiction and prostitution were rife in every nook and cranny.

These days, the infamous run down Clune Estate in Port Glasgow is strangely quieter but that's only because the ghost town is finally being bulldozed into the ground.

Construction workers are now arming themselves with extra thick gloves and steel capped footwear to avoid needles and broken glass as they erase the landmark from sight.

Labelled the Scottish Chernobyl on account of its similarity to the abandoned Ukrainian town of Pripyat near Chernobyl, the Clune Estate had fallen into a spiral of decline.

After property values plummeted to almost nothing in the area following the decline of the shipyards in the 1990s, the few families that remained moved out and it became a drug and crime hotspot.

Of course, it wasn't always like this.

Once a thriving pocket of Port Glasgow and home to the workers of shipbuilder Lithgow after the First World War, the Clune Estate boasted its own church school and community centre as well as local shops and offices.

It was a sought after community, where people felt safe on the streets, and local kids would go out on their bikes at night.

It's been described as an eerie scene from a post apocalyptic film, a beastly place where vandalism, drug addiction and prostitution were rife

These days, the infamous run down Clune Estate in Port Glasgow is strangely quieter

But that's only because the ghost town is finally being bulldozed into the ground

But then as the shipbuilding industry suffered, the prosperous tenants deserted and private landlords took over, housing social security residents through council partnerships.

Social and economic problems around the Port Glasgow area meant the estate became a toxic landscape of drug taking and crime, a place where fires were started regularly - 14 in the space of eight months at one point.

From 480 happy families, resident numbers diminished in the last fourteen years to around five people who are still in residence, holding tight to a past that is no more.

Most, of course, were only too happy to escape.

When MailOnline visited this week, we saw bulldozers hard at work demolishing the shells of apartments as part of a six month long project to finally remove the stain of the estate.

Whilst on a lunch break, one construction worker told us the work was hard and nerve wracking as he and his colleagues were scared of finding infected needles amongst the rubble.

He also pointed out the still sturdy blocks of bricks that now lay strewn across the wasteland after he and his company finally razed them to the ground.

As time went by, social and economic problems around the Port Glasgow area meant the once innocent little community became a toxic landscape

For decades, there have been ambitious plans to regenerate the area

From 480 happy families, resident numbers diminished in the last fourteen years to around five people who are still in residence

When MailOnline visited this week, we saw bulldozers hard at work demolishing the shells of apartments

The estate is populated by hollowed out shop facades and burnt out offices

As we looked around the now hollow shop facades and offices nearby, he explained that the once thriving estate had become a hot spot for arsonists who had set fire to the school and church and adjoining community centre after the council closed them down years ago.

Lead and pipes were stolen after the burnout.

The ground on which the barren estate lies has now been earmarked for new homes as part of a big push to better the area.

The council initially planned a regeneration scheme more than fourteen years ago according to one of the biggest landlords in the area, David Hay Smith.

In fact, a document from 2007 outlines a vision for a safer and better area, which until now has been delayed.

However David, 72, claims councilors dragged their feet leaving him and the little community in limbo, before forcing his tenants out of their homes with empty promises of a new better life.

David, who lives nearby with his family, claims he lost over three quarter of a million pounds waiting for years for the council to demolish the flats he owned and he now plans to take the case to a Land Tribunal.

As the biggest landlord in the area, David who patrols the area in his black Range Rover, and is well known to locals, owned 76 of the flats in the estate and still has one left which houses the last remaining inhabitants.

The once thriving estate had become a hot spot for arsonists who had set fire to estate blocks

Inside the hollow exposed properties, remnants of past lives remain

The ground on which the barren estate lies has now been earmarked for new homes as part of a big push to better the area

He said he first talked with the council about plans for the area over twenty years ago and having grown up there was keen to cooperate with them about improvements from the estate.

He explained : 'I have a lot of good memories from here. It spawned a lot of successes as well as some failures. I ran about out there when I was four, five, six. Then I joined the scouts, and was still running about at 12, 13, 14. I'm born here and raised here.

'I never thought I'd end up with 76 properties here - all part of a portfolio- but from even before 2011 I was told there were plans to regenerate the area. And three years ago the council bought the properties off me apart from one that I still own.

He added: 'I was told that the going rate or the district value was between 23-29,000 per property and I initially managed to sell around forty of them off at a decent price.

'However the council would only give me 3,500 per remaining property and they made out I owed them money on taxes - double the normal tax for having the properties empty for so long even though they made me empty them.

'So I'm currently missing around three quarters of a million pounds.'

He added: 'I had thought that maybe they would reroof them, put in new doors and windows or whatever and just clean up the area.

For years, residents claimed that although the Clune estate had big problems they were self contained

Longterm resident Marshall Craig, 82, says he has no plans to move from the area

As one of around five people left there he says he can deal with any trouble

'The school was meant to be a listed building and saved, but like everything else they've just flattened it now so let's see if they keep to their word about regeneration.'

Like another local we encountered during our visit, he admits the Clune estate had big problems but insists it was self contained.

He said: 'They fought among themselves. Young lads become hostile to their parents. The parents put them out and we took them in. And the council ask: 'Can you take them? We'll pay you. There were alcoholics too.'

'We had a community here. I'm not saying it was the strongest, but it was nice at one point. It's where I grew up..'

Longterm resident Marshall Craig, 82, says he has no plans to move from the area. As one of around five people left there he says he can deal with any trouble.

He explained: 'I've been here five years, but they should have waited till we're all out, before they bulldozed the other flats. I love this because it's quiet here.

'Regardless of what people say, it might have been that it had its bonfires, smashed windows and that all down there but this was the management side and it was OK.

'I have bay windows and it's a beautiful flat. I don't want to shift from here and I'm not moving.'
GAZA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid began entering the Gaza Strip on Sunday morning through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, according to local Palestinian sources.

Eyewitnesses told Xinhua the aid convoy initially gathered at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing under the supervision of the Egyptian Red Crescent.

The trucks then proceeded to the Kerem Shalom crossing, where they underwent inspection by Israeli authorities before being allowed into the besieged enclave, the sources said.

The flow of humanitarian assistance comes amid growing international appeals to facilitate urgent aid delivery to Gaza, where residents continue to face severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies.

Airdrops of humanitarian aid resumed Saturday over various locations in the northern Gaza Strip, but the approach was criticized by head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees Philippe Lazzarini as "the most expensive and inefficient way" to deliver humanitarian assistance.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement Sunday morning that to increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, a local "tactical pause" in military activity will take place for humanitarian purposes from 10:00 to 20:00, starting Sunday.

"The pause will begin in the areas where the IDF is not operating: Al Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, every day until further notice," it said.

Additionally, from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., designated secure routes will be open to facilitate the safe movement of UN and humanitarian convoys distributing aid throughout the Gaza Strip.

Also on Sunday, Gaza's health authorities said in a brief statement that hospitals in Gaza recorded six new deaths due to starvation and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, raising the number of such fatalities since October 2023 to 133, including 87 children.

"In Gaza, people who have survived bombs and bullets are now starving," the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said on social media platform X on Sunday.

"Medical and humanitarian workers are fainting while on duty. UNRWA staff are struggling to find food yet continue to work," it said, adding that a flow of aid at scale, under the coordination of the United Nations, including UNRWA, is urgently needed. 
Simone Heng was at the peak of her career in Dubai when she got a phone call from her sister while she was working a giveaway at the mall for her radio job.

'Simone, where are you?' her sister asked from Perth, Australia. 'I think you should come home.'

Her mother had a stroke related to her rare degenerative condition and was suffering from paralysis. They had found her mother lying at the bottom of the shower. They had no idea how long she had been there.

'I'll never forget that,' Simone, 41, told Daily Mail. 'I remember just that guilt of like - how long was she at the bottom of the shower? How long until someone knocked the door down?'

As she hopped on a flight from Dubai to Perth, she knew her life was about to change. That trip in 2013 was only supposed to be two weeks long, but when she looked at her mother lying in her hospital bed, looking gray with eyes unable to focus and suffering from arm spasms, she knew things were not going to get any better.

'I remember seeing her in that state and going: "Your life is going to change forever now,"' she told Daily Mail. 'I'm the shield now, and I think that's really when we, as children, become our parent's parent, and the role flips.'

At 29, Simone, an international broadcaster who worked at Virgin Radio Dubai, embarked on a 1.5-year journey of caretaking, one filled with such isolation and grief that it knocked her off her feet.

Now, she has penned a book called Let's talk About Loneliness and hopes to warn others of the unexpected toll of caring for an ill parent.

Simone Heng (middle, tan shirt next to Richard Branson) was at the peak of her career in Dubai working on Virgin Radio when she got a phone call from her sister while she was working a giveaway at the mall for her radio job. 'Simone, where are you?' her sister asked from Perth, Australia. 'I think you should come home'

Her mother had a stroke in 2013 related to her rare degenerative condition and was suffering from paralysis. As Simone hopped on a flight from Dubai to Perth, she knew her life was about to change (pictured: Simone and her mother after the stroke)

Simone packed her bags and headed back home to Perth while they moved her mother in a care facility.

Despite the help, Simone and her sister were left to deal with their mother's belongings at her home and figure out the logistics of unexpectedly having to care for their parent.

The sisters split the work. Her sister would focus on the logistics of care - physiotherapy costs, arranging massages, and subsidizing help - while Simone would take care of the emotional aspects, such as bringing her mother happiness.

But the first obstacle Simone faced, however, was being in charge of downsizing her mother's home.

And it's now the foremost thing she'd tell others going through the same thing: 'Number one, if your parents are still cognitive and you can convince them to downsize, please do it.

'The last thing you need is the logistical nightmare of cleaning that house when they're already incapacitated.'

Despite her mom being in a wheelchair, her mind was there and it held fast to her beloved items, causing 'friction' between the mother and daughter.

'The brain hadn't degenerated yet. The body was in a wheelchair, but the brain was fighting about the belongings and things like that,' Simone told Daily Mail.

At 29, Simone embarked on a 1.5-year journey of caretaking, one filled with such isolation and grief that it knocked her off her feet. Now, she hopes to warn others of the unexpected toll of caring for a ill parent

Your life is going to change forever now. I'm the shield now, and I think that's really when we, as children, become our parent's parent, and the role flips Author Simone Heng

The second thing she found herself unexpectedly experiencing was watching her mother go from a fully capable adult to needing the same level of help as a child.

'I saw my mom's nappy being changed in front of me,' she said. 'You have to prepare yourself for when that change happens, when they become the baby - especially if you have very authoritarian parents like I did with mom.'

'You emotionally need to prepare yourself for that loss of dignity and watching them kind of melt down. And I wish I had been prepared for that. I wish someone else had said: "Look, you need to just watch out for this."'

But her biggest problem, and third thing she warns people about when they are beginning to look after a relative, is the isolation of caregiving.

She woke up every day thinking only of her mom and her needs. As time went on, Simone lost herself. She stopped putting on makeup and stopped caring how she looked.

'By the end of the one and a half years, I just completely didn't even look in a mirror anymore,' she said.

And for Simone, who wasn't even 30 at the time, she felt so alone in the world of caregiving.

Only now, as her friends enter their 40s, are they beginning to experience what she went through a decade ago.

She gave up her life in Dubai (pictured) to care for her mother. Now she hopes to help others by giving them tips, like having their parents downsize their belongings, before tragedy strikes. Pictured: Simone on a billboard near the Burj Al Arab

And unlike death, where the heart heals with time and the physical burden gets lighter, it doesn't with chronic illness.

'You see it at the beginning with - when dad passed away, people brought food. They understood that someone had passed away. And eventually it's finite,' she explained to Daily Mail.

'When someone has that long-term chronic illness, there is really no endpoint. And so the community is amazing at the beginning, but really long-term, it's on you as the children.'

And her own family perceived her as young and vibrant and fully capable of handling the pressures and duties of caretaking.

But all it did to her was make her feel 'incredibly, incredibly lonely.'

She still, to this day, feels guilt for the resentment she felt at the time and grieves for the version of herself that she lost.

In Dubai she was a highly successful broadcaster whose face was easily recognizable in the emirate. She once featured on a billboard for Dove outside the 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel.

'I grieved it for years afterwards. I think in the moment you're just in fight or flight, and I was culturally conditioned to think that this is what good Asian daughters do, and this is unquestioned,' she said.

Simone fled Perth for Singapore after a year and a half. She had hit her breaking point and a psychiatrist told her she had to leave before it was too late. 'I still carry guilt this day that I'm not made of better stuff, more selfless stuff,' she told Daily Mail

'And it had been taught to me from the time I was young. My mom had said it to me over and over again: "You know we don't put our people in homes." This is what you do.

'And so I was unquestioning in that kind of obedience of programming. But it wasn't until I realized how much the whole experience changed me at a cellular level, and when I went back to work.'

Simone fled Perth for Singapore after a year and a half. She had hit her breaking point and a psychiatrist told her she had to leave before it was too late.

'My mental health got really bad,' she said. 'The psych just said: "You know you're not born to do this," and that's why [I left].

'I still carry guilt this day that I'm not made of better stuff, more selfless stuff, and he's like: "You know, you've got to put the face mask on. You're a creative, and you need to go back to a place where you can do that."

She chose Singapore due to its proximity to Australia, allowing her to return every 90 days to visit her mother.

'It's still difficult, you know, undoing that guilt and that programming,' Simone told Daily Mail.

From 2015 to 2017, Simone went to therapy to work through the experience and was able to come out on the other side.

Simone wrote about her journey through caretaking and the loneliness that came with it

Now, she advises children who become caretakers to join support groups and to give themselves grace for the guilt they feel.

'Give yourself grace,' she said.

Despite how difficult the experience was, it gave her a perspective that is now her 'north star.'

'No one is talking about their job, how much money they earn, like what watch they have,' she said.

'People are just pining away for human connection. And I think that that was very inspiring to the work that I do now, we're really just here for connection and a good time.

'And that, that I carry every day. It kind of is the north star of how I make all my decisions.'

'Let's talk About Loneliness' by Simone Heng is available now published by Hay House UK
A coalition of senators from both sides of the aisle is sounding the alarm about what they see as a quiet but dangerous trend across America's heartland: Acres of farmland falling into foreign hands, with China leading the seizures.

The urgency behind their concern is driven by a stark trendline: Chinese agricultural investments in the U.S. have skyrocketed tenfold over the past decade, according to Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, who has sponsored the 'Farmland Act.'

The legislation is designed to stymie Chinese influence over U.S. land by giving the federal government more oversight of agricultural property owned by foreign countries.

It's an effort with one overarching goal in mind: Curtail the creeping ambitions of one of our top adversaries.

Ernst explicitly calls out China, which 'in particular has increased agricultural investments tenfold over the past decade.'

Ernst told the Daily Mail that 'limiting the opportunities for foreign entities, especially adversaries like China' to purchase farmland is critically important.

China 'will come in and purchase that land, so that we're not able to put it into production, and in turn they are,' Ernst noted.

There is bipartisan consensus that China is a threat to the United States in areas such as intellectual property and global competitiveness, but Democrats and Republicans typically disagree on the best ways to deal with the adversarial nation.

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill

Republicans are raising concerns about insufficient oversight in government programs that fund research and technological innovation, particularly when foreign nationals are leading projects financed by U.S. taxpayers.

Democrats, on the other hand, are blaming the Trump administration for cutting funding to research initiatives they say are critical to maintaining Americas competitiveness in emerging technologies.

Despite the disagreements, Ernst has been able to draft two Democrats to support the bill: Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. Republicans Rick Scott of Florida and Ted Budd of North Carolina have also signed on, giving it wide geographical support.

Opposition to the Farmland Act centers on concerns about expanded federal oversight and regulatory burdens for foreign investors in acquiring U.S. agricultural property. Legitimate investments could see their transactions disrupted or delayed, these critics argue.

Still, many states have already taken steps to limit foreign purchases of their land, including Ernst's Iowa.

'But, if you go back and look across the United States at what we already have sold to foreign entities, if you put all those acres together, its going to be larger than the state of Tennessee,' Ernst told the Daily Mail.

In Budd's state of North Carolina, China owns nearly 50,000 acres of farmland, some of it near critical sites such as us military bases.

Scott's home state of Florida is home to nearly 13,000 acres of farmland owned by China.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins speaks during a press conference on the steps of the United States Department of Agriculture on July 14, 2025 in Washington, DC

People review a map in front of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) building before the start of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins' press conference to discuss the USDA's "National Farm Security Action Plan," in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 8, 2025

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, right, with, fourth from left to right, White House trade counselor Peter Navarro, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Agriculture to rollout the USDA'S National Farm Security Action Plan and discuss actions being taken to protect American agriculture from foreign threats in Washington, Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Ernst's bill isn't the only one in the works that aims to stop China's efforts to buy up American agricultural land. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley has introduced the Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act, and Representative Mary Miller introduced a House compliment to his bill this week. Twelve Republican members have co-sponsored Miller's bill in the House.

The Trump administration claimed back in February that overall, China owns over 350,000 acres in 27 states. Foreign entities and individuals own roughly 43 million acres of U.S. agricultural land, nearly 2 percent of all U.S. land, according to government data.

A Government Accountability Office report from 2024 determined that foreign acquisitions of U.S. land are difficult to identify. It also determined that a prior report from 2021 - claiming that foreign entities owned 40 million acres - was inaccurate.

Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced recently that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) would not allow 'Chinese nationals' or other foreign adversaries to purchase farmland in the United States.

'American agriculture is not just about feeding our families but about protecting our nation and standing up to foreign adversaries who are buying our farmland, stealing our research and creating dangerous vulnerabilities in the very systems that sustain us,' Rollins said.
New details have emerged of the 18-year-old mother of two accused of recruiting two underage girls for sex with a top banker who then took his own life after his arrest.

Shauntelle Went is charged with procuring the two girls, aged 14 and 15, to visit CommBank boss Christopher James McCann, 50, for sex at his Brisbane hotel room.

One of the girls was living in a residential care home supervised by the Department of Child Safety at the time, according to the Courier Mail.

She and McCann were both charged with using electronic communication to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act, and faces a maximum of ten years in jail.

Police allege McCann, from Curl Curl on Sydney's northern beaches, agreed a price with Went for her to procure underage girls to meet him at the Sofitel on May 14.

Went allegedly waited in the Sofitel's downstairs foyer when the girls went up to his room, but then McCann contacted the front desk asking the girls to leave.

McCann, CommBank's Sydney-based head of health and social infrastructure, was freed on bail to live at a friend's home in Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast.

Two days later he was found dead at a beauty spot in Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Shauntelle Went, 18, is accused in the infamous alleged child procurement case which saw two underage girls lured to a luxury hotel for a bank executive who later jumped off a

Shauntelle Went has had a traumatic life in the years leading up to her being charged for the child procurement case of two underage girls which saw a bank executive take his life

Chris McCann, a 50-year-old corporate finance executive, allegedly asked Went to procure girls aged 14 and 15 to a Brisbane hotel room in May. Two days after being released on bail, he took his own life

Went was also released on bail, with Magistrate Louise Shepherd telling her: 'You are a vulnerable young 18-year-old woman who was working at the time as a sex worker from a traumatic background.'

While it is unclear when she first became a sex worker, she has had several previous run-ins with police, run away from home and experienced family tragedy.

Her social media reveals she has been sexually active from a young age, giving birth to her first child in 2021 when she was aged just 14, and her second child two years later.

In April 2021, Went's younger brother, Aiden, died after disappearing at the Cedar Creek Falls on the Gold Coast.

The 13-year-old went swimming at 5pm at the popular swimming hole, but did not resurface.

Police drivers pulled his body from the water around 10pm. He and Went's mother, Sherry Carroll, said she did not know how she would recover from the loss.

Went has since posted on social media about the death of her brother, and also admits she struggles with her looks and body image.

She has also spoken online about smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol from a young age.

Shauntelle Went after giving birth to her second child last year

Commonwealth Bank executive Christopher McCann leaves court after being granted bail on charges of procuring underage girls for sex

Shauntelle with family (left) at the funeral for her brother who died aged 13 drowning at a Gold Coast swimming hole. Aiden Braumann disappeared under the water at Cedar Creek Falls in April 2021

In 2022, after the birth of her first child, a baby daughter, Went posted: 'I know that I've made bad decisions in the past.

'But from now on I'm going to be doing whatever I need to do to change to be a better person for myself my family my fiance my daughter.

'I choose to change, so if any of you want to start drama you will be blocked not interested in the childish crap.'

Last year she admitted in another post that she and her partner were on Centrelink after he lost his job, living with her mother, but otherwise homeless.

She has now hit back at social media trolls attacking her personal appearance and her work on the OnlyFans adult content platform, and to refute the criminal charges against her.

Went responded to the abuse on her TikTok page, boasting that she made $16,000 in two days on OnlyFans 'so I don't give a f*** which (sic) any of y'all have to say'.

'You think I give a f*** about who don't like me? B***h my family don't even like me,' she added.

Went was ordered to live at Brassall near Ipswich under her bail conditions, and left court with her partner Tyronne McTackett, the father of her younger child.

Shauntelle Went has hit back at the trolling she has received on her TikTok account since she ws revealed to be a sex worker charged with procuring underage girls for a 50-year-old bank executive

Went is due back in court on the child procurement charge on August 4.

If you or someone you know needs confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.
The weather would be a trade-killer for many an embattled town centre  cloudy, drizzly and unseasonably chilly.

But this is Totnes, self-declared 'creative capital' of England, scourge of the chain store and home of what one independent retailer describes as a Goldilocks high street.

Which is partly why by 11am the historic South Devon town is already thronging with shoppers - locals and visitors alike - and the coffee shops are buzzing.

At least, most are. The one representative of a major national cafe brand, Caffe Neros Coffee#1, has only a couple of occupied tables in its comparatively spacious premises.

In fairness this may be because it stands at the top of the steepish high street, furthest from the main car parks.

Yet there can be no doubt that national chains, particularly coffee chains, are about as welcome in Totnes as a cold cappuccino.

Costa got the message 12 years when its attempt to launch in the medieval market town resulted in a residents 6,000-name protest petition, 300 objections to planners and a natty campaign website, notocosta.co.uk.

The company could have gone ahead but pulled out after then managing director Chris Rogers acknowledged that it was a town with a long and proud history of independent retailers.

Since the successful revolt, locals in the region have managed to keep most big brands from encroaching on their cherished town centre, with some business owners claiming others 'wish' for a high street like theirs.

Locals in Totnes have self-proclaimed their town as the 'creative capital' of England. Rosie Sage, pictured, runs independent store Fayre Trade Fairy and says the towns strong sense of community keeps her in business

While many high streets across the country are declining, when MailOnline visited at 11am on a weekday Totnes town centre was already bustling with shoppers

Gavin Brown, front-of-house manager at Brioche cafe, says there is a 'strong sense' in the town that it is the 'creative capital', with lots of 'artistic retailers' and 'quirky shops'

The town has been staunchly against allowing chains, especially coffee chains, from taking over the high street

At Brioche cafe, front-of-house manager Gavin Brown, remembers Totness outrage well.

The locals got so riled about that, he said. There were fears that every national chain would start eyeing us up.

People here have a strong sense that this town is the creative capital of England.

There are lots of artistic retailers, lots of quirky shops. It was felt franchises would diminish the character of the place.

Independence isnt the only reason Totnes has bucked the trend of run-down town centres.

We have the coast, the moors, beautiful countryside and amazing history on our doorstep. It all helps attract visitors. But it also helps to look and be different.

At the nearby Green Cafe, Yorkshireman John Pollard, agrees. He says Totnes is collectively a little curiosity shop and its a misconception that chains are cheaper.

Our coffee is cheaper than Costa and our pasties cheaper than our nearest chain rival, he said.

Yes, Totnes is successful. I shudder to think what its like for shops in similar small towns in the north of England.

But were also under pressure. Our business energy contract has been crippling. Taxes we pay to local and national government have hit five per cent of turnover. Theres no support for family enterprises.

John, 56, launched the business with his wife Sylvia Kerkar after returning from India three years ago. They try to employ young people and encourage entrepreneurship.

Some are thinking about it, he added. If theyve learned one thing it is that you have to work hard and be resourceful.

Across the road at Totnes Wine and Fine Foods owner Simon Moorman, a former investment manager, echoes his words.

Relatively speaking, were thriving, he told Mail Online. Visitors all tell me the same thing: We wish our high street was like yours.

Simon Moorman, who owns Totnes Wine and Fine Foods, says visitors always tell him 'we wish our high street was like yours'

Pictured: Coffee#1, a subsidiary of Cafe Nero, and the only coffee chain in Totnes centre. The area has a history of fighting against the establishment of chain brands, including campaigning against the opening of a Costa in 2012

Speaking of Totnes' success, John Pollard, of The Green Cafe, said he 'shudders to think what its like for shops in similar small towns in the north of England'

Locals say the nearby coast, countryside and historic attractions on its doorstep also help to attract visitors to the town

But almost every Totnes trader I know is cutting back on hours or the number of people they employ.

The notion that this government supports growth is absolute crap. Business rates have doubled, the minimum wage and national insurance contributions have increased and local parking charges have rocketed.

Why is anyone surprised that high streets are in trouble.

His words ring true but every trader we spoke to agreed that Totnes would be in a whole lot more trouble if its independent stores had to compete with an influx of major chains.

At the Fayre Trade Fairy, a mother-and-daughter run fashion store which supports suppliers across the world, 24-year-old Rosie Sage says the towns strong sense of community keeps her in business.

If H&M moved next door to us wed be finished, she said.

I used to live on a shopping street in Exeter next to the city centre. Premises would change hands every year because no independent trader could compete with the big brands up the road.

That doesnt happen in Totnes because we have a really strong community willing to fight to protect what it has.

Some of the protection is in-built, as Nigel Jones of the family-run East Gate Bookshop points out.

Having a medieval high street means that most shop premises are comparatively small  2,000 sq ft or less, he said.

Nigel Jones, of East Gate Bookshop pointed out that the small shop sizes in the town which is full of listed buildings also naturally puts big chains from moving in

Ms Sage, 24, runs the Fayre Trade Fairy with her mother. She told MailOnline: If H&M moved next door to us wed be finished'

Brioche Cafe is one of many independent cafes in the area. The independent retailers have proved much more popular among locals and visitors that the Coffee #1 brand

A busy morning in Totnes town centre. While most shops remain independent, some brands such as Fatface, Mountain Warehouse and WHSmith do have stores in the town

This doesnt work for most major chains who typically want at least 5,000 sqft to fit their business models.

It helps protect the rest of us. Although we have a few chains such as WHSmith, Mountain Warehouse, Fatface and the like, they have already snapped up the larger premises. There are few opportunities for other big brands to move in.

Its also important to point out the obvious - we have a beautiful and unique town which is a draw in itself for visitors.

Were a Goldilocks high street. Not too big, not too small and always tempting.

But were not a mini theme park. Locals have butchers, greengrocers and all the other shops they need to stay functional.

Its old fashioned but its not Ye Olde Totnes.

Up the road, Conker Shoes proprieter Simon Gwilt is proudly maintaining a trade that has been part of Totnes for hundreds of years. A shoemaker himself, he employs two others full-time using skills that have changed little.

Too many high streets look exactly the same, wherever you are in the country, he said.

Our shops all look very different. Thats what adds to Totness character.

We have locals and visitors as regular customers. They like the idea of hand-made shoes which are properly sustainable. We design them so they can eventually be re-soled.

Shoppers we spoke to were universally enthusiastic about a shopping trip to Totnes.

While the towns population is a modest 8,800, it is a retail magnet for residents from surrounding villages.

Simon Gwilt, of Conker Shoes said that 'too many high streets look exactly the same' and that what 'adds' to Totnes' character is that its stores all look unique

Pictured: Town Mayor Tim Bennett who proudly dons red robes, white gloves, and a gold chain before advising that hes the 592nd Mayor of Totnes

The mayor says the fact there are 300 listed buildings, of which some 280 are on the high street, means that it is an automatic deterrent for chains as it comes with extra costs

Pictured: An independent store called Revival. The market town sits within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Beauty and so attracts many visitors to the area

Sue Keeler makes a regular 30-mile round trip from Kingsbridge, in the South Hams, precisely because she enjoys the day out.

I love the place, she said. Its great shopping here, a relaxing experience  you can wander round a beautiful town packed with shops you wont find anywhere else.

I feel for people who are denied that because their town centre shops are run-down or boarded up.

At Zappas plant-based cafe, assistant Kerry Hope says the importance of surrounding villages is key to the local economy.

We serve regular groups who are on a coffee-shop crawl  like a pub crawl but cheaper, she said.

Local people do not like the big chains. That applies as much to the natives as those who have come down from London to live here.

Theres no doubt though that visitors sustain our businesses. Some shops would never get through the winter without the summer trade.

Before we leave we call in on Town Mayor Tim Bennett, who proudly dons red robes, white gloves, and a gold chain before advising that hes the 592nd Mayor of Totnes.

There was a time when you could only be Mayor if you bought another gold link for the chain, he said.

My predecessors clearly thought this a good way of keeping out the hoy-palloy.

Mr Jones described Totnes High Street as a 'Goldilocks high street, not too big, not too small and always tempting'

An overhead view of the centre. At Zappas plant-based cafe, assistant Kerry Hope told of how they serve regular groups who are on a 'coffee-shop crawl'

Mayor Tim Bennett made the striking statement: 'We are under no illusion. Totnes lives and dies by its high street'

Whats the secret of our success? Theres no single thing. A lot is built up about residents keeping out big chains such as Costa but in truth we arent really what most chains are looking for.

There are 300 listed buildings in Totnes and some 280 are on the High Street. So moving in to any of those premises is going to come with costs.

We have a decent retail mix now. The chains dont dominate and our independent shops have a fair chance to succeed.

Under the towns famous clock tower Tim is spotted by visitors who question whether he is Mayor or Town Crier. Either way, they want a selfie. Hes happy to oblige.

The Town Council knows the importance of holidaymakers, he said. But we cant rely only on our summer trade.

Street markets are vital. I know of shops which take more money during our three Christmas markets then they do for the whole of the rest of the year. Without that income they would go to the wall.

We are under no illusion. Totnes lives and dies by its High Street.
As a group of prominent MAGA influencers and podcasters met at Shellys Back Room, the smoke-filled cigar bar just a block away from the White House in February, an unassuming white haired man in a tailored suit entered the room.

It was David Sacks, Trumps newly anointed artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency czar.

The event, hosted by prominent MAGA figure Mike Cernovich and bitcoin millionaire and entrepreneur Erik Fineman, featured podcaster Tim Pool, who hosted a live recording in one of the side rooms.

The group watched as Sacks joined the podcast as he easily chatted with the younger, and less wealthy, hosts as they reflected on the 2024 election over drinks and cigars.

Sacks, a billionaire Silicon Valley investor, bet big on President Trump in the Summer of 2024, well aware of stakes if then-President Joe Biden won reelection.

His well-attended fundraiser at his mansion that summer in San Francisco sent a signal to Silicon Valley that it was okay to support Trump again, and even cool.

Turns out it was a smart bet.

Sacks is now one of the president's top advisers, by spearheading a Republican approach to tech policy and attracting a wide fanbase in Washington, DC

Hes incredible. Hes been a great member of President Trumps administration and has helped us bring in many new friends to the MAGA movement, Trumps media advisor and podcast guru Alex Bruesewitz told the Daily Mail about Sacks.

Sacks, with his three poker buddies and co-hosts of the popular podcast All In, had already emerged as celebrities in the podcast community as the four Besties grew their show over the past few years.

After that summer fundraiser, they hosted Trump on their pod for nearly an hour. The billionaire presidential candidate spoke easily in the forum of friends, joking about their status and wealth and discussed what he would do for the economy and tech industry.

David Sacks, U.S. President Donald Trump's AI and Crypto Czar

AI and crypto czar David Sacks with President Donald Trump at the White House

Sacks gamble paid off as Trump appointed him to the administration after the election, putting him in an unprecedented position of influence in the burgeoning new industries.

Tech leaders and cryptocurrency moguls celebrated at the exclusive Crypto Ball in January to celebrate Trumps inauguration, as Sacks celebrated the new era of cryptocurrency expansion.

The reign of terror against crypto is over, Sacks proclaimed to the cheering crowd.

Sacks new role thrust him into an unfamiliar social territory of Washington, DC.

He moved quickly to integrate himself into Washington society, purchasing a $10 million property in Northwest DC.

Despite his big real estate moves, his calm, unassuming personality serves him well in the city as he has been spotted at the Neds club near the White House.

Davids super smart. I see him around in DC all the time, Fineman told the Daily Mail. He can kind of blend in. Hes a chill guy.

Groups of young DC professionals and staffers typically huddle to ask Is that him? when he enters a room and gradually attracts attention from fans who cautiously approach him for a photo and a quick conversation.

(L-R) Jacob Helberg, David Friedberg, Michael Kratsios, Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis and David O. Sacks speak onstage at the All-In and Hill & Valley Forum "Winning The AI Race"

Michael Kratsios, U.S. President Donald Trump and David O. Sacks at the All-In and Hill & Valley Forum

In May, Sacks moved to start his own private Executive Branch club in Georgetown, as he explained the podcast he found the clubs in Washington, DC kind of old and stuffy.

We wanted to create something new, hipper, and Trump-aligned, he said.

The exclusive club costs as much as $500,000 to join, as Sacks promised it would be free of lobbyists and fake news reporters for elite professionals.

But Sacks does not spend his time there exclusively, as he is known to appear at other clubs and events around the city.

This week, Sacks successfully celebrated a milestone achievement with the release of the administrations new 28-page AI Action Plan at a summit in Washington, DC, which was co-hosted by the All-in podcast.

Sacks, together with Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, and David Friedberg created the All-In podcast during the coronavirus pandemic, as the quarantined friends started dabbling with the format to recreate the lifestyle they were used to before California locked down.

Each host, wealthy tech investors in their own right, exhibit their own unique egos, backgrounds, and ideas on the show.

Their political views vary so much that it often leads to dynamic, and at times fraught, conversations that appeal to anyone ranging from MAGA diehards to liberal vegans.

The unique podcast formula quickly drew a passionate fan base that grew beyond Silicon Valley, as the four friends banter through issues facing the country and dabble in politics.

President Donald Trump appears at the Winning the AI Race Summit

David O. Sacks at the All-In and Hill & Valley Forum "Winning The AI Race" at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium

It re-introduced Trump to their unique audience, demonstrating why it could be a good thing to put the bombastic former president back in the White House.

The four friends united over their shared loathing of woke policies that consumed the tech industry, especially censorship and defended the importance of classically liberal values like freedom of speech.

At the summit in Washington, the podcast co-hosts interviewed Vice President JD Vance as well as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Department of Interior Doug Burgum

President Trump also appeared at the summit to deliver the path forward for artificial intelligence, praising Sacks as a smart guy.

I did that podcast a year and a half ago and I said, This is something. It was pretty new, pretty raw. Everybody I knew saw that podcast. I said, Well, hes got something pretty good. Who is that guy? Trump said.

The four friends watched as the president prioritized issues they had talked about on their podcast for years, enshrining them into policy positions that will reverberate throughout the industry.

'It's actually very uncool, as somebody told me the other day. It's so uncool to be woke,' Trump said. 'I encourage all American companies to join us in rejecting poisonous Marxism in our technology.'

With his wealth, podcast popularity, and newfound political clout, more people know who he is as Sacks has emerged as a significant figures in Washington in just six months.

Sacks did not respond to a Daily Mail interview request.

'David Sacks is an incredibly successful businessman and visionary in emerging technologies. His service to the President and dedication to his work here is crucial to ensuring America is prepared to win the AI race and secure our global technological dominance,' White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields told the Daily Mail.

Sack's swift success demonstrates a stark contrast to other Silicon Valley geniuses who quickly sour on the bureaucracy and backstabbing in the swamp of Washington.

As everyone in Trumpworld knows, success in one position can swiftly lead to future opportunities.
When they set out on their now infamous Salt Path walk, Raynor Winn and her husband Moth were homeless, had just 115 in cash and a tent bought on eBay to live in.

Fast-forward 12 years, three best-selling books and a hit film starring Gillian Anderson later and the couple's living conditions have clearly taken a turn for the better.

Because today The Mail on Sunday can reveal how the author and her husband have swapped sleeping under the stars for a stunning Cornish estate complete with farmhouse, swimming pool and its own private beach.

Not only does the 190-acre property provide plenty of space to indulge their love of camping and walking, its remote location has recently also come in handy.

It is here that the couple, whose real names are Sally and Tim Walker, have hunkered down since questions were raised about the veracity of the story that became a literary sensation.

Ms Winn's memoir detailed how their decision to walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path was motivated by the repossession of their home in Wales after a business deal with a 'friend' went calamitously wrong, leaving them without a roof over their heads.

It has since been claimed that their financial predicament was in fact linked to Ms Winn's alleged theft of 64,000 from a former employer. Experts have also questioned her portrayal of her husband's debilitating neurological condition, corticobasal degeneration (CBD), which also lies at the heart of the book.

The furore saw Penguin announce that it would be delaying the publication of her fourth book, On Winter Hill, which was due out in October.

The author also pulled out of the summer leg of a tour combining music and readings of her prose.

Raynor Winn and her husband Moth have swapped sleeping under the stars for a stunning Cornish estate complete with farmhouse, swimming pool and its own private beach

And the charity PSPA, which supports people with CBD and has worked with the couple, said 'too many questions remain unanswered' and it had 'terminated' its relationship with the family.

So far, the only word from 62-year-old Ms Winn has been a lengthy statement published on her website in which she called the allegations 'grossly unfair' and 'highly misleading'.

Standing by her book, which since its 2018 publication has sold millions and earned her a multi-million-pound fortune, she wrote: 'The Salt Path is about what happened to Moth and me, after we lost our home and found ourselves homeless on the headlands of the South West.

'It's not about every event or moment in our lives, but rather about a capsule of time when our lives moved from a place of complete despair to a place of hope.' And, given where the couple are now living, it is clearly a very good 'place' to be.

The imposing house they now call home sits amid undulating farmland and ancient woodland with breathtaking views.

During their coastal walk, Ms Winn and her husband passed by, the author writing of the area's 'domesticated rurality'. Built in the mid-19th century, the house is reached via a private drive, has at least five bedrooms and a substantial farmhouse kitchen. The land includes a private beach.

Posts on Ms Winn's Instagram feed give a flavour of the idyllic lifestyle the couple have been enjoying since moving in more than a year ago. Photographs show woodland dog walks through seasonal bluebells and snowdrops. The writer has also documented how she helped hand-rear two barn owlets, feeding defrosted frozen mice to them, after their mother was found dead in a field.

Posts on Ms Winn's Instagram feed give a flavour of the idyllic lifestyle the couple have been enjoying since moving in more than a year ago

The imposing house they now call home sits amid undulating farmland and ancient woodland with breathtaking views

In another image she is seen holding a long-eared bat, a species thought to roost in the attic of the property. A grey squirrel is also pictured helping itself to horse chestnuts which Ms Winn had laid out to dry on decking around one corner of the house.

Her husband Moth, 65, also appears  sitting in a chair reading the Old English legend of Beowulf in a sizeable conservatory.

It is understood the couple are renting the house, which is owned by a wealthy, landed property owner. His family has owned the house since the 1970s. A friend of the owner told The Mail on Sunday: 'He has rented out the house for several years now.

'It is the most stunning house in the most wonderful, peaceful, private setting.'

The property is thought to be worth in excess of 10 million.

The friend added: 'There is another property for sale at the moment which is being marketed at 8.5million. It is nowhere near as big or with as much land, so you can guess what this could fetch.

'But there is absolutely no way he would sell up. It means far too much to him and his family. Why would anyone let it go if they had no financial pressure to do so?'

Another local said: 'We've known for ages it was Raynor and Moth up there. A friend of mine was told by the owner himself. They moved in long before all this fuss over the book and the film.'

And a third added: 'Not many people know she is up there and I am sure some will be unhappy about it after all that has happened. They have definitely been hiding themselves away. They have been there for more than a year but definitely less than two.

'Sally has been away a lot and Moth spends a great deal of time on his own, although their daughter is about quite a bit as well.'

It is not known what, if anything, the couple are paying in terms of rent but such a home could expect to command thousands a month on the open market  and marks a dramatic move up the property ladder for the couple.

A film adaptation of The Salt Path, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs was released in the UK in May

The pair met as teenagers growing up in Burton upon Trent, Staffs, before moving to Pwllheli in Gwynedd with their son and daughter in the early 1990s. There they set about renovating a rural property, complete with holiday let.

In 2007 they remortgaged to purchase a ramshackle doer-upper in south-west France, just a few miles from a magnificent chateau belonging to one of Moth's brothers and next door to a pigeon tower owned by his younger sibling.

Said to be worth between 20,000 and 35,000 euros, the property is still owned by the couple  a fact some have suggested means they were never truly 'homeless'.

In her statement, Ms Winn claimed that they visited only once and due to its state it was 'impossible' to live in.

'What we own in France is an uninhabitable ruin in a bramble patch,' she wrote.

In 2013, the couple's own home was repossessed, the circumstances behind which form the crux of the recent controversy. After finishing their walk, which took place over the summers of 2013 and 2014, the couple settled in a flat in a converted Methodist chapel in the Cornish village of Polruan.

According to Ms Winn's telling of the story, they bumped into the owner of the property by chance after sitting beside her on a bench towards the end of her trek, and she offered them her flat to rent.

The couple then moved to Haye Farm in countryside near Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Yet again, that was apparently all down to good luck and a wealthy City investor who approached them on Twitter having read the book.

Bill Cole, 58, let the couple stay at his 1million Cornish cider farm after being deeply moved by their story of homelessness and Moth's declining health. But the benefactor claims he was ultimately left feeling 'gaslit' and betrayed by the pair.

In an interview with The Observer newspaper, which carried out the original investigation into the couple, he told of his shock when he was informed by Moth in 2021 that he had been 'told not to plan beyond Christmas' due to his health.

But when Ms Winn's third book, Landlines, was published in September 2022, Mr Cole read how in the winter of 2021, a neurologist told Moth his brain was 'normal'.

'I was reading it on the train,' said Mr Cole, 'and I just went 'What the hell?' It just makes no sense whatsoever.'

He said he sent a message to Ms Winn asking why if there was such good news, they had not told him. He said that she replied but did not address the point.

Not long after, they terminated their tenancy at Haye Farm, a year earlier than agreed.

In her statement, Ms Winn addressed allegations that Moth had 'made up his illness'.

She wrote: 'This utterly vile, unfair, and false suggestion has emotionally devastated Moth, who has fought so hard against the insidious condition of Corticobasal Syndrome.'

She also published excerpts from two clinic letters relatingto her husband's treatment, which she claims show 'he is treated for CBD/S and has been for many years'.

What the future now holds for the author and her husband is unclear. But given that Salt Path remains in the Sunday Times bestseller list despite this recent furore, it seems Ms Winn and her husband will be able to enjoy the pleasures of their country estate home for some time to come.
Shackled with heavy iron chains around her waist and ankles, and with painful box handcuffs on her bruised and bleeding wrists, Ghislaine Maxwell  prisoner 02879-509  was led out of cell-block unit B.

Maxwell, who has been incarcerated inside brutal Tallahassee Federal Prison since her 2021 conviction on child sex-trafficking charges, was paraded past the general jail population to jeers of Paedo! and Molester.

On Thursday morning, the 63-year-old left the prison for the first time in four years to be driven the short distance to Tallahassee Federal Courthouse for a meeting she knew could be the most important of her life.

For the first time she would be telling her story to the US Government.

Today, The Mail on Sunday can give an extraordinary and detailed insight into the negotiations, which took place over nine hours on Thursday and Friday, as Maxwell, dressed in prison khakis and a brown T-shirt, was grilled by US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Blanche  who was Donald Trumps personal lawyer before being appointed one of Americas most powerful lawmakers  flew down to Florida from Washington DC on the spur of the moment late on Wednesday night.

The Epstein crisis has engulfed the Trump presidency and dominated global headlines at a time when the President would prefer to focus on his achievements during the first six months of his second term in office.

A source familiar with the events of the past few days said: Todd is a great guy, a fantastic lawyer and knows the President as well as anyone. He wanted to go and see Ghislaine as soon as possible to hear what she had to say.

This is the first time, in all the years the Epstein case has been going on, that anyone from the Government has asked to speak to her directly. Todd is the one who will talk to the President, and he is planning to do that once the President returns from Scotland.

Maxwell is thought to have signed a one-and-a-half page proffer immunity agreement which allowed her to speak freely. But she could be prosecuted if it is found that she lied

Maxwell is thought to have signed a one-and-a-half page proffer immunity agreement which allowed her to speak freely. But she could be prosecuted if it is found that she lied to Blanche, who bombarded her with hundreds of questions during six hours on Thursday and another three hours on Friday morning.

Events unfolded in a nondescript 10ft by 20ft conference room on the courthouses fourth floor.

The facility was arranged by John Jack Heekin, the US Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, described as a Southern gentleman by someone familiar with the arrangements. The two sides sat opposite each other across a 12ft-long polished wooden conference table.

On one side sat Blanche, who will report to President Trump this week, senior FBI agent Spencer Horn, who took detailed notes, and Diego Pestana, Acting Associate Deputy Attorney General. Opposite sat Maxwell with her lawyers David Oscar Markus, Leah Saffian and Melissa Madrigal.

Coffee and sandwiches were on offer but Maxwell gravitated towards a bowl piled high with fresh fruit. She has repeatedly complained about the brutal and inhumane conditions inside jail.

A recent Bureau of Prisons report condemned Tallahassee for having rat droppings in food, using feminine sanitary products to fix leaks in the roof, having mould in the kitchen and an air-conditioning system which rarely works, despite Floridas year-round high temperatures.

Maxwell has told family members that she is fearful for her life, with her brother Ian saying: She has a target on her back.

A source said: Ghislaine has not eaten proper food since she has been there. The fruit bowl was what she gravitated towards. She had watermelon for the first time in years.

In jail the fruit is always mouldy and the food is mostly inedible.

A recent Bureau of Prisons report condemned Tallahassee for having rat droppings in food, using feminine sanitary products to fix leaks in the roof, having mould in the kitchen and an air-conditioning system which rarely works

Maxwell is serving 20 years in Tallahassee Federal Prison in Florida for procuring and grooming young girls to be sexually abused by Epstein

On Friday, the gathering had Chick-fil-A, a hugely popular US fast-food chain founded by devout Christian S. Truett Cathy, who insisted his restaurants remain closed on a Sunday. Maxwells testimony was clear and concise. She answered every question in what was a formal, professional and unprecedented meeting.

Some have criticised this weeks interview saying it is highly unusual for the Deputy Attorney General to meet a convicted prisoner without having at least one of the lawyers involved in the conviction in the room.

Trump fired Maurene Comey, the lead prosecutor on Maxwells case, and none of the original team from the Southern District of New Yorks attorneys office remains in their jobs.

Blanche, who Trump last week called a great attorney, came prepared with a long list of questions containing more than 100 names, including Prince Andrews.

It was comprehensive and it was long, said a source familiar with the proceedings.

Maxwells lawyer David Markus said outside the courtroom on Friday: Ghislaine was asked maybe about 100 different people.

She answered questions about everybody and she didnt hold anything back. They asked about every single, every possible thing you could imagine everything. No person and no topic were off-limits.

We are very grateful. The truth will come out.

Asked about possible clemency from Trump, Markus replied: I am not going to comment on what were hoping for.

We havent spoken to the President or anybody about a pardon just yet. The President this morning said he had the power to do so. We hope he exercises that power in the right and just way.

It is likely Maxwell will soon be moved from Tallahassee to another jail, possibly Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia, a minimum-security womens jail also known as Camp Cupcake.

Donald and Melania Trump with Epstein and Maxwell in 2000 at the Mar-a-Lago club in Florida

Maxwell was asked about around 100 different people  including Prince Andrew

Lifestyle guru Martha Stewart served a five-month sentence for insider trading there in 2004.

A source told the MoS: They cannot keep her safe in Tallahassee. At the moment she is with 140 prisoners. It is a dorm-style room with prisoners in pods of four, separated by a little 4ft pony wall. There is safety in numbers and she likes many of the women in her unit. But there are fears they might throw her in solitary confinement and then anything could happen because there is no one around. Look what happened to Epstein.

The 66-year-old financier killed himself while he was alone in his jail cell awaiting trial on child sex-trafficking charges in 2019. However, many  including his brother Mark  remain convinced that he was murdered.

Blanche has said he will release details of the meetings with Maxwell when the time is right.

For now, she remains in Tallahassee Federal Prison, working on her legal cases in the library.

The Supreme Court is expected to decide if it will agree to hear her appeal by the start of October. She also has the right to a habeas corpus appeal which she has not yet filed.

The source added: She has yet to exhaust all her legal options. Was the meeting welcome? Of course it was.

Ghislaine is relieved that someone from the Government finally wants to hear what she has to say.

She has been in a hell-hole of a prison for five years. Now there is very real hope that things may be happening to get her out of there.

Maxwell was seen returning to the prison on Thursday carrying a cardboard box

Critics of the meeting, including many of Epsteins victims, have called it an outrage.

Annie Farmer, who testified against Maxwell at her trial, questioned why she was meeting with the US Deputy Attorney General in the first place.

Its very disappointing that these things are happening behind closed doors without any input from the people that the Government asked to come forward and speak against her in order to put her away, Ms Farmer said.

There were so many young girls and women that were harmed by her.
Drug safety chiefs were warned last year about rogue beauty therapists injecting illegal Botox-style products but failed to act before the jabs hospitalised dozens.

The procedures, carried out by beauticians using unlicensed versions of botulinum toxin, left 38 people across the North East, North West, East of England and Midlands seriously ill with paralysis-like symptoms and breathing difficulties.

The alarming outbreak this month has exposed 'gaping holes' in regulation, claim senior doctors now calling on the Government to ban medically unqualified practitioners from administering cosmetic injections.

Dr Steven Land, a Newcastle-based expert in aesthetic medicine, said he first raised concerns in November 2023 with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

'Our only surprise is that this didn't happen sooner,' he said. 'I was getting WhatsApp messages and emails every week from people selling knock-off toxinillegal, unlicensed products that you can buy online with no checks.'

Dr Land said he provided the MHRA with names, phone numbers, pricing information and screenshots of practitioners openly advertising cut-price anti-wrinkle jabs using unlicensed botulinum toxin.

He added: 'When I followed up in April, they told me the matter would be dealt with 'in due course'. Nothing happened. If action had been taken when I raised the alarm, dozens might not have ended up in hospital.'

MHRA was asked to comment. Due to the severity of the situation, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced this month it had launched an inquiry. The practitioners involved are said to be cooperating, although no further detail has been given.

Kaylie Bailey, 36, from Peterlee, County Durham, right, was left fighting for her life and now wears an eye patch after being hospitalised with botulism from a rogue anti-wrinkle jab

She had paid 75 for cut-price anti-wrinkle jabs from beautician Gemma Graywho has since admitted the product caused widespread harm but claimed it was a 'nationwide problem'

Ms Bailey, who spent three days in intensive care with botulism. 'We're having to live with what she [the beautician] did to us. I nearly died because of it'

Dr Land said two beauty therapists operating in his area had been identified as the primary source of the outbreak. Both had used a Korean-manufactured product called Toxpia.

'Neither had any medical qualifications just basic beauty therapy trainingand both were injecting clients in salons and private homes using the same unlicensed product,' he said.

'We believe they were buying this toxin online and administering it with no clinical oversight.' HJ Corporations Co. Ltd, the maker of Toxpia, was approached for comment.

More than seven million people in the UK undergo cosmetic treatmentsincluding Botox and fillerseach year and demand is growing. The industry is now worth an estimated 3.6billion.

Yet in Britain, anyone can legally offer cosmetic injections regardless of medical traininga situation many doctors have long condemned. A recent study by University College London found that two in three procedures are carried out by non-medics, including hairdressers and beauty therapists.

Dr Christopher Rowland Payne, president of the Royal Society of Medicine Section of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery, said: 'The current situation is quite terrifying. It is irresponsible for the Government to allow this to continue.

'Britain is the odd man out in Europe in allowing non-medics to perform these procedures.'

Dr Rowland Payne, who gave evidence to the women and equalities committee on the issue, also highlighted the stark differences in training between medics and non-medics offering Botox.

More than seven million people in the UK undergo cosmetic treatmentsincluding Botox and fillerseach year and demand is growing. The industry is now worth an estimated 3.6billion

'Doctors, dentists and nurses are highly regulated and must follow ethical practice. We are taught scientific principles, understand physiology and pharmacology, and are trained to diagnose and manage complications.

'By contrast, some therapists may attend a two-day course and walk away with a certificate claiming they're trained to carry out medical procedures including Botox and filler injections and laser treatments. And currently, that's perfectly legal.'

Consultant plastic surgeon Jeyarama Srinivasan, spokesperson for the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), echoed the call for reform.

'These are medical interventions that require professional knowledge and expertise. Unregulated settings, including clients' homes, are especially risky. The sale of such products online, often with no safety checks, further endangers patients.

'We at BAPRAS and other professional bodies have long called for tougher regulation. We hope these incidents will finally spur action.'

Botulinum toxinthe active ingredient in Botoxis one of the most powerful poisons known, being found in soil and contaminated food.

'When consumed, it can cause botulisma potentially fatal illness that leads to muscle paralysis and respiratory failure.

Its potency is staggering: gram-for-gram, botulinum toxin is estimated to be 100,000 times more toxic than cyanide.

Experts stress that the risk is not with approved brandssuch as Botox, Azzalure, Bocouture and Nuceivabut with counterfeit or unlicensed versions used by untrained individuals.

Toxpia is not licensed for use in the UK though industry insiders say it is available to buy online.

In 2023, the Government launched a consultation on new rules for the aesthetics sector and Health Secretary Wes Streeting suggested this month a crackdown was imminent.

During the interview on ITV's This Morning on July 15, Mr Streeting was played a clip featuring Dane Knight, whose partner Alice Webb, 33a mother of five  died last year following a so-called 'liquid BBL'injections of filler to enlarge the buttocks. Her death was the first linked to the controversial treatment in a UK clinic.

'I would hate to see another family go through that,' said Dane. 'More kids burying their mum. Another partner burying their partner.'

Victims of the current botulism outbreak have also spoken publicly about their ordeal.

Kaylie Bailey, 36, from Peterlee, County Durham, was left fighting for her life and now wears an eye patch after developing paralysis and losing the ability to breathe.

She had paid 75 for cut-price anti-wrinkle jabs from beautician Gemma Graywho has since admitted the product caused widespread harm but claimed it was a 'nationwide problem'.

'I remember lying on the bed thinking "I'm dying",' added Ms Bailey, who spent three days in intensive care with botulism. 'We're having to live with what she [the beautician] did to us. I nearly died because of it.'
Dozens seen waiting for an interview at Subway

A German student living in Australia was stunned after discovering the huge queue that had formed outside a takeaway chain, as dozens lined up for a job interview.

The woman filmed herself standing in the line that stretched for metres outside a Subway in Melbourne on Saturday.

The young woman questioned whether it was worth sticking around for the interview after discovering the number of people who were in line ahead of her.

'Look at how many unemployed people are here, and they are all waiting to go to a job interview at Subway,' she said in a TikTok.

'I can't believe there are so many people here.'

Australia's unemployment rate has worsened recently, with Melbourne and Sydney experiencing their worst job markets since late 2021.

Despite the unlikely prospects of landing a job, the woman decided to stay in line as she was desperate just like everybody else.

'No chances here, but maybe I'll stay,' she said.

A German student studying in Melbourne tried to go to an interview for a job at Subway only to find a line of applicants extending onto the sidewalk

Social media users were not surprised to see the length of the interview line.

'Now you can start to understand what it feels like for those of us who've lived here our whole lives,' one wrote.

'We're not only struggling, but now we have to compete for basic opportunities. It's becoming incredibly tough for everyday Aussies.'

'It's just what big companies and the government wanted, so wages can go even lower,' a second said.

'Our government is cooked, we are overpopulated - what do people expect,' a third added.

The unemployment rate reached 4.3 per cent in June, which was the highest since November 2021, as states and cities emerged from Covid lockdowns.

The number of full-time jobs fell by 38,000, while 40,000 part-time jobs were created in June, signalling a sharp drop in working hours.

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said the private sector's weakening demand for labour is the cause of this crisis.

Australia's unemployment rate is the highest it has been since November 2021 when states and cities were coming out of COVID-era lockdowns

'A rise in unemployment to its highest level since the pandemic points to the impact that our weak private sector is having on the labour market,' he said.

'With the private sector accounting for two-thirds of employment in Australia, it was inevitable that its sustained weakness would eventually spill over to the broader labour market.

'It appears this problem is now coming home to roost.'

Unemployment was higher than average in NSW and Victoria, where migrant numbers are highest.

'Excessive migration has played a significant role in pummelling Australia's economic productivity,' Institute of Public Affairs deputy executive director Daniel Wild said.

The latest jobless data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics is also worse than the RBA was forecasting in its May statement on monetary policy, with the 4.3 per cent figure slightly higher than the 4.2 per cent level it had predicted.
A Southwest passenger aboard a flight that was forced to make an evasive maneuver to avoid a mid-air collision said screams filled the cabin as they narrowly missed another aircraft.

Caitlin Burdi told Fox News that she feared for her life aboard the flight on Friday from Burbank, California, to Las Vegas when the jet dropped 475 feet within seconds to avoid colliding with a Hawker Hunter military fighter aircraft in its path.

'About 10 minutes into the flight, we plummeted pretty far, and I looked around, and everyone was like, "OK, that's normal",' Burdi said.

'Then, within two seconds, it felt like the ride Tower of Terror, where we fell 20 to 30 feet in the air. The screaming, it was terrifying. We really thought we were plummeting to a plane crash.

'It was absolutely terrifying, just remember him saying, "What just happened was we almost collided with another plane, and I had to make the emergency attempt to go under because we lost service with the air traffic controller."'

Southwest passengers were hurled out of their seats and onto the plane's ceiling and two flight attendants were injured after the pilot made the evasive maneuver.

Southwest Flight 1496 was climbing towards its cruising altitude on the 73-minute journey to Las Vegas at around 11am on Friday and was passing through 14,100 ft when the plane suddenly plunged without warning. The military jet was at 14,653 ft.

Fellow passengers Caitlin Burdi was onboard the plane and said she knew the turbulence was far from normal

Passengers aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas were thrown from their seats and slammed into the cabin ceiling on Friday morning shortly after takeoff

Also among the passengers included comedian Jimmy Dore, who described the terrifying few seconds when 'plenty of people flew out of their seats.'

Two flight attendants were hurt during the ordeal, according to the airline. The commercial aircraft continued its journey and landed safely in Las Vegas.

'Just now on SW Flight #1496 Burbank to Las Vegas,' the comedian posted to X and his 700,000 followers.

'Pilot had to dive aggressively to avoid midair collision over Burbank airport. Myself & plenty of people flew out of their seats & bumped heads on ceiling, a flight attendant needed medical attention,' Dore explained in his post.

'Pilot said his collision warning went off & he needed to avoid plane coming at us. Wow.'

Comedian Jimmy Dore and his producer Stef Zamorano were both on the Southwest flight that had to make a sudden evasive maneuver to avoid another aircraft leaving Burbank airport

The Southwest Boeing 737 was forced to avoid crashing into a Hawker Hunter military fighter just 500ft above

Dore said the pilot later told passengers that an aircraft collision warning had been triggered in the cockpit, forcing him to take immediate action to avoid another plane.

Video shared by Dore's producer Stef Zamorano showed shaken passengers moments after the ordeal, still trying to process what had just occurred.

'Just a few minutes ago we ended up having crazy turbulence on this flight,' Zamorano said in the clip. 'Jimmy, have you ever had that kind of experience before?', she asked.

'Turns out that turbulence was the pilot taking an aggressive move because there was another plane coming at us. That's what it was. It was collision avoidance,' Dore explained.

Dore said several passengers were violently flung upwards from their seats as the aircraft dropped suddenly.

'We were all shaken up,' Zamorano wrote. 'The flight erupted with applause once we landed.'

'The Crew of Southwest Flight 1496 responded to two onboard traffic alerts Friday afternoon while climbing out of Burbank, California requiring them to climb and descend to comply with the alerts,' the airline said in a statement.

Comedian Jimmy Dore shared the scary experience to his 700,000 X followers

'Southwest is engaged with the Federal Aviation Administration to further understand the circumstances. No injuries were immediately reported by Customers, but two Flight Attendants are being treated for injuries.'

Another passenger on board, Steve Ulasewicz told NBC LA the dip occurred about eight minutes into the flight and lasted for about eight to 10 seconds.

Ulasewicz said passengers were screaming during the drop before the plane leveled out.

He explained how the pilot used software to avoid a midair collision.

'Felt a significant drop. The plane was just in a freefall. It was pandemonium,' Ulasewicz said.

The drop occurred about a minute after the crew announced the beverage service was about to begin.

Other passengers also commented online. 'Our pilot had to make the most insane dive ever to avoid the other aircraft,' one of the passengers wrote on Reddit.

'So many of us flew out of our seats for about 20 seconds, even with seatbelts on, and one of the flight attendants got hurt and needed medical attention after we landed,' the passenger recounted.

'I just wanted to thank the pilot, co-pilot, and flight attendants for keeping us safe.'

Passengers said one flight attendant was dazed after hitting her head while another said he was quitting.

Hollywood Burbank Airport said authorities are 'looking into the incident, however, there is currently no evidence that it occurred within the airspace above our airport.'

An FAA spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Friday night that, 'Southwest Airlines Flight 1496 responded to an onboard alert that another aircraft was in the vicinity while in Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center airspace. The FAA is investigating the event that occurred around 11am local time on Friday, July 25.'

Sources familiar with aircraft warning systems say a TCAS alert likely triggered the evasive action.

When the system detects another aircraft converging on a dangerous flight path, pilots are instructed to immediately alter altitude or direction - usually within seconds.

Preliminary data shows the planes were several miles apart when the pilots received their alerts.

The Southwest Boeing 737 jet was flying from Burbank to Las Vegas and arrived safely

The comedian detailed what happened in a post to his X account

Near-miss incidents in congested airspace such as Los Angeles can occur when multiple departures or arrivals cross paths at varying altitudes, especially near busy hubs like LAX and Burbank airports.

This close call is just the latest incident to raise questions about aviation safety in the wake of January's midair collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.

Friday's incident comes just days after a similar scare on a Delta flight that narrowly avoided a military B-52 bomber, raising fresh concerns over air traffic safety in crowded US airspace.

'For those of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane kind of sort of coming at us,' the Delta pilot told passengers over the intercom after safely landing.

'Nobody told us about it Sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all.'

Flight DL3788 was forced to abort its landing, circle the airport and perform a go-around after an air traffic controller failed to warn the pilot of the approaching bomber.

According to flight data, the aircraft made sharp turns and climbed abruptly to escape the collision path.

While no injuries were reported in the Delta incident, passengers were visibly shaken.

One woman said, 'We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet. It felt like something really serious had just happened.'

The Southwest and Delta incidents, occurring within a week of one another have reignited public concern over air traffic safety and coordination between commercial airlines and military aircraft, as well as the reliability of radar and separation systems in congested airspace.

While mid-air collisions remain exceedingly rare, experts note that 'near misses' have been rising in frequency due to increased traffic volume, outdated radar coverage in some regions, and pressure on Air Traffic Control systems.
LILONGWE, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera has ordered the country's recently dissolved Parliament to reconvene on Aug. 5 to amend the voting law to ensure that all eligible citizens, including those assigned to duty on election day, can cast their votes.

Malawi's 2019-2025 Parliament was dissolved on Wednesday by National Assembly Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara, in line with constitutional provisions for an election year. However, the Constitution empowers the president to recall Parliament before a general election if a constitutional crisis is deemed to have arisen.

A supplement to the government Gazette dated Friday and signed by Chakwera confirmed the decision to reconvene Parliament to consider amending the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Elections Act.

A follow-up statement from the State House on Saturday provided further clarification.

"President Chakwera... has ordered that Parliament be reconvened for an emergency session on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, to amend the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Elections Act in order to allow Malawians who will be posted on duty for various electoral services in various parts of the country on election day to cast their vote where they are posted, instead of where they registered," the statement read.

It added that the proposed amendment seeks to safeguard every Malawian's constitutional right to vote.

Malawi is scheduled to hold its general election on Sept. 16 to elect the president, members of Parliament, and local government councilors.

More than 20 presidential aspirants, including incumbent President Chakwera and two former presidents Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda, have declared their intention to contest the presidency. 
Months after deadly wildfires tore through Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass has finally admitted her trip to Ghana during the crisis was a mistake.

In an interview with Vice News, Bass expressed regret for being out of the country while flames destroyed homes, displaced thousands, and scorched over 40,000 acres across Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

'I was asked, "Do I regret going?" Hell yeah,' Bass said. 'I mean, let me just do a comparison. If you are out of town and your kid or a member of your family gets sick or hurt, it doesn't matter where you were or why you were there. You feel horrible.'

The mayor had traveled to West Africa as part of a U.S. delegation attending the presidential inauguration in Ghana - despite multiple fire weather warnings issued for Los Angeles prior to her departure.

The Los Angeles Times later reported that Bass's team had been made aware of the fire risks before the trip.

Still, Bass insists she was caught off guard.

'I'm really not trying to give excuses, but there was no way in the world I knew that the city was in danger when I left,' she said. 'Absolutely no way.'

Months after deadly wildfires tore through Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass (pictured) has finally admitted her trip to Ghana during the crisis was a mistake

Bass expressed regret for being out of the country while flames destroyed homes, displaced thousands, and scorched over 40,000 acres across Los Angeles and surrounding areas. Pictured: The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, January 7, 2025

Upon returning, Bass said she questioned fire officials about the lack of advance warning.

'I did ask the chief when I came back, like, "Why didn't you tell me?" and basically the response was: "Because we have Santa Anas all the time, and nobody expected hurricane-force winds."'

'I didn't get briefed. That's true,' she admitted. 'But again, people did not anticipate the historic wind. And it wasn't just LA - it was the county too.'

Bass said she spent much of the 12-hour flight back to the 'city on fire' on the phone preparing an emergency declaration.

She landed back in the U.S. the day after wildfires began ravaging neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades.

Despite her admission of 'wrongdoing,' Bass continued to deflect criticism during the interview with Vice News' Shane Smith, shifting blame to the county's fire leadership.

'What typically happens is that if there's going to be a big weather event, there are these briefings that happen,' she explained.

The mayor had traveled to West Africa as part of a U.S. delegation attending the presidential inauguration in Ghana - despite multiple fire weather warnings issued for Los Angeles prior to her departure. Pictured: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass visiting Accra, Ghana

Bass flew out to attend the West African country's presidential inauguration after meteorologists warned that a 'recipe for fire' was on track to strike LA

'It's either initiated by the fire department or the emergency department. I was used to the fire chief calling me and telling me, "This is getting ready to happen, come over, I need to brief you." Everything goes into motion. That didn't happen - in the city or in the county.'

When she eventually returned from Ghana, the embattled mayor received harsh criticism.

In a now-viral moment, Bass was confronted by Sky News reporter David Blevins, who pressed her on why she had traveled abroad while her city was in crisis.

But, she refused to answer his questions and walked away.

'Do you owe your citizens an apology for being absent while their homes were burning?' Blevins asked as Bass remained silent.

The reporter continued pressing: 'Do you regret cutting the fire department by millions of dollars, Madam Mayor? Have you nothing to say today?'

'Do you think you should've been visiting Ghana while this was unfolding back home?'

Despite her admission of 'wrongdoing,' Bass continued to deflect criticism during the interview with Vice News' Shane Smith, shifting blame to the county's fire leadership. Pictured: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (right) and Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley (left) address the media at a press conference on January 11, 2025

The controversy deepened after it was revealed Bass had proposed slashing the Los Angeles Fire Department's budget by $23 million in 2024 - the final approved cut amounted to a whopping $17.6 million, Daily Mail previously reported.

Amid growing backlash, Bass dismissed Fire Chief Kristin Crowley in February.

However, Crowley pushed back, accusing city leaders of failing to support emergency operations during the fires.

But, Bass defended her actions during the all-encompassing interview.

'Yes, there were broken fire engines,' she said. 'We find out later that those fire engines were there broken because they're used for spare parts. But there were 40 fire engines that were idle because they didn't have the staff that [Crowley] sent home.'

She also insisted the fire department's budget was never truly cut - only delayed during labor negotiations.

'And the budget cut - I don't know the reasons for it - and then the budget cut that never happened,' Bass added.

'What we did when we did the budget was we put money aside for fire because we were in labor negotiations. When the labor negotiations were done, we put it back in the budget. Which is a common thing. We're doing that right now.'

A firefighter watches the flames from the Palisades Fire burning homes on the Pacific Coast Highway amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California

Still, Crowley told Fox News she believed city leadership had failed her during the crisis, responding with a firm 'yes' when asked directly if she felt let down by those in charge.

Bass's actions were deeply criticized back in January when, as flames spread and families fled, she posted updates on social media from abroad - thanking first responders and sharing shelter resources while physically half a world away.

Her visit to Ghana included attending President John Dramani Mahama's swearing-in and meetings with the country's first female vice president.

The trip was designed to foster international relationships and cultural ties - but the timing, in the midst of one of LA's worst fire disasters in recent memory, shadowed any intended goodwill.

For months, Bass avoided taking responsibility, however, now it appears she's finally echoing what many were saying all along - she never should have gone.
She was discharged from hospital hours before

An aspiring dancer has been found dead in her home after suffering a suspected seizure hours after she was sent home from hospital.

Sydney woman Layla-Maria Grubb, 18, was found unresponsive last Saturday afternoon.

The 'bright, kind and talented' woman had been rushed to hospital earlier that morning after suffering a seizure, but was released hours later.

Her family isdemanding answers, claiming their daughter had never experienced any such medical episode before.

Ms Grubb had studied at dance company Village Nation, with its director Briden Starr describing her as a 'healthy, positive, focused girl'.

'We all want to know what happened; we are searching for answers,' she told the Daily Telegraph.

Ms Grubb's family have since launched a GoFundMe to ease the financial stress of their daughter's death as they come to grips with the tragedy.

'We are absolutely broken, there is nothing that can take this pain away. Life will never be the same,' her mother Beth Ashton said.

Sydney woman Layla-Maria Grubb, 18, was found unresponsive by her family on Saturday afternoon

Ms Grubb's mother Beth Ashton said her life will never be the same

Ms Ashton shared a tribute to her young daughter on Facebook following her death.

'A gorgeous dancer, who moved through life with the same beauty and passion she brought to the stage,' she wrote.

'Her laughter, kindness, and beautiful spirit will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

'Though her time with us was far too short, her impact will remain in our hearts, forever 18.'

A NSW Health spokesman said it was not appropriate for the department to comment on Ms Grubb's death at this time.

'The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District extends its sincere condolences to the family for their tragic loss,' he said.

Her death has now been referred to the NSW Coroner.

Ms Grubb's family from Western Australia rushed to Sydney after hearing the tragic news and Ms Starr has said she will help with any funeral arrangements.

The director of Village Nation, the dance studio where Ms Grubb studied, has demanded answers for how this could have happened

A GoFundMe has been launched to help Ms Grubb's family cover her funeral costs

Ms Grubb moved from Western Australia as a young child to study dancing full time in Sydney.

A funeral service will be held in Sydney and live-streamed at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre in Western Australia where she previously performed.

The family friend who organised the fundraiser, Ashleigh O'Reilly, said Ms Grubb was 'pure light' and that all donations would go towards her funeral.

'Our hearts are shattered with the devastating news of Layla's passing,' Ms O'Reilly wrote.

'Layla was the funniest, goofiest, most vibrant girl you could ever meet, lighting up every room with her laughter and fun.

'No one plans for the unthinkable loss of a child.'
New legislation tipped to hit parliament soon

The Victorian government has already spent at least $382million of taxpayer money negotiating an Indigenous treaty, according to new analysis.

A treaty is expected to be finalised later in 2025, nine years after the state government became the first in the country to formally commit to treaty talks in 2016.

According to treaty reports and budget papers, $382.4million has been given to the self-determination process over the past decade, The Herald Sun reported.

Some money has gone towards setting up the Treaty Authority, which is overseeing negotiations, with members of the panel earning up to $380,000 a year.

Funding has also supported preparations by First Nations groups for negotiations, public events to inform Indigenous communities about the process, and roundtable discussions on the treaty framework.

Right-wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs suggested the total figure could be higher.

Their report found that 727 meetings related to treaty development were held between July 2016 and June 2025.

That number could reach 968 by June 2026 if it continues at its current pace, with one meeting taking place every two to three business days.

The Victorian government has already spent at least $382million of taxpayer money negotiating an Indigenous treaty

The Institute's review of government budget papers estimated that a combined $776 million has been spent over the past decade on the treaty, self-determination programs, and Indigenous community initiatives.

However, the documents do not provide a detailed breakdown of spending.

Institute of Public Affairs Research Fellow Margaret Chambers criticised the governments handling of the process.

The Victorian government is not being honest and upfront with Victorians about its plan to divide the community on racial grounds, Ms Chambers told the Herald Sun.

With a treaty scheduled to be finalised inside the next 12 months, and despite the volume of secret meetings over the past decade, very little is known about what this treaty will entail.

Any treaty will fundamentally change Victorias legal structure and will likely require already financially stretched Victorian taxpayers to pay billions of dollars to activists aligned to the Allan government.

New legislation related to the treaty is expected to go before Victorias parliament in the coming months.

It is understood the bill will enshrine an expanded First Peoples Assembly.

According to treaty reports and budget papers, $382.4 million has been given to the self-determination process over the past decade (stock image)

That would effectively establish a state-based version of the Voice, which was rejected in a national referendum in 2023.

The Victorian government is also negotiating separate treaties with local Indigenous groups.

The details of these agreements and associated costs have not been disclosed.

At the beginning of July, the Victorian government released the findings from the Yoorrook Justice Commission investigating the state's colonial roots.

The Truth Be Told report detailed massacres and frontier violence, labelling it a 'genocide' and investigating the ongoing harms against Aboriginal people.

A Victorian government spokesman slammed the 'cherry-picked analysis from the Liberal Party-aligned think tank'.

'If you listen to the people directly affected by policies, you get better outcomes - that's commonsense,' he said.

'Treaty is about making a better and fairer state for all Victorians - negotiations are underway and we look forward to bringing treaty to the Parliament.'
An executive whose girlfriend died after partially severing her arm on a glass door during an argument has been charged over the alleged assault of another woman.

Lee Robert Loughlin, 44, has never been charged over the horror incident which saw his partner Claire Austin, 38, reportedly run through the glass door between a bedroom and sunroom of their Randwick flat in Sydney's eastern suburbs on April 12.

Loughlin, who co-founded two recruitment companies with whom he has since parted ways, was charged on June 16 with assault occasioning actual bodily harm over an alleged incident with another woman.

The alleged incident occurred in November 2023 and is unrelated to Ms Austin, with the unidentified woman making a complaint to police after news of the 38-year-old's death made headlines, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Loughlin was in any way responsible for the death of Ms Austin.

Loughlin and Ms Austin, 38, were living on the top floor of a Randwick Street apartment when she reportedly severed an artery in her arm during a disagreement.

Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia they heard 'fighting constantly' between the two, but on the Saturday she was fatally wounded the shouting began at around 7am and 'sounded way worse'.

A concerned neighbour rang Triple Zero and paramedics rushed Ms Austin to St Vincent's Hospital where she was placed on life support.

Lee Robert Loughlin, 44, has never been charged over the horror incident that unfolded in Randwick in April

Claire Austin, 38, severed an artery in her arm during a row with her boyfriend Lee Loughlin and was placed on life support, but died three days later

The 38-year-old marketing and events consultant, who was from the UK but had been living in Australia for ten years, died three days later on April 15.

Loughlin was taken to Maroubra Police Station for questioning before being admitted to a mental health facility for several days.

An Apprehended Violence Order taken out by police on behalf of Ms Austin was dismissed after she died.

NSW Police at the time had labelled Ms Austin's death suspicious, but no charges have been laid over the incident.

'The investigation is ongoing,' a spokesman said.

One of the Randwick neighbours who claimed to have heard a row before Ms Austin's catastrophic injury said it had 'sounded like something wrong would happen'.

'I heard the woman at first and it worried me. Then I heard the man. I think I heard a crash and then I didn't hear the woman again,' he said.

The neighbour added he then heard a man screaming 'somebody help me' over and over.

Neighbours said they heard 'constant fighting' from the top floor flat where Ms Austin lived with company boss, Lee Loughlin, 44, were living at the time of the tragedy

Detectives leave the crime scene where Clair Austin was fatally injured with a severed artery which saw her placed on life support before dying three days later

He said after the crashing sound and the woman going quiet, someone had called Triple Zero and soon after the ambulance and police arrived in the street.

After being told she would not survive her injuries, Ms Austin's family flew from the UK to Sydney and arrived just hours before she passed away.

Ms Austin had worked at The Do Collective, a Sydney marketing company, until the month before she died, when she had moved on to a new media company as an events producer.

Following her death, her former colleagues from The Do Collective arrived at the apartment block where she had lived, placed flowers and mementos outside and paid tribute to her memory.

They told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Austin was 'a lovely person' who embraced life and had a large group of friends.

One of the cards left for Ms Austin read: 'To the sweetest soul, it was an honour to have known you. Your presence is truly missed.

'Thank you for all your love and support - words can't describe how painful this is. Rest in peace Claire.'

Ms Austin's family members are believed to have spent several weeks in Sydney following her death before returning back home.
When Englishman Thomas Pellow was 27, he led a slave-hunting expedition to the West African coast. His orders were to plunder the villages, kill the adults and capture the children.

But Pellow was not a mercenary employed in the transatlantic slave trade, which sent millions of its victims across the ocean. He was a slave himself  taken prisoner as a child by the Moroccan Sultan Moulay Ismail. And 300 years ago, he was far from alone.

The sultan owned an estimated 25,000 European slaves, many seized in raiding expeditions on the south coast of England as well as countries as far afield as Iceland.

Though it is almost forgotten today  suppressed, perhaps, by some squeamish historians  the Muslim trade in both black African and white European slaves was deeply feared for three centuries.

Yet, at the time, dozens of memoirs, many of them bestsellers, were published by former slaves who had escaped from captivity, with horrendous stories of torture, rape and cold-blooded murder.

Now, a book by historian Justin Marozzi unflinchingly reveals the extent of slavery in Arab countries, which was conducted with unequalled brutality.

More shocking still, he shows that it continued in much of the Islamic world well into the 20th century  and, for hundreds of thousands of West Africans born into life as slaves, carries on to this day.

For Marozzi to investigate these stories, let alone publish, is courageous. His book invites an inevitable backlash from Left-wing academics and broadcasters who focus solely on the slave trade triangle between Europe, West Africa and the Americas that operated from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Though it is almost forgotten today  suppressed, perhaps, by some squeamish historians  the Muslim trade in both black African and white European slaves was deeply feared for three centuries (pictured: a handout from Justin Marozzi's book Captives and Companions)

Moroccan Sultan Moulay Islamil owned an estimated 25,000 European slaves, many seized in raiding expeditions on the south coast of England as well as countries as far afield as Iceland

To accuse Arabs, Turks and other Muslims of complicity in slavery is likely to be met with accusations of 'Islamophobia'. Yet, as Marozzi's research proves beyond doubt, slavery in the Muslim world has existed for far longer, caused even more deaths and misery and inflicted tortures that exceed anything imagined by the worst of the transatlantic traders.

As a single example: in the Victorian era, Sudan exported countless thousands of eunuchs to serve as slaves in Turkey and the Arab countries. Eunuchs, male slaves who had been castrated as pre-pubescent boys, were valued for their inability to procreate, and so could be trusted not to get sexually involved with their master's wives and consorts.

An estimated 35,000 pre-pubescent boys died from botched castration in Sudan every year, in order for 3,500 to survive without a penis or testicles.

Thomas Pellow escaped castration. But he suffered the worst a life of slavery could inflict in many other ways for more than 20 years.

He was an 11-year-old cabin boy on a ship skippered by his uncle, sailing out of Falmouth, Cornwall, in 1715, when he was taken captive. Off Cape Finisterre on Spain's Atlantic coastline, his craft was set upon by North African pirates and, after a battle in which young Thomas nearly drowned, he was taken in chains to Meknes in Morocco as a gift for Moulay Ismail  self-styled Prince of the Faithful.

The sultan gave Thomas to his own son, Moulay Spha, who forced him to convert to Islam. The boy, brought up a Christian, resisted for months, despite beatings during which he was suspended by the ankles to have the soles of his feet thrashed  a torture known as bastinado.

Thomas still refused to renounce Christianity, later writing: 'My tortures were now exceedingly increased, burning my flesh off my bones by fire.' Eventually, he pretended to submit  but 'I always abominated them and their accursed principle of Mahometism'.

His youthful defiance must have impressed the Arabs because he was soon back in the sultan's service.

Captives and Companions unflinchingly reveals the extent of slavery in Arab countries, which was conducted with unequalled brutality

Marozzi shows that it continued in much of the Islamic world well into the 20th century  and, for hundreds of thousands of West Africans born into life as slaves, carries on to this day

Pellow was put in command of a slave-hunting expedition to Guinea, with an army of 30,000 soldiers  all slaves themselves  and 60,000 camels. He was so trusted that the sultan even made him guardian of his 4,000 slave concubines.

In addition to his British, Spanish, Portuguese and French slaves, the sultan was estimated to own nearly a quarter of a million black Africans. To breed more slaves, he staged mass weddings for up to 1,600 people, marrying couples by pointing to them and declaring: 'That one takes that one.'

Pellow wrote: 'He always yokes his best complexioned subjects [i.e. white males] to a black helpmate, and the fair lady must take up with a negro . . . as firmly noosed as if they had been married by a pope.'

Muslims considered all children born to slave mothers to be slaves themselves, regardless of who their fathers were.

Brave Thomas finally escaped after 23 years as a captive, fleeing over the Atlas Mountains and reaching his parents' home in Cornwall months later, in 1738, after 'long straying and grievous hardships'.

His resulting book proved a sensation, promising 'a particular account of the astonishing tyranny and cruelty of their emperors, together with a description of the miseries of the Christian slaves'.

Even Samuel Pepys addressed the topic in his famous diaries. In February 1661, he recorded how he'd been drinking until four in the morning with two British men who had been slaves in Algiers, a Captain Mootham and Mr Dawes.

They had survived on bread and water, he wrote, and were regularly beaten on their feet and their stomachs. At night, any slave, male or female, could be ordered to their master's tent and raped.

Even Samuel Pepys addressed the topic in his famous diaries. In February 1661, he recorded how he'd been drinking until four in the morning with two British men who had been slaves in Algiers

Christian slaves pictured in Algiers in 1706. For Marozzi to investigate these stories, let alone publish, is courageous

Muslim pirates sailing out of Algiers raided all along the Mediterranean and out into the Atlantic as far as Madeira. By the 1620s, 10,000 European slaves were being held in the city's dungeons, including Scots, Irish, Dutch, Danish, Slav and Spanish captives. Others included Japanese and Chinese victims.

The Flemish aristocrat Emanuel d'Aranda, who spent two years as a prisoner doing punishingly heavy labour before he was ransomed, calculated that 600,000 European Christians were enslaved in Algiers between 1536 and 1640 alone. That tallies with the generally accepted estimate that a million white Europeans were enslaved from the 1500s to the 1800s.

Raids on coastal villages were horrific and bloody. Devon and Cornwall suffered repeated slave raids in the 1620s; and in 1627, two bands of slavers hit south-east Iceland, capturing more than 400 men, women and children. A man named Bjarni Valdason, who tried to escape, was clubbed over the head and killed, his body butchered into small pieces 'as if he were a sheep', according to one witness.

Houses were torched. One young mother and her two-year-old toddler were hurled into a blazing building and burned to death: 'When she and the poor child screamed and called to God for help, the wicked Turks bellowed with laughter. They struck both child and mother with the sharp points of their spears, forcing them into the fire, and even stabbed fiercely at the poor burning bodies.'

Those are the words of Olafur Egilsson, a Lutheran minister in his 60s, who was beaten until he could no longer stand, as the pirates tortured him to find out if the villagers had hidden treasure.

Distressing and deeply shocking as these individual stories are, they are a few cases among millions. The scale of slavery in the Muslim world was vast beyond imagination.

'At one time,' the eminent historian Professor Robert Tombs says, 'everyone knew about it. It was one of the main hazards of Mediterranean commerce for Western sailors. But today, most people are completely unaware it ever happened.'

Partly, that is due to the current insistence that the British empire was the source of all historical evils. It does not suit the politically correct narrative to admit that Muslim slave traders were the scourge of Africa, long before the Europeans arrived . . . and long after they left.

Pottery and other artifacts found in the shipwreck of a pirate ship from the city of Algiers dating back to the mid-1700s

A 1681 painting by Flemish painter Laureys a Castro depicting a sea battle between European ships and Barbary corsairs

Citing the Encyclopedia Britannica, Marozzi estimates that in 1861, at the start of the American Civil War that would put an end to U.S. slavery, there were more slaves in the Muslim states of West Africa than in the Confederate states of the Deep South of America.

The Arab slave trade dated back long before the beginnings of Islam in the 7th century. The Prophet Mohammed owned 70 slaves including Persians, Ethiopians, Copts (Christians from modern-day Egypt) and Syrians.

Between that time and the First World War, up to 17 million people were taken prisoner and used as slaves in Muslim armies and in brothels, on building sites and in private homes. That could be 50 per cent more than the total number of Africans transported across the Atlantic, a figure usually put at 11 million to 15 million.

By sickening tradition, the treatment of women was especially brutal. A witness at the Persian court of Musa al-Hadi, in the 8th century, described how the caliph once left in the middle of a meal after receiving a message from a eunuch.

When they returned, the eunuch was carrying a platter covered with a napkin, and trembling. Hadi whipped away the cloth, revealing, 'the heads of two slave girls, with more beautiful faces and hair, by God, than I had ever seen before'.

Hadi explained, as though nothing unusual had occurred: 'We received information that these two were in love with each other. So I set this eunuch to watch over them and report to me. I found them under a single coverlet committing an immoral act. I thereupon killed them.'

The castration of boys to make them into eunuchs was still practised as recently as the 19th century. The French aristocrat and explorer Count Raoul du Bisson saw it performed in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), calling the operation 'barbarous and revolting'.

'The little, helpless and unfortunate prisoner, or slave, is stretched out on an operating table,' he wrote in 1863. 'His neck is made fast in a collar fastened to the table, and his legs spread apart, and the ankles made fast to iron rings; his arms are held by an assistant. The operator then seizes the little penis and scrotum, and with one sweep of a sharp razor removes all the appendages.'

An illustration shows enslaved Christians seized by corsairs arriving in the port of Algiers to be ransomed

A bamboo catheter was then inserted into the urethra, to prevent it from scarring over, and hot oil, honey, tar or mule dung smeared over the cuts. The boy, typically aged between six and 12, was buried in warm sand up to his neck to stop him from moving while his wounds healed.

A majbub, or eunuch without his penis, fetched a much higher price at slave markets than a khasi, one who had merely had his testicles removed. A khasi was more likely to serve as a soldier or policeman than a majbub, who could be trusted in the harem. British people 200 years ago were no less repulsed by such stories than we are today.

As well as leading the way in ending the transatlantic slave trade in the 19th century, Great Britain put intense pressure on the Ottoman empire in Turkey and the whole of the Arab world to end slavery.

'Even while suppressing the transatlantic slave trade,' says historian and ethicist Professor Nigel Biggar, 'the British empire was busy trying to suppress the Arab slave trade in Africa  especially East Africa  including using the Royal Navy to intercept slave ships between Zanzibar and the Middle East.'

But in much of West Africa, slavery continues today. In Bamako, the capital of Mali, Marozzi met an escaped slave named Hamey, in his late 50s, who was living in destitution with his two wives and 12 children.

'I didn't choose to be a slave,' he said. 'My father was a slave, my grandfather was a slave, and many more generations before them. I was a slave until the day I refused to go on. I'd had enough of it. And that's when the violence began.'

Hamey spoke out because he was sick of seeing his wives and daughters raped. 'They can do it whenever they like. I could never accept that. My master used to tell me: "She may be your wife but I can take her whenever I want her." '

But when he pleaded for his family to be given their freedom, Hamey was set upon by the head of his village and a group of young men. 'They ripped off my clothes and, while I lay naked in the dirt, they whipped and kicked me and beat me in public. Everyone was watching. The whole community. They were cheering and filming it all on their phones.

'It lasted five hours, then the youths rushed to my house and drove me and my family out. They took my cows, my goats and my sheep. Suddenly, I had nothing, but I still had everyone to feed.'

It's a bleak prospect: slavery or starvation. And for an estimated one million slaves in Mali, an Islamic country, that is all life holds to this day.

l Captives And Companions: A History Of Slavery And The Slave Trade In The Islamic World, by Justin Marozzi, is published by Allen Lane.
Four in 10 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats lie about being children, official figures show.

Many are believed to have destroyed their identification documents before arriving in Britain in a desperate attempt to cheat the asylum system.

Child refugees cannot be deported and have the rights to the same healthcare, education and sustenance as British children.

Home Office figures show that from mid-2022 to June 2024, 11,449 age disputes were raised by UK Border Force staff.

A staggering 1,305 of those caught lying about their age were from Afghanistan, in a bid to get special protection in the UK.

While Sudan came below with 571 trying to con officials.

A whopping 8,791 were resolved with 3,570  40 per cent  having lied about being under 18.

And 355 Iranians, 325 Eritreans and 318 Vietnamese asylum seekers were caught pretending to be children.

Four in 10 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats lie about being children, official figures show

Last year, 56 per cent of disputes identified adult migrants lying about their age, figures from The Sun on Sunday revealed.

It comes as a damning report by borders inspector David Bolt found a 'lack of curiosity from immigration staff about the genuine age of Channel migrants.

So much so that one Iranian with grey hairs and stubble managed to pass for 17-years-old.

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 last week announced testing on new technology will begin later this year with the hope it could be fully integrated into the asylum system in 2026.

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.

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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 Home Office spokeswoman told The Sun: 'Robust age assessments for illegal migrants are vital to maintaining border security.

'We will start to modernise that process in the coming months through the testing of fast and effective AI Age Estimation technology at key Border Force locations, with a view to fully integrate Facial Age Estimation into the current age assessment system over the course of 2026.'

The Home Office have been contacted for comment by MailOnline.
Taliban fighters have been brought to the UK on secret airlift flights after the Afghanistan data breach which was revealed by the Mail.

This newspaper revealed earlier this month a British military official catastrophically wrongly shared a database of 100,000 Afghans who had applied for sanctuary in the UK.

The scheme was set up for those who worked with British forces to flee the murderous Taliban - so the disastrous leak amounted to giving a 'kill list' to the vengeful jihadist warlords.

The breach was discovered by the Mail in August 2023 - and so far, 18,500 of the Afghans it imperilled have been flown to Britain or are on their way in taxpayer-funded jets, under a covert airlift, codenamed Operation Rubific.

A total of 23,900 are earmarked for arrival. They are living in MOD homes or hotels until permanent homes are found.

Tens of thousands of others will be left behind in Afghanistan and will have to fend for themselves against vengeful Taliban warlords.

But now, former Taliban fighters themselves have reportedly been brought to this country under the airlift scheme, The Telegraph reports.

Sex offenders, corrupt officials and individuals put in prison under Afghanistan's US-led coalition are also among those accepted for resettlement in the UK.

Taliban fighters have been brought to the UK on secret airlift flights after the Afghanistan data breach cover-up revealed by the Mail. Pictured: Taliban fighters pose for a photograph in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 19, 2021, after the fall of Kabul

This newspaper revealed earlier this month a British military official catastrophically wrongly shared a database of 100,000 Afghans who had applied for sanctuary in the UK. Pictured: A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations from a humanitarian aid group in Kabul in May 2023

The scheme was set up for those who worked with British forces to flee the murderous Taliban. Pictured: Members of the Taliban in a rally to mark the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul in Kabul in August last year

It is because they were on the leaked list of names of Afghans who had applied to come to the UK.

Several individuals on list had also previously had their applications rejected for violent or sexual assaults.

A 23-month High Court super-injunction, only lifted this month, previously prevented the media reporting on the leak and the airlift operation, keeping the public in the dark.

Secret hearings in the High Court have also heard how Parliament has been deliberately kept oblivious  or even 'misled', as a judge was told.

Senior sources have now said people with Taliban connections managed to infiltrate the evacuation scheme and get fighters from the militant group to the UK.

They did so in some cases by naming the Islamic fundamentalists as relatives or dependents who would need to accompany them to this country.

One Afghan official revealed: 'We had civilians in our office who had clear ties with the Taliban.'

Another explained it was 'corrupt' Afghan officials who were getting people with Taliban connections to Britain, on the scheme intended for actual UK allies.

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It was facilitated by UK officials tending to rely on these corrupt Afghan representatives for advice, they added: 'It's depressing.'

Another said: 'They are not good for Britain. They were fighting against British forces and killed lots of Brits but now are being fed by Brits in London.

'They have British blood on their hands.'

The Ministry of Defence has previously revealed some Afghans who entered the UK on the scheme brought more than 20 relatives with them.

Four such Taliban sympathisers who are said to have entered the UK under the airlift scheme have reportedly been named so far.

One, who came to this country before Kabul fell in 2021, is understood to have arranged for other Taliban-connected relatives to accompany him.

The MoD confirmed he is living in Britain - but did not confirm or deny whether his Taliban sympathiser family followed him.

It also confirmed another man - who was jailed for four years for selling Coalition weapons to the Taliban before his release when Kabul fell - is living in the UK too.

Four such Taliban sympathisers who are said to have entered the UK under the airlift scheme have reportedly been named so far. Pictured: Taliban fighters stand guard near an open-air rally outside Kabul in October 2021

A third person, an alleged sexual offender, is understood not to have moved here yet - but his case is being worked through, according to defence sources.

The final individual is a British passport holder who allegedly vouched for Taliban sympathisers getting airlifted to the UK.

An MoD spokesperson did not comment directly on the claim this fourth person brought Taliban-connected people to the UK.

They simply said vetting procedures include biographic and document checks, not just recommendations.

It has previously been reported former soldier and reservist Robert Clark, who worked on the scheme, had been told by MoD officials full vetting had not been completed.

It comes after the horrifying discovery Taliban warlords are on a vengeful killing spree against hundreds of Afghans after the British Government lost the top secret database.

One man was shot by a gunman who stepped from an alley earlier this month and fired four bullets at close range into his chest  one of three assassinations in the past seven days.

Panic has been spreading since Afghans were officially informed their personal details had been lost in the UK's worst ever data blunder, putting 100,000 'at risk of death'.

Colonel Shafiq Ahmad Khan (pictured) was lured into a trap and shot twice in the heart on his doorstep in May 2022

Thousands received 'notifications' from His Majesty's Government saying sorry, and adding: 'We understand this news may be concerning.'

It is not known if the Taliban actually has the database, which includes names of Afghans who helped the UK, as well as members of the British intelligence community, it is understood.

But one Afghan soldier, who fled to Britain for fear of retribution, believes his brother was gunned down in the street this week because the militant group was aware of his affiliation to the UK.

He said: 'If or when the Taliban have this list, then killings will increase  and it will be Britain's fault. There will be many more executions like the one on Monday.'

The Mail has seen a dossier of more than 300 murders that include those who worked with the UK and some who had applied for the UK scheme, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).

The murdered include Colonel Shafiq Ahmad Khan, a senior Afghan intelligence officer who had worked alongside British forces.

The 61-year-old grandfather was lured into a trap and shot twice in the heart on his doorstep in May 2022.

Others include commando Ahjmadzai, who applied for sanctuary in the UK, and soldier Qassim, both killed in April 2023.

A government spokesperson said: 'As with all those arriving to the UK, anyone found eligible for relocation from Afghanistan and their family members undergo robust security checks, including for national security.

'If they don't pass these checks, they are not granted entry to the UK.

'These robust checks include biometric screening for any criminal or immigration records and the taking of fingerprint and facial images to accurately identify those who pose a threat to our national security and public safety.

'Any behaviour that contravenes UK law will be acted on.'
This Morning presenter Ashley James has told how she has been spiked 'multiple times' after worrying new data revealed that almost 7million Britons may have had their drinks laced with drugs.

A survey of 3,000 UK adults commissioned by CounterSpike earlier this month saw 12 per cent of respondents say they had been spiked during their lifetime, with a further 22 per cent saying they at least knew someone who had been, even if they hadn't.

If those totals were uniformed across Britain, that would mean around 6.6million adults had been spiked at some point in their lives.

The troubling data comes as police forces across the UK deal with soaring reports of spiking in their areas, figures which have drastically shot up in the last five to six years.

Freedom of Information data revealed that Greater Manchester Police had recorded 463 spiking incidents last year alone, an increase of 261 per cent since 2019, with 128 incidents recorded.

West Midlands Police also logged 183 suspected spiking incidents against women in 2024, compared to 25 in 2020, a 632 per cent surge.

And West Yorkshire saw 444 cases of spiking recorded last year, a 210 per cent increase from the 143 dealt with in 2019.

Ms James said she believes that she has been spiked on numerous occasions during her time at university and when she has spent time in London.

This Morning presenter Ashley James has told how she has been spiked 'multiple times' after worrying new data revealed that almost seven million Britons may have had their drinks laced with drugs

Freedom of Information data revealed that Greater Manchester Police had recorded 463 spiking incidents last year alone, an increase of 261 per cent since 2019 (Stock Image)

She told The Sun: 'Having spent a lot of time in nightlife spaces - especially working as a DJ - I've sadly seen just how common spiking still is.

'Several of my close friends have had their drinks spiked, both in the UK and abroad, and there's lots of cases where boys are spiked for pranks.

'It seems like everyone, including myself, has either been spiked or knows someone who has.'

The TV host, who is an ambassador for CounterSpike, who have created a kit which allows you to test your drink for unwanted substances, added that she would never a drink from a stranger or leave her glass unattended on a night out anymore.

Spiking is illegal and carries a sentence of up to ten years in prison, but it is often followed by the victim being targeted for robbery, theft, or sex crimes.

The drink-tampering tactic most commonly occurs in places like bars, nightclubs and at festivals. And amid a rise in vape users in the UK, officers last year warned that some offenders were even lacing the smoke devices with psychoactive drugs.

The latest data released by the National Police Chiefs Council also revealed that of their 6,732 recorded spiking cases between April 2022 to April 2023, 957 of those were by needles - meaning victims had drugs injected straight into their bloodstream.

Further research last year showed that despite 13 per cent of women and nine per cent of men believing they have been the victim of spiking, nine-in-10 do not report it to police.

West Midlands Police logged 183 suspected incidents of spiking against women last year, compared to 25 in 2020, an astonishing 632 per cent increase (Stock Image)

Sir Keir Starmer pledged last November to tackle the epidemic by training 10,000 bar staff to spot spiking happening as moves to make it a specific criminal offence were brought forward.

Bartenders and bouncers were taught how to identify offenders and victims under a new drive to cut down on the number of people being given knock-out drugs on nights out.

The Prime Minister said this would 'enable everybody to have the confidence to come forward' and 'allows perpetrators to know that it's a specific offence.'

A poll by Drinkaware and Anglia Ruskin University last year found that just 10 per cent of spiking offences are reported to police, with half of those targeted saying they 'don't see the point' of reporting it.

The Home Office also allocated 250,000 to train pub and bar workers how to prevent spiking.

That money funded training for up to 10,000 serving staff and 'bouncers' who were taught how to spot the signs of a potential offender, protect victims and preserve evidence for police.

Sir Keir Starmer pledged last November to tackle the epidemic by training 10,000 bar staff to spot spiking happening as moves to make it a specific criminal offence were brought forward

A government spokesman said the new offence would mean perpetrators will 'feel the full force of the law'.

Speaking last year, Sir Keir said: 'We must do more to bring the vile perpetrators who carry out this cowardly act, usually against young women and often to commit a sexual offence, to justice.

'That is why I made a promise that, if elected, I would make spiking a new criminal offence. Today, I am proud to have come good on that pledge.'

He added: 'I will bring together police chiefs, heads of industry and transport bosses to demand coordinated action to stop women being targeted, whether they are out with friends or simply travelling home.

'Cracking down on spiking is central to that mission.'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever this appalling crimes take place.'

A Home Office report published in December 2023 said they had 'made great strides to understand and more effectively tackle spiking'.

The report said key to this was placing a significant victim-first approach, adding: 'Our priority has been to ensure that victims have the confidence to come forward and report these crimes and that they are taken seriously when they do so.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Nobody should ever have to worry about their safety on a night out or be in fear of being spiked when they should be enjoying themselves.

'We are working with bars, pubs and venues to ensure specialist spiking training for staff is rolled out, as well as supporting the police with innovative tactics to tackle spiking, including using sniffer dogs to detect perpetrators.

'Our new criminal offence will strengthen how we respond to spiking, empowering victims to have the confidence to report these crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.'
Anthony Albanese has refused to say whether or not he will raise taxes after Treasury advised a hike to fix the federal Budget deficit.

Insiders host David Speers grilled the prime minister on the topic on Sunday following revelations Treasury had made the suggestion.

In an extraordinary blunder, bureaucrats mistakenly released parts of a secret briefing document given to the incoming Labor government in response to an ABC Freedom of Information request.

In the briefing notes, officials told Treasurer Jim Chalmers that 'tax should be raised as part of broader tax reform' to make the federal Budget 'sustainable' as Treasury forecasts years of Budget deficits.

The officials suggested the government 'build on' its superannuation tax and raise 'indirect taxes', such as those on alcohol and tobacco, with personal income taxes now making up more than half of Commonwealth revenue.

'Is Treasury right? Do we need to increase the tax take?' Speers asked Albanese.

'Well, what we need to do is to make sure that our tax system is fair, and we will always do that,' the prime minister replied.

Speers repeated his question, before Albanese avoided answering for a second time.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (above, on Insiders on Sunday morning) dodged questions over Treasury advice suggesting taxes should rise to repair the federal budget

Leaked Treasury documents revealed proposals to Jim Chalmers (pictured, with Albanese) to raise indirect taxes

'Well, what we need to do is get fiscal policy right,' he said.

Speers asked what that meant for voters, and if it directly translated to increasing the total amount of taxation.

'What it means is what we've done, which is we produced two budget surpluses and we've reduced the budget deficit going forward, compared with what it was anticipated to be before we were elected,' Albanese said.

The prime minister reasoned Treasury advice was not government policy, and said he encouraged departments to put forward their advice.

He said his Labor government would keep a close eye on the budget and 'be responsible'.

'But surely you have an idea, as to when you look at the budget, whether you agree that tax needs to go up and spending needs to go down to fix it?' Speers asked a third time

'What I agree to is what we do in the Expenditure Review Committee, that's already begun meeting... [and] examine each policy to make sure that there's value for money,' Albanese said.

He also said other policies like his superannuation tax changes would come in time.

David Speers (above) grilled the PM on how he would respond to the advice from Treasury

The Treasury advice was accidentally provided to the ABC along with other documents in response to a Freedom of Information request.

While the document featured the typical redactions, a Treasury official forgot to black out sensitive headings and subheadings, disclosing secret and politically damaging information.

The advice forecast years of budget deficits.

Officials suggested the government 'build on' its superannuation tax and raise 'indirect taxes', such as those on alcohol and tobacco, with personal income taxes now making up more than half of Commonwealth revenue.

The document also shows officials bluntly told Labor that the party's pledge to build 1.2million homes over five years in response to the housing crisis 'will not be met'.

Labor is already seeking to increase taxes on super balances above $3million.

Chalmers at the time declined to rule out any new tax hikes ahead of the August economic roundtable.
An Illinois landlord who brutally murdered a young Palestinian boy over his religion has died in custody.

Joseph Czuba, 73, died on Thursday while in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, officials from the Will County Sheriff's Office announced on Saturday.

Czuba's cause of death has not yet been determined, but his lawyer has previously said he had stage 4 cancer, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

His death comes just months after he was sentenced to serve more than 50 years behind bars for the October 2023 stabbing death of six-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi.

Authorities have said Czuba had targeted Aflayoumi and his mother, Hanan Shaheen, over their Islamic faith in the aftermath of Hamas' October 7 on Israel.

The little boy, who was Palestinian and born in the US, was stabbed 26 times in the frenzied attack inside their Plainfield home, which they had been renting from Czuba.

He was ultimately convicted in February of murder, attempted murder and hate crime charges and was sentenced to serve 53 years behind bars in May.

Wadee's father, Odai Alfayoumi, said he is now grateful that the landlord lived long enough 'for justice to be served.'

Joseph Czuba, 73, an Illinois landlord who was convicted earlier this year of murdering a young Palestinian boy, has died in custody

Czuba was found guilty in February of the stabbing death of Wadee Alfayoumi, six

Jurors had deliberated for less than an hour and a half before they handed down their verdict earlier this year in the murder of the young boy, which Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak called 'brutal and heinous.'

They had heard detailed testimony from police officers, medical teams, Czuba's ex-wife and Shaheen during the trial how the landlord started spewing anti-Muslim rhetoric when the war in Gaza started.

Shaheen, for example, told how her family had not had any prior issues in the two years they rented from the Czubas. They shared a kitchen and living room with the Czubas.

But after the Israel-Hamas war broke out, Czuba told her that they had to move out because Muslims were not welcome.

He later confronted Shaheen and attacked her, holding her down, stabbing her and trying to break her teeth.

'He told me "You, as a Muslim, must die,"' said Shaheen, who testified in English and Arabic though a translator.

At that point, Czuba went after her son in a different room, where Alfayoumi was later found naked with a knife still in his side.

Shaheen had more than a dozen stab wounds and it took her weeks to recover. The boy was later pronounced dead.

Czuba also stabbed the boy's mother, Hanan Shaheen

The family had been renting a room from Czuba inside his home at the time of the incident

Police officers also testified that they found Czuba outside the house sitting on the ground with blood on his body and hands.

He told the cops he thought 'they were going to do jihad on me' and compared the family to 'infested rats.'

Jurors were even shown graphic photos from the murder, a knife-holder Czuba used to attack the mother and son and police video footage.

At times, video screens showing explicit footage were turned away from the public viewing audience, where members of Wadee's family sat during the trial.

Following the verdict, Odai Alfayomi - who also filed a civil lawsuits over the boy's death - told reporters: 'I dont know if I should be pleased or upset, if I should be crying or laughing.

'People are telling me to smile. Maybe if I were one of you, I would be smiling, but Im the father of the child and I've lost the child. And I feel like this decision came a little too late.'

The little boy was stabbed 26 times in the frenzied attack inside their Plainfield home

Meanwhile, Ahmed Rehab - the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Chicago branch - said the Islamophobia Czuba displayed still persists in the United States.

'This depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well,' he said in a statement.

'Wadee was stabbed to death 26 times for being Palestinian. Two years later, even as we speak, thousands of Gazan children are being shot, bombed and starved to death for being Palestinian.

'It's the hate that must die,' he concluded.
BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Profits of China's major industrial firms saw a smaller decline in June 2025, with the manufacturing sector showing significant improvement, official data showed Sunday.

Industrial firms with an annual main business revenue of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars) saw their combined profits reach 3.44 trillion yuan during the January-June period, down 1.8 percent year on year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In June, profits of China's major industrial firms slipped 4.3 percent year on year, 4.8 percentage points narrower than the decline seen in May. Notably, profits of major firms in the manufacturing sector reversed from a drop of 4.1 percent to grow by 1.4 percent in June.

The operating revenue of these firms increased by 1 percent year on year in June, maintaining the same growth rate as in May.

"This sustained revenue growth has created favorable conditions for the recovery of corporate profits," said NBS statistician Yu Weining.

Among the manufacturing sectors, equipment manufacturing saw rapid growth in profits last month. The automotive industry stood out in this regard -- achieving a profit surge of 96.8 percent in June, driven both by automakers' sales promotions and increased investment returns from major enterprises.

Profits in the electrical machinery, instrument manufacturing and metal products industries grew by 18.7 percent, 12.3 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively, in June, said Yu.

Industries related to China's industrial transformation and upgrading endeavors reported outstanding profit growth in June -- with the aircraft manufacturing sector seeing profits increase by 19 percent, lithium-ion battery manufacturing recording a profit surge of 72.8 percent, and biomass power generation profits up by 24.5 percent.

Since the beginning of 2025, China has expanded the coverage scope of its equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in program, leading to notable profit improvements in relevant industries, said Yu.

Boosted by this policy, the medical equipment manufacturing sector saw profits increase by 12.1 percent in June, while companies on the industrial chain of goods such as consumer electronics and home appliances also enjoyed noteworthy profit increases.

Despite rising challenges and external uncertainties, China achieved steady economic growth in the first half of 2025 -- with its gross domestic product growing by 5.3 percent year on year, NBS data released earlier this month revealed.

The data showed that China's value-added industrial output increased by 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year, fueled by rapid growth in the equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing sectors.

Looking ahead, Yu emphasized the need to advance the building of a unified national market and steadfastly promote the high-quality development of the industrial economy.

"These efforts will continuously consolidate the foundation for the recovery of industrial enterprises' performance," Yu said. 
Regular Aussies are getting fed up of their prices

Salvation Army stores are charging more than ever

An outraged Aussie has lashed out at the expensive prices at op shops, with many claiming they have ditched the charity stores for good and gone to Kmart or Target.

TikTok user Bekkah showed off some of the ridiculous prices for tables, dolls and cups at her local Sydney Salvation Army store in a video posted on Wednesday.

The mother could not believe how expensive items had become as the op shop seemingly abandoned its legacy as an affordable safe haven for struggling Aussies.

Bekkah claimed the thrift stores were now taking advantage of 'vulnerable' Australians.

'Australia's most expensive op-shop/thrift shop goes to the Salvation Army,' she wrote in the caption.

Throughout the store, many tables were priced around the $550 mark, a number of dolls cost $120 and even some drinking mugs were $75.

Most of the items Bekkah filmed had already been discounted, meaning they were even more expensive to begin with.

The second-hand tables in particular had each been discounted by $100.

Bekkah, from Sydney, walked through her local Salvation Army store to show others online how much they were charging for simple goods

Social media users said these types of prices were the reason they would rather shop at Kmart or Target.

'Funny how the Big W clothing in the salvo shops is more expensive than buying new from Big W itself,' one wrote.

'Op shops are actually so lame with the prices right now. I can get stuff brand new at Kmart that they would sell for twice the price used,' another agreed.

'This is why I now post heaps for free on marketplace,' a third said.

'Because I'm not donating so the heads of these "charities" can drive around in luxury cars and live in luxury homes.'

Others questioned why op shop prices only ever seemed to be going up.

'Considering they get it for free, thats upsetting,' one social media user commented.

'And their staff are mostly volunteers. And the charities don't pay tax,' a second said.

Bekkah accused the thrift shop of taking advantage of 'vulnerable' Australians

Many people are now returning to Kmart, Target and Big W because op-shops are no longer considered the cheapest option

'There needs to be a Four Corners into why op shops are more expensive, and where that money is actually going,' a third suggested.

An expert in the not-for-profit sector, Dr Bronwen Dalton, said cheap op shop items - from clothing to furniture - seemed to be a thing of the past partially due to the rise of fast fashion and the housing crisis.

'Because of fast fashion like Shein, massive amounts of really, really poor-quality clothing that is not fit for sale is dumped, and (charities) have to cover the costs of getting rid of it,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'(And) charities are used as a way to get rid of stuff, people just don't want it and don't particularly care what happens to it.'

Dr Dalton also suggested charities move to a 'less commercial' ethos.

Some overheads have risen as charities look to 'professionalise' and run their operations in a more 'business-minded' fashion.

'There's been a bit of, "charities are badly run; we should get CEOs from business because they really know how to run things",' Dr Dalton said.

'CEOs from the business sector bring their ideas which don't take into account the mission and community.

'Not-for-profits have had to evolve our approach and model to remain relevant and appeal to the changing competitive market.'
Hackers have gained access to hundreds of thousands of people's personal data after Allianz Life Insurance Company was breached.

Minneapolis-based Allianz Life, a subsidiary of Munich, Germany-based Allianz SE, said the data breach affected the majority of its 1.4 million customers.

The data heist occurred on July 16 when a 'malicious threat actor' gained access to a third-party, cloud-based system. It was discovered the following day.

'The threat actor was able to obtain personally identifiable data related to the majority of Allianz Life's customers, financial professionals, and select Allianz Life employees, using a social engineering technique,' Allianz Life said in a statement.

'We took immediate action to contain and mitigate the issue and notified the FBI.'

The insurance giant said it notified the FBI and based on its ongoing investigation that there is no evidence the Allianz Life network or other company systems were accessed, including their policy administration system - just the third-party platform.

Allianz Life said its investigation is ongoing and that the company has begun reaching out to the impacted individuals.

It said the incident involves only Allianz Life in the US, not other Allianz corporate entities.

UA insurance giant Allianz Life said on Saturday that hackers stole the personal information of the majority of its customers, financial professionals, and select Allianz Life employees

Minneapolis-based Allianz Life said the data breach happened on July 16 when a 'malicious threat actor' gained access to a third-party, cloud-based system used by the company

The insurance giant's filing with Maine's attorney general did not indicate the number of customers affected.

In the case of data breaches, a 'social engineering technique' usually involves using trickery to gain access.

Spokesman Brett Weinberg said he couldn't provide details because they are still investigating.

Allianz Life also reported the breach to multiple other authorities, including the Maine Attorney General's Office.

A filing on the agency's website said the company discovered the breach the day after it happened, and that it will be offering those affected 24 months of identity theft protection and credit monitoring.

Allianz Life was known as North American Life and Casualty until it was acquired by German conglomerate Allianz SE in 1979 and changed its name to Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America.

It has nearly 2,000 employees in U.S., with the majority working in Minnesota, according to its website.

It is one of five North American subsidiaries of the Munich-based global financial services group Allianz SE, which says it serves more than 125 million customers worldwide.
A 22-year-old Army cadet from New Jersey has died while participating in a summer training exercise at Fort Knox in Kentucky.

Cadet Neil Edara, of Ridgewood, was conducting Land Navigation Training on Thursday, as part of the U.S. Army's Cadet Summer Training program, when he became unresponsive, according to a statement from the U.S. Army Cadet Command.

The collapsed cadet then 'received immediate medical attention' and was later airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Army says Edara's cause of death remains under investigation.

'Cadet Edara was one of the most dedicated and promising young leaders I've had the privilege to know,' Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Sorensen, professor of military science at Rutgers University, where Edara was enrolled in ROTC, said.

'His calm, collected demeanor and unwavering commitment to excellence left a lasting impact on everyone around him. His loss is deeply felt across the entire ROTC and Rutgers community.'

Cadet Neil Edara (pictured), of Ridgewood, was conducting Land Navigation Training on Thursday, as part of the U.S. Army's Cadet Summer Training program, when he became unresponsive

The collapsed cadet then 'received immediate medical attention' and was later airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Pictured: The gate to the U.S. Army Armor Center in Fort Knox, Kentucky

Land Navigation Training is a core part of the program, designed to test cadets' ability to navigate terrain using map and compass skills during both day and night conditions. Advanced instruction includes range estimation, terrain analysis, and mounted navigation. Pictured: Army ROTC Cadet Summer Training in Fort Knox, Kentucky

A private memorial service for Edara is scheduled for Monday, July 28 at the Army installation in Kentucky - about 40 miles from Louisville.

Edara joined ROTC at Rutgers in September 2021 and was attending Cadet Summer Training as a member of the 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, according to the ROTC's statement.

The annual program at Fort Knox draws more than 7,000 ROTC cadets from across the country and is considered the largest training event hosted by the U.S. Army each year, WDRB reported.

Land Navigation Training is a core part of the program, designed to test cadets' ability to navigate terrain using map and compass skills during both day and night conditions. Advanced instruction includes range estimation, terrain analysis, and mounted navigation, according to the military's website.

The Army says cadet safety remains a top priority.

'Safety of cadets and cadre remains U.S. Army Cadet Command's top priority as training continues. Cadets have access to religious affairs or spiritual counseling and support as required,' the statement concludes.
Tulsi Gabbard shot back at former President Barack Obama over his 'absolute failure' to stop intelligence reports implicating Donald Trump's 2016 campaign with Russian collusion.

The Director of National Intelligence laid into Obama on an appearance on Fox & Friends on Saturday, accusing him of 'treasonous conspiracy.'

Gabbard cited allegations she made last week accusing Obama's White House of pushing a 'hoax' that Trump's 2016 campaign was propped up by the Kremlin.

Trump also accused Obama of treason, while the 44th president issued a statement denying all the allegations lodged against him.

'The complicity, the deflection, and the silence of politicians, of the mainstream media, and of those directly implicated into this speaks volumes,' Gabbard said on Saturday.

The former Democrat-turned-Republican also responded to a blistering comeback from Obama over her claims, in which Obama said Gabbard was making 'bizarre allegations' that are a 'weak attempt at distraction' from the Epstein files.

Gabbard countered: 'President Obamas very carefully worded response that came from his office, again, deflects away from addressing any of the truth that was revealed.

'They would have to admit and actually address the details of their complicity in this or their absolute failure in conducting the most basic responsibilities of, again, asking, where is this intelligence coming from?'

Tulsi Gabbard shot back at former President Barack Obama over his 'absolute failure' to stop intelligence reports allegedly implicating Donald Trump 's 2016 campaign with Russian collusion this week

Gabbard cited allegations she made last week accusing Obama's White House of pushing a 'hoax' that Trump's 2016 campaign was propped up by the Kremlin

Gabbard made the remarks a day after she sent a criminal referral against Obama to Attorney General Pam Bondi, alleging he 'manufactured and politicized intelligence' to create a narrative implicating Trump with Russia.

In an X post about her criminal referral, Gabbard said: 'Their goal was to usurp President Trump and subvert the will of the American people.

'No matter how powerful, every person involved in this conspiracy must be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The integrity of our democratic republic depends on it.

'We are turning over all documents to the DOJ for criminal referral.'

Gabbard's rebuke of Obama comes after the former president issued a rare statement to condemn Trump's wild allegations of 'treason.'

'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,' an Obama spokesperson said.

'But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.'

The former president's spokesman then turned to Gabbard's report, saying: '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.

The pushback from Obama's team came after Trump issued an extraordinary call Tuesday to investigate the ex-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 - the scandal that Obama appeared to be implying that Trump was trying to 'distract' from.

Trump has since threatened to prosecute Obama, saying this week that 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.

But over the weekend, Trump admitted his own Supreme Court victory granting 'presidential immunity' means it's unlikely Obama will be charged with treason over his handling of the 'Russia hoax.'

Even if Obama were to be in trouble, the Supreme Court ruled in a monumental 2024 decision that the President of the United States has immunity from prosecution for official acts in office, in a case argued by lawyers on Trump's behalf.

Trump was asked if 'presidential immunity' would apply to Obama before his trip to Scotland on Friday and the president didn't deny it, going as far as to say he'd done his predecessor a favor.

'He has done criminal acts, no question about it. But he has immunity and it probably helps him a lot. He owes me big. Obama owes me big,' Trump said.

The ex-president's team argued in late 2023 that Trump, and any president, must have absolute immunity from prosecution over actions taken while in office or it could impair important decision-making.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has fired off a chilling battle cry, vowing victory in an 'anti-imperialist, anti-US' war, despite Trump boasting about their special relationship just months ago.

Marking the 71st anniversary of the Korean War armistice, Jong Un ramped up his war rhetoric, declaring his regime would become the 'honorable victors' in a new global showdown against Washington DC and its allies.

'Our state and its people would surely achieve the great cause of building a rich country with a strong army and become honorable victors in the anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. showdown,' Kim said, according to North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency.

The bold proclamation was part of North Korea's national celebration of 'Victory Day,' a holiday the country uniquely commemorates despite the war ending in stalemate. South Korea, however, does not mark the occasion.

Jong Un's announcement comes as North Korea deepens its military alliance with Russia, fighting alongside the sprawling country in its war against Ukraine.

Thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly been deployed to Russia's Kursk region, and Pyongyang is believed to be shipping munitions to fuel Moscow's war in Ukraine.

More troops may be dispatched as early as August, South Korean officials have warned.

The fiery rhetoric however is nothing new for Jong Un, who has spent months accusing the U.S. and South Korea of provoking conflict.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un (pictured) has fired off a chilling battle cry, vowing victory in an 'anti-imperialist, anti-U.S.' war

But, back in February, President Donald Trump resurfaced in the North Korea conversation, boasting about his 'friendship' with the North Korean leader

In February this year, President Donald Trump resurfaced in the North Korea conversation, boasting about his 'friendship' with Jong Un.

During his first term, Trump met Jong Un three times, including one visit to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

'We will have relations with North Korea, with Kim Jong Un,' Trump said during a press conference in February 2025, while standing beside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

'I got along with him very well, as you know. I think I stopped a war,' Trump added.

While the meetings earned global headlines, critics say they gave Jong Un international legitimacy without curbing his nuclear ambitions.

Even so, Trump doubled down claiming the meetings were an 'asset for the world.'

'If I can have a relationship with not only him, but other people throughout the world where there seem to be difficulties, I think that's a tremendous asset for the world.'

However in October, Jong Un issued a warning about his country's nuclear capabilities.

He said North Korea 'will without hesitation use all its attack capabilities' if it detects even a hint of military action from its enemies.

'The use of nuclear weapons is not ruled out in this case,' Kim declared during a speech at the Kim Jong Un University of National Defense on October 7.

Jong Un claims the nuclear buildup is necessary as Washington and Seoul strengthen their joint military planning and expand strategic weapons deployment across the region.

Since 2022, North Korea has followed a first-strike nuclear policy, claiming it will launch nuclear weapons if it perceives a threat to its leadership.

Jong Un's announcement comes as North Korea deepens its military alliance with Russia, fighting alongside the sprawling country in its war against Ukraine. Pictured: Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at Kim Jong Un University of National Defense on October 7, 2024

During his first term, Trump met Kim three times, including one visit to the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea

Satellite images from October (pictured) suggest Pyongyang has opened a new facility to produce weapons-grade uranium and is conducting ongoing missile tests, including hypersonic and strategic cruise missiles

Still, most military analysts believe Pyongyang would struggle to match the combined firepower of the U.S. and South Korea.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol fired back at Kim's 'threats', warning the northern leader that any use of nuclear weapons would spell the 'end of the regime' and trigger an 'overwhelming' response from the allied forces.

Meanwhile, North Korea's missile program continues at full throttle.

Satellite images from October suggest Pyongyang has opened a new facility to produce weapons-grade uranium and is conducting ongoing missile tests, including hypersonic and strategic cruise missiles.
A teen swimmer has died in the Atlantic Ocean, just days after senators sounded the alarm over a shortage of lifeguards at the federally-managed beach.

The 18-year-old man, whose name has not been released, was swimming with another person off the coast of Chincoteague Beach on Assateague Island, Maryland, which when both began to struggle in the water.

The pair were roughly 150 yards south of the designated lifeguard zone on Thursday, officials confirmed.

A relative sprinted down the sand to alert lifeguards at about 4.15pm, triggering a desperate rescue attempt.

Lifeguards were able to save one swimmer, but the teen was pulled from the surf unconscious and unresponsive. CPR was immediately performed on the beach.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.

The tragedy comes amid mounting criticism of the National Park Service's lifeguard staffing levels at Assateague Island, a 37-mile barrier island straddling Maryland and Virginia that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every summer.

The Maryland side of the island remains entirely unguarded, while the Virginia side only recently saw lifeguards return after a wave of federal budget cuts slashed nearly 1,000 NPS jobs and froze hiring through mid-July.

A teenage swimmer has died after being pulled from the Atlantic Ocean near Assateague Island, just days after US senators sounded the alarm over a shortage of lifeguards at the federally-managed beach

The 18-year-old man was swimming with another person off the coast of Chincoteague Beach on Thursday afternoon when both began to struggle in the water

According to the National Park Service, lifeguards, park police, US Fish and Wildlife officers, and Virginia emergency personnel all responded to Thursday's emergency, but the swimmer's distance from the protected zone raises serious questions about the park's ability to monitor its waters effectively.

Though the cause of death has not been officially determined, officials confirmed the drowning occurred in an area notorious for strong currents and is the same stretch of water where lifeguards made 24 rescues in 2024 alone.

Some witnesses described the swimmers as being 'well offshore' by the time help was alerted.

The NPS has called the staffing crisis a 'nationwide concern,' but critics say the Assateague case highlights how years of dysfunction and cost-cutting are now putting lives at stake.

The drowning has fueled new demands for accountability just as the park braces for peak summer crowds.

The teen's identity has not yet been released as officials notify next of kin.

No further information was available on the other swimmer involved in the incident but Daily Mail has reached out to NPS for comment.

It marks the first confirmed drowning at Assateague Island this season.
President Donald Trump has suggested he would prosecute Democrats for paying celebrities like Oprah and Beyonce - claiming they were illegally bribing the A-listers to endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

The president took to his Truth Social page Saturday night to lament what he called the 'probably illegal' payments the Democratic campaign made to celebrities.

Among those he accused of accepting the lucrative payments was Beyonce, who he said accepted $11 million from the Kamala Harris campaign before she gave a short speech at a campaign rally in Houston, Texas.

Trump also claimed that Oprah took $3 million in 'expenses' from the Democrats and 'very low-rated TV "anchor"' Al Sharpton received $600,000 from the Harris campaign.

'These ridiculous fees were incorrectly stated in the books and records,' he said, months after he demanded a 'major investigation' into the former vice president's campaign expenditures.

'YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO,' Trump argued.

'Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying people to endorse them? All hell would break out!'

'Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW,' the president continued. 'They should all be prosecuted!'

Oprah has claimed the Harris campaign simply reimbursed her production company, Harpo Productions, for organizing a town hall event

He claimed on his Truth Social platform the Democrats were illegally bribing the A-listers to endorse then Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election

Trump has made similar claims in the past, writing in December that 'Beyonce didn't sing, Oprah didn't do much of anything (she called it "expenses") and Al is just a third-rate conman.'

But the Harris campaign repeatedly denied that it had engaged in any wrongdoing, with Adrienne Elrod, who served as a senior spokesperson for the campaign, insisting it never paid anyone for their endorsements or campaign activity.

'We have never paid any artist and performer. We have never paid a fee to that person,' he told Deadline in November.

Oprah also hit out at the claims, arguing that she did not get 'one dime' from the campaign.

Instead, she said, the Harris campaign simply reimbursed her production company, Harpo Productions, for organizing a town hall event.

'[M]y production company Harpo was asked to bring in set design, lights, cameras, microphones, crew, producers, and every other item necessary (including the benches and chairs we sat on) to put on a live production,' she wrote.

'I did not take any personal fee,' she said. 'However the people who worked on that production needed to be paid. And were. End of story.'

Still, the Chicago Tribune blasted the billionaire former talk show host over her decision to allow her company to accept the payment - suggesting Winfrey should have paid her workers' fees herself.

Trump claimed Beyonce accepted $11 million from the Harris campaign before she gave a short speech at a campaign rally in Houston, Texas

President Donald Trump has suggested he would prosecute Democrats for paying celebrities like Oprah and Beyonce

'Frankly, $1 million is not all that much to Winfrey and so we very much doubt that she was seeking any kind of personal payday from her chosen candidate,' the editorial board wrote in a column.

'But she does own Harpo and serves as its chairwoman and CEO. The production fees should have been a campaign donation.'

Meanwhile, MSNBC's Al Sharpton also came under fire when it was revealed his National Action Network had accepted $500,000 from the Harris campaign ahead of a sit-down interview with the then-vice president.

Billionaire hedge fund manager and Trump supporter Bill Ackman led the charge, telling Megyn Kelly on her show that the payments were an attempt 'to manipulate the audience.'

Then on October 20, Sharpton praised Harris' 'extraordinary historic campaign' in a gushing interview, as he branded Donald Trump 'hostile and erratic.'

MSNBC's Al Sharpton also came under fire when it was revealed his National Action Network had accepted $500,000 from the Harris campaign ahead of a sit-down interview with the then-vice president

As the controversy continued, a spokesman for MSNBC said it was 'unaware' of the Harris campaign's donations to National Action Network.

'MSNBC was unaware of the donations made to the National Action Network,' the spokesman told the Free Beacon as he declined to share whether the network would take any actions against the reverend.

He said that the company does not comment on 'personnel matters.'

It remains unclear where President Trump got the $11 million figure for Beyonce, but Federal Election Commission records show the Harris campaign did pay her production company, Parkwood Production Media LLC $165,000.

Such reimbursements are frequently associated with large event productions and cannot be donated to political campaigns, according to The Hill.

Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Oprah, Beyonce and MSNBC for comment.
A woman who took her parents to court to claim ownership of the family real estate business and home has been left with nothing.

Paula-Marie Penya launched legal proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court after claiming she had been promised to run Matra Real Estate when her father Paul retired.

Ms Penya claimed she had worked unpaid for 22 years and that her father promised she would be a 'rich little girl' if she always followed his instructions.

But in 2018, her father retired and sold the agency, which had about 30 properties on its rent roll, to Century 21 Real Estate and he gave Ms Penya $5,000 from the sales.

Paul also decided to sell his Eastlakes home, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, which he owns with his ex-wife and Ms Penya's mother Therese.

Ms Penya, her partner, two kids and mother had been living in the house.

The father had told Ms Penya he would not sell the house if she could buy it from him, however she could not take out a loan as she was not employed.

Ms Penya attempted to block the sale of the house under estoppel - a legal principle that prevents someone from asserting a right that contradicts a previous agreement or statement.

Paula-Marie Penya (pictured with her partner and children) had her claim over the family business and home was dismissed by the NSW Supreme Court

'I always relied on the promises from Dad and Mum that the business and house were going to be mine,' Ms Penya told the court.

'If this was not stated to me I would have worked somewhere else to receive a wage.

'Dad told me that I wouldn't get paid anything but it didn't matter because everything was going to be mine anyway,' she said in a deposition.

'He said that everything that he and Mum owned including the business and the Property would be mine, but if I needed money for anything I should just let him know and he would give me money, which he could do by getting a cash advance on his credit card.'

Therese supported her daughter, sending Paul a text urging him to do the 'right thing'.

'Absolutely everybody is shocked at what you're doing to Paula and me!' she wrote.

'You have a few days to do the right thing you want to leave Paula and her family and me in the street.

'Open your heart and mind to what God would want you to do.'

Matra Real Estate in Matraville (above) was once operated by the Penya family, sold assets off to Century 21 in 2018

In her deposition, Therese said she and Paul had discussed their daughter's future inheritance during their time running the agency.

She said Paul said words to the effect of: 'I'm not paying Paula because she will inherit everything anyway, she's our only child'.

She also recalled him saying: 'When Paula is ready, she will take over the business, it's all going to be hers one day anyway'.

Paul denied such conversations.

He also claimed his daughter had come to work in the business after returning from holidays and finding out Therese had fired the secretary and installed their daughter against his wishes.

He said he gave his daughter opportunities to take over his business in 2018, but she refused.

Ms Penya said she had begged him to wait one more year so she could put both her sons in school and focus on the business.

During proceedings, the court also heard Paul had changed his will, revoking previous plans to leave his estate to his daughter.

Paula-Marie Penya failed to prove she had a legal right to remain in the Eastlakes home (above) owned in part by her father

His new will named his long-term partner Irene as the beneficiary.

Ms Penya's claims relied on the doctrine of proprietary estoppel by encouragement or, alternatively, common intention constructive trust or a constructive trust following the failure of an alleged joint endeavour.

However, during closing submissions on the final day of the hearing, Ms Penya abandoned her pleaded claim relying on the doctrine of promissory estoppel.

On Wednesday, Justice Kate Williams dismissed Ms Penya's claim, finding no 'clear and unequivocal promise' had been made.

'[The evidence] provides no support for Paula-Marie's claim to have been promised that she would be given the business or the Eastlakes property during Paul's and Therese's lifetime in return for her working in the business without a wage,' she found.

The court also noted that Ms Penya and her partner were able to purchase several investment properties over the past 20 years.

The purchases were aided by their rent-free living situation at the Eastlakes home.

Mr Penya was granted approval to sell the home, meaning his daughter and her family must vacate the property no later than seven days before the sale.

'I just got sick of it. It was all take, take, take,' Paul told the court.

'When they need money, when I had money they could get it, but when I was out, no money, now I was the bad one.

'I made them millionaires; they were useless.'

Justice Williams dismissed the estoppel claim in full and approved the application for the home to be sold.
A motorcyclist has been slammed for arguing with a cop after he was cut off at an intersection, with Aussies claiming he was in the wrong and should be more careful.

The motorcyclist ran into trouble while riding along Pitt Street, in Sydney's CBD, in May.

A video captured by the rider showed him attempting to move into the far left lane as he approached a set of red lights.

The police car ahead of him changed lanes, prompting the angry motorcyclist to hit his brakes and sound his horn to avoid a crash.

However, the officer pulled up next to the motorcyclists to deliver some stern advice.

'If you're going to go into the middle of the lanes, then you have to be watching indicators,' he said in the video.

'So did you when you turn,' the motorcyclist replied.

'You did not see me and you did not look in your mirrors.'

The motorcyclist came off worse for wear after confronting a policeman in Sydney's CBD

The officer chastised the motorcyclist for not properly following road rules, but the rider continued to defend himself before he was quickly silenced.

'Don't give me backchat,' the officer said.

The video show the motorcyclist riding off down Park Street, calling the officer an 'idiot' once he was well out of earshot.

The rider shared footage of the altercation to Instagram.

'Who's in the right?' the caption read.

Social media users immediately jumped to the defence of the officer, arguing he had used his indicator well before the motorcyclist tried to pass his police car.

'The cop put the indicators on. The motorcyclist was just being an a** looking for likes,' one wrote.

'You're riding in the blind spot, not defensive riding at all,' another said.

'You are wrong. You're lucky he didn't fine you,' a third added.

Others warned the motorcyclist to be more careful in the future, arguing he could cause a crash by riding in people's blind spots.

'I love how youre trying to argue technicalities of who's right or wrong,' one said.

'If you get hit by a car while on a bike, you're the one that comes off second best - every single time.

'Cop is right and taught you a lesson before you got hurt. If you're filtering, stay vigilant. Foolish behaviour,' another said.
Lauren Boebert's eldest son Tyler Boebert is facing a misdemeanor charge of child abuse after an incident with the congresswoman's grandson.

Tyler, 20, was cited on July 11, and the charge he is facing relates to criminal negligence where no death or injury occurred, according to documents from the Windsor Police Department obtained by Westworld.

Congresswoman Boebert called the incident 'a miscommunication on monitoring my young grandson that recently led to him getting out of our house,' the outlet said.

The MAGA firebrand said her son's latest run-in with the law was a 'one-time incident,' and that the Boebert family has met with Child Protective Services.

Tyler welcomed a son in June 2023 when he was still a teenager, making Boebert a grandmother at the age of 36.

The Republican said in a statement to the Daily Mail: 'Tyler has been doing a great job getting his life on track as a father and citizen over the past year.

'Unfortunately, this event stems from a miscommunication on monitoring my young grandson that recently led to him getting out of our house.

'As the citation states, there was absolutely no injury or physical abuse involved.

Tyler Boebert is pictured in a mugshot in February 2024. He is facing a new misdemeanor charge of child abuse after an incident with the congresswoman's grandson

Congresswoman Boebert is pictured with her eldest son Tyler on his 16th birthday

'Our family has already met with CPS to ensure we are continuing to provide a safe environment for my boys and my grandson.

'I am confident this is a one-time incident that we have addressed as a family.'

The Windsor Police Department and Boebert family were contacted for comment.

This is not the young father's first time in legal hot water in the last few years.

In 2024, the congresswoman's son was charged with 22 counts relating to a string of vehicle break-ins and property theft. His most serious charges were four felony counts for criminal possession of an ID and conspiracy to commit a felony.

Tyler entered a guilty plea in October 2024 to one count of attempted identity theft, a class five felony, as part of a plea agreement. The remaining charges were dismissed.

After a protracted court battle, in which Tyler claimed at one point he could not afford a lawyer, the judge in the case showed the teenager some grace.

Judge John F. Neiley told Tyler during his latest hearing: 'I dont know a lot about you, but I know you are a young man.'

'You were 18 when you committed this offense. You have no prior criminal history, and this is an opportunity you should not squander.'

Tyler was told that if he completed two years of probation on good terms with the court, he could have the charge wiped, allowing him to evade a felony on his record.

However, July's citation may throw that good record into the balance.

Lauren Boebert (center) with Tyler (far left) holding his son. In a statement, she said: 'Unfortunately, this event stems from a miscommunication on monitoring my young grandson that recently led to him getting out of our house'

Boebert is serving her third term as a member of Congress and her first as Representative for Colorados Fourth Congressional District

Lauren Boebert is pictured with her four sons. She is no stranger to the spotlight - previously making headlines for her whirlwind of a personal life

He is still on probation for those charges - but it is unclear if the latest child abuse incident violates the terms of his probation.

In 2022, a friend alleged that he had been injured because Tyler was driving 'so f***king fast' that he flipped the vehicle in which they were both traveling.

Noble D'Amato then accused the Boebert family of 'covering up' the incident from which Tyler walked with a simple careless driving ticket which was later dropped to a 'defective vehicle for headlights' ticket.

The teen also had to go to court-ordered driving school.

In 2024, Tyler called the police on his own father, Jayson, telling them that he was abusing him - leading to his dad's arrest.

Lauren Boebert is serving her third term as a member of Congress and her first as Representative for Colorados Fourth Congressional District.

She is no stranger to the spotlight - previously making headlines for her whirlwind of a personal life.

In 2023, Boebert was thrown out of a Beetlejuice performance in Denver after audience members complained she was vaping near a pregnant woman and groping her date, Aspen bar owner Quinn Gallagher.

The same year, her rocky split from her now ex-husband Jayson was riddled with legal woes and conflict.

Jayson had claimed Boebert punched him when they met to try to get on better terms when he was arrested in 2024 for domestic violence. He later recanted that claim.

In a separate incident, Jayson was accused of assaulting their 18-year-old son Tyler and taking out a gun as the son moved to call the authorities in a fight over laundry.
BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Weeks after the conclusion of the 12th International Union of Railways (UIC) World Congress on High-Speed Rail, industry leaders are still taking stock of China's rapid railway development and its expanding global influence.

Held from July 8 to 11 in the Chinese capital Beijing, the congress drew over 2,000 participants from more than 60 countries, regions and international organizations. For many, the event offered firsthand insight into China's achievements and provided a potential roadmap for boosting global connectivity.

"In less than two decades, China has created the largest and most advanced high-speed rail system in the world," said UIC Chairman Alan Beroud. "It's reshaping mobility, the economy and regional development."

A TRANSFORMATIONAL NETWORK

China's high-speed rail network spans about 48,000 km and connects nearly every city with a population of over 500,000, which is a "vital toolkit" for national cohesion and growth, as described by Kevin Smith, editor-in-chief of Britain's International Railway Journal.

"Nobody has done this sort of network expansion in a short period," said Dennis Noble, an engineer with Queensland Rail in Australia. "It's very commendable, and something others can look forward to."

Visitors at the congress experienced China's latest trains, including the CR400 Fuxing and the prototype of 450 km/h CR450, the world's fastest high-speed train. "The new trains are modern, faster, better," said Kaido Zimmermann, general director of Estonian Railways.

"I think it's a central plan to connect the whole country and to promote economic development," Smith said during his trial run on the CR400. "The presentations we've seen at this event showed that there's a real willingness to change the geography of the country, bringing cities that are once distant much closer together."

GROWING GLOBAL IMPACT

China's high-speed rail is already transforming regions beyond its borders, serving as a practical model for many countries.

"Most countries experience the same starting point as China," said Ulan Kulov, deputy general manager of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co. "We can go this way faster if we learn from China, because we don't have to reinvent it, and we can use existing technologies and go fast forward."

"I'm really impressed by seeing the powerful rail industry you're having here, and I expected to see what the industry is doing and what we can use out of this experience for Europe," said Richard Neussl, managing director of Austria's Kontron Transportation Group.

The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, built with Chinese technology, has cut travel time from over three hours to just 46 minutes. The Hungary-Serbia Railway has shortened the Budapest-Belgrade journey from eight hours to three.

In Laos, the China-Laos Railway has become a key driver of development, transporting more than 52.7 million passengers and 59.4 million tonnes of cargo as of May.

"The railway has directly and indirectly supported the socioeconomic development in Laos, and also boosted the income of people living along the route," said Daochinda Siharath, managing director of the Lao National Railway Authority.

STRONGER COLLABORATION

This year marked the second time China has hosted the congress since its launch by the UIC in 1992. Now held every two to three years, the event remains the premier gathering for the high-speed rail sector.

The congress also spotlighted innovation and co-development. In his opening remarks, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing said China will contribute more wisdom, technology and solutions to the development of high-speed rail around the world.

Zhang added that China is willing to share its experience in high-speed railway construction and operations, and to work with other countries to promote the application of cutting-edge technologies in the sector.

At the accompanying exhibition, Japanese firm Hitachi NICO Transmission Co., Ltd. -- a longtime partner in China -- highlighted new opportunities. "In the past 40-plus years, it was through our development in China that we were able to seize unprecedented opportunities," said company president Matsui Shiro.

"The Belt and Road Initiative has opened new doors for China-Japan joint ventures in third-party markets," Matsui said. "We see great prospects for effective partnerships in many areas."

Over time, China's high-speed rail is increasingly seen as a scalable model -- built not only on steel and speed, but also on long-term strategy and international partnership. 
Police forces across the UK are bracing for fresh asylum seeker hotel protests today as anger mounts over illegal immigration.

Demonstrations first flared up outside The Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, after an Ethiopian asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl, but protests have since spread to other parts of the country.

It comes amid fears Britain could face another summer of disorder just 12 months after a wave of riots sparked scenes of chaos following the Southport murders.

Protesters gathered outside The Bell Hotel again today, where police forces from across the country have been drafted in amid fears clashes could erupt.

Counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism are also set to attend, while anti-migrant demonstrations are planned at other hotels including in Wolverhampton, Cheshire and Canary Wharf.

Political activist Tommy Robinson said on X on July 20 that he was 'coming to Epping next Sunday... and bringing thousands more with me'. But in a later post, Robinson said he may no longer be attending.

Over the weekend, angry crowds have gathered in Norwich, Leeds, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Southampton and Nottinghamshire - with counter-protesters fighting back by insisting 'refugees are welcome'.

In a bid to combat the growing anti-migrant sentiment, an elite division of police officers will be assembled to monitor social media for signs of civil unrest - a move which critics argue is controlling free speech.

Detectives are set to be drawn from forces around the country as the Government scrambles to crack down on potential violence by flagging up early signs of civil unrest.

Police officers ahead of the latest in a series of demonstrations outside the former Bell Hotel in Epping today

Writing on the road ahead of the latest in a series of demonstrations outside The Bell Hotel

The building is cordoned off by a metal railing amid the period of unrest

A protester jumps up and down on the roof of a police van at a protest on July 17 outside The Bell Hotel

The new police division, assembled by the Home Office, will aim to 'maximise social media intelligence' after police forces were heavily criticised for their handling of last year's riots which quickly spread across the country.

Angela Rayner last week warned the Government needs to address the 'real concerns that people have about immigration'. But critics say the social media crackdown is 'disturbing' and raises concerns for free speech.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told The Telegraph: 'Two-tier Keir can't police the streets, so he's trying to police opinions instead. They're setting up a central team to monitor what you post, what you share, what you think, because deep down they know the public don't buy what they're selling.'

The new police unit, called the National Internet Intelligence Investigations team, will work out of the National Police Coordination Centre in Westminster.

The backlash to the plans has reignited anger over a judge's decision to jail Lucy Connolly, a mother-of-one who is married to a Conservative councillor, for 31 months over a racist tweet after the Southport murders.

While police will be monitoring what's being said online, officers are also being deployed on the streets.

With a fresh round of demonstrations expected on Sunday, Essex Police have imposed restrictions to curb any violence or disorder, saying it is necessary and proportionate.

The force said residents have reported feeling 'trapped', fearful of leaving their homes and anxious about protest activity.

Protesters march in the streets of Epping this week, with two women carrying an English flag bearing the slogan 'The Only Way is Epping'

The Bell Hotel in Epping, which has housed migrants on and off for the last five years, has become a hotspot for protests against asylum seekers

NORWICH: Scenes at the Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe on the edge of the city on Saturday

PORTSMOUTH: Groups of protesters clash outside the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea on Saturday

NORWICH: Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside The Best Western Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe on Saturday

NORWICH: Police officers separated the main group from a set of counter protesters, some of whom were waving Revolutionary Communist Party flags, on Saturday

NORWICH: Members of a prorefugee counter demonstration wave signs and chant by the Brook Hotel on Saturday

There will be a ban on anyone wearing face coverings and there will be designated sites opposite the hotel for protesters.

A dispersal order will be in effect from 12pm on Sunday until 8am on Monday, covering Epping town centre and nearby transport hubs.

The order gives officers the power to remove anyone suspected of anti-social behaviour.

Hotel residents and staff have been advised to remain indoors after 5pm as some experienced verbal and physical harassment, including a resident chased and injured while returning to the hotel, the force added.

Essex Police said there was an 'escalation of violence' during protests on July 13, 17, 20 and 24, involving hundreds of people.

The force added that officers were assaulted, missiles were thrown, vehicles were vandalised and the hotel sustained broken windows and graffiti.

Essex Police said on Saturday that two more men have been charged and will appear in court after the disorder.

Lee Gower, 43, of High Street, Epping, was charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker on July 17.

He was remanded into custody and was due to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Joshua Meadows, 18, of Sunnyside Road, Epping, was charged with failing to remove an item worn and possession of cannabis on July 24.

He has been bailed to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24.

It comes after 10 people were charged in relation to the disorder, Essex Police said.

There have also been protests outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf which is set to be used to offer temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

A major protest is planned outside the four-star hotel in London's financial district again today.

The Epping protest was sparked by the charging of asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, with sexual assault after he allegedly attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

He denied the charge at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court and will stand trial in August.

Protests against migrant hotels have escalated this weekend with tense standoffs in Norwich, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Leeds on Saturday.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside The Best Western Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe, Norwich, chanting 'we want our country back' and 'Keir Starmer's a w*****'.

Police officers separated the main group from a set of counter protesters, some of whom were waving Revolutionary Communist Party flags.

Three masked antiracism activists tried to force their way in at one point, causing angry scuffles.

The hotel  one of two Norwich sites used by the Home Office to house migrants  has been the focus of fury since April when a 'predatory' asylum seeker staying there was jailed for more than eight years for raping a woman.

In Leeds, some protesters set off red and blue coloured flares while others draped in Union Jack flags scuffled with police.

A protester with a St George's flag outside the Britannia Hotel at Canary Wharf on Friday

A line of police officers stood inside the protective fence in a bid to protect The Bell Hotel from protesters on July 24

A police officer watches over protesters in front of an English flag reading 'The Only Way is Epping'

Protesters marched from The Bell to Epping Forest District Council on Thursday evening

Three protesters hold signs reading 'Protect our kids' this week

In Portsmouth, more than 40 antiimmigration demonstrators confronted almost 30 activists holding Stand Up to Racism placards outside the Royal Beach Hotel on Friday evening.

Some on the antiimmigration side hung a banner which said 'protect our children' outside the hotel.

Protesters also gathered outside the Chine Hotel in Bournemouth on Friday night. Demonstrators waved signs with slogans including 'bring back Rwanda', 'twotier Keir, twotier policing' and 'it's not racist, it's a national security risk'.

When two migrants arrived with their belongings in bin bags, some chanted 'send them back'.

Angry protests also took place in Leeds on Friday outside another asylumseeker hotel, with demonstrators shouting 'get back in your rubber dinghies' to those inside.

Officers made a defensive cordon as crowds waving Union Jacks surrounded the Britannia Hotel, in the city's Seacroft area.

Earlier this week, protesters descended on the Norfolk market town of Diss amid Home Office plans to change a migrant hotel from housing families to single adult men.

Two men have been charged with public order offences after the protest, Norfolk Constabulary has said.

They were arrested on Saturday after police reviewed footage from both sides of a protest that took place on Denmark Street on Monday, the force said.

James Harvey, 22, of Linden Drive, Hethersett, has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.

Luke Sharman, 23, of Harcourt Close, Norwich, has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence and possession of cannabis.

They have both been bailed to appear at Norwich Magistrates' Court on September 16.
READ MORE: Anthony Albanese gives in to major Donald Trump request

Anthony Albanese has ruled out following in France's footsteps after President Emmanuel Macron declared it would recognise Palestine as a state.

Macron said the formal announcement would take place at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September, in direct conflict with the United States.

Despite his growing criticisms of Israel, Albanese said Australia would not follow the lead of France in 'imminently' recognising Palestinian statehood at the General Assembly.

Any resolution would need to guarantee Hamas, the de facto ruling authority in Gaza listed as a terrorist organisation by Australia, had no part in Palestine's future, he said.

'We need security for the state of Israel, but you need to have the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians for their own state realised as well,' Albanese told ABC's Insiders on Sunday.

'That will mean security arrangements, it will need agreements as well about the rebuilding of Gaza and the West Bank. It will need the issue of settlements to resolve as well.'

Recognising a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution in the Middle East is included in Labor's national platform.

Anthony Albanese (pictured) condemned Israel for 'breaking international law', but ruled out 'immediately' recognising Palestine as a state

Palestinians gather in long queues under scorching heat to receive food distributed by a charity organization in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City (pictured)

President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) has said France will officially recognise Palestine as a state at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September

'Are we about to imminently do that? No, we are not,' Albanese said.

'But we will engage constructively. The United States as well will have a critical role in this. They have to play a role.'

Albanese once again called for an immediate ceasefire and for Gaza to release Israeli hostages.

The PM also said Israel has 'quite clearly' breached international law by limiting food deliveries to starving civilians in Gaza.

He spoke of his emotional response to images of gaunt and dying children in the Palestinian territory, while acknowledging increased airdrops of aid by Israel was 'a start'.

'It just breaks your heart,' the Prime Minister said.

'A one-year-old boy is not a Hamas fighter, and the civilian casualties and deaths in Gaza is completely unacceptable. It's completely indefensible.

The UN has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages (pictured, Palestinians make their way past the rubble of houses in Rafah)

'Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered, which was a decision that Israel made in March. It's a breach of decent humanity and of morality, and everyone can see that.'

According to figures from the local health authorities, 294 people have reportedly been killed while attempting to collect aid near militarised distribution points.

Australian National University Professor Donald Rothwell, a leading expert in international law, said he could not think of a previous example of an Australian Prime Minister making such a direct and clear statement concerning Israel.

'It's rather exceptional that an Australian prime minister would make such a clear comment about a breach of international law by another state,' he told AAP.

He said while unprecedented, Albanese's claim did not appear to be without merit.

'I'm always very cautious to comment about this, but all I can say is that the evidence that I see on my television screen is fairly compelling,' Prof Rothwell said.

Not only were Gazans suffering from a lack of food, but dangerous conditions around aid points had resulted in desperate civilians being shot and killed as they sought support, Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia executive director Jennifer Tierney said.

'We are seeing one in four people in our clinics who are malnourished,' she told ABC News.

Protesters in Sydney take to Hyde Park and the CBD streets during a rally against the Israeli invasion of Gaza (pictured)

Tierney urged Australians horrified by the scenes in Gaza to get in touch with their MPs and let their feelings be heard.

Thousands of protesters turned out in Sydney on Sunday to highlight the threat of mass starvation facing two million Gazans and call for the Australian government to sanction Israel.

Prof Rothwell said the effectiveness of Albanese's statement on its own would be limited, but repeating the claim in front of the UN General Assembly in September or pursuing economic sanctions against Israel could carry greater weight.

However, opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said the government had failed to lay the blame for the war at the feet of Hamas in a statement condemning Israel's denial of aid.
This is the chilling moment a balaclava-clad teenager fled the scene after stabbing an 18-year-old man through the heart with a Rambo-style knife.

Noah Smedley was fatally stabbed after meeting up with a group of teenagers, including his killer Charles Hartle, 17, in the evening on December 28 last year.

Hartle who had an 'unhealthy interest in knives' went with friends to buy cannabis from Noah that evening.

CCTV footage from the evening shows the moments before the stabbing, with the teenagers stood together on Rose Avenue in Ilkeston.

Hartle was then caught on video holding the knife which he used to stab Noah Smedley, which he had kept hidden in his tracksuit bottoms.

He was then seen running away from the scene on the nearby Kedleston Drive.

Noah staggered away but collapsed moments later, police said.

Despite the efforts of passers-by and medics, he died at the scene.

Charles Hartle, 17, was seen running away from the scene just moments after stabbing Noah Smedley

Hartle was found guilty of murdering Noah after a two-week trial at Derby Crown Court

He later handed himself in to Derby Police station, where he was arrested on suspicion of murder

CCTV footage showed Hartle holding the Rambo-style knife, before he fatally stabbed the victim

Hartle was seen running along nearby roads as he continued to make his escape.

He was caught on CCTV on a residential road, where he can be heard making a phone call, in which he tells someone to take him off speaker phone.

Hartle was caught running through several more streets before he took a taxi from Ilkeston to Derby.

In the hours after Noah's murder, Hartle disposed of his clothing, the murder weapon, and phone before eventually handing himself in at Ilkeston Police Station.

Bodyworn footage from the police station showed Hartle as he was arrested.

Hartle, now 18, of Station Road, Stanley, was found guilty of murdering Noah after a two-week trial at Derby Crown Court.

Hartle's friends, were unaware of his intentions when the group met up with Noah and provided eye-witness testimony in the case.

They said that all were in good spirits at the meeting.

Noah Smedley, pictured, was allegedly attacked December 28 by Charles Hartle, who is said to have stabbed him in the heart with a knife

Hartle could be seen and heard on camera taking a phone call and telling the other person to take him off speaker phone

Hartle was seen running through several streets in Ilkeston before taking a taxi to Derby city centre

They explained how Hartle had initially stayed slightly back from the rest of the group and didn't acknowledge Noah.

He then stepped forward, as Noah went to give him a 'fist-pump' goodbye, pulled a balaclava over his face, grinned, and pulled a Rambo knife from his waistband before plunging it into the 18-year-old's chest.

Hartle, who liked to go by the nickname 'Lil Cee', then fled and went to meet his girlfriend at a house party.

Witnesses at the party saw him confess to her and produce the knife  which has never been recovered.

Hartle travelled to Derby city centre in an attempt to distance himself from the scene after leaving the party.

Jurors at Derby Crown Court heard that Hartle and his friends ran from the scene leaving Mr Smedley 'staggering and bleeding profusely'.

The knife penetrated the right ventricle of Mr Smedley's heart and his left lung causing internal bleeding and his lung to collapse, the prosecutor said.

Prosecutor Mr Langdale told the court: 'The defendant raises the idea of self-defence claiming to the police he had recently been threatened by others with knives. As a result of that he decided to take this knife out.

Floral tributes laid at the scene of the stabbing in Ilkestone in the days following the attack

The attack happened on the evening of December 28 last year with the knife he kept hidden in his tracksuit bottoms

'The Crown say this is an entirely false account, instead it was the defendant who routinely carried a Rambo knife... and did so for the kudos and bravado.'

The prosecutor said Hartle carried the weapon to show others he was a 'big man'.

CCTV of the group was shown to the jury, including the moment Mr Smedley was fatally stabbed with a knife described to be 'eight to nine inches' long.

Detective Constable Emma Barnes-Marriott, officer in the case said: 'Noah was an unarmed teenager, who was simply meeting with friends on the night Charles Hartle decided to end his life.

'Noah did not threaten Hartle and showed nothing but friendliness towards him that evening, and yet he was brutally murdered.

'Charles Hartle is a callous and calculating young man, who has shown no recognition or remorse for taking another teenager's life.

'He carried a knife with the intention to use it, over what appears to be a petty disagreement that only he was aware of, and a sense of bravado.

'I'd like to thank Noah's family for their support during our investigation and the trial.

The knife penetrated the right ventricle of Mr Smedley's, pictured, heart and his left lung causing internal bleeding and his lung to collapse, the court heard

Police at the scene after the teenager was stabbed to dead days before New Year's Eve

Floral tribute lays near the scene in Rose Avenue, Ilkestone, where the 18-year-old man was stabbed

'No family should have to go through the ordeal of losing a loved one, especially at such a young age, and to have to relive their last moments at trial is an additional blow that Hartle could have spared them from.

'Instead, despite overwhelming evidence, he remained silent and refused to take responsibility for Noah's murder.

'I know that nothing will bring Noah back but hope that today's verdict has provided his family with some comfort that justice has been done.'

Hartle will be sentenced at Derby Crown Court on 22 August.
Israel has announced a 'tactical pause' to fighting in populated parts of Gaza to address a surge in hunger and allow in UK-backed aid air drops.

The steps mean food can now enter the regions for 10 hours a day as Israel faces a wave of international criticism over its conduct in the 21-month conflict.

A pause to fighting will begin from today, taking place between 10am and 8pm in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi - three areas of the territory with large populations, to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid' entering the territory.

The Israeli military also stated it has carried out aid airdrops into Gaza, including packages of aid with flour, sugar and canned food.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the 'utterly horrifying' images of children starving, adding 'news that Israel will allow countries to airdrop aid into Gaza has come far too late'.

Food experts have warned for months of the risk of famine in Gaza, where Israel has restricted aid because it says Hamas siphons off goods to help bolster its rule.

Images emerging from Gaza in recent days of emaciated children have fanned global criticism of Israel, including by close allies, who have called for an end to the war and the humanitarian catastrophe it has spawned.

Israel said the new measures were taking place while it continues its offensive against Hamas in other areas.

Trucks carrying humanitarian aids enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip today

The military said it would begin a 'tactical pause' in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, three areas of the territory with large populations, to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid' entering the territory

Palestinians carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip

The local pause in fighting came days after ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hamas appeared to be in doubt.

On Friday, Israel and the US recalled their negotiating teams, blaming Hamas, and Israel said it was considering 'alternative options' to ceasefire talks with the militant group.

After ending the latest ceasefire in March, Israel cut off the entry of food, medicine, fuel and other supplies completely to Gaza for two and a half months, saying it aimed to pressure Hamas to release hostages.

Under international pressure, Israel slightly eased the blockade in May.

Since then, it has allowed around 4,500 trucks for the UN and other aid groups in to distribute.

The average of 69 trucks a day, however, is far below the 500 to 600 trucks a day the UN says are needed for Gaza.

The UN says it has been unable to distribute much of the aid because hungry crowds and gangs take most of it from its arriving trucks.

As a way to divert aid delivery away from the UN, Israel has backed the US-registered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which in May opened four centres distributing boxes of food supplies.

Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, a 1.5-year-old child in Gaza City, Gaza, faces life-threatening malnutrition as the humanitarian situation worsens due to ongoing Israeli attacks and blockade

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food, mostly near those new aid sites, the UN human rights office says

Palestinian journalists, children, and families gather to demand an end to Israeli attacks and the entry of humanitarian aid, on July 19

Keir Starmer said: 'The images of starvation and desperation in Gaza are utterly horrifying'

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food, mostly near those new aid sites, the UN human rights office says.

Israel has railed against the UN throughout the war, saying that its system allowed Hamas to steal aid, without providing evidence.

The UN denies that claim and says its delivery mechanism was the best way to bring aid to Palestinians.

The military said the new steps were made in co-ordination with the UN and other humanitarian groups.

Much of Gaza's population, squeezed by fighting into ever tinier patches of land, now relies on aid.

Recent conflict was sparked following Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, saw militants kill 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages.

Hamas still holds 50 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 59,700 Palestinians.

A Palestinian girl carries a bag of food aid as a woman transports empty cardboard boxes on her shoulder in the al-Mawasi camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

A Palestinian boy reacts as he carries a bag of flour in the al-Mawasi camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said pictures of children starving in Gaza has not wavered her support for Israel

The count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians, but the Palestinian Health Ministry says that more than half of the dead are women and children.

It is understood that Sir Keir will press Donald Trump at a meeting in Scotland on Monday as to whether more can be done to stop the conflict.

While the Prime Minister will urge for securing a ceasefire, it is feared this will raise the risk of a clash with Mr Trump who has insisted Hamas does not want peace.

Sir Keir said: 'Israel must allow aid in over land to end the starvation unfolding in Gaza. The situation is desperate.

'We are urgently accelerating efforts to evacuate children who need critical medical assistance to the UK for treatment.'

Britain is working with Jordan on plans to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance.

However, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency has warned the efforts are 'a distraction' that will fail to properly address deepening starvation in the strip, and could in some cases harm civilians.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said: 'A manmade hunger can only be addressed by political will.

'Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need.'

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also claimed there was 'no starvation' in Gaza, despite increasing accounts of malnutrition and starvation-related deaths.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said pictures of children starving in Gaza has not wavered her support for Israel.

She told Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips show: 'War is a difficult situation and what I see when I see Israel is a country that is trying to defend itself, mostly from Iran and a lot of its proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis. I think they are in a very difficult situation.

'What worries me is that the length of time that this war has been going on is making it very difficult for the people in the Palestinian territories and also for Israel.

'We need to bring things to an end.'

The comments come amid Israel's continued occupation of the Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights - understood to be the longest military occupation in modern history.
This is the shocking moment a Ryanair passenger sobbed after being stopped from boarding a plane due to her hand luggage being 'too large'.

Filmed at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria, the dramatic footage captures a tearful woman who was brought to her knees in distress as she banged on an airport door while pleading with members of security to allow her onto the aircraft.

The incident is said to have taken place on Thursday, July 24, with the unnamed female passenger set to travel on a flight from Sofia to Vienna, Austria.

A member of 'Border Police' staff angrily gestures to the door, while the woman appears to emotionally plead with him.

Shocked passengers waiting to board a bus to the aircraft watched on as the tearful woman hit the doors separating her and the other passengers in despair.

Meanwhile, three other members of staff, two of which were also seen adorning jackets titled 'Border Police', appeared to be closely monitoring and discussing the ensuing chaos.

Nikolay Stefanov, who witnessed the shocking ordeal and captured the video footage, said that he believed the airline had initially offered the woman to pay extra for her baggage. However, she refused, due to her bag fitting within the sizer.

Adding that the situation then 'escalated quickly', he said: 'She was pleading with us not to leave, but we were threatened that the entire flight would be cancelled if we didn't get on the bus, so passengers became frightened and left.'

Filmed at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria, the shocking footage (pictured) captures a tearful woman who was brought to her knees in distress as she banged on an airport door while pleading with members of security to allow her onto the aircraft

The appalling incident is said to have taken place on Thursday, July 24, with the unnamed female passenger set to travel on a flight from Sofia to Vienna, Austria

Shocked passengers waiting to board a bus to the aircraft watched on as the tearful woman hit the doors separating her and the other passengers in despair

Mr Stefanov also claimed that another passenger, who was standing behind the woman in line, with 'no issues', was removed from the flight.

When the confused traveller queried this, a Ryanair staff member was said to have remarked that 'reopening the gate risked the woman trying to get on the bus'.

Mr Stefanov added: 'What shocked me most was the utter lack of compassion from the staff member, who looked right through the woman with complete indifference. Even though they could have resolved the problem, they simply refused.'

The passenger also claimed that a Ryanair staff member 'deliberately hid his name badge when questioned' and attempted to confiscate a phone from a woman who was recording the incident as it unfolded.

Following the shocking event, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov has reportedly ordered an inspection of the airport's security cameras, according to Bulgarian news site Fatki.bg.

In a statement provided to NOVA, Mr Karadjov is said to have described the behaviour of ground operator employees captured in the video as 'outrageous', Fatki.bg reports.

Mr Karadjkov also declared that the main ground operator involved was given the 'highest fine' alongside a 'verbal warning' that he could have his licence revoked were a similar situation to occur in the future.

Nikolay Stefanov, who witnessed the shocking ordeal and captured the video footage, said that he believed the airline had initially offered the woman to pay extra for her baggage. However, she refused, due to her bag fitting within the sizer

Following the incident, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov has reportedly ordered an inspection of the airport's security cameras, according to Bulgarian news site Fatki.bg

Ryanair's hand luggage policy allows for passengers to fly for 'one small personal bag', free of charge. However, it must be sized 40cm x 20cm x 25cm and 'fit under the seat in front of you'

But Goldair Handling Bulgaria, who provide the ground handling services for several flights operating out of Sofia Airport, have insisted that the employee acted 'professionally and without any physical contact with the passenger'.

In a statement provided to BNT News, the company said: 'All rules regarding passengers' baggage, its permissible size and the fees payable for baggage are determined solely, entirely and unilaterally by the airlines, and Goldair Handling Bulgaria OOD is solely obliged to monitor compliance with these rules by the airlines.

'This also applies to hand luggage, as Goldair Handling Bulgaria OOD is obliged to monitor the dimensions of this baggage and collect excess baggage fees, which fees are determined by and are entirely for the benefit of the airlines.'

The handling company added that in this incident, their employee 'did not violate the rights of a passenger' and also did not 'behave rudely or disrespectfully'.

The statement added: 'The employee only complied with the rules and procedures of the airport operator and the airline, indicating the permissible dimensions of the baggage and checking for compliance with them.

'They acted professionally and without any physical contact with the passenger.'

Ryanair's hand luggage policy allows for passengers to fly for 'one small personal bag', free of charge. However, it must be sized 40cm x 20cm x 25cm and 'fit under the seat in front of you'.

It comes as just last month a British couple vowed they would 'never fly with Ryanair again' after their decision to not pay extra to reserve seats ended up getting them kicked off the flight.

A member of 'Border Police' staff angrily gestures to the door, while the woman appears to emotionally plead with him

Mr Stefanov said: 'What shocked me most was the utter lack of compassion from the staff member, who looked right through the woman with complete indifference. Even though they could have resolved the problem, they simply refused'

But Goldair Handling Bulgaria, who provide the ground handling services for several flights operating out of Sofia Airport, have insisted that the employee acted 'professionally and without any physical contact with the passenger'

In a separate incident, Scott McCormick and his girlfriend, Helena Boshwick, both 33, were set to fly from Birmingham Airport on May 1 to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for a week-long break and gym mentorship event.

The couple chose not to reserve seats - which typically costs between 4.50 and 33 per seat - prior to boarding as they 'didn't mind' sitting apart during the two-hour flight.

The fitness mentor, from Birmingham, West Midlands, said: 'We checked in the night before and we didn't reserve a seat but you normally just get a random one.

'Me and my partner thought it's not that much of a problem if we're not sitting together for a two-hour flight, we're adults here.'

He added: 'We were the first ones at the gate ready for boarding. The lady scanned our boarding passes and told us to step to the side for a second. That moment was a red flag, I thought: 'There's something happening here'.

'When everyone boarded, she said: 'the plane is full, there's only one seat remaining and we will have to reimburse you for the other seat or you'll have to get on the next flight'.'

It comes as just last month British couple Scott McCormick and Helena Boshwick (both pictured) a British couple vowed they would 'never fly with Ryanair again' after their decision to not pay extra to reserve seats ended up getting them kicked off a flight from Birmingham Airport

Despite the gym owner (pictured) claiming that Ryanair said they would initially receive a refund for both tickets, when the couple went to the check-in desk again, they were reportedly told they still had to pay for one of the tickets - while Scott claims he never received a refund

Mr McCormick said: 'There was no compassion or care whatsoever. After going back and forth we said we're not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours'

The news led to Scott and his girlfriend having a 'meltdown' as they had wanted to catch the same flight and arrive to their destination together.

He explained: 'There was no compassion or care whatsoever. After going back and forth we said we're not going to take separate flights and be in separate countries for hours.'

Despite the gym owner claiming that Ryanair said they would initially receive a refund for both tickets, when the couple went to the check-in desk again, they were reportedly told they still had to pay for one of the tickets - while Scott claims he never received a refund.

According to the holidaymaker, one of the seats had been marked in the system as a cancelled booking, while the other was put down as a missed flight - meaning the pair would be reimbursed for one while the other had to be paid for.

The couple reportedly shelled out a further 100 on a new ticket and waited four hours for the next departing flight to Palma.

Though the pair were assured that a refund would be processed for one of the tickets, Scott claims he has still not received it or heard from Ryanair (file image)

Mr McCormick claims the experience felt like 'discrimination,' and that the couple were singled out because they are 'young' and childfree. Ryanair later shared a response to Scott and Helena's complaints, simply saying: 'Today is a good day to separate couples onboard'

Though the pair were assured that a refund would be processed for one of the tickets, Scott claims he has still not received it or heard from Ryanair.

He claims the experience felt like 'discrimination,' and that the couple were singled out because they are 'young' and childfree.

The fitness fanatic said he will now avoid flying with the airline due to the staff members' 'lack of compassion.'

Ryanair later shared a response to Scott and Helena's complaints, simply saying: 'Today is a good day to separate couples onboard.'

A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'This passenger booked a Basic Fare ticket for this flight from Sofia to Vienna (24 Jul), which allowed them to carry a small personal bag onboard.

As this passenger's bag exceeded the permitted size, they were correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee however refused to do so and became aggressive towards gate staff. As a result of their aggressive behaviour, the gate agent denied this passenger boarding for this flight from Sofia to Vienna.'

MailOnline has approached Goldair Handling, Sofia Airport and Grozdan Karadjov for comment.
Britain is on the brink of a cousin crash due to declining birthrate and smaller families, according to researchers.

In the 1970s, the average British teenager had seven cousins, but today they only have five. It is projected to fall to four by the end of the century.

Academics Diego Alburez-Gutierrez of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, alongside fellow academics Ivan Williams and Hal Caswell, have published a study on the declining numbers of cousins.

They argue there will be a shift away from children growing up with lots of relatives their own age  including both siblings and cousins  to instead spending more time with grandparents and even great-grandparents.

As families become older and smaller, it means cousins, who often help each other with financial, practical or emotional support, will be called upon less.

And although friends are increasingly being used to fill in the role of traditional cousins, they are seen as a lot less reliable on average.

Cousins often help even after years of little contact, while this happens less often with long-lost friends.

This is because 'family networks are like a spiders web', according to Professor Robin Dunbar of Oxford University.

Britain is on the brink of a cousin crash due to declining birthrate and smaller families, according to researchers (stock image)

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The anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, who has studied the science behind our bonds with family and friends, told the Times: 'Your relationship with your cousin is kept in place not just by your interaction with your cousin.

'But also with your interaction with any number of intervening relatives. That isnt true of friendships, which tend to be more individual and personal.'

The experts point out that this change makes a marked difference for the vast majority of human history, where the majority of close relationships would overwhelmingly be made up of extended family members.

The changing nature of our families' lives have been driven by freefalling birth rates, which have triggered doomsday warnings about population collapse from some.

Demographers warn the lack of babies will devastate Western economies as it may leave countries with too few younger people to work, pay tax and look after the elderly.

It is believed to be caused by some women prioritising their education and careers, and couples waiting to have children until later in life..

Rising costs, especially the price of childcare and housing, is another factor thought to be putting people off starting families.

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There is no evidence that Covid vaccines are to blame, with scientists insisting there is no proof they harm fertility.

Women in England and Wales, on average, now only have 1.44 children.

This is the lowest since records began in the 30s and half of levels seen during the mid-60s baby boom.

Britain's fertility rate as a whole is forecasted to fall to 1.3 by 2100.

The fewer babies being born on average means the less likely the average Brit is to have a squad of cousins to call upon when they need them.

For some families, the changing number of cousins in just a few generations has been drastic.

For example, there are many instances in recent history of Catholic families, encouraged by their faith, having well over 100 cousins.

As well as being more reliable than friends, cousins also have the advantage of being more diverse.

Alburez-Gutierrez argues that while people do choose their friends, they often tend to come from the same narrow social demographic, whereas cousins can be far more varied.

What could the government do to stop the declining birthrate? Some experts believe the government needs to step in to stop the declining birthrate with policies such as: Offering longer paid parental leave

More funding for childcare for working parents

More funding for fertility treatments in the NHS

Loans or tax incentives to have children

Promote flexible working However some experts believe there is limited evidence that policies such as these will raise the overall fertility rate. Advertisement

Distant family members can often be very different, he said, pointing out the example of the stereotypical cantankerous uncle who brings up controversial topics around the Christmas dinner table.

The varied nature of groups of people bound by blood often means they are more likely to get exposed to ideas or points of view that are different.

Cousins often occupy a varied place within families. Some see them as close as a sibling, while others see them as strangers. Some cousins live on the same street; some live on opposite side of the world.

But all cousins know what its like to be part of the same particular family.

They also have the advantage of, unlike sibling relationships, of not being fraught by intense closeness such as arguing over childhood toys or a parents' eldercare.

Instead they are usually uncomplicated, even if they are closer in age and are in the same generation.

The experts believe the role of grandparents are important when it comes to cousins developing a bond as children.

And although cousins tend to naturally drift apart a little when grandparents die, some sense of connection is likely to remain as family members are much more obligated to say yes.

The UK is not alone in facing a cousin crashing fertility crisis, with the latest figures showing that the EU also experienced a plunge last year to an all-time low.

Double-digit percentage falls were recorded in Romania (13.9 per cent), Poland (10.7 per cent) and Czechia (10 per cent).

Wealthy EU nations, including France and Germany, also saw significant drops.
Raging wildfires have engulfed Turkey outside the country's fourth-largest city - forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes.

Flames ripped through the forested mountains surrounding Bursa city in northwest Turkey overnight, shining a threatening red glow on the night sky.

It marks the latest city to be hit by deadly blazes this summer - as destinations in Greece and Cyprus have also fallen victim to aggressive wildfires amid unseasonably high temperatures.

The governor's office in Bursa said more than 1,760 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the northeast as more than 1,100 firefighters battled the flames.

The highway linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara, was closed off as surrounding forests burned.

Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for the province, likened the scene to 'an apocalypse'.

Turkey has been hit by dozens of wildfires every day since late June - with Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yamukli revealing fire crews across the country approached 76 separate blazes yesterday alone.

The fires are being ignited by unusually high temperatures, alongside dry conditions and strong winds.

Flames rip through the forested mountains surrounding Bursa city in northwest Turkey overnight

Hundreds flee as wildfires spread rapidly to Turkey's fourth-largest city, Bursa

Residents and firefighters attempt to extinguish a wildfire as smoke and flames rise from a forested area in the Gursu district of Bursa

Firefighters attempt to extinguish a wildfire as smoke and flames rise from a forested area in the Gursu district of Bursa early today

The General Directorate of Meteorology said Turkey recorded its highest ever temperature - 50.5C (122.9F) - within the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday.

The same day, homes and holiday properties burnt down in popular holiday hotspot Cyprus.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice in response to the devastation on the island.

Warning of 'active wildfires', the government highlighted the Paphos and Limassol districts as some of the affected areas, located in the south of Cyprus.

It added: 'Transport and infrastructure (electricity, water) links in locations close to the fires may be affected whilst the authorities respond to the situation.'

Though the FCDO noted the airports in Paphos and Larnaca are 'operating as normal'.

'If you are due to travel to an area that might be affected by wildfires, contact your travel operator or accommodation provider before you travel to check that it is not currently impacted. Make sure you have appropriate insurance,' the advice read.

The Foreign Office also included recommendations for those in the area or affected by the wildfires.

The fires are being ignited by unusually high temperatures, alongside dry conditions and strong winds

Emergency services and residents rest amid efforts to extinguish a wildfire in a forested area in the Gursu district of Bursa

Smoke and flames rise from a forested area during the latest major wildfire in Turkey

The fires are being ignited by unusually high temperatures, alongside dry conditions and strong winds

'Be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires. You should follow the guidance of the emergency services,' it stated.

'Call the Cypriot Emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger.

'Contact your airline or travel operator, who can assist you with information relating travel back to the UK.'

And yesterday, British tourists were put on alert as new Greece wildfires spread amid a 44C heatwave - as a blaze tore through the capital of Athens.

The southern European country was first hit with the scorching temperatures on Monday and they have not relented throughout the week.

After the mercury hit a blistering 44C high in Athens on Tuesday, a wildfire burned through a northern suburb of the capital on Friday.

Shocking pictures showed homes ablaze while residents of the town of Kryoneri, 12.5miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS warnings to evacuate.
Hating your boss is 'not a mental health condition', employees have been warned.

The former chairman of John Lewis has raised concerns amid the 'overmedicalisation' of workplace problems.

It comes as one in five people of working age have a health condition that affects their job and there are 2.8million people inactive due to ill health.

This is up from 2.1million since before the Covid pandemic - though the numbers have been steadily rising over the years.

The ex-high street chief, Sir Charlie Mayfield, has now been appointed by Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, to come up with plans to stop workers leaving their jobs because of poor health.

Mr Mayfield's report is due this autumn.

He told The Sunday Times: 'The last thing I wish to do is trivialise [mental health conditions] but I agree that things do get over-medicalised.

'That's not to say there aren't medical issues that need to be dealt with through proper clinical medical interventions, but there's a lot more that can be done through the workplace and through encouraging discussion and relationships and processes that encourage that.

The ex-high street chief, Sir Charlie Mayfield (pictured), has now been appointed by Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, to come up with plans to stop workers leaving their jobs because of poor health

One in five people of working age have a health condition that affects their job and there are 2.8million people inactive due to ill health (file image)

'It might be better to say: "What's making you anxious?" Because then we can do something about that. And how do you deal with it if you've got [an employee with a] "I hate my boss syndrome"? Well, we can do something about that. We can say "Is it the case that your boss is hateful?", in which case, that's probably an issue that we should figure out how we deal with.'

Mr Mayfield added there were also the possibility the boss was 'quite legitimately doing what they should be doing' meaning it is 'not hateful behaviour' and in fact might be 'what bosses are meant to do'.

He went on to say bosses should be routinely in contact with employees when they are signed off to help support their return to work.

Sick notes also create an 'impregnable barrier' between employer and employee, according to the former high street mogul, with those in charge often too scared of contacting staff for fear of 'causing offence'.

The 58-year-old believes lessons can be learnt from the Netherlands where there is a mandatory six-week intervention meeting requiring employee, employer and occupational health to agree a return-to-work plan with two-week monitoring cycles.

He pointed out that statistically the longer someone is away from work, the harder it is to get back and the less likely that person is to do so.

Sick notes also create an 'impregnable barrier' between employer and employee, according to the former high street mogul (file image)

Mr Mayfield said it should become normal that people are contacted when they're off sick and that while some organisations are ready to do this, most are not.

The former John Lewis chief pointed to a fear of individuals disclosing health conditions and also line managers not wanting to offend people about something obviously personal to them.

He also offered 'keeping in touch days' like those used by women on maternity leave as a solution - to help solve the disconnection between employer and employee, improving return-to-work outcomes.

Flexibility is also key - particularly among the over 50s - as a way to boost participation, according to Mr Mayfield.
A popular US podcast has come under fire for a shock conversation which involved openly anti-Semitic language including blaming Jewish people for the Holocaust.

The Fresh & Fit podcast, hosted by Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes claims to be the number one men's podcast in the world.

It has nearly 1.6 million followers on YouTube, where it has been demonetized in the past, and some 372,000 followers on Rumble.

The podcast has regularly featured guests such as Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes.

The podcast was live streaming to the right wing video platform Rumble when host Myron Gaines bizarrely asked about their female guests about their views on Hitler.

Weeks and Gaines laughed and grinned while the guest began her vile anti-Semitic rant.

She replied: 'What if he Jewish did something to the Germans that made them act a certain way, but nobody wants to talk about it. The Jews don't want to take accountability.

Other guests agreed, saying 'I'm with you on that one'.

The woman then continued: 'They were up to something so the Germans wanted to take them out. It had to be something, the Germans wanted to take them out, all of them.

Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes, hosts of the Fresh & Fit podcast

Another guest can be heard saying 'Jews are so fishy' while another replied 'they started it'.

The woman continued: 'The Holocaust was the only way he (Hitler) can take out a huge population of Jews all in one setting.

'I already know what is going on, I am not dumb. The Jews did something, they are trying to take back and get repercussions especially from America, from Americans.

'So they have taken over the government and stuff like that

Gaines then asked: 'How do we take them down?

To which another replied: 'gotta kill them m************'

Another guest also whispered: 'Genocide'

The guest added: 'Hitler he had the plan, but his plan was too gruesome'.

Controversy: Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes have won fans for their controversial views. But they have also received wide scorn too, with the pair accused of sexism and misogyny

Fellow Host Walter Weeks then said: 'Listen, he had to do what he had to do. He was trying to save the world, it just didn't work out.

The woman continued: Jews are the reason why the healthcare system and everything around the us in government is collapsing because they are sitting up here stealing away from the American people.'

The video was deleted but was later shared by Republican politician Richie Torres.

He said: 'It is profoundly disturbing to see young social media influencers casually rationalize Hitler and the Nazi regimes systematic extermination of six million Jews during the Holocaust.

'The only thing more terrifying than Holocaust denial is Holocaust glorification.

'The comfort with which these commentators defend the most evil man ever to roam the earth should send chills down the spine of every decent person.'

Democrat Senator Scott Wiener also shared his disgust. He wrote: 'This Fresh & Fit podcast justifies the Holocaust since the Jews were up to something so the Germans wanted to take them out. They claim Jews control the government & health system. And people wonder why anti-Jewish violence is rising.'

Myron Gaines and Walter Weekes have been criticised after anti-Semitic views were shared on their podcast

Hosts Weekes and Gaines are no strangers to controversy, having previous said women in serious relationships should not have Instagram because it's 'a form of cheating'.

The duo believe men and women 'are not equals' and it's ok for men to post what they want on Instagram but women in relationships should not be allowed to have an account.

They added how 'women want attention and men want sex', and so women shouldn't be 'advertising themselves' as men will act on their options if they have the ability to do so.

Gaines also wrote a book titled Why Women Deserve Less, where he wrote that 'All women are whores.

The Fresh and Fit podcast has been contacted for comment.
A grieving mother whose son died in the Air India plane disaster travelled thousands of miles to collect his remains - only to be sent home with the wrong body.

Amanda Donaghey lost her son Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek, 39, and his husband, Jamie, 45, when the Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London Gatwick crashed just seconds after takeoff on June 12 - claiming the lives of 260 people.

The couple had been returning to Britain after celebrating their wedding anniversary in India when the plane unexpectedly crashed, killing all but one passenger onboard.

The aircraft had turned into a huge fireball on impact but Ms Donaghey, 66, was determined to bring back her son's remains, handing over a sample of her blood in a bid to find matching DNA, The Sunday Times reports.

Things did not look promising, however, and three days came and went without a word from officials handling the bodies.

In the meantime, Jamie's remains were identified and sent home to the UK.

But just as the mother was losing hope, they got back to her with news that there had been a 'match' for Fiongal.

Ms Donaghey was relieved - the discovery meant she could bring her son's remains back and lay them next to his husband's.

Amanda Donaghey lost her son Fiongal Greenlaw-Meek and his husband, Jamie, pictured, in the Air India disaster

The mother, pictured right with son Fiongal, travelled thousands of miles to collect his remains - only to be sent home with the wrong body

The Air India Dreamliner crashed just minutes after taking off on June 13

The family set about organising funerals for the two men with the mother assured on her return to the UK that Fiongal's remains were in the casket.

Then, a heartbreaking development. The British coroner had conducted another DNA test which found that the remains in her son's coffin were not his after all.

Ms Donaghey said that the identity of the remains is still unknown, describing the confusion as 'appalling'.

Fiongal studied at the Royal College of Art and went on to work as a fashion designer, fronting design houses in London and Asia.

He then got into sprituality, yoga and reiki and established the Wellness Foundry, dedicated to such topics, in 2018.

The business founder married Jamie in 2022 and had taken to social media to describe their 'magical experience' in India the night before they caught the fateful flight.

They even posted a short clip from the airport departure lounge just hours ahead of the journey back, which would see them sit in seats 22A and 22B, bidding farewell to the country.

His mother was not aware he was on the plane, believing Fiongal to have flown back to the UK two days prior.

The couple had been returning to Britain after celebrating their wedding anniversary in India when the plane unexpectedly crashed, killing all but one passenger onboard

A firefighter stands next to the crashed Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, in Ahmedabad

After taking a ride on her horse, she got a phone call from Fiongal's father who told her the pair had been travelling back on the aircraft.

Two days later, Ms Donaghey took a tricky trip to India from her home in the south of France, where she had moved 22 years ago.

She was greeted by a British High Commission crisis management team on her arrival in Ahmedabad in Gujarat.

Despite being exhausted, the mother headed straight to the nearby Civil Hospital to take a DNA test in a converted classroom.

Ms Donaghey then paid a visit BJ Medical College hostel, which had been hit by the Air India plane, but was not allowed to go through the final cordon as the aircraft's tail was still lodged in a building there.

'It was like a bomb site,' she said. 'You would think it was from a war scene, but there were still these small birds twittering.'

Also out there was Miten Patel who was determined to bring home his parents Ashok and Shobhana, who had been married since the 70s.

The financial advisor and retired microbiologist had been in the country for a yatra, a religious visit geared towards helping people to find peace when they die.

Out there at the same time as Ms Donaghey was Miten Patel who was determined to bring home his parents

Ashok and Shobhana, pictured, had been married since the 70s and were in the country for a yatra, a religious visit geared towards helping people to find peace when they die

Mr Patel was handed several of his parents' items including Ashok's shirt and Shobhana's swan necklace.

After successfully retrieving the couple's remains, he later discovered 'other remains' in the casket said to contain his mother's body.

He was finally able to bury her last week, describing the successful end to the process as a 'miracle'.

Ms Donaghey has been going through a similar ordeal, but one that remains unresolved.

After initially being informed of the 'match' on June 20, she spoke with the British High Commission and hospital representatives, as well as an Avon and Somerset Police officer, acting as a disaster victim investigator.

She said: 'I was told they had found part of Fiongal but not all of him. I said I wanted to stay until they had finished looking.'

But on her return to the crash site, Ms Donaghey was handed the devastating news that there was nothing left to be found in the wreckage.

Things took an even more concerning turn when she was told about Shobhana's case, which had seen various remains get mixed up.

The tailpiece of Air India flight AI171 after it crashed in a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad

Hoorifying footage showed the moment the plane crashed, with a massive fireball erupting in the horizon

On June 28, she headed back to Gatwick on an Air India flight in a bid to get Fiongal's remains to a British hospital with better preserving standards than those in India.

They were handed over to Dr Fiona Wilcox, senior coroner for Inner West London, and in the meantime Ms Donaghey was given support by her sister in Cambridgeshire, as well as police family liaison officers.

Six days after her return, the mother was handed the heart-wrenching news that the remains in her son's coffin were not his at all.

At a meeting attended by Fiongal's father, sister and brother, family liaison officers said: 'We don't have Fiongal. We have carried out the DNA tests and we do not have Fiongal.'

Amanda said: 'I had my doubts but to be told that was heartbreaking.'

Despite realising that their ambition to bury Fiongal and Jamie alongside one another was now impossible, Ms Donaghey and her family have not given up on trying to locate his remains, ringing the Foreign Office each day looking for answers.

Some 53 of the 242 people on the ill-fated flight were British but, as many were of Indian heritage and thus buried in the country of the crash, just 12 sets of remains were delivered back to the UK.

The remaining 10 were all matches, but it is still not known for sure whether the identities of the bodies that stayed in India are correct.

Firefighters work at the site of the crash near Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport

People look at the debris of an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad of India's Gujarat state

James Healy-Pratt, an international aviation lawyer and partner with Keystone Law, is representing 20 bereaved families and confirmed they were in contact with Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Ministers office and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

A government spokesperson said: 'We understand that this is an extremely distressing time for the families, and our thoughts remain with them. Formal identification of bodies is a matter for the Indian authorities.

'We continue to liaise with the government of Gujarat and the government of India on behalf of the Inner West London senior coroner to support the coronial process.'
PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday reiterated Cambodia's willingness for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" between the armed forces of Cambodia and Thailand.

In a social media post, Hun Manet said he had a phone discussion on Saturday night with U.S. President Donald Trump over the issue of armed clashes along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

During the conversation, Trump expressed his desire not to see war or fighting that would lead to many deaths and injuries on both sides, including soldiers and civilians, and wished to see an immediate ceasefire and peace between the two countries, said Hun Manet.

"In response, I made it clear to Honorable President Donald Trump that Cambodia agreed with the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces," he said.

Hun Manet said he had assigned Prak Sokhonn, Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, to discuss with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the ceasefire proposal.

Clashes in the border areas between Cambodia and Thailand began on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law. 
Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of 'trying to police opinions' by assembling an elite team of police officers to monitor growing anti-migrant sentiment online.

Detectives are set to be drawn from forces around the country as the Government scrambles to crack down on potential violence by flagging up early signs of civil unrest on social media.

It comes amid fears Britain could face another summer of disorder just 12 months after a wave of riots sparked scenes of chaos following the Southport murders.

Earlier this month, demonstrations first flared up outside The Bell Hotel, in Epping, Essex, after an Ethiopian asylum seeker was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl, but protests have since spread to other parts of the country.

The new police division, assembled by the Home Office, will aim to 'maximise social media intelligence' after police forces were heavily criticised for their handling of last year's riots which quickly spread across the country.

Angela Rayner last week warned the Government needs to address the 'real concerns that people have about immigration'.

But critics say the social media crackdown is 'disturbing' and raises concerns for free speech. It also comes after footage emerged of Essex Police escorting pro-migrant protesters to the Epping hotel before clashes broke out.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told The Telegraph: 'Two-tier Keir can't police the streets, so he's trying to police opinions instead.

'They're setting up a central team to monitor what you post, what you share, what you think, because deep down they know the public don't buy what they're selling.'

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of 'trying to police opinions' by assembling an elite team of police officers to monitor growing anti-migrant sentiment online

A protester jumps up and down on the roof of a police van at a protest on July 17 outside The Bell Hotel

The backlash to the plans has reignited anger over a judge's decision to jail Lucy Connolly, a mother-of-one who is married to a Conservative councillor, for 31 months over a racist tweet after the Southport murders

The Bell Hotel in Epping, which has housed migrants on and off for the last five years, has become a hotspot for protests against asylum seekers

The new police unit, called the National Internet Intelligence Investigations team, will work out of the National Police Coordination Centre in Westminster.

The backlash to the plans has reignited anger over a judge's decision to jail Lucy Connolly, a mother-of-one who is married to a Conservative councillor, for 31 months over a racist tweet after the Southport murders.

While police will be monitoring what's being said online, officers are also being deployed on the streets.

Protesters and counter-protesters from Stand Up to Racism are due to gather outside The Bell Hotel again today, with more demonstrations planned at other migrant hotels including in Wolverhampton, Cheshire and Canary Wharf.

Political activist Tommy Robinson said on X on July 20 that he was 'coming to Epping next Sunday... and bringing thousands more with me'. But in a later post, Robinson said he may no longer be attending.

Over the weekend, angry crowds have gathered in Norwich, Leeds, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Southampton and Nottinghamshire - with counter-protesters fighting back by insisting 'refugees are welcome'.

With a fresh round of demonstrations expected on Sunday, Essex Police have imposed restrictions to curb any violence or disorder, saying it is necessary and proportionate.

The force said residents have reported feeling 'trapped', fearful of leaving their homes and anxious about protest activity.

EPPING: Protesters march in the streets this week, with two women carrying an English flag bearing the slogan 'The Only Way is Epping'

NORWICH: Scenes at the Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe on the edge of the city on Saturday

PORTSMOUTH: Groups of protesters clash outside the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea on Saturday

NORWICH: Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside The Best Western Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe on Saturday

NORWICH: Police officers separated the main group from a set of counter protesters, some of whom were waving Revolutionary Communist Party flags, on Saturday

NORWICH: Members of a prorefugee counter demonstration wave signs and chant by the Brook Hotel on Saturday

There will be a ban on anyone wearing face coverings and there will be designated sites opposite the hotel for protesters.

A dispersal order will be in effect from 12pm on Sunday until 8am on Monday, covering Epping town centre and nearby transport hubs.

The order gives officers the power to remove anyone suspected of anti-social behaviour.

Hotel residents and staff have been advised to remain indoors after 5pm as some experienced verbal and physical harassment, including a resident chased and injured while returning to the hotel, the force added.

Essex Police said there was an 'escalation of violence' during protests on July 13, 17, 20 and 24, involving hundreds of people.

The force added that officers were assaulted, missiles were thrown, vehicles were vandalised and the hotel sustained broken windows and graffiti.

Essex Police said on Saturday that two more men have been charged and will appear in court after the disorder.

Lee Gower, 43, of High Street, Epping, was charged with violent disorder and assault by beating of an emergency worker on July 17.

He was remanded into custody and was due to appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Joshua Meadows, 18, of Sunnyside Road, Epping, was charged with failing to remove an item worn and possession of cannabis on July 24.

He has been bailed to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24.

It comes after 10 people were charged in relation to the disorder, Essex Police said.

There have also been protests outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf which is set to be used to offer temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

A major protest is planned outside the four-star hotel in London's financial district again today.

The Epping protest was sparked by the charging of asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, with sexual assault after he allegedly attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl.

He denied the charge at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court and will stand trial in August.

Protests against migrant hotels have escalated this weekend with tense standoffs in Norwich, Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Leeds on Saturday.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside The Best Western Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe, Norwich, chanting 'we want our country back' and 'Keir Starmer's a w*****'.

Police officers separated the main group from a set of counter protesters, some of whom were waving Revolutionary Communist Party flags.

Three masked antiracism activists tried to force their way in at one point, causing angry scuffles.

The hotel  one of two Norwich sites used by the Home Office to house migrants  has been the focus of fury since April when a 'predatory' asylum seeker staying there was jailed for more than eight years for raping a woman.

In Leeds, some protesters set off red and blue coloured flares while others draped in Union Jack flags scuffled with police.

A protester with a St George's flag outside the Britannia Hotel at Canary Wharf on Friday

A line of police officers stood inside the protective fence in a bid to protect The Bell Hotel from protesters on July 24

A police officer watches over protesters in front of an English flag reading 'The Only Way is Epping'

Protesters marched from The Bell to Epping Forest District Council on Thursday evening

Three protesters hold signs reading 'Protect our kids' this week

In Portsmouth, more than 40 antiimmigration demonstrators confronted almost 30 activists holding Stand Up to Racism placards outside the Royal Beach Hotel on Friday evening.

Some on the antiimmigration side hung a banner which said 'protect our children' outside the hotel.

Protesters also gathered outside the Chine Hotel in Bournemouth on Friday night. Demonstrators waved signs with slogans including 'bring back Rwanda', 'twotier Keir, twotier policing' and 'it's not racist, it's a national security risk'.

When two migrants arrived with their belongings in bin bags, some chanted 'send them back'.

Angry protests also took place in Leeds on Friday outside another asylumseeker hotel, with demonstrators shouting 'get back in your rubber dinghies' to those inside.

Officers made a defensive cordon as crowds waving Union Jacks surrounded the Britannia Hotel, in the city's Seacroft area.

Earlier this week, protesters descended on the Norfolk market town of Diss amid Home Office plans to change a migrant hotel from housing families to single adult men.

Two men have been charged with public order offences after the protest, Norfolk Constabulary has said.

They were arrested on Saturday after police reviewed footage from both sides of a protest that took place on Denmark Street on Monday, the force said.

James Harvey, 22, of Linden Drive, Hethersett, has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence.

Luke Sharman, 23, of Harcourt Close, Norwich, has been charged with a racially aggravated public order offence and possession of cannabis.

They have both been bailed to appear at Norwich Magistrates' Court on September 16.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'These claims are completely untrue. This new capability is not about monitoring what people say on their social media feeds, it is about equipping our police forces to respond more rapidly to the needs of the communities they serve, and enabling them to react in an agile way to real-time information about incidents and emergencies affecting those communities.

'As part of the Government's Plan for Change, we are restoring visible, neighbourhood policing, focused on the public's priorities, including halving knife crime and violence against women, clamping down on theft and anti-social behaviour, and ensuring that people can feel safe in their own high streets.'

A National Police Chiefs' Council spokesperson said: 'Forces will continue to facilitate the right to peaceful protest.

'Policing continues to work with partners and the Home Office to develop its capabilities, including closely monitoring the latest intelligence and information to ensure we are best placed to respond swiftly and decisively to reports of serious disorder or related criminality.

'We have mechanisms in place, which have been enhanced following last summer, to enable us to mobilise resources at a regional and national level if required.'
A 22-year-old swimmer vanished in 'treacherous' New York waters as intense thunderstorms brewed in the area.

The victim, a hard-working immigrant from Niger who had just taken his second day off of work in two years, vanished on Friday while swimming at Rockaway Beach in Queens.

As he disappeared, extreme thunderstorms were hitting New York City from the afternoon into the evening.

Police said they started receiving 911 calls about the missing swimmer - whose identity has yet to be publicly released - just after 6pm on Friday.

Kaitlin Krause, the founder of nonprofit Riding Tide Effect, a group promoting water safety, was just feet away when first responders rushed to the scene.

'The irony is, I was there to give a water safety talk. I was literally setting up my handouts when I saw the firetrucks charging down the boardwalk,' Krause told the Gothamist.

She recalled that lifeguards and safety officials rushed to the water, but said people can drown in a matter of seconds.

The NYPD's Harbor, Scuba and Aviation Units have not been able to locate the man despite their efforts.

Footage shared on Citizen App showed NYPD vessels scouring the waters of the popular beach as people gathered along the shoreline on Saturday (pictured)

As he disappeared, extreme thunderstorms were hitting New York City from the afternoon into the evening (pictured: lightening striking over NYC on Friday)

Footage shared on Citizen App showed NYPD vessels scouring the waters of the popular beach as people gathered along the shoreline on Saturday. Several rescue trucks were also at the scene.

Krause said the heartbroken family of the unnamed victim has been reaching out to her for updates, the Gothamist reported.

She also warned that the portion of the beach where he disappeared from is a notoriously 'treacherous spot.'

'At the top it looks calm but under its moving,' Krause told the outlet of the section of the beach located in the Far Rockaway neighborhood.

Rockaway Beach has earned an unsettling reputation as the city's 'deadliest beach.'

An NYPD spokesperson told Daily Mail the swimmer is still missing as of Sunday morning.

He was not able to provide further information about the future of the search or share any other details.

On Friday night, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued severe thunderstorm warning for New York City, parts of the Hudson Valley, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Across the five boroughs, intense winds exceeding 60 miles per hour brought down tree and powerlines.

Rockaway beach (pictured) has earned an unsettling reputation as the city's 'deadliest beach'

Kaitlin Krause (pictured), the founder of nonprofit Riding Tide Effect, a group promoting water safety, was just feet away when first responders rushed to the scene

The storms, which began in the late afternoon and only lasted until mid-evening, followed a day of unrelenting heat.

Tri-state area residents sweltered in the high temperatures and humidity, with New Yorkers enduring temperatures higher than 90 degrees.

Friday's alarming disappearance comes after a body was found floating in the ocean at Rockaway Beach on July 20.

Police believe the body belongs to a 37-year-old man who was reported missing two weeks earlier, but are awaiting official confirmation as the corpse's face was decomposed.

In May, NYC outlined its 'Summer Safety Plan' to keep residents protected at the city's beaches.

Lifeguards at public beaches are on duty from 10am to 6pm, and 'swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty and in closed sections,' according to a press release.
A former Mormon missionary has been arrested in Pittsburgh for allegedly sexually abusing at least 14 young boys while serving in Tonga before attempting to escape justice by fleeing the country using a fake identity.

William James Purdy, 28, of West Valley, Utah, was taken into custody Thursday following a federal indictment handed down July 16, the Department of Justice announced.

Purdy allegedly lured boys into his apartment with gifts including electronic devices, toys, food and money - before exploiting them for sexual exchanges.

Purdy first traveled to the Pacific Island nation in 2017 to serve his mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

But instead of spreading his mission, Prosecutors claim he groomed and sexually abused multiple underage boys over the course of several years,

After his mission ended, Purdy returned to Tonga in 2019 to work as a teacher in the capital city of Nuku'alofa.

Investigators say that this is when the abuse intensified.

Some of the children he tutored and even lived with him, authorities said.

William James Purdy (pictured), 28, of West Valley, Utah, was taken into custody Thursday following a federal indictment handed down July 16, the Department of Justice announced

Purdy (pictured with rep cap on) allegedly lured boys into his apartment with gifts including electronic devices, toys, food and money - before exploiting them for sexual exchanges

Prosecutors also allege that Purdy secretly recorded boys in his bathroom using hidden cameras installed inside his apartments.

The allegations came to light in October 2022 when an eight-year-old boy told police that Purdy had sexually assaulted him during tutoring sessions.

Tongan authorities arrested the former missionary but after being released on bail, he allegedly continued abusing young victims.

Then in March 2023, just days before he was scheduled to go on trial, Purdy disappeared.

Investigators say he fled Tonga using a fake identity and returned to Utah where he managed to avoid detection for more than a year.

Federal officials confirmed Thursday that the investigation has identified 14 child victims in Tonga so far but believe more may come forward.

'The defendant in this case chose to travel abroad under the guise of good intentions and then sexually exploited and abused children who had been trusted to his care,' said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

'When foreign authorities sought to hold him accountable, he fled back to the United States. The United States will not export child exploitation. The Justice Department is committed to securing justice for children exploited overseas when these heinous acts are committed by Americans.'

Prosecutors also allege that Purdy secretly recorded boys in his bathroom using hidden cameras installed inside his apartments (Pictured the Nuku alofa Tonga Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Edward V. Owens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia, called the case 'a profound betrayal of trust.'

'William James Purdy's actions represent a profound betrayal of trust and have caused immeasurable harm to the young lives he was supposed to protect and nurture.'

'HSI's global reach and partnerships are crucial in our relentless fight against child predators, ensuring that those who exploit and abuse children, no matter where they are, are brought to justice.'

'We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society and will continue to work tirelessly to prevent such heinous crimes.'

Acting Assistant Director of Domestic Operations Adrian Diaz of the US Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DDS) said: 'This is a perfect illustration of the DSS global reach and our ability to partner with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies on international cases.'

'DSS and our counterparts are conducting investigations like these on a daily basis around the world.'

The case is being led by Homeland Security Investigations and the US Diplomatic Security Service with assistance from Tongan police and prosecutors.

Federal officials confirmed Thursday that the investigation has identified 14 child victims in Tonga so far but believe more may come forward (Pictured: Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti)

Purdy is now facing serious federal charges related to the sexual exploitation of minors overseas.

If convicted, he could spend decades behind bars.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the DOJ in 2006 to crack down on child sexual exploitation and abuse.
A Sydney businessman who called himself the 'pedo bro' has been jailed after sending dozens of child abuse videos in an online group.

James Terence Rebbeck, 40, was arrested at his Leichhardt home, in the city's inner west, in February 2024 as part of a NSW Police investigation into an international paedophile ring.

The abhorrent criminal activity involved hundreds of men around the world filming each other watching child abuse material.

Jimmy Rebbeck, as he is also known, was sentenced to three years' jail for soliciting, accessing, transmitting and disseminating child abuse material over 15 months in the NSW District Court.

The businessman, who grew up on the state's South Coast, previously owned an inner-city Sydney cafe.

He sent child abuse material to five users of the encrypted platform Telegram between November 2022 and February 2024, reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.

Penrith District Court heard the 40-year-old also sent bestiality material to four people.

In November 2022, Mr Rebbeck told a Telegram user he was 'devastated' because he 'lost f***ing everything' after 'hours of collecting rape vids'.

James Terence Rebbeck (pictured) has been sentenced to three years' jail for soliciting, accessing, transmitting and disseminating child abuse material over 15 months

Mr Rebbeck was arrested at his Leichhardt home, in the city's inner west, in February 2024 as part of a NSW Police investigation into an international paedophile ring (pictured)

Rebbeck asked if he could be added to 'pedo groups'.

'Pedo bro here is desperate,' he wrote.

Police first became aware of Mr Rebbeck in April 2023 when they identified a Zoom meeting he was logged into.

He was arrested months later and in his initial police interview he admitted to possessing child abuse material.

Mr Rebbeck then handed over his pin codes and passwords to police.

He pleaded guilty to four child abuse material charges.

In court he was asked if he believed he had a sexual interest in children, which he denied and said the offending occurred due to heavy 'stimulant usage'.

Jeremy Etkind, Mr Rebbeck's barrister, told the court his client was 'horrified' about his behaviour, but didn't remember it because of his drug use.

Mr Rebbeck was arrested after police first became aware of the offender in April 2023 when they identified a Zoom meeting he was logged into

The Crown prosecutor asked Mr Rebbeck: 'Is a risk you have a sexual interest in children?' He replied: 'I guess, if drugs are involved.'

'It's very easy for people to think 'I'm just looking at photos' but all the images are horrible and they're all real children,' Judge Robert Newlinds SC said.

Mr Rebbeck was sentenced to three years' jail with his sentence partially suspended after 20 months on the condition he enter a recognisance of $100 without security.

Strike Force Packer officers said the international paedophile ring in question was spread across Australia, Europe, Asia and the US.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said there were 'hundreds' of people allegedly participating in the video calls and exposing themselves.

Tracing the children in the files is a 'top priority' said NSW Police.
Doctors strikes will be banned under a Conservative government in the same way as police and prison officers, Kemi Badenoch has vowed.

The Tory party leader today announced she would amend the law to bar the protests as she insisted the British Medical Association (BMA) is 'out of control'.

It comes following 11 strikes in the past 18 months which Ms Badenoch said had resulted in patients dying.

Her comments were made on GB News amid the ongoing five-day series of strikes by resident doctors in support of a pay claim.

Urging Sir Keir Starmer to take similar action, Ms Badenoch said: 'The BMA has become militant, these strikes are going too far, and it is time for action.

'Doctors do incredibly important work. Medicine is a vocation  not just a job. That is why in government we offered a fair deal that supported doctors, but protected taxpayers too.

'These strikes will have a significant economic effect, but they will also mean cancelled operations, worry for families of the sick, and suffering for those who are unwell. We know that previous strike action by doctors even led to some patients losing their lives.

'That is why Conservatives are stepping in, and setting out common sense proposals to protect patients, and the public finances. And we are making an offer in the national interest  we will work with the Government to face down the BMA to help protect patients and the NHS.'

Ms Badenoch's comments were made on GB News amid the ongoing five-day series of strikes by resident doctors in support of a pay claim

Urging Sir Keir Starmer to take similar action, she said: 'The BMA has become militant, these strikes are going too far, and it is time for action'

Junior doctors demonstrate opposite Downing Street demanding placards in a protest organised by the BMA

Doctors hold lives in their hands. No one should lose critical healthcare because of strikes but thats whats happening now.



Thats why a Conservative government led by me would ban doctors strikes, just like we do the army and police.  Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 27, 2025

Police, the military and prison officers are banned from taking strike action under the 1992 Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act. The Conservatives would amend this to include doctors.

Action short of a strike such as working to rule and banning overtime would still be permitted - with doctors remaining able to unionise through the BMA, like the police, which has the police federation to represent members' interests.

Minimum service levels have also been proposed by the Conservatives, which would aim to ensure a basic service provision in not just healthcare but other essential sectors like education and transport.

The party has argued proposed changes would bring the UK in line with other nations such as Australia and Canada who have tighter restrictions on doctors strikes, as well as European nations like Greece, Italy and Portugal that have minimum service levels laws in place across their health services.

Under Australia's Fair Work Act 2009, the Fair Work Commission is required to suspend or terminate strike action that endangers the safety, health or welfare of the population.

Attempts to block doctors' strike action are likely to be challenged in the courts, specifically under Article 11 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Police officers have been banned from taking strike action since 1919 when the Police Act made it a criminal offence and all armed forces members are bound by the King's Regulations which make unionisation illegal.

The Conservatives' proposed primary legislation would restrict the ability of for doctors at all levels to engage in strike action as regulated by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

Stuart Andrew MP (pictured), Shadow Health Secretary, said: 'The Conservative Party has always respected the important work that healthcare professionals do, but enough is enough'

This would be done through exempting doctors from the part of the act that gives the right to strike.

The Conservatives said they will also look at introducing back-to-work orders in a similar vein to other European countries.

Stuart Andrew MP, Shadow Health Secretary, said: 'The Conservative Party has always respected the important work that healthcare professionals do, but enough is enough.

'The BMA has taken our NHS hostage and used this Labour Governments weakness to demand more and more  with taxpayers and patients left to suffer the consequences.

'As our health service faces yet another round of damaging strike action, the Conservatives are calling time. If Labour were serious about cutting waiting lists and delivering the health system our country deserves, rather than just kowtowing to the unions, they would back our plans.'
'Apocalyptic' wildfires have engulfed Southern Europe with several holiday hotspots threatened by the blazes and residents forced to flee their homes.

Fourteen people have been killed by the wild infernos in Turkey sparked by a record 50C heatwave.

Fires have also struck Montenegro and Albania while causing devastation Greece where temperatures have soared above 44C.

Smoke rose from charred tree branches near Montenegro's capital Podgorica today while huge flames could be seen dangerously close to city tower blocks.

Meanwhile, fire tore through landscapes near Bulqiza, Albania, this weekend as emergency services desperately tried to tame the blaze.

Twenty-six fires broke out throughout the country on Saturday, following a serious blaze near the southern Albanian town of Delvina on Friday, injuring three people and forcing the evacuation of around 2,000 locals.

The fires are being ignited by unseasonably high temperatures, as well as dry conditions and strong winds.

Overnight, flames obliterated the forested mountains surrounding Bursa city in northwest Turkey, shining a threatening red glow on the sky.

It marked the latest city to be hit by deadly blazes this summer - as Cyprus also fell victim to aggressive wildfires amid unusually hot weather.

The governor's office in Bursa said more than 1,760 people had been safely evacuated from villages to the northeast as around 2,000 firefighters battled the flames.

Smoke rises from trees burned by wildfires near Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, on Sunday

Flames rip through the landscape near Podgorica, Montenegro, today amid another wildfire

Firefighters battle a wildfire near Montenegro in Podgorica on Sunday afternoon

Smoke fills the air as blazes rip through grass areas in Podgorica earlier today

A helicopter throws water on the landscape to battle a wildfire near Montenegro today

A member of emergency services stands next to a wildfire near Bulqiza, Albania

Members of emergency services work to contain a wildfire near Bulqiza, Albania

The silhouette of a man is seen through smoke and flames in Bulqiza, Albania, this weekend

Flames rip through the forested mountains surrounding Bursa city in northwest Turkey overnight

Hundreds flee as wildfires spread rapidly to Turkey's fourth-largest city, Bursa

The highway linking Bursa to the capital, Ankara, was closed off as surrounding forests burned.

Orhan Saribal, an opposition parliamentarian for the province, likened the scene to 'an apocalypse'.

Turkey has been hit by dozens of wildfires every day since late June - with Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yamukli revealing fire crews across the country approached 76 separate blazes yesterday alone.

The General Directorate of Meteorology said Turkey recorded its highest ever temperature - 50.5C (122.9F) - within the southeastern Sirnak province on Friday.

The same day, homes and holiday properties burnt down in popular holiday hotspot Cyprus.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice in response to the devastation on the island.

Warning of 'active wildfires', the government highlighted the Paphos and Limassol districts as some of the affected areas, located in the south of Cyprus.

It added: 'Transport and infrastructure (electricity, water) links in locations close to the fires may be affected whilst the authorities respond to the situation.'

Though the FCDO noted the airports in Paphos and Larnaca are 'operating as normal'.

'If you are due to travel to an area that might be affected by wildfires, contact your travel operator or accommodation provider before you travel to check that it is not currently impacted. Make sure you have appropriate insurance,' the advice read.

The Foreign Office also included recommendations for those in the area or affected by the wildfires.

Flames and smoke rise from a burning forest during a wildfire near Psachna Village on Evia (Euboea) island, the second-largest Greek island, today

A firefighting helicopter operates in a burned area after a wildfire in the area of Kryoneri, in the suburbs of Athens, Greece, today

A burned house after a wildfire in the area of Kryoneri, in the suburbs of Athens, Greece

Residents and firefighters attempt to extinguish a wildfire as smoke and flames rise from a forested area in the Gursu district of Bursa

Firefighters attempt to extinguish a wildfire as smoke and flames rise from a forested area in the Gursu district of Bursa early today

The fires are being ignited by unusually high temperatures, alongside dry conditions and strong winds

Emergency services and residents rest amid efforts to extinguish a wildfire in a forested area in the Gursu district of Bursa

Smoke and flames rise from a forested area during the latest major wildfire in Turkey

The fires are being ignited by unusually high temperatures, alongside dry conditions and strong winds

'Be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires. You should follow the guidance of the emergency services,' it stated.

'Call the Cypriot Emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger.

'Contact your airline or travel operator, who can assist you with information relating travel back to the UK.'

And yesterday, British tourists were put on alert as Greece wildfires spread amid a 44C heatwave - as a blaze tore through the capital of Athens.

The southern European country was first hit with the scorching temperatures on Monday and they have not relented throughout the week.

After the mercury hit a blistering 44C high in Athens on Tuesday, a wildfire burned through a northern suburb of the capital on Friday.

Shocking pictures showed homes ablaze while residents of the town of Kryoneri, 12.5miles northeast of Athens, received three SMS warnings to evacuate.
An Australian man has fallen from the second floor of a Bali hotel and suffered serious spinal injuries.

The 30-year-old man, known only as Dylan, fell from a balcony of the Ramada Encore Hotel in Kuta on Saturday about 4.25am.

Badung Fire Department released video footage which shows emergency service crews lowering the man to the ground on a stretcher.

He can be heard saying, 'I can't' and 'oh my god' as he groaned in pain.

Bali authorities confirmed the Australian had suffered a tailbone fracture as a result of the fall.

The circumstances surrounding the fall are not yet known.

Kuta has a controversial reputation among travel bloggers as it has become known for 'over-tourism' along with its rowdy nightlife and heavily congested traffic.

An Australian man, known as Dylan, can be seen being lowered down to the ground on a stretcher after falling from the second floor of Ramada Encore Hotel in Kuta (pictured)

The hotel (pictured) is popular among Australian tourists

The district in the south of the capital Denpasar was rocked by a similar tragedy earlier this year.

Melbourne woman Courtney Mills died after falling from her hotel balcony in Kuta.

Ms Mills, a passionate DJ, was found lying on the side of the hotel's pool around 1am after hotel staff took her to her room around an hour earlier.

Kuta Police Chief Agus Diwayanto Dwiputra told the ABC that Mills had been drinking.

Her sister Kiani praised the DJ's 'sparkle' as she paid tribute following the tragic incident.

'Our hearts are shattered as we share the devastating news of the sudden passing of our beloved Courtney Mills, in Bali,' she posted on Facebook.

'Courtney touched the hearts of everyone she met. Her light, sparkle, and spirit will forever remain with us.

'Courtney lived her life to the fullest and brought so much joy to those around her.'
A horrific private plane crash in California has left all three passengers dead, authorities have confirmed after a frantic water search for the victims.

The Beech 95-B55 Baron plummeted into the ocean in Pacific Grove around 10:40pm on Saturday, according to emergency officials.

Flight N8796R had departed from San Carlos Airport at 10:07pm and was headed for Monterey Regional Airport, according to Flight Radar.

First responders were notified about the horrific crash after receiving a lost radar alert.

Horrified residents of the quiet coastal neighborhood also made several 911 calls after hearing the plane's engine revving and sputtering before a massive splash in the sea near Asilomar.

Footage obtained by KSBW from Saturday night captured flares shooting into the air from the near the plane wreck to aid search crews.

Officials estimate the plane crashed about 200 to 300 meters from the shore.

A spokesperson for the US Coast Guard Southwest District told the Daily Mail several life boats and a helicopter were deployed within minutes of the crash.

Search crews (pictured) scoured the area Sunday morning in hopes of finding debris and the missing passengers

The Beech 95-B55 Baron (stock image) plummeted into the ocean in Pacific Grove around 10:40pm on Saturday, according to emergency officials

Frantic search efforts are underway after a private plane crash in California (pictured: flares shooting from the airplane over the ocean)

The first victim was recovered on Sunday morning, KION reported from the scene. The other two bodies were found in the afternoon, the Coast Guard told KSBW.

Debris from the crash has washed up on rocks and on the shore.

These remnants include luggage, seat cushions and other pieces of the aircraft, a CAL FIRE spokesperson told the Daily Mail.

Footage from the scene showed an oxygen tank and chunks of metal that ended up along the coast.

When he spoke with the Daily Mail on Sunday morning, the CAL FIRE representative said officials hoped the daylight makes it easier to locate the rest of the aircraft and the remaining 'victims or survivors.'

The identities of those onboard have not been publicly released.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will collect the debris to determine what caused the accident.

The Monterey County Sheriff's Office and Pacific Grove Police are involved in the multi-agency recovery mission as well.

Pacific Grove Police told the Daily Mail they could not share a comment because the investigation is ongoing.

Sunset Drive between Jewell Avenue and Pico Avenue, near where the plane went down, is closed as investigators probe the area.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the involved agencies for more information about the incident.

As the search persists, witnesses have shared their chilling recounts of the moment the plane went down.

'I heard the plane flying low over my house last night, and then heard a loud pop,' one woman wrote on Facebook.

'Woke me up, sounded like a plane doing air show stunts over my roof then heard it hit,' another chimed in.

The ill-fated flight went down in the same area where songwriter John Denver fatally crashed his homemade plane in October, 1997.

The 53-year-old folk musician and plane enthusiast died when his experimental Rutan Long-EZ malfunctioned - causing it to fall into the Monterey Bay.

The ill-fated flight went down in the same area where songwriter John Denver (pictured) fatally crashed his homemade plane in October, 1997

Denver, although passionate about flying, did not have his pilot's license at the time, according to All That's Interesting.

The NTSB determined the crash was caused by poor placement of the fuel selector in the plane.

Fuel selectors switch fuel flow from one tank to another so a plane can keep flying without having to refill.

Officials believe Denver accidentally steered it into the water because he was unable to reach the switch's handle.
A bride-to-be whose fiancee was killed by a drunk driver the night before their wedding has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the teen who allegedly killed him.

Kirk Walker, 38, and his cousin Rob McLaurin were killed in horror crash on the Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan, New York City on August 24 last year.

Walker, a father of three, and McLaurin, 40, were hit head-on by a pickup truck barreling down the wrong way of the parkway at 2.20am.

The driver, then-17-year-old Jimmy Connors, had allegedly spent the night drinking at a nightclub near Bryant Park before he got behind the wheel of the truck.

He then allegedly crashed into another car, prompting off-duty police officer Boubacar Barry - who witnessed the collision - to pursue him his personal SUV, the complaint alleges.

Connors and Barry entered the parkway and were traveling southbound in the northbound lanes when the truck slammed head-on into Walker's vehicle.

The teen fled the scene the scene of the crash, abandoning his injured 21-year-old passenger at the scene, the suit alleges. The passenger also tried to run away, but was caught by police.

Connors was arrested the next day near the Canadian border. He was taken back to New York and indicted on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal crash. He pleaded not guilty.

Kirk Walker, 38, and his cousin Rob McLaurin were killed in horror crash on the Henry Hudson Parkway in Manhattan on August 24 last year. His fiancee Shauntea Weaver (pictured with Walker) has now filed a wrongful death suit against those she holds responsible for his death

Walker, a father of three, and Rob McLaurin, 40, (pictured) were hit head-on by a pickup truck barreling down the wrong way of the parkway at 2.20am

Walker's devastated fiancee Shauntea Weaver has now filed a wrongful death suit against Connors, Barry, the NYPD, City of New York and Nebula nightclub, where Connors had allegedly gone drinking.

The complaint, which was reviewed by Daily Mail, accuses Connors of recklessness and negligence that 'directly and proximately' caused Walker's death.

Weaver argued that Barry acted as a law enforcement officer and not a civilian when he followed Connors in an unauthorized chase, which she alleges makes the city and police force also responsible for her beloved's death.

She further alleges that Nebula violated state law by continuing to serve Connors alcohol despite him being 'visibly intoxicated' in the hours before the crash.

She is seeking unspecified damages for wrongful death, conscious pain and suffering, negligence, emotional and psychological loss, funeral expenses and punitive damages.

In a statement released through her attorneys to Daily Mail, Weaver said that Walker was 'taken from me just as we were starting our new life together'.

'He was the love of my life,' she continued, noting that their family was 'left trying to pick up the pieces of our lives and come to terms with a future without him in it'.

She added: 'Our lives will never be the same.'

Connors has been held without bail since his arraignment. His lawyer previously told the Post that Connors is 'sick', 'autistic', and 'has epilepsy'. The attorney also claimed he believes Connors had been manipulated by someone else in the car.

Jimmy Connors, 17, was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of the parkway - being pursued by off-duty cop Boubacar Barry - when he allegedly slammed head-on into Walker's vehicle. Neither Connors or Barry have been pictured

Walker and Weaver worked at a successful car rental business that they had started together, which she said last year was all thanks to her late fiance's dedication.

'He put his blood, sweat and tears into it - we both did,' she said at the time of his death. 'He was such a generous, hard-working man. He had a heart of gold and would do anything for anybody. Such a hard worker.'

Weaver was vowed to get justice for both Walker and McLaurin.

'Nothing will bring him back. But we are seeking justice,' she said last year. 'The detectives looked me right in my face and said that they were going to do everything they could to get justice.

'Two lives were lost in a reckless car crash. They need to pay for killing two innocent people,' she added.

Weaver's attorney Nick Russo told Daily Mail: 'Kirk Walker tragically lost his life in what we believe was a preventable car crash. This tragedy ripped him away from his loving wife and his children, a day before his wedding ceremony, and left his family completely devastated.

'We have filed a lawsuit to pursue every possible avenue of justice for this family. While we are early in the litigation and still seeking answers to why this happened, the lawsuit alleges that the negligence and reckless conduct of several parties contributed to the crash that killed our client, and we plan to hold each of them accountable for the profound loss this family continues to endure.'

Daily Mail has also approached representatives for Connors, the NYPD and city of New York for comment.
The Trump administration's refusal to release any more files about Jeffrey Epstein has dominated the news cycle in recent weeks, and both the president's political allies and adversaries are growing weary.

Even members of the president's own political party are calling the administration's handling of the files a 'political mistake' and 'misstep.'

Eric Burlison, a Missouri Republican, told CNN's Manu Raju that part of the issue is 'that there were false expectations that are created, and that's a political mistake.'

'I think that saying that you're going to be able to deliver when you haven't even looked at all of the files, what's available, was probably a misstep,' Burlison said.

His criticism comes as voters are not happy with Trump's handing of the files.

Only 16 percent of respondents to a recent Emerson College poll saying that they approve 'of the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.'

Progressive Democrat Ro Khanna appeared on Meet The Press Sunday, when he told host Kristen Welker that he considered the issue of the Epstein filed a winning one for his party.

Emerson College Polling director Spencer Kimball noted Thursday that the Epstein files issue was the one Trump fared the worst.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., speaks during an NAACP meeting, Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Columbia, S.C.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) speaks to reporters as he leaves a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on June 04, 2025 in Washington, DC

'This is about trust in government. When John F. Kennedy was president, trust in government was 60 percent. Today it's in the teens. Speaker Johnson and I came to Congress together. He was on the reform side too. He wanted to make government work,' Khanna noted.

'This is a perfect opportunity for him to say, "Look, the past is the past." Okay, I didn't love that he shut down government. Maybe on your show today he'll commit that when we come back, let's have a vote. Remind him of what were like, the conversations we had in our freshman class. This is about being a reform agent of transparency,' Khanna continued, doing his best to put additional pressure on the Republican Speaker.

Khanna and libertarian-minded Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky teamed up earlier this month to introduce the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which would compel Attorney General Pam Bondi to publicly release all unclassified materials relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

The duo's resolution is receiving the backing of a diverse set of members, including New York socialist darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Michigan 'Squad' member Rashida Tlaib, as well as Boebert of Colorado, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Greene of Georgia.

Khanna noted during a media appearance last week that his resolution had the backing of all 212 of his Democratic colleagues in the House.

Even if only the 10 GOP co-sponsors of the resolution were to support it, it would easily pass the House as just a simple majority is need, which is 218 votes out of 435.

Speaker Mike Johnson had choice words for the uncanny duo's push to release the files during his own Meet The Press appearance Sunday.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., blames Democrats, former President Joe Biden, and Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie of Kentucky, over the Jeffrey Epstein situation, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Portrait of American financier Jeffrey Epstein (left) and real estate developer Donald Trump as they pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida, 1997

Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) (L) walks down the steps of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 23, 2025 in Washington, DC

'The Massie and the Khanna discharge petition does not have adequate protections. For example, in the way that it was drafted, they cite that they don't want child abuse, sex abuse information uncovered, but they cite the wrong provision of the Federal Code, and so it makes it unworkable,' Johnson told Welker.

'It requires the DOJ to release grand jury testimony. They are prohibited by law from doing so. So it is not the right approach,' he said.

'There is another approach out there. The House Republicans on the Rules Committee have a resolution that is well drafted, that is thoughtfully drafted by lawyers, that would make this workable. That's the approach, we have to protect the innocent. We'll do it at all cost,' Johnson added.
HANOI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- For many young Vietnamese, studying in China has transformed lifelong dreams into achievable goals, opening doors to opportunities for learning.

Doan Thi Kim Dung is one of the Vietnamese recipients of the annual Chinese government scholarship this year.

The Chinese embassy in Vietnam recently held a ceremony to present admission letters to 34 Vietnamese students who have been awarded Chinese government scholarships for the academic year 2025/26.

"I always dreamed of studying in China, and with this scholarship, that dream has come true," said Dung.

Born and raised in Bac Ninh, a northern Vietnamese province known for its high concentration of Chinese enterprises, Dung sees her upcoming Business Administration program in China as key to supporting her family's future in the local economy.

"My hometown has many Chinese companies, so studying in China gives me knowledge that's practical and relevant when I return home for work," she explained.

In addition to scholarships, the Chinese side has also provided an increasing number of short and mid-term training programs for Vietnamese students.

Do Gia Hien's scholarship journey began with a one-year exchange program in China in 2023, where he was impressed by the country's rapid advancement in artificial intelligence and robotics.

"Living and studying in China showed me how far they've developed in technology, and that experience pushed me to seriously consider long-term study in this field," said Hien.

After returning to Vietnam, he participated in the national science and engineering contest, where he earned second prize in the physics and astronomy category, which strengthened both his profile and his resolve to pursue further education in China.

His academic achievements helped him win a scholarship to study computer science at Harbin Institute of Technology, one of China's top universities in engineering and AI research.

"I want to access China's core developments in AI and bring that expertise home, so we can build stronger infrastructure and develop local solutions for Vietnam's national challenges," he explained.

Nguyen Hai Thanh, deputy director general of the International Cooperation Department under Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, highlighted the growing appeal of China as a study-abroad destination, particularly among Vietnamese students.

"China is becoming an increasingly popular choice for international students, particularly from developing nations like Vietnam, thanks to its world-class universities, high-quality education, affordable tuition fees, and the wealth of opportunities it offers for academic and professional growth," he said.

Educational exchanges have been a key part of bilateral cooperation between China and Vietnam, with about 24,000 Vietnamese students currently studying in China, double the number from five years ago. 
Jordan and the United Arab Emirates parachuted 25 tons of aid into the Gaza Strip on Sunday in their first airdrop in months, a Jordanian official said.

The country has confirmed that it has carried out three airdrops over Gaza, including one in co-operation with the United Arab Emirates.

An official said the air drops were not a substitute for delivery by land, as it is also sending in 60 trucks carrying essential food supplies, the country's state-run news agency reports - while Egypt is also delivering more aid by land.

Two Jordanian C-130 planes and one United Arab Emirate aircraft were involved in the mission and targeted several locations within the embattled Gaza Strip.

Jordanian state TV added that the latest delivery of aid brings the total number of airdrops by the nation to 127 since the start of the war in Gaza.

Although some experts have questioned the practicality of airdrops to feed Gazas approximately two million people.

Calls for 'humanitarian corridors' to allow for more trucks with aid to access Gaza continue to sound as the region faces yet more food shortages.

It comes as Israel announced a 'tactical pause' to fighting in populated parts of Gaza to address a surge in hunger and allow in UK-backed aid air drops.

Humanitarian aid is airdropped by the Royal Jordanian Army over the northern Gaza Strip on July 27

Jordanian state TV added that the latest delivery of aid brings the total number of airdrops by the nation to 127 since the start of the war in Gaza

People walk with sacks of flour delivered after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza on July 27

Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in the northern part of the Gaza Strip near Beit Hanoun, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 27, 2025

The steps mean food can now enter the regions for 10 hours a day as Israel faces a wave of international criticism over its conduct in the 21-month conflict.

A pause to fighting will begin from today, taking place between 10am and 8pm in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi - three areas of the territory with large populations, to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid' entering the territory.

The Israeli military also stated it has carried out aid airdrops into Gaza, including packages of aid with flour, sugar and canned food.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the 'utterly horrifying' images of children starving, adding 'news that Israel will allow countries to airdrop aid into Gaza has come far too late'.

Food experts have warned for months of the risk of famine in Gaza, where Israel has restricted aid because it says Hamas siphons off goods to help bolster its rule.

Images emerging from Gaza in recent days of emaciated children have fanned global criticism of Israel, including by close allies, who have called for an end to the war and the humanitarian catastrophe it has spawned.

Israel said the new measures were taking place while it continues its offensive against Hamas in other areas.

On Sunday afternoon, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his first comments since the military announced the series of measures to boost humanitarian aid into Gaza.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food, the UN human rights office says (picture taken on July 21)

Trucks carrying humanitarian aids enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip today

The military said it would begin a 'tactical pause' in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, three areas of the territory with large populations, to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid' entering the territory

Palestinians carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip

In a video statement, he said that while Israel continues its fighting in Gaza, the country has got to allow the entry of 'minimal' humanitarian supplies.

The prime minister claimed that Israel has always allowed aid into Gaza, and that the UN has blamed his government for the crisis Palestinians are facing.

He said: 'There are secure routes. There have always been, but today it's official. There will be no more excuses.

'We will continue to fight and we will continue to act until we achieve all of our war goals - until complete victory.'

The local pause in fighting came days after ceasefire efforts between Israel and Hamas appeared to be in doubt.

On Friday, Israel and the US recalled their negotiating teams, blaming Hamas, and Israel said it was considering 'alternative options' to ceasefire talks with the militant group.

After ending the latest ceasefire in March, Israel cut off the entry of food, medicine, fuel and other supplies completely to Gaza for two and a half months, saying it aimed to pressure Hamas to release hostages.

Under international pressure, Israel slightly eased the blockade in May.

Since then, it has allowed around 4,500 trucks for the UN and other aid groups in to distribute.

Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, a 1.5-year-old child in Gaza City, Gaza, faces life-threatening malnutrition as the humanitarian situation worsens due to ongoing Israeli attacks and blockade

Palestinian journalists, children, and families gather to demand an end to Israeli attacks and the entry of humanitarian aid, on July 19

Keir Starmer said: 'The images of starvation and desperation in Gaza are utterly horrifying'

The average of 69 trucks a day, however, is far below the 500 to 600 trucks a day the UN says are needed for Gaza.

The UN says it has been unable to distribute much of the aid because hungry crowds and gangs take most of it from its arriving trucks.

As a way to divert aid delivery away from the UN, Israel has backed the US-registered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which in May opened four centres distributing boxes of food supplies.

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food, mostly near those new aid sites, the UN human rights office says.

As a way to divert aid delivery away from the UN, Israel has backed the US-registered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which in May opened four centres distributing boxes of food supplies.

Israel has railed against the UN throughout the war, saying that its system allowed Hamas to steal aid, without providing evidence.

The UN denies that claim and says its delivery mechanism was the best way to bring aid to Palestinians.

The military said the new steps were made in co-ordination with the UN and other humanitarian groups.

Much of Gaza's population, squeezed by fighting into ever tinier patches of land, now relies on aid.

A Palestinian girl carries a bag of food aid as a woman transports empty cardboard boxes on her shoulder in the al-Mawasi camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Recent conflict was sparked following Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, saw militants kill 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages.

Hamas still holds 50 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 59,700 Palestinians.

The count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians, but the Palestinian Health Ministry says that more than half of the dead are women and children.

It is understood that Sir Keir will press Donald Trump at a meeting in Scotland on Monday as to whether more can be done to stop the conflict.

While the Prime Minister will urge for securing a ceasefire, it is feared this will raise the risk of a clash with Mr Trump who has insisted Hamas does not want peace.

Sir Keir said: 'Israel must allow aid in over land to end the starvation unfolding in Gaza. The situation is desperate.

'We are urgently accelerating efforts to evacuate children who need critical medical assistance to the UK for treatment.'

A Palestinian boy reacts as he carries a bag of flour in the al-Mawasi camp in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said pictures of children starving in Gaza has not wavered her support for Israel

Britain is working with Jordan on plans to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance.

However, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency has warned the efforts are 'a distraction' that will fail to properly address deepening starvation in the strip, and could in some cases harm civilians.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said: 'A manmade hunger can only be addressed by political will.

'Lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need.'

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also claimed there was 'no starvation' in Gaza, despite increasing accounts of malnutrition and starvation-related deaths.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said pictures of children starving in Gaza has not wavered her support for Israel.

She told Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips show: 'War is a difficult situation and what I see when I see Israel is a country that is trying to defend itself, mostly from Iran and a lot of its proxies, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis. I think they are in a very difficult situation.

'What worries me is that the length of time that this war has been going on is making it very difficult for the people in the Palestinian territories and also for Israel.

'We need to bring things to an end.'

The comments come amid Israel's continued occupation of the Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights - understood to be the longest military occupation in modern history.
This is the terrifying moment a man stood up on a packed flight and told passengers he had a bomb.

Police have arrested a 41-year-old man after a disturbance on a 7am easyJet flight from Luton to Glasgow.

Videos of the incident were posted online and are now being assessed by counter terrorism police officers.

The man is seen in the video stood up near the back of the aircraft.

He shouted: 'Stop the plane. Find the bomb on the plane.

'Death to America. Death to Trump.'

He is then heard shouting 'Allahu Akbar' three times. A phrase which means 'God is the greatest' in Arabic.

The man was seen at the back of the plane shouting 'Death to America. Death to Trump'

A hero passenger from row 21 then tackles the man to the ground and held him on the floor.

Another man sat on top of the man to restrain him. He said: 'Sit down don't move.'

In another clip, people could be heard nervously asking 'who is he with?', 'does he have his phone?'.

The cabin crew could be heard announcing that the plane would be 'landing very shortly'.

Passengers asked the man if he had anything in his bag, asking 'do you have a bomb?'.

They then asked the man if he had been drinking or taking drugs.

He was quizzed by two men. One asked: 'Why did you say you wanted to bomb this plane?'

After shouting he was grabbed by a fellow passenger who managed to pull him to the ground

The passengers then managed to locate the man's bag.

The fellow passengers asked if he had anything in his pockets.

Another panicked woman said: 'Check everywhere, not just his pockets, check his body.'

They took his wallet and managed to find his ID.

A woman is then heard crying as she takes an emotional phone call with a loved one.

Upon landing in Glasgow, police were caught on video arresting the man, while he remained lying down in the aisle of the plane.

The officer told the man: 'You're calm now, are you going to be calm when I stand you up.'

Two men stood over and restrained the man while they quizzed him about his bag and whether he had a bomb

The man was arrested after the plane landed in Glasgow at around 8am and Police Scotland confirmed counter terrorism were assessing the footage

The man replied: 'I'm calm now.'

As he is escorted off the plane, the man asks for his 'phone and wallet', which received a cold response from passengers who tell him to 'f*** off'.

Some manage to find some humour and laugh at the man's request, with one heard saying 'it is like a comedy sketch'.

A spokesperson for easyJet said: 'Flight EZY609 from Luton to Glasgow this morning was met by police on arrival in Glasgow, where they boarded the aircraft and removed a passenger due to their behaviour onboard.

'easyJet's crew are trained to assess all situations and act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers are not compromised at any time.

'The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority.'

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We received a report of a man causing a disturbance on a flight arriving in Glasgow around 8.20am on Sunday, 27 July, 2025.

'Officers boarded the plane on its arrival and a 41-year-old man was arrested and remains in custody. Enquiries are continuing.

'At this time we believe the incident was contained and that nobody else was involved.

'We are aware of videos circulating online and these are being assessed by counter terrorism officers.'
Defence Secretary John Healey has suggested that Britain is preparing to be 'ready to fight' alongside Australia in order to deter Chinese escalation over Taiwan.

The island nation has long been at loggerheads with China, strongly rejecting Beijing's claim to sovereignty over it after the countries separated in the late forties.

China's president Xi Jinping has previously said he would not rule out using force in the 'reunification of the motherland'.

And now Mr Healey, when asked what the UK is doing to help countries like Taiwan prepare for potential Chinese escalation, has said Britain is preparing to be ready to fight in the Pacific.

He was speaking on a visit to the HMS Prince of Wales, docked in the Australian city of Darwin, with the country's deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles.

He told The Telegraph, during the carrier group's nine-month Pacific deployment: 'If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together.

'We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together.'

These are some of the strongest words ever issued by the British government on the topic of potential engagement in any conflict in the region.

Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured on a visit to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier today) has said Britain is preparing to be ready to fight in the Pacific

The island nation has long been at loggerheads with China, strongly rejecting Beijing's claim to sovereignty over it after the countries separated in the late forties. Pictured: From second left, Mr Healey, Australian deputy prime minister and minister for defence Richard Marles, British foreign secretary David Lammy and Australian foreign minster Penny Wong on the visit to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier today

Mr Healey (pictured with Mr Marles on the visit to the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier today), when asked what the UK is doing to help countries like Taiwan prepare for potential Chinese escalation, has said Britain is preparing to be ready to fight in the Pacific

But the minister emphasised he was talking in 'general terms' - and the UK would prefer any disputes there were resolved 'peacefully' and 'diplomatically'.

'We secure peace through strength, and our strength comes from our allies', he added.

Experts have previously warned an invasion of Taiwan could cause a large-scale conflict, pulling in nations from across the world.

It is because the country manufactures most advanced computer chips.

Mr Healey said 'threats' in the Indo-Pacific region are on the rise.

It follows the Chinese military taking control of contentious reefs - and was accused of intimidating its neighbours there.

The Defence Secretary's remarks also come as the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group sails with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The fleet will continue on to Japan, likely coming close to Taiwan.

China's president Xi Jinping (pictured) has previously said he would not rule out using force in the 'reunification of the motherland'

The Defence Secretary's remarks also come as the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group (pictured on the visit today) sails with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time in nearly 40 years

Deploying the strike carrier group, which is the UK's largest of its kind, in the Pacific for nine-months shows Britain is aware of increasing threats in the region.

Sending it to Darwin in particular indicates close ties between the UK and Australia - key to any potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific.

Indeed, Mr Healey noted such a partnership was especially important currently, as threats in the region increase.

The defence secretary emphasised the UK's interest in international rules, stability and security, as well as both freedom of the seas and navigation in the area.

British officials have previously not commented on whether the UK would intervene in any conflict in the region.

This is in line with the United States' stance, which has been dubbed 'strategic ambiguity' - and most other nations follow it too.

Two Royal Navy patrol vessels are stationed permanently in the region.

The UK government recognised, in its National Security Strategy published earlier this year: 'There is a particular risk of escalation around Taiwan.'

Deploying the strike carrier group (pictured on the visit today), which is the UK's largest of its kind, in the Pacific for nine-months shows Britain is aware of increasing threats in the region

Former defence secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured in 2019) said the UK is probably becoming more candid on its stance on the matter as threats in the Indo-Pacific increase.

Former defence secretary Gavin Williamson said the UK is probably becoming more candid on its stance on the matter as threats in the Indo-Pacific increase.

'I think there's a realisation that by being completely silent it doesnt make it more or less likely', he explained.

Deterrence, he added, involves making clear the consequences that will come if others act dangerously or maliciously.

Mr Williamson, who led the MoD from 2017 to 2019, added it is important someone as prominent as the British defence secretary is clear actions have consequences.

Former US president Joe Biden has previously broken strategic ambiguity on several occasions, saying the US would support Taiwan against China.

His successor Donald Trump has not done this - but Pentagon officials are said to be preparing for conflict.

His government has said it will review its membership of the AUKUS security agreement, between the US, Australia and the UK.

It comes as part of Mr Trump's 'America first' approach.

US President Donald's Trump administration has said it will review its membership of the AUKUS security agreement, between the US, Australia and the UK. Pictured: L-R Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, former US president Joe Biden and former prime minister Rishi Sunak at the AUKUS summit in March 2023

The UK and Australia have made a renewed commitment to each other in recent times. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa in October 2024

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has also not spoken out whether the nation would join the US and other allies to fight China in any conflict in the region.

He refused to comment on the matter last week.

The UK and Australia have made a renewed commitment to each other in recent times.

The two nations signed the Geelong Treaty this weekend - a 50-year agreement cementing their commitment to the AUKUS pact.

It also commits them to building a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

The HMS Prince of Wales anchoring in Darwin marks the first time a British carrier strike group has docked in Australia.

It is also the first time a non-US carrier has taken part in Australia's annual military drills, the so-called Talisman Sabre.

The event this year was the largest it has ever been.

Foreign secretary David Lammy (pictured, centre, on the visit today) also boarded the HMS Prince of Wales, on the same day as and just before his colleague Mr Healey

While the UK is turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey (pictured on the visit today) confirmed there would be no change to its level of engagement with Taiwan

Foreign secretary David Lammy also boarded the HMS Prince of Wales, on the same day as and just before his colleague Mr Healey.

He has previously said Britain plans to undertake more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait.

Last month, a Royal Navy patrol ship, the HMS Spey, moved through the strait - which was praised by Taiwan but frowned upon by China.

Britain does not comment on the future movements of its vessels.

But it is thought the HMS Prince of Wales will soon also travel through the strait on its way to South Korea and Japan.

While the UK is turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey confirmed there would be no change to its level of engagement with Taiwan.

Mr Williamson said Britain would likely only alter this stance if China got increasingly aggressive.
Chronic absenteeism surged to unprecedented levels at schools across America during the coronavirus pandemic and remains at disturbingly high levels even now.

The Department of Education (DoE) defines chronic absenteeism as students missing 10 percent or more of school per year.

Chronic absenteeism skyrocketed to 31 percent in the 2021-2022 academic year but even four years later, students are still missing class at unprecedented rates.

Absenteeism has dropped to 19.3 percent but student absences are 'more common' and 'more extreme' following the pandemic, a study by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) has found.

The latest data, which includes figures through March of 2025, shows absenteeism rates still remain 50 percent higher than before covid.

Absenteeism declined 0.3 points since last year, but experts warn that at the current rate it will take at least two decades for student absence rates to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Educators are trying to incentivize students to come to school, with some districts even paying students for their attendance.

Others have encouraged teachers to have attendance count towards grades or limit the number of assignments that can be completed online, The Boston Globe reports.

Chronic absenteeism - which the Department of Education defines as students missing 10 per cent or more of school - skyrocketed to 31 percent in the 2021-2022 academic year. The latest data, which includes figures through March of 2025, shows absenteeism rates still remain 50 per cent higher than before covid

Twenty states reported that more than 30 percent of their students missed at least three weeks of school in 2022-23, according to latest figures from the DoE.

Absenteeism remains highest in Oregon, Hawaii, New Mexico and the District of Columbia, the report - published earlier this year - revealed.

Oregon recorded absenteeism levels of 44 percent during the 22-23 academic year, followed by Hawaii and New Mexico at 43 percent.

Washington DC, however, recorded an absenteeism rate of 47 percent - the highest in the country, according to the data.

The AEI report, which includes data from last year, found the highest rates of absenteeism are in Hawaii which recorded a level of 34 per cent in 2024.

Connecticut followed at 30 percent and DC came ranked third worst at 29 percent, according to the AEI data.

Researchers say that absences derive from multiple - but often interconnected - factors including student disengagement, lack of access to student and family supports, and student and family health challenges.

They allege absenteeism is highest among 'high-needs populations', including students who come from low-income households.

Students with disabilities are 36 percent more likely to experience chronic absenteeism than students without disabilities, the DoE has found.

Absenteeism is also 20 percent higher among students who are English language learners than those who are fluent or native speakers.

The DoE has called on states and school districts nationwide to address the factors driving absences and 'send a clear message' to students and families that children 'need to be in school'.

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District officials in Detroit, Michigan and Oakland, California have used money to motivate students to come to school.

Detroit spends up to $1,000 per student per year to encourage attendance, which experts allege increases attendance by as much as several days annually.

A Boston School Committee member has called on officials to launch a similar program in the Massachusetts city, the Globe reports.

Massachusetts recorded a statewide absenteeism level of 15 percent last year, latest figures reveal.

Other experts have encouraged schools to create 'negative nudges' or punishments for students who fail to meet attendance requirements.

Robert Balfanz, of Johns Hopkins University School of Education, suggests that having attendance affect academic grades could get students who are on the verge of skipping to turn up to class.

Tim Daly, CEO of education nonprofit EdNavigator, has suggested that schools increase attendance rates by helping tackle students lacking sleep.

A survey conducted by the organization found that after sickness, 'not enough sleep' was the most common reason for student absences.

Daly suggested schools could 'help kids with their nighttime routines' by disabling capabilities on district-issued technology at certain times.

'Sometimes when kids stay up too late, they're using the devices to 'do homework' but really they're using them to stream,' he said during AEI's chronic absenteeism symposium in May.

'Not only would [disabling them] prevent them that, [schools] can message to parents, when that goes off, it's time to go to sleep.'

Some school districts have even adjusted high school start times to better align with adolescent sleep cycles.

The Department of Education has urged states and school districts nationwide to address the factors driving absences and 'send a clear message' to students and families that children 'need to be in school'

Mary Beth Miotto, a pediatrician and former president of the Massachusetts chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, has also urged medical professionals to treat school attendance like a 'vital sign'.

Miotto argued that high absenteeism negatively impacts physical and mental health, such as increasing high school dropout rates and lowering life expectancy.

She said it is critical for doctors to encourage parents to get their children to school and have positive conversations about attendance without sparking fears about truancy.

The pediatrician believes that all primary care physicians, ER staff and urgent care doctors should be asking families about school attendance.

'We can pour all the money into schools and teachers, but if kids aren't showing up, it's not helping,' Miotto told the Globe.
A toddler has been found dead on a beach in Greece as police work to identify the little girl as young as two years old.

She was found by a horrified passerby on the popular tourist spot Eden Beach in Paleo Faliro, near Athens.

The child is believed to be two or three years old and was discovered today in the early hours of the morning.

A man from Egypt saw the little girl's body on the shore and called the emergency services, local reports say.

The toddler's body was rushed to the Agia Sofia Children's Hospital via ambulance, where doctors pronounced her dead.

She is said to have been wearing a full-zip swimming costume and did not have any arm bands on, according to Greek newspaper Protothema.

They added she did not have any obvious signs of abuse.

An autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death.

A toddler has been found dead on a beach in Greece as police work to identify the little girl as young as two-years-old

No child matching her description had been reported missing in the area.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the girl's identity and how she died.

It comes after a British four-year-old boy died in May after being pulled from a hotel swimming pool in Tenerife.

The heart-breaking incident took place in San Miguel de Abona, a popular holiday spot in the south of the island.

Emergency services rushed to Jose Miguel Galvan Bello Avenue shortly before 5pm local time following reports of a child in cardiac arrest.

According to Spanish broadcaster Telecinco, the child was rescued from the water by a lifeguard but was found to be unresponsive.

Two advanced life support ambulances and a medical helicopter were sent to the scene.

However, despite the best efforts of paramedics, who carried out advanced resuscitation procedures, the child could not be saved.
A Manhattan hospital is begging for the public's help in identifying a woman who was admitted more than 100 days ago.

On April 12 around 4:45am, a woman believed to be in her late-fifties was sitting at a Harlem bus stop when a bystander dialed 911.

It is unclear why an ambulance was called, but she was taken to Mount Sinai in Morningside Heights - where she has remained ever since.

Employees have described the mysterious patient, who may go by the name Pam, as shy. In a photo shared by the hospital, she was seen covering her face with a towel.

But these surface-level details are all officials have gathered about Pam during her three months at the hospital, and now hospital workers are trying to fill in the gaps.

The hospital is asking anyone with information on who she might be to come forward, NBC reported.

Pam is 5'8" tall and weighs 170 pounds. Hospital workers believe she was often in the Harlem area and generally wore black and covered her face. She speaks English and has greying hair.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Mount Sinai for comment.

A Manhattan hospital is begging for the public's help in identifying a woman who was admitted more than 100 days ago (pictured)

It is unclear why an ambulance was called, but she was taken to Mount Sinai in Morningside Heights (pictured) - where she has remained ever since

Anyone with information regarding Pam's identity should contact the hospital's associate director of social work Kelly LaTerra at 646-901-9309.

Last month, a California man was found unconscious and was rushed to St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach.

He was believed to be in his mid-forties, but just as in Pam's case, little else was known about the patient.

A chilling photo released by Dignity Health showed the man lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to a ventilator.

In October 2024, another California hospital took a similar approach to Mount Sinai in hopes of identifying a seriously ill patient.

Staff at the Riverside Community Hospital had done everything they could think of, but could not determine the name of a man who came through the facility's doors a month earlier.

They refused to say what was wrong with him or why he was attached to a ventilator, but released a photograph in the hopes that someone can put a name to the face.

Identifying John or Jane Doe patients is no easy task, as doctors and other hospital staff members must work to find out who they are without violating their rights.

Employees have described the mysterious patient (pictured), who may go by the name Pam, as shy

The New York Department of Health has protocols in place specifically for missing children, college students and vulnerable adults.

These standards were set in 2018 after 'several instances of a missing adult with Alzheimers disease who was admitted to a hospital as an unidentified patient and police and family members were unable to locate the individual.'

However, the process is not as cut and dry when it is the hospital asking for the public's help instead of the other way around.

While hospitals have been known to share images of unknown patients when all else fails, they are not allowed to reveal much about their circumstances.
Ten years and a few months ago, I was dispatched to Paisley to try to interview Mhairi Black. I say try to because everywhere we went someone would interrupt to tell the 20 year-old they were voting for her.

Its not easy grilling a candidate on currency options for an independent Scotland when every few minutes a passing stranger suddenly downs their Tesco bags and asks for a selfie.

This was the eve of the 2015 general election and the SNP was poised to sweep Labour from its west-central heartlands.

Nicola Sturgeon was selling out the Hydro. Black was about to become the youngest MP since the Great Reform Act. I still had hair. It was another Scotland.

A decade on, Black says shes done with the SNP and is no longer a member.

She pinpoints capitulation on LGBT rights, trans rights in particular as her reason for leaving, though adds: I thought the party could be doing better about Palestine as well.

Much as I dont share Blacks views on gender or Gaza  or a great deal else, for that matter  I respect them.

Theyre sincerely held.

Maggie Chapman has found herself dumped as the Greens lead candidate in North East Scotland

Mhairi Black has left the SNP, pinpointing 'capitulation on LGBT rights, trans rights in particular'

If youre going to hate anyone in politics, dont hate the ones who disagree with you on principle, hate the ones prepared to agree with you on any principle just to get ahead.

Unfortunately her principles are far removed from those of the median voter, who remains baffled by the notion that someone can identify into a different sex and even more baffled as to how this became a priority for politicians across the land.

Many feel strongly about the deaths in Gaza but for most voters it is nowhere near the top of their concerns, which are dominated by their family, then their social circles, then their neighbourhood, then their country.

Idealists who make a virtue of empathising more with those on the other side of the world get very angry about this. They even invented a term for it, hierarchy of death, which seems superfluous when we already had a term for it: human nature.

For the SNP to have clung onto Blacks membership subs, it would have had to return to a subject (trans rights) which has caused it no end of internal division and political misery, and adopt an even more strident stance on Israels military response to the Palestinians October 7 invasion and murder, rape and abduction of its citizens.

The SNP is a political party, not a moral philosophy seminar. It exists to win elections and, in theory, achieve Scottish independence. What votes would it win by taking Blacks advice? What votes is it at risk of losing by not?

The former Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP comes close to identifying the problem herself, when she says: If anything, Im probably a bit more Left-wing than I have been. I dont think I have changed all that much. I feel like the party needs to change a lot more.

The SNP does have to change, but not in the direction Black wants.

Mhairi Black, centre, had been deputy leader of the SNP in Westminster

The Nationalists and most other parties have spent the past decade or so breenging off on a tangent about trans rights, systemic racism, Donald Trump and the rest. A correction was long overdue.

This agenda lacked popular consent and stoked resentment among both those who opposed it fiercely and those who protested over so much time and effort being frittered away.

The Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland has helped immeasurably. Party leaders and policy-makers were able to point to the ruling and pass responsibility onto the justices. They werent backsliding, the court was clarifying the law.

For John Swinney, this has been a blessed opportunity to ditch positions he went along with at the time, Ive no doubt against his better judgment, but which he knows have gravely damaged his partys standing with the public.

A man with more gumption would have stood up and said something when it mattered, but if Swinney isnt much of a leader  and he certainly isnt  nor is he alone in that category.

During the initial consultation stage for reforming the Gender Recognition Act, a senior politician in one party admitted to me that they didnt understand the issue, or why it was a priority, but theyd be voting for it because they had been told to.

Politics is the trade of dreamers and cynics and while Mhairi Black might be wrong about everything at least shes sincere about it.

She isnt the only dreamer to be rudely awakened lately by political reality.

Maggie Chapman has found herself dumped as the Greens lead candidate in North East Scotland, replaced by Guy Ingerson, ex oil-and-gas worker turned Net Zero enthusiast.

According to a pet theory of mine, that makes it unlikely that Chapman will be re-elected next May. The theory: a persons likelihood to vote for the Scottish Greens correlates with their proximity to a Pret A Manger.

Edinburgh and Glasgow, home to 11 and six branches of the posh sandwich chain respectively, just so happen to be the Greens best and second-best performing areas on the regional lists.

Aberdeen, with just two, lags far behind in Green support.

Whether or not my theory holds water (or overpriced coffee), Chapmans Holyrood career appears to be over after years of headline-grabbing pronouncements. Her principles also deserve respect.

Not because theyre sincerely held but because we should remain open to ideas from other planets.

When the landmark ruling was handed down in For Women Scotland, Chapman attended a rally to denounce the bigotry, prejudice and hatred coming from the Supreme Court.

She once told an interviewer that allowing eight year olds to change their legal sex was something that in principle we should be exploring.

Following the October 7 attack on Israel, she shared a tweet saying the murderous rampage was not terrorism but decolonisation.

Yes, her views are deranged, but the more pertinent question is how these came to be the views of someone elected to make sure Scots can see a doctor, find a good school for their children, and not get mugged at knifepoint.

The answer is that ideologues like Chapman are not interested in all that boring, quotidian stuff that fixates middle-class taxpayers.

Simply ghastly people, those bourgeois types, with their petrol-guzzling cars, their authoritarian demands for more police on the streets, and their grasping fixation with ambition and acquisition.

Dont they know there are more important issues in the world?

There are far too many in Holyrood or keen to get there who think like this. For them, life is just one long university debating society match, in which enlightened elites like them exchange barbs and bon mots over affairs of state.

The little people might fret about bills and savings and leaving an inheritance for their children, but they are above such vulgar materialism.

They are here to change the world, you know.

In my observation, those most keen to change the world tend to have the least experience of it.

They make terrible politicians because they quickly find out the world doesnt work the way they want and they resent the voters for that.

If the voters set the agenda in politics, Mhairi Black and Maggie Chapman wouldnt be the only ones in our insular, self-righteous governing class that would be stampeding for the exit.

Democracy is still the most radical idea of all. Maybe one day well give it a try.
A Florida woman attempted to smuggle turtles through airport security by hiding them inside her bra - leaving one of the creature to meet a grim and tragic fate.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Miami International Airport made the shocking discovery during a routine security screening where they found two live turtles stuffed inside a traveler's bra.

The unnamed woman was allegedly attempting to fly out of Miami airport but she was caught red-handed when TSA agent cracked her shell of a plan.

Tragically, one of the animals did not survive the ordeal.

The surviving turtle was handed over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is now caring for the creature.

In a now-viral Facebook post, TSA shared the unique story and reminded passengers that while pets are allowed to travel, there are strict guidelines in place.

'OK friends, please - and we cannot emphasize this enough - stop hiding animals in weird places on your body and then trying to sneak them through airport security,' TSA urged in the post.

'No, really,' the post continued.

A Florida woman has attempted to smuggle turtles through airport security by hiding them inside her bra - leaving one of the creature to meet a grim and tragic fate

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Miami International Airport made the shocking discovery during a routine security screening where they found two live turtles stuffed inside a traveler's bra

'A Florida woman traveling out of Miami International Airport (MIA) recently attempted to take a pair of turtles through our checkpoint, and the turtles were stuffed inside yes, you guessed it her brassiere.'

TSA Officials blasted the irresponsible pet owner for her reckless stunt in the pun-filled post.

'We want you to be able to travel with your pets, and you turtle-ly can, but please travel with them safely.'

'You can start by reaching out to your airline for their rules concerning pets on board flights.'

The officials reminded passengers of basic rules when traveling with pets - emphasizing that all small pets must be carried through security checkpoint, not concealed under a shirt.

'As far as TSA screening goes, small pets are allowed through our checkpoint but must be removed from any carriers and carried through the checkpoint (notice we said carried and not hidden underneath your clothing).'

'Sadly, for this MIA traveler, one of the turtles didnt survive. The surviving turtle was turned over to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife, and were thankful for their partnership throughout this incident.'

The TSA officials did not release the name of the passenger responsible, nor did they provide the the motive behind her actions.

It's unclear at this point whether she will face any criminal charges.

The post was met with mixed reactions - with some users outraged by the woman's mishandling of the animals and others shocked by the absurdity of the story.

'Hiding it her bra was not the first place I thought she would hid it. LOL,' one user commented.

Another wrote: 'Only in Florida.'

But others demanded that the woman face serious consequences.

'So what are her consequences? Any? Or does she just get told dont do that again,' one user commented.

In a now-viral Facebook post, TSA shared the unique story and reminded passengers that while pets are allowed to travel, there are strict guidelines in place

This isn't the first surprise for TSA agents - who regularly encounter wild smuggling attempts - sometimes involving much larger animals.

In 2023, TSA agents in Florida found a four-foot boa constrictor in a woman's carry-on bag after her suitcase was passed through an X-ray machine.

The woman told agents at Tampa International Airport that the snake was 'an emotional support pet,' a TSA spokesperson said at the time.

The TSA released X-ray images of the snake on Friday. The images showed the animal curled up in the corner of a tray next to ordinary items such as sneakers, a belt, and a laptop.

The agency says it notified the airline which confirmed that it would not allow the snake in the plane's cabin. The TSA said snakes are never allowed to travel in carry-on luggage and only on some airlines can they be checked-in.
Hundreds of Nigerian migrants are cheating the system by using a visa scheme meant for authors and other literary creatives.

They have made the most applications for the scheme, which also covers poets, oral storytellers and creators of graphic novels and comics.

Those who are successful are able to bring their family into the UK as dependents and stay for up to five years at a time.

The Nigerian migrants have also been the most successful in their applications, endorsed by the government quango Arts Council England, which can review and bolster applications for 'Global Talent' visas.

This includes those with exceptional talents in music, theatre and dance and those applying are expected to prove their skills.

Nigerians have put in 125 applications to the literature category over the past five years - more than double the 61 received from the US and far more than nations like Australia, Canada and New Zealand combined.

Of those, 70 were rejected, and 54 were endorsed  more than any other country represented in official figures.

The number of Global Talent visa applications being submitted from Nigeria has risen by 2,225 per cent since 2019.

Hundreds of Nigerian migrants are cheating the system by using a visa scheme meant for authors and other literary creatives

Immigration has reached record number for illegal and legal arrivals, as Labour face mounting pressures to curb the soaring number of migrants

There were just 12 applications in 2019, but this rose to 279 in 2024, figures from The Telegraph revealed.

Across that entire period, Nigerians made 729 applications across the Global Talent categories in dance, fashion, music, film and TV, theatre, combined arts, and visual arts.

They came second to the US who submitted 977.

However, Nigeria had the lowest number of endorsements after Ghana, with just 59 per cent.

Russia have submitted 725 applications, china had 492, Australia with 233 and India with 160.

Since 2019, more than 5,000 applications have been made across all nationalities, with 3,600 endorsed by the Arts Council.

Immigration has reached record number for illegal and legal arrivals, as Labour face mounting pressures to curb the soaring number of migrants.

The Home Office has not revealed how many of these endorsements then lead to visas being signed off.
A young woman walking her dog through a Massachusetts park said her loyal pet saved her from being attacked by a creepy man who forcefully grabbed her arm.

The victim was strolling with her dog in the Rockland Town Forest when she was approached by a man who attempted to assault her on Wednesday, police said.

He allegedly made the woman, who is in her twenties, feel extremely uncomfortable right off the bat.

'During this encounter, they were alone in the woods,' Rockland Police Lieutenant Steven Somers told WCVB.

'He was inquiring if she was alone, then the conversation went inappropriate, started making inappropriate comments to the young female.'

As she tried to walk away from the culprit, he aggressively yanked her arm so she was unable to leave, she told police.

Thankfully, she was not alone in her fight against her assailant, as her Australian Shepherd promptly leaped into action to protect its owner.

The canine reportedly lunged at the suspect, causing him to lose grip of the woman so she could sprint away to her car.

A young woman walking her dog through a Massachusetts park said her loyal pet saved her from being attacked by a creepy man who forcefully grabbed her arm (stock image)

The victim was strolling with her dog in the Rockland Town Forest (pictured) when she was approached by a strange man who attempted to assault her on Wednesday

She called the police and outlined the distressing encounter with the man, who has yet to be identified.

He was described as a white male with a medium build, likely in his fifties. He had short-to-medium length hair with some grey in it and no facial hair.

During the alleged attack, he was wearing a light t-shirt, khakis and sneakers.

The Rockland Police Department scoured the wooded area, but officers were unable to track down a man who matched this description.

In the meantime, the police department has upped its presence in the park.

Cops are now asking for the public's help as they continue their investigation into the alarming matter.

While the victim and her heroic dog remain anonymous, members of the local community have spoken out about the shocking incident.

'It's very scary to think that something like that could happen right next door,' Gabriel Lisboa, an employee of the nearby Advanced Auto Sales, told WCVB.

Thankfully, she was not alone in her fight against her assailant, as her Australian Shepherd (stock image) promptly leaped into action to protect its owner

'I wish we were able to help a little bit more with more cameras because the cops passed by yesterday.

'We tried looking, find something at least that would give them a lead at least.'

Maria Depaule, a Rockland resident who walks her own dog through the trail almost everyday said she had never felt unsafe before.

She also said she noticed that there were plenty of police officers in the park on Thursday.

The victim was not physically injured after the Wednesday incident, but police said she was left shaken and afraid.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic shakes hands with a staff member of the China Shandong International Economic & Technical Cooperation Group Ltd. during his inspection of the Danube Corridor expressway project in Golubac, Serbia, July 26, 2025. Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday commended Chinese construction teams during his inspection of the Danube Corridor expressway, highlighting the rapid progress of the key infrastructure project being built by the China Shandong International Economic & Technical Cooperation Group Ltd. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)

GOLUBAC, Serbia, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday commended Chinese construction teams during his inspection of the Danube Corridor expressway, highlighting the rapid progress of the key infrastructure project being built by a Chinese company in eastern Serbia.

"I'm very happy to be here today. We are just a few months away from completing the entire road," Vucic said during his field tour in the municipality of Golubac.

The 68-km Danube Corridor, linking the Branicevo district in eastern Serbia with the capital city of Belgrade and the international E75 highway, is a strategic infrastructure project aimed at bring economic development and connectivity.

Constructed by the China Shandong International Economic & Technical Cooperation Group Ltd. (CSI), with support from Serbian subcontractors, the project has an estimated total value of 337 million euros (396 million U.S. dollars).

"This is one of the most important projects for the development of our country," Vucic said. "It will unlock the potential of this region, improve logistics, and support tourism, especially around destinations like Silver Lake."

"Every kilometer we finish brings us closer to the shared goals of our two countries," Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming said, adding that China is fully committed to long-term cooperation with Serbia. 
A top Senate ally of President Donald Trump was asked Sunday if Congressional pressure to investigate former President Barack Obama over the 2016 'Russia hoax' was a way to divert from the public's demands to release the Epstein files.

During an appearance on Meet The Press, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was asked by host Kristen Welker if the GOP calls for investigation into former President Obama was a way to steer public interest away from the Epstein files.

This comes as voters are not happy with Trump's handing of the files, with only 16 percent of respondents to a recent Emerson College poll saying that they approve 'of the Trump administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.'

Emerson College Polling director Spencer Kimball noted Thursday that the Epstein files issue was the one Trump fared the worst on.

'Are you trying to rewrite history to distract from the Epstein matter, Senator?' Welker asked Graham.

'No. I am trying to let you know and the media know that we found something we didn't know before. At the end of the day, I'm not calling for prosecution against President Obama for treason. But I am calling for an investigation,' Graham replied.

'Mr. Mueller also said there was no credible evidence that President Trump colluded with the Russians.'

'For years, and months, and days, and weeks, people had their lives turned upside down, chasing the Mueller narrative that Trump was in bed with the Russians, that the Trump campaign was colluding with the Russians,' Graham continued.

'What you don't seem to acknowledge is there's something new being found. Rather than reinventing the wheel here, let's go back to special counsel model to look at this something new, ' Graham also added.

Judiciary Committee Ranking Member U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) speaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 31, 2024

Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein chat at a social event in a still from an NBC News video from the early 2000s

Graham is not the first GOP Senator this week to walk the fine line between sharing the Trump administration's new information, while also keeping in mind the limits that Congressional investigations have.

During a late-night TV appearance Wednesday, Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz told Fox News' Laura Ingraham that former President Barack Obama could most likely not be prosecuted for treason over his handling of the 'Russia hoax.'

The duo discussed the latest intel released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about the 2016 presidential election, and the role that former President Barack Obama and his intelligence agencies played at the time.

DNI Gabbard told members of the media at the White House Wednesday that the information released by her office has been referred to the Department of Justice and FBI to investigate the criminal implications.

DNI Gabbard released a declassified report allegedly implicating Obama and his administration over the 2016 election Russia Hoax.

This came the day after President Trump accused former President Obama of treason in an Oval Office exchange with the news media.

'He's not going to be prosecuted for treason,' Ingraham stated 'That's not going to happen.'

'He's not going to be prosecuted, in all likelihood, for treason,' Cruz replied agreeing with the host.

Obama issued a statement via his spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush last week that refuted many of the accusations circling around him.

'The 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 noted.

'These findings were affirmed in a 2020 report by the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee, led by then-Chairman Marco Rubio' Rodenbush concluded.
A detective who caught some of Britain's worst rapists and murderers has joined Nigel Farage's mission to clean up 'lawless Britain', the Mail can reveal.

Colin Sutton, who led the hunt for serial killer Levi Bellfield and 'Night Stalker' rapist Delroy Grant, has been appointed Reform UK's first police and crime adviser.

The former detective chief inspector will develop the party's pledge to halve crime in five years by hiring 30,000 extra police and investigating every reported offence.

Leader Mr Farage said: 'Colin Sutton will be a huge asset to Reform UK.'

In an interview with the Mail, Mr Sutton - who was played by Martin Clunes in the TV drama Manhunt, about the investigations into Bellfield and Grant - set out more of the measures he believes will clean up Britain's streets, restore public trust in police and make joining the force a more attractive career.

He would give all frontline officers Tasers, reopen 300 mothballed police stations, and stop police investigating online spats.

Mr Sutton, 64, said: 'Absolute respect to the young men and women who serve their communities and do the job, but do they actually do it because they want to be policing Twitter, or because they want to catch burglars and rapists and robbers?'

He said 'a police station with a blue lamp' would be a reassuring sight for people walking in boarded-up town centres at night.

Colin Sutton, pictured, a detective who caught some of Britain's worst rapists and murderers has joined Nigel Farage's mission to clean up 'lawless Britain', the Mail can reveal

Reform UK leader Mr Farage launching his party's campaign against lawless Britain in Westminster last week with Sarah Pochin MP and councillor Laila Cunningham

Pictured: Serial killer Levi Bellfield, who was brought to justice by DCI Sutton

He said he would even consider scrapping some of the laws against online abuse, adding: 'I don't mean hate or incitement, but people who are abused, let's make it like a watered-down version of defamation, then you can sue in the civil court.

'Don't give them legal aid and see how many feelings are hurt then.

'I accept that persistent and horrible abuse on social media can be very distressing and cause real problems psychologically.

'There's got to be better ways of dealing with it than sending half a dozen officers round.'

Mr Farage said he wanted 'big, strapping' officers, but Mr Sutton said the best two police officers he ever worked with were women, and that at one stage 14 out of the 30 detectives in his murder squad were female.

Mr Sutton joined the Tory Party as a teenager in Enfield, north London, but like all new recruits he was required to cease political activism when he joined the Met.

He said he and many fellow officers would never forgive the Tories for the cuts imposed by Theresa May when she was home secretary, saying she and former prime minister David Cameron's government did 'more harm to policing than anybody ever'.

Rapist Delroy Grant, pictured, dubbed the Night Stalker, was also caught by the detective

He claims some chief constables would 'breathe a sigh of relief' under a Reform government.

Mr Sutton joined Reform when Mr Farage returned to lead the party at last year's general election.

He said: 'It's not about power, it's not about status or anything like that - it's about actually making a difference.'

He fears it may be 'the last chance we have', insisting Labour was already worse than the Tories.
One person has died and three others were injured after the roof of a Family Dollar store came crashing down in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency officials rushed to the store at 3726 Broadway Boulevard around 2:45pm following reports of a building collapse, according to the Kansas City Fire Department.

When they arrived on the scene, firefighters found the stores front had partially caved in.

Debris was tumbling down onto customers and workers inside, with videos from the aftermath showing part of the roof and front facade missing at what appeared to be the main entrance of the store, with brick, stone and wood debris on the ground.

Tragically, a 68-year-old man was killed in the accident and a 50-year-old woman was seriously injured, and had to be transported to a local hospital.

Two others were treated on the scene and refused additional treatment.

One person has died and three others were injured after the roof of a Family Dollar store came crashing down in Kansas City on Sunday afternoon

Emergency officials rushed to the store at 3726 Broadway Boulevard around 2:45pm following reports of a building collapse, according to the Kansas City Fire Department

Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Hopkins said the man who died may have been walking by the building at the time of the collapse.

KMBC-TV reported that a public inspection record said that someone reported Friday that the building had begun 'slowly tilting.' Authorities did not yet have an explanation for the collapse.

This is a developing story.
At least four people were killed when a train derailed in a wooded area in Germany, spilling two carriages from the tracks.

The regional train in the southwest was carrying about 100 passengers of which several were seriously injured, police confirmed.

Two carriages left the tracks between the towns of Riedlingen and Munderkingen, near the corner of Germany that borders France and Switzerland.

Helicopters arrived shortly after the accident to transport the injured to hospitals in the area, and emergency doctors from nearby hospitals were alerted, according to local TV station SWR.

The train was on a roughly 90 km (55 miles) route between Sigmaringen and Ulm.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, which happened 'for reasons yet unknown', according to the rail operator.

Reports say that a landslide may have caused the crash as there had been severe storms in the area shortly before.

Images of the carriages show they were largely intact but jackknifed into each other and rolled onto their sides.

At least four people were killed when a train derailed in a wooded area in Germany, spilling two carriages from the tracks (pictured)

Helicopters arrived shortly after the accident to transport the injured to hospitals in the area, and emergency doctors from nearby hospitals were alerted, according to local TV station SWR

Police and employees of German railways Deutsche Bahn investigate the site

A front section of the derailed regional passenger train lies in a wooded section of track near Riedlingen, Germany

The regional train in the southwest was carrying about 100 passengers of which several were seriously injured, police confirmed

Two carriages left the tracks between the towns of Riedlingen and Munderkingen, near the corner of Germany that borders France and Switzerland

German national rail operator Deutsche Bahn said in a statement there were 'many injured' and its thoughts were with the victims and their loved ones.

It was not clear what had caused the train to derail, it said, adding that it would support the authorities in their investigation.

German Chancellor Freidrich Merz said he 'mourn[ed] the victims' and offered his 'deepest sympathy' to their families in a post on X.

He said he was in close contact with the interior and transport ministers, and has requested that they provide the emergency services with all the support they need.
Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani recently celebrated his wedding to his artist wife at a lavish compound owned by his family in Uganda.

Mamdani, 33, shocked the political world when he defeated Andrew Cuomo to win the Democrat nomination to run the Big Apple, campaigning on far left policy and drawing controversy for his anti-Israel views.

The state assemblyman recently took a break from the campaign to visit Uganda, where he was born and spent the first few years of his life being raised by his filmmaker mother Mira Nair and academic father Mahmood Mamdani.

The far-left Queens politician reportedly held a three-day celebration after he eloped with 27-year-old illustrator Rama Duwaji this past February.

Not only was the affair held in the wealthy Buziga Hill area of Kampala in a compound owned by his parents - the wedding party was watched by armed and masked security guards, with one witness claiming nine guards were watching one entrance.

Security was so tight, the party even had a cellphone-jamming system, The New York Post reports.

Invited guests partied past midnight to celebrate Mamdani and Duwaji - who met on the dating app Hinge - and their recent nuptials.

One of the locals called the wedding in bad taste as the nation was in mourning for former Ugandan Supreme Court Judge George Kanyeihamba, with the party blocking the nation's president from visiting to pay the family his respects.

Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (pictured left) recently celebrated his wedding to his artist wife Rama Duwaji (pictured right) at a lavish compound owned by his family in Uganda

The state assemblyman (pictured left) recently took a break from the campaign to visit Uganda, where he was born and spent the first few years of his life being raised by his filmmaker mother Mira Nair (pictured center) and academic father Mahmood Mamdani (pictured right)

Andrew Cuomo - still in the mayoral race as an independent following his primary defeat to Mamdani - attempted to poke fun at his rival.

In a poll posted to X, he asked his followers to vote on whether Mamdani's three-day wedding was 'champagne socialism' or 'trust fund socialism.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Mamdani campaign for comment.

Mamdani's illustrator wife Rama Duwaji, 27, had been low-key during her husband's social media-driven campaign before joining him on stage when he celebrated victory on primary night.

Some critics of the left-wing candidate, 33, had even accused him of 'hiding his wife from NYC' during his bruising primary against former Governor Cuomo.

But Duwaji was all smiles as she marked her husband's victory on stage, and wrote on Instagram that she 'couldn't possibly be prouder' of him as he shocked his establishment opponent.

Mamdani, who met his wife on the dating app Hinge, lovingly addressed Duwaji in front of his crowd on primary night, saying 'Rama, thank you' as he kissed her hand.

The potential future First Lady of the Big Apple says on her Instagram bio that she is 'from Damascus', however a Mamdani campaign spokesperson told the New York Times that she was actually born in Texas.

Andrew Cuomo (pictured left) - still in the mayoral race as an independent following his primary defeat to Mamdani (pictured right) - attempted to poke fun at his rival

In a poll posted to X, he asked his followers to vote on whether Mamdani's three-day wedding was 'champagne socialism' or 'trust fund socialism'

She is best known for her illustrations and animations, many of which are pro-Palestine themed and criticize Israel and the Trump administration.

Duwaji's artwork has appeared in numerous galleries including London's Tate Modern, and has been included in news outlets including the New Yorker, the BBC and the Washington Post.

As his wife's lack of presence on the campaign trail became a source of ammunition for his opponents, Mamdani took on his critics with an Instagram post of his own.

'If you take a look at Twitter today, or any day for that matter, you know how vicious politics can be,' Mamdani wrote alongside images from their civil ceremony.

'I usually brush it off, whether its death threats or calls for me to be deported. But its different when its about those you love.

Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerks office. Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race  which should be about you  about her.

He added: You can critique my views, but not my family... (Rama) isnt just my wife, shes an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms.'

Among Duwaji's recent artworks shared to her Instagram include calls to release previously detained Columbia student and pro-Palestine activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was locked up by the Trump administration for months without being charged with a crime before he was freed in June.

The potential future First Lady of the Big Apple (pictured right) says on her Instagram bio that she is 'from Damascus', however a Mamdani (pictured left) campaign spokesperson told the New York Times that she was actually born in Texas

Rama Duwaji, 27, was thrust into the spotlight as her husband, socialist candidate for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, won the Democratic primary

In May, she also shared an animation condemning Israel's treatment of civilians in Gaza, which showed a woman holding a bowl that read 'it's not a hunger crisis... it is deliberate starvation.'

Duwaji's thrust into the limelight comes as her husband rapidly rose to national prominence with his surprise victory.

The 33-year-old has faced mounting questions about his experience since he gained traction and ultimately won the Democratic primary, with his only public service work coming as a state assemblyman.

In the state assembly, Mamdani promoted few bills, and his legislative record includes co-sponsoring bills requiring prisons to house inmates based on their self-declared gender, preventing law enforcement from asking about a perp's immigration status, and forcing small businesses to make their product packaging eco-friendly.

Critics have said a Mamdani win will see the Big Apple slide back into the type of permissive lawlessness that scarred the city during the COVID crisis, but which woke locals and lawmakers scoffed at.

When asked by Good Morning America about his lack of experience, Mamdani avoided talking about his record and turned the question back on his recent run for mayor.

'The experience that I show in this moment is to be able to meet the crisis that New Yorkers are facing, and deliver them a new kind of city,' he said.

'One that is unencumbered by the old ways.'

Mamdani has described himself as 'Trump's worst nightmare', and his far-left policy platform sharply divided the nation as he gained traction in the mayor's race.

He says he wants to raise taxes on the top one percent of New York earners - something the mayor does not have the authority to do - and make a number of city services free including childcare and buses.

The city assemblyman has also proposed spending $65 million on transgender care, freezing rent on rent-stabilized apartments, and creating city-owned grocery stores.

He has also advocated for defunding the city's police department, defended pro- Palestine slogans like 'globalize the intifada' - which critics say is an anti-Semitic call for the destruction of Israel - and said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A reassuring hand on his back, a lingering gaze, or even a light hand hold.

Kate, Princess of Wales, is gradually lowering her guard and allowing the public to see more of the tender side of her relationship with Prince William, according to an expert.

This comes as she makes her gradual transition back into public life after her cancer treatment.

Earlier this month Kate spoke candidly about the life-changing long-term challenges of recovering after chemotherapy while she visited a hospital in Essex.

She said that during treatment, 'you put on a sort of brave face' but afterwards it can still feel 'really difficult'.

She told patients at the hospital about life after cancer treatment: 'You're not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.'

It was Kate's first public engagement since pulling out of an appearance at Royal Ascot, when it was said she needed to find the right balance in her return to work.

Body language expert Judi James told MailOnline: 'There has been a very comprehensive and delightful switch-up in William and Kate's body language together as a loving couple since Kate's illness.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are pictured in the town of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull in April 2025

At the couple's most recent surprise appearance at Wimbledon, Judi said Kate was in full 'Gone with the Wind' mode

Kate, Princess of Wales, is gradually lowering her guard and allowing the public to see more of the tender side of her relationship with Prince William, according to an expert

'Rather than see it as a sign that their relationship has intensified or changed, I would read from the ease and congruence of their behaviours together.'

She said the Waleses have made a 'conscious decision' to finally reveal glimpses of a romantic side which have been there all along but were 'masked due to their adherence to ancient royal protocols' and William's 'understandable wariness' about showing or over-sharing too much.

Judi added: 'When Charles took over the throne there seems to have been much less rigid adherence to protocol than there was during the late Queen's reign and this might also have had an effect on William and Kate's newly plumbed sense of emotional freedom.'

At the couple's most recent surprise appearance at Wimbledon, Kate's body language clearly showed her affection for William.

Judi said: 'At Wimbledon Kate was in full Gone with the Wind mode with her romantic wide-brimmed hat and her fan.

'Her body language went full romantic novel mode too as William stood looking down at her in his dashing blazer and celebrity shades.

'Kate bares her neck fully here in a flirt signal of trust and submission as she smiles up at William's face.

'There's even a hint of an old-fashioned, Southern Belle smitten gesture here, with her splayed hand being placed close to her upper chest.'

The royal couple shared this photo taken on social media to mark their 14th wedding anniversary during an official visit to the Isle of Mull in Scotland

Speaking of the Princess' update video on her chemotherapy treatment in September 2024, Judi said: 'You could almost hear a cork coming out of a bottle in terms of finally allowing the world to see the depth of their love'

Speaking of the Princess' update video on her chemotherapy treatment in September 2024, Judi said: 'You could almost hear a cork coming out of a bottle in terms of finally allowing the world to see the depth of their love.

'Some of the scenes and their poses together were show-stopping, like the way they were lying together curled up like squirrels or sitting together with Kate hugging William as though never wanting to let him go.

'When there is a change in emotions there will be a change in the body language but the rituals or touch, expression and embrace will tend to be initially lacking in subliminal synchronicity.

'But here we saw a totally synchronized couple, looking so much more relaxed and natural away from the more hands-off and formal behaviours of their royal appearances.

'It was interesting to see if this video was just a brief, telling treat for the fans and a glimpse of their love and if the cork would then be placed firmly back into the bottle again, but happily William and Kate seemed to see it as a successful experiment or toe in the water.

'Since then their body language together has shown a similar theme of romantic affection with a much less guarded William clearly happy and delighted to share his feelings for his wife with the rest of the world.'

Following this, Kate made one of her formal appearances at the Trooping the Colour this year.

Judi wrote: 'William's air of relaxation and pride at having his wife at his side again was visible in his rounded cheek-smile and his lip suppressions that suggested he would happily have been grinning ear to ear.

Body language expert Judi James said: 'Their body language together has shown a similar theme of romantic affection with William clearly delighted to share his feelings with the world'

Kate made one of her formal appearances at the Trooping the Colour this year

On X, the Waleses shared a video of them holding hands in Pontypridd, Wales

'Kate's big "tell" came with glances like this at her husband.

'Her face-gazing prompts a mirrored smile reaction and an undeniable look of love.

'One touching theme since her illness has been how Kate's expressions of pride and support for her husband.

'Her regular back-touches and strokes suggest that she has been his comforter and supporter through her illness as much as he has hers.

'She almost seems to be showing that she's back to take care of him again.'

Perhaps most surprising was a video the Waleses shared on X showing them sweetly holding hands as they walked through a train station in Pontypridd.

Judi said: 'This might not be an unusual ritual for a married couple but it's a gesture they have often seemed to be at great pains to avoid previously, probably because of unwritten protocol.

'It is said to be how they walk together normally when they are off-camera, but the hand holding in public is another new 'reveal' for them.

The Prince and Princess of Wales smile at each other during a visit to Pontypridd Market

William and Kate are pictured during the formal welcome at the Royal Dais on July 8, 2025, in Windsor

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for the State Banquet for President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, on day one of the French President's state visit to the UK in July

'Kate's look of love with William now gets a reciprocal response every time.

'She used to throw it occasionally, often to help him smile while on tours and visits, but now it is more often a private look of mutual affection shown in public.'

She added: 'Even during the very formal State visit recently the couple walked together looking as flirty as teens on a date.

'William almost seems to be blushing here as Kate beams a dimpled smile in his direction.'

After 20 years of dating, it seems the Prince and Princess of Wales are just as in love as they were during their St Andrews days.

Only now they are becoming more comfortable showing their affection in public, supporting each other as Kate makes her gradual return to the spotlight.
While at long last relations between the Sussexes and the rest of the family appear to be thawing, for the staff that worked under Prince Harry and Meghan Markle the bad blood will likely remain.

Indeed, those who worked closest with the couple - who called themselves the Sussex Survivors' Club - accused the couple of bullying during their brief period as working royals.

But they themselves then faced claims from Meghan that they had failed in their duty of care after the Duchess of Sussex said in her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey that there was a point during that time when she didn't want to live anymore.

Writing in his biography about the staff who serve the royals - titled Courtiers - author Valentine Low said the palace 'needed evidence of the duty of care the organisation had showed them [the Sussexes]'.

And so Harry and Meghan's former aide Samantha Cohen and key courtiers Sir Edward Young - the late Queen's private secretary - and the King's private secretary Sir Clive Alderton agreed that evidence would be gathered by the aides to quash any claims Harry and Meghan had not been properly looked after.

But Mr Low wrote that Meghan was already leaving a 'trail of evidence behind, so that when the time came for them [Harry and Meghan] to leave the monarchy, she would be able to say: look how they failed to support me'.

Such as when Meghan went to HR for help and was given a 'sympathetic hearing' but the department was ultimately there to deal with 'employee issues, not members of the Royal Family'.

Samantha and the other courtiers were aware of bullying allegations lodged against the Sussexes as early as 2018. 'Samantha The Panther', as she was known, told Australian media last year that she was one of ten staff members interviewed by the Palace following the complaints.

Those who worked closest with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - dubbing themselves the Sussex Survivors' Club - accused the couple of bullying during their brief period as working royals

Meghan during her Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021. Royal author Valentine Low claimed she 'hijacked the narrative' which at first quashed any complaints about her own behaviour

Former royal aide Samantha Cohen was aware of bullying allegations lodged against Harry and Meghan as early as 2018

However, it was Meghan that won in the battle to air her grievances first when - according to Mr Low - she 'hijacked the narrative by making it all about her mental health' and all the things royal staff had done to help the couple succeed were forgotten, allowing Meghan to point out all the times they had failed her.

These failures were then singled out for millions to see during the Sussexes' interview with Oprah in 2021.

Among her claims that concerns about her mental health were not taken seriously by staff, the couple also said separately that the Royal Family was racist.

Pointing the finger at one member in particular, the couple alleged that the unnamed individual had speculated about the colour of their son Archies skin while Meghan was pregnant with him.

She recalled concerns and conversations about how dark his skin would be when he was born. People were concerned with how dark Archies skin would be.

A tense looking Harry confirmed this, saying he was the one whod heard these comments and had told his wife.

But while the royal staff members' shortcomings were broadcast for the world to see, Meghan's own behaviour has also been in the spotlight.

In 2018, royal aide Jason Knauf - who at one time was exceptionally close to Harry and Meghan - sent an internal email raising concerns about Meghan's alleged poor treatment of staff in the Royal Family, which was leaked after Megxit.

'I am very concerned that the Duchess was able to bully two PAs out of the household in the past year. The treatment of X was totally unacceptable,' he allegedly wrote.

Sir Edward Young - the late Queen's private secretary - worked with fellow courtiers to gather evidence that they had followed a duty of care with regards to Harry and Meghan

In 2018, royal aide Jason Knauf - who at one time was exceptionally close to Harry and Meghan - sent an internal email raising concerns about Meghan's alleged poor treatment of staff in the Royal Family

Meghan and the late Queen Elizabeth with royal aide Ms Cohen sat behind them (centre)

'The Duchess seems intent on always having someone in her sights. She is bullying Y and seeking to undermine her confidence. We have had report after report from people who have witnessed unacceptable behaviour towards Y.'

He also quit the royal household after accusing the Duchess of Sussex of mistreating two colleagues and undermining their confidence.

According to royal author Robert Lacey, when Mr Knauf presented the Prince of Wales with a 'dossier of distress' about their behaviour he 'went ballistic' and was left 'astonished' and 'horrified' by what he heard.

William's anger stemmed from the fact that a tradition of treating the staff 'like family' within the Royal Family had been broken and that he personally knew many of those named, Mr Lacey wrote.

Accusations that Meghan is difficult to work with have also plagued her career away from the Royal Family.

In May, MailOnline revealed that Meghan was 'banned' by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour from being on the cover of British Vogue in September 2022 after the magazine boss became 'frustrated with all the Duchess of Sussex's team's micromanaging', one source said.

And before she was even the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan was already starting to build a bad reputation among other magazine editors.

In September 2017, two months before her engagement to Harry was announced, Meghan graced the cover of Vanity Fair.

Accusations that Meghan is difficult to work with have also plagued her career away from the Royal Family

Mr Knauf quit the royal household after accusing the Duchess of Sussex of mistreating two colleagues and undermining their confidence

Writing in his biography about the staff who serve the royals - titled Courtiers - author Valentine Low said that the palace 'needed evidence of the duty of care the organisation had showed them'

According to the then-editor of the magazine, Graydon Carter, the soon-to-be Duchess of Sussex challenged a reporter over why she was being asked about her relationship with the now-Duke of Sussex rather than her charity work.

Speaking to the New York Post, Mr Carter said Meghan asked the journalist: 'Excuse me, is this going to all be about Prince Harry?

'Because I thought we were going to be talking about my charities and my philanthropy.'

The former editor then admitted he had 'no idea' who Meghan was at the time and added that she was 'slightly adrift on the facts and reality'.

Earlier this year, Mr Carter gave a simple but scathing takedown of Meghan during a discussion with Interview Magazine.

When asked about his thoughts on the Duchess, he called her 'The Undine Spragg of Montecito'.

His reference was to the main character in The Custom Of The Country - a tragicomedy by author Edith Wharton published in 1913.

Harry and Meghan during their sit down interview with Oprah Winfrey, which many say only damaged their increasingly fraught relationship with the Royal Family further

The book tells the story of Spragg, a social climber who moves from the Midwest to New York to experience the high life.

Spragg then marries a man from Manhattan's high society, but she's never satisfied because of her greed and ambition, with some readers describing her as 'vain, spoiled, and selfish'.

Two years later, Meghan guest-edited the September 2019 Forces For Change issue of British Vogue, which featured 15 'trailblazing change makers' on its cover.

It became the fastest selling issue in the magazine's 103-year history, selling out in ten days.

Among the advocates featured on the cover were Greta Thunberg, Sinead Burke, actors Gemma Chan and Jameela Jamil and New Zealand's then-prime minister Jacinda Ardern.

But critics pointed out that the Queen was not among the 15 'women she admires' featured, and neither were there any nurses, doctors, lawyers or teachers.

Three years later, the Duchess was due to appear on the cover of British Vogue at the same time as Meghan's keynote appearance at the One Young World Summit in Manchester in September 2022.

Meghan with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour behind her at the 2019 US Open. According to a source, Ms Wintour banned Meghan from British Vogue's cover once she got wind of the Duchess's demands

The Duchess of Sussex was the guest editor on the 2019 September issue of British Vogue

A candid photograph released alongside the September cover pictures the Duchess in the workroom of the Smart Works office in London

But insiders from Conde Nast, Vogue's parent company, claim it was abruptly pulled and scrapped completely.

An insider told MailOnline that Meghan was being 'difficult about making it a cover' and her team were 'insisting on particular straplines'.

She then found herself at loggerheads with not only the editor of British Vogue, Edward Enninful, but the Queen of fashion magazines Anna Wintour.

The insider said: 'Anna heard about it, and just like banned her and said: "That's it. We don't want to do this."

'And so [Meghan] didn't get the cover, and I guess she didn't even get the story. [British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful] probably agreed with Anna that you don't get to call the shots on who's on the cover. That's absolutely an editor's decision.

'Anna was p***** off. Anna was like frustrated with all the micromanaging, and just was like: "All right. That's it. She can't have the cover and we're not doing the story".'

The source added that Meghan's 'level of desire for detail and control on the media is almost like Beyonce level... but she's not Beyonce'.

However, the Duchess is said to have been relaxed with no expectations, although her team had high expectations for the piece in Vogue.

The former editor of Vanity Fair Graydon Carter claimed Meghan challenged a reporter over why she was being asked about her relationship with the now-Duke of Sussex rather than her charity work for the magazine cover

'Enninful was not in a position to meet those expectations. He already had a magazine cover in the bag for that month,' Conde Nast insiders told the Mail On Sunday.

Shelving the project is said to have damaged Mr Enninful and the Duchess's friendship. 'Edward was furious to have lost the project, as were the powers that be at Conde Nast,' a source told the MoS.

However, reports are conflicting.

Producer and journalist Jane Marie, who worked with Harry and Meghan during the development of Archewell Audio projects, insisted to Vanity Fair that Meghan is 'just a lovely, genuine person'.

Other staff members have claimed that she would send her employees gifts ranging from dog leashes to skincare products.

These wildly varying accounts of the work culture Meghan presides over are supported by a source that worked with her in the run-up to her wedding in 2018, who said she was 'lovely when it is all going her way but a demon when the worm turns'.

The Duchess of Sussex has always denied the allegations of bullying, which she described as an orchestrated smear campaign against her.
A royal insider has revealed the 'caring and thoughtful' reason that Sophie decided not to attend Princess Diana's funeral.

It was the most tragic royal funeral of the 20th century when the members of the Royal Family gathered for the funeral of Princess Diana who died in a Paris car crash aged just 36.

Billions of mourners watched the proceedings including the deeply sad images of the young Prince Harry and Prince William walking behind their late mother's coffin.

Inside Westminster Abbey the boys were joined by their father, the then Prince Charles, their grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and most of the other senior royals.

However, one person that was missing from the proceedings was Prince Edward's girlfriend Sophie. This was despite the fact the couple had been dating since 1993.

Writing in his new biography about the Duchess of Edinburgh's life - titled Sophie - author Sean Smith has revealed that Sophie chose not to attend the funeral because she thought it would be 'too upsetting for the crowd' due to how remarkably similar her and Diana looked in 1997.

Smith wrote: 'She had an obvious and reasonable excuse: a friend at the Palace explained, "Sophie decided it would be too upsetting for the crowd if she went.

'"She's well aware that she looks like Princess Diana from a distance and made her decision in a caring and thoughtful way. The Royal Family fully supported".'

A royal author has revealed the 'caring and thoughtful' reason that Sophie decided not to attend Princess Diana's funeral

Diana at a gala reception in the late 90s. The princess tragically died in a Paris car crash in 1997

Diana's coffin enters Westminster Abbey surrounded by floral tributes. Inside the church William and Harry were joined by their father, the then Prince Charles , their grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and most of the other senior royals.

Before the Princess of Wales' sudden death in 1997 it had been widely remarked that Sophie was a remarkable doppelganger of Diana.

Smith said: 'One of the reasons Sophie's impression of Diana was so good is that they bore more than a passing resemblance to one another - a comparison neither woman enjoyed.'

This was mostly due to them both being blond and having their hair cut in a short bob style that was all the rage in the late 1990s.

'In retrospect, Sophie having her hair clipped short in a Diana-style blonde bob was probably a mistake,' the royal insider wrote.

'Diana had the height and physical presence to carry it off. Fashion expert Alison Jane Reid observed, "Sophie looked more appealing when her hair was shoulder length and blunt cut. You could not beat Diana's hair. It was superb".'

At the time, Sophie was criticised for looking too similar to the People's Princess. With royal commentator Judy Wade declaring that Sophie should 'get her own look'.

'She chose red dresses that were almost identical to things that Diana wore. She seemed to be copying Diana, and Diana was sort of partly amused and partly irritated by it,' said Judy.

Indeed, Diana was somewhat annoyed by how similar Sophie looked to her.

Diana in a red dress in 1990 and Sophie wearing a similar dress in the late 90s. Sophie was criticised for looking too similar to the People's Princess. With royal commentator Judy Wade declaring that Sophie should 'get her own look'

Princess Diana and Sophie wearing sunglasses and sporting similar haircuts. Their hair was the most notable similarity between the two with them both being blond and having their it cut in a short bob style that was all the rage in the late 1990s

Diana in a pink dress and Sophie wearing a similar dress both in 1997. 'In retrospect, Sophie having her hair clipped short in a Diana-style blonde bob was probably a mistake,' the royal insider Sean Smith wrote

Billions of mourners watched the proceedings including the deeply sad images of the young Prince Harry and Prince William walking behind their late mother's coffin

Smith claimed that when she saw Sophie approaching Diana would say: 'Oh look , here comes my double' or 'Here comes Miss Goody Two Shoes'.

But while they might have looked similar, personality wise they clashed.

'The two women did not like each other,' Smith said.

'The polite description of their relationship, as preferred by the more diplomatic of Sophie's friends, was to say that there was "no love lost" between them.'

According to Smith, Diana disliked Sophie because she was a 'middle class girl from Kent who might succeed whereshe, an authentic aristocrat, had so abjectly failed'.

He added: 'As a mutual acquaintance put it, "Diana came into the Royal Family as a teenage lamb and she has left it as a lion. The young Diana had never been in the real world. Sophie met Edward when she was a mature, well-travelled woman with a career.

'"She's been around a bit. She was always going to deal with things better than Diana Spencer".'

The feelings were mutual with Diana's actions leaving Sophie in a 'rage' during a trip to Windsor to see the Queen.

Writing in his new biography about the Duchess of Edinburgh 's life - titled Sophie - author Sean Smith has revealed that Sophie chose not to attend the funeral because she thought it would be 'too upsetting for the crowd' due to how remarkably similar her and Diana looked

Diana was aware of how similar she looked to Sophie. Smith claimed that when she saw Sophie approaching Diana would say: 'Oh look , here comes my double' or 'Here comes Miss Goody Two Shoes'

Sophie and Diana clashed personality wise and the Princess of Wales' actions once left Sophie in a 'rage' during a trip to Windsor to see the Queen

'Nothing summed up the situation better than what began as an innocuous afternoon tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle, attended by both Sophie and Diana, who came with her children, William and Harry,' Smith wrote.

'Every time an animated Sophie started to say something, Diana would begin speaking herself, which meant Sophie had to keep quiet - it is a ridiculous tradition that if a more senior Royal starts talking, the junior Royal has to shut up and keep quiet.

'After what seemed like an age of being silenced by Diana, Sophie could stand no more and, having obtained the Queen's permission to leave, strode back to Edward's apartment seething with rage.'

Despite the comparison to Diana which dogged her time as a new royal, Sophie has been able to carve out her own unique role within the family.

Sophie reportedly became the Queen's 'favourite daughter-in-law' and she was the monarch's 'rock' following the death of Prince Philip in 2021.

When the Queen passed away, Sophie was heartbroken, with her and Edward describing their loss for the woman they both called 'Mama' as leaving 'an unimaginable void in all our lives'.

Sophie has played a key role in holding the monarchy together amidst family feuds, the Duke of York's scandals, and the cancer diagnoses of the King and the Princess of Wales.

A patron of more than 70 charities and organisations, Sophie is especially recognised for her advocacy on issues including sexual violence in war-torn countries and sight loss awareness.

Her passion for promoting eye health stems from her daughter, who was born prematurely and developed esotropia - a condition that causes one or both eyes to turn inwards and make someone appear cross-eyed.
Prince Harry has offered to share his official diary engagements with the Royal Family in a bid to further reduce tensions between him and his father, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The peace offering is aimed at avoiding a repetition of the date clash that resulted in his trip to the African country of Angola knocking coverage of Queen Camillas 78th birthday portrait off the front pages earlier this month.

Images of the duke retracing his late mothers footsteps through a minefield  accompanied by throwback pictures of Princess Diana in the same location 28 years ago  dominated almost every UK newspaper.

The new diary-sharing arrangement is even believed to extend to Prince Williams court at Kensington Palace.

And it is also hoped the move to deconflict their diaries could lead to the King and his younger son finally being able to fix a date in their busy schedules to meet face to face.

It comes as lines of communication between the Sussex household and Buckingham Palace have continued to remain open since The Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed earlier this month that peace talks had been held between representatives from both sides.

The Kings head of communications Tobyn Andreae and the Sussexes chief communications officer Meredith Maines were pictured in the MoS a fortnight ago meeting on a London club balcony, accompanied by Harrys UK press officer Liam Maguire.

Last night, a source described the latest development to share the dukes schedule as a significant milestone.

Images of the duke retracing his late mothers footsteps through a minefield dominated almost every UK newspaper  knocking the Queen's birthday portrait off the front pages

They added: Before that meeting between their aides in London, conflicts of interest or clashes of publicity were relished and even perhaps encouraged by the Sussexes. Now, Harry has shifted into a new way of thinking. The tone is now all about deconflicting with his family.

Thats why his household agreed to draw up a grid of his activities and share them with Buckingham Palace, and by extension with Kensington Palace. Harry still doesnt like being controlled by the Royal machinery, and that wont change. However, if the Royal Family have full sight of his movements they can at least plan accordingly. Its a significant gesture.

The dukes crossing of the cleared minefield mirrors Princess Dianas in January 1997, when Angola experienced a brief period of peace following a two-decade civil war that had left the country contaminated by more than 15 million landmines.

Harry also walked the minefield back in 2013, which has now been transformed thanks to clearance by Angolan men and women trained by the charity, the Halo Trust.

In comments shared to Harry and Meghans Sussex.com website after his participation in the 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.

During his visit, Harry also repeated safety instructions in Portuguese, which is the official language of Angola, taught local children how to recognise and avoid landmines and spoke to families.

But the resulting publicity from the unannounced trip led to the Queens birthday portrait of her smiling in the sunshine and leaning on a metal gate by a meadow at her Wiltshire home Ray Mill House, perhaps getting less coverage than it otherwise might have done.

The Kings head of communications Tobyn Andreae, the Sussexes chief communications officer Meredith Maines and Harry's UK press officer Liam Maguire met in London a fortnight ago

In May, Harry let slip in an interview with the BBC that I dont know how much longer my father has [left]

The Angola trip was only the latest in a number of personal appearances by the California- based couple which overshadowed coverage of a series of official engagements and good works by the Royals.

This year, matters have been further complicated by Harrys wife Meghan starting up two social media pages offering glimpses into her home life with Harry, which inevitably dominated the news agenda in the UK.

This state of affairs cannot fail to have upset King Charles, who is known to be a stickler for ensuring Royal Family members do not schedule engagements that clash with each other.

It is understood that, while the new regime will stop short of Harry giving his brother the power to control his diary, the duke is  for the first time since hostilities began in 2020  open to Prince William being given knowledge of his movements.

It could be an initiative that William comes to appreciate when he travels to Brazil to promote his Earthshot Prize, which recognises game-changing innovations that will repair our planet, in early November. But it is a reconciliation with his father rather than his brother that appears to be at the top of Harrys list of priorities.

In May, he let slip in an interview with the BBC that I dont know how much longer my father has [left].Yesterday, a friend told the MoS: Harry hopes to see his dad later this year, or next year. Things are moving in the right direction but, as always with the Royal Family, they are doing so at a glacial pace. So, meeting up as early as September might be wishful thinking at this rate.

But at least all is going in the right direction and that meet up will happen eventually. The right people are still talking to one another with that in mind.

Harry will fly to London for three days in late September to promote WellChild, a charity that supports seriously ill children and of which he is patron.

While he has no plans to go to Balmoral, where his father will be staying until October, the King intends to travel to London on a weekly basis during the summer to visit the doctor overseeing his cancer treatment.

If a window presented itself for the King to see Harry, it might well be during one of these trips.

Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes both declined to comment.
The Duke and Duchess of Westminster have joyfully announced the birth of their first child.

Billionaire aristocrat Hugh Grosvenor and his wife Olivia confirmed they had welcomed a baby girl, a year after they got married in what was the society wedding of the year, starring Prince William as an usher.

The happy couple also revealed their daughter had been named Cosima Florence Grosvenor.

A spokesperson for the pair said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Westminster are thrilled to announce the birth of their baby daughter.

'Both the duchess and Cosima are doing well.

'The duke and duchess now look forward to spending this special time together as a family.'

The duke is a close friend of princes William and Harry and is godfather to Prince George as well as reportedly Prince Archie.

The Duke of Sussex agreed with Hugh, who is one of the UK's biggest landowners, that he would not attend his wedding last June amid a long-running feud with his brother.

The Duke and Duchess of Westminster, pictured at their wedding in June 2024, have joyfully announced the birth of their first child

It comes a year after they got married in what was the society wedding of the year, starring Prince William as an usher, pictured

The happy couple also revealed their daughter had been named Cosima Florence Grosvenor

Once considered one of the country's most eligible bachelors, Hugh became an instant billionaire when he inherited his title and control of the historic Grosvenor Estate aged just 25, after his father died from a heart attack in 2016.

His property company, Grosvenor Group, owns hundreds of acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as major city centre developments such as Liverpool's One shopping centre.

The duke donated 12.5 million to the UK's Covid relief effort in 2020, including funds for NHS Charities Together and for medical research and development.

In April, the Duke and Duchess of Westminster joined Prince William and Prince George to cheer on Aston Villa in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League against Paris St Germain.

It was their first public appearance after announcing they were expecting a baby.

Hugh and Olivia showed their support, each wearing matching burgundy scarfs with Aston Villa emblazoned in white across the length of the neckwear.

Earlier this year, a spokesman for the pair said: 'The Duchess is expecting a baby in the summer. The couple are delighted with the news and are very much looking forward to starting a family together.'

The pair announced their engagement in April 2023, after being together for two years.

The pair married at Chester Cathedral, inviting around 400 guests including Princess Eugenie and TV producer Phil Redmond, to a lavish reception at the Grosvenor family seat, Eaton Hall

In April, the Duke and Duchess of Westminster joined Prince William and Prince George to cheer on Aston Villa in the Champions League (pictured: the duke below William)

The pair announced their engagement in April 2023, after being together for two years

They decided to marry at Chester Cathedral, before inviting around 400 guests including Princess Eugenie and TV producer Phil Redmond, to go to a lavish reception at the Grosvenor family seat, Eaton Hall, just outside Chester.

The Duke paid for free ice cream, gelato and sorbet for Cheshire locals from three local independent cafes so they could join in the celebration.

And a staggering 100,000 flowers - all paid for by the Duke - were planted throughout the city and donated to charity following the ceremony.

No expense was spared as Olivia arrived at the Cathedral in a vintage 1930 8-litre Bentley owned by the Grosvenor estate.

The bride's veil was designed by Emma Victoria Payne and featuring an embroidery design which incorporated floral motifs from her great-great-grandmother's veil from around 1880.

Her dress was made by the same designer and she accessorised with blue shoes and the Faberge Myrtle Leaf Tiara made for Grosvenor brides to wear on their wedding day, which has been in the family since 1906.
BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Sunday said that the failure of a recall vote targeting opposition lawmakers in Taiwan's local legislature shows that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)'s political manipulation runs against the will of the people.

During the vote on Saturday, the Kuomintang party scored a sweeping victory, retaining all 24 seats.

Responding to the outcome, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the DPP, driven by its pursuit of "Taiwan independence" and avarice for one-party monopoly, repeatedly stirred up political strife at the expense of Taiwan people's well-being.

The DPP has resorted to every means to suppress political dissent, create "green terror" and deepen social division, fully revealing its hypocritical nature of "fake democracy, real authoritarianism," Chen said. 
It looks like it offers an idyllic lifestyle with beautiful scenery, small-town living, and rock-bottom prices - but the enclave recently named the most affordable place to buy in California comes with one major caveat.

Lassen County, with a population of nearly 30,000, has officially been ranked the cheapest housing market in the state, according to the California Association of Realtors' latest report.

The median price for an existing single-family home in Lassen was just $286,500 in June 2025 - a fraction of the $899,560 statewide median and the $1.4 million average seen across the Bay Area.

While Lassen offers striking high desert landscapes and unbeatable value, some buyers may be surprised to learn that the local economy has long been tied to the state correctional system.

'There's a large prison there,' said Billy Taylor, a real estate agent based in neighboring Plumas County, 30 minutes from Lassen County.

'A lot of the locals work as prison guards, and others move there to be closer to incarcerated loved ones.'

The facility - High Desert State Prison - has been one of the region's largest employers since it opened in 1995.

But long before the prison arrived, Lassen County was known for something else entirely.

Lassen County promises small-town charm, scenic views, and bargain prices, but California's cheapest housing market comes with a caveat

High Desert State Prison in Susanville is one of Lassen County's largest employers and has shaped the local economy since the 1995

Lassen County, with a population of nearly 30,000, has officially been ranked the cheapest housing market in the state, according to the California Association of Realtors' latest report

'It's a very rural town known for cattle ranching and timber harvesting,' Taylor said.

'That's what it was built on - it was strictly ranching before the prison came in.'

It's also a draw for outdoor enthusiasts, he added, with 'world-class hunting and fishing,' including large mule deer and the famous Eagle Lake trout, a prized species unique to the area.

Susanville, the county seat, has a population of nearly 10,000 and still reflects that rugged, frontier identity - one that may appeal to buyers looking for space, affordability, and access to nature.

Taylor emphasized that Lassen County offers exceptional value, particularly for those priced out of more populated markets.

'You can't build a house for what existing homes are selling for,' he said, noting that buyers can find ranchettes with acreage and 'elbow space' at prices rarely seen elsewhere in California.

Most homes, he added, are selling below asking price, typically within 5 to 10 percent of list.

Susanville, the county seat of Lassen County, sits in the high desert and is home to roughly 10,000 people

Known for its high desert terrain and mountain ranges, Lassen County attracts outdoor enthusiasts and budget-conscious buyers alike

Lassen isn't the only county offering relative bargains  four others also posted median home prices well below the statewide average, according to the Realtors' report.

Lake County at $301,380; Trinity County at $311,000; Siskiyou County at $315,000; and Plumas County at $328,750 are the most affordable in the state.

Plumas, in particular, is attracting buyers from Nevada and the greater Reno area, thanks to its mountain views, smalltown feel, and access to Lake Almanor  a quiet resort community locals call 'what Tahoe was 30 years ago.'

According to Zillow, California's average 30year fixed mortgage rate stood at 6.88 percent as of July 18. But in Lassen and other rural areas, sellers are showing more flexibility.

Jordan Levine, senior vice president of the California Association of Realtors, said homes are staying on the market longer, and sellers are more open to negotiation.

'Amid stabilizing home prices and a greater availability of homes for sale, California's housing market rebounded in June, but remained below year-ago levels,' the Realtors Group said in a news release.

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Susanville's local economy blends traditional ranching and timber industries with government jobs, including at a large state prison

Lassen County is popular for world-class hunting, fishing, and its famous Eagle Lake trout

Heather Ozur, California Association of Realtors president, added: 'With more properties on the market and price growth flattening, conditions have become more favorable for prospective buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines to re-enter the market and take advantage of increased negotiating power.'

With scenic terrain, low prices, and a slower pace of life, Lassen County may offer an appealing alternative for budgetconscious buyers  as long as they're not deterred by its prisontown identity.
The housing market is set to get even worse this year, experts have warned in the latest dire forecast.

New research from Oxford Economics found that the alreadyfrozen market is barely holding steady  and conditions are expected to deteriorate further.

'The supply of existing homes for sale is approaching pre-pandemic levels as a combination of high prices, elevated mortgage rates, and concerns over the labor market keep buyers sidelined,' Oxford Economics analyst Mathew Martin said.

'The new-home market is also being challenged, with builders continuing to offer incentives including price cuts in an effort to move unsold inventory,' Martin wrote in the report titled 'Recession Monitor  Real test for economy is just beginning.'

Thirtyyear mortgage rates will average 6.7 percent across 2025 and end the year at around 6.4 percent. That is slightly higher than previous forecasts.

Median home prices have jumped 52 percent since May 2019, far outpacing wage growth of just 30 percent, NAR data shows.

Indeed, home sales are set to plunge to a 30-year low this year, according the latest figures.

Just four million transactions are expected in the US this year, according to new data from Realtor.com.

Experts have warned that the housing market is only set to deteriorate further

That would mark lowest level since 1995, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Buyers have been scared off by a rocky economy, surging HOA fees, and punishing mortgage and insurance rates, leaving sellers slashing prices to lure offers.

'A longstanding lack of inventory has supported both high prices and sluggish sales in the market for existing homes,' analysts Lawrence Werther and Brendan Stuart from Daiwa Capital Markets wrote in a report published earlier this week.

'Substantial improvement is unlikely to materialize in the near term until mortgage rates (and/or prices) ease, thereby mitigating the current affordability challenges faced by potential buyers,' they explained.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors agreed arguing that 'multiple years of undersupply are driving the record high home price. Home construction continues to lag population growth.'

'This is holding back first-time home buyers from entering the market.'

Despite the frozen market, economists do not predict a correction in home prices but conversely see them rising 2.5 percent through 2025.

This is largely driven by sellers who refuse to drop their asking price and are instead pulling their homes off the market in droves.

Oxford Economics analyst Mathew Martin blamed high prices and elevated mortgage rates

Others have been forced to slash their asking prices and accept a more reasonable offer in the current uncertain market.

More than 20 percent of listed homes had price reductions in June, the highest share for the month since 2016.

Phoenix, Arizona, is at the epicenter of the delistings trend, seeing more homes pulled from the market than any other area.

Economists believe this is because areas in the South and West have seen inventory hit pre-pandemic levels but prices remaining flat or are even falling.

Last week Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi issued a 'red flare' warning for the housing market and cautioned that it could drag down the entire economy.

'I sent off a yellow flare on the housing market in a post a couple of weeks ago, but I now think a red flare is more appropriate,' Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi wrote on X.
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A $16 cult classic from the 2000s is making a major comeback and celebrities like Nicola Peltz Beckham and Hailey Bieber are among the new generation of fans.

As fashion trends like low rise jeans and capri pants are surging in popularity so too are beauty buys and Avene's Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream is being embraced by Gen Z beauty lovers around the globe.

While some of the iconic French brand's products are enduring mainstays, such as its hero Thermal Spring Water spray, Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream hasn't been all that 'buzzy'... until recently.

Now, a number of celebrities have been raving about Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream on social media and their followers have been quick to snap up the budget beauty buy.

Peltz Beckham and Bieber both shared their love for the cream on Instagram. Former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo raved about it in a livestream and Kendall Jenner is also a known fan of the brand.

When the product first launched In the noughties, a magazine editor's Parisian pharmacy haul was the pinnacle of insider skincare wisdom and Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream was a firm favourite of those in the know.

At the time, the product was only available at the expense of a trip to France, making it out of reach for most Aussies. Now though, it's widely available in Australia with Chemist Warehouse and Amazon stocking the brand, so it's no wonder it's flying off shelves.

The French pharmacy staple, from $16.39, is designed to soothe, protect and visibly restore dry, damaged and sensitive skin.

Formulated with [C+ Restore], a patented postbiotic derived from Avene Thermal Spring Water, it helps support the skin microbiome while reinforcing the moisture barrier, while Copper-zinc sulphate offers added protection and aids in skin recovery.

French pharmacy staple Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, a cult beauty buy in the 2000s, is back on the bestseller list thanks to Gen Z celebrity endorsements

Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream This cult French pharmacy staple is renowned for helping to replenish the skins natural moisture barrier and soothing the most sensitive skin. Suitable for irritated skin, nappy rash, post-procedure and sensitive skin during cancer treatment. Shop

The brand's signature thermal spring water, rich in silicates and trace elements thanks to its 50-year journey through the Cevennes mountains in Southern France, calms irritation and discomfort.

The rich, creamy texture forms a breathable film over the skin, delivering instant hydration and comfort from the first application.

Suitable for both face and body, it's a go-to solution for everything from dry, irritated skin, razor and nappy rash, and minor scratches to post-procedure care and for those whose skin is highly sensitive during cancer treatment.

In April, Hailey Bieber shared a snap of her three must-have skincare products on Instagram, captioning it: 'couldn't live without.' Along with two items from her own beauty line Rhode, she included Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream.

Such is Hailey's influence, the budget cream has jumped to the top of the bestseller list again.

Nicola Peltz Beckham was an even earlier champion of the product. In 2023, the model and actress shared that she relied on the product to combat dry skin.

'I love this product so much,' Nicola wrote on her Instagram story at the time.

'My skin is sensitive and can be very dry,' she said. 'Sometimes (most nights) I put this on all over my face after I've done the rest of my skincare routine.'

'I know everyone's skin is very different and mine can be prone to breaking out from the wrong product - but this one hasn't broken me out at all and I've been using it for months.'

Formulated with [C+ Restore], a patented postbiotic derived from Avene Thermal Spring Water , it helps support the skin microbiome while reinforcing the moisture barrier, while Copper-zinc sulphate offers added protection and aids in skin recovery

Olivia Culpo took to an Amazon livestream to share her love for the product, comparing it to her usual go-to, Augustinus Bader's The Cream.

Despite the $200+ price difference, she said she could barely tell them apart and praised Avene for its skin barrier support, hydration, and gentleness on sensitive skin.

'I can't really tell the difference, to be honest with you. This is a great product. I have been using this forever,' she added.

'You're never going to feel like you're breaking out because of this, but you also feel very hydrated, and that's all you can ask for in a cream.'

If the celebrity beauty muses' recommendations don't convince you, there are thousands of five-star reviews from verified customers to back them up.

'I love Cicalfate+. It's a must-have at home because it's incredibly soothing to the skin,' one shopper enthused.

'My teenage son and I use it, and it works wonders for us. We like its texture, which absorbs quickly and doesn't leave a greasy feeling on the skin, leaving it feeling comforted.'

Another commented: 'I love this product. It's a super effective cream for irritated skin and has a wonderful texture. It feels hydrated and refreshing.'

'I discovered Cicalfate+ on the recommendation of a dermatologist a couple of years ago, and I've always had it at home ever since,' added another customer.

'It's a restorative cream that truly delivers on its promise.'
Tom Cruise appeared to be in jovial spirits as he landed in London on his helicopter with his 'new love' Ana de Armas.

The 63-year-old and the actress, 37, touched down in London on Friday and travelled in A-list style as they stepped out of Tom's chopper together.

Tom cut a casual figure in a blue T-shirt and dark jeans, which he styled with white trainers and slung a backpack over one shoulder.

He flashed a huge smile and waved after stepping out of the helicopter.

He was joined by Ana, who opted for black leggings and a gray 'Vermont' sweater, which she styled with comfortable black shoes.

She brought her two beloved dogs with her on their travels and sweetly cradled her Maltese Elvis in her arms while Havanese pup Salsa walked alongside her.

Flying in: Tom Cruise appeared to be in jovial spirits as he landed in London on his helicopter on Friday (pictured with David Coulthard)

Romance: The actor was also joined by his 'new love' Ana de Armas

Former F1 driver David Coulthard also joined the group and was seen strolling alongside Tom upon his arrival in London.

The 54-year-old looked smart in a polo shirt and navy jeans, which he styled with a black bomber jacket during the outing.

Later, Tom was spotted enjoying a night out at Oasis's Wembley concert after he managed to bag a 'huge number of tickets' for his pals.

Rock'n'roll stars: Later that night, Tom was spotted enjoying an Oasis concert at Wembley alongside DJ Goldie

The Mission Impossible star was among a number of famous faces in the crowd, turning up to watch Liam and Noel Gallagher reunite on stage in front of 90,000 fans.

He was seen in the seated section, keeping things low-key as he enjoyed the show alongside DJ Goldie, who later shared a selfie with the actor during the set.

Tom, who attended the concert with Ana, gave a thumbs-up in the snap as he enjoyed the electric atmosphere of the long-awaited gig.
Four friends tragically lost their lives in a car accident after a drunk driver slammed into their vehicle on a freeway in Norwalk, California.

At around 1am on July 20, the group of 24-year-olds was driving home from a concert when their Nissan got involved in a crash with a California Highway Patrol vehicle and stalled on in the middle of the 605 freeway.

That's when a Kia slammed into the back of the Nissan at high speed, causing the latter to burst into flames and trapping the four friends inside, where they all died.

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Freeway tragedy: A Kia sedan slammed into the back of the Nissan (pictured) at high speed, causing the car to burst into flames and killing all people inside

According to officials, the Kia's driver was drunk.

'This was entirely preventable due to the fact that one of the drivers was driving under the influence,' said CHP Officer Zachary Salazar.

The victims were identified as Julie Harmori, her boyfriend Armando Del Campo, and their two friends, Jordan Partidge and Sam Skocili.

They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Gone too soon: The four friends tragically died in the fiery car accident after a drunk driver slammed into their vehicle

Kathy Stickel, Harmori's aunt, said that Partridge had called her mother after the initial crash with the CHP vehicle to let her know that the group had been in accident, but that they were okay.

However, in the middle of the call, the line went dead. This was the moment the Kia slammed into their car.

Stickel said that the four friend had formed deep-rooted friendships with one another that stretched back many years.

'She was about the relationships,' Stickel said of her niece, adding that the group had been friends since junior high school.

The families of all four victims are turning to each other for support.

'All the parents are checking on each other,' Stickel said. 'They're also checking on people who they've met through this whole tragedy.'

Family members created a joint GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral expenses.

'Proceeds will be divided evenly among the four families' parents, as they scramble to memorialize their children,' the fundraiser page read.

Victims: Two of the victims were identified as Julie Harmori and her boyfriend Armando Del Campo

Heartbreaking The other two victims were identified as the couple's two friends, Sam Skocili left) and Jordan Partidge (right)

Investigation: According to officials, the Kia's driver was drunk (Pictured: The wrecked Nissan)

Infection: The Kia was also wrecked but both the driver and the passenger survived

The Kia driver, Iris Salmeron, 26, of Bellflower, and her passenger, who was unidentified, were taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

Salmeron was arrested and is now facing multiple felony charges, including driving under the influence.

CHP Officer Salazar said: 'Our hearts go out to the families who are involved in terms of the victimsour officers are going to investigate this to the best of their ability.'
With its cobbled streets, bohemian cafes and sweeping views over Paris, Montmartre boasts an incomparable charm that attracts millions of tourists every year.

The hilltop Parisien neighbourhood is steeped in rich artistic history, but today it is one of the many pockets of Europe facing an unprecedented number of visitors.

Many of the 27,000 residents are now at breaking point, unable to cope with their once-scenic streets being transformed into a sea of crowds thanks in part to influencers romanticising the district on TikTok and Instagram.

Last year, the imposing Sacre-Coeur - a white-domed basilica in the heart of Montmartre - was the most visited monument in France, ahead of the Eiffel Tower, with 11 million tourists.

With tourists now outnumbering residents 423 to one, Montmartre now has an even denser tourist zone per capita than Venice.

The Parisien district is the latest hotspot to face a growing wave of anti-tourism sentiment, with locals becoming increasingly frustrated by selfie-hunting holidaymakers bringing chaos to their doorsteps.

A string of anti-tourism protests have taken place across Spanish islands, while tourists themselves are even getting fed up. In Rome, where tourists have been crammed shoulder-to-shoulder this summer, one visitor said it was like being 'part of one big sweaty herd'.

Now the peace has been shattered in Montmartre, with locals warning their home has been transformed into an 'amusement park'.

Last year, the imposing Sacre-Coeur (pictured) - a white-domed basilica in the heart of Montmartre - was the most visited monument in France

Videos posted on social media shows the cobbled streets packed with tourists in Montmartre

Michele Barriere, who has lived around the corner from the Moulin Rouge for three decades, told The Telegraph: 'Enough is enough.'Montmartre has become an amusement park, and we are the attractions. Soon they'll be throwing us peanuts.

'It's Disneyland.'

She added: 'It has got totally out of hand. I have nothing against tourists per se, but now my prevailing feeling is one of hostility. Sometimes I can't even reach my front door due to these hordes.'

Another resident, Eric Durand, said the end of the Covid lockdowns coupled with Paris hosting the Olympic Games last summer has brought a huge influx of tourists.

Locals say Montmartre first became a tourist hotspot after the 2001 cult movie Amelie, with visitors flocking in their droves to film locations including the Cafe des Deux Moulins.

Netflix hit Emily in Paris has brought a fresh wave of tourists who love to visit La Maison Rose restaurant or the Wall of Love.

Last year, the Paris Olympics brought the road bike race to Montmartre - and today, the final stage of the Tour De France will make a detour via the chic neighbourhood for the first time ever.

Julien Ogeard, a manager of a Montmartre restaurant, told The Telegraph the area is 'losing its soul' and that he is considering moving out, adding: 'I'm not the only one.'

With tourists now outnumbering residents 423 to one, Montmartre now has an even denser tourist zone per capita than Venice

Tourists walk past the restaurant Au Cadet de Gascogne on the Place du Tertre in Montmartre

Last year, the Paris Olympics brought the road bike race to Montmartre

@pamelachelsea29 Went to Montmartre today because I just wanted to see whats around, and there was just too much of a crowd  I never liked being around big crowds and will always find an escape where I can relax and enjoy my time. Like this garden  Even though there were a few people but its not as bad as the ones in front of the Sacre-cur  PLUS on the way up I already witnessed a couple of people being scammed and forced to wear the friendship bracelets  So please be very aware of your surroundings and never let any of these scammers trick you to wear these bracelets  #montmartre #montmatreparis #sacrecoeur #paris #parisfrance #photospots #bestspot  Lil Boo Thang - Paul Russell

Some 11 million tourists visited the Sacre-Coeur Basilica (pictured) in Montmartre last year

Social media influencer types often romanticise Montmartre, showing off its charm which encourages many to visit

Montmartre offers sweeping views over Paris, where tourists often gather on the steps to look at

Adding to the anger is the recent introduction of new traffic restrictions, that many fear could drive small businesses out.

Families are also leaving in their droves, driven away by rocketing house prices and tourist rentals. Between 20 and 30 per cent of properties are Airbnb listings, according to estate agents.

Locals have also hit out at gas-guzzling tourist sidecars and Citroen 2CVs racing down cobbled streets.

In recent months, fed-up residents have voiced their frustration by unfurling banners with messages in their windows.

They included 'Forgotten residents', Let the Montmartrois live' and 'Behind these facades there are people'.
A Netflix mystery thriller has been hailed as 'the best show of 2025' after viewers raved about the programme's 'intense performances and spectacular scenery'.

Untamed, written and created by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, hit the streaming service on July 15 and many have already binged all six episodes.

The murder mystery follows National Park Service investigative services branch special agent Kyle Turner (Eric Bana) try and figure out who killed a woman in Yosemite National Park.

Untamed also features Sam Neil as chief park ranger Paul Souter, Rosemarie DeWitt as Kyle's ex-wife, Lily Santiago as a National Park Service ranger called Naya Vasquez and Wilson Bethel as wildlife management officer Shane Maguire.

'In the vast expanse of Yosemite National Park, a woman's death draws a federal agent into lawless terrain  where nature obeys no rules but its own,' the streaming service's synopsis reads.

Many have rushed online to share their positive reviews about the show - and some have even compared it to the HBO drama True Detective.

A Netflix mystery thriller has been hailed as 'the best show of 2025' after viewers raved about the programme's 'intense performances and spectacular scenery'

Untamed, written and created by Mark L. Smith and Elle Smith, hit the streaming service on July 15 and many have already binged all six episodes

'Phenomenal work and gorgeously shot. Selfishly I hope Kyles journey continues in another series. Hes like a broken Atticus Finch of a hero',

'Untamed 10/10 [tick box emoji]'. 'Untamed was good! #Netflix'.

Meanwhile others have taken to IMDB to share their thoughts.

'The best detective series since the first True Detective. Could not stop watching from the first minute of the series. This is excellent show with great setting and actors and plot.'

'I was hooked right away and binge watched the 6 episodes without a single break, literally! I didn't realize I'd barely moved until I was done! My knees made me acutely aware though upon standing up!.'

'This was a wild ride, and I was immediately drawn into it from episode one to an unexpected streaming binge that I am so glad I decided to dive in and go with flow on. This is a fantastic series with great actors and a compelling storyline paired with breathtaking scenery, and shockingly unexpected twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time!',

'Loved this series', 'Netflix usually fails to produce the type of dramas that keep me interested. However, they outdid themselves with UNTAMED.'

'Thank you for creating a show that feels natural and unforced. The mystery keeps us guessing without giving too much away, and each episode adds depth to the characters while introducing something fresh. It is all done with such care and taste. This is easily my favorite show in the past decade. I have been hoping for something truly worth watching, and this delivers on every level.'

Many have rushed online to share their rave reviews about the Netflix hit - with one saying 'loved this'

The show also stars the likes of William Smilie, Raoul Max Trujillo, Josh Randall, Ezra Franky, Nicola Correia-Damude and Trevor Carroll.

After binging the series, many fans have been scratching their heads over if there will be another to follow.

The cast has kept very tight-lipped over if there will be. However it hasn't been a straight no.

Speaking with Variety, Eric Bana told the publication: 'We spoke about what would happen to Kyle after this, in theory. So you never know.'

But saying that, Lily Santiago did share her ideas on what she wanted to happen with TV Insider.

She said: 'In a season 2, I want more solving of murders. Honestly, I would love for her to get called up to go to a different place, like bring me to a mountain in Hawaii.

'Im hoping that its new murder, new location, wilderness challenges, and new things to learn. Because I really love Nayas mind.

'I love watching how she figures out new terrain.'

It comes after a Hollywood legend made an epic comeback after six years off screens in new Netflix thriller last month - and debuted their striking new look.
There are fears for Beau Ryan inside Channel Ten after executives swung the axe on his Top Gear co-host Jonathan LaPaglia and shelved the series.

The longtime The Amazing Race Australia host, 40, stepped away from his Triple M Sydney radio show in March to film the upcoming 'Celebrity Edition' season.

Beau has hosted the show since it premiered on Ten in 2019, five years after Channel Seven cancelled the series.

'Theres genuine concern for the former NRL player-turned-TV presenter who has made a steady income out of hosting the competition-based reality series that sees him flown all around the world,' a well-placed source tells Daily Mail Australia.

'Beaus got the support of his mates  JLP and Rodger Corser are both rooting for him, but no one feels safe at Network Ten right now.'

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There are fears for Beau Ryan inside Channel Ten after executives swung the axe on his Top Gear co-host Jonathan LaPaglia and shelved the series

In a 2021 interview on The Kyle & Jackie O Show, the former league star revealed he was paid $800,000 to host Amazing Race.

'When you are getting paid for something, you look at the hours. How long are we working here,' he explained.

Kyle Sandilands asked: 'Is that what you do? Do you look at that with The Amazing Race and consider how long [you're away for]?'

'Yeah,' Beau said. '[I was away] for two to three months and I got paid $800,000.'

With veteran hosts Jonathan LaPaglia and Rodger Corser both axed in quick succession, Beau's friends are concerned he could be next.

According to a TV insider, Rodger was quietly 'let go' from Ten after quirky reality show The Traitors was cancelled at the end of 2024.

The Doctor Doctor and Underbelly star, 52, is now hosting Channel Nine's hugely successful game show, The Floor.

Insiders say these cloak-and-dagger firings are more about bean counting than a routine changing of the guard for 'fresher faces'.

The longtime The Amazing Race Australia host, 40, stepped away from his Triple M Sydney radio show in March to film the upcoming 'Celebrity Edition' season. Pictured with Triple M co-hosts Cat Lynch and Aaron Woods

Network Ten reportedly didnt take well to the increased salary demands floated by some agents and management of their stars earlier this year, with insiders suggesting those negotiations backfired.

While Robert Irwins co-hosting gig on Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! has been a success, his price tag will reportedly triple by the time contracts are back up for negotiation making decision-makers think twice.

'Management is trimming budgets back by letting go of high-priced talent,' one source told Daily Mail Australia.

'This is a network being told to tighten the purse strings. Theyre not just replacing people for the sake of it. Theyre being strategic. Its about value, longevity and connecting with younger viewers.'

But Beau was in high spirits when he spoke to Daily Mail Australia about the future of The Amazing Race this week.

'Celebrity Edition is an incredible series filmed in some of the most epic locations,' he said.

'We have a great line-up of teams.

'Also, a location that is a first for The Amazing Race franchise history. Its next level.'

Beau has hosted the show since it premiered on Ten in 2019, five years after Channel Seven cancelled the series

'It's always tough to leave my family to film Amazing Race,' Beau told Daily Mail Australia. Pictured with his 12-year-old daughter, Remi

The father-of-two added: 'It's always tough to leave my family for filming.'

'It was tough to leave the guys at Triple M for the five weeks. I love the show, the listeners, and the team.

'Hopefully, the next season of Amazing Race films in the [radio] survey break so I dont miss much time on-air.'

'That's something the guys at Triple M and Paramount help me juggle. They know Amazing Race Australia is a show thats been a part of my life and schedule for the last six years.'

However, conversations around The Amazing Races future have reportedly become more urgent.

While Beau remains a popular on-screen presence, the shows ratings havent matched its production spend in recent years.

As one veteran producer said: 'Its not about whos best anymore. Its about whos best for budget and branding.'

Meanwhile, Top Gear is still up in the air with Ten's streaming partner Paramount+.

Meanwhile, Top Gear, which is hosted by Jonathan LaPaglia and Beau, is still up in the air with Ten's streaming partner Paramount+

'There were talks [season two filming] could be the end of this year,' Beau revealed.

'But it is such a big show with plenty of planning so now it looks like it will be 2026 or 2027. We will have to wait and see.'

The latest news inside Ten comes after Jonathan LaPaglia confirmed he lost his hosting gig on Australian Survivor last month.

The 55-year-old, who has fronted the hit show since 2016, will make his final appearance on the upcoming season, Australia V The World, set to air later this year.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Jonathan said he was shocked by Channel Ten's decision to let him go.

'I have no doubts Jonathan will be in another hosting gig whenever he is ready,' Beau told Daily Mail Australia.

'He is an incredible talent and you can see by the overwhelming support how loved he is.'

The former league star confirmed he called JLP as soon as he heard the news.

'I did speak to him as he is a great man and close friend. He knows I am always here for him, as he is for me.'

Channel Ten confirmed with Daily Mail Australia that Beau Ryan will return for the next season of The Amazing Race: Celebrity Edition.

'We are thrilled to have Beau Ryan as Network 10 talent,' a spokesperson for Network 10 said.

'Youll be seeing his antics on our screens again next year.

'As per every year, announcements regarding our future content slate will be revealed at our Upfront, so stay tuned to hear more about the return of our epic reality formats for 2026.'
He rose to fame in the 90s when he arrived in Albert Square as part of EastEnders new Italian family.

And thanks to his three year stint on the BBC show Michael Greco, 54, went on to claim two British Soap Awards for Sexiest Male as well as being voted the Sexiest Male Soap Star Ever by Radio Times readers.

But post Albert Square he would win greater fame - and fortune - on the poker circuit, where he competed professionally and raked in more than 1million in winnings, once making an impressive $250k in a single day.

The actor also raised eyebrows with a string of high profile relationships, dating glamour models and Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring - who dumped him due his 'party lifestyle.'

Nowadays, Michael prefers a much quieter life and since leaving the BBC soap, he has worked in various roles such as Pickanchoos in Aladdin at Poole's Lighthouse Theatre, the lead role in Naked in London, and a copper in Casualty.

The TV star has also appeared on Celebrity Love Island and Soapstar Superstar.

Michael Greco rose to fame in the 90s when he arrived in Albert Square as part of EastEnders new Italian family - The Di Marco's

And thanks to his three year stint on BBC show he went on to claim two British Soap Awards for Sexiest Male as well as being voted the Sexiest Male Soap Star Ever by Radio Times readers (pictured in 2022)

In 1998, Michael first appeared on screens as Beppe Di Marco, who worked as a police officer, taxi driver and nightclub owner, fell out with Grant Mitchell, and fell for Grant's ex-wife Tiffany.

The Di Marco family were introduced as rivals to the infamous Mitchell family. Alongside Michael, the line-up included his on-screen grandparents Bruno and Luisa, as well as their daughter-in-law and Beppe's mother, Rosa (Louise Jameson).

His brother Gianni (Marc Bannerman) and younger sisters Teresa (Leila Birch) and Nicky (Carly Hillman) as well as Beppe's son, Joe (Jake Kyprianou) also featured.

They proved a success in Walford with their family-run Giuseppe's restaurant, but by the time 2000 had arrived, then-show executive John Yorke decided to cull the family, apart from Beppe and Joe who he kept on until 2002.

Michael left the soap in an exit which he described as 'disappointing,' when his character left Walford after finding out his mother had suffered a heart attack.

He sold his nightclub to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and he moved back to Leicester and previously suggested that he would have preferred a bigger send-off.

Speaking to FruitySlots.com, he said: 'There were circumstances that prevented me from having a bigger send off, I won't go into them as it's water under the bridge.'

He added: 'But I just left in a cab, didn't I? I said goodbye to Lynn in the cafe and then had a packet of crisps and drove to Leicester.'

The Di Marco family were introduced as rivals to the Mitchell family. Alongside Michael, the line-up included his on-screen grandparents Bruno and Luisa, as well as Beppe's mother, Rosa

Although he now leads a much quieter life he once became engaged to a glamour model Linsey Dawn McKenzie (pictured in 2009) and was dumped by Stephanie Waring due his partying

Stephanie, who played Cindy Cunningham, dated Micheal from October 2016 to April 2017, but a source said: 'Michael loves a night out and is a bit of a party boy' (pictured in 2016)

Speaking in an interview earlier this year, Michael said he faced a 'tough life' as a soap actor, having swapped the screen for a poker career.

He told The Mirror: 'I didn't really have a social life. I never went out. Sometimes you'd have 25 scenes a day. Say you got home at 6pm or 7pm, you were knackered, mentally and physically exhausted.'

Michael went on to play poker for six years and admitted: 'I remember when I won $250,000 one day. I put it in my rucksack and walked to my hotel, which was literally just across the road. This was during the day but I was watching everywhere in case I thought someone was going to follow me.'

'I was walking out of the casino but I was paranoid in case anyone had seen me with that amount of money, so I sprinted to the hotel room and put it in my safe.'

'I was earning good money, I had a great lifestyle, it was really good fun. Then I got bored of poker. I wanted to get back to what I loved doing, which was acting.'

In 2005 he competed in the first series of Celebrity Love Island where he managed to come in 4th place.

The show was won by presenter Jayne Middlemiss and Westlife bodyguard Fran Cosgrave, with the likes of Calum Best, Paul Danan and Rebecca Loos also starring.

The following year he starred on Soapstar Superstar, before appearing on Casualty in 2017, making a cameo appearance on Holby City in 2022 and featuring on Netflix series African Queens in 2023.

Elsewhere, 2020 saw a huge personal milestone for Michael, as he became a dad at 50, when his girlfriend Helen Harris had a baby.

After EastEnders he competed in the first series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005 where he managed to come in 4th place

Over the years he has worked in various roles such as Pickanchoos in Aladdin, the lead role in Naked in London, and a copper in Casualty (pictured in Holby City)

Sharing the news at the time, he said despite being a 'very private person,' he couldn't wait to share.

Michael wrote: 'First time daddy at 51! Probably the greatest post I've ever shared. Cant explain how emotional it was for me to be told that I am to be a father for the very first time, with my absolute soul mate.

'I'm normally a very private person but I couldn't help reveal my utter joy and I just want to tell the world!

'In these devastating times that we are all facing right now, this is the best news I could ever dream of. My heart is full and I love you more than life itself Baby G.

The couple later went on to welcome their second child in 2024 and shared a sweet series of photos from their 'beautiful baby boy's' birth.

Michael shared his gratitude, admitting he was the 'happiest man alive' following the arrival of newborn, Gianni.

However, the actor's life hasn't always been so private as he once had a string of high-profile romances including a dalliance with Hollyoaks star Stephanie Waring, an engagement to a glamour model before being linked to Lisa Faulkner and Dani Behr.

In 1998 he became engaged to Linsey Dawn McKenzie, who rose to fame modelling topless in Sunday Sport.

2020 saw a huge personal milestone for Michael, as he became a dad at 50, when his girlfriend Helen Harris had a baby

She became pregnant twice during their 15-month relationship but sadly miscarried.

Michael later dated Hollyoaks star Stephanie, who played Cindy Cunningham from October 2016 to April 2017, but they split up over his party lifestyle.

A pal of the duo told The Sun at the time: 'Michael loves a night out and is a bit of a party boy, but Steph is more of a homebody.

'She was really keen for them to settle down and set up home together, but it was just too much too fast for him. Steph is pretty cut up about it, she really liked him and hoped that their relationship would last the distance.'

A source close to the couple had previously claimed they dated for a few months before going on a break as 'Micheal wasn't as ready to get serious', before reuniting in October 2016.

In 2023, the Di Marco family looked unrecognisable as they reunited 25 years after leaving the soap

In 2023, the Di Marco family looked unrecognisable as they reunited 25 years after leaving the soap.

The co-stars beamed as they reunited over two decades on, with the only person missing from being Marc, who played Gianni.

Michael shared the photo and wrote: 'Not seen this lot for 25 years! My EastEnders mum and sisters. Was incredible to catch up [with] them all and go down memory lane Di Marco family.'

Fans were loving the reunion as one wrote under the snap: 'Di Marcos should come back to the Square. It's never been the same.'

Another posted: 'No one has aged!!! And you still beautiful.'

Earlier this year, although he hasn't appeared in Walford for several years, Michael revealed he still earns money from the show (pictured with Clare Wilkie as Sandra on the soap in 2000)

Earlier this year, although he hasn't appeared in Walford for several years, Michael revealed he still earns money from the show.

Speaking to Scott McGlynn on the Celebrity Skin Talk Show in February, he admitted: 'Yeah I know about the re-runs. I get a 1.27 repeat fees every six months from episodes.'

The actor also shared that he wasn't invited back for the show's 40th anniversary.

Despite a number of former actors reprising their roles, Michael expressed disappointment that producers didn't reach out to him.

He said: 'I didn't get the call, I wasn't asked to go back at all. I'm not on their radar so, I think if wasn't asked back to help with their 40th I don't think I never go back.'

Michael added: 'If they want you back they get you back. I used to be in the vice squad maybe that be my way to join back in, and arrest someone you know.'
It's no secret that influencers enjoy the perks of their fame when it comes to getting freebies from luxury brands in exchange for an ad on social media.

And the ambitious home renovation project being carried out by Bachelor couple Laura Byrne and Matty Johnson is no exception.

The pair are giving their $2.19million forever home in Ulladulla - known as 'Chante-Mer' - a bold retro redesign.

While some fans aren't impressed with their aesthetic choices, whether you love it or loathe it, the fact remains Matty and Laura have been very shrewd when it comes to spending.

A deep dive into their renovation Instagram page shows the couple has enthusiastically embraced the influencer tactic of scoring free products in exchange for a properly disclosed plug on social media - a practice known as a 'contra deal'.

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Laura Byrne and Matty Johnson (seen with their daughters Marlie-Mae and Lola) are giving their $2.19million forever home in Ulladulla - known as 'Chante-Mer' - a bold retro redesign

While some fans aren't impressed with their aesthetic choices, whether you love it or loathe it, the fact remains Matty and Laura have been very shrewd when it comes to spending

A combination of declared paid partnerships and 'thank-you' tags can be found everywhere.

At least 21 companies have been referenced on the social media page for Chante-Mer since it was started in August last year - just a few months after Laura and Matty purchased the rundown 'blue chip' home.

The couple - who share daughters Marlie-Mae and Lola and have a third child on the way - frequently post updates and room reveals from their renovation, often tagging one company - or several - to credit them for their work and products.

While not all the posts are linked to paid partnerships or contra deals - oftentimes the couple have paid in full and just wished to say thanks - there are plenty that reveal Matty and Laura are using savvy marketing tactics to save money on the redesign.

Appliances Online Australia, for example, has been tagged in four posts, two of which were clearly marked as a paid partnership.

Last Monday, Matty uploaded a video for the appliances company, revealing they had sent the family a microwave, coffee machine ($3,699), and flat-screen TV ($1,595).

Another post, shared in April, revealed Appliances Online Australia had decked out the entire laundry and kitchen.

A washing machine and dryer ($3,109), SMEG fridge ($4,990), electric cooktop with a hidden range hood ($1,287) and matching oven ($928), and fully integrated dishwasher were all included.

This video featured the hashtags 'gifted' and 'collab' - so all above board.

Laura and Matty also appear to have some kind of commercial deal with Mitre 10 to supply paint, storage shelves for their garage, and power tools.

They have enthusiastically embraced the influencer tactic of securing free products in exchange for a properly disclosed plug on social media - a practice known as a 'contra deal'.

Of the six posts that mention the hardware store, at least four were tagged as a 'paid partnership' and 'ad'.

Freedom Australia has also made frequent appearances on the Chante-Mer Instagram account page, with Laura and Matty - once again - entering into a 'paid partnership' with the company.

Of the eight posts that mention the furniture store, three were tagged as advertisements - so the commercial arrangement was made quite clear.

In June, the couple shared a paid partnership post that doubled as their guest bedroom reveal, as they directed their followers to a 'link in bio' for Freedom Australia.

The link takes you to a webpage featuring 13 furniture items that Laura and Matty used in their home. All together, the items are worth at least $15,100.

Laura uploaded another paid post for these furniture items, listing her 'top five' pieces - including a marble side table ($499), retro brown couch ($2,699), cane armchair ($1,849), guest bedroom rattan bed ($2,669), and another white armchair ($1,299).

A third paid partnership post in May revealed Freedom Australia furnished the dining room and lounge room of Chante-Mer.

Other posts, which were not tagged as adverts, showed various items throughout the house from Freedom Australia, including a mirror in their ensuite. Since there was no partnership tag, it is unclear if these items were gifted or bought.

Other companies to collaborate with the reality TV renovators include Carpet Court, Yabby and Tile Cloud.

Carpet Court, which provided the floorboards seen throughout Chante-Mer, was tagged twice on their Instagram account, with one of those posts in April featuring the hashtag 'collab'.

Carpet Court confirmed to us that Laura and Matty indeed had a 'sponsored deal' with the company, which was organised by 'their people'.

'They didn't come into the store,' a spokesperson said, adding that the floorboards had been picked up and installed at Chante-Mer by another supplier.

That other supplier may have been Australian Select Timbers, which was also tagged in a post about the timber flooring alongside Carpet Court.

A combination of paid partnerships and 'thank-you' tags can be found everywhere. At least 21 companies have been referenced on the Chante-Mer page since it was started last August

Yabby, a bathwares company, was tagged in two posts, with one including the hashtag 'collab'.

Tera Nova Tiles, which created bespoke chequered floors throughout the entrance and kitchen, was also tagged in four separate posts.

TileCloud, which provided tiles for the bathrooms, also features heavily on the renovation Instagram page, with Laura and Matty tagging it in five posts, one of which, from April, included the hashtag 'collab'.

Laura and Matty also filmed a funny skit at the TileCloud showroom in Rosebery that heavily promoted the company. This was likely part of their collaboration.

Another gift provided for Chante-Mer was a custom-made, watercolour artwork of the exterior of the seaside property.

Petit Motif, founded by vintage interior designer Madison Beard, was tagged in four posts for sourcing unique Mediterranean sconces

Created by A Home Drawn, similar pieces go for upwards of $500, but the artist confirmed it was a gift by posting a video with the hashtag 'GiftForNewHome'.

According to the Australian Influencer Marketing Council, influencers and businesses are required to clearly disclose paid promotional content online.

As of 2021, this rule now applies to gifts that are deemed to be income by the ATO. Matty and Laura have followed this rule on their Chante-Mer page throughout the renovation.

However, they have also included many posts tagging companies without labelling them gifts or sponsorships. In these cases, the couple bought the products themselves and gave the brands a shout-out as a courtesy.

Lo & Co Interiors, for example, was tagged in five posts for providing kitchen and laundry cabinet handles, bathroom cabinet handles and handles in their kids' bedroom.

Petit Motif, founded by vintage interior designer Madison Beard, was tagged in four posts for sourcing unique Mediterranean sconces.

Art of Marble appeared in five posts after it supplied natural stone kitchen and bathroom benchtops.

Other companies that received shout-outs include Future Glass, Temple & Webster, Cosentino, and Robert Gordon Pottery.

Bondi artist Jesse Cleay and The Lazy Stylist, founded by The Block couple Courtney McInnes and Grant Freeman, were also tagged in posts.

Since none of these posts were labelled paid partnerships, collabs or gifts, Matty and Laura bought the goods and tagged the products simply to share their appreciation.

The couple bought Chante-Mer last year for $2.19million as a dilapidated oceanfront home.

Now, with the help of Bespoke Living Constructions, a huge renovation is under way to transform it into a dream family home.

In a statement, Laura clarified to us that she and Matty had 'paid full rates to our builder for the entire build,' adding that 'Bespoke Living have done an incredible job'.

She went on to say: 'We have paid full rates to all trades and if you are interested in the great brands that we have collaborated with, they are marked on our Instagram using the partnership tags.'

Appliances Online Australia supplied all of the appliances for the laundry and kitchen

Freedom Australia provided many furniture items, and decked out the dining and living room

Chante-Mer holds special meaning for Laura and Matty, who married in 2022 at Cupitt's Estate Winery, just down the road from their new home.

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property is spread across two levels and was last sold in 1984 for $62,500.

The home is set on 746 sqm overlooking Racecourse Beach, and was previously owned by UN translator Valerie Barnes, who died in 2021 at the age of 94.

For the time being, Matty and Laura live in a four-bedroom semi in North Bondi, which they purchased for $5.2million in 2023.

They also have a $1.8million holiday home in Bangalow, near Byron Bay.
DUBAI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Family businesses contribute 60 percent of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s gross domestic product (GDP) and employ 80 percent of the country's workforce, according to a statement issued Sunday by the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism.

Family-owned companies account for nearly 90 percent of all private sector businesses in the country, the statement said, adding that the family businesses operate across diverse sectors, including the new economy, retail, real estate, and construction.

Official figures from the ministry show that in Abu Dhabi alone, family businesses represent 50 percent of the construction sector, 60 percent of financial services, 80 percent of wholesale and trade, and 70 percent of the transportation sector.

Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri stated that the country is making national efforts to empower family businesses, aiming to raise the country's GDP to 3 trillion UAE dirhams (about 817 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2030. 
Ryan Gosling was back to his usual, handsome self as he attended the Project Hail Mary panel during 2025 Comic-Con in San Diego on Saturday, after unveiling his dramatic transformation for the new film.

The Golden Globe winner, 44, looked unrecognizable in the latest record-breaking trailer for the upcoming sci-fi movie - which is based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir.

The actor had the chance to discuss aspects of the anticipated film while joined by Weir as well as directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and screenwriter Drew Goddard.

Ryan donned a blue and yellow-patterned button up as well as a pair of classic denim jeans.

He additionally opted for a flashy silver watch on his left wrist as well as a yellow cap on top of his head that had 'Cat' printed on the front - referencing to the heavy equipment company.

Ryan's outfit was the complete opposite of his nearly unrecognizable look in Project Hail Mary - which is slated to hit theaters next year on March 20, 2026.

Ryan Gosling, 44, was back to his usual handsome self as he attended the Project Hail Mary panel during 2025 Comic-Con in San Diego on Saturday

The Golden Globe winner recently showed off his wild transformation in the latest record-breaking trailer for the upcoming sci-fi movie - which is based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir

Not long after the trailer dropped late last month, the three-minute clip broke records after raking in 400 million views globally in just the first week according to WaveMetrix, per Deadline.

The large number of views is also the most ever for an original movie trailer that is not based on a sequel or a remake.

However, it is not fully clear how the views were counted - with YouTube needing an individual to click on a video for at least 30 seconds in order for it to be a considered as a view.

Project Hail Mary is being released through Amazon MGM Studios - with the trailer also being a big milestone for the production company.

The clip showed Ryan's wild transformation with a scruffy beard and long hair as he ventures up to space on a mission to save humanity.

He portrays the character of a middle school science teacher named Ryland Grace who is chosen to take on the vital task.

The trailer began with Ryan's character waking up from a coma inside the rocket ship that is floating in space and also gives a glimpse at how his journey began.

Towards the end, fans were able to get a look at an alien named Rocky that his character also crosses paths with during the mission.

The actor had the chance to discuss aspects of the anticipated film while joined by Weir as well as directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and screenwriter Drew Goddard

He additionally opted for a flashy silver watch on his left wrist as well as a yellow cap on top of his head that had 'Cat' printed on the front - referencing to the heavy equipment company

Ryan's outfit was the complete opposite of his nearly unrecognizable look in Project Hail Mary - which is slated to hit theaters next year on March 20, 2026

Project Hail Mary is being released through Amazon MGM Studios - with the trailer also being a big milestone for the production company

The clip showed Ryan's wild transformation with a scruffy beard and long hair as he ventures up to space on a mission to save humanity

Social media users shared their thoughts over the trailer when it dropped, with some expressing their excitement over the adaption.

On YouTube, one penned, 'I'm not lying when I say Project Hail Mary is the GREATEST science fiction book I've ever read, so excited to see this on screen.'

Another added, 'This movie better be 8 hours long,' while a fan shared, 'The book is a masterpiece, be ready everyone, this might be something incredibly special.'

'Cried reading the book. Cried watching the trailer. Will 100% cry during the movie,' one typed, and another wrote, 'I have rarely been this excited to see a movie. Jazz hands forever!'

A viewer commented, 'I saw the trailer and decided to read the book. I haven't read a book in 20 years.. Could. not. put. it. down. Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Amaze.'

The directors also took to X to offer their own thoughts upon hearing the record-breaking milestone the trailer made.

Phil penned, 'Holy Moly! Thank you all you glorious generous fans of movies/books/near light speed space travel/the Sun for pushing the trailer for Project Hail Mary past 400 million views - the most in one week for a non-sequel non-remake original film trailer... ever.

'Can't wait to thank some of you in person at San Diego Comic-Con in Hall H with our pals Ryan, Andy, and Drew... and a few other surprises...'

Towards the end, fans were able to get a look at an alien named Rocky that his character also crosses paths during the mission

Social media users shared their thoughts over the trailer when it dropped, with some expressing their excitement over the adaption

During the panel discussion on Saturday, Ryan as well as the directors and screenwriter talked to the audience about the project. Andy - who was a producer on the movie - also joined in at the event as well.

Those in attendance were able to see the first five minutes of the movie as well as other snippets of scenes, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Ryan talked about playing Ryland Grace and expressed, 'I connected to his reluctance. He's quite an ordinary person.'

Phil and Christopher also discussed having the chance to collaborate with The Notebook star on the project.

Christopher said, 'We wanted to do something with Ryan for a long time. This was the most rewarding collaboration of our careers.'

Phil then chimed in to humorously add, 'It answers the question, "If the universe depends on it, can adult men make friends?"'

Andy also praised Ryan's performance and stated, 'Seeing Ryan give so many layers to this character I made up, I was like, "Wow, this character is really cool."'

In the trailer, fans were able to get a slight glimpse at the alien Rocky and while the creature 'doesn't have eyes or a mouth or a face,' Christopher said viewers would still 'die for this character.'

Those in attendance were able to see the first five minutes of the movie as well as other snippets of scenes, per The Hollywood Reporter

Christopher said, 'We wanted to do something with Ryan for a long time. This was the most rewarding collaboration of our careers'

Alongside Ryan, other stars that were cast in the upcoming film included Sandra Huller - who is known for The Zone Of Interest and Anatomy Of The Fall.

Phil and Christopher have worked on other projects together as well, such as 21 Jump Street and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse.

Andy is not only known for penning Project Hail Mary but also The Martian - which was adapted into the 2015 film starring Matt Damon.

During an interview with Space.com earlier this month, the author opened up about the movie adaptation of Project Hail Mary and his thoughts on the film as a whole.

'They showed it to me well in advance,' Andy said. 'I'm a producer on this film so I'm involved in giving notes and stuff this time so it's kinda cool. It's nice to pretend I'm a bigshot. But I was really psyched.

'I always try to put myself in the mind of the viewer for movie stuff or reader for book stuff and try to blank my mind and imagine I don't know anything about the story.'

Andy is not only known for penning Project Hail Mary but also The Martian - which was adapted into the 2015 film starring Matt Damon (seen above)

'They showed it to me well in advance,' Andy said. 'I'm a producer on this film so I'm involved in giving notes and stuff this time so it's kinda cool. It's nice to pretend I'm a bigshot. But I was really psyched'

Andy also talked about Ryan's portrayal of the story's protagonist and said, 'Ryan [Gosling] is funny. He's got a good natural understanding of comedy and timing.

'He was really engaged, and he'd want to talk to me every day about scenes and what's going through Grace's mind. I was there for the shoot and on set all the time. That was really cool.'

Andy further recalled, 'I got to be a Hollywood mover and or a shaker. They actually offered to assign me an assistant. I said no, I don't have enough for an assistant to do.

'There's almost nothing more useless on a set than the writer. Although there was a lot more work for me to do than I expected. It was awesome.'
Channing Tatum's girlfriend Inka Williams has shed light on her future plans and her surprising career move in the works.

The Aussie model, who made headlines in March after confirming her relationship with the Magic Mike star at a pre-Oscars bash, hinted at plans to move closer to her A-lister beau.

The 25-year-old revealed she grew up in Indonesia but is currently dividing her time between Los Angeles, Australia and Europe.

'I did grow up in Indonesia and my whole family is there, so it will always be home, but right now I am trying to focus a bit more on my career so I will be living between Europe, Australia and LA as well,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

She also revealed she is in the process of signing with an agency in Los Angeles and would like to get into acting.

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Channing Tatum 's girlfriend has shed light on her future plans and a surprising career move in the works

Aussie model Inka Williams made headlines in March after confirming her relationship with the Magic Mike at a pre-Oscars bash

'I've done a little bit here and there. Mostly drama when I was in school, but not really acting,' she added.

Inka's interview comes after she recently gave fans a rare glimpse into her relationship with Channing on social media as the pair enjoyed a Euro summer.

The model posted a number of snaps and videos to her Instagram story documenting her romantic getaway in Croatia with the Step Up star.

Inka shared a clip of herself lying on her stomach on a board as her famous boyfriend paddled her to land.

Inka showed off her pert derriere as she sprawled out her legs in a skimpy polka-dot bikini, which she paired with a straw hat.

'He brought me to a spot I could nap at while he hikes,' she captioned the clip.

She then panned to the luxury yacht the couple have been staying on and then to Channing himself, who was paddling them to shore.

'This looks like the best I can do for you,' he told her as they beached the paddleboard onto the rocks.

Inka recenty gave fans a rare glimpse into her relationship with Channing on social media

She also shared a tribute to celebrate the actor's 45th birthday with a heartwarming post back in April

'Thanks baby, this looks like my spot,' she sweetly replied.

In another clip, she wished her beau goodbye as he paddled away on the board.

'I love you,' she called after him, and he replied: 'I love you so much.'

Channing and Inka had kept their budding romance relatively low-key, until the model broke her silence with a sweet Instagram post in April.

Inka shared a tribute to celebrate the actor's 45th birthday with a heartwarming post, which showed various pictures of the couple together.

'Happy life to the handsomest, kindest, funniest, stoopidest, most gorgeous human ever,' Inka wrote.

'Merci for making life beautiful and fun. Jtm trop fort,' she added, which is French slang for 'I love you'.
Love Island star Olivia Hawkins has blamed the show for her still being single and never having had a boyfriend at aged 30.

The former ring girl has had two cracks at love on the ITV2 show, in 2023 and on this year's All Stars version, but failed to find a lasting connection.

And in a new interview, Olivia suggested that the way she was edited as a troublemaker in the villa has contributed to her relationship woes, before likening the programme to The Hunger Games.

Speaking to The Sun, the brunette beauty lamented her love life and compared the show to the dystopian film series that sees teens battle to the death as 'you never know when youre going to be dumped'.

On how her appearance affected her dating life, Olivia explained: 'I find dating hard because the majority of people I meet have watched Love Island, or know of my character on the show. Its hard not to be prejudged.

'I was the villain of the villa. They just saw me as a fiery character. Now I get told Im quite intimidating. Men dont approach me because they think I wont be responsive. But thats a misconception. Im the most approachable person ever. Men think Ill be hard work, and of course I like the finer things in life, but I provide that for myself.'

Love Island star Olivia Hawkins has blamed the show for her still being single and never having had a boyfriend at aged 30

The former ring girl has had two cracks at love on the ITV2 show, in 2023 and on this year's All Stars version, but failed to find a lasting connection [pictured in January]

The TV personality went on to say that after appearing on the show, she felt like she 'lost myself a bit' and after being 'painted' as someone with a certain 'persona', wondered if she had to 'keep that up'.

Her first stint in the Majorcan villa saw her couple up with the likes of Will Young, Haris Namani and Kai Fagan, with the series seeing her being branded a 'hypocrite', labelled a 'schemer' for clashing with her co-stars and dividing audiences with her upfront opinions.

While her second stay earlier this year saw her face backlash for seemingly trying to split Grace Jackson and Luca Bish up after she claimed to have seen leaked message of Grace declaring she'd do anything to win.

And reflecting upon her experiences, Olivia told how her reputation has seemingly put men off her as she detailed her desire to settle down with someone.

She said: 'All I want is a partner to be there for me and be my soulmate, and to have a shoulder to lean on. Id just love someone to take me for being me and get to know the person away from the screen.'

She noted that she felt that she had to really 'try and prove everyone wrong' and show a 'different side' to her instead of just putting herself first.

Olivia woes comes a month after she was reportedly said to be dating a hunky boxer and Netflix star, weeks after she locked lips with her Celebs Go Dating co-star Louis Russell.

The former Love Islander was said to have sparked up a romance with Too Hot To Handle star Kelechi Dyke, 31, with the pair having been on a few dates.

In a new interview, Olivia suggested that the way she was edited as a troublemaker in the villa has contributed to her relationship woes, before likening the programme to The Hunger Games

The brunette beauty lamented her love life and compared the show to the dystopian film series that sees teens battle to the death as 'you never know when youre going to be dumped' [Jennifer Lawrence pictured in The Hunger Games]

'I find dating hard because the majority of people I meet have watched Love Island, or know of my character on the show. Its hard not to be prejudged'

'I was the villain of the villa. They just saw me as a fiery character. Now I get told Im quite intimidating. Men dont approach me because they think I wont be responsive. But thats a misconception'

And according to The Sun, things were certainly hotting up between the pair and were getting 'quite serious'.

A source told the publication: 'Liv was linked to fellow Celebs Go Dating co-star Louis Russell when production on the series first started.

'But since then shes been on a series of dates with boxer Kelechi Kelz Dyke, which have been filmed for the show.

'Netlix fans will know him from Too Hot To Handle as well, so he is well versed in reality TV. But the chemistry between him and Liv is genuine and they are really into each other.'

The insider cryptically added: 'Watch this space.'

Olivia's romance news comes shortly after she was spotted locking lips with another Too Hot To Handle favourite and fellow Celebs Go Dating star Louis Russell during filming in Ibiza.

The Love Island beauty and the hunk were just days into shooting the new series of the Channel 4 dating show last month - and it seemed sparks were already flying.

The pair already had fans speculating about their relationship status after a flirty exchange on social media before heading out to the sun-soaked Spanish island.

Olivia woes comes a month after she was reportedly said to be dating a hunky boxer and Netflix star, weeks after she locked lips with her Celebs Go Dating co-star Louis Russell

The former Love Islander was said to have sparked up a romance with Too Hot To Handle star Kelechi Dyke [pictured], 31, with the pair having been on a few dates

In photos obtained by The Sun, Olivia and Louis could be seen sharing a very steamy kiss during a lively pool party as they packed on the PDA.

A show insider told the publication: 'It usually takes a few weeks for things to spice up but not with these two.

'Within 48 hours of arriving in Ibiza the sexual spark between them was obvious.

'They clearly couldn't resist each other,' they added.

MailOnline contacted reps for Olivia and Louis for comment at the time.
It is only a week until the highly anticipated 2025 TV WEEK Logie Awards - and famous faces are gearing up for one of the biggest nights in television.

With beloved rocker Jimmy Barnes set to take the stage at The Star Sydney on August 3, and Sam Pang hosting the event for the third time, the annual celebration has been the talk of the town.

However, while tongues have been wagging about the stacked guest list, they've also been noting the glaring absences, with a slew of stars from Australia's favourite shows set to miss the red carpet event next week.

Some of the biggest names to not to make the guest list include MasterChef 2024 runner-up Josh Pezza Perry, The Block's Ricky Recard and the whole of the Married At First Sight cast.

Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle about the brutal cast snub, MAFS bride Jamie Marinos revealed she had long doubted that she and her co-stars would receive an invite to the Logies.

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A slew of stars from Australia's favourite shows are set to miss the Logie Awards next week. Pictured MAFS Jamie Marinos

'To be honest, I felt like there was all this talk that we were gonna get invited, but I just didn't trust it, so I actually booked a trip to Europe and I'm doing my own kind of publicity tour in London,' she said.

'None of us were bloody invited,' she revealed, adding: 'Its a shame because I know the rest of the cast probably would have been looking forward to it too. I would have loved to have gone to the Logies with everyone.'

Despite the cast being left off the invite list, love experts John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla will be in attendance to represent the popular show.

However, MAFS isn't the only program that has seen cast members snubbed while their judges make the cut.

The Block's Scott Cam and Shelley Craft received a Logies invite, however the teams from last year's 20th season - including fan-favourite Ricky Recard - did not.

Similarly, Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge of My Kitchen Rules will be in attendance, but the teams from the 2024 season - including champion Simone Preste - are understood to be missing it.

Despite Real Housewives of Sydney being nominated for the first time at the Logies, none of the show's stars were invited to the glitzy event.

Victoria Montano said she was under 'no misconceptions' over whether production would prioritise themselves for a seat at the ceremony, despite the Housewives opening up their lives for public consumption'.

MasterChef Australia runner-up Josh Perry revealed that he didn't crack an invite, despite first and second place winners attending the ceremony in the past

Victoria Montano told Yahoo Lifestyle that she was under 'no misconceptions' over whether production would prioritise themselves for a seat at the ceremony

MasterChef Australia judges Sofia Levin and Poh Ling will be at the Logies, with Poh up for the most coveted award of the night, The Gold Logie.

However, 2024 runner-up Josh Perry revealed that he didn't receive an invite, despite first and second place winners attending the ceremony in the past.

It is not yet known if Farmer Wants A Wife host Natalie Gruzlewski and Australian Survivor host Jonathan LaPaglia will be at the ceremony, but it's highly unlikely considering Natalie's 10 year red carpet hiatus and Jonathan's recent axing by Channel 10.

As for Australian Idol, this year's winner 19-year-old Marshall Hamburger will be in attendance, as will host Ricki-Lee Coulter, who is up for the Most Popular Presenter award, but it is not known if other contestants received an invitation.

The Logie nominations were officially announced in June at the Sydney Opera House, seeing a slew of Aussie favourites up for big awards in television.

As for fans watching at home, voting is now open and will remain so until 7pm on Friday, August 1.

The ceremony will be available to watch on Seven and 7Plus.
Pete Davidson and BFF Machine Gun Kelly have begun planning 'playdates' after it was revealed the SNL alum is expecting his first child.

The comedian, 31, was first romantically linked to English model Elsie Hewitt in March - and last week the couple announced that baby number one is on the way amid their whirlwind romance.

Kelly is already dad to daughter Casie, 16, whom he shares with ex Emma Cannon as well as three-month-old Saga Blade - whom he welcomed with Megan Fox back in March.

Earlier this week on Wednesday, the Bad Things rapper shared a carousel of Instagram images - and one notably showed him FaceTiming with Davidson.

The longtime pals - who developed a close bond after first crossing paths in 2017 - held big smiles on their faces in the snap.

And when Davidson's girlfriend announced the pregnancy bombshell, Kelly jumped to the comment section of her post and wrote, 'these playdates bout to hittttt.'

Pete Davidson, 31, and BFF Machine Gun Kelly, 35, have begun planning 'playdates' after it was revealed the SNL alum is expecting his first child; seen in 2024 in Inglewood

Earlier this week on Wednesday, the Bad Things rapper shared a carousel of Instagram images - and one notably showed him FaceTiming with Davidson

Kelly and Davidson met in 2017 while on the set of MTV's Wild 'N Out and the stars soon developed a close friendship.

Two years later, the pair reunited once again to film The Dirt - a musical comedy film that was released in 2019.

During an interview with Billboard, Kelly opened up about how both he and the comedian hung out when filming ended.

'And we were both just, like, super stoners...[We] listened to the same music So that's my boy,' the music artist said.

In 2018 after Davidson had posted a worrying tweet, Kelly revealed that he was on his way to check in on the star.

At the time, he shared on X (formerly Twitter): 'I'm in the plane now on the way to see Pete. Gonna make sure he's good, i promise. can't have my boy in the darkness like that.'

While stopping by The Howard Stern Show in 2020, Kelly talked about how he initially 'bonded' with Davidson.

'He was the only other person that smoked weed. So we were bonded over that,' the rapper recalled.

The comedian was first romantically linked to English model Elsie Hewitt in March - and last week the couple announced that baby number one is on the way amid their whirlwind romance

And when Davidson's girlfriend announced the pregnancy bombshell, Kelly jumped to the comment section of her post and wrote, 'these playdates bout to hittttt'

'And we were both just, like, super stoners...[We] listened to the same music So that's my boy,' the music artist said; seen in 2020 in NYC

Kelly continued, 'I don't have any siblings, you know, so when you see someone like Pete, like that's like my little brother. He's my best friend too.'

'It's kind of like you have the opportunity to live that dynamic of having a sibling because I was the only child so obviously to me, that's the dream, having a brother or sister or something, so Pete's like that for me.'

In 2021, Davidson impersonated Kelly during an episode of SNL - which prompted the music artist to offer his opinion on the sketch.

Over on his Instagram stories, the rapper humorously wrote: 'Pete you know d**n well I don't talk like that.'

Throughout the years, the two stars have attended events and also appeared on the red carpet together.

Last year, Kelly and Davidson were seen enjoying a boys' day out in Los Angeles.

The rapper is dad to teenager Casie - who officially turned 16 on Thursday - and the pair made a rare red carpet appearance together at the 2025 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards last month in June.

He has also credited Casie for helping him to get sober, which he discussed on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast last year.

Kelly continued, 'I don't have any siblings, you know, so when you see someone like Pete, like that's like my little brother. He's my best friend too'; seen in 2019 in NYC

He has also credited Casie for helping him to get sober, which he discussed on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast last year; seen with his eldest daughter in June in Santa Monica

Kelly recalled, 'It started with my daughter saying, "Dad, you know I can tell when you're high?" It broke my heart. It was the ultimate let down.'

He added that his daughter had only been 11 or 12 at the time before talking about the hardships of quitting drugs.

'It took me a while afterward, because obviously drugs have a vice grip on you. That was step one for me. As a father and as a man, to be the father I wish my dad would have been, I have to break this generational curse for my kid.'

And on March 27, Kelly welcomed his second child - and first - with Fox, despite the pair splitting in December 2024.

While briefly walking the red carpet at the 2025 AMAs in May, the rapper briefly opened up about the newborn.

'I'm just so elated. It's just awesome,' he gushed to Access Online, before adding that he 'was just meant to be a dad.'

While Kelly and Fox ended their relationship late last year, the pair were seen reuniting this week during a trip to Costa Rica with their baby girl, per TMZ.

Davidson has also worked on his sobriety, which he opened up about on Tuesday's episode of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.

The actor has reportedly been sober for nearly one year, and has also paid around $200k in tattoo removal amid his journey.

'I'm just so elated. It's just awesome,' he gushed to Access Online, before adding that he 'was just meant to be a dad'

Davidson has also worked on his sobriety, which he opened up about on Tuesday's episode of The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon (seen above)

At one point, the talk show host asked Davidson if there was a difference when it came to performing since becoming sober and the comedian simply replied with, 'Oh, yeah.'

The father-to-be continued, 'That's what I was nervous about because I was like maybe I'm not very good, or maybe I was so high, I thought I was good.'

However, Davidson expressed that he is now, 'weirdly sharper and more aware, so it's more fun.'

Fallon then said, 'Enjoying it more,' which prompted the Bodies Bodies Bodies star to reply with, 'Yeah, when people laugh, you feel it as opposed to just sitting so high, sitting there.'

Last week, both he and Hewitt announced that they are expecting their first child together with an array of sweet Instagram photos - with one showing the comedian gently placing his hands on her stomach.

And while it has been claimed that the pregnancy was something the couple 'weren't planning' - the SNL alum and English model are beyond 'excited' to become parents.

A source opened up to Us Weekly about their baby news and stated, 'Pete and Elsie definitely weren't planning on starting a family but are over the moon about it.

'They are so excited. Pete and Elsie have a really playful relationship, and things are going really well.'

Despite dating for a 'short amount of time,' the pregnancy 'has brought them even closer. It's a healthy relationship for Pete.'

The actor also finally broke his silence over the pregnancy news while talking to E! News on Tuesday.

Despite dating for a 'short amount of time,' the pregnancy 'has brought them even closer. It's a healthy relationship for Pete'

'I'm very lucky and very, very happy,' Davidson expressed to the outlet, and added that he could not wait, 'to take care of something and show it the childhood I didn't have.'

He continued, 'I assume you just try to give them what you didn't have, and what you didn't like, not do it.'

Since the big announcement, the star has already received a lot of advice from pals - including fellow actor Adam Sandler.
Justin Hemmes was every inch the doting dad as he arrived back in Sydney from an overseas holiday with his newborn son and girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel.

The billionaire Merivale owner, 52, touched down at Sydney Airport on Tuesday after a family getaway with Madeline, 28, and their newborn son Jaeger.

The Australian restaurant mogul was instantly recognisable as he stepped out of his private jet with his long hair slicked back into a bun.

He kept comfy for the flight in a white oversized hoodie and matching tracksuit pants.

Justin looked like the proud dad as he carefully carried his one-month-old baby while making his way down the stairs of the jet.

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Justin Hemmes (pictured) was every inch the doting dad as he arrived back in Sydney from an overseas holiday with his newborn son and girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel

The billionaire Merivale owner, 52, touched down at Sydney Airport on Tuesday after a family getaway with Madeline, 28, and their newborn son Jaeger

The Australian restaurant mogul was instantly recognisable as he stepped out of his private jet with his long hair slicked back into a bun

Just like his dad, Jaeger boasts a full head of hair in the pictures and was dressed in a neutral babysuit.

Meanwhile, Madeline also opted for comfort as she exited the jet in a matching pink tracksuit set.

The model wore a fluffy sweater over a matching pair of pants.

She attempted to go incognito, wearing oversized sunglasses as she followed her beau and newborn son.

The new mum slicked her blonde locks into a ponytail as she excitedly approached an awaiting car with a giant smile on her face.

Madeline announced the birth of her son on Instagram on June 15 alongside a gallery of sweet photos.

'Jaeger Justin Hemmes 1.06.25,' she captioned the post, which has received over 3,000 likes since being posted.

This is the model's first child with the billionaire Merivale owner.

Madeline also opted for comfort as she exited the jet in a matching pink tracksuit set

Justin looked like the proud dad as he carefully carried his one-month-old baby while making his way down the stairs of the jet

Madeline attempted to go incognito, wearing oversized sunglasses as she exited the plane

He kept comfy for the flight in a white oversized hoodie and matching tracksuit pants

The new mum slicked her blonde locks into a ponytail as she excitedly approached an awaiting car with a giant smile on her face

He shares two daughters - Alexa, nine, and Saachi, seven - with his ex-partner Kate Fowler.

The sweet photo dump included an array of snaps showing the couple's newborn baby wrapped up in a blanket.

One picture showed the new mum proudly holding her first child as she donned a matching pink pyjama set.

She was positively glowing as she beamed at the camera while her precious newborn wore a smile on his face.

Another picture showed Justin and Madeline looking windswept and content as they enjoyed a beach walk with their little one.

One adorable snap showed Justin leaning down to kiss baby Jaeger, who was tucked into his jumper to keep warm during the windy outing.

Madeline announced the sex of their baby in an interview with Stellar magazine, and said she was thrilled because she wanted a 'new journey' with Justin.

'I always thought I was going to have a boy. I knew I was going to be a boy mum,' she said.

Madeline announced the birth of her son on Instagram on June 15 alongside a gallery of sweet photos

'Jaeger Justin Hemmes 1.06.25,' she captioned the post

'Justin has two beautiful little girls, so having a boy, it's like a whole new journey together.

'[The baby] is going to be his little best mate.'

The businessman, who has a net worth of $1.39billion, began dating Madeline in 2019 when she was 22 and he was 47, after his split from Fowler in 2018.

Justin and Madeline have gone from strength-to-strength since going public and even sparked engagement rumours in June 2023.
Magda Szubanski is feeling the love from her famous pals and longtime fans as she battles cancer.

The Australian comedian announced in May that she's battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma - a rare and fast-moving blood cancer.

And now, Magda has taken to Instagram to reveal the sweet gift she received in the wake of her diagnosis from non-profit organisation Equality.

'A huge thank you to @equalityaustralia for gathering these touching messages of love and well-wishing from LGBTQIA people across the country,' she captioned the post, which showed a book titled 'Messages to Magda'.

'I am very, very moved,' the 64-year-old added.

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Magda Szubanski is feeling the love from her famous pals as she battles cancer

The Australian comedian announced in May that she's battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma - a rare and fast-moving blood cancer

Magda took to Instagram on Saturday to share a sweet gift she received in the wake of her diagnosis from non-profit organisation Equality

Her famous friends flooded the comments section of the Instagram post with support and love.

'So much love to you x,' celebrity chef Nigella Lawson wrote.

Terri Irwin also penned: 'You are loved.'

Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan simply shared three purple hearts in response to the post.

Two months ago, Magda revealed that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the age of 64.

She appeared on camera with a shaved head to reveal the shock news after beginning her treatment to fight cancer.

'Hello my lovelies. So, the head is shaved in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks because I have just been diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma,' she began.

'It is one of the nasty ones, unfortunately. But the good thing is I'm surrounded by beautiful friends and family and an incredible medical support team.

Two months ago, Magda Szubanski revealed that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the age of 64

'Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne, so I feel very fortunate.

'It's pretty confronting. It is full on. But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time.'

Magda said she has started a treatment called the Nordic protocol, which treats Mantle Cell Lymphoma by shrinking the tumours with a combination of drugs administered in five phases.

It's known as the Nordic regimen based upon its clinical trial sites in Denmark and Norway.

The actress explained she will be 'lying very low' due to her weak immune system.

'I won't sugar-coat it: it's rough. But I'm hopeful. I'm being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I've never felt more held by the people around me,' she said.

'Please keep a distance though because I will be very immunocompromised. So I can't hug no more.

'Don't hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly.'

The Kath & Kim star said the cancer was discovered during a routine breast screening.
Mayci Neeley of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is officially a mother of three.

The star, 30, announced the arrival of her baby daughter with a sweet Instagram post on Saturday.

This marks Mayci's second child with husband Jacob Neeley. The couple are also parents to four-year-old daughter Harlow.

Mayci also has a nine-year-old son named Hudson, whose father is her late boyfriend Arik Mack.

Announcing the birth of her newest edition, Mayci shared sweet snaps of her and Jacob with their baby girl in the hospital.

'Our girl is here and our hearts are so full,' she captioned the post.

Mayci Neeley of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is officially a mother of three

This marks Mayci's second child with husband Jacob Neeley. The couple are also parents to four-year-old daughter Harlow

The star has not yet revealed her daughter's name.

She also displayed her bare bump prior to giving birth as she promised more details about her bundle of joy in the future.

'I can't wait to share more details of baby girl's birth. It was so positive & magical,' she posted to her Instagram Stories.

Mayci rose to fame as a member of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, a showing following MomTok, a group of glamorous Mormon influencers who were plunged into a sex scandal when Taylor Frankie Paul, one of it's members, outed herself as a swinger.

It recently debuted it's second season.

Last year, The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives was ranked the number one unscripted show on Hulu, becoming the streamer's biggest premiere since The Kardashians.

Sparks flew between the members of the principal cast, which was made up of Taylor, Jen Affleck, Demi Engemann, Whitney Leavitt, Mikayla Matthews, Mayci, Jessi Ngatikaura, Layla Taylor.

The show caused a stir both online and in the LDS church thanks to the outrageous antics of the cast.

She also displayed her bare bump prior to giving birth as she promised more details about her bundle of joy in the future

Some of the wild scenes on the show have included a sex act involving breakfast cereal, a swinging scandal, a drunken arrest, and a trip to a male strip revue in Vegas.

One cast member also revealed the results of her labiaplasty on camera, while another confessed to getting pregnant to her now-husband when she was just 16 and he was 21.

The series is produced by the team behind Netflix's My Unorthodox Life, which followed designer Julia Haart after leaving her strict orthodox Jewish community behind to become a hotshot in the fashion world.
Lenny Henry has revealed he used humour as his 'shield' against racist bullies during his childhood, because it encouraged others to 'protect him.'

The comedian, 66, opened up about his past growing up in Dudley in a new interview, where he detailed the challenges of being in the 'maelstrom' of divided Britain in the mid 1960s.

Speaking to The Sunday Times' Culture Magazine, Lenny shared that much of his defence from racism came from his late mother Winifred.

He said that Winifird herself had 'horrible things' shouted at her in the street after she migrated to the UK from Jamaica as part of the Windrush Generation.

At the time, black children living in Dudley were advised to go out in pairs due to the fear of racist abuse they endured.

Tensions were heightened when Conservative Enoch Powell delivered his much-criticised Rivers Of Blood speech about immigration in Birmingham, for which he was accused of stirring up racial hatred.

Lenny Henry, 66, has revealed he used humour as his 'shield' against racist bullies during his childhood (pictured with his mother Winifred in 1975)

The comedian opened up about his past growing up in Dudley in a new interview, where he detailed the challenges of being in the 'maelstrom' of divided Britain in the mid 1960s

But Lenny said he realised he could use his humour as a defence against the abuse, telling the publication: 'We were in the midst of this maelstrom, but you don't know that when you're kids. You just gravitate to people who like you, or want to snog you.'

'My humour became my sword and shield. I could deflect something with a joke. I was being beaten up by one kid when I started to talk about the ridiculousness of us rolling around on the floor like we were married. People started to laugh and suddenly people thought I was worth something.

'I was still punched, but I'd have people protecting me. I had three white friends by the time I was 12: Greg, Mac and Tom. I still know them today and they saved my life, really. They encouraged me to be funny.'

In the interview, Lenny also reflected on his relationship with his late mother, who died in 1998, sharing he still goes to 'grief therapy' in the wake of her passing.

Detailing his own mental health struggles, the Broadchurch star said he feels people have gotten better at admitting they 'need help' over the past decade, something he's encouraged after losing several friends to suicide.

Earlier this year, Lenny who is currently starring in the play Every Brilliant Thing at London's Soho Place, hinted he may be making a return to stand-up comedy after a 15-year hiatus to focus on acting.

Speaking about his return, Lenny told The Mirror: 'It's been a while, but there are plans in motion.'

He hinted that his new material could include a mix of classic and fresh content and teased that some of his iconic characters from The Lenny Henry Show, such as Theophilus P. Wildebeeste and Delbert Wilkins, might make a reappearance alongside modern creations.

Lenny, who rose to fame on the comedy show New Faces (pictured), said much of his defence against racism came from his mother, who had 'horrible things' shouted at her in the street

He explained: 'It might just be me talking to the audience, but I love weaving in the characters. It's the 21st century, though, so I want to try something new.'

The comedian also addressed concerns about navigating today's comedy landscape, saying: 'People can say anything they like, as long as they edit themselves. If you can't self-edit, that's when you're in trouble.'

Sir Lenny first made his mark on shows like Tiswas and as a warm-up act for comedy greats Morecambe and Wise.

More recently, he's earned acclaim for his acting, including a role in Harlan Coban's Netflix hit Missing You earlier this year.

With his comeback on the horizon, Lenny said he's inspired by changes in society and politics, describing the current climate as 'a massive smorgasbord of subject matter.'
Filming for Married At First Sight 2026 is well and truly underway.

Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal the identity of the first groom set to shake up the experiment.

Daniel Hewitt will star on the upcoming thirteenth season, which is currently being filmed across Sydney.

The Melbourne-based real estate agent, who friends say is 'fun, confident, and the life of the party', has quietly stepped away from the property game to say 'I do' to a total stranger - and producers are said to be thrilled with their casting decision.

Hewitt has made a name for himself in the competitive Melbourne market, racking up $9.6 million in sales over the past 12 months, including a jaw-dropping $2.8 million deal for a seven-bedroom home in Chadstone that went under the hammer in June.

According to property records, Daniel sold 12 homes in the past year - a mix of houses and apartments - with an impressive average sale price of $1.1 million and a turnaround time of just 48 days on the market.

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Daily Mail Australia can exclusively reveal Melbourne-based real estate agent Daniel Hewitt (pictured) is one of the first grooms to be matched for the upcoming thirteenth season

The suave agent, who friends say is 'fun, confident, and the life of the party', has quietly stepped away from the property game to say 'I do' to a total stranger - and producers are said to be thrilled with their casting decision

But it's not just his property portfolio making headlines.

Insiders say Daniel, who was born in England and bears a striking resemblance to UFC star Conor McGregor, is no stranger to the finer things in life.

'He's got this real swagger about him,' one friend said. 'He's confident, sharp, and always up for a good time. Definitely not the shy type.'

'He rolls with a pretty glam Melbourne crowd too - lots of influencers, creatives, that sort of scene.'

Daniel's presence on the show has already made waves, with his flashy style, cheeky charm and smooth-talker energy catching the attention of his bride - and the camera crew.

'Let's just say he knows how to work a room,' a production insider dished. 'He's not afraid of the spotlight, and that's exactly what we want.'

His casting comes just days after brides were spotted filming their lavish TV weddings across Sydney, including blonde bombshell Rebecca Zukowski, who turned heads at Centennial Park and has already been dubbed the show's new 'wild card'.

Daniel's wedding is understood to have been filmed earlier this week, with honeymoons already underway.

Hewitt has made a name for himself in the competitive Melbourne market, racking up $9.6 million in sales over the past 12 months, including a jaw-dropping $2.8 million deal for a seven-bedroom home in Chadstone that went under the hammer in June

According to property records, Daniel sold 12 homes in the past year - a mix of houses and apartments - with an impressive average sale price of $1.1 million and a turnaround time of just 48 days on the market

Daily Mail Australia previously revealed the 2026 season almost didn't make it to air after last-minute cast dropouts forced producers to scramble behind the scenes.

'They had multiple people pull out and had to move quickly to fill those spots,' one well-placed source revealed.

But the end result? A bold, diverse cast of professionals, creatives, and big personalities - with producers tipping this to be one of the 'most explosive seasons yet.'

'Some couples are hitting it off immediately, others are absolute mismatches - the drama is already building,' one insider said.

'Daniel's definitely one to watch. He's got that mix of confidence, cheek, and unpredictability - and it's going to make for great TV.'

Daily Mail Australia previously revealed the 2026 season almost didn't make it to air after last-minute cast dropouts forced producers to scramble behind the scenes. Pictured: Rebecca Zukowski filming her wedding for the new season this month
This photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows a recreated historical scene at the New Fourth Army's Fifth Division Memorial in Dawu County, Xiaogan City of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

WUHAN, July 27 (Xinhua) -- As China prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of its victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression on Sept. 3, a remote town in central China's Hubei Province is quietly staging a powerful act of remembrance.

In Dawu County, once a key anti-Japanese base tucked away in the mountains, final preparations are underway for an exhibition honoring the New Fourth Army's Fifth Division -- a Communist Party of China-led force that was based there during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945). The artifacts to feature in the exhibition, more than a dozen in total, were donated by descendants of wartime soldiers.

Among them is a pair of rare black-and-white photographs taken in Dawu in early 1940 by American journalist Agnes Smedley.

Smedley arrived in China in late 1928 and spent over a decade living and reporting in the country, documenting both the brutality of Japanese aggression and the resilience of the Chinese resistance.

In January 1940, she traveled deep into the Dawu Mountain region, then a stronghold of the New Fourth Army's Henan-Hubei Detachment -- which was a guerrilla force operating just 100 km from Japanese-occupied Wuhan and the predecessor of the Fifth Division.

Eighty-five years later, the children of late veteran Wu Daoying traveled from Beijing to Dawu, bringing Smedley's photographs featuring their mother to the very place where she once fought. They donated the images to the county archive.

According to Wu's son, Song Shenguang, the film Smedley shot had not been developed at the time due to wartime conditions. It wasn't until the 1980s that his mother saw the photographs for the first time.

Song told Xinhua that his mother had cherished the story behind one particular group portrait until she died in 2023.

The photo captures the smiling faces of children and soldiers. The children were part of a troupe that accompanied the army -- too young to fight in battle but essential in boosting morale with songs and messages. One of them was Wu, not yet 12 at that time.

But what stands out most is a boy at the center of the image, his head bowed. His name was Sheng Guohua. Once a street beggar, Sheng had pleaded to join the army and was assigned as Smedley's orderly during her visit.

Based on Wu's recount, after watching a performance by the troupe, Smedley had asked the children to pose for a photo and invited Sheng to join.

Sheng was shy, Song recalled his mother saying. "He might feel nervous about being in the picture and lowered his head just as the shutter clicked."

Despite barely appearing in a photo, Sheng left a lasting impression on Smedley. Smedley's 1943 book "Battle Hymn of China," which documents her firsthand experiences during the early years of China's resistance war, includes an article titled "My Chinese Son," which highlights her brief yet touching bond with Sheng during the three-month visit to the base.

In the book, Smedley described Sheng, then 10 or 11 years old, as possessing "that curious wisdom of China's children." She wrote: "'When I grow up, I want to join the cavalry and fight the Japanese,' Kuo-hwa said to me more than once." When she prepared to leave Dawu, she offered to adopt him and take him abroad to be educated. However, Sheng declined. "All men must remain at the front," he said. "You can adopt me after the final victory."

That day never came for Sheng as he was later killed in battle -- one of many young lives lost in the rugged terrain in central China, where over 13,000 soldiers of the Fifth Division were either killed or wounded during the battles.

"Every time my mother looked at that photo, she cried," said Song. "Not just for Sheng, but for all the friends who never made it home."

Sheng's story, preserved through Smedley's writing and passed down by Wu, will soon reach a wider audience via the upcoming exhibition at the New Fourth Army's Fifth Division Memorial, located near the former headquarters of the division in Dawu.

The memorial and the historical site have emerged as a prominent center for patriotic education over the past years, drawing more than 300,000 visitors annually through its immersive revolutionary-themed study programs.

"These quiet, personal memories, like Sheng's bowed head, add depth to the grand narrative of resistance," said Fu Bo, who oversees Dawu's revolutionary heritage sites. "They help today's youth understand that victory was not just about battles, but about choices, courage and sacrifice."

Now 70, Song is a member of the Beijing Society for the New Fourth Army. Raised on stories from his mother's generation and inspired by works like Smedley's, he is committed to transforming his family legacy into a shared public memory -- one that highlights how the Chinese people, along with others around the world who stood for peace and justice, came together to win the war of national liberation.

"Some memories shouldn't be kept in a photo album," he said. "They belong to all people and not just as reminders of the past, but as truths that still shape who we are." 

This scanned copy of a file photo taken by American journalist Agnes Smedley in February of 1940 shows Sheng Guohua (front row, looking down) posing for a group photo with some members of a children's troupe that accompanied the New Fourth Army's Henan-Hubei Detachment (the predecessor of the Fifth Division) at its base in central China's Hubei Province. (New Fourth Army's Fifth Division Memorial/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows a view of the former headquarters of the New Fourth Army's Fifth Division in Baiguoshuwan Village, Dawu County, Xiaogan City of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

This photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows the New Fourth Army's Fifth Division Memorial in Dawu County, Xiaogan City of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)

This photo taken on July 21, 2025 shows a man visiting the former headquarters of the New Fourth Army's Fifth Division in Baiguoshuwan Village, Dawu County, Xiaogan City of central China's Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Zhu Weixi)
Stella McCartney was spotted on a rare outing with her lookalike daughter Bailey as they enjoyed a shopping trip together in Notting Hill on Saturday.

The designer, 53, opted for a more laid-back look than the glamorous pieces she creates as she headed out for a spot of retail therapy.

Bailey, who celebrated her 18th birthday in December, emulated her mum's relaxed sense of style in a blue striped top and grey wide-legged trousers.

Meanwhile Stella was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and baggy jeans, as she and her daughter shared a sweet moment during the outing.

Stella shares four children with British publisher Alasdhair Willis, who she married in 2003, sons Miller, 20, and Beckett, 17, and daughters Bailey and Reiley, 14.

Despite her busy schedule, Stella had previously shared that she makes a point of dropping her children to school five days a week.

Stella McCartney, 53, was spotted on a rare outing with her lookalike daughter Bailey, 18, as they enjoyed a shopping trip together in Notting Hill on Saturday

The designer opted for a more laid-back look than the glamorous pieces she creates as she headed out for a spot of retail therapy

In a 2019 interview with Vogue the designer, who divides her time between London and North Gloucestershire, said that as a working mother, she has to make the most of whatever time she can get in the day with her children.

Opening up about the daily school run, she said: 'When you've got a job and you've got kids, it's when you get to see them, and you have to wake up super early and engage in that moment.

'Then I try and squeeze in some exercise, and then I go to work. And I try and get back for the bookending of being a mum.'

Stella was fiercely guarded about her family's privacy throughout their childhood, and never shares photos of her children on social media.

In a 2016 interview with Porter, Stella said she tried to give her heads a more level-headed upbringing than she had, as the daughter of Beatles legend Paul McCartney.

She said: 'I lived on a farm, but I went on tour and I knew crazy famous people, like crazy. And for my children, it's not dissimilar, they go to the farm and they're in the field getting muddy and falling over, and then they come here and they're surrounded by crazy famous people.

'I worry about that. But I think I turned out okay-ish, and I hope that they will be okay.'

She added that her kids also have 'a great relationship' with their grandfather, saying: 'I love seeing them with Grandpa, or Grandude as they call him. They're real proud of him and they get excited by [his music].'

Bailey, who celebrated her 18th birthday in December, emulated her mum's relaxed sense of style in a blue striped top and grey wide-legged trousers

Paul himself had also said he has a 'pretty normal' relationship with his grandchildren, despite his huge fame.

Speaking on Chris Evan's Virgin Radio Breakfast show, he said: 'You know, I love them and I love being a granddad. And we spend quite a good bit of time together.

'We don't live near each other, but we go on holiday together, like Christmas. And in the summer we'll see each other. And then sometimes me and Nancy pick them up from school. So that's nice.'

Stella tied the knot with publisher Alasdhair back in August 2003 with a Mount Stuart House ceremony.

She is one of Paul's five children, with the former Beatles star also sharing daughters Heather, Mary and son James, with his late wife Linda McCartney. While sharing youngest daughter Beatrice with Heather Mills.

Launched in 2001, Stella's brand has attracted many high-profile fans such as Beyonce, Amal Clooney and Taylor Swift.

It sells products such as vegan leather shoulder bags for 925 and a leopard print trench coat for 1,790.

McCartney has also designed Team GBs kit for the Olympic Games since 2012.

But her company has not reaped a profit since it made 9m in 2017, and in March, the label said it would need further cash in 2028 amid a drastic global slowdown in demand for luxury fashion.
Helen Flanagan displayed her painful-looking black eyes as she filled up her 66,000 Audi with petrol on Friday.

The Coronation Street star, 34, who was recently given back her driving licence after a six-month ban, cut a casual figure as she headed out for the day.

Helen was accompanied by her son Charlie, and wore casual red gingham shorts and a black T-shirt for the outing.

The star had previously posted snaps of her nasty black eyes on social media, sharing that they were the result of 400 skin injections.

The former Coronation Street actress confirmed she had undergone the procedure on social media, before the black eye was more noticeable.

Helen explained that the treatment, called Polynucleotides, aims to rejuvenate the skin and face with no added volume.

Helen Flanagan displayed her painful-looking black eyes as she filled up her 66,000 Audi with petrol on Friday

The Coronation Street star, who was recently given back her driving licence after a six-month ban, cut a casual figure as she headed out for the day

The treatments use purified and sterilised DNA molecules extracted from salmon or trout sperm, known as polynucleotides, which have anti-inflammatory effects.

When polynucleotides are injected into human skin, fibroblasts are activated.

Fibroblasts are stretchy molecules found in skin that help to maintain the structural framework of the tissue, and they typically decrease with age.

Helen reminded fans that she turns 35 in August, and thanked her regular practitioner: 'I only go to @drnataliehowarth for my face as I trust her a million percent.'

Just days earlier, Helen sent temperatures soaring in sexy lace sheer lingerie as she posed for a sizzling Instagram video.

The mother-of-three showed off her jaw-dropping figure in a daring lace pink bra which she teamed with a matching thong and suspenders.

Helen looked sensational as she showed off her boob job while modelling the racy lingerie, from her summer edit with Nikki Intimates, sitting on her bed.

The TV personality later slipped into a coordinated sheer lace bodysuit which she paired with stockings and suspenders.

The star had previously posted snaps of her nasty black eyes on social media, sharing that they were the result of 400 skin injections

Helen explained that the treatment, called Polynucleotides, aims to rejuvenate the skin and face with no added volume

It comes after Helen declared that she's 'back to normal herself' and 'living in the Starbucks drive-thru' after the return of her driving licence following a six month ban

Back in January, the ex Corrie actress told the court her ex boyfriend Robbie Talbot was driving her 66,000 Audi Q7 when it was caught speeding twice

The soap star wrote: 'Forever a lover girl. Shop my summer edit with @nikkiintimates for the prettiest pieces.'

The photo shoot comes after Helen declared that she's 'back to normal herself' and 'living in the Starbucks drive-thru' after the return of her driving licence following a six month ban.

Back in January, the ex Corrie actress told the court her ex boyfriend Robbie Talbot was driving her 66,000 Audi Q7 when it was caught speeding twice.

She was subsequently barred from the roads for six months, despite claiming she was struggling financially and would not be able to afford taxis to get her children to school.

After being snapped back behind the wheel of her pricey motor last week, a delighted Helen took to her Instagram Stories to update her followers.

She gushed: 'I am so happy that I have got my driving licence back, I was nervous at first for like the first ten minutes I was like 'It's so weird to be driving again' but now I just absolutely love it'.

'Back to my normal. I feel like I am back to myself now i'm back to the Trafford Centre and back living at the Starbucks drive-thru and I just feel like myself'.

In a chaotic social media post last month, Helen complained what a 'pain in the a***' it had been without a car and had been unable to run errands or go shopping for essentials due to living so remotely.

Taking to her Instagram Stories she explained her ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) had caused her to mix up paperwork to reapply for her licence, meaning the process would now be delayed further.

'I literally can't tell you what a pain in the a*** not having [my driving licence] because I live in the middle of nowhere, and of course I haven't been driving'.

'It's just been so b****y annoying, for example we are out of loo roll now and I can't pop out to the shops to get loo roll so my friend has to bring me loo roll'.

In court Helen said her isolated moorland home meant it was a 10-minute drive even to go to the shops to buy bread and milk, and that she would 'really struggle without a car' in the remote location.

The actress, who lives near Bolton, Greater Manchester, said she earned 70,000 last year  but said her income varies and that she could not afford a 10 taxi to take her son to nursery.

Prosecutor Stephen Kirk told how Helen, who already had six penalty points for speeding, failed to declare who had been driving the car when it was caught speeding at locations on Merseyside in June last year, doing 42mph in a 30mph limit and 51mph in a 40mph limit.

Magistrates gave her six more points for each offence - taking her total to 18 points, well above the 12-point threshold when magistrates normally impose a ban unless there is 'exceptional hardship'.

Making her doomed plea to keep her licence, Helen said at the time: 'I am so sorry. I stupidly thought it was acceptable for my boyfriend to explain he was the one driving and it wasn't me.'

The mother-of-three showed off her jaw-dropping figure in a daring lace pink bra which she teamed with a matching thong and suspenders

Helen told the court how she is a 'full-time' mother to children Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and Charlie, three, using the car to take them to nursery, school and activities.

She said: 'My job really is being a mum at home. Their dad works away. It's really difficult at the moment now for me to be earning money. I earn money on social media but it kind of varies what I earn.'

She added: 'I think there might be a perception maybe that I would easily be able to afford a driver but that's quite far from the case.

'I've got enough money in my account to pay off my tax and my VAT and basically that's about it.'

Asked by solicitor, Patrick Boyers, how she takes her son Charlie to his nursery without a car, she said: 'The other way to get Charlie to nursery is by Uber (taxi). That would be really expensive. I'm really struggling at the moment, financially.'

Asked by the clerk how much it cost, she said: 'I did get an Uber from my house to the nursery this morning. It cost 10 that time.'

She also claimed her son 'doesn't do so well in a taxi' and that he's 'much better strapped into a car where he's safe'.
From reality TV heartbreak to a French fairytale ending, Hannah Brown finally got her happily ever after.

After navigating a whirlwind journey of public romances, including her broken engagement to Jed Wyatt on The Bachelorette, the Alabama native, 30, has officially traded in her final rose for a wedding ring.

On Saturday, July 26, Brown, said 'I do' to Adam Woolard, 38, during a romantic ceremony on the French Riviera after four years of dating.

The reality star married her real-life leading man at the Domaine du Mont Leuze in the South of France, surrounded by 101 guests and sweeping views of the coast.

'We wanted something really timeless and classic, and really just the celebration of our love with our friends and family,' she told People.

Longtime fans of the popular TV personality know her road to love wasn't exactly smooth.

From reality TV heartbreak to a French fairytale ending, Hannah Brown finally got her happily ever after

Brown first captured hearts in 2019 as a contestant on The Bachelor, then became the lead on The Bachelorette, where she famously accepted  and quickly called off  an engagement to Wyatt.

After that, she had a brief post-show spark with runner-up Tyler Cameron and a short-lived reunion with Peter Weber while his Bachelor season was airing.

But it wasn't until she left the behind looking for love on TV and joined a dating app that she met Woolard, and found a very real connection.

Their wedding weekend kicked off with a beachside welcome party at Le Negresco Beach Club in Nice, where guests arrived dressed to the nines in 'beach chic' attire and were treated to a four-course meal by the sea.

Despite her busy schedule, Brown was all in on making the wedding personal, romantic, and full of intention.

She praised Woolard for being a hands-on groom and wedding planner Neillie Butler for bringing the vision to life.

'We want our community to feel loved and appreciated and we want to pour into them, but we also have to make sure the day's about us and we feel connected,' Brown explained.

That emotional connection was front and center when the couple shared a private first look the morning of the wedding.

During the ceremony, guests were serenaded by a string quartet performing The Beatles' Here Comes the Sun, and the bridal party, including Brown's Bachelor bestie Heather Martin, walked down the aisle in colorful Show Me Your Mumu dresses.

On Saturday, July 26, Brown, said 'I do' to Adam Woolard, 38, after four years of dating during a romantic ceremony on the French Riviera

After navigating a whirlwind journey of public romances, including her broken engagement to Jed Wyatt on The Bachelorette, the Alabama native, 30, has officially traded in her final rose for a wedding ring

Brown made a grand entrance in a custom Mira Zwillinger 'Cheyan' ballgown  complete with embroidered leaf detailing, Jimmy Choo pumps, and a cathedral-length veil.

'I feel like it is so classic, timeless, but also feels a little unique. I love it,' she gushed. 'I always knew I wanted to take up space on my wedding day I feel like a princess, and I feel like that's exactly how you should feel on your wedding day.'

Woolard, emotional as he watched her walk down the aisle, said he'd pictured the moment for years.

'Seeing Hannah walk down... is something that I've always had a very clear picture of and how I would feel in that moment,' he said.

The ceremony, officiated by their Nashville pastor, included traditional vows, plus personal handwritten ones.

Cocktail hour featured live piano music and signature cocktails like the Pretty Lavender and French 75, followed by a multi-course French feast.

The reality star married her real-life leading man at the Domaine du Mont Leuze in the South of France, surrounded by 101 guests and sweeping views of the coast

'We wanted something really timeless and classic, and really just the celebration of our love with our friends and family,' she told People

Brown and Woolard are looking forward to settling into married life in Nashville and honeymooning in Croatia

'One thing my mom was really adamant about is that I had a traditional wedding cake,' Brown said.

Later, Brown changed into a second look, the 'Bayne' dress from Mark Ingram Bride's Spring 2025 Collection, for the reception.

The couple shared a 'lightly choreographed' first dance to Ray LaMontagne's You Are the Best Thing, a song Brown sent Woolard early in their relationship.

'It reminds me of when we really had started to be boyfriend and girlfriend,' she said. 'And I think now more than ever, all the lyrics are really true.'

After dancing the night away, the newlyweds made a stylish exit in a vintage 1984 Mercedes-Benz Gazelle, with Brown donning a flirty Zimmermann departure dress.

Brown rose to fame after appearing on Colton Underwood's season of The Bachelor in 2019, before getting chosen to lead season 15 of The Bachelorette; seen in 2019

After marking their latest relationship milestone, Brown and Woolard are looking forward to settling into married life in Nashville and honeymooning in Croatia.

'We're really focusing on making this house a home together,' Brown said. 'Spending time with our families and just having a little bit of a slower pace for just a little bit.'

Earlier this year, Brown admitted she's not in a rush to have children.

'Well, get there when we get there,' she said in May on Maria Menounos Heal Squad podcast. 'I go back and forth.'

She continued: 'I definitely think I would like to have a child. I dont want to miss out on that experience, but I havent been quite ready yet. Which I think makes sense. I want to get married first. I want to be able to do that. Ive never been somebody thats just waiting waiting waiting for that to happen.'
Kelsey Parker has taken a much-needed family holiday one month after tragically losing her third child.

Tom Parker's widow sadly suffered heartbreak in June after her unborn baby - Kelsey's first with boyfriend Will Lindsay - was 'born sleeping.'

The last month has been incredibly tough for the family-of-four after the devastating news, with Kelsey sharing that they have taken some needed time out.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, she shared a family photo as she, Will and her two children with Tom - Aurelia, six, and Bodhi, four - looked out to sea in a hot location.

Kelsey didn't confirm where they were, but she shouted out budget-friendly airline Jet2 for making the process so easy.

The doting mum simply wrote: 'Exactly what we needed. Thank you @jet2 for making it so easy. X'

Tom Parker's widow Kelsey has taken a much-needed family holiday just one month after tragically losing her third child

The last month has been incredibly tough for the family-of-four after the devastating news, with Kelsey sharing that they have taken some needed time out

In the comments section, she was showered with love by other stars, including Brooke Vincent and Gogglebox's Lisa Baggs.

Last month, Kelsey took to Instagram to share her heartbreaking news.

She confirmed the loss of her unborn third child, a son she had planned to name Phoenix, one week before his planned due date.

Breaking the news in a poem, she wrote: 'The world grew quiet as you arrived, So loved, so longed for, yet not alive. Our precious boy, our angel light, Born with wings, took silent flight'.

'We named you Phoenix, brave and bright. A soul of love, of warmth and light Though we never heard you cry, You'll live in hearts that won't ask why.

'No breath you drew, no eyes to see, Still, you mean everything to me. You'll journey with us, softly near, in every sigh, in every tear.

Taking to her Instagram stories: she added: 'Before I receive an influx of lovely messages and heartfelt wishes, I wanted to just say that I truly appreciate everything you are all going to say and share.

'But with the news being so raw, I would really like to ensure that we as a family are given space and time to process this devastating and earth-shattering news.

She confirmed the loss of her unborn third child, a son she had planned to name Phoenix, one week before his planned due date

'I love you all and thank you for your understanding and space. Love always, Kelsey, Will, and the Parker Family'.

Kelsey was left devastated after husband Tom lost his battle with brain cancer, but found love again last year, meeting Kent tree surgeon Will on a night out and announced their romance in September.

The podcaster later admitted to being targeted by online trolls for moving on with her new partner.

Speaking on ITV's Lorraine, in their first joint interview together in March, she explained: 'It's been three years, this is Tom's three year anniversary of his death and it's almost like people want me to feel guilty for moving on.'

She added: 'I'm always going to have guilt but what's so hard is that Tom's not here anymore so what do people want me to do?',

'Our house was full of so much sadness but now it's full of happiness, the kids deserve that more than anything.

'They've been through so much, I feel like we are taking the steps forward to heal but I just want other women to feel like it's OK to move on, it's not taking anything away from the love I had for Tom.'

If you have been affected by anything in this article, please contact The Lullaby Trust on 0808 8026868.
Kim Kardashian is feeling the weight of two heartbreaking true crime cases, and she's using her platform to shine a spotlight on both.

On Sunday morning, the SKIMS mogul, 44, shared her raw reaction after watching One Night in Idaho, Amazon Prime's gripping documentary about the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students.

'I'm watching One Night In Idaho, I thought I knew the story from the news but really had no idea,' Kardashian wrote on her Instagram Story alongside a photo of her TV screen. 'It's really emotional and you can feel every friend and parents pain.'

She continued: 'So many details I just didn't know. Ugh it's just unimaginable.'

The timing of Kardashian's post comes just days after Bryan Kohberger  the man convicted of killing Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin  was sentenced to four life sentences plus 10 years.

The brutal stabbings rocked the small college town of Moscow, Idaho in November 2022 and captured national attention for months.

Kim Kardashian is feeling the weight of two heartbreaking true crime cases, and she's using her platform to shine a spotlight on both

Though Kardashian didn't speak directly about the verdict, her emotional response to the documentary echoed the pain still felt by the victims' families and public.

Just an hour later, the mother-of-four posted about another case, this time, a haunting missing persons mystery, covered in Netflix's Amy Bradley is Missing.

'This doc is mind blowing. Must see,' she wrote. ' We must find Amy! This is so crazy.'

The documentary, Amy Bradley Is Missing, recently hit Netflix and revisits the baffling 1998 disappearance of the 23-year-old American woman who vanished from a cruise ship off the coast of Curacao.

Despite alleged sightings over the years and multiple theories, Amy has never been found.

With over 356 million followers on Instagram, Kardashian has previously used her platform to advocate for wrongly convicted prisoners and to highlight flaws in the justice system.

In May, she completed her law school program after a six year journey.

Kardashian didn't attend traditional law school. In California, individuals can become lawyers by completing a four-year Law Office Study Program (LOSP), also known as 'reading the law,' instead of going to law school.

On Sunday morning, the SKIMS mogul shared her raw reaction after watching One Night in Idaho , Amazon Prime's gripping documentary about the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students

'I thought I knew the story from the news but really had no idea. It's really emotional and you can feel every friend and parents pain,' Kardashian wrote on her Instagram Story

Just an hour later, the mother-of-four posted about another case, this time, a haunting missing persons mystery, covered in Netflix's Amy Bradley is Missing

She still needs to pass the Bar Exam to practice law in the state.

Over the past six years, Kim has dedicated roughly 18 hours a week to studying law, totaling more than 5,000 hours.

Her efforts paid off when she passed the 'baby bar' back in 2021.

Kim's process took longer than four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and her busy schedule.

Over the past six years, Kim has dedicated roughly 18 hours a week to studying law, totaling more than 5,000 hours

She's also been consistently advocating for inmates (seen with former VP Kamala Harris at the White House in April 2024) to champion criminal justice

Kim had already passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination back in March  a big exam for her program  sources told TMZ.

She is following in the footsteps of her late father, legendary attorney Robert Kardashian.

He gained national recognition in the mid-1990s for his involvement in O.J. Simpson's murder trial, where he served as a friend and defense attorney on Simpson's legal 'Dream Team.'

He passed away in 2003 from esophageal cancer. He was 59 years old.

The reality TV star reportedly plans to take the bar exam in 2026.
A bankruptcy battle in a Pennsylvania city is intensifying as residents and retirees clash over the future of the 150-year-old water system.

Chester  Pennsylvania's oldest city dating from 1682  filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2022, and has struggled since to find a way back to solvency.

At the center of the fight is Chester's water system, which serves 200,000 homes.

Retired city workers, many of them firefighters and police officers, want the water utility to be sold to the highest bidder to cover the city's pension debts.

This would likely be a private company.

But state officials are warning that privatization would drive up the cost of bills for the city's roughly 34,000 residents, almost a third of whom are living below the federal poverty line.

Residents 'are already among the highest taxed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and we are very concerned about their ability to absorb more increases,' Vijay Kapoor, Chester's receiver, told The Wall Street Journal.

The retirees, however, are owed more than $350 million in retirement funds - and are demanding action.

Chester, which was the earliest settlement in Pennsylvania, filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2022, and has struggled since to find a way back to solvency

A committee representing around 250 of the retirees recently sued Kapoor and his predecessor Michael Doweary, who had been tasked with saving the bankrupt city's finances.

It argued that Chester would be leaving hundreds of millions of dollars on the table by excluding 'deep-pocket nongovernmental entities from making stand-alone bids,' The Journal reported.

The state-appointed receiver wants to sell the Chester Water Authority to another public entity.

The retirees are questioning why avoiding potential rate hikes outweighs both their financial hardship and the loss of valuable funds for the revival of the city.

'To be clear, the retiree committee is not advocating any buyer right now,' retired firefighter Joseph Morse, who served for 32 years, said during a recent Chester City Council meeting.

'We are advocating for a more open and rational sale process, one that ensures that all potential bids from both public and private entities are received and considered.'

The city  which is just outside Philadelphia  sits in Delaware County, which has been staunchly Democrat since the 1990s.

But before that the area, as well as neighboring counties surrounding Philadelphia, was ancestrally Republican.

Chester Mayor Stefan Roots at the site of a 2024 demolition of abandoned buildings in the city

Chester was the earliest settlement in Pennsylvania (Pictured: A schoolhouse at the Brandywine Battlefield historical site)

Vijay Kapoor, Chester's receiver, is warning privatization would drive up the cost of bills for the city's roughly 34,000 residents

The Chester Water Authority, which is also embroiled in an ongoing ownership dispute, has already turned down various offers for private takeovers.

The city claims ownership of the utility, but it says it has been governed by a nine-member board since 2012.

In 2021, the city council approved a $410 million takeover bid from private company Aqua Pennsylvania.

However this was blocked by the state-appointed receiver before placing Chester in bankruptcy, the Journal reported.

The ownership dispute is now pending before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Chester Mayor Stefan Roots said he supports keeping the utility under public ownership. This will 'virtually guarantee that the rates will not be used to satisfy stockholders or high executive salaries,' he told the outlet.

Since 2016, more than 20 public water systems in Pennsylvania have been sold to private companies following a new law which opened them up to privatization.

Kapoor told the Journal that the city values the services provided by retired workers, but their 'rich' retirement packages are 'simply unaffordable.'

'Our goal is to make sure we have sustainable, vital and necessary services to residents.

'This is a community that has struggled for years, and we have an opportunity to do right by them.'

When Detroit faced bankruptcy in 2013, the city considered privatizing its water system, but decided against it.

Instead, the Michigan city leased suburban operations to a regional authority to curb rate increases for residents.
Las Cuatro Milpas in San Diego, California, will be closing for good after 92 years of business.

The Mexican restaurant famous for its handmade tortillas is shuttering following a string of financial struggles.

Loyal customers were heartbroken to hear the news about the Barrio Logan neighborhood eatery.

'It's been a part of our family, a weekly or monthly ritual. My grandkids in Tucson are very sad that this place is going to close,' a customer told FOX 5 San Diego.

Andy Meza, another longtime fan, revealed Las Cuatro Milpas is the kind of restaurant that 'takes you back to when you were growing up.'

The Estudillo family is currently facing over $190,000 in combined tax debt and has put the property on the market for nearly $2 million.

Despite the financial struggles, their realtor Voltaire Lepe explained the family is mainly selling the business in order to retire.

'They've been working here all their lives. Just like any business owner, everyone owes money to different government agencies,' he said.

Las Cuatro Milpas is famous for its handmade tortillas and loyal customers

Las Cuatro Milpas in San Diego, California, is preparing to close for good

Social media users have shared stories on Instagram of their memories of the restaurant that served generations of their families.

'I've been a regular for over 50 years. I was 18 years old when I was first introduced to the marvelous place,' a customer wrote.

'I will be there on their last day and order everything on the menu for one last taste.'

'This has been my Breakfast Spot for the last 20 years it's a sad day to know they will be closing but hopefully one or a few of the younger generation brings it back and gives the City another 100 years,' another person wrote.

A few others admitted they would cry on the last day of operations, and suggested the owners set up a GoFundMe to pay off their debt.

The family has not revealed if money from the property sale would go toward their unpaid taxes, but they will be accepting offers until August 6.

The listing only features the two residential units of the property, but the Estudillos are open to allow a buyer to relaunch Las Cuatro Milpas.

'If the right offer came along where they want to buy the piece of real estate along with the business, the family will consider it,' Lepe revealed.

The business opened its doors 92 years ago

The Estudillo family has owned and run the restaurant since its opening

Realtor Voltaire Lepe explained the primary reason behind the closure is because of the family's retirement

Las Cuatro Milpas is not the only Mexican restaurant to throw in the towel this year.

Oscar's Taco House in San Antonio, Texas, shuttered in June to make way for a new bridge after 63 years of serving Mexican cuisine.

Former owner Alex Pruneda claimed the city had actually wanted them to shut down in May. However, Pruneda extended operations after telling them in a letter that it was 'too soon.'

The small Z'Tejas restaurant chain closed its final location after 36 years earlier this month, blaming it on the end of its lease and 'the challenges of today's market.'

It came a couple of years after the chain closed multiple locations, including its 33-year-old flagship restaurant in Austin.

Mexican restaurant empires also shuttered restaurants this year, including Taco Bell, which made headlines for closing its oldest restaurant in April.

On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina also frightened customers by filing for bankruptcy in March and closing 76 restaurants.
US banks are shutting more than ten branches every week as they leave even more communities without vital services.

Institutions including Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America shut down a total of 105 brick-and-mortar locations between May 16 and July 16.

Wells Fargo closed 31 branches, more than any other institution in the period. Regulators recently lifted its $1.95 trillion asset cap.

The banks did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

Bank of America followed with 15 closures, while Community Bank cut 12.

Chase closed 8, and a further 39 were closed by a range of banks including PNC, Santander and UMB Bank. Scroll down to see the full list with addresses.

New York was the worst hit state, losing 11 community branches around the state in the two month period.

Texas and Pennsylvania followed closely both seeing 10 closures, followed by California which saw nine and Florida, eight.

Wells Fargo closed 31 branches, more than any other institution

Banks are required to alert the OCC before shutting down a branch and the federal agency then publishes the filings in a weekly report.

While the listings indicate intent to close, they are not final confirmations.

In 2024, banks closed a total of 1,043 branches nationwide and the trend has only accelerated in 2025 with 272 closures logged in the first quarter alone.

In April institutions closed a further 42 branches, and by mid-May another 36 had been wiped out.

New research also recently revealed that the last physical branch could close in 2041.

Experts from Self Financial reached the number by studying the rate of net closures across the country, which has averaged 1,646 each year since 2018.

'Retail bank closures in the US aren't slowing,' Darren Kingman from Root Digital told DailyMail.com.

'The last time this many people shared a local branch was in 1995' he explained.

Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf is overseeing the bank's mass closure of locations

Kingman warned that while the US edges toward a cashless future, over 200 million Americans still deposit cash  meaning longer lines and worse service as access shrinks.

Despite the digital shift, a new GoBankingRates survey also found 45 percent of Americans still prefer in-person banking.

'The shift towards online banking is growing more intense in 2025,' GoBankingRates lead data content researcher Andrew Murray told DailyMail.com.

'Despite the trend towards online banking, our survey data shows more than half of Americans are concerned about the rising number of physical branches that have shut down in the past few years,' Murray explained.

'Meanwhile, a whopping 76 percent says that the current banking system needs small or major changes.'

Further to this more than half of respondents said they were concerned about the rising number of physical bank branch closures over the last few years.
Veteran politician and president of National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, has said if the Constitution of the country has to be respected, statehood for Jammu and Kashmir should be restored and that the recent Pahalgam terror attack could have been prevented had the local government been in charge of the security.

"It's not a question of being hopeful," Abdullah said in reply to a query about the growing demand for the restoration of statehood in the Union Territory.

"If the Constitution of India is to be respected, states are never converted into UTs. A UT is converted into a state. The tragedy is that they converted a state into a UT. And what did they achieve?" he told PTI here recently.

Abdullah recalled that "promises" were made when Article 370 was abrogated six years ago on August 5, 2019, that "terrorism would disappear".

"Has militancy disappeared? Or has it increased?" he said, adding, "The Centre should answer this in the parliament".

Abdullah said that the people were "expecting" that statehood for Jammu and Kashmir would be announced soon. "Already, all the opposition parties are fighting for us also in the Parliament...You have seen recently, (Congress President Mallikarjun) Kharge and Rahul Gandhi's letter to the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) asking that the statehood must be restored."

Abdullah recalled that the central government has made promises "to us in Parliament and also committed themselves in the Supreme Court".

The veteran politician, who has been the chief minister of the erstwhile state three times and also a Union Minister, questioned the Centre's motive behind "downgrading" the state.

"And what did they achieve? When they did this, they said that the militancy would die because 370 is responsible for militancy. For the last six years, they have been ruling for all 5 years before the election came.

"And even today, they are in control of the security and all the rest. Has militancy disappeared? Or has it increased?" he asked.

Reflecting on the current situation, Abdullah lamented the lack of control the elected government has over security and administrative matters and went on to say that the recent Pahalgam terror attack could have been prevented had a local government been in charge of the security.

Referring to admission by the Lieutenant Governor admitting security failure for Pahalgam, Abdullah said, "I am glad the Lt Governor has accepted his failure. He should have had the courage to resign."

Abdullah pointed out the glaring silence from Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha as four seats remain vacant, terming it a "tragedy".

"Why was Jammu and Kashmir denied election to the Rajya Sabha?" he said. "Not only that, two seats are vacant in the Assembly. What is the Election Commission doing?"

The National Conference chief dismissed talk of internal discord in the party.

"This party is a democratic party. It is not like the BJP, which has become an autocratic party. Here people have the right to speak what they want," he said while answering a question about the difference of opinion between the party and Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi.

On Pakistan's role, Abdullah's stance was firm. "Pakistan is not going to give up. Therefore, what is the way forward? War is never a solution to any problem," he said.

He advocated for a peaceful solution that would be "honourable for India, honourable for Pakistan, and honourable for the people of Jammu and Kashmir".

To a question about separatist leader Bilal Lone announcing joining the mainstream, he said, "I am very glad, very happy that they have realised that J-K is a part of India", and expressed the hope that the leader could now contribute to the welfare of the people after "years spent in the wilderness".
Worsley Investors (LON:WINV  Get Free Report) insider William Scott purchased 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 22nd. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 25 ($0.34) per share, with a total value of 12,500 ($16,798.82).

Worsley Investors Price Performance

Shares of LON WINV opened at GBX 25.50 ($0.34) on Friday. Worsley Investors has a twelve month low of GBX 23 ($0.31) and a twelve month high of GBX 32 ($0.43). The stocks 50 day moving average price is GBX 24.58 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 25.97. The company has a market capitalization of 10.59 million, a PE ratio of 286.87 and a beta of 0.26.

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About Worsley Investors

(Get Free Report)

Worsley Investors Limited (the Company) is a limited liability, closed-ended, self-managed, Guernsey authorised investment company. Worsley Associates LLP was appointed on 31 May 2019 as Investment Advisor to the Company.

The Companys investment objective is to provide shareholders with an attractive level of absolute long-term return, principally through the capital appreciation and exit of undervalued securities.

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QINGDAO, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Junhai, assistant to the president of Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd., presented an old photograph from 1991 that captured the inaugural Qingdao International Beer Festival. This moment was shared at an industry meeting held during the ongoing international beer festival in Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province.

Back then, the festival only showcased around 40 to 50 domestic beer varieties alongside a handful of international brands, but it was enough to amaze both local residents and visitors.

Nowadays, the beer festival has grown into an internationally renowned celebration. The host city Qingdao is home to the Tsingtao Brewery, a time-honored beer brand in China.

Last year, over 6 million visitors from across the globe joined the festival, consuming nearly 2,800 tonnes of beer and generating approximately 7.3 billion yuan (about 1.02 billion U.S. dollars) in comprehensive revenue.

The 35th Qingdao International Beer Festival opened on July 18 near the beach in Qingdao's Xihai'an (West Coast) New Area and will last around one month. This year's event features over 2,300 domestic and international beer brands and, for the first time, introduced an "exclusive festival beer" to give visitors a truly unique tasting experience.

"In Bavaria, we consume more than 180 liters of beer per person annually, so we do have a say when it comes to beer," said Toni Lautenschlager, director of economic development bureau of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany.

"Tsingtao Beer is lighter and smoother than our local beer, and I find it quite tasty," Lautenschlager remarked after sampling the brew at this year's festival.

Warsteiner, a well-known German beer brand, has made its seventh consecutive appearance at the Qingdao International Beer Festival with its iconic beer tent. This year, the brand has rolled out some exciting new options, including alcohol-free beer and a refreshing beach lager, catering to the diverse tastes of its international guests.

Chen Feng, who is in charge of the Warsteiner beer tent, revealed that over 1,200 liters of beer were sold on the opening night alone, demonstrating visitors' strong enthusiasm for authentic German brews.

Qingdao has developed beer culture into a bridge that connects international friendships.

"Qingdao is a dynamic and ever-evolving city. Both its urban development and beer culture have impressed me greatly," said Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, mayor of Regensburg, who made her first visit to the city in 2019.

In the same year, a cooperative mechanism for international beer festivals was set up in Qingdao. Initiated by the Qingdao beerfest, the mechanism is set to boost exchanges among popular beer festival organizers including Munich's Oktoberfest, Great American Beer Festival, and Toronto's Festival of Beer.

The mechanism aims to enhance cooperation within the beer industry and related tourism, while also creating a platform for international players to explore overseas business opportunities.

On July 19, representatives from beer festivals in Belgium, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Hungary, and other countries and regions participated in the International Beer Festivals Alliance Cooperative Mechanism 2025 Qingdao Meeting.

"Since each city and region that joins the alliance has a unique beer festival culture with its own charm, we need to protect our distinct traditions and carry them forward," said Christian Scharpf, director of the department of labor and economic development of Munich, Germany, and chief coordinator of the Munich's Oktoberfest. 
Cranswick plc (LON:CWK  Get Free Report) insider Jim Brisby sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 5,400 ($72.57), for a total value of 216,000 ($290,283.56).

Jim Brisby also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Tuesday, July 8th, Jim Brisby sold 12,346 shares of Cranswick stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 5,218 ($70.12), for a total value of 644,214.28 ($865,763.04).

Cranswick Trading Down 0.7%

LON:CWK opened at GBX 5,320 ($71.50) on Friday. Cranswick plc has a fifty-two week low of GBX 4,440 ($59.67) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 5,590 ($75.12). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.98, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The stock has a market capitalization of 2.87 billion, a PE ratio of 25.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.44. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is GBX 5,287.56 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 5,080.69.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Cranswick ( LON:CWK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 20th. The company reported GBX 273.40 ($3.67) earnings per share for the quarter. Cranswick had a return on equity of 12.64% and a net margin of 4.35%. Sell-side analysts expect that Cranswick plc will post 258.5590189 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Shore Capital restated a house stock rating on shares of Cranswick in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Berenberg Bank restated a hold rating and set a GBX 5,370 ($72.17) target price on shares of Cranswick in a report on Monday, March 31st.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CWK

Cranswick Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Cranswick is a leading and innovative British supplier of premium, fresh and added value food products, with revenues in excess of 2.0 billion. We produce and supply premium food to UK grocery retailers, the food service sector and other global food producers.

Our core market is the United Kingdom where we provide a range of high quality, predominantly fresh food including Fresh Pork, Poultry, Convenience and Gourmet Products and more recently have further expanded our portfolio by adding high quality pet food.

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Mediolanum International Funds Ltd grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 20.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 151,497 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 25,728 shares during the period. Eli Lilly and Company makes up 1.7% of Mediolanum International Funds Ltds investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Mediolanum International Funds Ltds holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $124,608,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. WestEnd Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 210.0% during the 1st quarter. WestEnd Advisors LLC now owns 31 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department lifted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 180.0% during the first quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 42 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares during the period. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Finally, O Brien Wealth Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 25.5% in the 1st quarter. O Brien Wealth Partners LLC now owns 59 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock.

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Eli Lilly and Company Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of LLY opened at $811.73 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $771.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $800.41. The firm has a market capitalization of $769.31 billion, a PE ratio of 66.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 0.40. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12-month low of $677.09 and a 12-month high of $972.53. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18.

Eli Lilly and Company Announces Dividend

Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last announced 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). The firm had revenue of $12.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.77 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 85.51% and a net margin of 22.67%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 45.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.58 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a $1.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.74%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 48.82%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on LLY shares. Guggenheim boosted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $936.00 to $942.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, June 5th. 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. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their price target for the company from $892.00 to $888.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $1,012.56.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis 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.

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Applied Finance Capital Management LLC bought a new position in MSCI Inc (NYSE:MSCI  Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 1,075 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $608,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in MSCI by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,897,456 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,136,563,000 after purchasing an additional 35,094 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of MSCI by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,626,923 shares of the technology companys stock worth $920,026,000 after buying an additional 13,918 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of MSCI during the 4th quarter worth about $609,937,000. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of MSCI by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 853,452 shares of the technology companys stock worth $512,079,000 after buying an additional 25,325 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its stake in shares of MSCI by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 784,490 shares of the technology companys stock worth $470,702,000 after buying an additional 48,524 shares during the last quarter. 89.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Cd Baer Pettit sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $552.59, for a total transaction of $2,762,950.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 289,787 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $160,133,398.33. This trade represents a 1.70% 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 this hyperlink. 3.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on MSCI shares. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of MSCI from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $650.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of MSCI from $675.00 to $650.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 4th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of MSCI in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. They issued a neutral rating and a $585.00 target price for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of MSCI from $650.00 to $680.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Finally, UBS Group raised their target price on shares of MSCI from $655.00 to $700.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $654.73.

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MSCI Stock Up 0.6%

MSCI stock opened at $546.49 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $42.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.32. MSCI Inc has a twelve month low of $486.73 and a twelve month high of $642.45. The companys 50-day moving average price is $564.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $566.14.

MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The technology company reported $4.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.12 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $772.68 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $763.06 million. MSCI had a net margin of 39.46% and a negative return on equity of 143.13%. The businesss revenue was up 9.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $3.64 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that MSCI Inc will post 16.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MSCI Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a $1.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $7.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.32%. MSCIs dividend payout ratio is currently 47.68%.

MSCI Company Profile

(Free Report)

MSCI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides critical decision support tools and solutions for the investment community to manage investment processes worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial product, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct.

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Anson Capital Inc. cut its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO  Free Report) by 48.4% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,586 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 4,305 shares during the quarter. Anson Capital Inc.s holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $208,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of VWO. Northern Trust Corp lifted its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 64.6% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 41,809,891 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,841,308,000 after purchasing an additional 16,414,518 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 107,088,490 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $4,716,177,000 after buying an additional 6,672,276 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 767.3% during the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,234,019 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $101,112,000 after buying an additional 1,976,432 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 20.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 11,202,192 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $507,011,000 after buying an additional 1,930,209 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 25.0% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 8,237,775 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $362,867,000 after buying an additional 1,648,372 shares during the last quarter. 67.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA VWO opened at $50.84 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $48.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $46.28. The company has a market capitalization of $94.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.08 and a beta of 0.69. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 1 year low of $39.53 and a 1 year high of $51.25.

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Company Profile

The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries.

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Atlantic Family Wealth LLC grew its position in National Grid Transco, PLC (NYSE:NGG  Free Report) by 27.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,051 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,095 shares during the period. National Grid Transco comprises about 0.3% of Atlantic Family Wealth LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Atlantic Family Wealth LLCs holdings in National Grid Transco were worth $331,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of National Grid Transco by 4.0% in the first quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,649 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $239,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of National Grid Transco by 13.9% in the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,227 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $81,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC increased its holdings in National Grid Transco by 3.6% during the first quarter. Sage Rhino Capital LLC now owns 4,524 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $297,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Gradient Investments LLC increased its holdings in National Grid Transco by 2.0% during the first quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 8,156 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $535,000 after buying an additional 163 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barry Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in National Grid Transco by 1.9% during the first quarter. Barry Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,246 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $607,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.68% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane assumed coverage on shares of National Grid Transco in a report on Thursday, May 29th. They set an outperform rating and a $80.40 price objective for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada downgraded shares of National Grid Transco from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of National Grid Transco from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, May 29th. Citigroup restated a neutral rating on shares of National Grid Transco in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, UBS Group downgraded shares of National Grid Transco from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $80.40.

National Grid Transco Price Performance

NGG opened at $72.11 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $70.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.87, a PEG ratio of 1.63 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $72.16 and a 200-day moving average price of $67.19. National Grid Transco, PLC has a twelve month low of $55.82 and a twelve month high of $74.82.

National Grid Transco Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $2.0345 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 4.7%. National Grid Transcos payout ratio is 78.27%.

About National Grid Transco

(Free Report)

National Grid plc transmits and distributes electricity and gas. It operates through UK Electricity Transmission, UK Electricity Distribution, UK Electricity System Operator, New England, New York, National Grid Ventures, and Other segments. The UK Electricity Transmission segment provides electricity transmission and construction work services in England and Wales.

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Bellwether Advisors LLC trimmed its position in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV  Free Report) by 84.3% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 916 shares of the airlines stock after selling 4,902 shares during the period. Bellwether Advisors LLCs holdings in Southwest Airlines were worth $31,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of LUV. Korea Investment CORP boosted its position in Southwest Airlines by 4,277.8% in the 4th quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 39,400 shares of the airlines stock valued at $1,325,000 after buying an additional 38,500 shares during the last quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its position in Southwest Airlines by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 662,243 shares of the airlines stock valued at $22,258,000 after buying an additional 65,403 shares during the last quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd boosted its position in Southwest Airlines by 24.8% in the 4th quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 64,283 shares of the airlines stock valued at $2,161,000 after buying an additional 12,760 shares during the last quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Southwest Airlines by 31.7% in the 4th quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 36,225 shares of the airlines stock valued at $1,218,000 after buying an additional 8,712 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Southwest Airlines in the 4th quarter valued at $57,724,000. 80.82% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In related news, Director David P. Hess acquired 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 28th. The stock was bought at an average price of $26.52 per share, for a total transaction of $198,900.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 23,156 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $614,097.12. The trade was a 47.90% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Gregg A. Saretsky bought 3,670 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 30th. The shares were bought at an average price of $27.29 per share, for a total transaction of $100,154.30. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 14,881 shares of the companys stock, valued at $406,102.49. This represents a 32.74% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 0.79% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on LUV. Citigroup cut their price target on Southwest Airlines from $30.00 to $23.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Barclays increased their price target on Southwest Airlines from $26.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group increased their price target on Southwest Airlines from $27.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Wall Street Zen downgraded Southwest Airlines from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday. Finally, Susquehanna cut their price target on Southwest Airlines from $34.00 to $25.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 7th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $32.75.

Read Our Latest Research Report on LUV

Southwest Airlines Stock Performance

LUV opened at $33.21 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $33.52 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.33. Southwest Airlines Co. has a 1 year low of $23.58 and a 1 year high of $37.96. The company has a market capitalization of $18.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.31, a P/E/G ratio of 5.08 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.72.

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The airline reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.51 by ($0.08). Southwest Airlines had a net margin of 1.43% and a return on equity of 6.27%. The firm had revenue of $7.24 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.30 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.58 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 1.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Southwest Airlines announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, July 23rd that authorizes the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the airline to buy up to 9.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 18th were paid a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 18th. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio is 109.09%.

About Southwest Airlines

(Free Report)

Southwest Airlines Co operates as a passenger airline company that provides scheduled air transportation services in the United States and near-international markets. As of December 31, 2023, the company operated a total fleet of 817 Boeing 737 aircraft; and served 121 destinations in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as ten near-international countries, including Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Aruba, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

Further Reading

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Brookwood Investment Group LLC bought a new stake in Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 13,573 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $82,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in MPW. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $91,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 4th quarter valued at about $2,114,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 475,277 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,877,000 after purchasing an additional 4,058 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 39,252 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $155,000 after purchasing an additional 2,438 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 4th quarter valued at about $487,000. 71.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $5.00 to $4.50 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, June 30th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Medical Properties Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, July 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Medical Properties Trust has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $5.67.

Medical Properties Trust Stock Up 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:MPW opened at $4.32 on Friday. Medical Properties Trust, Inc. has a 52 week low of $3.51 and a 52 week high of $6.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.99, a quick ratio of 3.23 and a current ratio of 3.23. The company has a market capitalization of $2.59 billion, a PE ratio of -1.56 and a beta of 1.29. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $4.42 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.92.

Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.15 by ($0.01). Medical Properties Trust had a negative return on equity of 31.14% and a negative net margin of 174.35%. The business had revenue of $223.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $233.80 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.24 earnings per share. Medical Properties Trusts revenue for the quarter was down 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Medical Properties Trust, Inc. will post 0.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Medical Properties Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 17th. Investors of record on Wednesday, June 18th were issued a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 18th. Medical Properties Trusts payout ratio is -11.55%.

About Medical Properties Trust

(Free Report)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 441 facilities and approximately 44,000 licensed beds as of September 30, 2023.

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Capital City Trust Co. FL cut its holdings in shares of Newmont Corporation (NYSE:NEM  Free Report) by 21.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 1,400 shares during the period. Capital City Trust Co. FLs holdings in Newmont were worth $241,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. boosted its position in Newmont by 64.0% during the 1st quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 515 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 201 shares in the last quarter. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Newmont during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in shares of Newmont by 122.6% during the 1st quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 630 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 347 shares during the last quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC bought a new stake in Newmont during the first quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Alpine Bank Wealth Management purchased a new position in Newmont in the first quarter valued at about $32,000. 68.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Newmont from $52.00 to $66.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $60.90 price objective on shares of Newmont in a research note on Tuesday, July 8th. CIBC set a $74.00 target price on shares of Newmont and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Argus set a $63.00 price target on shares of Newmont in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Scotiabank reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of Newmont in a research report on Monday, April 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Newmont currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $62.49.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Bruce R. Brook sold 2,077 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.75, for a total transaction of $122,023.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 43,103 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,532,301.25. This trade represents a 4.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Peter Toth sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.09, for a total transaction of $162,270.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 77,526 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,193,381.34. This represents a 3.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 12,231 shares of company stock valued at $679,813 over the last three months. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Newmont Stock Performance

Shares of NEM stock opened at $65.75 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $57.05 and a 200 day moving average of $50.54. Newmont Corporation has a 1 year low of $36.86 and a 1 year high of $66.57. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $73.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 0.33.

Newmont (NYSE:NEM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The basic materials company reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.48. Newmont had a return on equity of 18.13% and a net margin of 30.50%. The business had revenue of $5.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.70 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.72 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 20.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Newmont Corporation will post 3.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Newmont Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 29th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 4th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 4th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.52%. Newmonts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.42%.

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.

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Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (NYSEARCA:GSY  Free Report) by 9.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 917,107 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 78,173 shares during the quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers holdings in Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF were worth $45,965,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in GSY. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,380,886 shares of the companys stock valued at $69,196,000 after purchasing an additional 53,708 shares in the last quarter. World Investment Advisors increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 38.6% during the 4th quarter. World Investment Advisors now owns 28,178 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,412,000 after purchasing an additional 7,845 shares in the last quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 13.5% during the 4th quarter. Arete Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 15,645 shares of the companys stock valued at $784,000 after purchasing an additional 1,861 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 12.4% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 2,698,881 shares of the companys stock valued at $135,241,000 after purchasing an additional 297,335 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in shares of Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF by 3,930.5% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,086 shares of the companys stock valued at $305,000 after purchasing an additional 5,935 shares in the last quarter.

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Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA GSY opened at $50.11 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $50.14 and a 200 day moving average of $50.14. Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF has a one year low of $49.97 and a one year high of $50.37.

About Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF

The Invesco Ultra Short Duration ETF (GSY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund seeks to outperform the Barclays Capital 1-3 Month U.S. Treasury Bill Index by investing in a diverse portfolio of investment-grade securities. GSY was launched on Feb 12, 2008 and is managed by Invesco.

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Cornerstone Advisory LLC grew its holdings in shares of Brookfield Corporation (NYSE:BN  Free Report) by 47.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 21,905 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 7,075 shares during the period. Cornerstone Advisory LLCs holdings in Brookfield were worth $1,194,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Brookfield by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,282 shares of the companys stock valued at $120,000 after buying an additional 325 shares in the last quarter. Inscription Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Brookfield during the 1st quarter valued at $285,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Brookfield by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 43,333 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,267,000 after buying an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Brookfield by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 592 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 296 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Brookfield by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,466,685 shares of the companys stock worth $129,279,000 after purchasing an additional 23,590 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.60% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on BN. Wall Street Zen lowered Brookfield from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, July 12th. CIBC lowered their price target on Brookfield from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an outperformer rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 9th. Royal Bank Of Canada began coverage on Brookfield in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. They issued an outperform rating and a $81.00 price target for the company. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating on shares of Brookfield in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, TD Securities lowered their price target on Brookfield from $77.00 to $74.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Brookfield currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $66.13.

Brookfield Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BN opened at $67.59 on Friday. Brookfield Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $42.21 and a fifty-two week high of $68.75. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $61.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $57.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a current ratio of 1.30. The firm has a market cap of $111.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 241.38 and a beta of 1.66.

Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.08. Brookfield had a return on equity of 4.20% and a net margin of 0.76%. The business had revenue of $1.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.36 billion. On average, analysts expect that Brookfield Corporation will post 3.85 earnings per share for the current year.

Brookfield Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were given a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.53%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. Brookfields dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.

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Lancang County in China's Yunnan Province has successfully launched its first drone route to assist delivery in mountainous areas. Delivery time will be cut from several hours to less than 30 minutes. #ChinaTech #DroneDelivery #drone
Dudley Capital Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 2.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,350 shares of the companys stock after selling 378 shares during the quarter. Dudley Capital Management LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $1,101,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of MO. Vista Investment Partners II LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 4.2% in the first quarter. Vista Investment Partners II LLC now owns 4,302 shares of the companys stock valued at $258,000 after buying an additional 174 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Alliance LLC now owns 9,452 shares of the companys stock valued at $567,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in Altria Group by 2.7% during the first quarter. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC now owns 6,762 shares of the companys stock worth $406,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 37.8% during the first quarter. St. Johns Investment Management Company LLC now owns 689 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 189 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Montag A & Associates Inc. lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 2.3% during the first quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 8,625 shares of the companys stock worth $526,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Altria Group Price Performance

Altria Group stock opened at $59.82 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $100.77 billion, a PE ratio of 10.02, a P/E/G ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 0.59. The stocks fifty day moving average is $59.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $57.10. Altria Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $47.57 and a 1-year high of $61.26.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The company reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $4.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.64 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 295.44% and a net margin of 43.09%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.15 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 16th were issued a dividend of $1.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.82%. Altria Groups payout ratio is currently 68.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued an underperform rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Needham & Company LLC raised Altria Group to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Citigroup lifted their target price on Altria Group from $52.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $60.00 target price on Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $56.75.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Altria Group

Altria Group Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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Empirical Finance LLC raised its stake in Carrier Global Corporation (NYSE:CARR  Free Report) by 2.0% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 29,059 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 583 shares during the quarter. Empirical Finance LLCs holdings in Carrier Global were worth $1,842,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Motco raised its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 22.2% in the 1st quarter. Motco now owns 975 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,000 after purchasing an additional 177 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Carrier Global by 13.9% in the first quarter. HB Wealth Management LLC now owns 36,438 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,310,000 after buying an additional 4,438 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Carrier Global by 5.4% in the first quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,612 shares of the companys stock valued at $292,000 after buying an additional 237 shares during the last quarter. Stevens Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Carrier Global during the 1st quarter worth approximately $243,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 20.3% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 397,501 shares of the companys stock worth $25,202,000 after acquiring an additional 66,964 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.00% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Carrier Global from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Melius Research upgraded shares of Carrier Global to a hold rating and set a $90.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Mizuho set a $72.00 price target on Carrier Global in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Citigroup restated a buy rating and set a $89.00 price objective (up from $82.00) on shares of Carrier Global in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Carrier Global from $65.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $84.65.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Maximilian Viessmann sold 4,267,425 shares of Carrier Global stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.30, for a total value of $299,999,977.50. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 54,341,534 shares in the company, valued at $3,820,209,840.20. The trade was a 7.28% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 7.20% of the companys stock.

Carrier Global Price Performance

CARR stock opened at $80.72 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $69.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.50, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.31. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $73.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $68.21. Carrier Global Corporation has a 12-month low of $54.22 and a 12-month high of $83.32.

Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.07. Carrier Global had a return on equity of 18.10% and a net margin of 25.45%. The firm had revenue of $5.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.17 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Carrier Global Corporation will post 2.99 earnings per share for the current year.

Carrier Global Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.225 per share. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 21st. Carrier Globals payout ratio is 13.93%.

About Carrier Global

(Free Report)

Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies in the United States, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security.

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Empirical Finance LLC lifted its holdings in Williams Companies, Inc. (The) (NYSE:WMB  Free Report) by 3.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 27,654 shares of the pipeline companys stock after buying an additional 811 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLCs holdings in Williams Companies were worth $1,653,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd grew its stake in Williams Companies by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 577,123 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $34,489,000 after acquiring an additional 6,816 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Williams Companies by 27.5% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 402,967 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $24,081,000 after purchasing an additional 87,031 shares in the last quarter. Kessler Investment Group LLC purchased a new position in Williams Companies during the first quarter valued at approximately $327,000. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Williams Companies by 14.0% in the 1st quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 85,839 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $5,130,000 after buying an additional 10,561 shares during the period. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC increased its stake in Williams Companies by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 183,317 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $9,224,000 after buying an additional 7,618 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.44% of the companys stock.

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Williams Companies Stock Performance

NYSE:WMB opened at $57.85 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.53 billion, a PE ratio of 30.93, a PEG ratio of 1.94 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 current ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $59.36 and its 200 day simple moving average is $58.21.

Williams Companies Dividend Announcement

Williams Companies ( NYSE:WMB Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The pipeline company reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.55 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $3.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.90 billion. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 15.95% and a net margin of 21.18%. The firms revenue was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.59 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Williams Companies, Inc. will post 2.08 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.46%. Williams Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.95%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Monday, July 7th. They set a buy rating and a $67.00 price target on the stock. Scotiabank boosted their target price on Williams Companies from $59.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Williams Companies from $64.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price target on shares of Williams Companies in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded Williams Companies from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Friday, June 13th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Williams Companies currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $61.77.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Williams Companies

In related news, SVP Terrance Lane Wilson sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on 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 owned 315,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,790,941.50. The trade was a 0.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.44% of the companys stock.

Williams Companies 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.

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HB Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR  Free Report) by 34.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 31,814 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 8,236 shares during the quarter. HB Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Progressive were worth $9,004,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of PGR. State of Alaska Department of Revenue increased its position in Progressive by 2.7% in the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 68,644 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $19,426,000 after acquiring an additional 1,800 shares in the last quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Progressive by 36.4% during the first quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 126,826 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $35,893,000 after purchasing an additional 33,864 shares during the last quarter. MEAG MUNICH ERGO Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH increased its holdings in shares of Progressive by 498.5% in the first quarter. MEAG MUNICH ERGO Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH now owns 5,057 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,431,000 after purchasing an additional 4,212 shares in the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Progressive in the 1st quarter worth approximately $3,141,000. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC raised its position in Progressive by 16.5% in the 1st quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 93,463 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $26,451,000 after purchasing an additional 13,231 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.34% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have commented on PGR shares. Barclays decreased their price objective on Progressive from $297.00 to $287.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 7th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Progressive from $327.00 to $319.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Progressive from $267.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Progressive from $328.00 to $333.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, June 20th. Finally, Evercore ISI downgraded shares of Progressive from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and set a $275.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, July 17th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Progressive currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $286.88.

Progressive Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of NYSE:PGR opened at $250.22 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $264.25 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $266.12. The company has a market capitalization of $146.69 billion, a PE ratio of 14.10, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.37. The Progressive Corporation has a 52 week low of $208.13 and a 52 week high of $292.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a current ratio of 0.34.

Progressive (NYSE:PGR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 16th. The insurance provider reported $4.88 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.43 by $0.45. The business had revenue of $20.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.39 billion. Progressive had a net margin of 12.66% and a return on equity of 35.37%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.48 EPS. Analysts forecast that The Progressive Corporation will post 14.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Progressive Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 4th were issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.15%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 3rd. Progressives dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 2.25%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider John Jo Murphy sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.38, for a total transaction of $1,041,520.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 41,289 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,750,829.82. This represents a 8.83% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Steven Broz sold 1,267 shares of Progressive stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $247.54, for a total transaction of $313,633.18. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 26,354 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,523,669.16. The trade was a 4.59% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 43,972 shares of company stock worth $11,764,581 in the last three months. 0.34% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Progressive Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, business related general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property.

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HB Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 26.8% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 27,445 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after acquiring an additional 5,796 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Becton, Dickinson and Company were worth $6,287,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Benedict Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 16,980 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $3,889,000 after purchasing an additional 833 shares during the last quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. grew its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 24.6% during the first quarter. Phoenix Financial Ltd. now owns 1,140 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $261,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the period. Equitable Trust Co. raised its position in Becton, Dickinson and Company by 6.5% in the first quarter. Equitable Trust Co. now owns 8,865 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $2,031,000 after acquiring an additional 543 shares during the period. Neo Ivy Capital Management purchased a new position in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 1st quarter worth $561,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company by 37.5% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 70,378 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $16,121,000 after acquiring an additional 19,198 shares during the last quarter. 86.97% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on BDX. Wall Street Zen lowered Becton, Dickinson and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Piper Sandler cut Becton, Dickinson and Company from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $260.00 to $185.00 in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Citigroup downgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $217.00 to $185.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $280.00 to $196.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, William Blair lowered shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Becton, Dickinson and Company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $219.22.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Stock Performance

NYSE BDX opened at $185.52 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $53.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $174.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $202.53. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a twelve month low of $163.33 and a twelve month high of $251.99.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $3.35 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.28 by $0.07. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a return on equity of 15.99% and a net margin of 7.28%. The company had revenue of $5.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.35 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.17 EPS. The firms revenue was up 4.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 14.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 8th will be given a dividend of $1.04 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 8th. This represents a $4.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.24%. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio is 79.39%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Becton, Dickinson and Company

In other Becton, Dickinson and Company news, EVP Michael David Garrison sold 1,185 shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company stock in a transaction on Friday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.29, for a total value of $213,643.65. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 4,887 shares in the company, valued at approximately $881,077.23. The trade was a 19.52% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP David Shan sold 1,166 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $171.19, for a total transaction of $199,607.54. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 4,575 shares of the companys stock, valued at $783,194.25. This trade represents a 20.31% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.36% of the companys stock.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

(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.

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Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda acquired a new position in IDT Corporation (NYSE:IDT  Free Report) during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm acquired 4,537 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $233,000.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of IDT. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of IDT by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,265,815 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $60,152,000 after buying an additional 4,426 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of IDT by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 514,043 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $26,376,000 after buying an additional 2,768 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of IDT by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 426,442 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $20,269,000 after buying an additional 5,346 shares during the period. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. raised its holdings in shares of IDT by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 351,588 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $16,707,000 after buying an additional 22,528 shares during the period. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG raised its holdings in shares of IDT by 32.4% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 330,616 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $15,711,000 after buying an additional 80,817 shares during the period. 59.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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IDT Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:IDT opened at $57.28 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $1.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.11 and a beta of 0.73. IDT Corporation has a one year low of $33.84 and a one year high of $71.12. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $63.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $54.27.

IDT Announces Dividend

IDT ( NYSE:IDT Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. IDT had a return on equity of 26.38% and a net margin of 7.85%. The company had revenue of $301.98 million for the quarter.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 18th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 9th were issued a dividend of $0.06 per share. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.42%. IDTs dividend payout ratio is presently 6.33%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Wall Street Zen downgraded IDT from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, June 14th.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on IDT

IDT Profile

(Free Report)

IDT Corporation provides communications and payment services in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through Fintech, National Retail Solutions, net2phone, and Traditional Communications segments. The company operates point of sale, a terminal-based platform which provides independent retailers store management software, electronic payment processing, and other ancillary merchant services; and provides marketers with digital out-of-home advertising and transaction data.

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Marshalls plc (LON:MSLH  Get Free Report) traded down 20.6% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as low as GBX 197.40 ($2.65) and last traded at GBX 209.50 ($2.82). 10,387,320 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 666% from the average session volume of 1,356,226 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 264 ($3.55).

Marshalls Stock Down 20.6%

The company has a market capitalization of 527.00 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.19. The business has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 269.11 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 260.49.

Marshalls Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Established in the late 1880s, Marshalls plc is a leading UK manufacturer of sustainable solutions for the built environment. It operates through three trading divisions: Landscape Products; Roofing Products; and Building Products. At a Group, divisional and brand level, Marshalls strategy centres around its customers who value its unique set of capabilities, namely leading brands, best in class technical and design support and carbon leadership.

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Mediolanum International Funds Ltd trimmed its position in Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:A  Free Report) by 27.7% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 64,267 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 24,616 shares during the quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltds holdings in Agilent Technologies were worth $7,499,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in A. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 13.5% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 36,674 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $4,279,000 after purchasing an additional 4,362 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 16.0% during the 4th quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 73,273 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $9,843,000 after purchasing an additional 10,128 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 8.3% during the 1st quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 30,827 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $3,606,000 after purchasing an additional 2,371 shares in the last quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 29.5% during the 1st quarter. Alps Advisors Inc. now owns 13,358 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,563,000 after purchasing an additional 3,040 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Agilent Technologies by 8.2% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 461,485 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $62,619,000 after purchasing an additional 34,933 shares in the last quarter.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Padraig Mcdonnell sold 1,508 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $117.44, for a total transaction of $177,099.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 37,448 shares in the company, valued at $4,397,893.12. This trade represents a 3.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.

Agilent Technologies Price Performance

Agilent Technologies stock opened at $120.17 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.09, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The company has a market capitalization of $34.14 billion, a PE ratio of 29.67, a P/E/G ratio of 3.65 and a beta of 1.23. Agilent Technologies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $96.43 and a 12 month high of $153.84. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $116.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $121.45.

Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 28th. The medical research company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $1.67 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.63 billion. Agilent Technologies had a return on equity of 25.92% and a net margin of 17.59%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.22 earnings per share. Analysts expect that Agilent Technologies, Inc. will post 5.58 EPS for the current year.

Agilent Technologies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st were given a dividend of $0.248 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $0.99 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.83%. Agilent Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.44%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on A shares. TD Cowen upped their price objective on Agilent Technologies to $150.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Robert W. Baird dropped their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $159.00 to $140.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Barclays upped their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on Agilent Technologies from $150.00 to $130.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $139.77.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Agilent Technologies, Inc provides application focused solutions to the life sciences, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Life Sciences and Applied Markets, Diagnostics and Genomics, and Agilent CrossLab. The Life Sciences and Applied Markets segment offers liquid chromatography systems and components; liquid chromatography mass spectrometry systems; gas chromatography systems and components; gas chromatography mass spectrometry systems; inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry instruments; atomic absorption instruments; microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry instruments; inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry instruments; raman spectroscopy; cell analysis plate based assays; flow cytometer; real-time cell analyzer; cell imaging systems; microplate reader; laboratory software; information management and analytics; laboratory automation and robotic systems; dissolution testing; and vacuum pumps, and measurement technologies.

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Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE:HIMS  Get Free Report) insider Michael Chi sold 2,100 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.52, for a total transaction of $120,792.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 278,654 shares in the company, valued at $16,028,178.08. This represents a 0.75% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Michael Chi also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Wednesday, July 23rd, Michael Chi sold 13,750 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.00, for a total transaction of $770,000.00.

On Tuesday, June 17th, Michael Chi sold 17,102 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.75, for a total transaction of $1,021,844.50.

On Tuesday, June 10th, Michael Chi sold 5,600 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.00, for a total transaction of $319,200.00.

On Friday, June 6th, Michael Chi sold 5,100 shares of Hims & Hers Health stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.00, for a total transaction of $285,600.00.

Hims & Hers Health Stock Performance

Shares of HIMS stock opened at $57.50 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average is $53.15 and its 200-day moving average is $42.88. The stock has a market cap of $12.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 83.33, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 2.02. Hims & Hers Health, Inc. has a 52-week low of $13.47 and a 52-week high of $72.98.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Hims & Hers Health ( NYSE:HIMS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 5th. The company reported $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.08. Hims & Hers Health had a return on equity of 22.75% and a net margin of 9.24%. The business had revenue of $586.01 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $535.21 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.05 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 110.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Hims & Hers Health, Inc. will post 0.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several research firms recently commented on HIMS. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $40.00 price objective on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a research report on Wednesday, June 11th. Piper Sandler restated a neutral rating and set a $39.00 price objective (up from $35.00) on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Hims & Hers Health from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Sunday, July 20th. TD Cowen downgraded shares of Hims & Hers Health from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $44.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating on shares of Hims & Hers Health in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.83.

View Our Latest Report on HIMS

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Webster Bank N. A. raised its holdings in Hims & Hers Health by 229.1% in the 2nd quarter. Webster Bank N. A. now owns 905 shares of the companys stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 630 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Hims & Hers Health in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Hims & Hers Health by 175.0% in the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,155 shares of the companys stock valued at $58,000 after acquiring an additional 735 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in Hims & Hers Health by 247.5% in the 1st quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,310 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 933 shares during the period. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its holdings in Hims & Hers Health by 127.1% in the 2nd quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 1,340 shares of the companys stock valued at $67,000 after acquiring an additional 750 shares during the period. 63.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Hims & Hers Health Company Profile

(Get 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.

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Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Moog and its rivals gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Moog $3.61 billion $207.22 million 28.75 Moog Competitors $3.47 billion $264.19 million 87.83

Moog has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its rivals. Moog 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.

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Insider & Institutional Ownership

8.1% of Moog shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 65.1% of shares of all AEROSP/DEF EQ companies are owned by institutional investors. 2.4% of Moog shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 8.8% of shares of all AEROSP/DEF EQ companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Profitability

Moog has a beta of 0.86, meaning that its stock price is 14% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Moogs rivals have a beta of 0.98, meaning that their average stock price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500.

This table compares Moog and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Moog 5.68% 13.75% 6.02% Moog Competitors -42.29% -0.40% 3.44%

Dividends

Moog pays an annual dividend of $1.16 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.6%. Moog pays out 18.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, AEROSP/DEF EQ companies pay a dividend yield of 0.4% and pay out 23.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Moog is clearly a better dividend stock than its rivals, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

Moog beats its rivals on 6 of the 11 factors compared.

About Moog

(Get Free Report)

Moog Inc. designs, manufactures, and integrates precision motion and fluid controls and systems for original equipment manufacturers and end users in the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets worldwide. The company's Aircrafts Controls segment offers primary and secondary flight controls for military and commercial aircrafts; aftermarket support services; and ground-based navigation aids. Its Space and Defense Controls segment provides controls for satellites, space vehicles, launch vehicles, armored combat vehicles, tactical and strategic missiles, security and surveillance, and other defense applications; and gun aiming, stabilization, and automatic ammunition loading for armored combat vehicles. This segment also offers steering tactical and strategic missiles; and designs, builds, and integrates weapon stores management systems for light attack aerial reconnaissance, ground, and sea platforms. The company's Industrial Systems segment provides systems for applications in injection and blow molding machinery, metal forming presses, and heavy industry customers in steel and aluminum production; and supplies solutions for power generation applications, electromechanical motion simulation bases, medical training simulators, and custom test systems and controls. This segment also offers systems and components for applications in oil and gas exploration and production; components for wind turbine applications; and components and systems for diagnostic imaging CT scan medical equipment, sleep apnea equipment, oxygen concentrators, infusion therapy, and enteral clinical nutrition. The company was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in East Aurora, New York.

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BANGKOK, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand on Sunday responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's call for a ceasefire on the Thai-Cambodian border, saying that the country agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place but would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.

In a statement released early Sunday, the Thai Foreign Ministry confirmed that "Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had a conversation with President Trump who requested that Thailand and Cambodia agree to a ceasefire immediately."

Phumtham told Trump that "Thailand agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place. However, Thailand would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side," said the statement.

Phumtham asked Trump to convey to the Cambodian side that "Thailand wants to convene a bilateral dialogue as soon as possible to bring forth measures and procedures for the ceasefire and the eventual peaceful resolution of the conflict," it added.

Clashes in the border areas between Cambodia and Thailand began on Thursday, with both sides accusing each other of violating international law. 
Motco increased its stake in shares of GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE  Free Report) by 18.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 353 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 55 shares during the quarter. Motcos holdings in GE Aerospace were worth $71,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC grew its holdings in 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 buying an additional 84 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in GE Aerospace in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Putney Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in GE Aerospace in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. IMA Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in GE Aerospace in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Copia Wealth Management grew its holdings in GE Aerospace by 14,200.0% in the 1st quarter. Copia Wealth Management now owns 143 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 142 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.77% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other GE Aerospace news, SVP Mohamed Ali sold 1,602 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $200.67, for a total value of $321,473.34. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 8,805 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,766,899.35. This represents a 15.39% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.21% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on GE shares. Citigroup restated a buy rating and issued a $296.00 price target (up previously from $227.00) on shares of GE Aerospace in a report on Monday, July 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on GE Aerospace from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Northcoast Research lowered GE Aerospace from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Wall Street Zen raised GE Aerospace from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on GE Aerospace from $230.00 to $295.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, GE Aerospace currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $232.92.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on GE Aerospace

GE Aerospace Stock Performance

GE Aerospace stock opened at $271.28 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $248.37 and its 200 day moving average price is $215.30. The firm has a market capitalization of $287.67 billion, a PE ratio of 37.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.11 and a beta of 1.37. 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 one year low of $150.20 and a one year high of $272.83.

GE Aerospace (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 17th. The company reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.43 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $10.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.49 billion. GE Aerospace had a return on equity of 31.32% and a net margin of 18.64%. GE Aerospaces revenue for the quarter was up 21.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.20 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that GE Aerospace will post 5.4 EPS for the current fiscal year.

GE Aerospace Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 25th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 7th were given a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.53%. GE Aerospaces payout ratio is 20.08%.

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.

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Navellier & Associates Inc. cut its holdings in Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX  Free Report) by 18.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,948 shares of the shipping companys stock after selling 453 shares during the period. Navellier & Associates Inc.s holdings in Matson were worth $250,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MATX. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Matson by 67.7% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 213 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Matson in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Matson in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Covestor Ltd boosted its position in shares of Matson by 16.3% in the 4th quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 586 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $79,000 after buying an additional 82 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Matson by 112.2% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 783 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $100,000 after purchasing an additional 414 shares in the last quarter. 84.76% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on MATX. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on shares of Matson from $160.00 to $130.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Matson from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their target price for the company from $135.00 to $115.00 in a report on Friday, July 18th. Stephens reduced their target price on shares of Matson from $175.00 to $150.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 6th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Matson from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Matson has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $131.67.

Insider Transactions at Matson

In other news, SVP Laura L. Rascon sold 1,700 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.19, for a total transaction of $200,923.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 14,712 shares in the company, valued at $1,738,811.28. This represents a 10.36% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Bradley D. Tilden acquired 2,752 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 29th. The shares were bought at an average price of $111.76 per share, for a total transaction of $307,563.52. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 8,180 shares in the company, valued at approximately $914,196.80. This trade represents a 50.70% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 2.05% of the companys stock.

Matson Trading Up 0.6%

NYSE MATX opened at $109.47 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $3.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.21 and a beta of 1.28. Matson, Inc. has a 12 month low of $91.75 and a 12 month high of $169.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The company has a 50-day moving average of $111.60 and a 200-day moving average of $120.66.

Matson (NYSE:MATX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 5th. The shipping company reported $2.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.34 by ($0.16). The company had revenue of $782.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $818.07 million. Matson had a return on equity of 20.02% and a net margin of 14.72%. The companys revenue was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.04 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Matson, Inc. will post 13.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Matson Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.36 per share. This is a positive change from Matsons previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.32%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 7th. Matsons dividend payout ratio is presently 8.96%.

About Matson

(Free Report)

Matson, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the provision of ocean transportation and logistics services. It operates through two segments, Ocean Transportation and Logistics. The Ocean Transportation segment offers ocean freight transportation services to the domestic non-contiguous economies of Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, and Guam, as well as to other island economies in Micronesia.

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Navellier & Associates Inc. trimmed its holdings in WisdomTree, Inc. (NYSE:WT  Free Report) by 7.7% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 14,058 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,168 shares during the period. Navellier & Associates Inc.s holdings in WisdomTree were worth $129,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of WT. Quarry LP grew its stake in shares of WisdomTree by 1,778.5% during the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,799 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 2,650 shares during the period. Byrne Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in WisdomTree by 114.0% in the 1st quarter. Byrne Asset Management LLC now owns 3,852 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 2,052 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its holdings in WisdomTree by 310.5% in the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 5,263 shares of the companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 3,981 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its holdings in WisdomTree by 60.7% in the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 4,705 shares of the companys stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,777 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Xponance Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of WisdomTree during the 4th quarter worth approximately $105,000. 78.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WT has been the topic of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on WisdomTree from $9.75 to $11.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised WisdomTree from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their price objective for the company from $9.50 to $11.90 in a research report on Friday, June 27th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on WisdomTree from $12.00 to $15.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Finally, Northcoast Research raised WisdomTree from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $15.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $13.24.

WisdomTree Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WT opened at $13.69 on Friday. WisdomTree, Inc. has a 1 year low of $7.47 and a 1 year high of $13.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.01 billion, a PE ratio of 39.10 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 3.83 and a quick ratio of 2.79. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $11.09 and its 200-day moving average price is $9.76.

WisdomTree (NYSE:WT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.16. The firm had revenue of $108.08 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $108.47 million. WisdomTree had a return on equity of 25.46% and a net margin of 15.77%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.12 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that WisdomTree, Inc. will post 0.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

WisdomTree Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 14th were paid a dividend of $0.03 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 14th. This represents a $0.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.88%. WisdomTrees payout ratio is 34.29%.

WisdomTree Profile

(Free Report)

WisdomTree, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an exchange-traded funds (ETFs) sponsor and asset manager. It offers ETFs in equities, currency, fixed income, and alternatives asset classes. The company also licenses its indexes to third parties for proprietary products, as well as offers a platform to promote the use of WisdomTree ETFs in 401(k) plans.

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Nemes Rush Group LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares Russell 1000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWB  Free Report) by 17.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,532 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,165 shares during the quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLCs holdings in iShares Russell 1000 ETF were worth $4,458,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of IWB. Auour Investments LLC lifted its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Auour Investments LLC now owns 5,486 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,671,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the period. PFG Investments LLC lifted its position in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 2.1% during the first quarter. PFG Investments LLC now owns 1,761 shares of the companys stock valued at $540,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. AssuredPartners Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 2.8% in the first quarter. AssuredPartners Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,372 shares of the companys stock worth $421,000 after purchasing an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. grew its position in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Willis Johnson & Associates Inc. now owns 2,036 shares of the companys stock worth $656,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the period. Finally, Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 1000 ETF by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Lodestar Private Asset Management LLC now owns 13,453 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,127,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Russell 1000 ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA IWB opened at $350.15 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.71 and a beta of 1.01. iShares Russell 1000 ETF has a 1-year low of $264.17 and a 1-year high of $350.43. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $333.97 and its 200-day moving average price is $321.32.

About iShares Russell 1000 ETF

iShares Russell 1000 ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Index (the Index). The Index is a float-adjusted capitalization weighted index that measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and includes securities issued by the approximately 1,000 largest issuers in the Russell 3000 Index.

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Nemes Rush Group LLC decreased its holdings in American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG  Free Report) by 1.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 28,523 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 474 shares during the period. Nemes Rush Group LLCs holdings in American International Group were worth $2,480,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of American International Group during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Sachetta LLC lifted its position in shares of American International Group by 194.5% during the first quarter. Sachetta LLC now owns 377 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 249 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of American International Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $47,000. Colonial Trust Co SC grew its position in shares of American International Group by 150.2% in the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 738 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $54,000 after buying an additional 443 shares during the last quarter. Finally, True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in shares of American International Group by 159.6% in the 4th quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 1,041 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $76,000 after buying an additional 640 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.60% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of American International Group from $81.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an in-line rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on American International Group from $81.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Barclays boosted their target price on American International Group from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a neutral rating and issued a $91.00 price target (up previously from $83.00) on shares of American International Group in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on American International Group from $94.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $88.19.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Christopher Flatt sold 46,182 shares of American International Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.26, for a total value of $3,845,113.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 21,400 shares in the company, valued at $1,781,764. The trade was a 68.33% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

American International Group Stock Up 1.1%

Shares of AIG stock opened at $80.12 on Friday. American International Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $69.00 and a twelve month high of $88.07. The stock has a market cap of $46.17 billion, a P/E ratio of -30.12, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.63. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $83.43 and a 200 day moving average of $80.87. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

American International Group (NYSE:AIG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The insurance provider reported $1.17 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.04 by $0.13. American International Group had a negative net margin of 7.05% and a positive return on equity of 7.13%. The business had revenue of $6.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.89 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.25 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that American International Group, Inc. will post 6.24 EPS for the current year.

American International Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. This is an increase from American International Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. American International Groups dividend payout ratio is -67.67%.

American International Group Profile

(Free Report)

American International Group, Inc offers insurance products for commercial, institutional, and individual customers in North America and internationally. It operates through three segments: General Insurance, Life and Retirement, and Other Operations. The General Insurance segment provides commercial and industrial property insurance, including business interruption and package insurance that cover exposure to made and natural disasters; general liability, environmental, commercial automobile liability, workers compensation, excess casualty, and crisis management insurance products; and professional liability insurance.

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Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. lifted its stake in Rio Tinto PLC (NYSE:RIO  Free Report) by 1.0% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 55,131 shares of the mining companys stock after acquiring an additional 550 shares during the quarter. Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc.s holdings in Rio Tinto were worth $3,312,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in Rio Tinto by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 65,071 shares of the mining companys stock worth $3,909,000 after buying an additional 1,289 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in shares of Rio Tinto by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 76,650 shares of the mining companys stock worth $4,605,000 after acquiring an additional 4,832 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its stake in Rio Tinto by 3.6% during the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 78,368 shares of the mining companys stock worth $4,708,000 after purchasing an additional 2,698 shares during the last quarter. Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Rio Tinto by 0.4% in the first quarter. Hamilton Point Investment Advisors LLC now owns 44,385 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $2,767,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in Rio Tinto by 80.6% in the first quarter. Jackson Hole Capital Partners LLC now owns 10,170 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $611,000 after purchasing an additional 4,540 shares during the last quarter. 19.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Rio Tinto from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a report on Tuesday, June 3rd. Barclays reissued an overweight rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Finally, Berenberg Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Rio Tinto in a research note on Thursday, July 3rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $73.00.

Rio Tinto Trading Down 1.1%

Shares of RIO opened at $63.11 on Friday. Rio Tinto PLC has a 1-year low of $51.67 and a 1-year high of $72.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $59.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.27. The stock has a market cap of $79.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.78 and a beta of 0.66.

About Rio Tinto

(Free Report)

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. The Iron Ore segment engages in the iron ore mining, and salt and gypsum production in Western Australia. The Aluminum segment is involved in bauxite mining; alumina refining; and aluminium smelting.

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Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. raised its holdings in Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU  Free Report) (TSE:SU) by 1.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 35,885 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after purchasing an additional 646 shares during the quarter. Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc.s holdings in Suncor Energy were worth $1,389,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd grew its holdings in Suncor Energy by 11.4% during the first quarter. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd now owns 308,558 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $11,864,000 after purchasing an additional 31,521 shares during the period. AE Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Suncor Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $215,000. Winthrop Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Suncor Energy by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Winthrop Capital Management LLC now owns 13,654 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $529,000 after acquiring an additional 352 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Suncor Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $3,079,000. Finally, HighPoint Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in Suncor Energy by 13.3% in the 1st quarter. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC now owns 6,243 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $223,000 after acquiring an additional 734 shares during the period. 67.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Suncor Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Suncor Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.00.

Suncor Energy Stock Down 1.0%

SU stock opened at $39.31 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $38.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $37.36. Suncor Energy Inc. has a twelve month low of $30.79 and a twelve month high of $41.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.07 billion, a PE ratio of 11.33, a PEG ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.

Suncor Energy (NYSE:SU  Get Free Report) (TSE:SU) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.91 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.86 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $9.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.39 billion. Suncor Energy had a net margin of 11.95% and a return on equity of 14.90%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.41 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Suncor Energy Inc. will post 3.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Suncor Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, June 4th were issued a $0.4133 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, June 4th. This represents a $1.65 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.20%. This is a boost from Suncor Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Suncor Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 47.84%.

Suncor Energy Profile

(Free Report)

Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment explores, develops, and produces bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and related products.

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Horan Capital Advisors LLC. increased its stake in shares of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE:NSC  Free Report) by 5.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,052 shares of the railroad operators stock after buying an additional 97 shares during the quarter. Horan Capital Advisors LLC.s holdings in Norfolk Southern were worth $486,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. LPL Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 10.2% in the first quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 273,940 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $64,883,000 after purchasing an additional 25,366 shares during the period. Texas Yale Capital Corp. lifted its holdings in shares of Norfolk Southern by 5.3% during the first quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 12,364 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $2,928,000 after purchasing an additional 622 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its position in Norfolk Southern by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 48,960 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $11,596,000 after buying an additional 3,932 shares during the last quarter. Empirical Finance LLC increased its stake in Norfolk Southern by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 8,075 shares of the railroad operators stock valued at $1,913,000 after buying an additional 152 shares during the period. Finally, FourThought Financial Partners LLC raised its position in Norfolk Southern by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. FourThought Financial Partners LLC now owns 1,071 shares of the railroad operators stock worth $254,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.10% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Norfolk Southern from $305.00 to $290.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 2nd. Citigroup lowered Norfolk Southern from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $259.00 to $288.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a hold rating and set a $300.00 target price on shares of Norfolk Southern in a research report on Friday. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price target on Norfolk Southern from $295.00 to $305.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Finally, TD Cowen upgraded Norfolk Southern from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the company from $263.00 to $323.00 in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $282.50.

Norfolk Southern Stock Up 1.7%

NSC stock opened at $282.73 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $256.17 and its 200-day simple moving average is $243.27. Norfolk Southern Corporation has a 12 month low of $201.63 and a 12 month high of $288.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.74 billion, a PE ratio of 19.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.31.

Norfolk Southern (NYSE:NSC  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The railroad operator reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.72 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $2.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.01 billion. Norfolk Southern had a net margin of 27.40% and a return on equity of 19.65%. Norfolk Southerns quarterly revenue was down .4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.49 EPS. Equities analysts expect that Norfolk Southern Corporation will post 13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Norfolk Southern Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 1st will be given a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 1st. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.91%. Norfolk Southerns dividend payout ratio is currently 36.89%.

Norfolk Southern Company Profile

(Free Report)

Norfolk Southern Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail transportation of raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods in the United States. The company transports agriculture, forest, and consumer products comprising soybeans, wheat, corn, fertilizers, livestock and poultry feed, food products, food oils, flour, sweeteners, ethanol, lumber and wood products, pulp board and paper products, wood fibers, wood pulp, beverages, and canned goods; chemicals consist of sulfur and related chemicals, petroleum products comprising crude oil, chlorine and bleaching compounds, plastics, rubber, industrial chemicals, chemical wastes, sand, and natural gas liquids; metals and construction materials, such as steel, aluminum products, machinery, scrap metals, cement, aggregates, minerals, clay, transportation equipment, and military-related products; and automotive, including finished motor vehicles and automotive parts, as well as coal.

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one8zero8 LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR  Free Report) by 5.1% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 8,557 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 418 shares during the quarter. one8zero8 LLCs holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $685,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Compass Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Ingersoll Rand by 62.8% during the 1st quarter. Compass Wealth Management LLC now owns 355 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares during the period. Arrow Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Arrow Financial Corp now owns 32,343 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,926,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the period. GeoWealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 10.2% in the 4th quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 1,726 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $156,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 10,655 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $853,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares during the period. Finally, Rothschild Investment LLC raised its position in shares of Ingersoll Rand by 33.5% in the 1st quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 654 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares during the period. 95.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity at Ingersoll Rand

In other news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 38,657 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.03, for a total transaction of $3,209,690.71. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 193,186 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,040,233.58. This trade represents a 16.67% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Elizabeth Meloy Hepding sold 3,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.78, for a total transaction of $293,230.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 10,986 shares of the companys stock, valued at $920,407.08. This represents a 24.16% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.59% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Ingersoll Rand Price Performance

Shares of IR opened at $88.27 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.70, a P/E/G ratio of 3.71 and a beta of 1.43. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a twelve month low of $65.61 and a twelve month high of $106.03. The company has a 50 day moving average of $83.96 and a 200-day moving average of $82.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.76, a current ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.74 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $1.72 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.73 billion. Ingersoll Rand had a return on equity of 12.33% and a net margin of 11.30%. Ingersoll Rands revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.78 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 3.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Ingersoll Rand declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, May 1st that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the industrial products company to repurchase up to 3.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are usually a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

Ingersoll Rand Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 14th. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.09%. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio is currently 3.96%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on IR. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $78.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, July 21st. Melius Research set a $93.00 price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $86.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Melius downgraded shares of Ingersoll Rand from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $93.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and issued a $104.00 price target (up from $91.00) on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a research report on Monday, July 14th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $100.92.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on IR

About Ingersoll Rand

(Free Report)

Ingersoll Rand Inc provides various mission-critical air, gas, liquid, and solid flow creation technologies services and solutions worldwide. It operates through two segments, Industrial Technologies and Services, and Precision and Science Technologies. The Industrial Technologies and Services segment designs, manufactures, markets, and services air and gas compression, vacuum, and blower products; fluid transfer equipment and loading systems; and power tools and lifting equipment, including associated aftermarket parts, consumables, air treatment equipment, controls, other accessories, and services under the under the Ingersoll Rand, Gardner Denver, Nash, CompAir, Elmo Rietschle brands, etc.

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Providence Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 2.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 42,217 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 874 shares during the period. Providence Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,039,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in Pfizer by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 132,478 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,358,000 after purchasing an additional 13,228 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Inc. OK boosted its position in Pfizer by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 1,413,472 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $35,817,000 after purchasing an additional 17,032 shares during the period. CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp purchased a new position in Pfizer in the 1st quarter valued at about $8,283,000. Alta Advisers Ltd boosted its position in Pfizer by 69.6% in the 1st quarter. Alta Advisers Ltd now owns 31,912 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $809,000 after buying an additional 13,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Pfizer by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 125,964 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,176,000 after buying an additional 10,051 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued a neutral rating and a $24.00 price objective for the company. Berenberg Bank decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $25.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Wolfe Research upped their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $29.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pfizer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $28.55.

Pfizer Price Performance

PFE opened at $24.79 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $140.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.58. Pfizer Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $20.92 and a fifty-two week high of $31.54. The companys 50-day moving average price is $24.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $24.66. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $13.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.43 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 20.33%. Pfizers quarterly revenue was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.82 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 25th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.94%. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 124.64%.

About Pfizer

(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.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami (R) visits an injured person at a hospital after a stampede at Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar district, northern India's Uttarakhand state, July 27, 2025. At least six people were killed and 29 others injured Sunday in a stampede at a Hindu temple in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, police said. The stampede broke out at Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar district, about 53 km south of Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand. (UNI/Handout via Xinhua)

NEW DELHI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and 29 others injured Sunday in a stampede at a Hindu temple in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, police said.

The stampede broke out at Mansa Devi temple in Haridwar district, about 53 km south of Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand.

It seems that a rumor about an electric shock affecting a devotee on the stairs, 100 meters down the temple route, panicked others, leading to a stampede at the spot, Pramendra Singh Dobal, a senior police official, said.

"We are investigating the matter," he said.

Authorities rushed police and the State Disaster Response Force to the spot to carry out relief and rescue operations.

Haridwar is one of the major pilgrimage destinations for Hindu devotees. Police said a huge crowd had gathered at the temple before the stampede.

Television visuals showed injured devotees being taken to the hospital in ambulances and several others undergoing treatment inside the health facility.

Police fear the death toll is likely to increase. 
Providence Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Free Report) during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 499 shares of the communications equipment providers stock, valued at approximately $217,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MSI. ORG Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in Motorola Solutions by 346.2% during the 1st quarter. ORG Wealth Partners LLC now owns 58 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Motorola Solutions during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Community Bank N.A. acquired a new position in shares of Motorola Solutions in the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new position in Motorola Solutions during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Fort Vancouver Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Motorola Solutions during the 1st quarter worth approximately $37,000. Institutional investors own 84.17% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other Motorola Solutions news, CAO Katherine A. Maher sold 1,073 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $418.68, for a total transaction of $449,243.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 804 shares in the company, valued at $336,618.72. The trade was a 57.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 1.44% of the companys stock.

Motorola Solutions Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of MSI stock opened at $428.01 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $417.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $429.23. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 1 year low of $385.60 and a 1 year high of $507.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.42. The stock has a market cap of $71.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.68 and a beta of 0.95.

Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The communications equipment provider reported $3.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.01 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $2.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.52 billion. Motorola Solutions had a return on equity of 160.93% and a net margin of 18.67%. Motorola Solutionss quarterly revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.81 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 13.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Motorola Solutions Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th were issued a dividend of $1.09 per share. This represents a $4.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 13th. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.39%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MSI has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Motorola Solutions from $570.00 to $515.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Motorola Solutions in a report on Monday, July 7th. They set a peer perform rating on the stock. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Wednesday, May 28th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Motorola Solutions from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. They set a buy rating and a $490.00 target price for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $510.67.

View Our Latest Stock Report on MSI

About Motorola Solutions

(Free Report)

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.

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Resolute Wealth Strategies LLC increased its holdings in SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEARCA:GLD  Free Report) by 1.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 12,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 219 shares during the quarter. SPDR Gold Shares comprises about 1.9% of Resolute Wealth Strategies LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Resolute Wealth Strategies LLCs holdings in SPDR Gold Shares were worth $3,458,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of GLD. Leigh Baldwin & CO. LLC bought a new position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares in the 4th quarter worth about $401,829,000. DAVENPORT & Co LLC increased its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 105.3% in the 1st quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 45,496 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $13,109,000 after acquiring an additional 896,836 shares in the last quarter. Mizuho Bank Ltd. bought a new position in shares of SPDR Gold Shares in the 4th quarter worth about $145,278,000. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd increased its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 604.5% in the 1st quarter. OVERSEA CHINESE BANKING Corp Ltd now owns 548,947 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $158,174,000 after acquiring an additional 471,032 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 59 North Capital Management LP increased its stake in shares of SPDR Gold Shares by 116.1% in the 4th quarter. 59 North Capital Management LP now owns 716,178 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $173,408,000 after acquiring an additional 384,840 shares in the last quarter. 42.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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SPDR Gold Shares Price Performance

Shares of SPDR Gold Shares stock opened at $307.40 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $307.94 and a 200 day moving average of $288.39. The firm has a market cap of $102.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -32.43 and a beta of 0.15. SPDR Gold Shares has a 1 year low of $219.04 and a 1 year high of $317.63.

SPDR Gold Shares Company Profile

SPDR Gold Trust (the Trust) is an investment trust. The investment objective of the Trust is for the Shares to reflect the performance of the price of gold bullion, less the Trusts expenses. The Trusts business activity is the investment of gold. The Trust creates and redeems Shares from time to time, but in one or more Baskets (a Basket equals a block of 100,000 Shares).

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RWC Asset Advisors US LLC bought a new position in shares of Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:SQM  Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 935,557 shares of the basic materials companys stock, valued at approximately $37,170,000. Sociedad Quimica y Minera accounts for 6.8% of RWC Asset Advisors US LLCs holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest holding.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. increased its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 6.7% in the 4th quarter. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. now owns 9,612 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $349,000 after buying an additional 600 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 79,047 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $2,874,000 after buying an additional 821 shares in the last quarter. Laird Norton Wetherby Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 10.0% in the 4th quarter. Laird Norton Wetherby Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,206 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $407,000 after buying an additional 1,023 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 30.8% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 4,422 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $161,000 after buying an additional 1,040 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc increased its position in Sociedad Quimica y Minera by 728.0% in the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 1,242 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 1,092 shares in the last quarter. 12.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SQM has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $44.00 to $39.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 12th. Scotiabank decreased their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a sector outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 30th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on Sociedad Quimica y Minera from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $41.14.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Stock Performance

Shares of SQM opened at $41.65 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.96 and a current ratio of 2.88. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $35.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $37.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.74 and a beta of 1.07. Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. has a 52 week low of $29.36 and a 52 week high of $45.89.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera (NYSE:SQM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 28th. The basic materials company reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.63 by ($0.15). The company had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.05 billion. Sociedad Quimica y Minera had a return on equity of 11.71% and a net margin of 13.45%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 4.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted ($3.04) earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. will post -1.31 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sociedad Quimica y Minera Profile

(Free Report)

Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile SA operates as a mining company worldwide. The company offers specialty plant nutrients, including sodium potassium nitrate, specialty blends, and other specialty fertilizers under Ultrasol, Qrop, Speedfol, Allganic, Ultrasoline, ProP, and Prohydric brands. It also provides iodine and its derivatives for use in medical, agricultural, industrial, and human and animal nutrition products comprising x-ray contrast media, biocides, antiseptics and disinfectants, pharmaceutical intermediates, polarizing films for LCD and LED screens, chemicals, organic compounds, and pigments, as well as added to edible salt to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.

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RWC Asset Management LLP boosted its position in CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS  Free Report) by 37.6% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 514,375 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 140,618 shares during the period. CMS Energy comprises approximately 2.0% of RWC Asset Management LLPs portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. RWC Asset Management LLP owned 0.17% of CMS Energy worth $38,635,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Sigma Planning Corp lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 0.4% during the first quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 32,045 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,407,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 4.5% during the first quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 3,360 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $252,000 after acquiring an additional 144 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 1.3% during the first quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. now owns 11,233 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $844,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 6.4% during the first quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,550 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $191,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 14.4% during the first quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,466 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $110,000 after acquiring an additional 185 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.57% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other CMS Energy news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 2,198 shares of CMS Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.61, for a total transaction of $161,794.78. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 69,571 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,121,121.31. The trade was a 3.06% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley set a $71.00 target price on CMS Energy and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Evercore ISI increased their target price on CMS Energy from $73.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Scotiabank restated an outperform rating and set a $81.00 target price (up previously from $77.00) on shares of CMS Energy in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on CMS Energy from $78.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Wolfe Research reiterated a peer perform rating on shares of CMS Energy in a research report on Monday, July 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $77.25.

Read Our Latest Analysis on CMS

CMS Energy Stock Down 0.1%

NYSE CMS opened at $72.84 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.79 billion, a PE ratio of 21.61, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.38. CMS Energy Corporation has a 1 year low of $62.73 and a 1 year high of $76.45. The businesss 50-day moving average is $70.27 and its 200 day moving average is $70.72.

CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The utilities provider reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.05 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $2.45 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.32 billion. CMS Energy had a return on equity of 12.06% and a net margin of 13.10%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.97 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that CMS Energy Corporation will post 3.59 earnings per share for the current year.

CMS Energy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be given a dividend of $0.5425 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 8th. This represents a $2.17 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.98%. CMS Energys payout ratio is 64.39%.

CMS Energy Profile

(Free Report)

CMS Energy Corporation operates as an energy company primarily in Michigan. The company operates through three segments: Electric Utility; Gas Utility; and Enterprises. The Electric Utility segment is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. This segment generates electricity through coal, wind, gas, renewable energy, oil, and nuclear sources.

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TD Asset Management Inc cut its stake in ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW  Free Report) by 18.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 242,097 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 55,307 shares during the quarter. TD Asset Management Inc owned about 0.12% of ServiceNow worth $192,743,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Bogart Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of ServiceNow by 113.3% during the 1st quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 32 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 17 shares during the period. Graybill Wealth Management LTD. purchased a new position in shares of ServiceNow during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Quarry LP purchased a new position in shares of ServiceNow during the 4th quarter worth $27,000. WASHINGTON TRUST Co grew its holdings in shares of ServiceNow by 620.0% during the 1st quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 36 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the period. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of ServiceNow during the 4th quarter worth $37,000. 87.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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ServiceNow Price Performance

NOW opened at $968.05 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $200.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 121.92, a PEG ratio of 4.43 and a beta of 0.94. ServiceNow, Inc. has a 1 year low of $678.66 and a 1 year high of $1,198.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $1,000.33 and a 200 day moving average price of $952.52.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ServiceNow ( NYSE:NOW Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $4.09 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.57 by $0.52. ServiceNow had a return on equity of 18.04% and a net margin of 13.78%. The company had revenue of $3.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.12 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.13 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 22.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 8.93 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on NOW. Scotiabank set a $1,100.00 price target on ServiceNow and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Truist Financial upgraded ServiceNow from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $950.00 to $1,200.00 in a report on Thursday, May 1st. TD Securities restated a buy rating and set a $1,100.00 target price on shares of ServiceNow in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating on shares of ServiceNow in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Finally, Mizuho raised their target price on ServiceNow from $1,050.00 to $1,100.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, June 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, twenty-nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $1,114.87.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on ServiceNow

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Jonathan Chadwick sold 770 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $931.62, for a total transaction of $717,347.40. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 3,205 shares in the company, valued at $2,985,842.10. The trade was a 19.37% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Vice Chairman Nicholas Tzitzon sold 1,171 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,020.00, for a total value of $1,194,420.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 3,000 shares in the company, valued at $3,060,000. This represents a 28.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 6,003 shares of company stock valued at $6,015,106 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock.

ServiceNow Company Profile

(Free Report)

ServiceNow, Inc provides end to-end intelligent workflow automation platform solutions for digital businesses in the North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Now platform for end-to-end digital transformation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotic process automation, process mining, performance analytics, and collaboration and development tools.

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Texas Yale Capital Corp. trimmed its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK  Free Report) by 0.3% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 28,359 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 94 shares during the period. Texas Yale Capital Corp.s holdings in Duke Energy were worth $3,459,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Toth Financial Advisory Corp increased its position in Duke Energy by 31.6% in the first quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 346 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Reyes Financial Architecture Inc. increased its position in Duke Energy by 4.8% in the first quarter. Reyes Financial Architecture Inc. now owns 1,827 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $223,000 after buying an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in Duke Energy by 2.8% in the first quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 3,034 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $370,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Lokken Investment Group LLC increased its position in Duke Energy by 3.3% in the first quarter. Lokken Investment Group LLC now owns 2,633 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 84 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sheets Smith Wealth Management increased its position in Duke Energy by 0.3% in the first quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 27,517 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,356,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Duke Energy Price Performance

NYSE:DUK opened at $119.98 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $93.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.90, a P/E/G ratio of 3.00 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. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $116.96 and a 200 day moving average of $116.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 0.77.

Duke Energy Increases Dividend

Duke Energy ( NYSE:DUK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $8.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.70 billion. Duke Energy had a return on equity of 9.88% and a net margin of 15.40%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.44 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Duke Energy Corporation will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be paid a dividend of $1.065 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $4.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.55%. This is a positive change from Duke Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.05. Duke Energys payout ratio is 69.32%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Duke Energy from $127.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Barclays reduced their price target on Duke Energy from $123.00 to $122.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $132.00 price target on Duke Energy in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Raymond James Financial initiated coverage on Duke Energy in a research report on Friday, June 13th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Duke Energy from $128.00 to $123.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Duke Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $127.25.

View Our Latest Analysis on Duke Energy

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.

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Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Biohaven Ltd. (NYSE:BHVN  Free Report) by 217.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 26,846 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 18,401 shares during the quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltds holdings in Biohaven were worth $645,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in shares of Biohaven by 40.0% during the 4th quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 508,682 shares of the companys stock worth $18,994,000 after purchasing an additional 145,331 shares in the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas lifted its position in Biohaven by 31.6% in the 4th quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 23,320 shares of the companys stock valued at $871,000 after acquiring an additional 5,600 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in Biohaven by 9.5% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 558,761 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,870,000 after acquiring an additional 48,286 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its position in Biohaven by 6.6% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 96,236 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,594,000 after acquiring an additional 5,951 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC lifted its position in Biohaven by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 42,190 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,576,000 after acquiring an additional 1,664 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 88.78% of the companys stock.

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Biohaven Stock Down 1.4%

Shares of BHVN stock opened at $13.50 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $14.85 and a 200-day moving average of $24.29. Biohaven Ltd. has a 12-month low of $13.04 and a 12-month high of $55.70. The firm has a market cap of $1.38 billion, a P/E ratio of -1.44 and a beta of 0.91.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Biohaven ( NYSE:BHVN Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 12th. The company reported ($2.17) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.67) by ($0.50). As a group, equities analysts expect that Biohaven Ltd. will post -8.9 EPS for the current year.

BHVN has been the topic of several recent research reports. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Biohaven from $60.00 to $57.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. William Blair raised shares of Biohaven to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of Biohaven to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of Biohaven from $68.00 to $55.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada cut shares of Biohaven from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and dropped their price target for the company from $54.00 to $21.00 in a research report on Monday, May 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Biohaven currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average target price of $58.46.

View Our Latest Analysis on BHVN

About Biohaven

(Free Report)

Biohaven Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, focuses on discovering, developing, and commercializing therapies for immunology, neuroscience, and oncology worldwide. The company's pipeline products include Troriluzole, which is in Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric illnesses; BHV-5500 that blocks glutamate signaling mediated by post-synaptic NMDA receptors; Taldefgrobep Alfa, which is in Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy and obesity; BHV-7000, a candidate in Phase 2/3 clinical trials for the treatment of focal and generalized epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder; BHV-2100 that is in Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of migraines and neuropathic pain; and BHV-8000, a product candidate in Phase 1 clinical trials for the treatment of early Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, sclerosis, and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities.

Further Reading

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CANBERRA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that Israel is "clearly" breaching international law by withholding aid from civilians in Gaza.

Albanese said during an appearance on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television that the deaths and suffering of civilians in Gaza is "completely" unacceptable and indefensible.

"Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered, which was a decision that Israel made in March," Albanese said. "It's a breach of decent humanity and of morality and everyone can see that."

In a statement released on Friday, Albanese said that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has "gone beyond the world's worst fears," while the "position of the Australian government is clear: every innocent life matters. Every Israeli. Every Palestinian. This conflict has stolen far too many innocent lives. Tens of thousands of civilians are dead, children are starving."

The Friday statement read that "Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel's denial of aid and the killing of civilians, including children, seeking access to water and food cannot be defended or ignored."

Albanese called on "Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law. This includes allowing the United Nations and NGOs to carry out their lifesaving work safely and without hindrance. Any proposals for the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian population must be abandoned." 
BT Group plc (LON:BT.A  Get Free Report)s share price shot up 8.4% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 221.17 ($2.97) and last traded at GBX 216.12 ($2.90). 49,113,328 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 165% from the average session volume of 18,542,895 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 199.40 ($2.68).

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BT Group Price Performance

The company has a market cap of 21.78 billion, a PE ratio of 2,474.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 0.69. The business has a 50 day moving average of GBX 187.72 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 167.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 187.58, a current ratio of 0.89 and a quick ratio of 0.83.

BT Group (LON:BT.A  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 22nd. The communications services company reported GBX 18.80 ($0.25) EPS for the quarter. BT Group had a net margin of 4.11% and a return on equity of 6.33%. As a group, research analysts predict that BT Group plc will post 19.1185956 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

BT Group Company Profile

In other BT Group news, insider Simon Lowth sold 134,546 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 190 ($2.55), for a total value of 255,637.40 ($343,552.48). 43.86% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

(Get Free Report)

BT Group is the UKs leading provider of fixed and mobile telecommunications and related secure digital products, solutions and services. We also provide managed telecommunications, security and network and IT infrastructure services to customers across 180 countries.

BT Group consists of three customer-facing units: Consumer serves individuals and families in the UK; Business* covers companies and public services in the UK and internationally; Openreach is an independently governed, wholly owned subsidiary wholesaling fixed access infrastructure services to its customers  over 650 communication providers across the UK.

British Telecommunications plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.

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Avery Dennison (NYSE:AVY  Get Free Report) and Nine Dragons Paper (OTCMKTS:NDGPY  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, analyst recommendations and profitability.

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Volatility & Risk

Avery Dennison has a beta of 0.87, indicating that its share price is 13% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Nine Dragons Paper has a beta of 0.25, indicating that its share price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Avery Dennison and Nine Dragons Paper, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Avery Dennison 0 5 6 0 2.55 Nine Dragons Paper 0 0 0 1 4.00

Earnings and Valuation

Avery Dennison presently has a consensus price target of $197.60, suggesting a potential upside of 11.20%. Given Avery Dennisons higher probable upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Avery Dennison is more favorable than Nine Dragons Paper.

This table compares Avery Dennison and Nine Dragons Papers gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Avery Dennison $8.76 billion 1.59 $704.90 million $8.91 19.94 Nine Dragons Paper $8.25 billion 0.31 $107.12 million N/A N/A

Avery Dennison has higher revenue and earnings than Nine Dragons Paper.

Profitability

This table compares Avery Dennison and Nine Dragons Papers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Avery Dennison 8.14% 33.14% 8.91% Nine Dragons Paper N/A N/A N/A

Insider and Institutional Ownership

94.2% of Avery Dennison shares are held by institutional investors. 0.8% of Avery Dennison shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Avery Dennison beats Nine Dragons Paper on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Avery Dennison

(Get Free Report)

Avery Dennison Corporation operates as a materials science and digital identification solutions company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, Latin, America, and internationally. It provides pressure-sensitive materials comprising papers, plastic films, metal foils, and fabrics; performance tapes products, including tapes for wire harnessing, as well as cable wrapping for automotive, electrical, and general industrial applications; mechanical fasteners, which are precision-extruded and injection-molded plastic devices used in various automotive, general industrial, and retail applications; and other pressure-sensitive adhesive-based materials and converted products under the Fasson, JAC, Yongle, and Avery Dennison brands. The company also offers graphics and reflective products for the architectural, commercial sign, digital printing, and other related market segments; durable cast and reflective films to the construction, automotive, and fleet transportation market segments; reflective films for traffic and safety applications; and pressure-sensitive vinyl and specialty materials designed for digital imaging, screen printing, and sign cutting applications under the Avery Dennison and Mactac brand names. In addition, it provides branding solutions include brand embellishments, graphic tickets, tags, and labels, and sustainable packaging; and information solutions include item-level RFID, visibility and loss prevention, price ticketing and marking, productivity and media solutions, and brand protection and security solutions, as well as care, content, and country of origin compliance solutions. It serves home and personal care, apparel, e-commerce, logistics, food and grocery, pharmaceuticals, and automotive industries. The company was formerly known as Avery International Corporation and changed its name to Avery Dennison Corporation in 1990. Avery Dennison Corporation was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Mentor, Ohio.

About Nine Dragons Paper

(Get Free Report)

Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and sale of packaging paper, recycled printing and writing paper, and specialty paper and pulp products in the People's Republic of China. The company offers linerboard products, including kraft, test, white top, and coated linerboards; corrugating medium containerboard products; corrugated cardboard products; carton box products; corrugated sheet products; and coated duplex boards. It also provides recycled printing and writing paper, such as uncoated wood-free paper and office paper; capacitor tissue paper; low and high voltage, ultra-high-voltage transformer coil winding, and heat-resistant insulating paper; and recycled and kraft pulp products. It also operates in Vietnam, Malaysia, and the United States. The company was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Dongguan, the People's Republic of China. Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited operates as a subsidiary of Best Result Holdings Limited.

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New York State Common Retirement Fund reduced its position in shares of WisdomTree, Inc. (NYSE:WT  Free Report) by 76.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 38,564 shares of the companys stock after selling 122,629 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Funds holdings in WisdomTree were worth $344,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of WT. Personal CFO Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of WisdomTree in the 1st quarter valued at $111,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in WisdomTree by 39.2% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 808,352 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,210,000 after buying an additional 227,626 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in WisdomTree by 2.1% in the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 743,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,634,000 after buying an additional 15,355 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas purchased a new position in WisdomTree during the first quarter worth about $152,000. Finally, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. increased its position in shares of WisdomTree by 5.0% during the first quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 70,050 shares of the companys stock valued at $625,000 after acquiring an additional 3,359 shares during the last quarter. 78.64% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

WisdomTree Trading Down 0.2%

NYSE:WT opened at $13.69 on Friday. WisdomTree, Inc. has a 12-month low of $7.47 and a 12-month high of $13.76. The firm has a market cap of $2.01 billion, a PE ratio of 39.10 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 3.83, a quick ratio of 2.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $11.09 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.76.

WisdomTree Announces Dividend

WisdomTree ( NYSE:WT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 2nd. The company reported $0.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.16. WisdomTree had a return on equity of 25.46% and a net margin of 15.77%. The business had revenue of $108.08 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $108.47 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.12 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that WisdomTree, Inc. will post 0.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 14th were paid a $0.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 14th. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.88%. WisdomTrees dividend payout ratio is currently 34.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WT has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Northcoast Research upgraded shares of WisdomTree from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $15.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded WisdomTree from a sell rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the stock from $9.50 to $11.90 in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Oppenheimer raised their price target on WisdomTree from $12.00 to $15.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on WisdomTree from $9.75 to $11.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $13.24.

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WisdomTree Company Profile

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WisdomTree, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as an exchange-traded funds (ETFs) sponsor and asset manager. It offers ETFs in equities, currency, fixed income, and alternatives asset classes. The company also licenses its indexes to third parties for proprietary products, as well as offers a platform to promote the use of WisdomTree ETFs in 401(k) plans.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for WisdomTree, Inc. (NYSE:WT  Free Report).

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KABUL, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan security forces have discovered a mass weapon and ammunition cache in southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, seizing various types of arms along with a large quantity of ammunition, a statement from the Ministry of Interior said on Sunday.

Acting on a tip-off, the security personnel launched an operation based on intelligence reports in Tirin Kot, the capital of Uruzgan province, and discovered weapons, including six AK-47 rifles, a heavy machine gun, PK machine guns, rocket launchers, and hundreds of hand grenades, said the statement.

Additionally, a substantial amount of ammunition and military equipment has been seized during the operations, it added.

Two individuals were arrested in connection with the case.

The Afghan interim government has rounded up thousands of arms and a huge quantity of ammunition as part of efforts to stabilize the security situation across the war-ravaged country over the past three and a half years. 
A Derry organisation has received a 5,000 grant from SPAR NI, as part of its Community Cashback Grant initiative.

Live Music Now is one of seven local organisations that have benefitted from part of a 20,000 grant, delivered by SPAR NI as part of their annual Community Cashback Grant Scheme.

The scheme aims to reward local groups and charities for their work and care for their community, helping them to continue, while growing and improving their services.

Live Music Now has received 5,000 from the grant, which the organisation says will help them continue to bring their services to over 600 disabled children, 1,000 primary school children and 50 isolated adults and their families to support mental wellbeing.

Live Music Now is a UK wide organisation dedicated to improving lives through the power of music. The Northern Ireland branch, which opened in 1992, develops innovative musical approaches to support the wellbeing of children and adults facing challenging circumstances. 32 Northern Irish professional musicians are employed to provide these high-quality music sessions and each year 400 sessions are delivered by the organisation, reaching over 9,000 individuals across the country.

Karen Irwin, Strategic Director at Live Music Now commented, We wish to extend a huge thanks to SPAR NI. This grant will make a significant difference in the delivery of our music projects, reaching more individuals and families across the country who are in need of our support.

Bronagh Luke, Corporate Marketing Controller at Henderson Group, commented, We are privileged to be able to offer the Community Cashback Grant Scheme for another year, helping local charities and organisations across Northern Ireland. It is an honour to show support to such selfless people doing vital work, day in and day out.

These donations are much needed across the country. Each year the entry numbers show us just how many amazing local charities and community groups need help to continue their work.

READ NEXT: Trust makes appeal for Derry donor mums to help provide essential lifesaving breast milk

We hope these grants make a difference to these seven deserving organisations, helping them continue their work and grow the services they are providing.

There are over 300 SPAR stores in Northern Ireland, each acting as community hubs and are dedicated to supporting local charities and community groups, from hospice centres to foodbanks, with store teams going beyond their roles in-store to engage and help
A Two Bridges Walk is taking place in Derry on Sunday, August 3, starting in Sainsburys Car Park at 12noon and walking over the Foyle Bridge and the Peace Bridge.

The walk is being organised by local Mary's Meals volunteers Helen Quinn and Agnes Walsh, and is part of Step By Step To Feed The Next Child, a series of walks across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to raise money for Marys Meals, a charity serving school meals to more than 2.6 million hungry children in 16 countries, including Ethiopia, Haiti and Zimbabwe.

The promise of a daily meal encourages children from the worlds poorest communities into the classroom where they will gain an education that could be their ladder out of poverty.

Helen explains why she supports Mary's Meals: I worked as a teacher in Zimbabwe for three years and saw how children struggle to get an education. The children I taught had no shoes and walked for miles to get to school. They had little food, and no running water at home. Education was not free, so many children alternated between attending school for a year, then taking a year out to work on farms to earn their school fees for the following year.

I have seen how difficult it is for children to focus and learn when they are tired and hungry, with many having nothing to eat all day at school. The work that Marys Meals is doing is vital in supporting children to make the most of school and realise their potential.

Caoimhe McCann, Supporter Engagement Officer at Marys Meals, says: Im so thankful to all our Marys Meals volunteers for arranging and taking on this fantastic Step By Step challenge once again this year! Our team of volunteers are helping us feed so many hungry children with Marys Meals, and it means the world.

It costs Marys Meals just 19.15 to feed a hungry child for a whole school year, which is just 10p per meal. Any donation makes a real difference.

On August 3 those taking part will meet at 11.45 am in Sainsburys car park to begin walking at 12.00noon. The walk will finish by 2.00pm.

READ NEXT: From Stage Beyond to ITV1 for Derry actor

To register to take part in a Step By Step walk in your area, please visit marysmeals.org.uk/step. It is free to register. If you would like to organise a walk or volunteer to help at one of the events, please email info@marysmeals.org.
If youre a content creator, marketer, or someone who cares about presenting polished visuals online, visuals arent just nice to have anymore. With attention spans getting shorter and users continuing to scroll, a great image can make all the difference. However, it is not that easy. Not everyone has the time or patience to learn complex editing software like Photoshop from scratch. Thats where AI-powered image editing tools come in, making high-quality visuals accessible to everyone.

Here, we have curated a list of the five best AI photo editing tools, each offering something unique. Whether youre looking for simplicity, professional-grade results, or something in between, these AI editors will fit your needs. The best part is that you dont need to spend hours learning these tools.

So, whether youre perfecting a LinkedIn profile photo, designing a carousel for Instagram, or editing product shots for your website, AI tools can help make your visuals compelling and professional. Check out these top 5 AI photo editing tools that are worth trying.

Adobe Photoshop

One of the best-known names in editing, Adobe Photoshop, has fully embraced AI. With the introduction of its Firefly AI model, Photoshop now enables users to perform tasks such as removing unwanted objects with a single click using the Remove Tool or expanding an images background with the incredibly useful Generative Fill. These features are especially handy for creators who want professional results without spending hours tweaking every detail. Photoshop still caters to advanced users, but with AI, its becoming far more beginner-friendly too. Other helpful tools include Sky Replacement, Match Font, and Refine Edge, which can instantly elevate the look of any photo.

Canva

Then theres Canva, which has become the go-to design tool for millions of non-designers. Canvas user interface is extremely simple, and its AI-powered tools, like Magic Edit, Magic Eraser, Background Cleaner, and AI Frames, make it possible to create polished designs in minutes. While many of these features are part of Canvas paid plan, the investment can be worthwhile for creators who frequently design for social media, blogs, or presentations.

Pixlr

If youre looking for a tool that blends ease of use with creative control, Pixlr is another solid option. Its available both as an app and a web platform, so you can use it anywhere. Pixlr features intelligent AI tools, including Generative Fill to complete missing parts of an image, Generative Expand to resize visuals without compromising quality, and even AI Face Swap for both fun and professional retouching. Its great for users who want flexibility without complexity.

Imagen

For more serious editing work, especially for photographers, Imagen is a standout. Unlike the others, Imagen learns your personal editing style over time and applies it to your photos automatically. Its Talent AI Profiles allow you to apply editing presets based on the techniques of top photographers, which is super helpful if youre still discovering your own aesthetic. Advanced features like Crop, Straighten, and Smooth Skin also make Imagen a strong choice for professional post-production work.

Also read: Apple iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max: Price in India, design, camera and all other leaks

Google Photos

And of course, we cant forget Google Photos, a tool thats probably already on your phone. While its known for its cloud storage, Google Photos also features powerful AI editing tools, including Magic Eraser, Magic Editor, Portrait Light, and Unblur. These tools are incredibly easy to use and surprisingly effective, especially when you need to quickly clean up a photo before posting. Its ideal for everyday users who want polished images without having to open a separate editing app.
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The number of people accessing emergency accommodation in the North East region, which comprises Louth, Monaghan and Cavan, is on the rise again according to the latest figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

220 adults accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation in the North East region, during the week of 23-29 June 2025. The figure is up from May when 217 people were recorded, and April, when 205 were recorded. 189 were in Louth, and 31 were in Monaghan and Cavan.

Of the 220 adults, 128 were male and 92 were female. 36 were aged 18-24 years old; 125 were aged 25-44; 52 were aged 25-64; and seven people were aged over 65 years of age. 124 were Irish citizens; 38 were EEA/UK citizens; and 58 were non-EEA citizens.

48 families with 101 children also accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 23-29 June 2025. This is down from 51 families with 107 children in May.

Read also: Louth sees increase in house completions

Nationally, 10,957 adults and 4,958 children, giving a total of 15,915 people, were recorded as homeless in June, up from 15,747 in May, yet another record high number of homeless people in the State.

Commenting on the latest figures, Dundalk Simon Community said it is imploring the Government to tackle the crisis. It said that unmet housing targets, the low availability of rental properties and the lack of specific supports for people experiencing homelessness all must be addressed to turn the tide on the emergency.

Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dundalk Simon Community said of the latest national figures: The alarm bells have been ringing for far too long. Were in the thick of a national emergency and still we wait for the Government to take decisive action. Of utmost concern is the rate of homelessness in the capital compared to the rest of the country.

"Since January, homelessness in Dublin has increased at a rate four times greater than outside the capital. A lack of delivery on social housing targets and resources to the housing sector in a growing capital comes with a price. The most vulnerable people are paying that price.

"Month after month, year after year, our capital city has seen more and more of its citizens left without a place to call home. With well over 11,000 stuck in emergency accommodation in Dublin, at what point will the Government decide to do what is necessary to address this great injustice?

She added, "While we await the details of a national housing plan and the potential impact of relaxing rent pressure zones and reducing the size of apartments, there is little in terms of immediate action to address the reality of 15,915 languishing in emergency accommodation.

"The increased investment in housing infrastructure in the new National Development Plan is of course welcome, but people experiencing homelessness right now cannot wait any longer for a solution. Once again, Dundalk Simon Community is calling on the Government to recognise and respond to this emergency in the national housing plan.
Dundalk Chamber has welcomed the ringfencing of 36 billion for housing and water infrastructure and the 24 billion that has been allocated for transport under the National Development Plan.

The Chamber said: While specific projects under the NDP will be announced closer to the Budget, we take this opportunity to reiterate our call for the Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry region to retain its current strategic status.

Positioned at the heart of the Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor (DBEC), this cross-border region has the potential to serve as a vital counterbalance to the concentrated growth in both Dublin and Belfast. With the right infrastructure investment, the region can offer high-quality living, sustainable population growth, and economic resilience.

This region has the largest urban population within one hour's reach and already possesses much of the critical infrastructure needed to support continued growth. However, persistent bottlenecks must be addressed through targeted investment under the NDP.

In their submission they outlined four key priority areas:

Infrastructure Upgrades: Immediate investment is required in water and wastewater treatment facilities, particularly upgrading the Dundalk Wastewater Treatment Plant to meet environmental standards. Enhanced water supply is also essential to meet the needs of a growing population and industrial base.

Transport and Connectivity: Improved public transport and stronger road and rail links throughout the DBEC are critical. This includes better cross-border mobility and direct air connectivity to both Dublin and Belfast airports.

Housing and Enabling Infrastructure: Delivering homes where people want to live requires unlocking zoned land by prioritizing enabling infrastructure such as electricity, water, and transport. Support for modern construction methods and more flexible planning policies is also essential to meet housing demand and ensure affordability.

Sustainable Spatial Development: Planned expansion of Dundalks urban core and its surrounding villages should be guided by balanced and sustainable spatial strategies to support long-term, resilient growth.

We also emphasise the importance of completing the Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) in Drogheda, a project vital not only for Drogheda but for the future development of County Louth as a whole, they said.

Read Next: Louth TD says War on Drugs Is lost without new health-led approach

Chamber President Hanna McDonnell stated: "This Plan must further support our long-term vision  now recognised in the NDP  of the M1 region functioning as a 'linear city' that warrants the same level of investment and policy focus as Irelands existing cities."

Paddy Malone, PRO of Dundalk Chamber, added: "This review offers the Government a chance to make stronger commitments to the M1 Corridor and the wider Dublin-Belfast Economic Corridor, reinforcing both regional development and the Shared Island Initiative."
The Irish Planning Institute, the all-island professional membership body for spatial planners, has announced the shortlist for the 2025 Irish Planning Awards, which includes nominations for two projects in Louth.

The biennial Irish Planning Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievements in the planning profession, including projects and plans at a local, county, regional and national level. The projects from Louth nominated at the 2025 Planning Awards include the plan developed by Louth County Council to improve public participation in the Dundalk Local Area Plan, and the design of the proposed Offshore Wind Maintenance and Operations Facilities planned for Greenore Port.

The 2025 Irish Planning Awards attracted a record 80 entries from all around the country. A panel of expert judges have selected a shortlist for the Awards, which features 55 nominees across 12 categories including: Plan Making; Commercial Projects; Urban Regeneration; Heritage and Culture; Climate Action; Biodiversity; Housing or Community; Infrastructure; Research and Innovation; Diversity and Inclusion; Planning Consultancy and In-House Planning Teams; and Planning Authorities.

An overall Presidents Award will be awarded to the standout winner across all 12 categories. The IPI received submissions from across the island of Ireland including Antrim, Carlow, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Laois, Louth, Monaghan, Meath, Tipperary, Westmeath, and Wicklow, along with work also undertaken by the three regional assemblies and an international project in Lesotho.

Gavin Lawlor, President of the Irish Planning Institute, said: The Irish Planning Institute is delighted to be hosting the biennial awards that celebrate creativity and quality throughout the Irish planning sector. The awards provide an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and reward the innovative work by our members who strive every year to deliver high quality projects and sustainable developments.

With a record 80 entries, submissions for the 2025 Planning Awards were particularly strong, with excellent examples of sustainable, innovative and thoughtful planning right across the various categories. I want to congratulate each of the nominees for being shortlisted and I look forward to joining you all at our awards ceremony in Clontarf Castle Hotel in September.

The 2025 awards will be presented at a black-tie gala dinner and ceremony in Clontarf Castle Hotel on Thursday 25, September 2025.
HANOI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam recently held a ceremony to present admission letters to 34 Vietnamese students who have been awarded Chinese government scholarships for academic year 2025/26.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei on Thursday urged the recipients to discover China with their own footsteps, transform their lives with knowledge, and forge friendships with sincerity.

He also expressed hope that they would draw inspiration from China's modernization, dedicate their youth and wisdom to the cause of socialism, and contribute to mutual understanding between the peoples of the two nations.

Nguyen Hai Thanh, deputy director general of the International Cooperation Department under Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, thanked China for its support to Vietnam's education sector.

Thanh called on the students to cherish their time abroad, study diligently, and strive to become both pillars of their nation's development and a bridge of friendship between Vietnam and China. 
A Cork TD has called on the Government to include a rescue package for rural post offices in the upcoming Budget 2026.

Michael Collins, Leader of Independent Ireland and Cork South West TD, warned that without immediate intervention, hundreds of local post offices across the country could face closure.

He also confirmed that he will be writing to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to formally urge them to include a rural post office support package in Budget 2026.

Mr Collins said his office has been contacted by postmasters and postmistresses from rural communities who are concerned and crying out for support.

Without increased support, as many as 40% of rural post offices could close by 2026. This is about more than a service.

"The local post office provides a lifeline for people, they are often the hub of small communities.

This Government loves to talk about balanced regional development and rural inclusion, well here is their chance to put it into practice.

Postmasters and postmistresses are doing heroic work, often at personal and financial cost, just to keep the lights on. They need backing, they need certainty and they need it now.

Mr Collins added:

We have these buildings, these trusted people and these networks in place. We should be expanding their role, not letting them disappear.

Citing the importance of post offices in rural areas, Mr Collins highlighted the case of Kealkill in West Cork, where the post office has been operating for the last two decades by the local postmistress ,alongside a family run convenience shop in Burkes Gala.

They serve customers from Ballingeary to Dunmanway. They know their community.

They help neighbours with everything from doctors appointments to reversing the car. That kind of quiet, everyday support is the backbone of rural Ireland.
The Cork-based President of the Irish Hotels Federation has outlined that plans to cut Vat for the hospitality sector would be an important step to support the industry.

The comments from Michael Magner, who also owns the Vienna Woods Hotel in Cork, come following on from an interview on RTE Radio 1 with Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke who defended government plans to cut Vat for the hospitality sector.

The current Programme for Government contains a commitment to reduce the Vat rate in the hospitality sector from 13.5% to 9%.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Magner said the proposal would assist vulnerable food led businesses that have faced an uncertain future and rising cost challenges in recent years.

The commitment from the Minister to stand over the commitment that is in the programme for government towards the reduction of the Vat rate to 9% is welcome.

It is needed on the basis of the food sector. The cut in Vat hospitality is for food businesses. Therefore it doesnt apply to hotel accommodation as is our understanding.

What it would mean for those businesses whose turnover is primarily made up of food sales, it will allow them an opportunity to again to have some viability into the future.

The current government has been formed since the start of this year. With that, we see tourism and hospitality being moved into the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

That is the absolute correct place for the industry to be in and it is something the sector and the profession have been calling for a very long time.

We now have a Minister in Peter Burke, who is really supportive of our industry and understands the complexities of the sector.

Mr Magner added that with the right policies and a positive businesses environment, he believes tourism and hospitality can have a positive future ahead.

The industry wouldn't be calling for a restoration of 9% Vat if it didnt make sense and that is the reality of it.

The isnt a case of whereby businesses are trying to profiteer or return what could be seen as super normal profits.

This is actually about ensuring businesses have a chance of survival and that is what it comes down to."
A Cork TD has said that the Government is determined to accelerate the pace of housing delivery across the county as figures show that 843 new housing completions were recorded in Cork during the second quarter of this year.

Data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in it quarterly new dwellings completions report shows that throughout April, May and June, there were 327 new housing completions in the Cork City Council area and 516 in the Cork County Council area.

This brings the total number of new housing completions recorded across Cork during this period to 843.

This represents a 1.2% increase in new housing completions across Cork when compared to Q2, 2024, which saw 301 new housing completions in the Cork City Council area and 532 in the Cork County Council area.

The CSO data also showed that in Q2, 2025, Cork County Council was the local authority with the most single dwelling completions, totalling 152.

Fine Gael Cork North Central TD Colm Burke said that while there is still more to do, the increase in housing completions in Q2 of this year shows progress in housing delivery.

The signs of this accelerated progress to deliver homes is evident here in Cork, said Mr Burke.

We all know supply is central to dealing with the key issues we face in housing, so the figures will come as a relief to families and individuals in Cork who will live in these homes.

Across the country, there were 9,214 new dwelling completions in April, May, and June, a rise of 35% on the same three months of 2024.

More than half of the completions across the country were scheme dwellings, 33% were apartments, and 17% were single dwellings, showing the wide range of new homes being built, he added.

Behind these figures are the people, individuals, couples, and families, who now own their own homes in Cork.

We know there is more to do to ramp up housing delivery, and we are determined to accelerate the pace of housing delivery in Cork.

Todays housing completion figures demonstrate what we can see happening around us in Cork, that more houses are coming on the market.

[We] want to make sure people can own their own home right across Cork."
A total of nine projects in Cork have been awarded more than 800,000 to deliver essential water and wastewater infrastructure.

Funding of 73.9m has been allocated for 291 projects across the country, under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 20242026, with nine projects selected in Cork.

The Rural Water Programme, through exchequer funding, delivers improvements to private domestic water and wastewater services in areas of rural Ireland where there are no public Uisce Eireann water/wastewater services.

Under the scheme, the nine projects in Cork will be awarded a total of 803,347.

Projects awarded funding include Ballyguyroe/Tankardstown GWS (34,850); Blackpool/Curraglass GWS (1,785); Castlepark GWS (12,750); Clonmult (Dungourney) GWS (54,509); Graigue GWS (8,925); Killally Ballinrush GWS (27,459); Kilmore, Tooreehlahard, Skeheen and Coolowen GWSs (25,755); Scarteen, Desert, Shanagh, Dromore, Ballyroberts and Lissacrue GWSs (49,378); and Glenacarney GWS (587,936).

Works to be completed in Cork include Measure A4  water conservation and leakage reduction and prevention  and Measure A6, the taking-in-charge of GWS and Group Sewerage Schemes.

Fine Gael Cork North Central TD Colm Burke said that the completion of these projects will enable greater access to high-quality water and wastewater infrastructure, therefore addressing a wide range of needs in Cork.

This announcement is great news for communities in Cork, said Mr Burke.

Its so important that we protect our water sources and ensure the highest standards in water treatment.

We must ensure that communities across Cork have the benefit of high-quality infrastructure and water services.
A group of climate campaigners, activists, councillors and concerned members of the public, led by Not Here Not Anywhere (NHNA), held a demonstration at Cork City Hall on Saturday evening against liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

The group chanted: Flooded Lee, rising seas, we say no to LNG and handed out leaflets to passers-by.

They expressed concerns that the governments scrapping of the policy banning imports of fracked gas earlier this year has opened the door to LNG companies seeking to develop LNG import terminals around the Irish coast, including in the Port of Cork.

The campaigners are pushing for the passage of an anti-LNG motion that was submitted in June by Cork City North East councillor Oliver Moran of the Green Party, which is due to be discussed by council after the summer break.

Mr Morans motion proposes: That, as a Mission City to be climate neutral by 2030, Cork City Council is opposed to the development of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, as new fossil fuel infrastructure, and will work to ensure no LNG terminals are developed in the Cork region; and shall focus its support on the development of large-scale renewable infrastructure for energy security instead.

The motion is due to be debated and voted on at the councils environment, water and amenities strategic policy committee in September.

Councillors Oliver Moran and Niamh O'Connor at the LNG protest.

Mr Moran, who attended the demonstration, said that Cork City Council is a member of regional energy stakeholder groups and an EU Mission City to be climate neutral by 2030: LNG has no part in that and buying into LNG is only playing a card against ourselves.

Corks future is in renewables. Its why the Port of Cork is investing 100m in a deepwater berth dedicated to servicing offshore energy.

Its why Cork ETB, UCC and MTU have come together to provide a first-of-its-kind maritime and offshore safe pass course at the National Maritime College in Ringaskiddy. Thats to train people in the skills to work on turbines at sea.

It shows how offshore energy will bring jobs and energy security tied to Cork. LNG will bring neither of those. So as a region we need to keep our focus and everybody elses on the work underway for offshore renewables, without distraction.

NHNA campaigner and PhD researcher Niamh Guiry said that the people of Cork do not want and cannot afford any new fossil fuel infrastructure in the midst of a widespread and devastating climate crisis.

She added: We are at a pivotal point in history.

Now is the time for radical action and political bravery, not new LNG infrastructure, especially since Cork is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise and flooding.

Ms Guiry explained that LNG terminals are expensive to develop and operate, which incentivises the LNG operator to use the terminal as much as possible to recover costs.

It comes amid an advisory opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week which means that if states approve fossil fuel projects or provide fossil fuel subsidies, they may be in breach of international law.

She said: Its unthinkable that Ireland could be locked into fossil fuel infrastructure and dependency for years to come.

We welcome the historic ICJ advisory opinion, which means that pursuing the production and consumption of fossil fuels may risk running afoul of international law.

We hope that this will make the Government reconsider any plans for LNG infrastructure, put in place necessary policy and legislation to prevent new fossil fuel infrastructure, and facilitate a rapid transition away from fossil fuels.
Half a century ago, in New York, Cork couple Patrick and Kathleen Mulcahy started a conversation about how they could help children from Northern Ireland who were suffering at the height of the Troubles.

They had the idea of bringing the children over to enjoy a holiday with host families in the U.S.

Patrick, with his siblings. Denis, John and Tom, wanted to do something constructive after watching footage of the Troubles on their TV screens.

At first, they experienced some resistance in the community because Protestant children were included in their initiative.

However, they stuck with it and the idea became the volunteer-run Project Children, founded in the summer of 1975 by Patrick and Kathleen. Denis and his wife Miriam took over the reins of the project after Pat and his wife returned to Ireland.

After this transition, the operation was managed by the Mulcahys and the volunteers in the U.S and Northern Ireland. They brought the first six children to Greenwood Lake in New York, in 1975.

The initiative became a charity dedicated to fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, by bringing the children from divided communities to live together and experience life in America.

Over the years, 23,000 children, some as young as eight, were taken to America on a six-week holiday.

Denis Mulcahy Jr (left) and Denis Mulcahy, Project Children Chairman (centre), outside the Peace Campus in Monaghan with, from left, Cathy Bennett, TD, David Maxwell TD, Minister Heather Humphreys, Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, and charity advocates Linda Croston and Catherine Flood

The Mulcahys hail from Rockchapel, and their roots are deeply embedded in the local culture and community. Cork, with its rich history, vibrant arts scene and strong sense of community, played a vital role in shaping the Mulcahys early experiences and values.

Denis emigrated to the U.S in 1962 and joined the New York City Police Department in 1969.

Inspired by the struggles and conflicts in Northern Ireland, he utilised his background and experiences to advance the Project Children initiative, to allow young people the opportunity for personal growth and cross-community friendships.

This programme has not only enriched the lives of many children, it has also served as a testament to the Mulcahys commitment to peace-building and social development.

His familys efforts through Project Children have been recognised widely, highlighting his dedication to fostering intercultural understanding and helping young people from different backgrounds connect in meaningful and transformative ways.

Denis has won many awards and accolades. In 1993, President Mary Robinson presented him with the Irish Voices Community Person of the Year Award. He was also nominated in 1973 and 1993 for the Nobel Peace Prize, and was runner-up to Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa.

In March, 1994, Denis was chosen as one of the top 100 Irish Americans of the Year, receiving an award from former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds. He was also a guest of President Bill Clinton at the St Patricks Day celebration at the White House.

In 1995, Denis received the Top Cop Award in Washington D.C. from U.S Vice President Al Gore, and in November that year, President Clinton asked Denis to join him on his historic trip to Northern Ireland.

That same year, ABC News named him Person of the Week and The World of Hibernia considered him one of 50 SuperIrish.

A 2016 TV documentary, How To Defuse A Bomb: The Project Children Story featured a contribution by Bill Clinton. It highlighted Mulcahys dedication to peace and reconciliation, showcasing how he used his expertise in bomb disposal to protect lives and promote understanding between communities.

The film illustrated the lasting impact of Project Children on the lives of the young people involved, and the broader implications for peace in the North.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Project Children in 2025 and ensure its message of peace through the perspective of children endures for future generations, the organisation has established a cultural collaboration with Monaghan County Council and the Peace Campus in Monaghan town. This partnership is focused on implementing cross-community and cross-border peace initiatives throughout the island of Ireland.

Denis Mulcahy, Chairman and co-founder of Project Children said I am very pleased about our partnership with Monaghan County Council and it is an honour to perpetuate our 50-year legacy at the Monaghan Peace Campus.

The move is garnering great support from our key Project Children volunteers both in the U.S and Ireland, and we are entering this next phase of our programme with a renewed focus on educating the next generation on the importance of peace.

Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, said: The Cultural Partnership with Project Children will create a lasting legacy for the people of Monaghan and the surrounding region.

It will provide a unique chance for the thousands of children, now adults, and their families who were impacted by Project Children to reconnect and foster new relationships within the community.

As part of this collaboration, efforts will be made to protect and preserve the charitys impressive 50-year legacy at the Monaghan Peace Campus. This modern facility will house the archives of Project Children.

Charity advocates Catherine Flood and Linda Croston are leading the Project Children initiative focused on archival management, community engagement and fundraising, in both the U.S and Ireland.

Liam Bradley, Curator at Monaghan County Museum, said: This truly remarkable story of resilience and belief in a better tomorrow is both inspiring and humbling. The museum is proud to be the new home of the Project Children story.

I look forward to many years of working in collaboration with Project Children as we explore the thousands of fascinating stories it has created, while making new ones with the next generation of people who call this part of the world home.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the life-changing initiative, Derry-born author Jane Buckley has been commissioned to write the story of Project Children, detailing its origins, the intern programme (a summer work and work travel experience) and the ongoing Mulcahy Scholarship.

Buckley recalls school friends participatong in Project Children trips to the U.S, and she also made numerous references to its success in her recent Troubles-based fictional series, Stones Corner - Turmoil, Darkness, Light, and Hope.

The Project Children book is set to be released in 2026.

From a modest conversation to the establishment of a peace campus, the Project Children journey exemplifies how ones roots can ignite a life-long commitment to fostering positive change.

Alongside the archives at the Monaghan Peace Campus and the upcoming book, their efforts ensure that Project Childrens historical milestones are preserved for future generations and accessible to the wider community.
People view an AI-powered textile machine at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A staff member (C) introduces an AR glasses product to visitors at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

Visitors view a robot for quality checking at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

A child plays a game with a humanoid robot at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A visitor takes photos of a humanoid robot of Tesla at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

Humanoid robots simulate operation scenarios at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

People watch a robotic dog showing its skills at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Visitors try an electronic virtual drum product at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A child takes over a product he has purchased from a humanoid robot sales assistant at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

This photo taken on July 26, 2025 shows the opening ceremony of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

An electric vertical take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft is pictured at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

A visitor interacts with a humanoid robot at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

A visitor touches a robot equipped with visual and tactile sensors at the exhibition area of the 2025 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in east China's Shanghai, July 26, 2025. The event kicked off here on Saturday. More than 1,000 officials and representatives of industries, universities and research institutes from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A staff member (R) of Westwell, a Chinese technology company, introduces a Q-Tractor P40 Plus new energy unmanned vehicle to a visitor during its debut at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

People look at an AIGC art installation at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025.

The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

People view a smart industrial copilot system at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025.

The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A robot demonstrates random item sorting through text recognition to visitors at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025.

The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Humanoid robots serve popcorn and beverage at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025.

The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

Visitors experience a ride in a next-generation intelligent cockpit system based on a large model by StepFun at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025.

The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A visitor tries an AI-powered video editing tool at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025.

The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

People visit a display of smart glasses at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025.

The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

A staff member of Tencent (L) introduces Tairos, an modular embodied intelligence open platform, to visitors at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

Visitors learn about a humanoid robot at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

Visitors experience smart glasses with payment function at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

Visitors try the WPS Office AI system at the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025.

The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

China Mobile's self-developed robot dogs and humanoid robot dance at the company's booth during the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)

A visitor takes photos of a product at the booth of XtalPi during the 2025 World AI Conference in east China's Shanghai, July 27, 2025. The ongoing 2025 World AI Conference showcases the world's latest AI advancements while providing a platform for visitors to access AI products and technologies. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
As if we needed more ways to grow our Steam libraries with games we'll never finish or even play. Now, Steam is experimenting with a redesigned storefront menu as part of its latest beta update to help sell more games. Instead of being overwhelmed with text links and cluttered menu buttons in the current version, Steam's store page remodel combines everything into a more polished and organized menu at the top.

In its blog post, Steam said that the redesign is supposed to "provide easier access to the places Steam users most frequently visit." At the top, the new browse feature lets you get right into digging through games, based on options like top sellers, new releases or discounts. Next to browse, the recommendations button lets you explore what Steam thinks you'll like, based on other games in your library, your games' playtimes or even community recommendations. To get a more tailored feel, the categories menu button will give you a look at your top genres and offer some suggested tags to find similar games.

Steam also revamped the store's search function to show the most popular searches, your recently viewed games, and top genres. There's even a button for advanced search for users who want to sort through games with specific filters and tags. None of these features are new, but Steam's new look makes it easier to get to the most useful parts of the store page.

Steam

"With these changes, were aiming to make your experience smoother and more tailored to your needs," Steam wrote in its blog post. "We've been hearing from players, and experiencing ourselves, that some of the most commonly visited areas of Steam were hard to get to."

We may be getting improved search functionality with Steam's storefront, but it comes amid frustrations over Steam's recent policy change. Earlier this month, Steam delisted tons of titles with adult or NSFW content to appease its popular payment processors, like Visa and Mastercard, leading to criticism of setting a worrying precedent of censorship. For now, the store page redesign is still part of the Steam Client Beta, where you can submit feedback to help shape the final look.
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The euro area posted a moderately stronger external position in 2024, supported by a rebound in its current account surplus and a rise in its net international investment position (NIIP), according to the IMFs External Sector Report.

However, the IMF cautioned that regional imbalances, weak investment in key economies, and structural rigidities could pose challenges to long-term resilience unless addressed through targeted reforms and deeper economic integration.

The current account balance increased to 2.8 per cent of GDP in 2024, up from 1.7 per cent in 2023, driven primarily by a fall in energy import prices and a surge in non-energy goods exports. Despite this improvement, the IMF projects the CA surplus will gradually decline to around 2 per cent of GDP in the medium term as domestic demand picks up.

The IMFs External Balance Assessment (EBA) estimated a cyclically adjusted current account of 2.9 per cent of GDP, compared to a model-based norm of 1.4 per cent. After accounting for country-specific statistical adjustmentsespecially for Ireland and The Netherlandsthe staff assessed the CA gap at 1 per cent of GDP, within a range of 0.2 to 1.8 per cent. Persistently large surpluses in Germany and The Netherlands were attributed to elevated household and corporate savings and subdued investment levels.

The euro areas net international investment position rose significantly, reaching 10.9 per cent of GDP by end-2024its highest level in over a decade. This was supported not only by the current account surplus but also by valuation effects in the final quarter of the year. Gross external assets and liabilities stood at 250.3 and 249.4 per cent of GDP, respectively.

However, underlying asymmetries persist: Germany and other creditor nations continue to hold elevated net external assets, while countries such as Portugal and Spain remain heavily indebted externally. The IMF stated that these debtor countries could face an elevated risk of sudden stops in capital inflows under tighter global financial conditions.

Despite a slight appreciation of the CPI-based real effective exchange rate (REER) in 2024up 0.5 per cent from 2023 levelsthe IMF assessed a REER gap of -3.1 per cent, suggesting the euro area currency remained somewhat undervalued based on current account dynamics. This contrasts with the EBA REER index model, which suggests a modest overvaluation.

On the capital and financial account side, the euro area recorded a financial account surplus of 3.2 per cent of GDP in 2024, up from 1.9 per cent the previous year. This was largely fuelled by a recovery in net direct investment, offsetting weaker other investment flows. Portfolio investments and derivatives made smaller contributions.

The IMF noted that while risks remain manageable overallespecially due to the euros status as a global reserve currencylarge sovereign and bank sector financing needs could amplify vulnerabilities in the face of sustained market volatility or monetary tightening globally.

To sustain external stability and reduce internal asymmetries, the IMF recommended a recalibration of domestic demand composition and targeted reforms at both national and EU levels. Strengthening the EU single market through reduced regulatory burdens, streamlined trade processes, enhanced labour mobility, and financial market integration could raise productivity and resilience. Completing the banking and capital markets unions was identified as critical to improving risk sharing and supporting investment, especially in high-debt countries.

IMF further advised countries with excessive current account surpluses to stimulate domestic demand and increase investment, while those with weaker external positions should raise public savings and undertake productivity-enhancing reforms.

Cautious use of industrial policy, targeted only to correct market failures, and coordinated trade measures promoting transparency and deeper integration through free trade agreements, were also highlighted. Additionally, the IMF encouraged reforms to improve energy security, boost EU-level public investment in essential goods, and mitigate demographic pressures through long-term productivity strategies.

Although the euro is free-floating and reserves held by euro area economies remain low by global standards, the IMF concluded that the euro areas aggregate external vulnerabilities are limited. Still, the persistence of historical policy gaps and divergent current account trends within the bloc remain a source of macroeconomic friction that warrants continued monitoring.

The euro area's external position strengthened in 2024, driven by a higher current account surplus and NIIP. The IMF highlighted risks from weak investment and regional imbalances, urging reforms to boost domestic demand, complete banking unions, and deepen EU integration. Despite some REER undervaluation, overall vulnerabilities remain limited but uneven across member states.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Salman shared a photo of himself wearing a black t-shirt with 'Being human' written on it. Along with it, he wrote, "Present becomes yr past, past catches up 2 your future, present Is a gift, do right with it, mistakes repeated becomes a habit n then your character, dont blame any 1 , no 1 can make u do anything that u dont want to. My dad just said this to me, its so true. Kash I heard this earlier but never too late."



Take a look:

There was a time when's X (formerly Twitter) account felt like his personal diary. From tweeting in support of his industry colleagues, to sharing his daily musings and at times, random ramblings, he often bared his heart on the social media platform. While the superstar has dialled that down, he recently took to his Instagram account to share something personal. In a cryptic post, he reflected on some advice his father,, gave him and how hein life.
Duluth, Georgia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 27, 2025) - Andersen, Tate & Carr, P.C., a full-service law practice in Georgia, is happy to support the Gwinnett Great Days of Service event that will take place in October 2025. The company's involvement shows how deeply committed it is to community service and charitable activities, which is a core value for the business. Andersen, Tate & Carr, P.C. believes that serving others is a way of life. Employees spend a lot of time and energy on community projects all year round.





Andersen, Tate & Carr to Support Gwinnett Great Days of Service Initiative in October 2025



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Gwinnett Great Days of Service is the biggest community volunteer program in Gwinnett County. Every fall, the program brings together thousands of volunteers from businesses, schools, civic groups, and nonprofits for a powerful weekend of building community, making connections, and making a difference. This group effort meets some of Gwinnett's most urgent needs by working to end hunger, homelessness, and food insecurity, as well as helping veterans, elders, people with disabilities, and education. The Gwinnett Great Days of Service weekend in 2025 will be from October 17 to 19. From September 1 to October 16, 2025, people can sign up to volunteer for the event.

The employees and lawyers at Andersen, Tate & Carr often do things to help the community. People in the community know its lawyers as leaders since they serve on the executive boards of several non-profit and philanthropic organizations. The company also takes part in activities like Gwinnett's Great Days of Service and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, in addition to these positions. A lot of the lawyers at the business are also members and leaders of civic groups like Kiwanis Clubs and Rotary Clubs.

The company also believes in helping the next generation by working with programs like the Gwinnett County Public School's QUEST Gifted Internship and the Gwinnett School of Math Science & Technology's Junior Fellowship Experience and Senior Capstone Experience to teach and mentor high school students.

This long-standing commitment to community involvement is shown by the fact that the company hosted its 27th annual Relay for Life Cookout on April 18, 2025. The event included live music, games, and a silent auction, all of which were meant to raise money for cancer research and bring the community together.

About Andersen, Tate & Carr

The company, which is known for its wide range of legal services in Georgia, including those for personal injury lawyers in Georgia, says that helping others is its core value. As their website shows, Andersen, Tate & Carr (ATC) offers a wide range of legal services in various sectors. The firm's continued support for the Gwinnett Great Days of Service program shows how much they care about the community that helps them with their legal job.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260220

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Glasgow, Kentucky--(Newsfile Corp. - July 27, 2025) - The law firm of Flora Templeton Stuart is honored to announce that its founder attorney, Flora Templeton Stuart, has been selected by the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission as Woman of the Year, 2025. This prestigious award is a testament to Ms. Stuart's exceptional service to the legal community through her years of service to the Bowling Green and Warren County communities.





Attorney Flora Templeton Stuart Named 2025 Woman of the Year by Bowling Green Human Rights Commission



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The Bowling Green Human Rights Commission (BGHRC) is an ordinance-established department on August 1, 1966, by the City of Bowling Green. The Commission advocates for opening doors of opportunity, eliminating discrimination, and building positive human relations in the community. Receiving the 2025 Woman of the Year award from the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission is a great accomplishment for Attorney Flora Templeton Stuart. Her efforts have not only promoted the development of her professional life but have also acted as an inspiration for many women who are aspiring in the field of law.

With nearly five decades of experience in Social Security Disability, Workers' Compensation, and Personal Injury law, Attorney Stuart has become a trusted legal authority for clients across Kentucky and Tennessee. Since becoming the leader of the firm, she has remained focused on advocacy, ethics, and public service. Flora Templeton Stuart's recognition as the 2025 Woman of the Year BGHRC award winner is a feat not only for her but also for the law firm.

In response to Attorney Stuart being honored as the 2025 Woman of the Year by the Bowling Green Human Rights Commission, a spokesperson of the law firm stated, "Ms. Stuart is proud to put her 50 years of experience representing the injured. As a member of the Kentucky Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association, she has collected millions for her seriously injured clients so that they can have a better future."

The 2025 Woman of the Year Bowling Green Human Rights Commission award is a highlight in the history of the Law Offices of Flora Templeton Stuart. As the company continues to serve customers in Kentucky and Tennessee, Ms. Stuart upholds her purpose of justice, equality, and community service. This award reflects her devotion to personal injury law and her role as a pioneering woman attorney in her area.

For more information on Attorney Flora Templeton and her prestigious award, please visit the law firm's website at https://florastuart.com/.

About Flora Templeton Stuart

Dedicated to serving for five decades as a personal injury and car accident lawyer in Kentucky, Attorney Flora Stuart is a renowned lawyer specializing in personal injury suits. She is the first female attorney to represent clients in her community and has been recognized for her trailblazing work. Ms. Stuart's leadership has been featured by national and local publications and broadcasting stations like WNKY (CBS/NBC), Fox, ABC, NBC, The New York Times, and Time magazine. She is a member of both the Kentucky Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association, which has enabled her to recover millions for badly injured clients. Flora is committed to making her legal practice beneficial to the lives of her clients and society.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260219

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Baltimore, Maryland--(Newsfile Corp. - July 27, 2025) - SanchezGarrison & Associates, LLC has launched a public awareness campaign aimed at helping Maryland residents better understand their options under U.S. bankruptcy law. The initiative focuses on clarifying common misconceptions about bankruptcy and offering accessible guidance on debt relief, as a growing number of households face mounting financial strain.





SanchezGarrison & Associates Launches Campaign to Educate Maryland Residents on Bankruptcy Options



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The campaign represents an expansion of the Baltimore-based bankruptcy law firm's outreach efforts, incorporating public education into its broader legal support services. As part of the initiative, SanchezGarrison & Associates has released a series of online resources outlining key distinctions between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, eligibility requirements, and the structure of repayment plans.

The firm is also hosting informational webinars and collaborating with community organizations to broaden access to legal knowledge. According to the firm, misinformation remains one of the biggest obstacles for individuals considering bankruptcy, with many still believing that filing permanently harms financial futures.

Bankruptcy is a legal process designed to provide a fresh start, not a reflection of personal failure, the firm said. Through this campaign, the team wants to ensure Marylanders have accurate and practical information when evaluating their financial options.

The educational materials explain that Chapter 7 bankruptcy typically allows eligible individuals to discharge most unsecured debt through a court-overseen liquidation process. Chapter 13, by contrast, offers a structured plan to repay debts over time for those with steady income. The campaign also addresses related topics such as debt consolidation, communicating with creditors, and assessing the benefits of filing bankruptcy.

SanchezGarrison & Associates noted that a 32% rise in personal bankruptcy filings across Maryland in 2024 played a key role in the decision to launch this campaign. The firm described the effort as aligned with its mission to provide legal support for residents facing financial hardship.

Many individuals delay exploring bankruptcy due to stigma or incomplete information, the firm said. This initiative is intended to provide clarity, enabling residents to consider their options with greater confidence. For those seeking a Baltimore bankruptcy lawyer, the firm offers both virtual and in-person consultations as part of its commitment to accessibility.

The campaign also addresses Maryland-specific legal considerations. Unlike some states, Maryland uses federal exemption laws in bankruptcy cases, which can lead to unique asset protection concerns. The firm's resources help residents understand issues such as wage garnishment, creditor harassment, and the legal protections available during bankruptcy proceedings.

Residents are encouraged to explore the firm's online resource center and schedule a consultation when ready. As a dedicated bankruptcy law firm, SanchezGarrison & Associates provides legal representation focused exclusively on helping individuals and families overcome debt.

About SanchezGarrison & Associates, LLC

SanchezGarrison & Associates, LLC is a Maryland-based bankruptcy law firm that assists clients with Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, creditor negotiations, and long-term financial strategies. With more than 50 years of combined legal experience, the team serves clients across the state, offering both remote and in-person consultations. The firm focuses on delivering tailored solutions to those navigating financial difficulty.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260218

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Frisco, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - July 27, 2025) - Scroggins Law Group, a North Texas-based family law firm, has released a new online guide to help individuals across the United States in understanding the divorce process. The guide provides a step-by-step overview of key elements in divorce proceedings, including filing requirements, child custody considerations, and property division.

Scroggins Law Group Launches Guide to Help U.S. Citizens Understand the Divorce Process

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The resource aims to support individuals at different stages of a divorce by presenting legal procedures in clear, accessible language. While grounded in Texas law, the guide outlines the typical stages of a divorce-from filing the petition to the final decree-in a format that may also assist readers from other jurisdictions seeking general information.

The firm, composed of top-notch divorce lawyers and child custody lawyers, said the guide responds to a frequent concern among those dealing with family law issues: the lack of understandable, reliable legal information. Many people entering the divorce process often feel overwhelmed or unsure of their next steps. Scroggins Law Group created the guide to help reduce confusion and provide clarity on what to expect.

The firm said by offering this structured and straightforward resource, the team hopes to ease some of the uncertainty people experience when beginning a divorce. It's part of the firm's ongoing effort to make the legal process more transparent for those going through a major life change.

The publication covers a range of financial and parenting issues that commonly emerge during divorce proceedings. Topics include temporary orders, discovery, mediation, and trial preparation. The guide also focuses on critical concerns such as child custody arrangements and the division of community property, offering readers a better understanding of how these matters are typically handled under Texas family law.

Scroggins Law Group noted that this release represents a business milestone in its wider mission to support individuals during family transitions. Many clients start their divorce journey with limited knowledge of legal procedures. The guide is meant to serve as a foundation for more informed decision-making.

Led by attorney Mark L. Scroggins, who is board-certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, the firm provides legal services across Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Fort Worth, and other surrounding cities. The team has more than 100 years of combined experience handling divorce and custody matters, including litigation, mediation, and enforcement of court orders.

This new publication builds on Scroggins Law Group's ongoing role as a legal advocate for individuals facing both contested and uncontested divorces. The firm's website offers further information on its services and provides free access to the new guide.

About Scroggins Law Group

Scroggins Law Group, PLLC, is a full-service family law firm based in North Texas. The firm handles a range of family law cases, including divorce, custody, child support, mediation, and high net worth separations. Led by board-certified divorce lawyer Mark L. Scroggins, the practice is known for delivering focused legal representation tailored to the needs of each case.

Serving communities such as Dallas, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, and Fort Worth, the firm's team of divorce lawyers and child custody lawyers brings decades of combined experience to resolving complex family law issues. Scroggins Law Group remains committed to offering accessible and practical support for individuals navigating divorce and custody matters.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/260217

SOURCE: Plentisoft
While the fiasco between Deepika and Vanga has been garnering headlines for quite some time, a new report has emerged discussing the actresss demands for Spirit.

After exiting from Sandeep Reddy Vanga-Prabhas biggie Spirit, the latest reports suggest that the actress has taken the same step for Kalki 2898 AD 2.

While the fiasco between Deepika and Vanga has been garnering headlines for quite some time, a new report has emerged discussing the actresss demands for Spirit.

The actor had reportedly demanded 25 crores for approximately 35 days of shoot, along with a 10% profit share, extensive entourage expenses, and even expressed unwillingness to deliver dialogues in Telugusomething the director felt strongly about. To top it off, confidential plot details from Spirit were allegedly leaked, which raised serious concerns among the producers," the source told News18.

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Now Farah Khan paid a visit to actress Radhika Madans house and asked her about the actress earlier days in television. Madan revealed, The moment the camera was switched on, I felt very safe. I never felt that safe in my life. I wanted to be a professional dancer. The way I used to feel on the stage, you cant see anyone else, I felt the same in front of the camera. I thought of course mujhe nahi lenge, but within three days I got a call for a look test and within 2 days, I was shooting for my first show.

When Farah asked, You didnt have an 8-hour shift, I am guessing?", Radhikka replied, 56 hours non-stop or 48 hours non-stop." At this point, Farah hinted that even she does not support an 8-hour work shift and shared, Aise tapke hi toh sona banta hai (this is how gold is made)."

According to the report, Sandeep believes actors speaking their own lines. Contrary to speculation, her restricted filming schedule of under 8 hours a day was never the primary issue. In filmmaking, working hours are fluid and depend on location, lighting, and various technical factors. You could shoot for 2 hours or 8, depending on the scene. What truly matters is flexibility, collaboration, and respect for the craft. Its about commitment. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga believes actors speaking their own lines builds authenticity and emotional connect with the audience," the source added.
An Australian tourist has hailed his treatment for a sudden cerebral hemorrhage in a Chinese hospital, saying it was the best medical care he'd ever experienced. #China #ChinaTravel #MedicalCare




Lever continued narrating a dark chapter of his life and said, My wife was very worried about what the doctors in India had told her, but I somehow convinced her.

Legendary actor and comedian Johnny Lever has shed light on his sons cancer diagnosis and broken his silence like never before. His son Jessey has acted in films like War and Yeh Saali Aashiqui.

The actor revealed in an interview, My son developed a knot on his neck, and he went through several types of treatment, including an operation, but they couldnt remove the tumour because it was intertwined with nerves.

He added, They warned me that they cannot operate, as my son risks losing his eyesight or getting paralysed. I saw my son lying on the hospital bed, with the cut still open. They gave us medication to melt the tumour, and my son used to take 40-50 pills each day, but it didnt work, and the tumour just kept growing.

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Lever continued narrating a dark chapter of his life and said, My wife was very worried about what the doctors in India had told her, but I somehow convinced her. I had some good doctor friends in Jersey, and they suggested a doctor called Dr Jatin Shah. Even though I was not a very pious person, during that time I prayed a lot.

He added, The operation took place, and I was so engrossed in prayer that I felt as if I was in the operation theatre, and my wife thought I had gone mad. Shortly after they brought him out, he raised his left hand up and signalled to me that he was okay.
Heres a look at all the upcoming sequels from the superstar that have kept audiences anticipation at an all-time high.

If theres one actor who has truly cracked the sequel code, its Ajay Devgn, rightfully hailed as Bollywoods Franchise King. From Golmaal and Dhamaal to recent blockbusters like Drishyam and Raid, he has not only delivered iconic originals but ensured that every new addition to the franchise delivered bigger and better cinematic moments. Whether its laughter, action, or suspense, theres no genre Ajay Devgn cant master.

Heres a look at all the upcoming sequels from the superstar that have kept audiences anticipation at an all-time high.

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Son of Sardaar 2

From the pinds of Punjab to the streets of Scotland, Ajay Devgns Jassi finds himself caught between four unpredictable women and a deadly mafia crossfire. Will he survive this madcap ride? Catch all the chaos and comedy unfold in Son of Sardaar 2, the ultimate family entertainer, hitting the big screens on 1st of August, 2025!

De De Pyaar De 2

Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preets rom-com De De Pyaar De struck a chord with audiences, blending laughter with a fresh take on love, marriage, and messy relationships. Now, the duo is back to tickle your funny bone once again with De De Pyaar De 2. Directed by Anshul Sharma, this laugh-packed sequel hits theatres on 14th of November, 2025!

Drishyam 3

October 2nd is no longer just a date, its a phenomenon, thanks to Ajay Devgns iconic portrayal of Vijay Salgaokar. With Drishyam 2, the stakes were even higher, and Devgn once again kept audiences guessing till the very end. Now, the makers are all set to reignite that same adrenaline rush with Drishyam 3 and fans cant wait to piece the puzzle together once more.

Dhamaal 4

Ajay Devgn joined the Dhamaal franchise in its third installment and had audiences rolling with laughter. Now, the madness returns, and its bigger than ever! Unleashing non-stop comedy, the Dhamaal gang is back with its fourth installment, promising four times the fun and four times the chaos.

Directed by Indra Kumar, Dhamaal 4 features Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra, Anjali Anand, Jaaved Jaaferi, and more, and is slated to hit the big screens this Eid 2026.

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Golmaal 5

Ajay Devgn and Rohit Shetty are among the most successful director-actor duos in Bollywood. It all began in 2006 with Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, a film whose comic timing sparked uncontrollable laughter and led to three more sequels. Now, anticipation is at an all-time high as audiences eagerly await the fifth installment of the Golmaal franchise.

Shaitaan 2

R. Madhavan and Ajay Devgn sent chills down the spine with the supernatural horror thriller Shaitaan. The films gripping story and moving performances captivated audiences, leaving them eager for its sequel especially after the films unforgettable climax.
On July 27, 2015, India lost a visionary and leader in APJ Abdul Kalam, the Missile Man,who collapsed while delivering a lecture at IIM Shillong. He passed away at 83; a moment that united an entire nation in grief and gratitude for his scientific legacy and inspirational life

Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam arrives to caste his ballot at a polling station in New Delhi, May 10, 2004. File Image/Reuters

As part of Firstposts History Today series, July 27 has witnessed pivotal moments  from the passing of Indias beloved Missile Man APJ Abdul Kalam in 2015, to acts of terror and peacemaking on the world stage, and deep racial conflict in America.

APJ Abdul Kalam passes away

On July 27, 2015, India lost one of its most beloved and respected figures  Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India and a pioneering aerospace scientist.

Kalam collapsed while delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong. He was 83.

His sudden demise marked the end of an era that transcended science, education, public service and spiritual thought.

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Born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Kalam came from modest beginnings.

His father was a boat owner and imam of a local mosque, and young Kalam helped supplement the family income by selling newspapers.

Despite financial constraints, he showed an early curiosity for learning and was especially drawn to mathematics and physics.

After completing his schooling in Ramanathapuram, Kalam went on to study physics at St. Josephs College, Tiruchirappalli, and then aerospace engineering at the Madras Institute of Technology.

He narrowly missed becoming a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force  he was ranked 9th while only 8 slots were available  but fate had bigger plans for him.

Kalam joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in 1958 and then the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) in 1969.

At ISRO, he was project director of Indias first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III), which successfully deployed the Rohini satellite in 1980  a defining moment in Indias space history.

His contributions became even more prominent when he rejoined DRDO and spearheaded Indias missile development programme under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

This earned him the moniker Missile Man of India.

Notable missiles like Agni and Prithvi were developed under his leadership.

Kalam played a pivotal role in Indias 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran-II. As the chief scientific adviser to the Prime Minister and the head of the DRDO at the time, he was instrumental in the coordination and execution of the tests.

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From left to right, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Indias missile man APJ Abdul Kalam and Atomic Energy chief R Chidambaram display the victory symbol during a visit to the Shakti 1 test site, where India tested nuclear device in Pokhran. File Image/AP

The successful detonation marked India as a nuclear weapons state and significantly altered its global strategic posture.

The Pokhran-II tests also cemented Kalams status as a national hero.

His ability to bridge scientific innovation with national policy was rare and essential at a time when India sought to assert itself globally.

In 2002, Abdul Kalam was elected the 11th President of India with support across party lines. He was the first scientist and the first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan.

During his tenure, Kalam brought a refreshing change to the ceremonial office, converting it into an active platform for outreach and youth engagement.

He earned the sobriquet Peoples President due to his simplicity, accessibility and dedication to citizens  especially students. Kalam made it a priority to meet with young people, listen to their aspirations, and encourage innovation and education.

An Indian army officer (L) points towards the Line of Control (LoC) as Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam (2nd-L), Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Syed and V G. Patankar, chief of Indian army in Kashmir, look during their visit to the LoC in the Uri sector, 102 kms (63 miles) west of Srinagar, June 28, 2003. File Image/Reuters

After his presidency, Kalam did not retire from public life. He became a visiting professor at multiple institutions including IIM Shillong, IIM Ahmedabad, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore.

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He also authored several influential books such as Wings of Fire, India 2020, Ignited Minds, and My Journey  many of which became bestsellers and were translated into numerous languages.

Kalam was a strong advocate for Indias development through knowledge, science, and technological self-reliance.

His vision of India as a developed nation by 2020, although not fully realised, continues to inspire developmental discourse.

On July 27, 2015, while delivering a lecture titled Creating a Liveable Planet Earth at IIM Shillong, Kalam collapsed at around 6:30 pm.

He was rushed to Bethany Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a sudden cardiac arrest.

News of his death triggered an outpouring of grief across India and abroad. The Government of India declared a seven-day state mourning.

His body was flown to his hometown of Rameswaram, where he was laid to rest with full state honours. Over 350,000 people attended his funeral, including political leaders, scientists and common citizens.

Kalams impact on India  and indeed, the world  transcended his technical achievements. He symbolised the power of education, the importance of hard work, and the potential of a visionary mind.

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Among his numerous accolades are the Bharat Ratna (Indias highest civilian honour), the Padma Bhushan, and the Padma Vibhushan.

He received honorary doctorates from more than 40 universities worldwide.

His birthday, October 15, is now observed as World Students Day in many institutions, and Indias DRDO has named its missile complex in Hyderabad the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Missile Complex.

His house in Rameswaram was converted into the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and inaugurated in 2017.

Globally, he was remembered as a symbol of peace and development.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is felicitated by former Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam during celebration of his 74th birthday in New Delhi, July 6, 2009. File Image/Reuters

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called him a great statesman and visionary, while Nasa scientists lauded his commitment to science diplomacy.

His quotes like  Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action  are widely circulated in classrooms and textbooks.

In an age of growing cynicism and division, Kalam remains a rare unifying figure. He was admired across the ideological spectrum  by conservatives, liberals, nationalists, and progressives alike.

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Kalam once said, If you want to shine like a sun, first burn like a sun.

Olympic terror: Centennial Park bombing

On July 27, 1996, a pipe bomb exploded at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta during a free concert, killing 44-year-old Alice Hawthorne, causing the death of Turkish cameraman Melih Uzunyol (via heart attack), and injuring 111 others.

Investigators inspecting the scene at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia, where a pipe bomb exploded on July 27, 1996, disrupting the Summer Olympic Games. File Image/AP

The bomber  Eric Robert Rudolph, a white supremacist extremist  later admitted responsibility, linking the act to opposition against abortion and globalism.

He was captured in 2003 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2005.

Security guard Richard Jewell was initially hailed a hero, then wrongfully accused  a saga prompting FBI reforms and legal action by Jewell.

The event shifted Olympic security, highlighting vulnerabilities in mass gatherings and civilian safety protocols.

Armistice ends Korean War

After nearly three years of intense conflict beginning June 25, 1950, the Korean War armistice was signed at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953.

US, North Korean, and Chinese forces convened, reaching a ceasefire effective at 10:00 am (signing) and formal cessation by 10:00 pm that night.

UN delegate Lieut. Gen. William K. Harrison, Jr. (seated left), and Korean Peoples Army and Chinese Peoples Volunteers delegate Gen. Nam Il (seated right) signing the Korean War armistice agreement at Panmunjom, Korea, July 27, 1953. Image/US Department of Defense

The accord established the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel and highlighted prisoner repatriation via a Neutral Nations Commission.

Although the armistice halted active conflict, no formal peace treaty was signed  leaving North and South Korea technically at war.

The DMZ has remained one of the worlds most fortified and enduring cold war legacies.

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Chicago race riot of 1919 ignites

On July 27, 1919, racial tensions in Chicago erupted when 17-year-old Eugene Williams, an African-American, was struck and drowned after crossing an informal race line on Lake Michigans South Side beach.

White beach-goers had stoned him, triggering outrage.

Over the following week, violence rocked Chicago  the dead included 38 (23 Black, 15 white), and more than 537 were injured.

Image Credit: Chicago History Museum

Property damage exceeded 1,000 homes, and Black residents retaliated following a lack of police protection.

It became one of the bloodiest episodes of the Red Summer of 1919, illustrating systemic racism, segregation and the upheaval driven by the Great Migration  urban Black veterans resisting entrenched oppression.

Also Watch:

With inputs from agencies
Thailand and Cambodia are witnessing their bloodiest military clashes in more than a decade. The fighting over their disputed border has raised fears of an all-out war. All this and more in our weekly roundup from around the globe

A Cambodian military personnel stands on a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, around 40 km from the disputed Ta Moan Thom temple, after Thailand and Cambodia exchanged heavy artillery on Friday as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day, in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia, July 25, 2025. Reuters

The world is staring at another conflict. Clashes have erupted between Thailand and Cambodia over their disputed border. As the fighting ensues, the possibility of a war looms large over Southeast Asia.

Gaza is witnessing a humanitarian crisis. Severe malnutrition and starvation are claiming several lives, especially of children, in the narrow strip as Israels war with Hamas continues.

After the Air India flight mishap, another plane crash has sent South Asia into mourning. A Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) fighter jet crashed into a school building in Dhaka, killing more than 20 people, mostly schoolchildren, and wounding more than 100 others.

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Heres all this and more in our weekly wrap of stories around the world.

1. Thailand and Cambodia are witnessing their bloodiest military clashes in over a decade. The two sides exchanged fire on July 24 in an area near the disputed Ta Moan Thom Temple, located in a border area in northwestern Cambodias Oddar Meanchey province. In recent days, clashes have extended to other areas.

Both countries have blamed each other for the latest flare-up. Thailands acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has warned that if the situation escalates, it could develop into war. Several nations, including India and the United States, have issued travel advisories for their nationals amid the ongoing conflict. We take a look at what is happening.

2. Footage of mothers holding their malnourished children, as well as adults queuing up to get food in Gaza, is haunting the world. Palestinians are facing unimaginable levels of hunger even as Israel relaxed an over two-month blockade on the narrow enclave in West Asia.

However, Israeli forces have also killed hundreds of Palestinians trying to get to aid sites and convoys  a charge they deny. According to the UN World Food Program, Gazas hunger crisis has reached new and astonishing levels of desperation. About one-third of the population is said to be going days without eating. Then, why has a famine not been declared in Gaza? We explain in this story.

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3. At least 27 people died and 100 others were injured after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter aircraft crashed into a school building in Dhaka. The aircraft involved in the crash was an F-7 BGI, a variant of the Chinese J-7 fighter series.

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

The mishap has brought attention to the safety record of Chinas F-7 fighter jets. While many countries have started phasing out the jets, Bangladesh continues to operate a fleet of these aircraft. But how safe are the ageing F-7? Heres our report.

4. United States President Donald Trumps friendship with the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, has come to haunt him. Calls are growing in America, including from his Maga supporters, to release the Epstein Files.

Reports have recently emerged about Trumps closeness with the disgraced financier. Epstein attended the US presidents 1993 wedding to Marla Maples. The revelation comes after claims that Trump sent a racy birthday letter to Epstein in 2003. Were the duo friends? Read our story to know more.

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5. Coldplaygate has grabbed the worlds attention these past few days. Recently, a video of Astronomers then CEO Andy Byron hugging the now-former HR head of the firm, Kristin Cabot, at a Coldplay concert went viral.

Caught on kisscam, the duo  both married to other people  became fodder for gossip around the world. As the attention turned to the pair, it came to light that Kristin is married into the wealthy Cabot family, who are in the Boston Brahmins. But who are these Boston Brahmins? We explain here.

6. The Gen Z stare has got millennials rattled. The phrase is being used for a blank, expressionless stare from Gen Z employees to their managers and employers. TikTok users are talking about this. To know more, read our story.

In personal life, Gen Z is facing a problem with sex, in what has been dubbed the sex recession. While they are interested in sex, they are hardly getting any. But why? We take a look here.

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This is all we have for you this week. If you like our explainers, you can bookmark this page.

PS. Dont know if your Labubu doll is fake? Heres how to find out.
Police are now probing Jains role in this massive scam, having already found he used the fake embassy to lure victims with job promises

A man has been arrested in Ghaziabad for running a fake embassy and conning people. News18

Harshvardhan Jain, arrested for operating a in Ghaziabad for eight years, is now under investigation for a possible Rs 300 crore ($34.6 million) scam, 162 foreign trips over a decade, and multiple overseas bank accounts, revealing startling details.

Last week, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested Jain at a rented two-storey house in Ghaziabad, which he claimed was an embassy.

The probe uncovered his alleged role in a job racket and money laundering through the Hawala network. During the raid, police seized four cars with fake diplomatic number plates, forged documents, and a collection of luxury watches.

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Authorities plan to seek Jains custody in court tomorrow. According to police, the scam could be worth nearly Rs 300 crore.

A fake embassy uncovered

The Ghaziabad building bore a nameplate reading Grand Duchy of Westarctica and H E HV Jain Honorary Consul, adorned with flags of India and Westarctica, a micronation in Antarctica not recognised by any sovereign nation.

Investigators say Jain used this facade since 2017 to network and entice people with fake overseas job offers.

More from India Baron of Westarctica: How a UP man ran fake embassy from a Ghaziabad bungalow for 7 years

To maintain appearances, he organised charity events like bhandaras (community feasts) outside the embassy, which he had rented six months prior, though the fake embassy operation spanned eight years.

The raid revealed photos of Jain with controversial godman Chandraswami and Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi.

Chandraswami, a self-styled spiritual leader influential in the 1980s and 1990s, advised three Indian Prime MinistersPV Narasimha Rao, Chandra Shekhar, and VP Singh. He faced scrutiny for financial misconduct, was arrested in 1996, and was linked to Khashoggi through a raid on his ashram.

Chandraswami was also accused of involvement in funding the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

A sprawling scam

The UP STF discovered that Chandraswami introduced Jain to Khashoggi and conman Ahsan Ali Sayed, a Hyderabad-born Turkish citizen.

Sayed allegedly collaborated with Jain to establish 25 shell companies for money laundering.

Sayeds Switzerland-based Western Advisory Group promised companies loans in exchange for brokerage fees, reportedly collecting 25 million poundsroughly Rs 300 crorebefore fleeing.

Sayed was arrested in London in 2022. Police are now probing Jains role in this massive scam, having already found he used the fake embassy to lure victims with job promises.

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Westarctica, the micronation Jain claimed to represent, has distanced itself from the entire episode.

In 2016, Mr HV Jain made a generous donation to Westarctica and was subsequently invited to join our team of international volunteers who advance our environmental and charitable mission in their home countries. His official title was Honorary Consul to India. He was never granted the position or authority of ambassador, the statement read. It added, During his recent arrest for fraud and other crimes, Mr. Jain was found to be in possession of diplomatic number plates, passports, and other items bearing the seal of Westarctica. As an Honorary Consul, he was not authorized to create these items. Westarctica, itself, does not utilize number plates or passports and we have never permitted or encouraged our representatives to do so themselves. By calling his home an embassy, Mr Jain was in violation of Westarcticas protocol for our representatives.
The goal is to teach students how countries handle terror threats and how defence, diplomacy, and teamwork between government departments ensure national security

'Operation Sindoor' visual being displayed on a screen outside the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building, in Mumbai. PTI

Indias National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is working on a new educational module about Operation Sindoor for senior students, according to media reports.

The development comes ahead of a scheduled discussion about the military operation in the ongoing monsoon session of the parliament. The draft of the module is almost ready and should be out soon.

This module isnt part of regular textbooks.

Separate case study

The curriculum is a separate case study about Indias military response to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

 Operation Sindoor refers to the precise airstrike India conducted on May 7 this year, targeting terrorist bases across the Line of Control (LoC).

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The goal is to teach students how countries handle terror threats and how defence, diplomacy, and teamwork between government departments ensure national security.

Right now, the module is designed for higher secondary students, but NCERT might create a version for middle schoolers later.

Operation Sindoor was Indias response to a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 27, which killed 26 Hindu civilians. On May 7, Indian forces launched targeted strikes on terror sites in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan.

The operation was widely appreciated for its quick planning and smooth coordination between the military and the government.

The NCERT module will explain the mission clearly, covering the armed forces role, how such counter-terror decisions are made, and their impact on diplomacy and regional peace.

This project aligns with NCERTs efforts under the National Curriculum Framework 2023 (NCF 2023) and the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).

NCERT has already rolled out new textbooks for Classes 6 and 8 in subjects like English, Social Science, Sanskrit, and a vocational book called Kaushal Bodh.

These focus on hands-on learning, Indian culture, and modern challenges. The Operation Sindoor module continues this approach, bringing real-world events into classrooms to keep students informed and encourage critical thinking.

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Turf wars about monuments are not uncommon. But these usually happen when a monument collapses out of lack of upkeep and various departments and entities accuse each other of neglecting the monument. However, a corner of South-East Asia is witnessing the perhaps unprecedented scenario of two sovereign nations coming close to all-out war over control of some monuments and its surroundings.

While the Preah Vihear Temple has long been contested between Cambodia and Thailand, the recent conflict has been centred around control and ownership of the Ta Muen Thom Temple. The temple complexes, which lie on the border between the two countries, are the victims of disputes arising from a colonial era border demarcation and a reluctance to accept this border in modern times.

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The temples at Preah Ko, part of the Roluos group

Tension simmering for years has exploded now with shots fired and worse. Rocket-propelled grenades and even air forces have come into play. Amidst all this, if you are planning to visit Cambodia, there is plenty beyond the Angkor that can be explored. And none of it is controversial, never mind conflicts.

Roluos (20 kms south-east of Angkor Wat): The place was once called Hariharalaya. At the end of the 8th century CE, Jayavarman II established the first Khmer capital here. His successors expanded the city and built the lofty shrine called Bakong as well as the smaller Preah Ko, which means sacred bull  a reference to Nandi. Towards the end of the 9th century came Lolei, a temple whose name is said to be a mutation of Hariharalaya itself. It was built on an artificial island in the Indratataka Baray, a water body.

The Temple Mountain of Bakong at Roulos. Source: Wikipedia

Coming centuries before the globally celebrated Angkor Wat, these examples of early Khmer architecture are a joy to visit. And not just because they are away from the crowds that fill the Angkor and its immediate vicinity. Built mostly with bricks, the Lolei temples are the oldest examples of classical Khmer design. The Preah Ko comprises six shrines standing on a sandstone platform, in two uniform rows. The front row shrines are dedicated to Khmer rulers Prithivindreshvara, Jayavarman II and Rudreshvara, while the back row is in the memory of their respective wives. The carvings on the shrines are intricate and need careful examination.

The sandstone shrine of Bakong was the first of the pyramid shaped temples of the Khmers. In some ways, it resembles Borobudur, the giant Buddhist shrine on the island of Java. As per an inscription found here, it was consecrated in 881 CE by the ruler Indravarman I as his state temple. This was a Shiva shrine named Indresvara, the name combining the rulers identity with that of the God. With a moat as its boundary, the shrine is a vast complex with more than twenty satellite temples in its precincts.

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Banteay Srei (37 kms north of Angkor Wat): Its name literally meaning citadel of women and figuratively referring to citadel of beauty, the Banteay Srei temple lives up to its name being an elegant and somewhat fragile looking temple complex with a water body in front. This is the only temple complex in Cambodia which did not have a ruler as its patron builder, but two courtiers of King Rajendravarman II.

A temple inside the Banteay Srei complex

Originally built in the latter half of the 10th century CE, the temples saw further expansion in the 12th and 13th centuries CE, with the last inscription found here dating to 1303 CE i.e. the early 14th century. Made of red sandstone, the temples material was very amenable to rich carving. The result was a vast array of divine icons carved throughout its structure amidst floral patterns. Primarily a Shiva shrine, it also has Vishnu iconography within.

The idyllic setting of the Banteay Srei complex

Sadly, this extensive iconography meant that the temple complex drew looters and vandals in hordes. The most notorious incident was the theft of four icons by a Frenchman called Georges Andre Malraux. He was arrested and the idols recovered. That fact that he went on to become a respected author and intellectual shows the state of justice. As has been the fate of many heritage sites in countries that were colonised, many icons and parts of the complex are in the Guimet Museum in Paris.

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In its prime, the temple complex had a settlement called Ishvarapura around it. Nothing of this remains. The temple complex itself comprises three concentric rectangular enclosures. Within it lie various shrines, gopuras or gateways and structures popularly termed libraries.

Kbal Spean (43 kms north of Angkor Wat): Sometimes called Valley of a Thousand Lingas, Kbal Spean is one of Cambodias most visually striking sites. The place lies in the western part of the Kulein mountains. To reach, a visitor walks through a forest path, up a hill, for nearly two kilometres. And then arrives at a river whose bed is like no other!

The Stung Kbal Spean River flows here, later merging into the Siem Reap River before its waters reach the Tonle Sap Lake. At Kbal Spean, leveraging sandstone rocks the river passes over, a stretch of about 200 metres of the riverbed has been extensively carved. The patron of this carving was a minister of the Khmer ruler in the 11th century CE, who created a thousand Shiva lingas on the riverbed. Close by are other carvings believed to have been done by hermits who dwelt here  carvings of Brahma, Vishnu atop his celestial serpent, Shiva-Parvati and others. Their intricacy is breath-taking. On one icon of Vishnu lying on Sheshnag, a lotus flower emerges from his navel and has a Brahma carving touching it.

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A reclining Vishnu icon at Kbal Spean

The elaborate carving at Kbal Spean is no mere embellishment, but had a spiritual meaning attached. The Khmers believed that the water flowing into the Tonle Sap Lake near Angkor had been blessed by touching the sacred carvings at Kbal Spean. It is also mentioned that in 1059 CE King Udayadityavarman II consecrated a golden Shiva linga here. Given how much Cambodia has lost in terms of antiquities being looted, perhaps it is a blessing that the Kbal Spean carvings are on a riverbed, else they too could have ended up in a European museum.

The list of Cambodias less-known heritage nuggets can be a long one. The region has emerged from decades of horrific conflict and welcomed visitors. More and more stunning heritage seems to be emerging from the countryside. One hopes that both Cambodia and Thailand can resolve their differences and the Preah Vihear and Ta Muen Thom temple complexes can also be visited.

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The author is a heritage explorer with a penchant for seeking obscure sites. A brand consultant by profession, he tweets @HiddenHeritage. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Real academic integrity lies not in defending invaders or denying civilisational trauma, but in projecting history as it isunflinchingly, honestly, and fairly

In the contemporary academic climate of Bharat, there has been a fastand easyway to success, whether on university panels, prime-time news shows, or within elite publishing circles. And it is not through rigorous research or balanced inquiry, but through ideological conformity to a post-colonial, Left-liberal consensus. This consensus views Bharats civilisational heritage with suspicion, dismisses native resistance to invaders, and negationises historical atrocitiesespecially those committed in the name of Islam.

Ruchika Sharma, a Delhi-based self-proclaimed historian and YouTuber, has recently emerged as the most visible face opposing the NCERTs revision of history textbooks. Much like Audrey Truschke on the global stagewho tried to rehabilitate Aurangzeb as a misunderstood rulerSharma has gained sudden national prominence by dismissing historical Islamic violence, trivialising religiously motivated atrocities like jizya, and drawing false moral equivalences between native Hindu dynasties and foreign Islamic invaders.

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Manufacturing Outrage

The trigger for Sharmas recent media storm was her vocal opposition to the NCERTs revisions, particularly its explanation of jizyaa tax historically imposed on non-Muslims under Islamic rule. Sharma seemed outraged by the idea that jizya was used to pressure Hindus into conversion, branding the claim a baseless myth. She even announced plans to file a Right to Information (RTI) request to challenge the educational content.

Her stance is remarkablenot because it is new and ground-breaking, but because its fictitious and fabricated. The Quran itself, in Surah At-Tawbah (9:29), mandates: Fight those who do not believe in Allah until they pay the jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.

This verse is not obscure; it is widely cited by classical Islamic juristsincluding Imam Malik, Abu Hanifa, and Al-Shafiias the foundational directive for the imposition of jizya. Importantly, the condition that the payer must feel subdued was not metaphorical. In theology, jizya only lapses on death or on acceptance of Islam.

Seized by the Collar

Medieval Muslim scholars such as Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi, Mulla Ahmad, and Shah Waliullah left little room for ambiguity. Sirhindi wrote: The real purpose of levying the jizya is to humiliate the non-Muslims to such an extent that they may not be able to dress well or live in grandeur and thus remain terrified and trembling.

Western scholars echoed the same. NP Aghnides, an authority on Islamic finance, wrote in Muhammadan Theories of Finance: the main object in levying the (jizya) tax is the subjection of the infidels to humiliation the Zimmi is seized by the collar and vigorously shaken and pulled about in order to show him his degradation.

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Mirat-i-Ahmadi, a history of Gujarat written by Ali Mohammed Khan, an imperial dewan at Ahmedabad, clearly explains how jizya should be collected: The collector of jizya should collect it from a zimmi in this manner: A zimmi should himself come to pay it. He should come on foot. The collector should sit while the zimmi should stand. The collector should place his hand over the hand of the zimmi saying, I take jizya, oh! Zimmi. It should not be accepted when sent indirectly through his deputy

Rulers like Firoz Shah Tughlaq and Aurangzeb openly used jizya to coerce conversions. In Fatuhat-i-Firoz Shahi, for instance, Tughlaq recounts: I encouraged my infidel subjects to embrace the religion of the Prophet Every day Hindus presented themselves and were exonerated from the jizya upon converting. Similarly, European traveller Niccolao Manucci observed of Aurangzeb: Many Hindus who were unable to pay jizya turned Muhammadan to obtain relief from the insults of the collectors Aurangzeb rejoices.

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Still, Sharma sees nothing religious or discriminatory about jizya.

Inventing False Equivalences

The Leftist defence of jizya isnt an aberration. Its part of a larger patterna tendency to defend Islamist violence and vandalism, or, when indefensible, to dilute it through strained comparisons with Hindu rulers. This explains why some Leftist historians have made a career out of inventing the idea of an intolerant Hindu kingone who would destroy not only rival temples but also Buddhist viharasbased on dubious records and selective interpretation.

Yes, Hindu kings went to war, and yes, violence was committed. But such acts were primarily political, directed against rival powersnot against entire religious communities as a matter of religious doctrine. By contrast, Islamic invaders and rulersfrom Muhammad bin Qasim onwardstargeted Hindu religious institutions systematically and ideologically. Temple destruction was not a collateral consequence of war; it was often its central goal, sanctioned by theology and justified by the Islamic concept of kufr.

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Sharmas narrative fits neatly into the dominant woke-Leftist framework that dominates humanities and social sciences departments across Bharat and the West, including in the capitalist United States.

This worldview rests on four pillars: Downplaying Islamic imperialism; exaggerating caste-based, gender-based oppression within Hinduism; framing Bharats civilisational resurgence as majoritarianism; and, treating any historical correction as saffronisation.

In this paradigm, those who defend Akbar, dismiss Hindu grievances, or mock textbook revisions are instantly celebrated as moderate voices of reason. Meanwhile, those who point to inconvenient truthslike the religious basis of jizya or the genocide at Chittorgarhare labelled communal, majoritarian, or unacademic.

Conclusion

History is not mythology. It is not a tool to validate fashionable Leftist-wokeist ideologies, serve electoral agendas, or push secular facades. Nor should it be weaponised to shame an entire civilisation into silence.

Ruchika Sharma has every right to file RTIs. But it is astonishing that she remains unaware of the overwhelming evidence already availablein the Quran, in Fatawa-i-Alamgiri, in the writings of Sirhindi, and in the policies of Aurangzeb and Firoz Tughlaq. Perhaps she is too blinded by ideology to see the truth. (This is not surprising given her adulation for Wendy Doniger and her book, The Hindua book so perversely biased that if a Hindu had written The Muslim with a similar tone, it would be instantly branded Islamophobic.) Or, perhaps she simply doesnt know the truthwhich then raises serious questions about her credentials as a historian.

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Whatever the case, the time has come to free history from the suffocating hangover of the Leftist-wokeist cocktail. Real academic integrity lies not in defending invaders or denying civilisational trauma, but in projecting history as it isunflinchingly, honestly, and fairly. Only then can one build a genuinely inclusive and truthful national narrative.

The writer is the author of the book, Eminent Distorians: Twists and Truths in Bharats History, published early this year by BluOne Ink publications. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 by Iran and the E3 plus China, Russia, and the United States. Image: REUTERS

Friday morning Iran resumed nuclear talks with Britain, France, and Germany (also called Europes E3), which are parties to its 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which had codified a 3.7 per cent limit for Irans uranium enrichment and a waiver of sanctions on Iran. But whether resumption of E3-Iran talks can facilitate revival of US-Iran talks leading to crafting a JCPOA 2.0 has serious limits so far.

Prima facie, this second round of E3-Iran talks at Irans Consulate in Istanbul continuing for four hours on Friday morning seems like a good sign for a start. The Iranian side was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who said they had a frank, serious, and detailed discussion and agreed that consultations on this matter will continue.

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Only that the JCPOA is due to expire in less than three months on October 18. The fundamental leverage that E3 has is to snap back sanctions under the JCPOA, but it must start any such effort at least 30 days in advance, which leaves it with even less time. Then beyond the US, they will also have to deal with China and Russia.

JCPOA Under Stress

Also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, the JCPOA was signed in 2015 by Iran and the E3 plus China, Russia, and the United States. But cracks in the JCPOA had begun early on when, in 2018, during President Trumps first term in office, the US had walked out of the JCPOA. Iran, in response, had also begun to roll back on its commitments on uranium enrichment, accusing others of not complying with their part of the JCPOA provisions.

The March 2025 report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had concluded that Iran had reached a high level of 60 per cent uranium enrichment. Compared to its agreed 3.7 per cent uranium enrichment under JCPOA, this is much closer to weapon-grade uranium enrichment of 95 per cent. The IAEA report also reported Iran having already compiled a stockpile of 400 kg of such uranium. According to the Israeli spy agency Mossad, Iran was in position to make a nuclear bomb in 15 days time.

These revelations of the IAEA coming in the midst of Israels continuing war with Hamas and Hezbollahalso known as Irans proxies in the regionhad alarmed Western powers. The Trump presidency had responded to it by immediately initiating talks with Iran from April while keeping maximum pressure by supporting aggressive Israeli military operations. In fact these talks had witnessed an unusual hectic pace with five rounds in just two months: three in Muscat followed by two in Rome.

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US-Israeli Airstrikes

It is interesting to note that the sixth round of the US-Iran talks was scheduled for 15 June at Muscat. These were suddenly scuttled due to Israeli air attacks on Iran on June 13. More startling was the fact that this was followed by American attacks on Irans nuclear facilities at Fordow, Isfahan, and Nantaz, disrupting their nuclear talks. President Trump had claimed to have obliterated Iranian nuclear facilities. But American media has since questioned this assessment, thereby putting pressure for revival of talks.

In fact, along with the US-Iran talks, the E3 had also initiated talks with Iran. They held their first round in Istanbul on May 16. But following US-Israeli air strikes on Iran, the E3 had also threatened Iran with triggering snapback sanctions as per the JCPOA unless Iran ensured substantial progress in talks before the end of August. This E3 ultimatum was driven partly by their limited window of less than three months time when their option of snapback sanctions under JCPOA will expire on October 18.

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Any attempt at imposing sanctions on Iran later through the UN Security Council will face Irans friends, China and Russia, using vetoes to block any such action. Both China and Russia have condemned US-Israeli air strikes on Iran and remain opposed to unilateral sanctions. Besides, Iran has called this E3 ultimatum a breach of their May 16 Istanbul talks, which had agreed to continue consultations.

Hardening Preconditions

Following these US-Israeli attacks and the E3 ultimatum, Iran has refused to cooperate with the IAEA, criticising it for bias and for not condemning these strikes on its nuclear facilities. Iran had accordingly asked IAEA inspectors to leave the country and even threatened to withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who recently told Fox News that their enrichment was currently stopped due to serious and severe damage to their nuclear sites, also underlined that Irans position remains unshakeable and that our uranium enrichment will continue.

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Iran has since reinforced its preconditions that any talks must only focus on size and levels and not on its option for uranium enrichment. That these talks will also not include other issues like its ballistic missiles or so-called proxies in the region. The US, which sees these preconditions as red lines, remains divided, with its chief negotiator, Steve Witkoff, asking Iran to return to the JCPOA-agreed limit of 3.7 per cent enrichment, while President Trump has been talking of complete dismantlement of Irans nuclear program.

Even in the face of media assessments to the contrary of President Trumps claims, he has persisted with his belief that he has obliterated Irans nuclear facilities and is in no hurry to resume talks with Iran. At the same time, Trump has shown increasing discomfort with Prime Minister Netanyahu for not agreeing to an early end to his war in Gaza, which has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. In the midst of raised tempers, negotiations have less chance of success.

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The Way Forward

So the basic purpose of E3-Iran talks therefore remains breaking ice in this increasingly difficult impasse. To begin with, they seek to revive an early resumption of the US-Iran talks. This is the only way to ensure continuation of JCPOA arrangements beyond October 18. But in the face of both the US and Iran digging their heels deeper, the E3, in fact, could become increasingly vulnerable. And they also have to deal with China and Russia.

Iran has reasons to suspect its interlocutors. PM Netanyahu is increasingly seen defying President Trump, and both have threatened to resume strikes on Iran. In spite of its hectic five rounds of talks with the US plus one round of talks with E3, the Israeli offensive had killed several of Irans top commanders and nuclear scientists. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has been urging E3 to trigger this snapback mechanism.

While the JCPOA 2.0 may be a tall order, the only positive sign is Iran opening dialogue with the IAEA in the next few weeks to explore possibilities for their return to Iran to resume their nuclear monitoring work. IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi said last Fridayas E3 were negotiating with Iran in Istanbulthat he is hopeful of starting on technical details and, later on, moving on to high-level consultations without pushing for inspections as yet. This may not have received much media attention, but this technical approach to a political problem could be a more pragmatic way to deal with the current impasse.

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The author is professor of International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Donald Trump has wriggled out of the most perilous situations, now, his last hope is the late Jeffrey Epsteins incarcerated girlfriend

The clamour for releasing the Epstein files has overshadowed Trumps desperate bid to highlight the success of his first six months in power because its not his rivals but his own base, which is up in arms. File image

I FORGOTTI, the New York Daily News tabloid front-page headline screamed in March 1986.

Around two years ago, on September 11, 1984, John Gotti, a caporegime (captain) of the Gambino crime familythe second most powerful of New Yorks Five Familiesand his associate Frank Colletta had assaulted a burly refrigerator repairman named Romual Piecyk and robbed him of $325 outside the Cosy Corner Bar, Queens.

Piecyk lodged a police complaint, and Gotti and Colletta were arrested and charged with felony assault and theft.

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When the trial started more than a year later, Piecyk was unaware that Gotti, with the assistance of other caporegimes, including Salvatore Sammy the Bull Gravano, had become the family boss by murdering Constantino Paul Castellano.

Piecyk started receiving threatening calls, and his vans brake wire was cut. During the trial in the State Supreme Court in Queens, he pretended to have a memory lapse and refused to recognise Gotti and Colletta.

Assault and robbery charges against Gotti, the Teflon Don, were dropped. The moniker stuck to the mob boss, who would remain unscathed in two other high-profile cases after intimidating witnesses and tampering with the jury.

However, Gottis Teflon coating gave away a few years later when the FBI used electronic surveillance to arrest him and Gravano for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) Act, and loan-sharking, murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

On April 2, 1991, Gotti was convicted of racketeering and murder and awarded life imprisonment after Gravano turned into a government witness, confessed to 19 murders, and revealed the Gambino familys crimes. In June 2022, Gotti died of throat cancer.

Teflon Don of American Politics

Fast forward more than four decades later. Donald Trump is the new Teflon Donof American politics.

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The resemblance is striking.

Mark Pomerantz, one of the prosecutors in the tax fraud case against Trump, compares him to Gotti in his book The People vs Donald Trump: An Inside Account (2023).

He [Trump] demanded absolute loyalty and would go after anyone who crossed him. He seemed always to stay one step ahead of the law. In my career as a lawyer, I had encountered only one other person who touched all of these bases: John Gotti, the head of the Gambino organised crime family, Pomerantz writes.

Like Gottis several brushes with the law that seemed to end his gangland reign but didnt, Don-alds political career was about to get over when he made a stunning comeback slinging a flamethrower that scorched the Democrats and scripted history.

In a surprising turn of events, Trump  the first US president with a felony conviction  managed to avoid conviction in three indictments and jail time in one.

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The charges for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and illegally retaining classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida were dropped. Department of Justice (DoJ) policy prevents indictment and prosecution of a sitting US president.

In Georgia, Trumps trial for attempting to overturn the 2020 election is on hold. In the New York hush money case, the only instance where he was convicted, sentencing is delayed with his lawyers fighting to get the case transferred to a federal court.

In fact, the four cases, which Trump dubbed as a witch-hunt and the DoJs weaponisation against him, and his Big Lie allegation about the rigged 2020 electionwhich he lost to Joe Bidenwere instrumental in his thumping 2024 victory.

Trump Looks to Maxwell to Wriggle Out

Trumps smartness in conflating his problems with those of ordinary Americans has always reaped rich dividends, with voters coalescing into a formidable force.

Except in one casethe Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

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A problem that Trump never saw in the worst of his nightmares has come to bite him hard.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised his Make America Great Again (Maga) supporters and their captains that he would release all Epstein files. When he didnt, his army rebelled.

Now, the clamour for releasing the Epstein files has overshadowed Trumps desperate bid to highlight the success of his first six months in power because its not his rivals but his own base, which is up in arms.

In his last-ditch effort to wriggle out of the morass and pacify his base, Trump has thrown the Ghislaine Maxwell bait.

Hours after the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena MaxwellEpsteins socialite-pimp girlfriend, jailed for 20 years for recruiting and trafficking minor girlsDeputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that he will meet her soon. Its a unique precedent in which a senior law officer decided to meet a convicted sex trafficker.

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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, he posted on social media.

WILL SHE TALK?

 Amid Epstein files furor, feds will ask jailed pal Maxwell if she has anything new to say https://t.co/Jw23ZunNUx

 Congress takes early vacation, avoids issuehttps://t.co/PhQmNzpteh



ROCK LEGEND OZZY DIES AT 76

Black Sabbath front man lived the 'dream' pic.twitter.com/xH2W6o206y  New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) July 23, 2025

Maxwell and her attorney, David Oscar Markus, met Blanche at the federal courthouse and talked for nine hours in Tallahassee, Florida, on Thursday and Friday.

Describing the meeting as very productive, Markus told the media that Maxwell answered every single question. She never stopped. She never invoked her privilege. She never declined to answer. She answered all the questions truthfully, honestly, and to the best of her ability.

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However, Trumps latest move is more suspicious for several reasons.

First, Blanche didnt reveal what transpired in the meeting and only tweeted, The Department of Justice will share additional information about what we learned at the appropriate time.

If a video or a transcript of the meeting isnt made public, it will only fuel the suspicions of a cover-up.

Second, Maxwell is the only living source of Epsteins crimes. If the DoJ and FBI were so eager to hear what she has to say about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, as Blanche said earlier, why did they wait for several months?

Third, Maxwell should have been interviewed by a prosecutor involved in the case, not a political appointee and Trumps former personal defence lawyer, who is also friends with Markus. Its a glaring case of conflict of interest. You are by far the best out there, Blanche told Markus during a joint appearance on a podcast last year and labelled him a .

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Fourth, less than two weeks ago, on July 14, the DoJ opposed Maxwells appeal to the US Supreme Court in April.

In a plea deal with Florida prosecutors in 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution and soliciting minors to engage in prostitution on the assurance that the US attorneys office for the Southern District of Florida would not pursue federal criminal charges against him and his co-conspirators.

Maxwell argued in her petition that the plea deal also shielded her from criminal charges. However, the DoJ urged the court to reject her appeal because she had coordinated, facilitated and contributed to Epsteins sexual abuse of numerous young women and underage girls and that the plea deal didnt apply to New York prosecutors from bringing charges against her.

Now, the same DoJ wanted to hear what Maxwell had to say or reveal, exposing the frantic bid to shield Trump.

Fifth, Maxwell is a habitual liar. The defendant lies when it suits her, her sentencing document reads. Therefore, she cant be trusted with what she told Blanche or tells Congress or the court unless backed by evidence. If she lies, they could charge her with lying, Markus told reporters.

Not only the court but even the DoJ questioned her credibility in 2020.

In a , Maxwell, who lured and recruited minor girls for Epsteins sexual depravity, claimed not to know about Epsteins scheme to recruit underage girls for sexual massages.

In 2020, the DoJ charged Maxwell with two counts of perjury. Prosecutors never tried for perjury as she was convicted of more serious charges. However, , the DoJ said that her willingness to brazenly lie under oath about her conduct  strongly suggests her true motive has been and remains to avoid being held accountable for her crimes.

Now, the DoJ has granted her proffer immunity, meaning her responses, even if lies, cant be used against her.

Sixth, has Maxwell got any new information regarding Epstein? According to Markus, she answered questions about 100 different people linked to Epstein. But Blanche has neither made the questions nor the names of the people public.

A give-and-take sweetheart deal with Maxwell?

In 2020, Trump twice wished Maxwell well after her arrest in July.

In August, he told Axios in an interview, I wish her well. Her friend or boyfriend was either killed or committed suicide in jail. Shes now in jail  Let them prove somebody was guilty. In July, he told reporters that he had 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.

Interestingly, the DoJ approached Maxwell before her tentative deposition to the House on August 11 following the subpoena.

If she agrees to testify before Congress and not take the 5th [Amendment]and that remains a big ifshe would testify truthfully as she always has said she would and as she will with Mr Blanche, Markus told reporters before the meeting.

The DoJ also ensured to meet Maxwell before the Supreme Court, which is in recess, fixes a trial date for her appeal.

According to her brother Ian, Maxwell is collecting new evidence to present to the court that was not available to the defence at her 2021 trial, which would have had a significant impact on its outcome.

Its too early to predict the outcome of the Blanche-Maxwell meetingbut Maxwell wouldnt have spoken in Trumps favour, if not against, unless she gets something in return.

What Maxwell says in her House deposition or presents to the court will depend on what transpired with Blanche.

The possibility of Maxwell turning hostile or naming Trump to damage him is not high.

On the other hand, she could have claimed that Trump wasnt involved in the sexual exploitation of minor girls, which would end the controversy.

In return, Maxwell would seek leniency or commutation or even pardon from Trump. Since she was charged in a federal court, the president can commute her sentence or pardon her.

Though Markus told ABC News that there have been no asks and no promises.

We havent asked for anything. This is not a situation where we are asking for anything in return for testimony or anything like that, he said, but added that she would welcome any relief.

However, on his way to Scotland, Trump didnt shut the door to a pardon for Maxwell. Well, I dont want to talk about that, he said, but added, Its something I havent thought about. Im allowed to do it.

Later, Markus said that they havent approached Trump for a pardon but added,  the president this morning said he had the power to do. So, we hope he exercises that power in the right and just way.

Markus had already hinted at a possible arrangement. We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case, he had said before the meeting, adding that Trump is the and praising his .

In fact, Trump considered pardoning Maxwell in his first term, as he was very wary about what she might reveal, claims American author and journalist Michael Wolff.

The president became very wary about the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell. He asked, What could she say? What would she say? And should he pardon her? Wolff said on the Daily Beast podcast earlier this month.

According to famous lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who represented Epstein, Mike Tyson, and Julian Assange and was part of the defence team of Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2020, Shes [Maxwell] going to make a deal.

Dershowitz, who allegedly had sex with Epsteins late victim Virginia Giuffre, at least, six times and watched the sexual abuse of other minors, added, Thats the way things are done. They make deals with the Mafia. So, Im certain they are going to try to make a deal with her.

The Epstein Problem is Trumps Own Making

The Epstein controversy arose after Trumps DoJ . Earlier this month, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an unsigned memo that there was no incriminating client list. Did the notorious sex offender have a client list that wasnt incriminating?

The DoJ and FBI also concluded that Epsteins death was a suicide, the biggest U-turn considering their boss had doubts about Epsteins suicide in his first term.

how did it happen? Was it suicide? Was he killed? Trump had said in the Axios interview in August 2020.

When a Maga heavyweight rebelled, Trump jumped to Bondis defencelike he did for then-NSA Mike Waltz and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Signalgate blowback.

That didnt help calm down the furious Maga members, several of whom strongly believe QAnons paedophile ring conspiracy theory and that a deep state run by government and intelligence elites hides the truth about issues like child sex trafficking.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has Trumps ear, demanded the appointment of a special counsel to look into the matter.

Moreover, Bondis comment to Fox News in February that she had an Epstein client list that was sitting on my desk right now to review following a Trump directive stoked the fire.

Kash Patel, before being appointed FBI director, publicly said that paedophiles were on the Epstein list and derided House GOP members for failing to release it.

After the tottering defence of his loyalists, the President lost his mind and slammed his core base of weakling voters and accused them of backing the Epstein hoax created by the radical left and the Democrats.

Trump got a little reprieve with Maga heavyweights, like Bannon and Loomer, rallying behind him after The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported last week that he had sent a bawdy birthday letter, including his signature and an outline of a naked woman, to Epstein when he turned 50 in 2003.

As Trump comprehensively denied the report, Maga stars were back defending Trump.

However, the Epstein problem refuses to go away.

Several polls show that an increasing number of Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of the Epstein investigation and want all files to be released.

A CBS News/YouGov poll showed that around 90 per cent of Americans, including 83 per cent of Republicans, think that the DoJ should release all the information regarding Epstein.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll, about 66 per cent of Americans, including 36 per cent of GOP supporters, disapprove of Trumps handling of the release of Epstein files.

An Economist/YouGov poll showed that 56 per cent of Americans strongly or somewhat disapprove of Trumps handling of the Epstein probe. Moreover, 89 per cent of Democrats and 73 per cent of Republicans want all documents to be made public. Eighty-four per cent of Democrats and 53 per cent of Republicans believe that the Trump administration is covering up evidence.

Even House Republicans are divided with some openly defying Speaker Mike Johnson and joining the Democrats.

An increasing bipartisan chorus of lawmakers has called for a full release of the Epstein files, forcing Johnson to adjourn them to an early recess. However, the House Oversight Committee voted before adjournment to subpoena the DoJ to provide the Epstein files to Congress.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer (Kentucky) told reporters that the panel will move quickly to issue a subpoena to the DoJ.

Now, even Johnson says that the Epstein case isnt a hoax and wants full transparency. We want full transparency, he told CBS News.

Despite the DoJ concealing the Epstein files, information that Trumps association with the rapist-financier ran deeper than believed is trickling in bit by bit every other day to unnerve him.

Trump is making the mess messier by denying or rubbishing every new secret tumbling out of the closet or giving concessions.

The latest bombshell was dropped by WSJ on Wednesday. In May, Bondi informed Trump that his name was among the many high-profile people in the Epstein files. Last week, Trump said, No, no, when asked whether Bondi told him he was named in the files. However, now the White House has termed the WSJ report fake news.

Trump reacted similarly to the exclusive CNN archived video footage and photos showing the rapist attending his second marriage (with Marla Maples) at the NYCs Plaza Hotel in 1993.

New TrumpEpstein Videos and Photos Uncovered



Newly uncovered photos and video show Donald Trump socializing with Jeffrey Epstein at high-profile events in the 1990sincluding Trumps 1993 wedding and a 1999 Victorias Secret show.



The footage, revealed by CNN, predates pic.twitter.com/ehtIj74c3w  Clash Report (@clashreport) July 23, 2025

Youve got to be kidding me, he told CNNs Andrew Kaczynski over the phone, called the network fake news and hung up after 30 seconds.

They were also seen together at the opening of the Harley Davidson Cafe in the same year, at a 1997 Angels party and Victorias Secret fashion eventall in New York.

Similarly, Trump shot back at the WSJ birthday letter report despite evidence to the contrary. I never wrote a picture in my life. I dont draw pictures of women, he told the newspaper and sued it for $20 billion.

However, Lowery Lockard, who ran the auction for Hattie Larlham, a nonprofit foundation, told CNN that Trump sent her two signed drawings for an Ohio charity auction in 2004. She collected around 150 drawings from celebrities for the auction. Trump drew the New York City skyline with a signed waiver.

The Trump administrations actions after mid-May triggered suspicions of a cover-up and ended in a disaster.

What started as a much-hyped promise by Bondi in February and March to release a truckload of evidence and full Epstein files to Trumps April comment that 100% of all of these documents are being delivered fizzled out by mid-May.

Both Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, claim that Epstein committed suicide. A week later, Bongino says, There is nothing in the file at this point on the Epstein case.

On July 7, the DoJ released the memoand the deluge of suspicions, conspiracy theories, and allegations of a cover-up swamp Trump and his coterie.

When Trumps bile failed to stem the Epstein tide, he relented.

Following the WSJ letter report, Trump ordered Bondi to unseal pertinent grand jury transcripts from the Epstein case. However, the move has already backfired in Florida, where a judge denied Bondis request to release additional jury transcripts. Several such requests are pending.

The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. He tweets as @FightTheBigots. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
DAR ES SALAAM, July 27 (Xinhua) -- More than 50 residents of Zanzibar have regained their vision following a weeklong cataract surgery campaign conducted by the 34th Chinese medical team in Zanzibar.

Led by ophthalmologist Zhou Shi, the team performed over 50 successful cataract surgeries from July 21 to 25 despite limited equipment, language barriers, and intra-operative challenges.

One day after his procedure, patient Maulid Said Mohamed stood at a window, eyes filled with tears as he admired a tall coconut tree outside. "Chinese doctors are incredibly skilled," he repeated joyfully. "Thank you."

Beyond surgical precision, Zhou also led hands-on training for local medical staff, sharing advanced techniques and promoting long-term skill-building.

"Teaching someone to fish is better than giving them a fish," Zhou said. "Our goal is to leave behind an 'unremovable' medical team."

Ahmed Muumin, director of ophthalmology at the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, expressed deep appreciation. "It's the Chinese doctors who helped sow the seeds of 'light' here in Zanzibar," he said.

Chen Wei, Chinese medical team leader, noted that the campaign forms a key part of the 2025 China-Zanzibar medical advancement plan. Since 1964, Chinese medical teams have treated millions across Zanzibar, restoring sight to thousands and strengthening humanitarian ties.

"This campaign reaffirms the enduring friendship and spirit of compassion behind China-Africa medical collaboration," Chen said. 
President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, right, shakes hand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after signing a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in Male, Maldives, Friday, July 25, 2025. (Indian Prime Ministers Office via AP)

A common goal of diplomacy is to build better relationships with other nations, even those with adversarial relationships. This is even more important if those nations are your neighbours. Historically, all global powers rose as regional powers before becoming global powers. Thus, a successful neighbourhood policy is needed because if some neighbours are unfriendly, they will almost certainly try to block India rise as a global power.

Turning adversaries into allies can be a significant outcome of successful diplomacy, but it is easier said than done.

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A carefully planned approach is needed, which must comprise several strategies, such as utilising dialogue and negotiation to de-escalate tensions, building relationships and establishing agreements on various issues like trade, climate change, or security, and creating a framework to interact and manage relations in a mutually beneficial manner.

Indias neighbourhood is often described as hostile due to a complex interplay of historical factors, geopolitical rivalries, and ongoing disputes. These include unresolved border issues, religious and ethnic tensions, and concerns about Indias regional dominance. The partition of British India in 1947 created Pakistan, and the resulting division led to long-standing animosity and mistrust, with Pakistan often viewing India as an existential threat.

India has unresolved border disputes with several neighbours, including China and Pakistan, which have resulted in armed conflicts and ongoing tensions. Indias aspiration to be a regional power is seen by some neighbours as a threat to their sovereignty and autonomy, leading to counterbalancing efforts and strategic competition.

The relationship with Pakistan is particularly fraught with historical baggage, including the Kashmir conflict, cross-border terrorism, and nuclear weapons competition. India and China share a long border with disputed areas, and there is ongoing competition for influence in the region, including infrastructure development and military presence.

The relationship between Bangladesh and India has experienced a period of worsening following the removal of Sheikh Hasinas government and the establishment of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration. Even during Sheikh Hasinas rule, issues like border management, water sharing, and migration continued to pose challenges.

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Nepal is strategically important for India, but it has concerns about Indias influence and potential interference in its internal affairs. The island nations Sri Lanka and the Maldives are also within Indias sphere of influence, but India faces competition from other powers, particularly China, for influence in these countries.

Despite the challenges, India has been actively pursuing a Neighbourhood First policy, aiming to enhance cooperation and development assistance to its neighbours. This policy involves initiatives like infrastructure development, trade and investment, and capacity building, with the goal of fostering closer ties and promoting regional stability. However, the success of this policy is contingent on addressing the underlying issues and building trust with its neighbours.

Against this background, Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the Maldives must be seen as a very important diplomatic step. Maldives holds a significant position among Indias vital maritime neighbours. India has actively engaged in various efforts aimed at bolstering the defence and security infrastructure in the Maldives through capacity development and capability enhancement. India has steadfastly provided financial aid and helped towards maintaining the security of the island nation.

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Under President Mohamed Muizzu, India-Maldives relations have experienced a period of strain, largely due to his India Out campaign. Muizzu campaigned for the presidency on a platform advocating for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. This rhetoric, aimed at bolstering Maldivian sovereignty and nationalism, created friction with India. Actions taken after assuming office further worsened relations. Muizzus first act as president was to formally request the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives.

While India eventually replaced its military personnel with civilians, this initial demand signalled a shift from the previous administrations India First policy. Muizzu pursued a policy of diversifying the Maldives foreign relations, including strengthening ties with China. This included Muizzus choice to make his first official trip to China instead of New Delhi, breaking with established tradition.

Comments targeting PM Modi also negatively impacted the relationship. In January 2024, Maldivian government officials, reportedly affiliated with the Muizzu administration, made derogatory remarks on social media aimed at the Indian prime minister. These comments, although later disavowed by the Maldivian government, resulted in a strong backlash in India and negatively impacted tourism from India to the Maldives.

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Such actions, particularly the India Out campaign, created a period of tension and uncertainty in the traditionally strong relationship between India and the Maldives. More recently, however, relations seem to be recalibrating. India has provided significant economic assistance to the Maldives, and Muizzu has toned down some of his anti-India rhetoric. He has visited India, and both leaders have pledged to open a new chapter in bilateral ties.

This culminated in Prime Minister Modis recent visit to the Maldives on July 25-26 as the guest of honour at the Maldives 60th Independence Day celebrations, signalling a potential warming of relations. PM Modis two-day trip is aimed at boosting Indias development partnership with the Maldives. This is his first visit to the island nation since President Muizzu took office. As PM Modi put it, Peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region are our shared goals. He stressed that India will remain the first responder for the Maldives and that it will continue to support the Maldives in strengthening its defence capabilities.

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PM Modi announced a $565 million credit line, saying that This will be used for projects linked to infrastructure development in line with the priorities of the Maldivian people. The Maldives president said that the credit line from India would be used to strengthen the Maldives security forces, as well as improve healthcare, housing, and education. He added that Indias continued assistance to the Maldives through the export of essential commodities is a key facet of our bilateral cooperation".

The reset in bilateral ties that is taking place was evident from President Muizzus remarks at the banquet that he hosted for PM Modi. Muizzu said, This year marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between the Maldives and India, a milestone that reflects not only our shared history but also the depth and resilience of our partnership. Yet, the bond between our people predates diplomatic formalities. For centuries, the Indian Ocean has been a witness to our shared journey. As traders, travellers, and neighbours, we exchanged goods, stories, and ideas across these waters for centuries. It is the same ocean that unites us today with ties that no tide can break.

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Heaping praise on India, he added: India has long stood as the Maldivess closest and most trusted partner. Our collaboration spans a wide range of areas, from security and trade to healthcare, education and beyond, touching the everyday lives of our citizens. Every day hundreds of Maldivians travel to India for medical care, education and business, just as we warmly welcome members of the Indian diaspora who continue to contribute meaningfully to our economy and society. My Govts vision is clear, to build a resilient, inclusive and forward-looking economy that is vibrant to empower our youth, to thrive in the digital age and to ensure lasting peace and security in our shared region. In pursuing these goals, Indias partnership remains invaluable.

PM Modi reciprocated the warm sentiments expressed by the Maldives president. India-Maldives relations are centuries old. We are neighbours, partners, and true friends who stand together in times of need. Like I said earlier too, Maldives holds a special place in Indias Neighbourhood First policyThis is not just diplomacy but a relation of deep affinity, PM Modi said.

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The Maldivian government, under President Muizzu, still maintains a close relationship with China. Relations between China and the Maldives are experiencing a period of strengthened ties and elevated cooperation. The Maldives has emphasised that its friendship with China should not be influenced by any third party and that it will safeguard regional peace and development. However, Chinas loans for infrastructure projects have raised concerns about the Maldives debt burden, as China is its largest external creditor.

Summing up, Prime Minister Modis visit to the Maldives on its 60th Independence Day as Guest of Honour marks a significant step towards improved relations. Following a period of strained relations, there are signs that the Maldives is moving towards a more cooperative stance towards India. While President Muizzus initial policy sought to distance the Maldives from India, recent interactions suggest a shift towards repairing and strengthening ties. The shift towards pragmatic diplomacy suggests that the Maldives is recognising the strategic importance of both India and China as regional powers and is now seeking to balance its relationships with the two regional powers.

The writer is a retired Indian diplomat and had previously served as Consul General in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The multimillion-dollar project would have produced clouds over a stretch of ocean larger than Puerto Rico. The initial experiment was intended to run for months

People watch the sunset over the Rio Negro in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil on July 6, 2025. AFP/Representational image

A team of researchers in California that gained attention last year for an aborted cloud-creation experiment on a retired aircraft carrier had been planning a much larger study of saltwater-spraying equipment to dim the suns rays, Politico reported.

The multimillion-dollar project would have produced clouds over a stretch of ocean larger than Puerto Rico. The documents including funding requests, emails and texts raise new questions about the billionaire-backed initiative that oversaw the 2024 test on San Francisco Bay.

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The records show the team had received some federal funding and sought access to US government ships, planes and funding. The researchers hoped to expand the project to multiple geographic locations, including off the west coasts of North America, Chile or south-central Africa.

Alameda test was shut down after 20 minutes

The initial experiment, led by the University of Washingtons Marine Cloud Brightening Program, was intended to run for months but lasted only 20 minutes before Alameda city officials halted it, saying they had not been informed.

Alameda was a stepping stone to something much larger, and there wasnt any engagement with local communities, said Sikina Jinnah, an environmental studies professor at the University of California in Santa Cruz.

University officials downplayed the scale of the proposed ocean test and said the program was focused on assessing whether cloud-making instruments could work in real-world conditions. The program does not recommend, support or develop plans for the use of marine cloud brightening to alter weather or climate, said Sarah Doherty, who leads the program.

Controversy over solar geoengineering

Solar geoengineering, also called solar radiation management, seeks to reduce global warming by reflecting sunlight away from Earth. It includes techniques such as releasing sulfate particles into the stratosphere or spraying saltwater aerosols over oceans.

Critics warn that such efforts could disrupt weather patterns, affect farm yields and wildlife, and create a risk of termination shock if the processes stop abruptly. Conspiracy theories have added to the backlash, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) falsely linking geoengineering to deadly floods in Texas and introducing a bill to criminalize the technology.

In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a law banning the release of chemicals into the atmosphere to affect the climate. More than 575 scientists have called for a global ban, saying the technology cannot be governed globally in a fair, inclusive, and effective manner.

Billionaire donors and funding sources

The programs donors include cryptocurrency billionaire Chris Larsen, philanthropist Rachel Pritzker and venture capitalist Chris Sacca. Larsen said research into marine cloud brightening is needed because of questions about its effectiveness and risks.

At a time when scientists are facing political attacks and drastic funding cuts, we need to complement a rapid energy transition with more research into a broad range of potential climate solutions, he said in an email to E&E News.

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Quadrature Climate Foundation, linked to London-based hedge fund Quadrature Capital, has given nearly $11.9 million to SilverLining and $5 million to the University of Washington for the research.

SilverLining reported more than $3.6 million in revenue in 2023. It has also received six-figure donations from charities linked to former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer and Intel co-founder Gordon Moore.
The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which started days earlier.

Joseph Czuba, 71, stands before Circuit Judge Dave Carlson for his arraignment at the Will County courthouse, Oct. 30, 2023, in Joliet, Ill. AP

A landlord sentenced to decades in prison after he killed a Palestinian American boy and wounded his mother has died.

Three months ago, Joseph Czuba was sentenced to 53 years behind bars for the attack. He was found guilty in February of murder, attempted murder and hate-crime charges in the death of 6-year-old Wadee Alfayoumi and the wounding of the boys mother, Hanan Shaheen.

The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which started days earlier.

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Czuba died Thursday in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections, according to a statement from the Will County Sheriffs Office.

Ahmed Rehab, the executive director of Council on American-Islamic Relations Chicago office, said in a statement on Saturday that this depraved killer has died, but the hate is still alive and well.

Evidence at trial included harrowing testimony from Shaheen and her frantic 911 call, along with bloody crime scene photos and police video. Jurors deliberated less than 90 minutes before handing in a verdict.

The family had been renting rooms in Czubas home in Plainfield, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Chicago when the attack happened.

Central to prosecutors case was harrowing testimony from the boys mother, who said Czuba attacked her before moving on to her son, insisting they had to leave because they were Muslim. Prosecutors also played the 911 call and showed police footage. Czubas wife, Mary, whom he has since divorced, also testified for the prosecution, saying he had become agitated about the Israel-Hamas war, which had erupted days earlier.

Police said Czuba pulled a knife from a holder on a belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the childs body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so explicit that the judge agreed to turn television screens showing them away from the audience, which included Wadees relatives.

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The attack renewed fears of anti-Muslim discrimination and hit particularly hard in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadees funeral drew large crowds, and Plainfield officials have dedicated a park playground in his honor.
Delhi Police have arrested a 41-year-old man linked to the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) for his involvement in a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on a police station in Punjab in April. The accused, Karanvir Singh, was wanted under multiple terror charges and was earlier believed to be hiding in Pakistan.

Police personnel stand guard at the Red Fort, amid tight security in the wake of tension between India and Pakistan, in New Delhi, Friday, May 9, 2025. PTI

A 41-year-old man linked to the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) has been arrested in Delhi for his involvement in a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on a police station in Punjab earlier this year.

The accused, Karanvir Singh from Kapurthala, was wanted in connection with the April 7 attack on the Qila Lal Singh Wala police station in Batala district. He had been suspected of fleeing to Pakistan after the incident.

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In 2023, Interpol issued a Red Corner Notice against Karanvir at Indias request. He faces several serious charges, including murder, criminal conspiracy, fundraising for terror activities, and violations of the Arms and Explosive Substances Acts.

His arrest follows the recent capture of another BKI operative, Akashdeep Singh alias Baaz, by Delhi Polices Special Cell. Akashdeep, a resident of Amritsar, was picked up from Indore on July 22 under the Arms Act. He allegedly provided shelter and logistical support to the attackers, though he had no prior criminal record.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik confirmed both arrests, adding that BKI had claimed responsibility for the Batala attack and had issued threats of a similar strike in Delhi.

The case has now been transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further probe.
Islamic State-backed rebels killed 38 people on Sunday in an attack on a church in eastern Congo.

In yet another brutal assault in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, at least 38 people were killed on Sunday when Islamic State-linked rebels attacked a Catholic church complex in Komanda, torching homes and shops and leaving behind scenes of devastation.

The pre-dawn raid, carried out by members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), unfolded around 1 a.m. and left multiple bodies both inside and outside the church. Local civil society leader Dieudonne Duranthabo reported that three of the victims were found burnt, and warned that the death toll could rise as search efforts continue.

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The ADF, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, has repeatedly targeted civilians across the border regions of Uganda and Congo. Just weeks ago, the group was responsible for a massacre in Ituri province, prompting the UN to describe the violence as a bloodbath.

Military officials confirmed the Komanda incident. At least 10 people were killed in a machete attack on a church near the town, said Lt. Jules Ngongo, army spokesperson for Ituri province. Shops nearby were also set on fire, he added.

The ADF, originally formed in Uganda in the 1990s, moved into Congo in 2002 after facing military pressure at home. Since then, it has launched a prolonged campaign of violence, killing thousands of civilians. The groups leadership envisions an Islamic state in the region.

Duranthabo criticised the lack of effective security in Komanda despite the presence of government forces. He said some residents were now fleeing toward Bunia, fearing further violence. We need immediate military support  the enemy is still close, he said.

As Congos army continues its battle against the ADF, it is also contending with fresh clashes involving the M23 rebel group, which Kinshasa accuses of receiving support from Rwanda.

With inputs from agencies
A team of researchers in China is working to revive an ancient seismoscope that allegedly could detect distant earthquakes and even point to their direction

About 2,000 years ago, a Chinese scholar named Zhang Heng reportedly created a groundbreaking device called the Houfeng Didong Yi, a seismoscope that allegedly could detect distant earthquakes and even point to their direction.

Though mentioned in ancient texts like The Book of the Later Han, some scholars doubt its existence, calling it a myth, and it was dropped from Chinas school curriculum in 2017.

Now, a team of researchers in China is working to prove this ancient invention was real by rebuilding it with the help of modern science.

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The device

Imagine a decorative wine jar with eight dragons around it, each holding a bronze ball in its mouth, and toads below waiting to catch them.

When an earthquakes tremors hit, a hidden mechanism would make one dragon drop its ball into a toads mouth with a loud clang, showing the quakes direction.

According to The Book of the Later Han, it was as accurate as the gods.

Built in 132 AD during the Eastern Han dynasty, this device was allegedly far ahead of its timeEurope didnt have a similar tool until 1856, when Italian scientist Luigi Palmieri made one.

Challenges and determination

Sceptics argue that ancient technology couldnt be that advanced, but others believe it was a remarkable engineering achievement.

Efforts to recreate the device based on old texts have failed to fully match its described abilities.

Xu Guodong, an associate professor at the Institute of Disaster Prevention in Hebei, is leading a team to change that.

Using modern seismic knowledge, theyve designed a model with three parts: an excitation structure, a transmission structure, and a shutdown system.

Historical texts describe a capital pillar with eight channels as the devices core.

Xus team believes this pillar wasnt an unstable rod, as some thought, but a pendulum-like cantilever, similar to a giant chopstick fixed in the ground.

When the ground moved just 1mm, the pendulums tip would swing at least 5mm, amplifying the tremor. This motion triggered an L-shaped lever system, releasing a bronze ball from a dragons mouth. Even a tiny 0.5mm tremor could tip the delicate balance, sending the ball into a toads mouth below.

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A clever locking system ensured only one ball fell. When the first ball dropped, it activated levers that locked the other seven, so only one direction was recorded, matching the historical claim that one dragon triggering while seven remained silent.

Xu calls this design almost prophetic for its time.

The device was built to detect quakes reliably without false triggers, responding to ground movements as small as 0.5mm. However, pinpointing the exact direction of an earthquakes epicentre was tricky and only accurate under specific conditions, like when the device aligned with certain fault lines.

Xus research, published in Progress in Geophysics in March, aims to restore the Houfeng Didong Yis place as a marvel of ancient engineering.
Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday as Israel launched a limited tactical pause in military operations to address a worsening hunger crisis. The UN has warned of famine-like conditions affecting hundreds of thousands.

Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday, as Israel began a limited tactical pause in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis.

The Israeli military said it had also begun airdropping food into the Palestinian territory  making one drop of seven palettes  while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected what he characterised as UN lies that his government was to blame for the dire humanitarian situation.

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The army also dismissed allegations that it had been using starvation as a weapon, saying it had coordinated with the UN and international agencies to increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.

UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the tactical pauses, saying he was in contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window.

But the UNs World Food Programme said a third of the population of Gaza had not eaten for days, and 470,000 people were enduring famine-like conditions that were already leading to deaths.

The Israeli decision came as international pressure mounted on Netanyahus government to head off the risk of mass starvation in the territory.

Germanys Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus of concern on Sunday, urging Netanyahu to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now.

Accusing the UN of fabricating pretexts and lies about Israel blocking aid, Netanyahu said in remarks at an airbase that there are secure routes for aid.

There have always been, but today its official. There will be no more excuses, he added.

Since Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entering Gaza on March 2, the situation inside the territory has deteriorated sharply. More than 100 NGOs warned this week of mass starvation.

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Though aid has trickled back in since late May, the UN and humanitarian agencies say Israeli restrictions remain excessive and road access inside Gaza is tightly controlled.

Lifes wish

The Jordanian military said its planes, working with the United Arab Emirates, had delivered 25 tonnes of aid in three parachute drops over Gaza on Sunday. Truckloads of flour were also seen arriving in northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists.

The charity Oxfams regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi called Israels latest moves a welcome first step but warned they could prove insufficient.

Starvation wont be solved by a few trucks or airdrops, she said. Whats needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza.

We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege.

In general, humanitarian officials are deeply sceptical airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gazas more than two million inhabitants.

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In Gaza Citys Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her lifes wish was to simply feed her children. She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from aid points daily.

Chaotic scenes broke out at the site where Israel conducted its first food drop, witnesses told AFP.

Samih Humeid, a 23-year-old from the Al-Karama neighbourhood of Gaza City, said dozens of people had gathered to rush towards the palettes of supplies parachuted onto the area.

It felt like a war, everyone trying to grab whatever they could. Hunger is merciless. The quantities were extremely limited, not enough even for a few people, because hunger is everywhere. I only managed to get three cans of fava beans, he said.

In a social media post, the Israeli military announced it had carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.

AFP journalists saw Egyptian trucks crossing from Rafah, with cargo routed through Israels Kerem Shalom checkpoint for inspection before entering Gaza.

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The Israeli armys daily pause from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm will be limited to areas where its troops are not currently operating  Al-Mawasi in the south, central Deir el-Balah and Gaza City in the north.

Israel said designated secure routes would also open across Gaza for aid convoys carrying food and medicine.

The military said the measures should disprove the false claim of deliberate starvation.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing reasonable grounds to suspect war crimes including starvation  charges Israel vehemently denies.

Activists intercepted

On Sunday, according to the Gaza civil defence agency, Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties.

Separately, the Israeli navy brought an activist boat, the Handala operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, into the part of Ashdod, after intercepting and boarding it late Saturday to prevent it attempting to breach a maritime blockade of Gaza.

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The legal rights centre Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod and had met with 19 of the 21 detained activists and journalists from 10 countries. The other two detainees, dual US-Israeli nationals, had been transferred to Israeli police custody, the group said.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamass October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Anand had just picked up medicine from a Melbourne pharmacy and was on a phone call when five boys ambushed him from behind.

(Trigger warning: Please note that the report contains graphical details of abuse, which could be distressing to some. Reader discretion is advised.)

Saurabh Anand, a 33-year-old Indian-origin man, is in hospital recovering from a brutal machete attack by a group of teenagers outside a Melbourne shopping centre.

The assault happened around 7:30 pm at Central Square Shopping Centre in Altona Meadows.

Anand had just picked up medicine from a pharmacy and was on a phone call when five boys ambushed him from behind, according to The Australia Today. He didnt hear anything before the attack began.

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One teen searched his pockets, another punched him until he collapsed, and a third held a machete to his throat.

When Anand raised his arm to protect himself, the blade cut through his wrist, hand, and bone.

All I remember is the pain and my hand was  hanging by a thread, he said from his hospital bed.

He also suffered stab wounds to his shoulder and back, a fractured spine, multiple broken arm bones, and head injuries.

Bystanders called emergency services after hearing Anands screams.

At Royal Melbourne Hospital, surgeons considered amputating his hand but managed to reattach it after hours of complex surgery, inserting screws in his wrist and hand.

Anand remains in intensive care, with doctors uncertain about his long-term recovery. I cannot move my hand All I feel in it is pain, he said.

Arrests made

Police arrested four of the five teens. A 14-year-old from Wyndham faces charges including robbery, unlawful assault, and intentionally causing serious injury.

Two 15-year-olds and another 14-year-old from Hobsons Bay were also charged and are set to appear in court in August.

Anand was upset that two of the accused were granted bail, saying, Im seeking justice I want this to be a catalyst for change.

In a separate incident last week, a 23-year-old Indian man, Charanpreet Singh, was allegedly assaulted in Adelaide over a parking dispute involving racist remarks, Australian media reported.

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The attack occurred on the night of July 19 on Kintore Avenue. Singh told 9NEWS that a group used racial slurs, shouted an obscenity, and then punched him until he lost consciousness. He suffered brain trauma, facial fractures, and needed overnight hospital treatment.

A 20-year-old from Enfield was arrested the next day and charged with assault causing harm. Police are still seeking others who fled the scene, per 9NEWS.

Singh expressed his distress, saying, Things like this, when they happen, it makes you feel like you should go back. You can change anything in your body, but you cant change the colours.
Iran said Sunday it has executed two members of the exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq after convicting them of carrying out attacks on public and civilian infrastructure.

Iran said on Sunday that it has executed two people linked to the exiled opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK), accusing them of orchestrating attacks against civilian and government infrastructure across the country.

According to the judiciarys official outlet, Mizan Online, the executions of Behrouz Ehsani Eslamlou and Mehdi Hasani were carried out in the morning following their conviction for using improvised mortars to target residential zones, educational centres and government facilities.

Eslamlou, whose association with MEK dates back to the 1980s, had previously served time in prison before re-joining the group upon release. Authorities said he was detained while attempting to cross into Turkey, allegedly carrying firearms, ammunition, components for mortar devices and disguise tools.

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Further details reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency claim that Eslamlou had been instructed by MEK leaders in Albania to infiltrate Iran and establish covert militant cells. His role reportedly included recruitment, training and directing operations aimed at both civilian and official targets.

Iranian state media also alleged that the two men were engaged in acts of sabotage, intelligence-gathering and the filming of attacks for distribution through MEK-affiliated media platforms.

Iranian courts charged the men with several offenses, including waging war against the state, conspiracy, sabotage and membership in a terrorist organization. Prosecutors accused them of plotting to destabilize national security and damage public property.

The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, once a Marxist-Islamist group that opposed Irans monarchy, backed the 1979 Islamic Revolution but later broke with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis government. It carried out a series of deadly bombings and assassinations in the 1980s and supported Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq war  stances that still provoke widespread resentment within Iran. The group is now largely based in Albania but claims to operate a clandestine network inside Iran.

The last known execution of Mujahedeen-e-Khalq members before Sunday took place in 2009, following their conviction in connection with an attempted bombing in Tehrans central Enghelab Square.

With inputs from agencies
Authorities have said several Afghans were arrested on espionage charges and found in possession of bomb- and drone-making manuals, although the claims have not been independently verified

Millions from Afghanistan had fled to neighbouring Iran after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Reuters

Iran has stepped up the deportation of Afghan refugees following allegations that undocumented migrants aided Israeli airstrikes on the country last month. The move has resulted in more than 1 million people returning to Afghanistan since 1 June, including at least 627,000 deportees, according to the United Nations.

Authorities have said several Afghans were arrested on espionage charges and found in possession of bomb- and drone-making manuals, although the claims have not been independently verified.

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Tehran has long hosted one of the worlds largest Afghan refugee populations, estimated at between 3 million and 6 million people.

Irans semi-official Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that arrests were made in connection with the alleged espionage, while state television accused some migrants of helping Israel during a 12-day bombing campaign in June. Israel has not commented on the allegations, Bloomberg reported.

The deportations have prompted widespread concern among humanitarian organisations. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has warned of devastating consequences for Afghanistan, already battered by poverty, sanctions and decades of war. Remittances sent by Afghans working in Iran have been a vital lifeline for families back home, and their sudden loss is expected to deepen economic hardship.

Even before the latest crackdown, Afghans in Iran faced strict limits on integration. They are largely excluded from citizenship unless one parent is Iranian, face significant barriers to higher education and formal employment, and are often relegated to low-wage work in construction and other informal sectors. The majority belong to the Hazara minority, a Shia community historically persecuted by the Taliban.

Tehrans policy marks a sharp reversal from the image it has long cultivated as a refuge for Afghans sharing cultural and religious ties. While Iranian officials insist only undocumented migrants are being expelled, rights groups have documented cases of refugees with valid papers having their documents destroyed by police, rendering them illegal before deportation.

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Amnesty International has called the expulsions a violation of the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning people to countries where they risk serious human rights abuses. The organisation says deported women and girls are particularly vulnerable under Taliban rule, where they are barred from most education and employment.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has reported widespread abuses against those forcibly returned last year, including torture, arbitrary detention and threats to personal safety. Taliban officials have urged Iran to slow down the deportations, with Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan calling for a more gradual process.

Despite these appeals, accounts from deportees describe mass round-ups in Iranian cities, transfers to remote detention centres, and bus journeys to the border crossing at Islam Qala. Many return to find themselves homeless and jobless in a country where the economy has collapsed and basic services remain scarce.

Irans measures have also fuelled xenophobic violence and harassment of Afghans. While Tehran refers to refugees as guests, the current deportation campaign suggests a growing hostility that could permanently reshape the status of one of the worlds largest and most protracted refugee populations.

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BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Torrential rains have resulted in the evacuation of more than 3,000 residents in Beijing's suburban district of Miyun.

The meteorological observatory in Miyun issued an upgraded red alert for torrential rains at 9:06 p.m. on Saturday, the highest level in China's four-tier color-coded weather warning system.

Between 12 p.m. on Saturday and 2 a.m. on Sunday, the district recorded an average rainfall of 73.5 millimeters, with the heaviest precipitation reaching 315.3 millimeters at Huangtuliang Station. This intense and localized downpour triggered flash floods -- disrupting access to roads, power supplies and communication networks in several villages.

The extreme weather forced the closure of 12 major roads in Miyun, seven of which have since reopened. Contact has been established with all the affected villages, with a total of 3,065 residents across 149 villages having been safely relocated as of 5 a.m. on Sunday. No fatalities have been reported -- while evacuation and rescue operations are still underway.

Weather forecasts indicate continued rainfall in Miyun on Sunday. These conditions are expected to ease slightly on Monday, with lingering risks of downpours in mountainous areas of this district.

Meanwhile, the Miyun flood control and drought relief headquarters has activated a Level-I flood control emergency response to carry out relevant rescue operations. 
Israel has announced daily tactical pauses in parts of Gaza to help with the delivery of humanitarian aid, as global concern mounts over the worsening crisis. The pauses will take place in three areas from 10 am to 8 pm each day, starting July 27.

The IDFs Intelligence Directorate is making major changes to its Arabic and Islamic Studies training. Reuters/File Photo

The Israeli military on Sunday said it will begin daily tactical pauses in parts of Gaza to ease humanitarian aid delivery amid growing global concerns over civilian suffering.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it will halt operations every day from 10 am to 8 pm in three areas  Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, starting July 27. Though the army claims it is not actively operating in these zones, recent weeks have seen strikes and clashes in each.

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The IDF also announced the creation of secure routes for aid movement and civilian passage, which will remain open from 6 am to 11 pm daily.

In accordance with directives from the political echelon, and as part of the IDFs ongoing effort, led by COGAT, to increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, a local tactical pause in military activity will take place for humanitarian purposes from 10:00 to 20:00, pic.twitter.com/y7gTmtfidj  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 27, 2025

These steps, coordinated with the UN and international agencies, aim to improve access for humanitarian groups while the broader military campaign continues elsewhere in Gaza.

The IDF will continue offensive operations against terror groups while supporting humanitarian efforts, the military said, adding it is ready to expand the scope of these pauses if needed.
Israel announced aid airdrops and UN corridors in Gaza amid growing famine fears and global pressure. The move follows reports of over 50 Palestinians killed while trying to reach food.

Palestinians gather as they carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, amid a hunger crisis, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, July 20, 2025. File Image/Reuters

Israels military announced that airdrops of humanitarian aid over Gaza would begin Saturday night, along with new corridors for United Nations convoys, following growing reports of starvation-related deaths in the territory. The announcement came after months of warnings from experts about famine conditions due to Israeli restrictions on aid access.

In a statement released late Saturday, the Israeli military said it would also implement  humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas, but stressed that combat operations against Hamas would continue. Israels foreign ministry added that the pauses would begin Sunday in civilian centres alongside the aid corridors. However, the military maintained there is  no starvation in Gaza, where over two million peoplemostly displacedare heavily dependent on aid to survive.

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The exact locations for the planned airdrops and humanitarian corridors were not specified. The military said the effort would be coordinated with international aid organizations. The newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by Israel, may also play a role. GHF chair Johnnie Moore said the group is ready to assist.

The move follows intensifying global criticismincluding from Israels alliesafter hundreds of Palestinians were killed in recent weeks while attempting to access food. Witness accounts from Gaza paint a grim picture: health workers too weak from hunger to function, children dying from malnutrition, and people risking their lives under fire in desperate attempts to reach food aid.

On Saturday, at least 53 Palestinians were killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire, many of them while seeking aid, according to Gazas health officials and ambulance services. In two incidents near the Zikim crossing in northern Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on crowds waiting for aid trucks. At least a dozen were killed in one of the incidents, according to staff at Gazas Shifa hospital. The military claimed it fired warning shots in response to an immediate threat.

A witness, Sherif Abu Aisha, described how people mistook an incoming light for aid trucks, only to discover it was Israeli tanks. We went because there is no food  and nothing was distributed, he said, adding that his uncle was among the dead.

Later that evening, Israeli troops reportedly fired at another crowd gathered around a U.N. aid convoy, killing at least 11 and injuring 120, according to Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiyah, director of Shifa hospital. The death toll was expected to rise.

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AP footage from the scene showed men carrying a body and sacks of flour. You die to fetch some food for your children, said one man, Fayez Abu Riyala, visibly exhausted and sweating.

In southern Gazas Khan Younis, Israeli forces reportedly shot and killed nine people trying to access aid via the Morag corridor. There was no immediate military comment. Elsewhere, Israeli airstrikes killed four people in a Gaza City apartment and eightincluding four childrenin a tent camp in Muwasi, according to hospitals.

The aid airdrops were requested by Jordan and are expected to include food and baby formula. The UAE said its airdrops would begin immediately, while the UK announced plans to support airdrops and evacuate children needing medical care.

However, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned that airdrops are expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians, and will not address the root of the starvation crisis or prevent aid from being diverted.

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While the Israeli army claims it is not limiting the number of trucks entering Gaza, the UN says military restrictions and lawlessness on the ground are hampering delivery. Hamas police, once responsible for securing aid convoys, have been largely wiped out by airstrikes.

According to Israel, more than 250 aid trucks entered Gaza this week. Thats far below the approximately 600 trucks that crossed daily during a ceasefire that ended in March.

International pressure on Israel continues to build. Over 25 Western-aligned nations and more than 100 aid and human rights groups have called for an end to the war, criticizing the blockade and Israels new aid delivery model.

The UN human rights office says more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach aid since Maymany near the newly established GHF distribution sites.

Even aid workers are struggling to secure food. Inside Gaza, malnourished children with no prior health issues have started dying from hunger.

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All we want is enough food to stop starving, said Wael Shaaban at a charity kitchen in Gaza City, where he was trying to feed his family of six.

Meanwhile, an activist boat named Handala attempting to deliver aid to Gaza livestreamed video of Israeli forces boarding it around midnight. Israeli authorities have not commented on the incident.
The Israeli military said it would halt activity between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. (07001700 GMT) in designated areas: Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Secure corridors for aid convoys will also be operational from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Displaced Palestinians at the Nuseirat refugee camp haul food parcels and other items they managed to get from a GHF aid distribution point at the so-called "Netzarim corridor" in the central Gaza Strip. AFP

Israel has announced daily pauses in military operations across parts of the Gaza Strip to facilitate humanitarian access, as global concern mounts over the worsening crisis in the enclave.

The United Nations aid chief welcomed Israels announcement Sunday of secure land routes into Gaza for humanitarian convoys, and said the UN would try to reach as many starving people as possible.

Welcome announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through, UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher said on X.

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The Israeli military said it would halt activity between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. (07001700 GMT) in designated areas: Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Secure corridors for aid convoys will also be operational from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The move comes as the United Nations and international aid agencies report severe hunger and rising malnutrition among Gazas 2.2 million residents.

According to Gazas health ministry, at least 127 people, including 85 children, have died from malnutrition since the war began. On Saturday, five-month-old Zainab Abu Haleeb died of severe acute malnutrition at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, further underscoring the gravity of the situation.

The UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said conditions in Gaza were already catastrophic and deteriorating fast.

OCHA said constraints imposed by the Israeli authorities had hampered humanitarians ability to respond.

It said that on Thursday, for example, out of 15 attempts to coordinate humanitarian movements inside Gaza, four were outright denied, with another three impeded.

In parallel, Israel began airdropping aid packages and the Egyptian Red Crescent dispatched over 100 trucks carrying 1,200 metric tonnes of food via the Kerem Shalom crossing. Israel says it supports aid deliveries but must maintain oversight to prevent supplies from reaching militant groups. It also insists that sufficient food has been allowed into Gaza and accuses Hamas of obstructing distribution.

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The humanitarian pause follows growing international alarm, including calls for action from French President Emmanuel Macron, who has signalled intentions to recognise a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations appear to have stalled, with Israel and the United States blaming Hamas for a lack of commitment.

Within Gaza, reactions to the pause have been mixed. While some residents expressed cautious relief, many emphasised the need for a permanent end to hostilities. We hope today marks a first step in ending this war that burned everything up, said Tamer Al-Burai, a local business owner. Others voiced concern over the delivery methods, particularly the risks posed by aid airdrops.

The Israeli governments decision has also drawn criticism from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said he was not consulted and accused the leadership of capitulating to Hamas.

The war, which began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel, has since claimed the lives of nearly 60,000 people in Gaza, according to local health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins.

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Firefighting teams respond from the air and on the ground to a fire in Krioneri near Athens, Greece. AFP

A massive wildfire burned through a northern suburb of Athens, Greece, on Saturday, prompting authorities to order an evacuation. Residents of the town of Kryoneri, 12.5 miles (20km) north-east of Athens, received three SMS alerts to evacuate to safe areas, fire service spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakoyannis told reporters, The Associated Press reported.

Greek media have shown videos of houses on fire as the authorities struggle to control the blaze. There have been reports of damage. We will take stock when the fires have been put out," Vathrakoyannis said at the presser. The real difficulties are ahead of us, he said, adding that Greece has asked for six firefighting planes from the European Unions civil protection mechanism.

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According to The Associated Press, around 145 firefighters, 44 fire engines, 10 firefighting planes and 7 helicopters were being used to put out the fire, whose origin is still unknown. Meanwhile, four ambulances were treating at least five residents, most of them elderly with respiratory problems.

High temperatures are making the fire uncontrollable

Temperatures reaching or exceeding 38 C, dry conditions, and high winds are fanning the flames. While speaking to the reporters, Vathrakoyannis said that under such conditions, wildfires expand very quickly and become dangerous. These conditions are expected to prevail over the coming days.

Apart from this, the Greek fire service is also dealing with three other major fires in the south-west of Greeces two largest islands  Crete in the south and Evia north of Athens and also on the island of Kythera, north-west of Crete. At least 335 firefighters, 19 planes and 13 helicopters are involved in the operations across the country.

Vathrakoyannis emphasised that in total, 52 wildfires broke out across the country over the past 24 hours. Destructive wildfires have become a common occurrence in Greece in recent years. Many of them have broken out in the past month.

Meanwhile, fire also hit across the south of France late on Saturday, spreading towards a beach resort and forcing the evacuation of two campgrounds and some local housing. Driven by strong winds, the fire in the Aude region on the Mediterranean coast near the Spanish border had already burned through 600 hectares (1,500 acres) after breaking out earlier in the afternoon.

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The fire comes less than a month after the Aude region was hit by a major blaze that swept through 2,100 hectares (5,200 acres) near Narbonne, mobilising 1,000 firefighters.

With inputs from The Associated Press.
US CentCom chief General Michael Kurilla has been awarded Pakistans top military honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military), by President Asif Ali Zardari, signalling Islamabads intent to strengthen defence ties with Washington.

US Central Command (CentCom) chief General Michael Kurilla has been awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military), one of Pakistans highest state honours, by President Asif Ali Zardari, in a move seen as a signal of Islamabads commitment to its defence ties with Washington.

The award was presented during a high-profile ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad, where Kurilla was also given a Tri-Services Guard of Honour. The Pakistani government cited Kurillas contributions to regional peace, counterterrorism, and efforts to strengthen strategic military cooperation between Pakistan and the US.

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State broadcaster Radio Pakistan noted the honour recognised Kurillas outstanding role in regional security and defence ties. His visit included meetings with key military and political figures, including President Zardari and Army Chief General Asim Munir, focusing on defence cooperation and counterterrorism strategies.

The development comes just over a month after Kurilla praised Pakistan as a phenomenal partner in counterterrorism, remarks made even as India stepped up diplomatic efforts to highlight Pakistans record on terror financing, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Diplomatic sources say the gesture is part of Pakistans broader effort to maintain strategic balance between the US and China, and to rebuild goodwill in Washington amid ongoing concerns related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Pakistan was removed from FATFs grey list in 2022, but scrutiny remains, especially from countries like India, which continues to press for action over Islamabads alleged inaction on terror networks.

The US, a founding member of FATF, plays a key role in shaping its policies. Pakistans outreach, through high-profile honours and military cooperation, is seen as an attempt to maintain favour with Washington, especially amid its economic dependence on IMF bailouts and lingering FATF-related challenges.

Pakistan is sending a subtle messageit may be close to China, but it still values its ties with the US, a diplomatic source said to Hindustan Times, adding that CENTCOMs role remains central to Americas post-Afghanistan military strategy in the region.
As uncertainties continue to rock Bangladesh, political parties believe that the countrys Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will announce a date for the next parliamentary elections within four or five days

As uncertainties continue to rock Bangladesh, political parties believe that the countrys Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will announce a date for the next parliamentary elections within four or five days. According to The Dhaka Tribune, the assertion first came from Jamal Haider, chairman of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar faction), following a 14-party meeting with Yunus on Saturday afternoon.

Haider told local reporters that the chief adviser had categorically stated that he would announce the election date within the next four to five days. This was the most fruitful part of the discussion, he said. The government has understood that elections are the only way to resolve the anarchy in the country.

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There can be no greater message of joy than this (announcement of the election date). Elections will bring an end to the anarchy. Many problems will be solved through elections," the Jatiya Party leader added.

Political leaders slam the Yunus regime

While speaking to the reporters after the meeting, Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran told reporters that he informed the chief adviser that the government had failed miserably in maintaining law and order. The main problem in the country is the deterioration of law and order, he said. What other operation will restore the situation?

Amid criticism, Yunus warned that the corrupt forces are trying to sabotage the election process by creating chaos. He went on to call on all anti-fascist forces to remain united to resist these attempts. If all the forces of the uprising do not come together to hold a fair election, we will lose this great opportunity, said the chief adviser during the exchange of views with top political leaders at the State Guest House Jamuna, The Dhaka Tribune reported.

Yunus went on to express hope that all political parties would cooperate in organising fair elections. As per the report, the meeting began at around 5 pm (local time). At the start of the meeting, a minute of silence and prayers were observed in memory of those who died in the plane crash at Milestone School and College.

Bangladesh CEC delivers warning

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin warned that the entire nation would have to bear the consequences if the upcoming 13th national election fails, calling it a major challenge for all. The remarks from the Bangladeshi CEC came while he was addressing a views-exchange meeting as the chief guest held at the conference room of the Khulna Circuit House on Saturday afternoon, The Dhaka Tribune reported.

This election is a challenge for all of us, the CEC said. Through it, Bangladesh will move towards genuine democracy. Therefore, if we fail in this challenge, the whole nation will have to pay the price. There will be many obstacles and limitations, but we must gift the nation a proper and fair election," he added.

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The CEC also maintained that until the Constitution of Bangladesh is amended, the elections in the country would be held in the same manner as it has been in the past. CEC emphasised that conducting a fair election involves numerous challenges. We are facing new and evolving challenges. The biggest challenge is public trust. It is essential to restore peoples confidence in the Election Commission and the electoral process, he said.

The second challenge is bringing voters back to the polling centres. Many have lost interest due to not being able to vote in the past, so encouraging voter turnout is a major challenge.

Until the constitution is amended, elections will be held in the same manner as in previous years. He mentioned that the election schedule will be announced two months before the election, at which time details such as the date and nomination procedures will be made public, The Dhaka Tribune reported.

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It is pertinent to note that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Awami League party has been banned from contesting in polls.
Russia has launched direct commercial flights to North Korea, signalling a further strengthening of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. The first Moscow-Pyongyang service, operated by Nordwind Airlines, departed Sheremetyevo airport on Sunday and is expected to run once a month initially.

People wait outside Terminal C at the Sheremetyevo international airport outside Moscow, Russia. File image/ Reuters

Russia inaugurated direct commercial flights to North Korea on Sunday, signalling deeper links with its Asian ally that will aid its push in Ukraine.

According to the Sheremetyevo airports website, the first Moscow-Pyongyang flight operated by Russias Nordwind Airlines took off at 16:25 GMT.

It is slated to arrive in the North Korean capital around eight hours later.

However, Russias transport ministry stated that the route will only be serviced once a month at first.

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Tickets for Nordwind Airlines, which used to transport Russians to European vacation spots prior to the EU banning Russian flights, cost 45,000 rubles ($570).

This is a historical event, strengthening the ties between our nations, Oleg, a Nordwind employee managing the flight who did not want to give his full name, told AFP at the airport.

He also declined to say how many passengers were on board.

For the first time in more than 70 years of diplomatic relations, we are launching direct flights between the capitals of our countries, Russias deputy transport minister Vladimir Poteshkin was quoted as saying by the ministrys Telegram account.

Russias state news agency TASS reported that the first return flight from Pyongyang to Moscow would take place on Tuesday.

Russia and North Korea restored train links on June 17 after suspending them in 2020 during the Covid pandemic.

The two countries have been forging closer military bonds in recent years, with Pyongyang supplying troops and weapons for Russias military operations in Ukraine.

They signed a mutual defence pact last year, when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea.

North Korea confirmed for the first time in April that it had deployed a contingent of its soldiers to the frontline in Ukraine, alongside Russian troops.
Putin highlighted the bravery of over 50,000 sailors and officers who have been honoured with medals and orders, noting that 35 have received the prestigious title of Hero of Russia.

In a video address marking Navy Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday (July 27) praised the sailors and officers of the Russian Navy for their heroic efforts in the ongoing Ukraine war, highlighting their dedication to defending the Motherland.

Today, sailors and marines serve as an example of the valiant performance of military duty during a special military operation, he stated, commending their fight for truth, justice, and a secure, sovereign future for Russia.

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Putin highlighted the bravery of over 50,000 sailors and officers who have been honoured with medals and orders, noting that 35 have received the prestigious title of Hero of Russia.

He paid tribute to the legacy of the Russian Navy, saying, Today we honor all generations of brave sailors and officers devoted to duty and the Motherland. We remember all those who in different years and eras created the glory and power of the Russian Navy, who with military achievements and triumphs, with daily hard work and brilliant scientific achievements established Russia as a great maritime power.

He underscored the Navys historical significance, dating back to Peter the Great, as a source of national pride and respect.

It has long been known that the Navy has always been for the Motherland and honor. Your strength and courage, knowledge and honesty, straightforwardness and brotherhood were brought up in the conditions of dangerous, harsh naval service, its special culture, the main meaning of which is sincere, heartfelt, unshakable love for the Fatherland. All this is passed down from generation to generation, Putin remarked.

The President expressed gratitude to the Navy personnel for their impeccable execution of duties and contributions to strengthening Russias naval capabilities, wishing them success in their endeavours.

Russia to expand its Black Sea fleet

Nikolai Patrushev, head of Russias Maritime Collegium, announced earlier this week that the Black Sea Fleet will be enhanced in the coming years.

In the coming years, the Black Sea sailors will be further strengthened  with the arrival of new frigates, corvettes, aviation, marine robotic complexes, he said.

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Patrushev, a long-time ally of Putin and a key figure in Russias security apparatus, has been influential for decades.

In June, President Putin approved a new naval doctrine aimed at restoring Russias status as a global maritime power.

According to public assessments, Russias navy remains the third most powerful in the world.
Syria will hold its first parliamentary elections since the fall of Bashar al-Assad between 15 and 20 September, according to officials. The polls, announced amid deadly sectarian violence in Sweida province, come as the country navigates a tense political transition under temporary President Ahmad al-Sharaa.

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, left, meets with Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, center, and Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, chairman of the Higher Committee for People's Assembly Elections, right, in Damascus, Syria. AP

Syria will hold parliamentary elections in September, according to the president of the committee in charge of organising the election process, told state media on Sunday.

Mohammed Taha al-Ahmad, head of the Higher Committee for Peoples Assembly Elections, informed the state news agency SANA that polls will be held between September 15 and 20. They will be the first held by the countrys new leaders following the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a swift rebel attack in December.

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One-third of the 210 seats will be appointed by temporary President Ahmad al-Sharaa, with the remainder to be elected.

Another election committee member, Hassan al-Daghim, stated in a recent interview with the Erem News website that an electoral college will be established in every Syrian province to cast votes for the elected seats.

In March, al-Sharaa signed a temporary constitution that called for the creation of a Peoples Committee to act as a makeshift parliament until the adoption of a permanent constitution and general elections are held, a process that may take years.

The recent announcement of upcoming polls coincides with a growing rift in the nations opinion of the new Damascus government following sectarian violence in the southern province of Sweida earlier this month. The fighting killed hundreds of people and threatened to unravel Syrias fragile postwar transition.

The violent clashes, which broke out two weeks ago, were sparked by tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and fighters from the Druze religious minority.

Syrian government forces intervened, ostensibly to end the fighting, but effectively sided with the clans. Some government fighters reportedly executed Druze civilians and burned and looted houses. Israel intervened, launching airstrikes on government forces and on the Defense Ministry headquarters. Israel said it was acting to defend the Druze minority.
Thai and Cambodian leaders will meet in Malaysia for talks to end hostilities following pressure from US President Donald Trump to end a deadly border dispute which has killed at least 34 people and displaced more than 168,000.

Thailands acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet will meet on Monday in Malaysia for peace talks over their border conflict.

Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to meet on Monday in an effort to resolve ongoing deadly border clashes after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would suspend trade deals with both countries unless the violence ends.

Jirayu Huangsap said Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will attend Mondays talks in response to an invitation from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss peace efforts in the region.

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The spokesperson also said Phumthams Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet will also attend the talks, though this was not immediately confirmed by the Cambodian side. He added that Anwar was acting in his capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, held on an annual rotating basis by its 10 members.

On Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with both leaders, indicating that the US would not pursue trade agreements with Thailand or Cambodia while hostilities persisted. He later announced that both sides agreed to negotiate a ceasefire.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed earlier on Sunday that his country is committed to pursuing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, adding that Trump informed him Thailand had also agreed to stop attacks following discussions with Phumtham. Hun Manet said he has delegated Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn to coordinate with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and work directly with Thailands foreign minister to facilitate the ceasefire process.

Thailand has indicated cautious support for the ceasefire initiative. Phumtham expressed gratitude to Trump and stated that Thailand agrees in principle to a ceasefire, emphasizing the importance of sincere intention from Cambodia, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry. Phumtham also called for prompt bilateral talks to determine concrete measures for a peaceful settlement.

Both nations trade blame as shelling continues

The current wave of violence began Thursday following a land mine blast that injured five Thai soldiers. Each side has accused the other of sparking the conflict. Ambassadors have been recalled, and Thailand has shut its border crossings with Cambodia.

Despite growing calls for de-escalation, active fighting continued on Sunday in multiple parts of the contested region. Thai army spokesperson Col. Richa Suksowanont said Cambodian forces launched heavy artillery into Surin province, hitting civilian homes and targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple, a long-disputed site. He said Thai forces returned fire with long-range artillery against Cambodian positions.

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Col. Richa noted that while diplomatic efforts led by Trump are ongoing, ceasefire on the battlefield will only take effect once Cambodia formally initiates negotiations.

Thailands foreign ministry issued a sharp statement, accusing Cambodia of bad faith and repeated violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Cambodia, meanwhile, accused Thailand of escalating the situation. Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata claimed Thai forces had conducted large-scale incursions, including tank-led assaults, into Cambodian territory following artillery shelling.

These actions completely derail any path toward peaceful dialogue and demonstrate a clear intention to escalate the conflict, Socheata said.

Civilian toll rises as evacuations expand

Thailand reported one more soldier killed on Sunday, raising its death toll to 21, most of them civilians. Cambodia said it has lost 13 lives. Over 131,000 people have been displaced within Thailand, while more than 37,000 Cambodians have fled homes in three border provinces. Many border villages now lie abandoned, with schools and hospitals closed.

Among the evacuees is Pichayut Surasit, an air-conditioning technician who rushed back from Bangkok to his home in Surin province to ensure his familys safety.

I couldnt focus on work after hearing the news, he said from a local shelter now housing 6,000 people. I just want peace so we can go home again.

Nearby, Bualee Chanduang, a local vendor who fled with her family and pet rabbit, echoed the same hope: I pray that both governments come to their senses and stop this war.

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UN, rights groups call for restraint

The UN Security Council has urged ASEAN to mediate an end to the crisis, while Human Rights Watch condemned reports of cluster munitionsprohibited under international lawbeing used in populated zones. The group called on both governments to prioritise civilian protection.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over their 800-kilometre border have simmered for decades. While past flare-ups have generally been brief, the current escalation follows a deadly confrontation in May that led to the death of a Cambodian soldier and further strained diplomatic relations.

With inputs from agencies
BANGKOK, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Thai air force sent two F-16s and two Gripens fighters to attack Cambodian military targets at around 11:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand reported.

The broadcaster said the operation destroyed two Cambodian military targets.

On the same day, Winthai Suvaree, Thai army spokesperson, said that intelligence reports indicate potential deployment of high-performance weapons systems that may provide additional support to Cambodian forces.

Thailand, therefore, finds it necessary to conduct military operations in response to the continued firing of long-range support weapons such as rockets and artillery that persist in targeting Thai territory to prevent civilian casualties or losses, Winthai said.

On Saturday, Cambodian artillery shells targeted a hospital in Si Sa Ket Province, causing severe damage to the building structure. However, there were no fatalities or injuries, as medical personnel had previously evacuated patients from the facility, he said. 
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he believed both Thailand and Cambodia wanted to settle their differences after he told the leaders of both countries that he would not conclude trade deals with them unless they ended their fighting.

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he believed Thailand and Cambodia were ready to resolve their conflict following his warning that trade agreements with Washington would be on hold unless the fighting stopped.

Speaking to reporters in Turnberry, Scotland before a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said, I spoke to both of the prime ministers, and I think by the time I got off, I think they want to settle now.

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Trump added that he expected officials from both countries to engage in talks in the coming days.

The current wave of violence began Thursday following a land mine blast that injured five Thai soldiers. Each side has accused the other of sparking the conflict. Ambassadors have been recalled, and Thailand has shut its border crossings with Cambodia.

Despite growing calls for de-escalation, active fighting continued on Sunday in multiple parts of the contested region.

Thailand reported one more soldier killed on Sunday, raising its death toll to 21, most of them civilians. Cambodia said it has lost 13 lives. Over 131,000 people have been displaced within Thailand, while more than 37,000 Cambodians have fled homes in three border provinces. Many border villages now lie abandoned, with schools and hospitals closed.

The UN Security Council has urged ASEAN to mediate an end to the crisis, while Human Rights Watch condemned reports of cluster munitionsprohibited under international lawbeing used in populated zones. The group called on both governments to prioritise civilian protection.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over their 800-kilometre border have simmered for decades. While past flare-ups have generally been brief, the current escalation follows a deadly confrontation in May that led to the death of a Cambodian soldier and further strained diplomatic relations.

With inputs from agencies
Muizzu on Saturday said PM Modis visit will help boost tourism in the island nation and strengthen ties between the two countries. He also expressed hope about finalising a free trade agreement with India soon, calling New Delhi a crucial partner for the Maldives.

President of the Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, right, shakes hand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after signing a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in Male, Maldives, Friday, July 25, 2025. (Indian Prime Ministers Office via AP)

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit will give a fresh boost to tourism in the island nation, calling India a key contributor to the sector.

India is one of the major countries supporting our tourism. With the Prime Ministers visit, we expect further growth and stronger people-to-people ties, Muizzu said as PM Modi concluded his two-day visit to the Maldives.

Muizzu also expressed confidence in finalising a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. Weve started the discussions, and Im very hopeful well conclude them soon, he said.

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Calling India a crucial partner, the Maldivian President acknowledged New Delhis longstanding support. Weve all seen how India has helped Maldives in the pastand theres no doubt it will continue to play a vital role in our future, he added.

When asked about a potential visit to India, Muizzu said he hoped to travel sooneither this year or in the near future.

PM Modis visit marked a reset in India-Maldives ties, which had strained following Muizzus election campaign built around the India Out narrative. His visit to attend the Maldives 60th Independence Day celebrations in Male, where he was the Guest of Honour, was the first by a foreign leader since Muizzu took office.

Ties began to normalise after Muizzu visited India in October last year. During Modis visit, the two sides signed several MoUs and officially launched bilateral FTA talks.

India also extended a 4,850 crore Line of Credit to Maldives, and both countries issued a commemorative stamp to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations. President Muizzu called India Maldives closest and most trusted partner.
Trump has directly accused Obama of treason, claiming that he orchestrated the Russia collusion story to rig the 2016 election.

US President Donald Trump has intensified his feud with former President Barack Obama by sharing a meme that parodies the 1994 OJ Simpson police chase.

In it, Obama is depicted as the fugitive in a white Ford Bronco, with Trump chasing him in a police cruiser.

The meme, originally shared by Donald Trump Jr., also features Vice President JD Vance in a second police car, sporting his college-era long hair.

Though Vance wasnt the main focus, his appearance sparked a wave of attention, with social media users turning the image into new memes.

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Vance too leaned into the buzz, reposting the meme on X with a laughing emoji, boosting its viral spread.

Earlier on July 21, Trump also shared an AI-generated deepfake video on Truth Social, showing Obama being arrested by FBI agents in the Oval Office while Trump watches, smirking.

The video, which went viral, raised fresh concerns about AIs role in political propaganda.

The attacks align with claims from former Democratic presidential candidate and current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. She says she has over 100 declassified documents from 2020 that prove senior Obama-era officials fabricated the Trump-Russia collusion narrative to undermine the 2016 election. Gabbard plans to submit these to the Department of Justice and FBI, alleging that political bias tainted the intelligence process.

Trump directly accused Obama of treason, claiming he orchestrated the Russia collusion story to rig the 2016 election.

Its there, hes guilty. This was treason. They tried to rig the election and they got caught  and there should be very severe consequences for that, Trump said.

An Obama spokesperson called the accusations a bizarre and ridiculous accusation and a weak attempt at distraction.

In a rare statement issued on Tuesday (July 22), 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.

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Firefighters battled wildfires across Turkey on Sunday amid a searing Mediterranean heatwave, with authorities evacuating more than 3,600 people from settlements in two provinces.

A wildfire rages across a forested area near Cavuslar village, in Karabuk district, northwest Turkey, Wednesday, July 23, 2025. (Ridvan Bostanci/IHA via AP)

Firefighters in Turkey continued to battle multiple wildfires on Sunday as a blistering Mediterranean heatwave forced the evacuation of over 3,600 residents across several provinces.

The blazes, fuelled by record-breaking temperatures erupted in the southern regions of Mersin and Antalya and the central province of Usak, with officials reporting that these fires were largely under control.

However, fires still raged in the northwestern province of Bursa and the northern province of Karabuk, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said during a press briefing.

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A major fire ignited Saturday in the forested areas between Gursu and Kestel districts in Bursa, a region central to Turkeys automobile industry. The blaze forced a temporary closure of a highway linking Istanbul with the western city of Izmir on Saturday night.

Videos showed towering flames consuming trees near residential areas in Bursa, with thick plumes of smoke blanketing the skies. Authorities evacuated around 1,765 people from Kestel district as more than 2,000 firefighters, aided by six planes and four helicopters, worked to contain the spread.

In the northern province of Karabuk, where a large wildfire has been burning for five days, 1,839 people in 19 villages were evacuated, Yumakli said. Three planes and 16 helicopters are tackling the blazes in the area amid difficult conditions, he added.

We are going through risky times. This does not seem likely to end in two or three days, Yumakli said, referring to the heat-wave.

Temperatures in several regions in Turkey were forecast to reach over 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 6 to 12 degrees above seasonal norms, Turkeys meteorological service said, as thermometers hit 50 degrees Celsius in the countrys southeast on Saturday for the first time in recorded history.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure from over 220 MPs to recognise a Palestinian state, as Gaza reels under a worsening humanitarian crisis. The demand, led by Labour MP Sarah Champion, comes ahead of a UN summit and urges the UK to act on its long-standing support for a two-state solution.

Macron and Starmer will jointly lead discussions with other European leaders on strengthening Ukraines defence. Reuters/File Photo

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure from within his own Labour Party and across Parliament to formally recognise a Palestinian state, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen.

On Saturday, over 220 MPs  nearly a third of the House of Commons  signed a letter urging Starmer to announce the UKs recognition of Palestinian statehood at an upcoming United Nations conference. The move, led by Labour MP Sarah Champion, calls on the government to act on its longstanding support for a two-state solution.

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The UK must now outline when and how it will deliver on its commitment to a two-state solution and work with international partners to make it a reality, the letter stated. Champion emphasised that while recognition alone wont resolve the conflict, it would be a vital step toward peace.

Recognition would send a powerful message to the Palestinian people  that they are not alone, and that peace is still possible, she said.

In an op-ed published Friday, Starmer called the situation in Gaza a humanitarian catastrophe and announced plans to airdrop aid and evacuate critically ill children. However, he stopped short of supporting immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Recognition must come as part of a broader process that delivers lasting peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis, he wrote. It should be used as a tool to maximise impact for those who are suffering  which must always be our ultimate goal.

Amid this, Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Stephen Flynn issued a warning: if Starmer continues to block recognition, the SNP will table a Palestine Recognition Bill when Parliament returns in September  and force a vote if necessary.

The domestic pressure mirrors a broader shift in European diplomacy. French President Emmanuel Macron announced this week that France would support Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. The move drew sharp criticism from Israel and the US but was welcomed by pro-Palestinian advocates.

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Germany and Italy, however, rejected the idea for now, citing the need for a negotiated settlement. Starmer has echoed similar concerns, maintaining that recognition should be part of a peace process  not a unilateral gesture.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to recall his cabinet next week to address the crisis in Gaza, following mounting pressure from Labour MPs to recognise a Palestinian state

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will convene a cabinet meeting next week, a government source said on Sunday, most likely to discuss the situation in Gaza after coming under growing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state.

The Financial Times, which initially reported the story, said ministers, currently in a summer recess until September 1, would reconvene to discuss Gaza.

Starmers office did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

The recall comes after Starmer said on Friday the British government would recognise a Palestinian state only as part of a negotiated peace deal, disappointing many in his Labour Party who want him to follow France in taking swifter action.

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President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday France would recognise a Palestinian state, a plan that drew strong condemnation from Israel and the United States, after similar moves from Spain, Norway and Ireland last year.

More than 220 members of parliament in the UK, mostly Labour members representing about a third of the House of Commons, wrote to Starmer on Friday urging him to recognise a Palestinian state.

Successive British governments have said they will formally recognise a Palestinian state when the time is right, without setting a timetable or specifying the necessary conditions.

Starmers approach has been complicated by the arrival in Scotland on Friday of U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom he has built warm relations. In foreign policy terms, Britain has rarely diverged from the United States.

Israel has been facing growing international criticism, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government rejects, over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Russia dramatically scaled back its Navy Day festivities on Sunday due to mounting security concerns amid a surge in Ukrainian drone attacks. The Kremlin cancelled traditional warship parades in major port cities including St. Petersburg, with officials citing the need to prioritise public safety.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, second left arrives to visit the frigate "Admiral Grigorovich" in Kronstadt, outside St. Petersburg during Navy Day celebration, Russia. AP

Russia scaled back its Navy Day celebrations on Sunday, citing security concerns amid ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks that continue to challenge the Kremlin.

Russian authorities called off the warship parades that are typically held to commemorate the annual Navy Day celebrations in St. Petersburg, the Kaliningrad region on the Baltic, and the far-eastern port of Vladivostok.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to reporters questions about why the parade in St. Petersburg was called off, even as President Vladimir Putin arrived in his hometown to tour the navy headquarters, by saying that its linked to the overall situation, security reasons, which are above all else.

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Over the course of the night, 99 Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defences, according to the Russian Defence Ministry. It claimed that 51 more drones were shot down close to St. Petersburg later that day. According to local officials, a woman was injured by drone fragments in the Lomonosov area.

Due to the drone threat, the Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg halted dozens of flights early on Sunday.

Putin paid a visit to St. Petersburgs historic Admiralty headquarters to receive reports on four-day naval manoeuvres that ended on Sunday. 150 vessels from the Baltics to the Pacific participated in the July Storm exercise.

In addition to promising to increase the navys training and build more warships, Putin also stated that the navys strike power and combat capability will rise to a qualitatively new level.

He also visited the Admiral Grigorovich frigate of the Baltic Fleet at the Kronstadt naval base just west of St. Petersburg to hail its crew for fending off a Ukrainian drone attack in the region earlier in the day.

Reducing the scale of the Navy Day celebrations reflects Moscows worries about Ukraines sweeping drone attacks across the country.

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In a series of strikes earlier in the war now in its fourth year, Ukraine sank several Russian warships in the Black Sea, crippling Moscows naval capability and forcing it to redeploy its fleet from Russia-occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk.

And in an audacious June 1 attack code-named Spiderweb, Ukraine used drones to hit several Russian air bases hosting long-range bombers across Russia, from the Arctic Kola Peninsula to Siberia. The drones were launched from trucks covertly placed near the bases, taking the Russian military by surprise in a humiliating blow to the Kremlin.

The raid destroyed or damaged many of the bombers that had been used by Moscow to launch aerial attacks on Ukraine, providing a major morale boost for Kyiv at a time when Kyivs undermanned and under-gunned forces are facing Russian attacks along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line.

Russia continued to batter Ukraine with drone and missile strikes Sunday.

In Sumy in Ukraines northeast, a drone attack damaged civil infrastructure objects, an administrative building and non-residential premises, leaving three people wounded. Elsewhere in the region, two men died after being blown up by a land mine and another woman was injured from a drone attack on another community in the region, the regional military administration said.

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French President Emmanuel Macron had a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday and said later on X that he reaffirmed Frances support for Kyiv and vowed to raise pressure on Moscow to force it to agree to a ceasefire that paves the way for talks leading to a solid and lasting peace, with full European involvement.
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton slammed Tulsi Gabbards report on Obama and his teams so-called treasonous role in the 2016 elections. Bolton said the report lacks substance'

US President Donald Trumps former National Security Adviser John Bolton slammed US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for accusing former US President Barack Obama of engaging in a coup against Trump. Last week, Gabbard stirred a storm after she declassified so-called evidence that she claimed revealed treasonous conspiracy committed by Obama and his aide.

The DNIs report centres on the Obama administrations investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Bolton, a known Trump critic, called Gabbards findings exaggerated and lacking in substance. Shes strung together a series of things that arent necessarily related, shes exaggerated what actual congressional reports have said, shes imagined evidence that doesnt exist, Bolton told News Nation on Friday.

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So, if anybody gets into it, it collapses pretty quickly. But as a campaign to save her job, I think it actually worked out pretty successfully for her, he continued. It is pertinent to note that Gabbards report against Obama came a week after several US media speculated that Trump was losing confidence in her.

Theres nothing to it: Bolton

When asked if Gabbards report was a distraction tactic from the media frenzy over Trumps ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Bolton reiterated that there was no substance in Gabbards report. Whether it succeeded in distracting from the Jeffrey Epstein affair, I dont know, he remarked. But there is, in substance, nothing to it and certainly no justification for the Justice Department to launch a criminal investigation," he added.

Gabbards infamous report accuses Obama and the former intelligence community of leaking false information to the media using what she claimed was politicised intelligence to subvert Trumps 2016 election victory. The report is based on the investigation conducted by the Republicans in the House of Representatives, and goes against CIA reports that Russia tried to help Trump in 2016.

The information we are releasing today clearly shows there was a treasonous conspiracy in 2016 committed by officials at the highest level of our government, the DNI said in a statement from the White House this week.

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," the statement further reads.

Soon after the report was released, Democrats, including Obama, accused the Trump administration of trying to use the case to distract from the uproar over the so-called Epstein files. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction, a spokesperson for the office of the former president said.

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The new director of the USCIS stirred a debate after he said that the present US citizenship test is easy and can be memorised. The Trump government is considering changing the rules of the game

The Department of Homeland Security is exploring the idea of participating in a television series where immigrants would compete for a chance to become US citizens. File image/ Reuters

The new director of the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) stirred a debate after he said that the present US citizenship test is easy and can be memorised. The US citizenship test, officially known as the Naturalisation test, is an examination that an applicant has to take to become an American citizen.

The test is not for green card holders unless they are applying for citizenship. Joseph Edlow, the new director of USCIS, said that since the tests are too easy, the Trump administration is planning to bring back the 2020 version of the test.

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For the test, applicants have to submit a former N-400 seeking naturalisation. They would be required to pass a background check and meet residency tenure, along with other requirements. After this, they will have to attend an interview where they take two tests: One is an English test, and the other is a civic test.

About the citizenship test

As per the USCIS website, when it comes to the civic test, there are more than 100 questions. An immigration officer asks the applicant 10 questions, out of which the applicant must answer at least six correctly.

During the first term of US President Donald Trump, there was a new rule for a very brief time, where there were 128 questions. At that time, applicants were asked 20 questions and they had to get at least 12 right. Under the new Trump administration, the USCIS is planning to bring back some version of this type of test.

It is pertinent to note that before 2008, the test was random, but the Bush administration introduced the 6 out of 10 questions benchmark. Edlow emphasised that the present version of the test is not really in line with the spirit of the law.

Interestingly, the development regarding the US citizenship test came as the Department of Homeland Security proposed sweeping changes for the H-1B visa program. The visa allows US companies to hire foreign workers.

According to the latest DHS proposal, H-1B will not be for entry-level workers. It will be only for high-skilled jobs for which there will be a higher salary. If the changes get implemented, US graduates will not lose out on jobs in the entry level, and tech companies will not be able to hire foreign workers at a lower wage, the DHS argued. However, it will put a major dent in the aspirations of foreign workers who want to live the American dream.

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According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, the Boeing aircraft experienced a maintenance issue involving one of the tires before takeoff

Chaos on the tarmac in Denver as an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aborts takeoff after catching fire. X - @sarcasm_scoop

More than 150 passengers on an American Airlines flight departing from Denver International Airport on Saturday were forced to evacuate after the 8 faced a possible landing gear incident. The technical snag left one person injured and sparked a fire.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration, the Boeing aircraft experienced a maintenance issue involving one of the tires before takeoff. Emergency personnel at the airport and the Denver Fire Department immediately responded to the issue, and those onboard were evacuated onto the runway.

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It is pertinent to note that the Saturday incident is the latest in a string of alarming aviation incidents at Denver International Airport, which is touted as the sixth busiest airport in the world.

 BREAKING: Chaos on the tarmac in Denver as an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 aborts takeoff after its left main wheel catches fire



Passengers flee Flight 3023 bound for Miami as smoke billows1 hospitalized, 179 others safely evacuated



Denver International Airport

 pic.twitter.com/1V10ZKUuqL  Sarcasm Scoop (@sarcasm_scoop) July 27, 2025

Not the first time

In March this year, dozens of passengers were forced to stand on the wing of an American Airlines plane as they evacuated the aircraft after one of its engines caught fire. A month later, a United Airlines plane hit an animal on takeoff and shot out of the sky.

The Saturday passenger plane was departing for Miami International Airport with 173 passengers and six crew members. People on board soon panicked when they heard a loud bang and saw flames before being evacuated on a slide attached to the plane.

According to American Airlines, the combination of blown tires and the deceleration of the plane during braking resulted in a brake fire that was distinguished by the Denver Fire Department. All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologise to our customers for their experience, the airline said.

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One person was rushed to the hospital after suffering what authorities are calling minor injuries. According to FlightAware, the plane had been scheduled to depart from the gate at 1:12 pm (local time), and the incident occurred around 2:45 pm (local time). FlightAware data shows 240 flights out of Denver International Airport were delayed as of Saturday evening. Passengers will now depart Miami on a replacement plane later today. Meanwhile, the FAA said that it is investigating the matter.
YANGON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 100,000 students have passed the nationwide matriculation exam for the 2024-2025 academic year, state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Sunday.

According to results announced Sunday morning, out of 207,898 students who took the exam, 99,924 passed, giving a pass rate of 48.06 percent, the report said.

The results are available online at the Department of Myanmar Examinations website, it said, adding that they are being broadcast on Myanmar Radio and ethnic-language programs for remote areas with limited transport. 
US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen convened in Scotland on Sunday in a bid to resolve a prolonged transatlantic trade row.

US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met in Scotland on Sunday to push forward high-stakes trade negotiations with both sides under pressure to avert a transatlantic tariff clash before an August 1 deadline.

The talks come after weeks of intense back-and-forth between Washington and Brussels as the EU seeks to strike a deal that would shield key sectors, particularly automobiles, pharmaceuticals and industrial goods from sweeping new US tariffs.

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Trump has threatened to impose fresh 30% tariffs on EU goods if an agreement is not reached by Friday, on top of existing levies including 25% on cars and parts and 50% on steel and aluminium. He has maintained that the EU has treated the US unfairly and warned that without a deal, punitive measures would go ahead.

Despite the rising stakes, Trump said the chances of a deal were 50-50, while calling von der Leyen a highly respected woman and expressing hope that the meeting would be productive. Speaking from his Turnberry resort on Friday, he said that there were 20 sticking points in the negotiations but declined to elaborate.

The EU, the United States largest trading partner, exported 532 billion ($603 billion) worth of goods to the US in 2024, with pharmaceuticals, auto components, and chemicals among the biggest categories. The two sides exchanged a total of 1.6 trillion ($1.8 trillion) in goods and services last year, underscoring the magnitude of whats at stake.

In preparation for Sundays talks, EU negotiators consulted with Japanese officials, whose recent deal with Washington secured a baseline tariff of 15%. Trump has been aiming for similar trade shakeups globally, having already clinched agreements with the UK, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam, though his administration has fallen short of delivering on its 90 deals in 90 days pledge.

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With the clock ticking, both Trump and von der Leyen are hoping Sundays discussions in Scotland will pave the way for an agreement that could reshape one of the worlds most important trade relationships and stave off another economic confrontation.
The Archbishop of Warsaw has formally requested the Vatican to defrock a priest accused of murdering a 68-year-old homeless man with an axe and setting him ablaze. Prosecutors in Poland have charged the priest, identified as Mirosaw M., with murder of particular cruelty

In Poland, the archbishop of Warsaw has requested that the Vatican defrock a priest who is accused of killing a 68-year-old homeless man by beating him with an axe and setting him on fire.

The priest, who was only identified as Mirosaw M. in accordance with Polish privacy regulations, was charged by prosecutors on Saturday with murder with particular cruelty. He faces 15 years to life in prison and is being held pending trial.

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According to Aneta Gozdz, a spokesperson for the Radom District Prosecutors Office, investigators said the priest and the victim, Anatol Cz., were in a car together late Thursday when an argument started.

According to a statement from Gozdz, the argument started because of a donation agreement in which the priest promised to help and care for the man for the rest of his life. The homeless mans future accommodation became the point of contention.

The priest reportedly whacked the victim in the head with an axe, poured him in flammable liquid, and lit him on fire, according to the spokesperson. Then the priest drove off when he saw a bicycle light coming.

According to Gozdz, the cyclist saw the victim enveloped in flames and called for emergency personnel.

An autopsy showed that the victim suffered burns covering 80% of his body and head injuries caused by a sharp-edged heavy object, Gozdz said.

Warsaw Archbishop Adrian Galbas on Saturday requested the Holy See to dismiss the priest from the priesthood, the highest penalty in canon law for a cleric.

In a statement to the archdiocese on Friday, Galbas asked for Catholics to pray for the victim and his loved ones. The archbishop said he was devastated by the crime and pledged to cooperate with investigators.

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The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The government has not set a formal target for returnees, but analysts say Vietnam needs highly qualified professionals with global experience to achieve its growth ambitions

Vietnam is looking to woo overseas citizens to come back and fill the talent gap in the country. Reuters

Vietnam is stepping up efforts to attract skilled overseas professionals as part of sweeping economic reforms aimed at propelling the country into higher-value industries. Recent policy changes include relaxed immigration rules and the introduction of dual nationality to entice members of the Vietnamese diaspora to return.

Officials say the country, with a population of 100 million, is seeking to bolster its talent pool in sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and finance.

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The government has not set a formal target for returnees, but analysts say Vietnam needs highly qualified professionals with global experience to achieve its growth ambitions.

The story of Minh Hoang illustrates both the opportunities and challenges of this drive. I had everything in the US, a good job, a nice house, a nice life. But working here means I can contribute to the country where I was born, Nikkei Asia quoted Minh, who recently returned to Hanoi after two decades abroad, as saying.

His decision came after Vietnam introduced policies making it easier for overseas Vietnamese to live and work in the country without giving up their foreign citizenship.

Minh, now chief data officer at Techcombank Securities, typifies the professionals Vietnam is courting: experienced, globally trained and eager to contribute to the countrys economic transformation. Yet, even for those willing to return, integration into Vietnams corporate culture can be challenging, with hierarchical structures and opaque processes contrasting sharply with workplaces in developed economies.

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Vietnam is betting that policy shifts under Communist Party leader To Lam will make the country more attractive to such professionals. The government has pledged further incentives on salary, accommodation and job opportunities, alongside procedural reforms to cut red tape. These measures are crucial as Vietnam navigates a transition from a low-cost manufacturing economy to one anchored in technology and high-value services.

There are many young and smart people on my team, Minh said. Some are especially good at math, an essential skill for AI. His experience shows that while Vietnam is teeming with raw talent, expertise in advanced technologies is still limited, leaving returning professionals to play key roles in upskilling local teams.

Private companies have been instrumental in driving the trend. Techcombank, for instance, launched an Overseas Talent Roadshow to connect with Vietnamese professionals working in finance, data and technology sectors abroad.

Chief Executive Officer Jens Lottner said the bank initially targeted Singapore and Europe, drawing hundreds of potential candidates. Vietnam is more exciting now, Lottner said. The political leadership and the aspiration the government has articulated are very encouraging. So, people are saying: Maybe now is the time to come back.

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However, persistent obstacles remain. Administrative enforcement is inconsistent, with different provinces applying national regulations unevenly, according to consultancy InCorp Vietnam. The lack of a comprehensive framework for dependent visas and spousal employment rights further limits the appeal of long-term relocation.

Despite these challenges, momentum is building. The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese estimates that around 6 million people of Vietnamese origin live abroad, with 10 per cent considered highly qualified professionals.

As the country pushes forward with infrastructure and technology projects, policymakers and companies alike are betting that many will view Vietnams changing economic landscape as an opportunity worth seizing.
Lin Zhen speaks during an interview in Tuen Mun District of south China's Hong Kong, June 24, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Duo)

by Xinhua writer Wang Xinyi

HONG KONG, July 27 (Xinhua) -- At a monument in memory of a group of anti-Japanese aggression martyrs in Lung Kwu Tan in the western part of Tuen Mun District of Hong Kong, 90-year-old veteran Lin Zhen stands with a cane, the medals around her neck glinting in the sunlight.

Despite her frail frame, her voice rings clear as she recounts the heroic deeds of the soldiers of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, an anti-Japanese aggression guerrilla force under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

In early July, Lin boarded China's first homegrown aircraft carrier, the Shandong, when it led a fleet of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy on a historic visit to Hong Kong as part of celebrations marking the 28th anniversary of the city's return to the motherland.

The occasion evoked memories of a tumultuous past and pride in today's powerful navy, as she hoped for the younger generation to carry forward the spirit of patriotism, bravery, and perseverance of the warfighting heroes.

Looking into the eyes of the children at a military exhibition, Lin recalled her own childhood during the ravages of war. "No one could escape the reality of conflict. If you are Chinese, you must stand united against aggressors," she often tells the young.

On December 8, 1941, Lin, then six, witnessed Japanese planes soaring over Kowloon City in Hong Kong. The roar of engines shattered the morning calm, and the once-bright sun was obscured by smoke. She saw refugees clutching children, their faces streaked with tears, a haunting image that introduced her to death.

Lin could never forget the day Japanese soldiers burst into her home. They tied up and viciously beat her older sister Lin Zhan on completely false pretenses. Lin Zhan later became her inspiration in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression. "If I am killed, avenge me!" her sister's desperate cry etched itself into Lin's memory, intertwining personal and national grief.

"We couldn't just sit here and wait to be beaten," Lin's mother urged, spurring the family to join the resistance. At just eight years old, Lin served as a "little messenger" for the guerrilla fighters, deftly hiding information in her clothing or inside fruit baskets.

Despite her youth, she learned the ways of the battlefield, navigating treacherous terrain to deliver vital messages.

After six months as a messenger, Lin was assigned to a field hospital, where she tended to wounded soldiers. The lack of medical supplies haunted her, yet the soldiers' unwavering spirit inspired her.

A comrade blinded in combat urged her to become a doctor and return after the war to heal his wounded eyes. This plea became her beacon of hope, a light piercing the darkness and cherished deeply in her heart.

After the war, Lin pursued an education in northern China. Upon returning to Hong Kong in 1977, she was dismayed to find a lack of awareness about the history of the local guerrilla force and their sacrifice. So she started to dedicate herself to educating others about the past.

Since settling in Hong Kong in 1995, Lin has actively participated in veterans' organizations, promoting patriotism and historical awareness. Despite her advanced age, she remains a vibrant advocate for youth, leading tours and sharing stories.

At Diocesan Girls' School, a prestigious all-girls secondary school in Hong Kong, students engage in virtual conversations with Lin and other veterans aided by AI, gaining insights into their sacrifices. "To think Lin became a soldier at such a young age is unimaginable for us. I've learned about patriotism and resilience from her," a student told Xinhua.

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

"Peace is hard-won, and we must cherish and protect it for future generations," Lin said before the memorials, gazing at the vibrant faces of the students before her. 

Lin Zhen, recounts the heroic deeds of the soldiers of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, an anti-Japanese aggression guerrilla force under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, at a monument in memory of a group of anti-Japanese aggression martyrs in Lung Kwu Tan in the western part of Tuen Mun District of Hong Kong, south China, March 15, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Duo)

Lin Zhen presents her medal in Tuen Mun District of south China's Hong Kong, June 24, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Duo)

Lin Zhen exercises in Tuen Mun District of south China's Hong Kong, June 24, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Duo)

Lin Zhen presents her medal in Tuen Mun District of south China's Hong Kong, June 24, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Duo)

Lin Zhen (3rd R) recounts the heroic deeds of the soldiers of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, an anti-Japanese aggression guerrilla force under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, at a monument in memory of a group of anti-Japanese aggression martyrs in Lung Kwu Tan in the western part of Tuen Mun District of Hong Kong, south China, March 15, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Duo)

Lin Zhen (L), recounts the heroic deeds of the soldiers of the Hong Kong Independent Battalion of the Dongjiang Column, an anti-Japanese aggression guerrilla force under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, at a monument in memory of a group of anti-Japanese aggression martyrs in Lung Kwu Tan in the western part of Tuen Mun District of Hong Kong, south China, March 15, 2025.(Xinhua/Chen Duo)
Two women who died in a 2022 Jeep crash knowingly assumed personal risks when they signed waivers for their tour, the estate of the Jeeps driver said in a response to the wrongful death suit filed in the case.

Don Fehd was driving a Jeep Gladiator on Camp Bird Road in Ouray County Sept. 12, 2022, with Diana Robles and her aunt, Ofelia Perez, as passengers when it left the roadway, plunged over the side of the cliff, rolled and smashed to the bottom near a creek. Fehd was thrown from the vehicle and died. Robles and her aunt remained in the Jeep, but also died.

In 2024, Robles parents and Perezs husband, who are citizens of Mexico, filed suit in federal court. They sued Colorado West Jeep Tours, alleging negligence resulting in wrongful death and Fehds estate for alleged negligence resulting in wrongful death, gross negligence resulting in wrongful death and felonious killing. Since the suit was filed, the individuals associated with the Jeep tour company have been dismissed from the action.

The suit alleges that Fehd had an alcohol problem and that Colorado West Jeep Tours knew it. It also alleges Fehd, who had apparently been called in to cover a no-show, was speeding and the amount of alcohol found in his body at toxicological testing was above the legal limit.

The Colorado State Patrols report found the Jeep had been going 16 mph in a 15 mph zone when it left the road. The agency cited the coroners opinion and summarized that although Fehds blood alcohol concentration was 0.027: the presence of alcohol was the result of the decomposition of the body and the delay of refrigeration since the urine test was negative for any substances. Whether the alcohol was introduced naturally or had been consumed, Don Fehd was under the legal limit at the time of the crash, so therefore impairment is not suspected of being a contributing factor to the cause of this crash.

In a June 27 response to the families suit, attorneys for Fehds estate denied all claims, saying they are barred by the waivers Robles and Perez signed, that any non-economic damages are limited by law. Any damages awarded must be recovered from collateral sources, pursuant to statute, because they arise from the actions of others, including Robles and Perez, who assumed the risk of injury by voluntarily or unreasonably exposing themselves to injury or damage with knowledge or appreciation of the danger and risk involved.

The estate further asserted that Colorado law prohibits bringing up any traffic violations in civil actions.

Plaintiffs damages, if any, are the result of unforeseeable circumstances that could not have been reasonably anticipated by defendant, and defendant is not legally responsible for plaintiffs damages, attorney Julia Clark wrote.

She also contends the negligence claims made against the estate are redundant and that the suit fails to state a claim for which a court can grant relief.

The estate asked for a trial and to be awarded costs, fees and expenses.
Ayatollah Sistani calls for end to Gaza humanitarian disaster

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 26, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Iraq's prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has called on both Islamic and non-Islamic countries to take immediate action to end the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

The office of Ayatollah Sistani issued a statement on Friday night, calling for urgent action to end the suffering of Gazans, which has been intensifying over the past weeks due to continued Israeli restrictions on the entry of food, water, and other basic supplies. The curbs are part of Israel's genocidal war that began in early October 2023.

"After nearly two years of relentless killing and destruction that have left hundreds of thousands dead or wounded, and devastated cities and residential areas, the oppressed Palestinian people in Gaza are now enduring horrific conditions," the statement read. "Severe food shortages, widespread famine, and starvation are affecting everyone, including children, the sick, and the elderly."

Ayatollah Sistani emphasized that while such "brutal savagery" is to be expected from the occupying forces - who persist in their attempts to displace Palestinians - the international community, especially Arab and Islamic nations, must not allow this humanitarian crisis to continue.

"Rather, they must redouble their efforts to end this tragedy and do everything within their power to compel the Israeli regime and its supporters to allow the swift entry of food and essential supplies for innocent civilians," he added.

The Grand Ayatollah noted that the heartbreaking scenes of hunger and famine in Gaza, widely broadcast by the media, leave no person of conscience able to enjoy even a sip of water or a bite of food.

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Foreign Minister Araqchi discusses Gaza with counterparts from Islamic nations

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 26, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has discussed the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, during separate phone calls with his counterparts from Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Tunisia.

The top Iranian diplomat held the conversations on Friday as Israel continues to starve the population in Gaza by restricting food and water to the territory, causing growing international outrage.

Araqchi and Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr Abdelatty, underscored the imperative of bolstering bilateral cooperation across regional and international spheres. They emphasized the importance of sustained diplomatic dialogue and multilateral engagement to address the ongoing crises. Both officials voiced deep concern over the acute shortages of water, food, and medicine in Gaza, urging the mobilization of international resources to halt Israel's genocidal actions in the besieged territory.

Similarly, Iranian and Iraqi foreign ministers called upon Islamic and Arab nations to intensify efforts to lift the blockade on Gaza. Araqchi and Fuad Hussein strongly condemned the atrocities committed by the Israeli regime, and demanded accountability.

Iran's foreign minister and his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, urged the international community, along with Islamic and Arab countries, to undertake concrete measures to support Gaza's vulnerable population. They called for an end to restrictions on the delivery of vital supplies, including food and medicine, and urged an immediate halt to the ongoing genocide.

Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al-Nafti and Iran's Araqchi called for consultation and cooperation among Islamic and Arab countries to expedite humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. Both officials emphasized the urgent need to prevent the massacre of innocent Palestinians through starvation and deprivation.

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Cambodian civil aviation authority bans flights from flying across fighting zones with Thailand

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:52, July 26, 2025

PHNOM PENH, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) on Saturday prohibited all flights from flying across fighting zones with Thailand, a spokesperson said.

Sinn Chanserey Vutha, who is also the SSCA's secretary of state, said all airlines had been informed to avoid flying over conflict zones and the scope of prohibition had been expanded to Poipet City, Pailin province and part of Siem Reap province.

"All flights have been instructed to avoid flying over these airspaces, and the planes must not fly lower than 1,200 meters above sea level," he said in an audio message released to the media.

Vutha said the measures were to ensure flight operations and the safety of the planes and passengers.

He added that as of 10 a.m. local time on July 26, international flights from Phnom Penh to Bangkok and Siem Reap to Bangkok are operating as usual, as planes altered their routes to avoid prohibited airspaces.

Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai soldiers in border areas broke out on Thursday in Cambodian provinces of Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear, and spread to Pursat province on Saturday morning, Cambodian Defense Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson, Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, said in a press briefing. According to Thai media, the border clashes started for the third day on Saturday morning after the Cambodian side opened fire against Thai troops.

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On July 27, the Azerbaijani Parliamentary Delegation, led by Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova, departed for Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament and the 15th Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament within the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Azernews reports.

During the trip, the Speaker is scheduled to deliver speeches at the events and hold a series of meetings with the heads of delegations.
DAR ES SALAAM, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese schistosomiasis control project team and the 34th Chinese medical team in Zanzibar on Saturday launched a health education and free clinic campaign in Zanzibar.

The campaign was launched against the backdrop of an unusually long rainy season that triggered a spike in waterborne infections and trauma cases, said Dai Yang, leader of the schistosomiasis control project team.

He noted that heavy rains caused widespread flooding and road damage, creating optimal conditions for the mass reproduction of Biomphalaria snails, the primary carrier of schistosomiasis, as medical access was severely disrupted, leaving many residents untreated for fractures and infections.

Despite logistical hurdles, including a stranded clinic bus that required emergency vehicle transfers, the expert teams reached Wambaa safely and initiated public health outreach.

Recognizing the risk of children playing in stagnant water, the schistosomiasis control project team placed special emphasis on educating students. "Every seemingly calm puddle may harbor schistosomes, the invisible threat surging after rainfall," warned Dai.

The Chinese medical team offered free consultations and treatment across internal medicine, surgery, and pediatrics to hundreds of residents. Vital medications, including antibiotics, deworming treatments, and antivirals, were distributed at no cost.

This collaborative effort not only mitigated an emerging public health crisis but also deepened the ties between China and Tanzania, with the team's compassion and resilience leaving a lasting impression on the community, said Dai. 
Border clashes between Cambodia, Thailand enter third day

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:34, July 26, 2025

PHNOM PENH/BANGKOK, July 26 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 Cambodian people died and 71 others were injured in border clashes with Thailand, a Cambodian defense spokesperson said Saturday. According to Thai media, the border clashes started for the third day on Saturday morning after the Cambodian side opened fire against Thai troops.

"Five Cambodian soldiers were killed and 21 others were wounded," Cambodian Defense Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Maly Socheata told a press briefing. "Also, eight civilians died and 50 others were injured in Oddar Meanchey province."

In the latest development, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense said the Thai army on Saturday expanded its military attacks to another Cambodian province, Pursat.

Thai Public Broadcasting Service reported that the border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia started for the third day on Saturday, after the Cambodian side opened fire in the early morning against Thai troops in Thailand's Trat province and the Thai side responded.

The Thai Navy has launched "Trat Strike 1" operation in response to Cambodia's new attack, and has successfully pushed back the Cambodian incursion at three key points, Thai Ministry of Defence spokesperson's office said on Saturday.

The Thai Navy has dispatched a task force of four vessels to support the operation in Trat province, ready to provide fire support to ground forces, the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand reported on Saturday.

Tensions have remained high along the Thai-Cambodian border in recent weeks. Both militaries started fighting on Thursday, causing casualties on each side.

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Israel controls 84% of West Bank water resources, exacerbating crisis for Palestinians

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 7:29 PM

A new report has revealed that the occupying Israeli regime has tightened its control over water resources in the West Bank, now controlling over 84% of Palestinian supplies in light of escalating shortages in the occupied territory.

The report released on Saturday by the National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements, which is associated with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), indicated that Israeli authorities and illegal settlers have intensified their efforts to seize Palestinian water resources, including the demolition of over 500 rainwater harvesting wells throughout the region.

According to the bureau, 52% of the water from the West Bank is allocated for Israeli use, whereas an additional 32% is directed towards illegal settlements. This leaves Palestinians with a mere 16%, resulting in significant supply shortages, particularly during the hot summer months.

Tensions escalated this week following an assault by illegal Israeli settlers on the Ain Samia spring, located east of Ramallah, which resulted in a total cessation of water pumping to numerous nearby towns and villages.

The al-Quds Water Authority announced that it has lost oversight of the region's water infrastructure as a result of ongoing assaults on power lines, pumps, communication systems, and surveillance equipment.

It cautioned that more than 70,000 Palestinians currently face the threat of losing access to clean water, describing the situation as "a looming humanitarian catastrophe."

The report further emphasized the significant disparity in daily water usage. On average, a Palestinian utilizes approximately 85.7 liters each day, whereas Israelis use close to 300 liters.

Since the start of Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the Palestinian Health Ministry reports that at least 1,006 Palestinians have lost their lives and over 7,000 have sustained injuries in the West Bank due to actions by Israeli forces and illegal settlers.

In a significant ruling last July, the International Court of Justice deemed Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory unlawful and urged the removal of all settlements in the West Bank and East al-Quds.

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Hamas rejects US 'baseless' claims of theft of Gaza aid

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 7:24 PM

A senior official of the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has rejected as "baseless" recent US claims that the group has stolen humanitarian aid in Gaza.

"The accusations are void and baseless, and they were recently refuted by a report published by Western media outlets citing an investigation by the US Agency for International Development (USAID)," Izzat al-Rishq said on Saturday.

Al-Rishq stated that Washington should stop whitewashing Israel and end its "military and political" support for the regime's genocide in the Gaza Strip.

The US should play a "constructive role" in pressuring the Israeli regime to seriously engage in negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of captives, the official said.

On Friday, Reuters revealed that an internal US government review, which examined 156 incidents of theft or loss of US-funded supplies filed by UN agencies and other humanitarian groups working in Gaza between October 2023 and May this year, found "no reports alleging Hamas" benefited from them.

Instead, at least 44 of the reported incidents were "either directly or indirectly" caused by Israeli military actions, according to the analysis.

Israeli military: No proof of Hamas theft of aid

The New York Times also cited two senior Israeli military officials and two other Israelis involved in the issue as saying that the Israeli military "never found proof" that Hamas had stolen aid from the United Nations.

The Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the UN aid delivery system, which Israel tried to undermine, was "relatively reliable" and "largely effective in providing food to Gaza's desperate and hungry population."

Israel used the narrative of the theft of aid to bypass the UN-led aid system and back the US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Nearly 170 non-governmental organizations have called for the immediate discontinuation of the controversial GHF program, and called for a return to the UN-led aid mechanism that existed in the war-torn territory until March, when the Israeli regime imposed a full blockade on humanitarian assistance entering Gaza.

'Netanyahu real obstacle to ceasefire'

As US President Donald Trump and his special envoy Steve Witkoff have recently blamed Hamas for the stalled ceasefire talks, al-Rishq noted that the American narrative diverts attention from "the real obstacle to all agreements, which is the regime of [Israel's prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu."

He stressed that the remarks made by Trump and Witkoff "contradict the mediators' assessment of the movement's stance and do not align with the developments in the negotiation process, which was witnessing actual progress", noting that Qatar and Egypt have appreciated "our serious and constructive stance."

The official also emphasized that Hamas has engaged in the negotiations with a high level of "national responsibility and flexibility" since the beginning of the talks, aiming for a "comprehensive agreement that stops the aggression and puts an end to the suffering of our people in the Gaza Strip."

He emphasized that Hamas' latest response to the current ceasefire framework included a "positive and flexible" approach to all key points.

"We just emphasized the necessity of clarity in the terms and their safeguarding, especially regarding the humanitarian aspect," the official said, adding that the movement stressed that the agreement must ensure the protected flow of humanitarian aid through the UN and its recognized agencies without any interference by the Israeli regime.

Al-Rishq further said Hamas also called for reducing the size and depth of the Israeli-declared buffer zones within Gaza during the proposed 60-day truce, especially avoiding densely populated areas to facilitate the return of displaced people.

The Israeli regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 59,733 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

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Three killed as Israeli drones strike southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 6:05 PM

In the latest blatant violations of a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, the Israeli military has carried out two separate attacks in the southern part of the Arab nation, killing at least three people.

The Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health announced in a statement that an Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle on the al-Tuwairi road in the Tyre district on Saturday.

One person was killed in the attack. No information about the identity of the victim was immediately available.

Later in the day, an Israeli airstrike on the town of Debaal in southern Lebanon claimed the lives of two people.

Following significant losses sustained over nearly 14 months of conflict and the failure to meet its objectives in the offensive against Lebanon, Israel was compelled to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which took effect on November 27.

Since then, Israeli forces have been launching attacks on Lebanon, including airstrikes, in breach of the ceasefire.

On January 27, Lebanon announced its decision to extend the ceasefire with Israel until February 18.

However, Israel continues to maintain its occupation of five significant regions in southern Lebanon, namely Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill, all situated near the border.

Lebanon has condemned the continued presence of Israeli military forces as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and the established timeline for withdrawal. Senior officials in Beirut have expressed their commitment to take "all necessary measures" to remove the occupying troops from the nation

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Gaza officials warn 100,000 children face imminent death due to Israeli-imposed starvation

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 11:17 AM

The Government Media Office in Gaza has warned that Israel's ongoing aid blockade has depleted baby milk supplies, leaving over 100,000 children under two, including 40,000 infants, at risk of mass death within days.

Officials say hospitals are registering hundreds of severe malnutrition cases daily, with no capacity to respond due to the collapse of the healthcare system.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 123 people, including 83 children, have died of hunger so far in the besieged territory.

"We are facing an expected and deliberate mass killing slowly being committed against infants whose mothers have been breastfeeding them water instead of baby milk for days," the office said, citing Israel's starvation and extermination policy.

Authorities demand the immediate entry of baby formula, the unconditional opening of crossings, and full lifting of the siege.

They hold Israel and its allies, especially the US and European nations, responsible and warn that continued global silence amounts to complicity.

On March 2, the Israeli regime cut off all aid to the Gaza Strip. Although a trickle of aid has entered Gaza since late May, access to humanitarian aid is still severely limited.

Malnutrition and diseases are widespread, with tens of thousands of children at risk of dying from hunger and dehydration.

On Monday, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that last month, more than 5,800 children were diagnosed with malnutrition in Gaza, including more than 1,000 children with severe, acute malnutrition.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, all major regions of Gaza are at Phase 4 Famine (Emergency Level), which means households have large food consumption gaps, high levels of malnutrition, and excess mortality, and are only able to mitigate these issues through unsustainable, emergency-level strategies.

Since the Israeli regime began its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, it has murdered more than 59,676 and wounded 143,965, most of them children and women.

The entire population of Gaza has been displaced at least once, and lives in overcrowded shelters without basic services.



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Hamas fires back at US over ceasefire blame, calls Netanyahu the real 'obstructionist'

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 10:59 AM

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has blasted US officials for misrepresenting its negotiating position, identifying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet as the primary obstacle to reaching a ceasefire.

"We are appalled by the statements of US President Trump and earlier by US special envoy Witkoff, which contradict the mediators' assessment of Hamas's position," Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said in a statement released on Saturday.

On Friday, Trump blamed the Gaza-based resistance movement for the apparent collapse of the ceasefire talks, saying the group is going to be "hunted down."

Witkoff also said on Thursday that Washington was cutting short its involvement in the negotiations, accusing Hamas of showing "a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire."

Al-Rishq added that these statements are "inconsistent with the actual progress of negotiations that had been acknowledged by mediators, particularly Qatar and Egypt, as they expressed satisfaction and appreciation for our serious and constructive stance."

The American statements, he noted, "deliberately ignore the real obstructionist to all agreements - Netanyahu's [cabinet] - which continues to put obstacles, deceive, and evade commitments."

"According to Al-Rishq, Hamas has negotiated flexibly and responsibly from the start of the negotiations, seeking a deal to end the war and Gaza's suffering.

He dismissed US allegations of Hamas's aid diversion as unfounded, citing a Reuters report that revealed flaws in Washington's claims.

"The US State Department accused Hamas of stealing aid without providing visual evidence and that at least 44 of 156 aid theft incidents in Gaza had resulted from Israeli military measures."

He called on the US to stop absolving the Israeli regime and "providing political/military cover for its genocide and starvation against over two million Gazans."

The Hamas official also urged the US to apply real pressure on the regime "to seriously engage in ending the aggression and achieving a prisoner exchange deal."

Despite ongoing indirect negotiations in Qatar, no agreement has been reached. While Tel Aviv has accused Hamas of delaying the process, the Palestinian group argues it is Israel that has obstructed progress by rejecting key conditions for a sustainable truce.

The proposed ceasefire also includes a prisoner exchange involving Israeli captives still held in Gaza. Of the 251 people taken on October 7, 2023, 49 remain in captivity, with the Israeli military believing that 27 of them are dead.

The occupying entity demands to dismantle Hamas's military and governance infrastructure, while Hamas insists on guarantees for a lasting ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal, and unimpeded flow of desperately-needed humanitarian aid.

The Israeli regime claims it has already accepted both the Qatari and the updated US proposals.





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Israeli forces kill 25 people in Gaza, including 13 aid seekers, since dawn

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 10:36 AM

Israeli forces have killed dozens of Palestinians in their latest attacks across the Gaza Strip, including 13 aid seekers.

At least 25 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces across Gaza since dawn today, including 13 aid seekers, sources in Gaza hospitals told Al Jazeera.

According to UN reports, Israeli forces have shot dead more than 1,000 aid seekers at US-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution points in the past months since May.

The UN human rights office reported on Tuesday that since May 27, more than 1,054 Palestinian civilians have been killed and thousands more have been wounded while approaching the US-run aid distribution sites in Gaza, being fired upon by the Israeli forces.

UN officials have described the deadly aid operation by the GHF under the strict control of the Israeli regime forces as "an abomination" and "a death trap."

Traditionally in charge of aid operations in Palestine, the UN has also called for global action to end the brutal Israeli attacks and blockade on Gaza.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), issued a warning last week calling for worldwide action to address Israel's ongoing blockade of aid to the Gaza Strip.

Lazzarini said the international community's inaction in this regard equates to complicity in the starvation of the people of Gaza.

Israel unleashed its brutal Gaza onslaught on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas resistance group carried out its historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

The Tel Aviv regime has so far failed to achieve its declared objectives of eliminating Hamas and freeing all captives in Gaza, despite killing nearly 60,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring almost 144,000 others.

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'Words don't feed hungry children': UN chief slams 'lack of compassion' for Gazans

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 10:22 AM

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the international community's indifference to Gaza's humanitarian crisis, calling widespread starvation a "moral crisis" and urging immediate action to alleviate suffering and restore basic human rights.

In a virtual address on Friday, Guterres warned that the crisis in the Gaza Strip has escalated beyond humanitarian dimensions.

"I cannot explain the level of indifference and inaction we see by too many in the international community, the lack of compassion, the lack of truth, the lack of humanity," Guterres said.

"This is not just a humanitarian crisis. It is a moral crisis that challenges the global conscience. We will continue to speak out at every opportunity," the UN chief added.

"Children speak of wanting to go to heaven, because at least, they say, there is food there. We hold video calls with our own humanitarians who are starving before our eyes ... But words do not feed hungry children."

Guterres also condemned the killing of more than 1,000 Palestinians who tried to access food aid supplies since May 27, when the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began its operations.

He emphasized that the United Nations was ready to "dramatically scale up humanitarian operations" in Gaza should Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas reach a ceasefire agreement.

Aid groups have warned that since the Israeli regime put Gaza under blockade, cases of starvation, particularly among children, in the war-ravaged territory are increasing.

The trickle of aid that enters the region is being controlled by the Israel-US-backed GHF Gaza, which has replaced the longstanding UN-led distribution systems.

Aid groups and the United Nations have refused to work with the GHF, saying it is aiding the Israeli military.

International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric said on Friday that "there is no excuse for what is happening in Gaza."

"The scale of human suffering and the stripping of human dignity have long exceeded every acceptable standard, both legal and moral," he added.

Spoljaric said the ICRC has more than 350 staff in Gaza, "many of whom are also struggling to find enough food and clean water."

According to Gaza's Health Ministry, the total number of starvation deaths in the territory has reached 123, 83 of whom are children.

Since the Israeli regime began its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, it has murdered more than 59,676 Palestinians and wounded 143,965, most of them children and women.

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'Not a single ton': Colombia's president orders halt to coal shipments to Israel

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 7:53 AM

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the Navy to intercept and block coal shipments to Israel in response to Tel Aviv's genocidal war on Gaza, criticizing officials within his administration for defying his measure against the occupying regime.

Last May, Pedro announced cutting ties with Israel for having a genocidal president.

Petro later announced in June the suspension of all coal exports to the occupying entity. In a social media post at the time, he stated that all exports would cease "until the genocide is stopped."

Colombia's export ban against Israel was formally enacted in August 2024.

Despite the ban, which was designed to protest Israel's genocidal war against Gaza, his administration made limited exceptions for previously approved or customs-cleared shipments.

In recent days, Petro has harshly criticized officials in his administration for defying the measure and continuing to authorize coal exports.

On Thursday, Petro publicly condemned this defiance, announcing on social media that a coal shipment had again left for Israel-occupied territories and that the Navy would now be tasked with stopping such exports entirely.

"Not a single ton of coal should leave Colombia for Israel," he declared.

He said internal actors have enabled unlawful shipments under corporate pressure.

Expressing his frustration, he warned, "If they don't listen to us, then this government is a liar," calling out what he sees as insubordination and institutional sabotage.

Petro has called on Colombian society to actively engage in the country's coal export debate, and urged Labor Minister Gloria Ines Ramirez to initiate an emergency dialogue with unions in the coal sector.

The left-wing leader who came to power in 2022 has been one of the region's most vocal critics of Israel since the start of the war on Gaza, where close to 60,000 Palestinians have been killed so far.

Petro has repeatedly slammed the Israeli regime for committing genocide in the besieged territory, and has drawn the ire of Israeli officials and pro-Israel advocacy groups.

In April 2024, Colombia asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to allow the country to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

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Portugal open to recognizing Palestinian state: FM

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 7:22 AM

Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel says his country is open to recognizing the State of Palestine, after France announced that it will recognize Palestine in the coming months.

Lisbon "has shown openness and will remain open to recognizing a Palestinian state," Rangel told reporters on Friday.

He said Lisbon is following the developments in West Asia "very closely."

On the issue of Palestinian statehood, he said Lisbon is taking "a shared path" with its allies. However, he added that his country remained independent in its views and interests.

Portugal is "a sovereign country and its policy is not defined by other states, although it has always been coordinated with its partners," Rangel said.

Rangel added that his country will participate in the meeting set for July 28-30 in New York, sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli war on Palestinians.

On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris will officially recognize a Palestinian state this September at the United Nations General Assembly.

Macron -- who has been encouraging other European countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium, to jointly recognize the state of Palestine -- announced on the social media platform X that he intends to be the first leader of a major Western power and the first G7 nation to recognize the State of Palestine.

"Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in [West Asia], I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine," Macron stated. "I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September."

Macron emphasized the urgent need to address the ongoing Israeli war against the people of Gaza, stating, "The immediate priority today is to end the war in Gaza and bring relief to the civilian population."

"We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. We must also ensure the demilitarization of Hamas, secure and rebuild Gaza. Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, guarantee its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the region," he said.

"The French people want peace in [West Asia]. It is our responsibilityas French citizens, alongside Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partnersto demonstrate that peace is possible," he added.

The United States, the Israeli regime's main supporter, is opposed to the recognition of a Palestinian state. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed what he called the "reckless decision" by Macron to recognize Palestinian statehood, claiming the move was a setback to the peace process.

The Gaza Health Ministry said on Friday that at least 59,676 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli regime launched its genocidal war on the surrounded Palestinian territory in October 2023.

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YANGON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar will exhibit about 80 booths at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo, which will be held in Nanning, capital city of South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, from Sept. 17 to Sept. 21, state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Sunday.

Myanmar will participate in the expo as the Country of Honor and explore market access for Myanmar's agro-based SMEs' products into the Chinese market, the report said, adding that Myanmar's high-quality gemstones will also be displayed at the expo.

The expo provides a platform to promote the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement 3.0, it said.

It helps strengthen friendship between the participating countries and generate trade benefits, it added.

Myanmar joined in China-ASEAN Expo in 2005, the report said. 
Hamas slams Palestinian Authority for 'aligning with Israel' in suppressing West Bank protests

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 6:53 AM

The Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas has condemned the suppression of demonstrations in the West Bank by the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces as an act of alignment with the Israeli regime's acts of aggression.

"This demonstration is the minimum expression of religious and national solidarity of the people of the West Bank with Gaza, and it should not be suppressed and its participants persecuted, but rather it should be supported," Abdul Rahman Shadid, a senior Hamas official, said in a statement.

On Friday, security forces under the Palestinian Authority blocked a protest march in Nablus, located in the northern West Bank, which was organized to demand an end to the starvation crisis in Gaza.

The Hamas official called on the PA security forces to stop suppressing Palestinian freedom fighters and, instead of standing against the people, stand in the line of confrontation with the regime.

Shadid underscored the need to continue holding popular activities and intensifying campaigns in support of Gaza in order to break the siege of the region and stop the Israeli aggression.

This comes as Gaza's Government Media Office announced that at least 122 Palestinians, including 83 children, have died from starvation since Israel's military onslaught began in October 2023, most of them in recent weeks.

Despite global appeals, Israeli authorities continue to block the flow of vital humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave. While limited assistance is distributed through US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) centers, Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked Palestinians seeking aid.

According to Gaza's authorities, over 1,000 aid seekers have been killed and more than 5,000 injured by Israeli forces in recent months.

Hamas 'engaged positively' with mediators, US stance 'unexpected'

As ceasefire negotiations continue between Hamas and the Israeli regime, senior Hamas official Taher Al-Nono told Al-Araby that the group has consistently engaged positively with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

"The reaction we received from the mediators was welcome and praise for the position we presented. Therefore, to hear this stance (from the US) is truly a strange position, and we did not expect something like this, especially given what was reported that negotiations would resume," he noted.

He was referring to US regional envoy Steve Witkoff's announcement that the United States is withdrawing from ceasefire talks, accusing Hamas of not "acting in good faith."

"We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after Hamas's latest response, which clearly indicates a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza," Witkoff posted on social media. "While the mediators have made great efforts, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith."

Al-Nodo underlined that Hamas is "serious about reaching an agreement that ends this war completely and permanently, and also resolves the issue of prisoners held by the resistance."

The issue of prisoners, he said, has not been discussed yet in the Doha negotiations, which continued over the past weeks, adding that "It was supposed to be discussed next week."

Despite ongoing indirect negotiations in Qatar, no agreement has been reached. While Tel Aviv has accused Hamas of delaying the process, the Palestinian group argues it is Israel that has obstructed progress by rejecting key conditions for a sustainable truce.

The occupying entity demands to dismantle Hamas's military and governance infrastructure, while Hamas insists on guarantees for a lasting ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal, and unimpeded flow of desperately-needed humanitarian aid.

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Ayatollah Sistani urges Arab, Muslim nations to take action over worsening Gaza famine

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 5:48 AM

Iraq's prominent Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has decried the catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Gaza, particularly the deepening famine, calling on Arab and Muslim nations to take proper measures to end the appalling tragedy.

"After nearly two years of relentless killing and destruction, which have left hundreds of thousands of people killed and wounded, and resulted in the demolition of countless cities and residential buildings, the oppressed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are living under horrific conditions," Ayatollah Sistani said in a statement on Friday evening.

He warned that the scope of famine in the besieged coastal sliver has expanded dramatically, leaving no segment of the population unaffected.

Ayatollah Sistani noted that nothing is expected from Israeli occupation forces other than monstrous brutality in their attempts to uproot the Palestinian people.

The high-profile Iraqi Shia cleric emphasized that the international community, particularly Arab and Muslim nations, is obligated not to allow this major humanitarian tragedy to continue.

He called for intensified global efforts to put an end to the catastrophe, and urged world states to do anything possible to pressure the occupying Tel Aviv regime and its sponsors to allow the delivery of food and other basic commodities to innocent civilians in Gaza as soon as possible.

Ayatollah Sistani's statement comes as famine continues to spread across Gaza, with humanitarian organizations warning of a dramatic increase in malnutrition and deaths related to starvation.

Recent data supported by the UN indicates that almost half a million individuals are currently facing extreme levels of hunger.

Aid agencies have reported that over 100 Palestinians  predominantly children  have succumbed to starvation in the past few weeks, as medical facilities face challenges in providing care for thousands of critically malnourished children.

Humanitarian aid deliveries continue to face significant restrictions, as Israeli forces obstruct or target convoys that are trying to access northern and central Gaza.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and various international organizations have characterized the situation as a man-made famine, urging the global community to exert pressure on "Israel" to lift the blockade without delay.

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US Military Presence in Europe Set for Decline as Focus Shifts to Indo-Pacific

Sputnik News

20250726

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States is reviewing the positions of its troops on a global scale, the presence of US forces in the European region will decrease, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

On Friday, during a visit to Washington, Pevkur, with counterparts from Latvia and Lithuania, met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to discuss cooperation aimed at enhancing transatlantic ties, the local broadcaster reported.

"As for the position of the US troops on a global scale, it is now under review... This process is being carried out in cooperation with the Supreme Commander of Forces in Europe and NATO headquarters. It is possible that more precise figures will be announced in the autumn," Pevkur said.

The focus of the United States' attention is now shifting to the Indo-Pacific region, the military presence of its troops in Europe will decrease, however, Hegseth "could not answer exactly to what extent," Pevkur added.

In early July, the Euractiv portal reported that European NATO members started preparing for a possible reduction in the number of US troops on the continent. These countries are convinced that US President Donald Trump will reduce the number of forces there, now amounting to about 80,000 people, and redirect them to Asia and the Middle East, the news portal added.

Since his return to office in January, US President Donald Trump has been pushing the idea of greater military spending by US partners, including the members of NATO. The June 24-25 NATO summit in The Hague raised the target threshold for defense spending by alliance members to 5% of GDP, which countries are expected to reach by 2035.

In recent years, Russia has been flagging up NATO's unprecedented activity near its western borders. NATO is expanding its initiatives and calling it "containing Russian aggression." Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern about the buildup of alliance forces in Europe. The Kremlin noted that the Russia did not threaten anyone, but would not ignore actions potentially dangerous to its interests.

 Sputnik

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Yemeni Houthis Attack 4 Israeli Targets With Missile and Drones

Sputnik News

20250726

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced that Israeli air defense systems have intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF [Israeli Air Force]," the IDF said on Telegram on Friday night.

The Houthis carried out a hypersonic missile attack on Be'er Sheva in Israel and drone attacks against "3 vital Israeli enemy targets," Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said.

The IDF added that air raid sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol.

Earlier on Friday night, the Israeli forces said they had identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory and that aerial defense systems were operating to intercept the projectile.

 Sputnik

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U.S. Coast Guard responds to Chinese Research Vessel off Alaska

United States Coast Guard

Press Release | July 26, 2025

JUNEAU, Alaska -- The U.S. Coast Guard detected and responded to the China-flagged research ship Xue Long 2 on the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) in the U.S. Arctic, approximately 290 NM north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, Friday.

A Coast Guard C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak responded to the Xue Long 2, an icebreaker operated by the Polar Research Institute of China and 130 NM inside the ECS boundary.

The U.S. has exclusive rights to conserve and manage the living and non-living resources of its ECS.

"The U.S. Coast Guard, alongside partners and other agencies, vigilantly monitors and responds to foreign government vessel activity in and near U.S. waters to secure territorial integrity and defend sovereign interests against malign state activity," said Rear Adm. Bob Little, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Arctic District.

The C-130J aircraft was operating under Coast Guard Arctic District's Operation Frontier Sentinel, which is designed to meet presence with presence in response to adversary activity in or near Alaskan waters.

-USCG-



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Russo-Ukraine War - 26 July 2025 - Day 1249

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, there have been 122 combat encounters since the beginning of this day.

Zagarbniki committed one rocket and 52 aviation strikes, using 27 rockets and dropping 93 controlled air bombs. In addition, the Russians engaged 1,329 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,550 shelling of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

Ukrainian units repelled nine Russian attacks in the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursky directions today. The enemy launched eight air strikes, dropping 17 controlled air bombs, and carried out 270 artillery shelling, three of which were from reactive systems of arson fire.

Since the beginning of the day in the south-Slobozhans .komu direction, the Russian enemy three times attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Staritsa and in the area of Vovchansk.

In the Kupiansk direction, Russian units carried out five assault actions, trying to break through the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the regions of Radkivka, Kupiansk and Zagrizovy.

In the Lyman direction since the beginning of the day, Russian zagarbniks 11 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near the settlements of New Mir, Zeleniy Gorge, Grekivka, Shandrigolove, Kolodyazi, Karpivka and Torske.

In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces twice tried to break through in the area of grigorivka.

In the Kramators komu direction, Russian forces once unsuccessfully attacked the positions of the Defense Forces.

In the Toretsky direction, Russians once attacked the positions of Defense Forces in the Toretsk area.

Since the beginning of the day in the Pokrovsk direction, Russians 55 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements Poltavka, Volodymyrivka, Novotoretsk, Novoekonomicne, Lisivka, Novoukrainka, Pokrovsk, Zvirove, Udaachne, Kotline, Novopavlivka, Oleksiyivka and in the direction of Novopidgorodny. Fighting is ongoing in five locations.

Defense Forces hold back enemy attacks, the Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today in this direction 182 Russian invaders have been defecated, of which 123 are irrevocable. Ukrainian defenders destroyed a combat armored car, two cars, one buggy, six motorcycles, two cannons, 12 unmanned aircraft, two satellite terminals, antenna control of BPLA, one ammunition warehouse. One car, four motorcycles, four artillery systems and seven personnel shelters were also significantly damaged.

In the Novopavlovsky direction, Ukrainian units stopped ten Russian attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops near the settlements of Temirivka, Tolstoy, Novohatske, Mirne, Maliyivka, Voskresenka.

Russian aviation struck Bilogiru in the direction of Gulyaipilsky.

In the Orihiv direction, the Russian zagarbniki tried to advance in the area of Kamiansky.

In the pridniprovsk direction, Russian forces made eight unsuccessful attempts of attack, suffered losses and retreated. Odradokamianka suffered an air strike.





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July 25, 2025

Release

Statement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell on DOD Personnel Support to ICE

The Department of Defense announced today a change in the duty status of military personnel supporting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in its immigration law enforcement mission. Personnel will transition from Title 10 to Title 32 status. This change affects the 1,200 service members currently authorized for the mission and includes an additional 500 newly authorized personnel, bringing the total DoD support to approximately 1,700 troops.

Through active planning and collaboration with our ICE partners, the Department determined that specific operational needs may require direct interaction with individuals in ICE custody. This led to a reevaluation of DoD military personnel duty status, with Title 32 status providing the necessary authorities for these tasks.

As part of this transition, Title 10 personnel from the Marine Corps and Naval Reserve who have been providing invaluable support will return to their home stations. National Guard members, in a Title 32 status, will seamlessly take over these vital mission roles to ensure continuity of support and operations.

This ongoing support, provided in response to a May 9, 2025 request for assistance from the Department of Homeland Security includes case management, transportation and logistical support, and clerical support for the in- and out-processing of illegal aliens at ICE detention facilities.

By providing these crucial services, DoD military personnel directly enable ICE to dedicate more trained agents to core law enforcement activities, significantly enhancing overall effectiveness. The Department of Defense is committed to supporting the Department of Homeland Security in its mission to maintain the security of our borders and enforce immigration laws.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/1926383/

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Treasury Sanctions Venezuelan Cartel Headed by Maduro

U.S. Department of the Treasury

July 25, 2025

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Cartel de los Soles (a.k.a. Cartel of the Suns) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Cartel de los Soles is a Venezuela-based criminal group headed by Nicolas Maduro Moros and other high-ranking Venezuelan individuals in the Maduro regime that provides material support to foreign terrorist organizations threatening the peace and security of the United States, namely Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel.

"Today's action further exposes the illegitimate Maduro regime's facilitation of narco-terrorism through terrorist groups like Cartel de los Soles," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "The Treasury Department will continue to execute on President Trump's pledge to put America First by cracking down on violent organizations including Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel, and their facilitators, like Cartel de los Soles."

TREN DE ARAGUA AND THE SINALOA CARTEL: VIOLENT NARCO-TERRORISTS

Today, OFAC is sanctioning the Cartel de los Soles, which has provided material support to Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel. Tren de Aragua is a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) that originated in Venezuela and is involved in the illicit drug trade, human smuggling and trafficking, extortion, sexual exploitation of women and children, and money laundering, among other criminal activities. The Sinaloa Cartel is an FTO and one of the oldest and most powerful cartels in Mexico, responsible for a significant portion of deadly drugs trafficked into the United States from Mexico. In addition to trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illicit drugs into the United States, the Sinaloa Cartel is engaged in widespread violence. On February 20, 2025, the Department of State designated both Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel as FTOs and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Treasury previously sanctioned Tren de Aragua as a significant transnational criminal organization on July 11, 2024. The Sinaloa Cartel was identified by the United States as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker on April 15, 2009 pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. On December 15, 2021, OFAC also designated the Sinaloa Cartel pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059.

ILLUMINATING THE CARTEL OF THE SUNS

Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles (a.k.a. Cartel of the Suns) is headed by Nicolas Maduro Moros and other Venezuelan high-ranking individuals in the Maduro regime who corrupted the institutions of government in Venezuela, including parts of the military, intelligence apparatus, legislature, and the judiciary, to assist the cartel's endeavors of trafficking narcotics into the United States.

The cartel's name is derived from the sun insignias often portrayed on the uniforms of Venezuelan military officials.

The Cartel de los Soles supports Tren de Aragua in carrying out its objective of using the flood of illegal narcotics as a weapon against the United States. Additionally, the Cartel de los Soles has provided support to the Sinaloa Cartel.

Today, OFAC is sanctioning Cartel de los Soles pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Tren de Aragua. Additionally, OFAC is sanctioning Cartel de los Soles pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Sinaloa Cartel.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated person described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons is blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.

Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

Furthermore, engaging in certain transactions involving the person designated today may risk the imposition of secondary sanctions on participating foreign financial institutions. OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on opening or maintaining, in the United States, a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducts or facilitates any significant transaction on behalf of a person who is designated pursuant to the relevant authority.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List), but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC's guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List.

Click here for more information on the person designated today.

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Joint Statement on the Australia-UK Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty

On 26 July 2025 in Geelong, Australia, the Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia and the Right Honourable John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom (UK) signed the bilateral Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty (the Geelong Treaty) at the UK-Australia Defence Ministers' Meeting in Geelong, Victoria.

From: Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon John Healey MP

Published 26 July 2025

On 26 July 2025 in Geelong, Australia, the Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia and the Right Honourable John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom (UK) signed the bilateral Nuclear-Powered Submarine Partnership and Collaboration Treaty (the Geelong Treaty) at the UK-Australia Defence Ministers' Meeting in Geelong, Victoria. The Geelong Treaty is a historic agreement, the commitment for the next 50 years of UK-Australian bilateral defence cooperation under AUKUS Pillar I.

The Geelong Treaty will enable comprehensive cooperation on the design, build, operation, sustainment, and disposal of our SSN-AUKUS submarines. It will support the development of the personnel, workforce, infrastructure and regulatory systems required for Australia's SSN-AUKUS programme, as well as support port visits and the rotational presence of a UK Astute-class submarine at HMAS Stirling under Submarine Rotational Force - West.

The Treaty builds on the strong foundation of trilateral cooperation between Australia, the UK and the United States, advancing the shared objectives of the AUKUS partnership. It will enable the development of SSN-AUKUS and resilient trilateral supply chains.

Importantly, the Geelong Treaty is consistent with Australia's and the UK's respective international nuclear non-proliferation obligations, including under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and its Protocols, and Australia's safeguards agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the trilateral AUKUS Naval Nuclear Propulsion Agreement (ANNPA).

Together with the ANNPA, the Treaty will enable Australia and the UK to deliver a cutting-edge undersea capability through the SSN-AUKUS programme, and in doing so, support stability and security in the Euro Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific for decades to come, drive defence as an engine for growth across our two nations, create thousands of jobs, build our respective submarine industrial bases and supply chains, and provide new opportunities for industry partners.

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Xi Jinping Meets with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: July 24, 2025 14:45

On the morning of July 24, 2025, President Xi Jinping met with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are in China for the 25th China-EU Summit, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping noted that over the past 50 years, China and the EU have achieved fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation, delivering mutual success and worldwide benefits. An important understanding and insight is that the two sides should respect each other, seek commonality while reserving differences, uphold openness and cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit. These are also important principles and the right direction for China-EU relations in the future. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Xi Jinping said that China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in history. China and the EU are both constructive forces for multilateralism and openness and cooperation. The more challenging and complex the international situation becomes, the more China and the EU need to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, and deepen cooperation. Faced with accelerating global transformation not seen in a century and a changing and turbulent world, Chinese and EU leaders should once again demonstrate vision and leadership, make the right strategic choices that will meet people's expectations and stand the scrutiny of history, steer the right course for the development of China-EU relations, and work to open a brighter next 50 years for China-EU relations, contributing more stability and certainty to the world.

Xi Jinping put forward three proposals for advancing China-EU relations. First, upholding mutual respect to reinforce the China-EU partnership. China is a peace-loving country that values harmony, inclusiveness, cooperation, and win-win outcomes. Measuring China against the path taken by Western countries would result in a biased understanding of China. While China and Europe differ in history, culture, path, system, and development stage, such differences have not impeded the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations and growth of bilateral relations in the past, nor should they obstruct the development of bilateral relations in the future. The challenges currently faced by Europe do not come from China. There are no fundamental conflicts of interest or geopolitical contradictions between China and the EU; and the fundamentals and prevailing trend of cooperation outweighing competition and consensus outweighing differences remain unchanged. China has always viewed and developed relations with Europe from a strategic and long-term perspective, regards Europe as an important pole in a multipolar world, and has consistently supported European integration and the EU's strategic autonomy. Xi Jinping expressed the hope that the EU will also respect the path and system chosen by the Chinese people, respect China's core interests and major concerns, and support China's development and prosperity. The China-EU relationship is not targeted at any third party, nor is it subjugated to or controlled by any third party. The two sides should deepen strategic communication, enhance understanding and mutual trust, and foster the right perception of each other.

Second, upholding openness and cooperation to manage differences and frictions. History and reality have proven that interdependence is not a risk, and convergent interests are not a threat. Boosting competitiveness should not rely on "building walls and barriers", and "decoupling and severing supply chains" will only result in self-isolation. Reducing dependency does not mean reducing cooperation. The essence of China-EU economic and trade relations lies in complementarity and mutual benefit, and dynamic equilibrium should and can be achieved through development. China's high-quality development and high-standard opening up will provide new opportunities and expand new space for China-EU cooperation. China and the EU should deepen green and digital partnerships and promote mutual investment and cooperation. Xi Jinping expressed the hope that the EU will keep its trade and investment markets open, exercise restraint in using restrictive economic and trade tools, and foster a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises investing and doing business in Europe.

Third, upholding multilateralism to safeguard international rules and order. Confronted with major choices between war and peace, competition and cooperation, and closure and openness, multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation are the right answers. China and the EU should jointly uphold the international rules and order established after the end of World War II, advance the building of a more just and equitable global governance system in keeping with the times, and work together to address climate change and other global challenges, so that the torch of multilateralism will illuminate the way forward for humanity. China and the EU should support the peaceful settlement of international disputes through political means. China always decides its position based on the merits of the matter, stands for peace talks, and advocates addressing both symptoms and root causes. China is ready to strengthen coordination with the EU to ensure the success of the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem this year and make greater contributions to climate change response and global green transition. China is also ready to conduct policy communication and practical cooperation with the EU in the field of artificial intelligence and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

The EU leaders stated that President Xi Jinping's three proposals on EU-China relations are of great importance. Over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the EU and China have carried out cooperation in a wide range of fields, with constantly growing scope and depth. The two sides have become important cooperation and trade partners for each other, contributing to their respective economic prosperity and improving the well-being of their peoples. China has become a major country in manufacturing and science and technology, and has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. China's development has impressed the world and provided important inspiration for the world. The EU believes in and supports China's greater development. Both the EU and China are significant forces in the world, and the EU-China relations are of vital importance to both sides and the world. The EU is committed to deepening relations with China, handling differences in a constructive manner, and promoting bilateral cooperation on the basis of equilibrium, reciprocity, and mutual benefit to continue achieving more positive outcomes. The EU does not seek "decoupling and severing supply chains" from China and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Europe. Facing a turbulent world full of uncertainties, the EU and China should shoulder responsibilities together, jointly uphold multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, work together to address global challenges such as climate change, promote solutions to regional hotspot issues, and maintain world peace and stability. The EU looks forward to working with China to continue writing a more brilliant chapter in the next 50 years of EU-China relations.

Wang Yi attended the meeting.

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CAIRO, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani discussed the escalating situation in the Gaza Strip and efforts to secure a ceasefire during a phone call on Sunday.

The discussion focused on measures to alleviate the severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Both ministers reiterated their commitment to the ongoing negotiations, pledging to expedite a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, which is key to the urgent delivery of humanitarian and relief aid into Gaza, and to halt further Israeli actions.

The officials also touched upon developments related to Egypt's hosting of an international conference for Gaza's post-war recovery and reconstruction, part of Arab-Islamic plan for rebuilding the war-torn Strip.

Furthermore, the ministers underscored the importance of sustained coordination between Egypt and Qatar, and agreed to continue mobilizing international support for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Israeli military on Sunday announced a daily 10-hour humanitarian pause in its operations in parts of the Gaza Strip, along with the opening of secure routes for aid delivery.

Also on Sunday, trucks loaded with humanitarian aid began entering the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, according to local Palestinian sources.

The flow of humanitarian assistance comes amid growing international appeals to facilitate urgent aid delivery to Gaza, where residents continue to face severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies. 
Wang Yi Meets with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: July 24, 2025 19:25

On July 24, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir in Beijing.

Wang Yi congratulated Asim Munir on his appointment as Field Marshal of the Pakistani Army, stating that the Pakistani military stands as a staunch defender of national interests and a firm supporter of China-Pakistan friendship. He expressed the hope that the Pakistani military will continue to make efforts for the development of China-Pakistan relations.

Wang Yi said that China and Pakistan are ironclad friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners. The two sides have always firmly supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and have stood together in the face of various challenges. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Pakistani leaders, China-Pakistan relations have continued to move forward, and the two countries are accelerating the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. China will, as always, take Pakistan as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is ready to work with Pakistan to fully implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders of both countries, further deepen the all-weather strategic cooperation for the greater benefits of the two peoples, and make due contributions to peace and stability in the region. China supports Pakistan in resolutely combating all forms of terrorism and hopes that the Pakistani military will continue to make all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.

Syed Asim Munir said that the brotherly friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China have weathered tests and remain rock-solid. China is Pakistan's ironclad brother, and developing friendly cooperation with China is the consensus of the entire Pakistani society. He expressed heartfelt thanks to China for its long-standing, valuable support for Pakistan's economic and social development. The Pakistani military will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan and is willing to actively advance stronger counter-terrorism cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern.

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General Zhang Youxia meets Pakistani army chief

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source China Military Online

EditorLi Weichao

2025-07-25 18:43:00

BEIJING, July 25 -- General Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), met with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir in Beijing on Friday.

General Zhang congratulated Asim Munir on his appointment as Field Marshal of the Pakistani Army, stating that military relations between China and Pakistan are an important pillar of bilateral relations and that military cooperation between the two sides have achieved fruitful results in various fields. The two sides should resolutely implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic communication, enhance exchanges and interactions, and deepen practical cooperation.

General Zhang noted that the Chinese side will adhere to the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and work together with Pakistan to promote regional peace and development, and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. China is willing to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with Pakistan and hopes that the Pakistani side will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.

Asim Munir said that the ironclad brotherhood between China and Pakistan is comprehensive and the Pakistani people have special friendly feelings to China. Pakistan highly appreciates and supports the major concepts and initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and is willing to deepen and expand practical cooperation with China in all fields to promote the bilateral relations between the two countries and their militaries to new heights. Pakistan will make all efforts to combat terrorism and protect the Chinese friends in Pakistan.

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Statement by Minister Anand and Minister Anandasangaree on Hong Kong arrest warrants

Global Affairs Canada

Statement

July 26, 2025 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, issued this statement:

"Canada condemns the decision by Hong Kong authorities to issue international bounties and arrest warrants for 19 pro-democracy activists who live around the world.

"This attempt by Hong Kong authorities to conduct transnational repression abroad, including by issuing threats, intimidation or coercion against Canadians or those in Canada, will not be tolerated.

"The individuals targeted yesterday under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law in Hong Kong include Canadians and people with close ties to Canada. Canada reiterates its previous calls to repeal this law, which violates Hong Kong's international human rights obligations, and withdraw all related warrants and bounties.

"Canada stands in solidarity with our international partners whose citizens and residents have also been affected by this act of transnational repression.

"The announcement yesterday marks the third time that international bounties were issued by Hong Kong and represents a deeply troubling escalation in the use of transnational repression by the People's Republic of China.

"Rapid Response Mechanism Canada detected that these bounties are being amplified in an inauthentic and coordinated way, through an online network of accounts that are targeting Chinese-speaking communities.

"The actions taken by Hong Kong threaten the sovereignty of Canada and security of the people in this country.

"If a member of the public feels that they are in immediate danger, they should call 911 or contact their local police.

"Anyone in Canada who is concerned they are being targeted by state and non-state actors for the purposes of foreign interference should contact the RCMP's National Security Information Network at 1-800-420-5805, or by secure web form at: http://www.rcmp.ca/report-it."

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Condemning the Hong Kong Government's Latest Round of Bounties on Individuals Exercising Freedom of Expression

US Department of State

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

July 26, 2025

The United States condemns the Hong Kong government's July 25 announcement of new arrest warrants and bounties targeting 15 additional overseas activists, including U.S.-based individuals. The extraterritorial targeting of Hong Kongers who are exercising their fundamental freedoms is a form of transnational repression. We will not tolerate the Hong Kong government's attempts to apply its national security laws to silence or intimidate Americans or anyone on U.S. soil.

With this new round of arrest warrants and bounties, the Hong Kong government continues to erode the autonomy that Beijing itself promised to the people of Hong Kong following the 1997 handover. Freedom of speech and political discourse are core American values, which the Trump Administration will continue to defend.

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Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Visits Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, July 27 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, visited the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum on July 26 on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the victory in the war.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was accompanied by members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the WPK and other senior officials of the Party, government and armed forces organs, chief secretaries of provincial Party committees and leading officials of ministries and national agencies.

The flower basket in the name of Kim Jong Un was laid before the statue of President Kim Il Sung .

Also laid were flower baskets in the name of the Central Committee of the WPK, the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK and the Cabinet of the DPRK.

Kim Jong Un paid the highest tribute to the President, the eternal symbol of the mightiness and dignity of Juche Korea and the ever-victorious legendary hero, in front of the statue.

He went round a hall dealing with four stages of the Fatherland Liberation War, the Guards Units Hall and the Hall of Victory.

He said that the victory in the Fatherland Liberation War which firmly defended the most acute outpost of the anti-imperialist struggle in the eastern part of the earth is the victory of the outstanding military ideology, Juche-oriented war methods and superb strategy and tactics of the President and the victory of the ardent patriotism and indomitable spirit of defending the country of the army and people rallied close around the President.

He said that though more than 70 years have passed since the fireworks of war victory were displayed, the exploits for war victory performed by the President have become the eternal foundation of all victories and shining dignity that our state and people have achieved century after century. All the revolutionary exploits the President performed through his whole precious life are great, but the legendary feat for war victory is an extraordinary and a core feat admired and revered by the world, he said.

He said that the President created the immortal heroic spirit in which the DPRK could win victory forever despite the flames of the war, provided a solid cornerstone for carrying forward the revolutionary traditions and decided a future course of a gigantic new history in the postwar socialist revolution and construction. His outstanding history of the war victory leadership is the most precious ideological and spiritual wealth our Party and people should invariably carry forward and glorify for all ages, he said.

Kim Jong Un affirmed that our state and its people would surely achieve the great cause of building a rich country with a strong army and become honorable victors in the anti-imperialist, anti-U.S. showdown, braving any challenges and difficulties in the future with redoubled courage, as the victorious wartime generation brought the greatest victory and glory even in the face of the most severe national difficulties.

Saying that the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, which gives firm will to invariably carry forward the ever-victorious history to our people and service personnel of the People's Army, is an eternal treasure house of the revolution that can not be compared with anything, he indicated the tasks and ways for further intensifying the education in the tradition of victory through it.

The leading officials of the Party, government and armed forces organs hardened their firm pledge to fully discharge their responsibility and duty they have assumed before the times and the revolution, fully demonstrating the pride of heroic Korea and the heroic people. -0-

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Interior minister orders investigation into Zahedan terrorist attack

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jul 26, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has ordered a probe into a terrorist attack on the judiciary building in the southeastern city of Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan province.

Momeni, in a phone call with provincial governor, Mansour Bijar, while offering condolences to the people and the families of the victims on Saturday, asked him to follow up on the dimensions of this act of terrorism.

He also called on officials to reach out to the injured and address the situation of those who had lost their lives in the attack.

A group of armed terrorists launched the attack in the early morning rush hour, leaving six people, including three members of the courthouse security team dead and 22 others injured.

Three terrorists were also killed in clashes with security forces.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack that first directed at the courthouse and then expanded indiscriminately to target civilians in the vicinity.

Zahedan has witnessed sporadic violence by armed groups operating near the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan. The same terror group had launched a deadly ambush in October 2024, killing 10 police officers in Taftan County, one of the most fatal incidents in the province in recent months.

4399**2050

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Iran's oil export revenues up 14% to nearly $47bn in 2024: OPEC

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 7:35 PM

Iran managed to significantly increase its oil export revenues last year, according to new OPEC data, which shows that US sanctions have failed to choke off the country's lucrative oil business.

The data by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cited in a Saturday report by the Iranian Oil Ministry showed that Iran had exported more than $46.776 billion worth of crude oil in 2024, up by 13.62% from the year before.

The data showed that Iran had experienced the largest increase in oil export revenues last year compared to 11 other members of OPEC.

The rise came despite a fall in overall OPEC oil export revenue in 2024 as the bloc saw its earnings drop from $678 billion in 2023 to $652 billion last year, according to the same figures.

Saudi Arabia, the leading OPEC producer and the world's largest oil exporter, reported a $24 billion fall in its oil exports as shipments reached $223 billion, the figures showed.

The data showed that Iran's oil export revenues had nearly doubled in the three years to 2024

Iran has steadily increased its oil exports in recent years despite being subject to an unprecedented regime of US sanctions, which impose heavy penalties on buyers of Iranian oil.

Oil exports from the country have increased from historic lows of below 0.3 million barrels per day (bpd) reported in 2019 to records of more than 1.8 million bpd in recent months.

That comes as the US government has announced multiple rounds of sanctions on Iran's oil exports and its foreign partners in recent months, with the stated aim of cutting the shipments to below 0.1 million bpd.

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Resumption of Iran-US talks hinges on guarantees against further strikes: Deputy FM

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 6:39 PM

Iran has called for firm guarantees that no further military strikes will be carried out against its territory before reentering negotiations with the United States, a senior Iranian diplomat said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi made the remarks in an interview with Turkey's nationwide Haberturk TV channel on Saturday, following the second round of diplomatic talks between Iran and the European troika, France, Britain, and Germany, held the previous day in Istanbul.

The closed-door meeting, which lasted more than three hours, was attended by deputy foreign ministers Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, along with senior representatives from the E3 countries. It followed a similar session held on May 16 in the same city.

Takht-Ravanchi noted that Iran and the United States have been exchanging messages through intermediary nations facilitating communication between the two sides.

He pointed out that Tehran and Washington were in indirect negotiations, mediated by Oman, when the Israeli regime carried out acts of aggression against the Islamic Republic, which the US later joined.

"This was a betrayal of diplomacy, this was an attack on diplomacy," he emphasized.

"Therefore, before starting a new round of negotiations with the United States, we must receive guarantees that we will not face similar attacks again. It is essential for us that they will not betray diplomacy again," he pointed out.

He said the Israeli regime and the US have surprised Iran by conducting their war of aggression, adding, "We do not want the same show to be repeated. The United States must convince us that it will not do such a thing this time."

He insisted that the negotiations should be based on the principle of a win-win policy and reiterated that Iran would never accept "any kind of imposition" from the US.

Iran and the United States held five rounds of indirect talks on Tehran's peaceful nuclear program before June 13, when the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked act of aggression on the Islamic Republic, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders and nuclear scientists in addition to ordinary civilians.

Mediated by Oman, the 6th round of talks was planned to be held in the Omani capital of Muscat on June 15, but was called off due to the Israeli attacks.

On June 22, the United States officially joined the war against Iran by launching attacks on three nuclear facilities in the country in violation of the United Nations Charter and the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Elsewhere in his comments, Takht-Ravanchi said that during the Friday talks, Iran and the E3 discussed the technical aspects of Tehran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions, with Iran emphasizing once again that uranium enrichment must be an integral part of any agreement.

He reiterated the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and added that, based on a religious decree issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic does not seek nuclear weapons.

"Enrichment will be continued (in Iran) for peaceful purposes within the framework of the NPT (the Non-Proliferation Treaty) and will not be stopped," the top diplomat pointed out.

Speaking at the end of the talks in Istanbul, Takht-Ravanchi said Tehran insists on its "absolute" right to enrichment inside the country as a member of the NPT.

"Enrichment, which is among our absolute rights, should be continued inside the country," he added.

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Pezeshkian vows to focus foreign policy on regional outreach, ties with Russia, China

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 11:13 AM

President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged to prioritize regional outreach in Iran's foreign policy, while also strengthening ties with key international partners such as Russia and China.

Pezeshkian made the remarks on Saturday as he met with Iranian deputy foreign ministers and senior diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital Tehran on Saturday.

"Through established coordination and policies, we will seek to prioritize expansion of closer, deeper, and better relations with our neighbors, and then develop and advance our ties with the countries with which we have good interactions, including Russia, China, the BRICS group, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Union," he said.

"We will also continue the process of cooperation with European countries and other countries based on wisdom, dignity, and expediency."

Turning to the June 13-25 Israeli aggression on Iran that took place amid unprecedented American support, Pezeshkian said the occupying regime aggressively sought during the recent 12-day war to bring the country to its knees, but the dear Iranian nation took outstanding measures that need to be appreciated earnestly.

He underlined that Iran's diplomacy, as shown by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and other Iranian media outlets, was active round-the-clock throughout the war.

"Even though some departments were shuttered down for a while, our loved ones were present in relevant bodies and established international ties," the president said.

Pezeshkian also pointed to the efforts of Iran's diplomatic apparatus during the 12-day Israeli-imposed war, saying that the result of such efforts was that almost all international agencies, except for the Security Council and the United Nations, condemned the aggression.

He further said that the Israeli regime initiated a war that was fundamentally unlawful under all international principles and regulations. "Unfortunately, in today's world, such aggressive actions are often justified by major powers," he added.

He also said that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, emphasized that Iranian security and defense forces must prepare themselves to defend the country, while also noting that diplomacy must be placed on the agenda.

The Iranian president finally expressed gratitude for the remarkable efforts of the staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing the Islamic Republic's foreign policy and diplomacy.

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Six killed, 22 injured in terrorist attack on courthouse in southeast Iran

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 8:54 AM

Armed terrorists stormed a courthouse in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan province, on Saturday, killing six people, including a woman and a one-year-old child.

Twenty-two others were injured in the attack, which was claimed by the so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group.

Iranian security forces killed three assailants during the ensuing clashes.

Three members of the courthouse security team were killed defending the building.

Security and law enforcement personnel remain deployed around and within the courthouse.

Brigadier General Alireza Daliri, Deputy Commander of Law Enforcement in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, stated during a press conference that the terrorists were affiliated with the Israeli regime.

"At 8:30 this morning, a terrorist cell affiliated with the Zionist regime attempted to infiltrate the Sistan and Baluchestan Judiciary building in the city of Zahedan, disguising themselves as ordinary citizens seeking legal services," he said.

Daliri noted that thanks to the vigilance and swift action of the security forces present at the scene, the attempt was thwarted.

"Unfortunately, during the attack, one of the terrorists managed to throw a grenade inside the judiciary building before being killed. The explosion resulted in the martyrdom of several civilians who were present at the scene, including a one-year-old infant and a woman."

Reports indicated that the mother of the infant child survived the attack, but suffered serious wounds.

"In the ensuing clash, one of the terrorists was neutralized on the spot," Daliri said, adding that the remaining members of the terrorist cell were eliminated later and the entire terrorist team was dismantled.

In April, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces delivered a blow to the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group during an anti-terrorism military operation in Sistan and Baluchestan province, killing a ringleader of the group.

Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, has witnessed several terrorist attacks targeting both civilians and security forces over the past years.

Terrorist groups carrying out attacks against Iranian interests in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country are believed to be linked to foreign spy agencies.

On October 26 last year, ten members of Iran's law enforcement forces were killed in a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan County in the province.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault, which was one of the deadliest in the province in recent months.

The group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan. Its tactics include the abduction of border guards as well as targeting civilians and police stations within the province to incite chaos and disorder.

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NAIROBI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Lavenda Chepkirui, a 25-year-old student from Kenya's University of Kabianga, took a step closer to realizing her vision of transforming agriculture in Africa with eco-friendly solutions.

Her invention -- a biodegradable soil mulch film made from crop waste -- earned her a gold medal at the inaugural Africa Division Contest of the China International College Students' Innovation Competition 2025, which concluded Friday in Nairobi, Kenya's capital.

"By applying the biodegradable film over the soil surface, farmers can increase their yields through eliminating weeds and conserving moisture," Chepkirui told Xinhua at the award ceremony.

Chepkirui was among 559 students from 115 African universities who submitted a total of 185 innovation projects to the competition, hosted by China's Nanjing Agricultural University (NAU). It marked the first time the event held a regional round on the African continent.

The submissions spanned a wide range of fields from agricultural and food technologies to artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability. After expert evaluations, 30 teams from 21 universities across nine African countries received awards in various categories.

Chepkirui said the platform not only allowed her to showcase her idea but also offered invaluable mentorship.

"I received valuable expertise from my Chinese instructors on how to conceptualize and test my innovation in the farm fields," she said, expressing hope to commercialize her product and offer farmers a sustainable alternative to plastic mulch, a major pollutant.

Beyond the lab, the journey was also personal. Growing up in a single-parent household in rural Kenya, Chepkirui said the experience helped her overcome early challenges and strengthened her resolve to make a difference.

Roselida Owuor, director-general of Kenya's State Department for Science Research and Innovation, said the competition serves as a launch pad for African youth to develop homegrown solutions to the continent's challenges.

"Kenya is keen to nurture youth to commercialize their innovations through the establishment of innovation hubs across the country," said Owuor.

Zhu Yan, vice-president of NAU, said the contest not only serves as a platform for Chinese and African youth to showcase their innovative wisdom but also stands as a vivid example of implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and deepening the construction of the China-Africa community with a shared future.

"We are delighted to see young students from both China and Africa jointly exploring innovative solutions focusing on sustainable development, technology empowerment, and livelihood improvement," Zhu said. "It is part of our university's mission to support global agricultural development and foster international youth exchange."

The stories behind the winning projects also highlight how innovation, cultural exchange, and practical problem-solving are coming together to meet Africa's evolving needs.

Silvia Christopher Mganga, a 27-year-old Tanzanian postgraduate student at Egerton University, was part of a gold medal-winning team that developed a tomato grafting project.

Her inspiration came from watching her parents struggle with crop losses as small-scale tomato farmers. "Our project combines Chinese rootstock with local tomato varieties, creating a product that is both disease resistant and high yielding," Mganga said.

Tefera Efrata Tibebu, a 19-year-old information technology student from Ethiopia, helped create an award-winning robotic sorting arm using code-scanning technology. The silver medal-winning project aims to enhance efficiency in Africa's logistics sector.

"Our goal is to improve Africa's logistics sector by reducing dependence on manual labor, which is costly and prone to error," she said.

From Ghana, 26-year-old Jochbed Ama Adzomani, a student at the University of Energy and Natural Resources, was awarded a silver medal for her team's innovation in calcium feed supplements for poultry.

"We developed an improved feed formulation using locally available materials such as eggshells and animal bones, which helps farmers reduce costs," she explained.

As the curtains closed on the first African edition of the competition, one message rang clear: Africa's youth are bursting with ideas. With the right platforms and partnerships, their innovations hold the promise to solve real-world challenges and advance the continent's sustainable development goals. 
FM hails Iran's missile power for defeating Israeli aggressors

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 2:34 AM

Iran's foreign minister commends the firepower wielded by the Islamic Republic's missile forces for its compelling the Israeli regime to request a ceasefire after launching an unprovoked war on the country last month.

Abbas Araghchi made the remarks on Friday, meeting with the family of Brigadier General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Aerospace Force, who was martyred during the war.

"Iran's missile defense power forced the Zionist enemy to request a ceasefire," the top diplomat told Hajizadeh's survivors.

"It has now been proven that the flag of esteem and strength of [our] dear Iran will never fall to the ground," he added.

"The path towards ensuring Iran's dignity, independence, and security will continue with unwavering resolve."

Iran's Armed Forces, including the Aerospace Force, launched at least 22 phases of determined counteroffensives in the face of the war, targeting many critical Israeli nuclear, military, and industrial sites.

The retaliation that deployed hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones forced the Israeli regime to request a ceasefire only after 12 days into the war, despite receiving unprecedented American military and intelligence support throughout the course of the aggression.

Also on Friday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the country's military and scientific advancements would move forward with greater speed and determination.

The Leader made the remarks in a message marking the 40th day since the martyrdom of Hajizadeh and other senior Iranian commanders during the aggression.

Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the "wicked and criminal Zionist ruling group" for the atrocities, calling the attacks "a blow delivered by the vile and spiteful enemy of the Iranian nation."

"But the foolish and shortsighted enemy did not achieve its goal," the Leader stated, pointing to the triumph scored by the Iranian defense forces.

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At Least 6 Dead In Militant Attack On Courthouse In Southeast Iran

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda July 26, 2025

At least six people were killed and 22 injured after three Jaish al-Adl militants attacked a courthouse in Zahedan, the capital of the restive province of Sistan-Baluchistan in southeast Iran.

The Iranian judiciary in a statement on July 26 called the assault a "terrorist attack."

Jaish al-Adl, a Baluch separatist militant group that is believed to be operating out of neighboring Pakistan, claimed the attack in a statement on its Telegram channel.

The group warned the judiciary's personnel that Sistan-Baluchistan is "no longer a safe place" for them.

Iranian media said all three attackers were killed in the attack.

This marks the militant group's deadliest attack in Iran since October 2024, when Jaish al-Adl militants ambushed a police convoy, killing 10 officers.

Jaish al-Adl, which is designated as a terrorist group by both Iran and the United States, has repeatedly clashed with security forces and Iranian border guards in Sistan-Baluchistan Province, at times taking them hostage or killing them.

Members of the Baluch minority, many of whom are Sunni Muslims in Shi'ite-majority Iran, have long faced disproportionate discrimination and violence at the hands of the authorities.

The area has also long been a key transit route for narcotics smuggled from Afghanistan to the West and beyond.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-jaish-attack- courthouse-militants/33484498.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.

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Bloodshed in Iran: Radicals Storm Zahedan Courthouse, Leaving 5 Dead

Sputnik News

20250726

At least 5 people were killed and 13 others wounded in an attack targeting a courthouse in Zahedanthe capital of Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The casualty figures are preliminary as authorities continue to investigate.

What we know so far:

The attackers breached the premises, but the extent of the damage remains unclear.

The group Jaish al-Zalm, designated as a terrorist organization in Iran, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Authorities are working to determine the full scope of the assault.

 Sputnik

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Press Conference by Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 2:48 p.m. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only.

Opening Remarks

(1) Attendance at ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have four announcements at the outset.

First is about my attendance at the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings.

I will visit Malaysia from tomorrow to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings.

Through the series of meetings, I would like to make continued efforts to strengthen Japan-ASEAN relations as "Trusted Partners."

In addition, I intend to firmly send out a message that, by promoting a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)," Japan will lead the region to dialogue and harmony, rather than division and confrontation.

Furthermore, on this occasion, I will hold a Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the Ministerial Meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD). I would like to deepen Japan's cooperation with the respective countries, with a view to further developing the Mekong region and providing support for Palestine by drawing on knowledge of the Asian countries.

(2) Canadian Foreign Minister Anand's Visit to Japan

Minister Iwaya: Second is about the visit to Japan by Minister of Foreign Affairs Anand of Canada.

The Canadian Foreign Minister Anand will be visiting Japan from today to July 9.

I look forward to exchanging views on a wide range of areas, such as bilateral cooperation, including the signing of the Agreement on the Security of Information today, and international situations, and to further strengthening the Japan-Canada Strategic Partnership.

(3) Initiatives toward Realization of an Orderly, Intercultural, and Cohesive Society with Foreign Nationals

Minister Iwaya: Third is about the establishment of an organization that will function as a control tower to deal with issues on foreign nationals in Japan.

Today, a policy to establish a new control tower organization within the Government to address various issues related to foreign residents was announced. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce the initiatives being taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), a member of this organization.

Building on the recommendations of the Liberal Democratic Party's Special Committee for Realizing a Society of Orderly and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals, MOFA, working together with relevant ministries and agencies, has been strengthening its initiatives to realize an orderly, intercultural, and cohesive society with foreign nationals to ensure the safety and security of the Japanese people.

First, it goes without saying that we conduct rigorous visa screenings for foreign nationals before their arrival in Japan. Furthermore, we have taken opportunities, such as foreign ministers' meetings, to express our concerns and request countermeasures to the governments of countries with high numbers of illegal stays or criminal arrests.

In addition, we have been issuing a range of warnings on illegal stays, illegal employment, and violations of social etiquette to foreign nationals residing in Japan through the embassies of their home countries in Tokyo.

Moreover, in cooperation with the police among others, even if foreign nationals who committed a crime in Japan were to leave the country, we request the governments of these foreign nationals to bring them to justice. We are also working with the Immigration Services Agency to take a strict approach to resolve the problems, including expediting coordination with foreign governments for the deportation of illegal residents.

As for long-term initiatives, through the Japan Foundation, we are improving the Japanese language education environment for foreign nationals before they come to Japan. We are also carrying out awareness-raising activities in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other organizations and are working with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to create arrangements that enable foreign and Japanese nationals to become active players in an intercultural and cohesive society.

Under the direction of Prime Minister Ishiba, MOFA will continue to play an active role in realizing an orderly, intercultural, and cohesive society with foreign nationals to ensure the safety and security of the Japanese people.

(4) Personnel Decisions on Senior MOFA Officials Effective July 14

Minister Iwaya: Fourth is about personnel decisions on senior officials as of July 14.

The personnel decisions related to senior officials of MOFA were approved during the Cabinet meeting today. The announcements will be effective as of July 14.

Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Secretariat ICHIKAWA Keiichi will return to MOFA and will be assigned to the Minister's Secretariat. I understand that he will be succeeded by Deputy Minister/Director-General of the Foreign Policy Bureau, KOBE Yasuhiro.

Director-General Kobe will be succeeded by Director-General/Assistant Minister of the North American Affairs Bureau, ARIMA Yutaka. Director-General Arima will be succeeded by Deputy Director-General/Deputy Assistant Minister of the Minister's Secretariat, KUMAGAI Naoki, who has been in charge of the North American Affairs Bureau.

Amid a constantly changing international situation, MOFA will continue to exert all efforts to address a wide range of diplomatic issues with this new group of officials.

That is all from me at the outset.

Japan-U.S. Consultation on U.S. Tariff Measures

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about the U.S. tariff measures. President Trump posted a letter stating that a 25% tariff will be imposed on Japan starting on August 1, citing that the U.S. relationship with Japan is "far from Reciprocal." Please share your thoughts, the Government's future responses on this matter and your assessment of the negotiations so far.

Minister Iwaya: As you pointed out, on July 7, U.S. time, the U.S. Government released a letter stating that a 25% tariff would be imposed on all products sent from Japan, and that the tariff will be imposed starting on August 1. We have already received such a letter from the U.S. Government.

As you are aware, Japan and the U.S. have continued to engage in vigorous negotiations sincerely and in good faith. However, there are still some points on which both Japan and the U.S. cannot agree, and regrettably, we have not yet reached an agreement at this point.

This is because the Government of Japan has continued to conduct negotiations based on a policy of avoiding easy compromises and firmly protecting our national interests. We have continued tough consultations with the intention of demanding what must be demanded and protecting what must be protected.

The U.S. Government's announcement of a tariff rate increase, on top of the additional tariffs already imposed, is deeply regrettable. At the same time, the consultations thus far have resulted in an extension of the deadline. As such, as Prime Minister Ishiba instructed at the meeting of the Comprehensive Response Headquarters for U.S. Tariff Measures held earlier, the Government will continue to hold Japan-U.S. Consultations and work tirelessly to explore ways for a mutually beneficial agreement while protecting Japan's national interests.

Under Prime Minister Ishiba's leadership, MOFA will coordinate and cooperate closely with the relevant ministries and agencies and fully support the negotiations led by Minister Akazawa. The Government will make all-out efforts, working as a unified force and addressing this issue as our utmost priority.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: I would like to ask a follow-up question. I understand that Minister Akazawa has made frequent visits to the U.S., and that working-level officials have held repeated consultations of their own. Nevertheless, no results have been achieved regarding the elimination or reduction of tariffs so far. First of all, what are your thoughts on this situation? What is your view on whether Japan needs to reconsider its strategy for future negotiations with the U.S.? I believe Japan has been quite reluctant to apply pressure on the U.S. or negotiate with the U.S. in coordination with other countries, or to raise tariffs on the U.S. Is there any room for reconsidering such possibilities?

Minister Iwaya: Minister Akazawa visited the U.S. six or seven times, and I am aware that he held a telephone talk today. Through the negotiations to date, I believe a relationship of trust has been firmly established between the Japanese and U.S. authorities. In addition, I understand that the two sides have moved closer to an agreement on a significant part of the so-called package.

However, negotiations are not considered settled until all issues have been agreed upon. I understand that the negotiations are continuing because there are still some unresolved pieces. As I stated earlier, this is because Japan is engaged in these tough negotiations based on the approach or policy of firmly protecting our national interests and protecting what must be protected. I believe that is why the negotiations have been proving quite challenging. However, there is still some time left, and we must continue to engage in vigorous and sincere Japan-U.S. negotiations. MOFA intends to lend its full support to the negotiations led by Minister Akazawa.

Regarding our response going forward, I would like to refrain from commenting based on speculation, but we will aim to reach an agreement with the U.S. as soon as possible. I think you have asked about Japan's thoughts on coordinating with other countries, for example. The series of tariff measures imposed by the U.S., an economic superpower that accounts for a quarter of the world's GDP, will likely have a very significant impact on the world economy. Therefore, I believe it is extremely meaningful to maintain close communication and exchange information with other countries regarding these impacts.

As I have stated since these negotiations began, the Government of Japan has kept all options on the table and has been negotiating with perseverance. Based on the policy of reaching an agreement through negotiations, we will continue to engage in vigorous consultations and negotiations.

Japan-Canada Agreement on the Security of Information

Asahi Shimbun, Kato: I have a question related to the visit to Japan by Canadian Foreign Minister Anand, which you mentioned in your opening remarks. My question is about the Agreement on the Security of Information that is to be signed. I believe Japan has been concluding information security agreements with the members of Five Eyes, an intelligence framework among five Anglosphere countries including the U.S. I would like to ask about the significance of signing the Agreement on the Security of Information with Canada.

Minister Iwaya: The Agreement on the Security of Information to be signed shortly between myself and Canadian Foreign Minister Anand sets out measures for appropriately protecting the security of classified national security information between Japan and Canada.

Through this agreement, we expect that there will be even more beneficial information exchanges between the two governments.

In the context of the ongoing severe international and geopolitical situation, we attach extremely deep significance to signing this agreement with Canada, which is also a G7 member.

Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: My question is regarding your attendance at the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings you mentioned at the outset. If a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi of China is being arranged on the margins, could you tell us about the status of the arrangements? There have been positive developments with China, including its resumption of imports of Japanese aquatic products. On the other hand, challenges remain in areas such as security. What would you like to discuss if a meeting takes place? If I may ask one more question, I would like to ask about the schedule of your overseas visit. Can I confirm until what date from tomorrow you will be overseas? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: At this stage, nothing has been decided about holding a Japan-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the occasion of the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings. On this basis, I will not speculate at this stage on what will be discussed if a meeting is held, but in previous meetings, Japan and China have confirmed that the two sides would make efforts based on an intention to comprehensively promote a "Mutually Beneficial Relationship Based on Common Strategic Interests" and thereby build "constructive and stable Japan-China relations." As a result, we are currently seeing developments leading to the resolution of concerns, including the import restrictions on Japanese aquatic products that you just noted. I believe that we need to accelerate such developments.

At the same time, there are still issues and concerns between Japan and China, including security matters and the cases of Japanese nationals being detained. Accordingly, it is important to firmly maintain and assert our position and call for responsible actions by China to reduce the remaining issues and concerns one by one. To this end, we will maintain close communication with China and make utmost efforts to deliver tangible achievements.

I will depart tomorrow for the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings and return to Japan on Saturday, July 12.

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Press Conference by Foreign Minister IWAYA Takeshi

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 1:04 p.m. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only.

Opening Remarks

(1) Japan-Mauritius Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have two announcements at the outset.

First is about Japan-Mauritius Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Ramful of Mauritius is visiting Japan from July 13 to 16 to attend the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. I will be holding a meeting with the Foreign Minister later this afternoon.

Mauritius, located at a strategic point in the Indian Ocean, is an important partner in promoting a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)." Through the meeting, I intend to confirm the strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation in the regional and international arena, looking ahead to TICAD 9 in August.

(2) The Fentanyl Issue

Minister Iwaya: Second is about the fentanyl issue.

I understand that the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare spoke today at his press conference about the efforts to combat the synthetic drug fentanyl.

To regulate narcotics, including fentanyl, I am aware that the relevant Japanese authorities, including the Narcotics Control Department, have been working closely with enforcement authorities in the U.S. and other countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is also working actively to eradicate illicit drugs, including fentanyl, and to dismantle their production and distribution networks around the world in close cooperation with relevant countries, including the U.S., and with international organizations, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Domestically as well, MOFA has been addressing the issue in close coordination with relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan Customs under the Ministry of Finance, and the National Police Agency. I understand, for example, that Japan Customs has not detected any fentanyl smuggling into or out of Japan in the past six years.

To take strict measures against the unauthorized production, sale, import/export, and other activities related to fentanyl, MOFA will continue to cooperate closely with relevant countries, including the U.S., with international organizations, including UNODC, and with relevant ministries and agencies.

That is all from me at the outset.

Establishment of an Office to Deal with Foreign National's Issues

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: I would like to ask about the meeting that was held today at the Prime Minister's Office on policies related to foreign nationals. A new office to deal with foreign nationals' issues was established today. Please tell us once again how MOFA intends to engage in this matter. With the population decreasing, what are your thoughts on the importance of diversity and coexistence with foreign nationals in Japan? In addition, in the House of Councillors election campaign, many political parties seem to be advocating for enhanced policies and regulations on foreign nationals and minorities. What is your view on these arguments? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: First of all, an office to deal with foreign nationals' issues was established at the Cabinet Secretariat today. The director general in charge and other personnel from MOFA will also be involved in relevant initiatives as members of this office.

As Prime Minister Ishiba instructed at today's inauguration ceremony, it is important to incorporate overseas vitality by accepting foreign human resources to a certain extent and expanding inbound tourism consumption to ensure the transition to a growth-oriented economy in Japan, which faces a declining birthrate, aging population, and shrinking population.

At the same time, ensuring the safety and security of Japanese nationals is an essential prerequisite for economic growth. Therefore, we believe that taking stringent measures against those who do not follow the rules, and revising systems and policies that are inadequate for addressing the current situation surrounding foreign nationals, are key challenges that the Government must tackle.

For its part, MOFA will work with relevant ministries and agencies and fulfill an active role for realizing an orderly, intercultural, and cohesive society with foreign nationals, a society where Japanese and foreign nationals respect one another and lead safe and secure lives.

Regarding various debates being made during the House of Councillors election campaign, I believe that Japan must be, in principle, a country open to the world, and I wonder if rhetoric that unnecessarily incites discrimination against foreign nationals or fuels division is appropriate.

What is important is to build an orderly, intercultural, and cohesive society. Under the leadership of the office established today, the Government will steadily formulate and implement policies to promote such a society, and MOFA will make firm efforts to this end.

Manipulative Activities Using AI (Fake Voice of U.S. Secretary of State Rubio)

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about manipulative activities using AI. Several U.S. media outlets have reported that a fake voice of Secretary of State Rubio was created, and that it was used to hold talks with several people, including three foreign ministers. The U.S. Government has acknowledged some of the facts in the reports. Have you experienced such a situation? In addition, please explain what measures MOFA is taking against such manipulative activities.

Minister Iwaya: No, I have not experienced it, yet. "Yet" may sound odd to say, though. I am aware of the reports you referred to, but I have not been targeted.

MOFA enforces information security in accordance with its regulations on the protection of classified information and the "Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cybersecurity Policy." Regarding communications, especially communications between foreign ministers, while I will not go into detail, they are conducted in a strictly controlled environment. Therefore, we believe that appropriate measures are in place to prevent deceptive manipulations such as the latest incident you mentioned.

Furthermore, MOFA as a whole has consistently implemented necessary measures, including training, seminars, and awareness raising in the field of information security. However, now that we are in an era in which any kind of image can be created with the use of AI, we intend to implement rigorous measures more than ever before.

Expo Diplomacy

Pan Orient News, Azhari: Japan has been a global hub for diplomacy these last months. Expo diplomacy in particular illustrates that and not a single day perhaps passes without a leader or a top decision maker from another part of the world makes a trip to Japan, providing Tokyo and Osaka with an appearance of a secondary United Nations. My question is how will these diplomatic activities or expo diplomacy increase Japan's clout and influence in the world affairs and especially in the Middle East?

Minister Iwaya: As you stated, we have been actively conducting Expo diplomacy. Three months have passed since the opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, and it has reached the halfway point. I understand that it is thriving with a number of visitors every day. From overseas as well, a range of people are visiting each day, including heads of state, leaders and ministers from various countries. We are fortunate that officials whom we would normally have to visit to meet are coming here on the occasion of the Expo.

Prime Minister Ishiba has held numerous summit meetings so far. I, too, have held meetings with my counterparts from 18 countries and international organizations so far. Later, as I mentioned at the outset, I will be holding a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Mauritius. Many more meetings will be held, and I look forward to meeting with many people.

Regarding Middle East countries that you mentioned, I have held meetings so far with foreign ministers as well as other ministers and officials from the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. On those occasions, as a matter of course, we exchanged views toward realizing peace and stability in the Middle East. I look forward to meeting with more people from the Middle East.

The Expo offers an excellent opportunity to deepen exchanges with countries around the world and showcase Japan's appeal to the international community. We will make full use of this occasion to deepen bilateral relations, and at the same time, promote cooperation on challenges facing the international community.

TICAD 9

Jiji Press, Chiba: I would like to ask about TICAD 9, which will be held from August 20 next month. As countries such as China enhance their influence in African countries, how do Africa and Japan intend to advance their relationship through TICAD? Secondly, at the previous TICAD8, then Prime Minister Kishida participated online, and the number of African heads of state who participated was small. Around how many leaders are expected to participate in the upcoming meeting? These are two questions from my side.

Minister Iwaya: At TICAD 9, taking place in Yokohama next month, plenary sessions will be held where leaders will discuss issues, including the economy, society, and peace and stability. In addition, there will be a Public-Private Business Dialogue with participation from the private sector, as well as nearly 200 Thematic Events organized by companies, NGOs, and others.

TICAD8 was held in the format you mentioned due to the influence of COVID-19 and other factors. However, at TICAD 9, we would like it to serve as an opportunity for Japan and Africa to work together, rather than Japan working unilaterally, to create solutions to challenges that will lead to the prosperity of both sides by leveraging, for example, the latest technologies such as AI, digital healthcare, and other Japanese innovative technologies and expertise.

As of now, over 40 African countries have already expressed their intention to participate. At TICAD 9, numerous bilateral meetings will also be held. On this occasion, Japan will sincerely address the challenges facing each country and work to further strengthen our relationship with Africa.

The Fentanyl Issue

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: You made comments on fentanyl in your opening remarks. May I ask what the Government of Japan's aim of making these comments at this time is, just as President Trump is raising the issue of the influx of fentanyl from Mexico and so on? Thank you.

Minister Iwaya: There is no particular aim. I stated that Japan has been addressing the issue of fentanyl firmly and will continue to take firm measures.

While there were reports suggesting that Japan was a transit point, that is not the case. I understand that the smuggling of fentanyl into or out of Japan has not been detected in the past six years and we will continue to take through measures on this issue.

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Press Conference by Foreign Press Secretary KITAMURA Toshihiro

Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan

Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 3:45 p.m. Ministry of Foreign Affairs

This is a provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only.

Opening Remarks

2025 Children's Kasumigaseki Tour Day

Mr. KITAMURA Toshihiro, Press Secretary: At the outset, I have an announcement about the "Children's Kasumigaseki Tour Day." It will be held for elementary and junior high school students at various government ministries and agencies in Kasumigaseki on August 6 and7. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will also organize a variety of programs.

Specifically, MOFA will host a "MOFA Visit Program" featuring quiz activities and other events. Additionally, there will be a lecture by "Sakana-kun," an event by the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Team that actually worked in the affected areas during the Myanmar earthquake in March, and mini-lectures at the Diplomatic Archives, among others.

Furthermore, MOFA-affiliated organizations including the Japan Foundation, the JICA Global Plaza, and foreign institutions such as the Institut francais du Japon a Tokyo, the Embassy of Brazil in Japan, the United Nations University, the Liszt Institute - Hungarian Cultural Center, and the ASEAN-Japan Centre will host various programs. We believe that, through these diverse programs, this will be a valuable opportunity for children, who will lead the next generation, to gain first-hand exposure to foreign cultures and Japanese diplomacy while learning in an enjoyable way.

The application deadline for the programs MOFA host is July 22, next Tuesday. We do hope many elementary and junior high school students will participate. Please refer to the MOFA website for details about each program.

Foreign Interference in the House of Councillors Election (MOFA's Countermeasures Against Disinformation)

Nikkei Shimbun, BABA: I would like to ask about possible foreign interference in the House of Councillors election. Some experts and party leaders have pointed out that Russian election interference has expanded in this House of Councillors election. I understand that MOFA has been strengthening its countermeasures, including efforts to counter disinformation. Does the government have any plans to investigate issues surrounding this House of Councillors election?

Press Secretary KITAMURA: Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary AOKI addressed the government's position and efforts on this matter at his press conference this morning. Therefore, I would like to explain MOFA's assessment and position.

First, regarding our current recognition, as Foreign Minister IWAYA has previously explained at press conferences, we recognize that geopolitical competition is now intensifying. In the current internet-based society, information warfare is constantly being waged through foreign information manipulation. Under these circumstances, MOFA is gathering and analyzing information on cyberspace activities related to Japan's key policies, making use of AI and other tools, and based on the findings, we are striving to conduct strategic external communication in a timely and appropriate manner.

Moreover, many other countries are also becoming increasingly concerned about this issue of foreign information manipulation. Japan has been conducting information sharing and consultations to strengthen capabilities to respond to foreign information manipulation within international multilateral frameworks such as the G7, as well as within bilateral frameworks with countries such as the United States.

MOFA will continue to pay close attention to foreign information manipulation and take necessary measures, while working closely with relevant ministries and agencies.

Judgment on Astellas Pharma Employee

Mainichi Shimbun, TADOKORO: In China, a sentence of 3 years and 6 months' imprisonment has been handed down to a male employee, allegedly of Astellas Pharma. I understand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) made various requests to the Chinese Embassy in Japan, including ensuring transparency in judicial processes. Could you please tell us your views on the content of this sentence and Japan's future response?

Press Secretary KITAMURA: Regarding the matter you have just asked about, I understand that Ambassador KANASUGI to China has already made a statement in Beijing today. Today, July 16, a sentencing hearing was held at the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court for the Japanese national who was detained in March 2023, and as you mentioned, he was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months' imprisonment for conducting espionage activities.

Regarding this case and a series of cases of Japanese nationals being detained, we have been requesting early release of Japanese nationals through various channels, including at the leaders' and foreign ministers' levels. We consider it extremely regrettable that a guilty verdict was handed down against the Japanese national.

In response to this sentence, as mentioned in your question, we have once again strongly requested the Chinese side to secure the early release of this Japanese national and other detained Japanese nationals, the guarantee of their legitimate rights and humanitarian treatment during detention, and enhancement of transparency in judicial processes.

Protecting Japanese nationals traveling and staying overseas is one of the most important responsibilities of the Japanese government. Furthermore, the cases of detention of Japanese nationals in China are one of the biggest obstacles to improving people-to-people exchanges and national sentiment between Japan and China. The government will continue to strongly call for the enhancement of transparency in judicial procedures and the early release of detained Japanese nationals at various levels, while continuing to provide maximum possible support to this Japanese national from the perspective of protecting Japanese nationals.

Kyodo News, AYUKAWA: I would like to follow up on the previous question. I understand that the Japanese Ambassador to China and embassy staff attended the sentencing hearing. Could you please tell us what information you have regarding the charges this person faced? Also, concerning the transparency in judicial processes mentioned earlier, what specific aspects does Japan view as problematic?

Press Secretary KITAMURA: As you mentioned, Ambassador KANASUGI to China and officials from the Embassy of Japan in China attended this trial. While I understand that the content of the verdict has not been publicly announced by the Chinese side, based on what was observed during the hearing, as the Japanese government, Ambassador KANASUGI has confirmed that this Japanese national was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months' imprisonment for conducting espionage activities.

As we understand, this trial was not open to the press and media, and various explanations concerning the reasons for a series of detentions have not been made publicly available at the same level as would be the case in Japan. Therefore, in response to such series of actions by the Chinese side, Japan has once again strongly requested improved transparency in trials and enhancement of transparency in judicial processes.

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The Government of Pakistan has conferred the prestigious award of Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) upon General Michael E. Kurilla, Commander of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), in recognition of his exemplary service and pivotal role in advancing enduring military cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - July 26, 2025

No PR-236/2025-ISPR

The Government of Pakistan has conferred the prestigious award of Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) upon General Michael E. Kurilla, Commander of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), in recognition of his exemplary service and pivotal role in advancing enduring military cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.

In a formal investiture ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the decoration upon General Kurilla, acknowledging his outstanding contributions to regional security and his dedicated efforts in strengthening strategic defence ties between the two countries.

General Kurilla's visionary leadership has been instrumental in fostering mutual understanding, enhancing defence collaboration, and deepening counterterrorism cooperation between the Pakistan Armed Forces and USCENTCOM. His consistent engagement reflects a profound respect for Pakistan's central role in promoting peace and stability across the region.

The conferment of this distinguished honour reflects Pakistan's deep appreciation for General Kurilla's unwavering support and affirms the growing depth of the bilateral military partnership.

During his visit, General Kurilla held detailed meetings with senior Pakistani civil and military leadership, including the President of Pakistan and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff. Discussions encompassed regional security, military-to-military engagement, and joint efforts to combat terrorism and emerging transnational threats.

This high-level recognition underscores the enduring strategic relationship between Pakistan and the United States and reaffirms their shared commitment to regional peace, security, and long-term defence cooperation.

On arrival at the Presidency, General Kurilla was presented with a Tri-Services Guard of Honour.

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Pakistan hosted the Regional Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference today in Islamabad, convening senior military leadership from the United States of America, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan

Rawalpindi - July 26, 2025

No PR-235/2025-ISPR

Pakistan hosted the Regional Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference today in Islamabad, convening senior military leadership from the United States of America, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. This landmark multilateral engagement marked a significant stride toward advancing regional security cooperation, military diplomacy, and strategic dialogue among participating nations.

Held under the theme "Strengthening Bonds, Securing Peace", the conference sought to reinforce security collaborations, enhance training initiatives, and facilitate the exchange of best practices in counterterrorism and other defence and security endeavours.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), formally welcomed the distinguished defence delegations and reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast commitment to peace, stability, and constructive engagement across the region.

"In an era defined by transnational threats and complex hybrid challenges, the imperative for deeper military-to-military cooperation, strategic dialogue, and mutual trust is paramount. Pakistan remains fully committed to working with partner nations to build a secure and prosperous regional environment," remarked the COAS.

The high-level dialogue featured comprehensive exchanges on regional security dynamics, the evolving strategic environment in Central and South Asia, and the necessity of joint training initiatives, counter-terrorism cooperation, and coordinated humanitarian responses during crises.

Delegates collectively reaffirmed their shared resolve to uphold peace, respect, national sovereignty, and confront common security threats including terrorism, cyber insecurity, and violent extremism among others.

Participants commended Pakistan's leadership, hospitality, and initiative in fostering such inclusive and forward-looking defence diplomacy.

This strategic convergence reflects Pakistan's enduring commitment to a secure, interconnected, and cooperative region, anchored in shared security interests and regional solidarity.

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Russia Warns NATO: Any Attack on Kaliningrad Will Trigger Immediate Response

Sputnik News

20250726

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Any military encroachment on Russia's Kaliningrad Region will be met with an immediate response using all available forces and means, as provided for by the military doctrine and the principles of Russia's state policy on nuclear deterrence, Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev told Sputnik.

Earlier this month, Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, commanding general of US Army Europe and Africa, said that NATO had sufficient capabilities to neutralize Russia's Kaliningrad region in case of a conflict and had already developed a corresponding plan.

"We have long been aware of western plans concerning Kaliningrad. I can comment on them in the only possible way. The Kaliningrad region is an integral part of Russia and any military encroachment on it will be met with an immediate and crushing response using all the forces and means at our disposal, as provided for by the military doctrine and the principles of state policy in the area of nuclear deterrence. Russia has all the necessary military instruments to guarantee the security of the Kaliningrad region," Patrushev told Sputnik.



 Sputnik

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Address on Navy Day

July 27, 2025

00:00

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades,

I congratulate all military sailors of Russia on Navy Day.

Today, we celebrate all generations of courageous sailors and officers who are devoted to their duty and loyal to the Motherland. On this day, we remember those who have built the glory and might of the Russian Navy over the centuries, asserting Russia as a great naval power through their military achievements, victories, hard daily work and brilliant scientific advancements.

The Navy has been an asset and a source of pride for our Fatherland since the time of Peter the Great, and members of the naval profession have always been highly valued and regarded with sincere respect by the people.

It is a well-established fact that our naval personnel have always stood for the Motherland and honour. Your fortitude and courage, knowledge and honesty, integrity and fellowship have been forged through harsh and dangerous naval service and its unique culture, the essence of which is your sincere, heartfelt and unconditional love for the Fatherland.

These traits are passed down generations. Today, the Navy plays a crucial role in ensuring the defence and security of Russia and in protecting its legitimate interests in the World Ocean.

Our Navy can effectively fulfil the entire complex of tasks set for it, both today and in the future. It has cutting-edge military equipment and modern command, reconnaissance and communication systems.

The naval component of Russia's nuclear triad is growing stronger. Its core consists of a group of nuclear submarines, which is confidently building up its potential. We have completed the construction of the cruiser Knyaz Pozharsky, and two Borey-A class submarines and six Yasen-M class multipurpose nuclear submarines are at different stages of construction.

This year, we have approved a new Navy Development Strategy. This is the first-ever strategy designed for an extended period, until 2050, which is clear evidence of our confidence in our strength and capabilities.

The key element of our modernised Navy will be its ability to quickly adjust to any changes in the strategic situation and to take into account all current trends and forecasts, including the outlook for the development of international cooperation based on the principles of true equality and mutual respect for each other's interests.

Military sailors and marines have set an example of valiant fulfilment of military duty during the special military operation. They are boldly and heroically fighting for truth, justice, and a safe and sovereign future of our nation. More than 50,000 military sailors and officers have been awarded medals and orders for their valiant performance, and 35 have been awarded the title of Hero of Russia.

I would like to thank the personnel of the Russian Navy for their flawless execution of the tasks set for them, and for their achievements in strengthening our naval might.

I wish you success in all your endeavours for the sake of Russia's prosperity. I wish health and well-being to your families - your spouses, parents and children, who love, support and always wait for you.

Congratulations on Navy Day, comrades.

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KINSHASA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 21 people were killed Sunday in an attack on church premises in eastern the Democratic Republic of the Congo by Islamic State-backed rebels, reports said citing a civil society leader. 
Confusion grows over who qualifies for Trump's South Africa refugee policy

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 7:16 PM

US President Donald Trump's controversial refugee policy aimed at white South Africans is raising questions among American diplomats about whether non-white minorities who face discrimination in the African country should be allowed to apply.

Trump signed an executive order in February, calling for the US to resettle Afrikanerswhite South Africans descended mostly from Dutch settlerswhom he described as victims of "violence against racially disfavored landowners."

In a diplomatic cable dated July 8, David Greene, the top US diplomat in South Africa, asked Washington whether mixed-race South Africansknown locally as "colored"who speak Afrikaans, or other minority groups such as the Khoisan, could qualify for the program.

The response came from Spencer Chretien, the top official in the State Department's refugee bureau, who said the program was intended only for white people, Reuters reported, citing sources familiar with the exchange.

So far, the US has resettled 88 South Africans under the program, with more expected soon. However, confusion remains over who exactly qualifies.

Since the executive order, US diplomats working to implement the program have been deliberating internally about which racial groups could be considered eligible.

The State Department, responding to media queries, later said the policy is broader than the guidance in Chretien's email.

The department said Washington's policy is to consider both Afrikaners and other racial minorities for resettlement, echoing guidance posted on its website in May stating that applicants "must be of Afrikaner ethnicity or be a member of a racial minority in South Africa."

Still, internal debate continues. Greene's cable outlined the country's complex racial categoriescreated under apartheidincluding Black, white, colored, Indian, and Jewish communities, and noted that some non-white families had already been resettled under the program.

Claims that white South Africans face discrimination from the Black majority have circulated in far-right circles for years and were even echoed by Elon Musk, the South African-born billionaire who briefly served as a top White House adviser during Trump's early months in office.

Trump has publicly denied prioritizing Afrikaners because they are white.

"They happen to be white, but whether they are white or Black makes no difference to me," he claimed in May.

Human rights experts, however, have described his administration's refugee policy as a double standard.

They say that while Afrikanerswho continue to hold significant economic and political power in post-apartheid South Africaare being granted resettlement on humanitarian grounds, many asylum seekers from Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East have faced deportations or prolonged detention under the Trump administration.

Blacks make up 81% of South Africa's population, according to 2022 census data. Colored South Africans make up 8%, and Indians 3%. Afrikaners and other white South Africans constitute 7% of the population but own three-quarters of the privately held land in the country.

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Alawite Council rejects HTS probe into southern Syria clashes, warns of sectarian divide

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 26 July 2025 9:49 AM

The head of the Higher Alawite Islamic Council, Sheikh Ghazal Ghazal, has roundly dismissed the results of a probe by the ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime into deadly clashes in southern Syria, warning of sectarian divide in the Arab nation.

Sheikh Ghazal, in a statement released on Friday, categorically denounced the "terrorist network" that aims to destroy the fabric of Syrian society and justify violence under the guise of religious legitimacy.

He also emphatically rejected the role of international human rights investigation committees, describing them as "tools to whitewash crimes and shield the perpetrators."

"They mixed truth with falsehood and cloaked injustice in the guise of justice as part of desperate attempts to mislead public opinion and obscure the truth," Sheikh Ghazal stated.

He drew parallels between recent attacks on the Druze community and atrocities committed against the Alawites, accusing the HTS regime of repeating such crimes under the pretext that the communities are affiliated with the deposed government of President Bashar al-Assad.

Sheikh Ghazal then called for immediate global intervention, demanding the formation of independent investigative bodies to examine the abuses against civilians in Sweida and other areas.

According to the United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, the clashes between fighters from the Druze community and HTS-linked Bedouin clans, which began on July 13, killed more than 1,000 individuals.

The Observatory said the fatalities were caused by armed clashes and field executions.

A ceasefire agreement was signed on July 19 between the spiritual leadership of the Druze community and the HTS regime.

The ceasefire says the Bedouin militiamen will release Druze women they are holding captive and leave Suweida province.

Since the collapse of Assad's government, the Israeli military has been launching airstrikes against military installations, facilities, and arsenals belonging to Syria's now-defunct army.

Israel has been widely condemned for the termination of the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria and for exploiting the chaos in the Arab nation in the wake of Assad's downfall to make a land grab.

The United Nations has condemned ongoing Israeli attacks inside Syrian territory and repeated violations in and around the buffer zone created as part of a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Damascus.

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Lai urges unity, praises democracy after sweeping recall loss

ROC Central News Agency

07/26/2025 11:55 PM

Taipei, July 26 (CNA) President Lai Ching-te () called for unity and praised democracy after his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suffered a sweeping loss in Saturday's recall votes.

"Today's outcome is neither a victory for one side nor a defeat for the other," Lai wrote in a Facebook post. "Both supporting and opposing a recall are legitimate rights of the people guaranteed by the Constitution."

The president praised the Taiwanese people for expressing their will through constitutional and democratic means despite differing views, Lai said.

"This is the true essence of Taiwan's cherished democracy," he said.

All 24 Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers survived Saturday's recall vote, preserving opposition control of the Legislature with support from the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party (TPP).

Removal of 12 would have given the DPP control of the legislative body, pending by-elections to fill the vacant seats.

Only seven of the 24 recall votes against lawmakers met a required threshold -- at least 25 percent of eligible voters casting ballots in favor -- for the recall to pass, but all ultimately failed, as the number of supporting votes fell short of those opposing.

Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an (), a formerly TPP member who has been suspended over a court conviction on fraud charges, a ruling she is appealing, also survived a recall vote.

In the post, Lai said everyone should respect and accept the outcome of the vote, describing it as a decision made by the people through the exercise of their constitutional rights.

Lai expressed gratitude to the over 1.3 million people who signed petitions to initiate the recall votes, and to the millions more who cast their ballots.

Although none of the recall motions succeeded, Lai said the "civic power" demonstrated throughout the campaign was not in vain.

The surge of civil power enabled the unfreezing of government budgets, reminded politicians from every party of their duty of loyalty to the nation, and further solidified the national direction of resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and safeguarding Taiwan, Lai contended.

He expressed hope that all political parties and every sector of society would stand united in safeguarding Taiwan's democratic and constitutional system, and in defending the nation.

"Let us work together and move forward in unity," Lai said, but did not specifically pledge to reach out to the opposition to try to bridge the gap between political parties.

Backed by the ruling DPP, the mass recall campaign was initiated by civic groups that were opposed to a series of legislative measures adopted by the KMT and the TPP.

The civil groups have argued that the measures undermine Taiwan's constitutional order and weaken its efforts to strengthen defense capabilities in the face of an escalating military threat from China, framing their campaign as "Oppose the CCP, Safeguard Taiwan."

A total of 31 KMT lawmakers face recall, out of 39 directly elected across Taiwan. Another seven KMT lawmakers will face recall votes on August 23.

(By Yeh Su-ping and Shih Hsiu-chuan)

Enditem/ls

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KMT holds ground as unprecedented recall movement derailed

ROC Central News Agency

07/26/2025 11:41 PM

Taipei, July 26 (CNA) Public votes were held Saturday in about one-third of Taiwan's constituencies to decide whether 24 lawmakers from the Kuomintang (KMT) would be removed from office in an unprecedented recall movement seeking to reshape the Legislature.

As it turned out, none of the targeted lawmakers were recalled, dealing a blow to the civic group-led campaigns aimed at breaking down the opposition party caucus elected just 18 months ago, and to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which had thrown its full support behind the efforts in recent months.

While the mass recall campaign is not officially over, with an additional seven KMT lawmakers still facing public votes on Aug. 23, scholars believe the results of Saturday's ballots have blunted the momentum of the movement and affirmed the KMT's position as the biggest party in the Legislature.

Recall movement fails to make headway

Saturday's results marked a clean sweep for the KMT, with votes against recalling its lawmakers outnumbering those in favor in all 24 constituencies.

KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi () -- widely seen as the linchpin of the recall efforts -- and the party's old guard, including Lai Shyh-bao () and Lin Te-fu (), survived by double-digit margins.

Even younger and junior legislators, such as Wang Hung-wei () and Hsu Chiao-hsin () from Taipei, and Yeh Yuan-chih () from New Taipei, emerged unscathed despite their polarizing public profiles.

Data from the Central Election Commission showed voter turnouts in most of the votes surpassed 50 percent, nearing 60 percent in several constituencies, a marked departure from past recall votes, which typically saw turnouts below 50 percent.

Turnout key to recall results

Liu Jia-wei (), a political science professor at National Taipei University, told CNA that the result indicated strong and successful mobilization of both KMT supporters and those backing its legislative ally, the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP).

The outcome demonstrated public dissatisfaction with the DPP's governance, Liu said, including the ruling party's repeated attempts to overturn opposition-endorsed measures.

Soochow University political science professor Su Tzu-chiao () said the higher turnouts suggest that swing voters participated, and most likely voted against the recalls. These voters, he observed, appeared unconvinced by the recall groups' framing of the campaign as a fight to "oppose Communist China" and "defend Taiwan."

Su added that while this position still enjoyed broad societal support, in local districts where voters prioritize constituency services and legislative performance, such rhetoric was less effective.

This is a "warning sign" to the DPP, he said, adding that the ruling party could not rely on the same narrative in every election.

What comes next?

Following Saturday's votes, Liu said President Lai Ching-te's () government should show "greater humility" in dealing with the opposition and demonstrate a stronger willingness to consider their views and seek cooperation.

She also predicted more alignment between the KMT and TPP, which together form a majority in the 113-seat Legislature.

Su expressed cautious optimism that the ruling DPP might "soften its stance," potentially opening more space for dialogue with the opposition.

Lai said he would respect the recall results in a social media post on Saturday evening, but did not outline specific plans to engage with the opposition.

Without specifying what his administration's next steps would be, the president emphasized Taiwan's need to demonstrate to the world its "capability to resolve internal disputes through the constitutional system" and to "come together in unity ... after competition."

At separate press events the same day, KMT Chairman Eric Chu () called on Lai to apologize to the people of Taiwan for what he described as "political infighting," while Fu, the party's legislative caucus whip, urged the president to initiate open dialogue with the opposition.

Pandora's box closed

Both Liu and Su said they did not expect new recall campaigns.

"Pandora's box has been closed because of [Saturday's] outcome," Su said.

The KMT legislative caucus -- made up of 39 directly elected lawmakers and 13 elected through proportional representation -- made a high-profile entrance into the Legislature in January 2024, with Fu pledging to reform the body and more effectively check the DPP government.

While the KMT has traditionally fared well in local government elections, it lost both the presidency and legislative majority to the DPP in two consecutive national elections in 2016 and 2020.

With the TPP's support, the KMT caucus was able to pass a series of bills over the past year, including measures on legislative oversight, later ruled unconstitutional, as well as cuts and freezes to the government's 2025 budget.

The KMT's legislative push encountered strong resistance from the DPP and parts of civil society, with tensions smoldering through legislative scuffles and street protests, spilling into the Constitutional Court and ultimately culminating in a wave of recall campaigns launched earlier this year.

(By Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/ASG

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Recall failure a victory for Taiwan's people: KMT chairman

ROC Central News Agency

07/26/2025 09:45 PM

Taipei, July 26 (CNA) The chairman of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) praised the clean sweep against recall campaigns scored by 24 of his party's lawmakers on Saturday as "a big victory for Taiwan's people," saying it showed that voters opted for stability.

"Taiwan's people have chosen stability and believe that the government should focus on getting things done, not engaging in political infighting," Eric Chu () said at a press conference held at KMT headquarters in Taipei.

The complete failure of the recall campaign against all 24 KMT lawmakers up for recall in nine cities and counties across Taiwan earlier in the day marked a major defeat for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and civic groups behind the effort.

They had hoped to remove lawmakers whom they described as pro-China and as obstructing the government's policies. Had 12 KMT lawmakers been recalled, the DPP would have regained control of the Legislature pending by-elections to fill the open seats.

Chu said Taiwan's people used their ballots to prove Taiwan's democracy is "mature and great."

"No one should seek one-party dominance," he said, adding that no party should resort to launching a major recall campaign after losing an election.

Chu was referring to the KMT's win of 52 legislative seats in the Jan. 13, 2024 elections aimed at renewing the 113-seat Legislature, compared to the DPP's 51 seats.

At Saturday's press event, Chu called for an end to this "political farce," saying there are seven KMT lawmakers still facing recall votes slated for Aug. 23.

"Taiwan should stop wasting energy on internal strife, and should end vicious political infighting," he said.

Chu also urged President Lai Ching-te () to reflect on the recall's failure and consider how to lead Taiwan through tariff and trade challenges at a time when the world is striving for economic growth.

Meanwhile, Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang () called on President Lai to publicly apologize to the people for the DPP's large-scale recall campaigns, which he said have "deeply divided Taiwan."

Huang also criticized Premier Cho Jung-tai () for seriously violating administrative neutrality and abusing government resources to support the "malicious recall campaigns."

He demanded that Cho immediately step down and make way for a complete Cabinet reshuffle.

In response to all five KMT lawmakers representing Taipei who were up for recall holding on to their positions Saturday, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an () expressed his gratitude to voters in the capital city.

Chiang, an influential KMT member, thanked voters for embodying the democratic process in Taiwan and "demonstrating the most cherished values of Taiwan's people."

"There were no winners today," he said, calling for citizens to continue working together to build a better Taipei and a better Taiwan.

(By Wang Cheng-chung, Kuo Chien-shen, Liu Chien-pang and Elizabeth Hsu)

Enditem/ls

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All 24 KMT lawmakers, Hsinchu mayor survive recall votes (update)

ROC Central News Agency

07/26/2025 09:12 PM

Taipei, July 26 (CNA) All 24 lawmakers of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) up for recall Saturday survived their recall votes, ensuring that the KMT along with Taiwan People's Party (TPP) lawmakers will maintain opposition control of the Legislature.

The recall votes against all 24 KMT lawmakers, who were voted into office in January 2024, as well as Hsinchu Mayor Kao Hung-an () failed to pass, according to Central Election Commission figures.

Only seven of the 25 recall votes secured enough ballots in favor to meet the 25 percent threshold of eligible voters required for the recall to succeed, but those campaigns still failed because more people in those contests voted to oppose rather than back the recall.

Those seven lawmakers were Hualien Legislator and KMT caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (), Taipei Legislators Wang Hung-wei (), Lee Yen-hsiu () and Hsu Chiao-hsin (), New Taipei Legislator Yeh Yuan-chih (), Taichung lawmaker Lo Ting-wei () and Hsinchu lawmaker Cheng Cheng-chien ().

In the other 18 recall races, the threshold of pro-recall votes was not met and the number of votes against the recall exceeded those in favor.

It was a major defeat for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and civic groups pushing the recall votes, which had hoped to remove KMT lawmakers whom they argued were pro-China and were obstructing the government's policies.

The DPP would have taken immediate control of the Legislative Yuan had 12 KMT lawmakers been recalled.

KMT Chairman Eric Chu () called the results a "big victory for Taiwan's people" while TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang () urged President Lai Ching-te () to apologize and the Cabinet led by Premier Cho Jung-tai () to resign en masse so that a government reshuffle can take place.

DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang (), meanwhile, said the DPP humbly accepted the results and would reflect on public sentiment.

(By Elizabeth Hsu and Christie Chen)

Enditem/ls

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DPP acknowledges failure of mass recall campaign

ROC Central News Agency

07/26/2025 08:10 PM

Taipei, July 26 (CNA) Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Saturday acknowledged the failure of a mass legislative recall effort, framing the result as a reflection of civic engagement rather than a partisan contest.

DPP Secretary-General Lin Yu-chang () said the recall should not be reduced to a political victory or defeat. "This was not a confrontation between parties, but a demonstration of civic power," he said at a news conference.

He added that the DPP humbly accepts the result and will reflect on public sentiment. As the ruling party, it will adjust its approach to better meet the expectations of the people.

Calling the recall campaign "unprecedented" in Taiwan's democratic history, Lin praised all voters who participated, regardless of their stance.

At a separate event in Taipei, recall campaign co-leader and retired semiconductor tycoon Robert Tsao () attributed the results to what he called "Beijing's pervasive influence in Taiwan."

"The scale of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) long-term infiltration and divide-and-conquer strategy is far deeper than expected," he said.

He also noted the difficulty of launching recalls in Kuomintang (KMT)-leaning districts, where high voter turnout helped KMT legislators survive the vote.

In Hualien County, where KMT lawmaker Fu Kun-chi () was a prominent recall target, the attempt also failed, with activists admitting that the power of entrenched local networks was difficult to overcome.

The recall movement, launched by civic groups under the "Anti-Communist, Protect Taiwan" banner, targeted 24 KMT lawmakers. Despite widespread mobilization, none of the officials were removed.

(By Lin Ching-yin, Yeh Su-ping, Chang Chi and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/ASG

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/07/26

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Jul. 25 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Jul. 26 (Sat.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

17 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 out of 17 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140726_ PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window]

1140726_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window]

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PM call with E3 Leaders: 26 July 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to President of France, Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz this morning.

From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Published 26 July 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to President of France, Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz this morning.

The three leaders talked about the situation in Gaza, which they agreed is appalling, and emphasised the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, for Israel to lift all restrictions on aid and urgently provide those suffering in Gaza with the food they so desperately need. The Prime Minister set out how the UK will also be taking forward plans to work with partners such as Jordan to air drop aid and evacuate children requiring medical assistance.

They all agreed it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently needed ceasefire into lasting peace. They discussed their intention to work closely together on a plan, building on their collaboration to date, which would pave the way to a long-term solution and security in the region. They agreed that once this plan was worked up, they would seek to bring in other key partners, including in the region, to advance it.

Turning to Ukraine, the leaders agreed that there must be no let-up of pressure on Putin to come to the negotiating table. They said that it remains as important as ever to support Ukraine so that they are in the strongest possible position.

Finally, on Iran's nuclear programme, the leaders agreed that unless Iran co-operated with the IAEA and returned to diplomacy, sanctions would be reinstated at the end of August.

The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

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Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal introduces new Deputy Ministers of Defence

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

25 July, 2025, 10:35 PM EEST

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, introduced the new Deputy Ministers appointed by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The team has been reinforced by experienced military personnel, experts from the private sector, and specialists in defense technologies.

"We are building a professional and results-oriented team capable of delivering systemic changes across all key areas of the defense sector  from digital transformation and logistics to weapons production and international cooperation," stated Denys Shmyhal.

New Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine

Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk  First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine

Lieutenant General Havryliuk has extensive experience in senior roles within the military administration of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He previously served as Advisor to the Commander of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Head of the Main Department of Logistics, and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

From April to August 2022, he led Ukraine's Working Group at the Coordination Headquarters for Assistance to Ukraine in Germany.

From October 2023 to May 2024, he served as Deputy Minister of Defence, and from May 2024 until April 2025, as First Deputy Minister of Defence.

Sergiy Boyev - Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine

Sergiy Boyev has significant experience in economics, strategic planning, industry, and security.

He began his career as an analyst at international financial institutions, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Credit Suisse, in the United Kingdom. Upon returning to Ukraine, he worked at Boston Consulting Group Ukraine and held senior positions at Ukrgasvydobuvannya JSC and Naftogaz of Ukraine NJSC, where he was responsible for strategy, development, and analytics.

Since 2023, he has held the positions of Advisor and subsequently Deputy Minister for European Integration at the Ministry of Strategic Industries.

In October 2024, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Defence for European Integration, and in April 2025, he became First Deputy Minister of Defence.

Anna Gvozdiar - Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine

A volunteer and civic activist, Anna Gvozdiar has been involved since 2014 in initiatives supporting the military, addressing issues concerning Ukrainian prisoners of war, and assisting families of fallen service members.

From 2015 to 2016, she worked as an Advisor to the Head of the Luhansk Regional Military-Civil Administration.

From 2020 to 2023, she held the position of Director at the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation.

From September 2023 to 2025, she was Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine. Anna Gvozdiar has extensive expertise in defense manufacturing, innovation, and scaling the defense industry.

Colonel Volodymyr Zaverukha - Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine

Colonel Volodymyr Zaverukha possesses 22 years of experience in both military service and various roles within the defense sector.

His military career began in 2006 when he joined the Engineering Troops. From 2017 to 2020, he served in the Directorate of Environmental Safety and Mine Action. From 2020 to 2025, he held several senior positions at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, including Deputy Director of the Department of Military-Technical Policy, Armament, and Military Equipment Development, as well as Head of the Directorate of Armament and Military Equipment Development.

In May 2025, he was appointed First Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries of Ukraine.

Major Yurii Myronenko - Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine

Major Yurii Myronenko has experience managing large holdings and possesses deep expertise in drone technologies.

During the full-scale invasion, he defended Kyiv as a member of the 112th Territorial Defence Brigade. From March to December 2023, he commanded a UAV unit within the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, participating in combat operations in southern Ukraine.

He was awarded the Silver Cross and Steel Cross badges by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

From 2023 to 2024, he headed the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection, achieving significant progress in technological support for the Security and Defence Forces. In cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, he launched a transparent UAV procurement system that supplied the military with over 1 million drones.

From December 2024 to February 2025, he served as Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.

In February 2025, Major Yurii Myronenko headed the MoD's Center for Innovation and Development of Defense Technologies, coordinating the implementation of the DELTA combat system.

Oksana Ferchuk - Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization

In 2022, Oksana Ferchuk held the position of Advisor to the Minister of Defence, with a focus on advancing the digitalization of logistics processes. She coordinated the implementation of the LOGFAS system, which Ukraine gained full access to in 2022, as well as the launch of the 'Korovai' international cooperation platform.

She ensured the coordination of the implementation of the Medical Information System of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (MIS AFU) at the Medical Forces Command.

She also coordinated the implementation of the SAP logistics management system, including the automation of supply processes for non-lethal support (clothing, gear, and fuel and lubricants), armaments (ground weapon systems, UAVs, electronic warfare), communications equipment, medical supplies, and contract management.

Before the full-scale invasion, she held senior management roles at prominent Ukrainian logistics and product service companies, including Director of the Nova Poshta Group, the Prozorro public procurement e-platform (part of the Prozorro reform), and the Vchasno electronic document management service.

"Each Deputy Minister will be assigned specific tasks. The first results must be tangible as soon as possible," emphasized Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal.

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KIGALI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda and Tanzania on Saturday signed two memoranda of understanding to facilitate cooperation in agriculture and the establishment of a Tanzania Ports Liaison Office in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

The agreements were signed by Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Olivier Nduhungirehe and Tanzanian counterpart Mahmoud Thabit Kombo during a ministerial session of the 16th Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) between the two countries in Kigali.

The ministers emphasized the importance of the JPC as a platform to advance dialogue and expand avenues for cooperation between Rwanda and Tanzania, noting that the planned liaison office in Kigali will streamline port-related services for Rwandan importers and exporters.

Nduhungirehe praised the cooperation between the two countries, highlighting Tanzania's contribution to Rwanda's economic growth through improved operations at the port of Dar es Salaam, which handles more than 70 percent of Rwanda's international trade.

He said he often refers to Rwanda as a "land-linked country" that works closely with partners like Tanzania through the Central Corridor and the port of Dar es Salaam. "We are grateful for the facilitation provided by Tanzania and its critical infrastructure," he said.

The meeting aims to set up a joint technical committee tasked with addressing trade and transport challenges faced by businesses in both countries. 
Russia Launches 'Massive' Overnight Strikes On Dnipro And Kharkiv

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and RFE/RL's Russian Service July 26, 2025

Russian forces launched a large-scale nighttime attack on Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, leaving multiple people dead and injured, and causing extensive damage.

In the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, the assault struck the city of Dnipro and surrounding areas with missiles, drones, and guided bombs.

According to Serhiy Lysak, head of the regional military administration, the "massive" attack killed a man and injured a woman in Dnipro city. Residential high-rises, industrial enterprises, and parking lots suffered direct hits, igniting major fires.

In the Dnipro district, fires broke out at a shopping center, various enterprises, and areas of dry grass, resulting in one additional fatality and four more people injured.

Russian forces also bombed the Pokrovske community with guided aerial munitions, sparking further blazes.

Ukraine's military said air defenses intercepted seven missiles and 26 drones during the assault.

Kharkiv also came under prolonged bombardment lasting nearly three hours, involving over 20 strikes, including four guided bombs, two ballistic missiles, and 15 Shahed kamikaze drones, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Seven major fires ignited in the city's Kyiv district. Emergency services reported five people injured, including three rescuers wounded by a second strike while responding to the aftermath of the first. Fire crews managed to save six people, including two children, before three of their firefighting vehicles were destroyed.

Across the border, the acting governor of Russia's Rostov region Yury Slyusar said two people died after a drone strike started a car fire.

Meanwhile, in the early hours of July 26, a drone strike hit the Russian city of Stavropol. Local residents reported hearing a series of loud explosions. The apparent target was the Signal defense plant, a facility involved in producing electronic warfare systems for aircraft and ground forces.

The attacks came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that his country had secured funding for three Patriot missile defense systems and is negotiating for seven more, following a new agreement that enables European allies to buy US weaponry for Kyiv.

The announcement came two weeks after US President Donald Trump gave Russia a 50-day deadline to reach a settlement on the war or face steep tariffs, and signaled intent to supply Ukraine with additional defensive weapons through European partners.

According to Zelenskyy, Germany and Norway have each pledged Patriot systems, and talks with the Netherlands are ongoing. In addition, Kyiv and Washington have agreed to a deal -- estimated at between $10 billion and $30 billion -- for Ukraine to export drones to the United States.

Since taking office six months ago, Trump has tried to broker an end to the conflict, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected US calls for a cease-fire.

In response to this impasse, Trump has authorized the release of weapons to Ukraine that were previously withheld in efforts not to antagonize Russia.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-massive- assault-dnipro-kharkiv/33484460.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.

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Russian Forces Deliver Crushing Blow to Ukraine, Liberate Key Areas and Strike Military Targets

Sputnik News

20250726

Russia's Vostok Battlegroup has liberated the settlements of Zelyony Gai in the Donetsk People's Republic and Malievka in the Dnepropetrovsk region, according to the Ministry of Defense.

"Units of the Vostok Battlegroup, as a result of successful offensive operations, liberated the settlements of Zelyony Gai in the Donetsk People's Republic and Maliyevka in the Dnepropetrovsk region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces had turned Zelyony Gai into a major stronghold, covering the approaches to the administrative border with the Dnepropetrovsk region. During the battle, Ukrainian forces suffered losses and were forced to retreat.

It was noted that artillery units and strike drone operators provided fire support to the assault units.

"During the battle, Ukrainian formations suffered losses and were forced to retreat," the Ministry of Defense clarified.

It was also emphasized that after clearing the buildings and structures, soldiers raised Russian flags and engineering teams began demining the area and surrounding territory.

Russian troops also inflicted defeats on two mechanized brigades and a territorial defense brigade in the areas of Velikomikhaylovka, Novogrigoriyevka in the Dnepropetrovsk region, Iskra in the Donetsk People's Republic, and Temirovka in the Zaporozhye region.

Ukrainian army losses in this section of the front included:

Up to 190 soldiers

Armored vehicles

Eight cars

A field artillery piece

In addition, Russian forces launched a group strike on Ukrainian military-industrial firms on Saturday night, including those related to missile production, all of which were hit, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.

"Last night, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a group strike with long-range precision weapons, as well as with strike UAVs, targeting Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises involved in the production of components for missile weapons, as well as manufacturing ammunition and explosives. The target was achieved. All designated objects were hit," the statement said.

 Sputnik

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Now Is the Moment When Pressure Needs to Be Put On Russia, So Strong That Next Year There Is No War - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

26 July 2025 - 21:29

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

The most important updates. First - the military. Today, several reports have already been made regarding our frontlines and our operations. The Armed Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the intelligence agencies - I thank everyone for their long-range effectiveness. Everyone can see that Ukrainian drones are hitting their targets.

There was a report by General Syrskyi, with a lot of attention specifically on the Pokrovsk direction. There are successful actions by our units in the Sumy region. Thank you! They are eliminating the occupiers in the border areas. This is crucial.

Today, unfortunately, there were numerous Russian strikes on our cities and our communities: Sumy - including Ukrainian energy infrastructure, as well as Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kherson region, and Donetsk region. Wherever needed, rescuers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and all relevant services respond immediately. I thank you all for your promptness. We will respond to every Russian strike.

There were important reports from our intelligence agencies, including one from the Foreign Intelligence Service on the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia and Russia-affiliated entities. The enemy's losses - economic losses - are truly being felt. And they will be felt even more. I want to thank everyone in the world who is helping.

Now is precisely the moment when pressure needs to be put on Russia, so strong that next year there is no war. They must realize that they will not be able to wait it out. Sanctions must effectively strip Russia of its potential. We are working to achieve this.

I also had a discussion with the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. Also, our diplomacy maintains a daily rhythm of work, with a lot of communication with partners these days.

I instructed the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council to be more active in attracting external funding for drones. I also instructed government officials and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine to more actively review all our agreements we have with our partners - the ones we must implement fully, but which, unfortunately, are currently still only partially being carried out. I expect the relevant reports this week.

And one more thing. There is a government decision to support universities in the frontline regions and border cities - in the Sumy region, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv. Additional funding - UAH 300 million - is being allocated specifically for these difficult conditions, for the educational institutions that preserve our student communities, our student groups, that continue to teach against all odds. Great job! It is extremely important to preserve Ukrainian educational centres. Karazin University, and many others. We will continue to support you.

I also signed a decree today regarding the Shevchenko Prize - this is a step toward expanding the award. There have been many discussions with experts and the cultural community. The Prize Committee has done a great job. So, starting next year, the Shevchenko Prize may also be awarded - apart from traditional nominations - for Ukrainian photography. And now, in the conditions of war, it is so important to capture all the emotions and all the prowess of our people.

A new category for curatorial work has also been added, as well as one for contemporary design - and there is truly a lot of our powerful Ukrainian graphic design, fonts, and more; all this deserves our particular attention. We also broadened the usual literature and music nominations of the Shevchenko Prize. And we will continue looking for ways to thank those among our people who preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage. This will be a special format, and before Ukraine's Independence Day, together with the cultural community and all experts, we will find the necessary solutions. I thank everybody standing with us, with Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Zelenskyy Vows More Attacks Inside Russia As Civilian Casualties Mount In Eastern Ukraine

By RFE/RL July 27, 2025

Civilian deaths mounted as Russia continued to press its offensive in eastern Ukraine, claiming to have captured two more villages, as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to retaliate with further attacks inside Russia.

Ukraine did not immediately comment directly on claims by the Russian Defense Ministry that its forces had on July 26 captured Zeleniy Hai in the Donetsk region and the village of Malyivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Zelenskyy did acknowledge heavy fighting along the frontlines in Ukraine's eastern regions, but he also spoke of "successful actions by our units" in the embattled Sumy region and said his forces were "eliminating the occupiers in the border areas."

Reports from both sides could not immediately be verified.

Zelenskyy also said the focal point of Russian assaults remained near the important logistics hub of Pokrovsk, a city with a prewar population of more than 60,000 but which now is mostly in ruins from Russian air strikes.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian military commander Oleksandr Syrskiy identified Pokrovsk as an area requiring "special attention" amid constant Russian attacks.

Military spokesman Viktor Trehubov told Ukrainian TV that Russian forces were attacking Pokrovsk in "a small torrent...that simply does not stop"

The violence comes three days after Ukrainian and Russian officials held a third direct meeting in Istanbul amid efforts to end the conflict, which ignited into a full-blown war following Russia's invasion of February 2022.

Those talks made progress on further swaps of prisoners and the remains of fallen soldiers, but no breakthroughs were apparent on efforts to reach a cease-fire.

US President Donald Trump, showing frustration at Russian leader Vladimir Putin's refusal to agree to a cease-fire, in mid-July threatened to impose new sanctions on Moscow if it doesn't reach a deal with Kyiv by early September.

In an interview with Fox News broadcast on July 26, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump is becoming "increasingly frustrated" that despite having good interactions with Putin during phone calls, "it never leads anywhere."

Trump is "losing his patience. He's losing his willingness to continue to wait for the Russian side to do something here, to bring an end to this war," Rubio said, adding that there was "no way that Putin could have sustained this war without Chinese support, particularly buying his oil."

Zelenskyy has said Russia's latest attacks were a "response" to Kyiv's proposal of an immediate cease-fire during the peace talks.

Zelenskyy vowed to retaliate with further attacks on military sites inside Russia after civilian deaths mounted on July 26 in multiple Ukrainian regions under the fire of Russian artillery and drone strikes.

"Today, unfortunately, there were numerous Russian strikes on our cities and our communities: Sumy - including Ukrainian energy infrastructure, as well as Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kherson region, and Donetsk region," Zelenskyy said in his July 26 video address.

"Such strikes certainly cannot be left without response, and Ukrainian long-range drones ensure one," he posted separately on X.

"Russian military enterprises, Russian logistics, and Russian airfields must see that Russia's own war is now hitting them back with real consequences," Zelenskyy posted.

Zelenskyy said he instructed officials to be more active in attracting external funding for drones.

"I also instructed government officials and the defense minister to more actively review all our agreements we have with our partners -- the ones we must implement fully, but which, unfortunately, are currently still only partially being carried out," he added without being specific.

Zelenskyy has announced that his country had secured funding for three US-made Patriot missile defense systems and is negotiating for seven more of the air-defense systems, part of a new agreement that enables European allies to buy US weaponry for Kyiv.

Following Zelenskyy's latest remarks, Russian authorities reported attacks inside the country.

Aleksandr Khinshtein, governor of Russia's Kursk region, on July 26 claimed that a Ukranian drone had killed one person in the village of Obesta, about 5 kilometers from the border.

And authorities in the Volgograd region said falling debris from destroyed Ukrainian drones disrupted railway power supply near the border area. Traffic at the city's airport was also disrupted, officials said.

Civilian Casualties Mount

Following Russia's large-scale overnight attacks on Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions -- which left multiple people dead and injured -- the head of the regional military administration, Serhiy Lysak, said the Russian military attacked the Nikopol and Synelnykove districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Lysak said a 66-year-old man died in the Nikopol region, while three people were injured in the Synelnykove district.

Serhiy Gorbunov, military administrator of the strategic frontline city of Kostyantynivka, wrote on social media that a civilian was killed as the result of a drone attack and urged residents to evacuate away from oncoming Russian forces.

"We urge all residents to take care of themselves and their loved ones! Do not ignore the threat  evacuate to safer regions in a timely manner," he wrote.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said five people -- including three emergency workers -- were injured while responding to an earlier strike. Sumy military Governor Oleh Hryhorov said three people were hurt in air attacks in the northeast Ukrainian region.

Russia denies targeting civilian areas despite widespread evidence of such attacks.

With reporting by Reuters and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-donetsk- dnipropetrovsk-zelenskyy-putin-trump/33484663.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.

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A Chinese School In Occupied Ukraine? Analysts See Kremlin Propaganda At Work

By Olha Katsan and Donbas.Realities July 27, 2025

In Ukraine's Russian-occupied Luhansk, where shelling still echoes across devastated streets and reconstruction promises remain largely unmet, a new headline is making waves: Chinese activists reportedly plan to open a private school for Chinese citizens.

The story, first published by Russian state outlets and quickly picked up by pro-Kremlin Telegram channels, claims the school will serve 300 Chinese students, teaching them Russian and preparing them for eventual enrollment in Russian universities.

It's presented as a showcase of international cooperation and a step toward "economic normalization" in Ukraine's war-torn eastern regions that Russia has claimed.

However, Ukrainian experts and regional analysts see a very different picture.

From September 1, Russia is effectively banning Ukrainian-language education in the occupied regions, a move that the Kremlin can use to claim the territories are part of Russia on a linguistic basis.

Moscow has officially justified its moves on language education as reflecting "changes in the geopolitical situation in the world."

Many dismiss the narrative as a Kremlin propaganda ploy designed to project legitimacy over occupied territories.

Others warn of potentially deeper motives, including quiet Chinese economic activity, covert intelligence operations, and attempts by Moscow to weave Beijing into its occupation strategy.

"Consider this: Would Chinese families really risk sending their teenage children into an active war zone for education?" says Kostyantyn Batozskiy, a Ukrainian political analyst and director of the Azov Development Agency.

"This is not about education. It's about optics, influence, and control," he says, adding that it was a "classic" Kremlin news story on the occupied region's supposedly bright future.

"Like their endless talk of rebuilding the ruined Donetsk airport or restoring the town of Shyrokyne -- none of it materializes. It's about keeping occupied populations distracted with grandiose promises."

Such a strategy isn't new.

Russian occupation authorities in Luhansk and Donetsk, known commonly as the Donbas, have repeatedly presented projects considered by many as improbable -- including multistory hospitals, sprawling industrial parks, and even luxury resorts -- as evidence of "normalization." Few have ever progressed beyond press releases.

But there's another layer to the Chinese school story that experts say is more alarming: Even if the school itself never opens, the fact that such claims are being promoted reflects Moscow's growing effort to draw China closer into its occupation enterprise.

'Tacit Approval Of The Occupation'

Artur Kharytonov, president of the Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine and an expert on East and Southeast Asia, calls the announcement "cheap propaganda."

But he cautions against dismissing it as entirely baseless.

"In China's totalitarian system, nothing of this scale happens without top-level approval," he says. He adds that commitments Chinese President Xi Jinping has made to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, -- such as recognizing Russian elections and expressing respect for Russia's constitution -- "all point to tacit approval of the occupation."

Kharytonov points to Crimea as a cautionary precedent.

Since Russia's illegal annexation of the peninsula in 2014, Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that Chinese companies have engaged in trade and investment activities there, despite Beijing's official recognition of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

"Crimean wine makes its debut at Chinese trade fairs. Stolen Ukrainian grain and metals from occupied Donetsk appear on Chinese platforms, such as AliExpress, China's online retailer," Kharytonov says. "This is reality, not speculation."

Yuriy Poita, head of the Asia-Pacific Section at the New Geopolitics Research Network, says he believes the putative school may not target teenagers at all.

"It's more plausible that this is a facility to train Chinese engineers, technicians, or workers involved in joint Russian-Chinese projects in occupied territories," he says.

As Russian-controlled infrastructure in Ukraine's Donbas crumbles under years of neglect and war, Chinese firms have reportedly supplied construction materials and machinery for rebuilding efforts.

"Complex equipment requires skilled personnel" Poita says. "You can't deploy these systems without on-site Chinese experts. Language training for local workers -- and vice versa -- could easily be packaged as 'education.'"

Political Purpose

For Russia, having Chinese citizens visibly active in Luhansk serves a political purpose.

"They desperately want to show the world that Ukraine's occupied region is a de facto part of Russia, attracting foreign citizens for work and study," Batozskiy says.

But on the ground, there's little evidence of a significant Chinese presence.

Instead, most foreign laborers are Central Asian migrants, hired for construction projects in the region. This has sparked resentment among locals, who see jobs slipping away as Russian authorities favor imported workers over them.

"Russia doesn't trust the local population," Batozskiy explains. "They prefer outsiders to rebuild and secure these regions. But Central Asian migrants don't legitimize annexation internationally. Chinese nationals might -- at least symbolically."

Kharytonov raises a more concerning possibility: that Chinese involvement in occupied territories could extend to covert military or intelligence activities.

"Chinese specialists brought into Luhansk might be linked to the People's Liberation Army or Chinese intelligence services," he warns. "Proximity to the frontlines gives them unparalleled access to battlefield data and Ukrainian infrastructure."

He draws parallels with earlier reports of North Korean officers entering Ukraine's Russian-occupied Donetsk region disguised as students -- a ruse uncovered when Ukrainian forces killed several of them and captured some of them in combat.

And recent Ukrainian counterintelligence operations have heightened concerns.

In June, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) detained two Chinese nationals for allegedly attempting to steal blueprints for the Neptune missile system. This Ukrainian design has proven effective in the Black Sea.

"China doesn't necessarily want the missile itself," Kharytonov says. "It wants the blueprints of a battle-tested system to enhance its own capabilities."

Russia's pursuit of deeper ties with Beijing goes beyond practical cooperation -- it also reflects an ideological alignment.

"Moscow now refers to itself as a 'civilization-state,' echoing Chinese political rhetoric," Batozskiy notes. "They've borrowed Chinese surveillance methods, censorship tools, and propaganda models. Promoting a Chinese school in Luhansk reinforces this narrative of shared destiny."

Illusion Of Economic Revival

Such moves also help Moscow sell the illusion of economic revival in occupied territories.

Repeated rumors of Chinese investment in Soviet-era industrial giants, such as the Azovstal steel works, have circulated in Kremlin-friendly media.

"No sane investor would rebuild those behemoths," Batozskiy says. "But these myths serve to pacify locals and present a veneer of international legitimacy."

Even if Beijing denies official involvement, Chinese companies have reportedly helped establish new plants in occupied Donetsk, supplying critical equipment and technical expertise.

"It's a gray-zone operation," Poita says. "China avoids open political alignment but allows its firms to profit from Russia's land grabs."

Kharytonov sees a clear pattern.

"China ideologically supports Russia's war," he says. "It will buy anything from these territories -- grain, metals, whatever -- because it's cheap and politically useful."

The proposed Chinese school in Luhansk may never open its doors, but the narrative around it offers a revealing glimpse into Moscow's hybrid strategy -- using international partners, real or imagined, to solidify its grip on occupied Ukraine.

"Nothing in China happens by accident," Kharytonov says. "Even a modest presence-- engineers, trainers, or 'students'-- could serve multiple purposes: economic, political, and military."

As Russia and China deepen their "friendship without limits," even a simple school becomes a potential front in their shared authoritarian project, he adds.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-china-school- ukraine-luhansk-propaganda/33483950.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.

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Perth, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JUNE 2025 QUARTER REPORT

Continued strong performance of Perseus Minings operations grows

cash & bullion balance to US$827 million

PERTH, Western Australia/July 28, 2025/Perseus Mining Limited (Perseus or the Company) (TSX & ASX: PRU) reports on its activities for the three months period ended June 30, 2024 (the Quarter). Below is a summary of the release. The full report is available at www.perseusmining.com, www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au.

Key operating indicators and highlights for the June 2025 quarter (Q4 FY25) include:

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR UNIT MARCH 2025



QUARTER JUNE 2025



QUARTER JUNE 2025



HALF YEAR 2025



FINANCIAL YEAR Gold recovered Ounces 121,605 121,237 242,843 496,551 Gold poured Ounces 122,915 119,868 242,782 495,984 Production Cost US$/ounce 977 1,038 1,008 980 All-In Site Cost (AISC) US$/ounce 1,209 1,417 1,313 1,235 Gold sales Ounces 117,585 131,242 248,826 494,343 Average sales price US$/ounce 2,462 2,977 2,734 2,543 Notional Cashflow US$ million 152 189 345 650

Record 12-month rolling average Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 0.60 is well below industry average.

is well below industry average. Quarterly gold production of 121,237 ounces at a weighted average AISC of US$1,417 per ounce enabled Perseus to achieve production guidance and better cost guidance for June 2025 half year (2H FY25) and 2025 financial year (FY25) .

at a weighted average enabled Perseus to for June 2025 half year (2H FY25) and 2025 financial year (FY25) Average gold sales of 131,242 ounces with a weighted average gold sales price of US$2,977 per ounce.

with a weighted average Average cash margin of US$1,560 per ounce of gold produced, giving notional operating cashflow of US$189 million.

of gold produced, giving Perseuss gold production and AISC outlook for the next 5 years includes average gold production of 515,000 - 535,000 ounces per year, at an average AISC of US$1,400  US$1,500 per ounce .

includes at an average . For the 2026 financial year ( FY26 ), gold production guidance is 400,000 - 440,000 ounces while AISC guidance is US$1,460  1,620 per ounce , representing a temporary dip in the longer-term outlook for the Company.

), is while is , representing a temporary dip in the longer-term outlook for the Company. A Final Investment Decision (FID) was taken during the quarter to develop the Nyanzaga Gold Project (NGP). Site works are accelerating and are on-budget and on schedule, consistent with the target of first gold production in January 2027.

was taken during the quarter to develop the Site works are accelerating and are on-budget and on schedule, consistent with the target of first gold production in January 2027. Outstanding infill drilling results at NGP have Perseus on target for a Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve upgrade in Q3 FY26 resulting in a possible mine life extension.

have Perseus on target for a Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve upgrade in Q3 FY26 resulting in a possible mine life extension. Available cash and bullion of US$827 million, plus liquid listed securities of US$118 million , notwithstanding significant payments associated with development of NGP, corporate tax, dividends and share buy-back payments.

plus liquid , notwithstanding significant payments associated with development of NGP, corporate tax, dividends and share buy-back payments. Zero debt and available undrawn debt capacity of US$300 million at quarter-end.

and available at quarter-end. Perseuss A$100 million buy-back of its shares continued between blackout periods during the quarter and is currently ~73% complete with 22,995,853 shares purchased and subsequently cancelled.

GROUP GOLD PRODUCTION AND COST GUIDANCE

Group gold production and AISC market guidance for FY26 is as follows:

Table 10: Production and AISC Guidance

PARAMETER UNITS 2026 FINANCIAL YEAR

FORECAST Yaoure Gold Mine Production Ounces 168,000  184,000 All-in Site Cost USD per ounce $1,500  $1,660 Edikan Gold Mine Production Ounces 154,000  169,000 All-in Site Cost USD per ounce $1,420  $1,570 Sissingue Gold Mine Production Ounces 78,000  87,000 All-in Site Cost USD per ounce $1,470  $1,620 PERSEUS GROUP Production Ounces 400,000  440,000 All-in Site Cost USD per ounce $1,460  $1,620

The rise relative to prior periods in Perseuss guided AISC in FY25 as noted above can be attributed to a range of factors which have been considered in forecasting future operating costs, including an assumed gold price of US$2,700 per ounce for the period.

A trend of rising costs is evident in the global gold sector, including in West Africa, driven by a range of factors, not the least of which is a steady increase in royalties and indirect charges payable to host governments (and others) which are a function of prevailing gold prices. In other words, as the price of gold rises, so too do expectations by host governments and host communities of an increasing share of the higher gold prices. This occurs in the form of higher royalty and gold price linked indirect charges by governments as well as an increase in the cost of land access and contributions to community assistance funds, demanded by host communities.

Other factors that impact Perseuss operating costs include the rising cost of wages, freight costs and therefore consumables and the fact that in some operations, as they mature, haul distances and elevations increase and facilities such as tailings dams require expansion. In addition, forecast costs are impacted by site specific factors outside of Perseuss control such as at Yaoure, where an expected interruption is expected to the availability of power from the Ivorian power grid in H1 FY26 caused by planned maintenance of power stations that contribute power to the grid. It has been assumed that Perseus will be required to make significantly more use of its standby generators during this period which operate at a cost that is materially above grid power costs.







SEptember 2025 QUARTER EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

22 July  Resource Definition Drilling Update for Nyanzaga Gold Project

28 July  June 2025 Quarterly Report & Webinar

27 August  Annual Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Update

28 August  Financial Year 2024 Annual Report & Webinar

14-17 September - Mining Forum Americas





Competent Person Statement

All production targets referred to in this release are underpinned by estimated Ore Reserves which have been prepared by competent persons in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code.

Edikan

The information in this release that relates to the Open Pit and Underground Mineral Resources and Ore Reserve at Edikan was updated by the Company in a market announcement Perseus Mining updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves released on 21August 2024. 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  Edikan Gold Mine, Ghana dated 7 April 2022 continue to apply.

Sissingue, Fimbiasso and Bagoe

The information in this release that relates to the Mineral Resources and Ore Reserve at the Sissingue complex was updated by the Company in a market announcement Perseus Mining updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves released on 21 August 2024. 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  Sissingue Gold Project, Cote dIvoire dated 29 May 2015 continue to apply.

Yaoure

The information in this release that relates to the Open Pit and Underground Mineral Resources and Ore Reserve at Yaoure was updated by the Company in a market announcement Perseus Mining updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves released on 21 August 2024. 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  Yaoure Gold Project, Cote dIvoire dated 19 December 2023 continue to apply.

Nyanzaga Gold Project

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.

The information in this report relating to Nyanzaga exploration results was first reported by the Company in compliance with the JORC Code 2012 and NI43-101 in a market update Perseus Mining Delivers Encouraging Drilling Results from its Current Drill Program at the Nyanzaga Gold Project released on 22 July 2025. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affect the information in that market release.

Meyas Sand Gold Project

The information in this report that relates to the mineral resources and probable reserves of the Meyas Sand Gold Project was first reported by the Company in a market announcement Perseus Enters Into Agreement to Acquire Orca Gold Inc. released on 28 February 2022. The Company confirms it is not in possession of any new information or data relating to those estimates that materially impacts of the reliability of the estimate of the Companys ability to verify the estimate as a mineral resource or ore reserve in accordance with Appendix 5A (JORC Code) and the information in that original market release continues to apply and have not materially changed. These estimates are prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 standards and have not been reported in accordance with the JORC Code. A competent person has not done sufficient work to classify the resource in accordance with the JORC Code and it is uncertain that following evaluation and/or further exploration work that the estimate will be able to be reported as a mineral resource or ore reserve in accordance with the JORC Code. This release and all technical information regarding Orcas NI 43-101 have been reviewed and approved by Adrian Ralph, a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

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.

This market announcement was authorised for release by the Board of Perseus Mining Limited.

ASX/TSX CODE: PRU







CAPITAL STRUCTURE:



Ordinary shares: 1,353,991,309



Performance rights: 9,328,134



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

Attachment
KINSHASA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 43 civilians were killed overnight from Saturday to Sunday in an attack attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), local sources said Sunday.

According to local media reports, ADF fighters stormed a Catholic church early Saturday in the town of Komanda, Ituri Province. A local civil society leader in Komanda said most of the victims, primarily Catholic worshippers, were preparing for Sunday celebrations when the attack took place. Several houses were burned, and an unknown number of people remain missing.

Witnesses said the assailants also looted a local bank and other community properties before retreating into the nearby forest.

The ADF rebels have stepped up assaults in Ituri since early July. In a statement issued earlier this week, the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC condemned the recent ADF attacks, which have killed at least 82 civilians in both Ituri and neighboring North Kivu Province.

The ADF, an affiliate of the Islamic State in Central Africa, is a Ugandan rebel group operating in eastern DRC, prompting joint military operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces to pursue the group since November 2021. 
What Do The Ads Say?

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(TNS)  Latino and Black advocacy groups are front-and-center in an expensive campaign challenging a new California labor law that demands employers provide benefits for more workers.In one corner are the diverse unions that advocated for the labor law, known as Assembly Bill 5, when lawmakers debated it and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it last year. They say the new law providers all workers a better opportunity to earn a living wage and get ahead.On the other side, a collection of Black and Latino advocacy groups have joined with Silicon Valley giants to campaign for an initiative that would exempt app-based drivers for companies like Uber, Lyft and DoorDash from the law.The groups aligned with the tech companies for Proposition 22 include the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which normally sides with employers, and the National Action Network, the civil rights group founded by Rev. Al Sharpton. They argue the initiative would allow drivers the freedom and flexibility to set their own schedules and earn a living as independent contractors.One of the things we find is that this creates opportunities for our communities to work when they want to work and work at the level and the intensity that they want to work, said Julian Canete, president of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.His group is among the Latino, Black and Asian American organizations appearing in ads and sending letters to elected officials asking for exemptions to the labor law. The same groups also have been promoted by Uber and Lyft this year, which have been touting charitable contributions to ethnic communities hurting in the coronavirus outbreak and aligned themselves social justice movements.Veena Dubal, a UC Hastings law professor and critic of Proposition 22, said the prominence of the civil rights organizations in the campaign is a familiar theme in the tech companies efforts to fight regulations across the country. They were part of a 2018 campaign against a New York City ordinance, for example.It is a political tactic that these companies make to make allies with more mainstream organizations, Dubal said.The dispute over the initiative, at least in terms of political spending, is one-sided. Supporters of Proposition 22 have amassed over $110 million in contributions from the tech companies, according to campaign finance records. Opponents of Proposition 22 have raised about $2 million, mostly from unions and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.So far, the companies are not paying drivers wages and benefits as advocates intended when they pushed for the new labor law and Gov. Gavin Newsoms administration is suing them to force them to comply with AB 5. Democratic lawmakers also remain committed to the new law.Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, said the passing of Proposition 22 would allow the mistreatment of low-wage workers.It has to be corrected. There are those who dont understand the history of misclassification, dont understand the depth of abuse of classifying people as independent contractors, she said. They made it appear to be ... an opportunity to make a lot of money.Black and Latino civil rights groups are featured prominently in ads running on Facebook and in minority-owned newspapers.AB5  would limit the availability of these services resulting in lost work opportunities and reduced access to rideshare and delivery services that many minority communities have grown to rely on, reads one ad quoting the National Black Chamber of Commerce.Another ad from the same campaign highlights an opinion piece by Tecoy Porter, chair of the California State National Action Network, published in theon July 27, an African American-owned weekly newspaper.Prop 22 protects the choice of more than one million Californians to work as independent contractors with app-based rideshare and delivery platforms  saving these jobs that are critical for so many in our community, Porter wrote.Last month, a number of organizations advocating for ethnic communities such as the California State NAACP and Si Se Puede Foundation sent a letter to California elected officials in support of Proposition 22. They promoted the gig companies as a low barrier-to-entry way to earn income for those who often find traditional employment challenging.These are easy jobs. You dont need degrees. You dont need a whole bunch of training, Porter said. You start making money real quickly.A 2019 Lyft analysis found 31 percent of Lyfts 300,000 drivers in California identify as Latino. African Americans represent 10 percent. In Los Angeles, Latinos make up 40 percent of Lyft drivers. Both Uber and Lyft say the majority of their drivers want to maintain independent status.Labor advocates made a case for AB 5 with the help of gig drivers who wanted better wages, benefits and union representation. Their allies maintain that workers are better off with the new law.Mike Roth, spokesman for the No on Prop 22 campaign, called the initiative a cynical attempt by Uber, Lyft and Doordash to buy a law.What we know about these workers is that they are largely people of color and immigrants, said Roth, a political consultant whose clients include SEIU and the unions that backed AB 5. It is cynical to ask voters to create a separate unequal class of workers that would be denied basic workplace protections that all other workers enjoy.Nourbese Flint, executive director of the South Los Angeles-based Black Women for Wellness Action Project, argued against Proposition 22 saying the companies did not give a full picture of how it would affect drivers.Its not good for folks of color, Flint said.A UC Berkeley Labor Center study estimates that drivers will earn $5.64 an hour if Proposition 22 is passed. If drivers switch from independent contractors to employee status they will make at least minimum wage, which is $13 an hour.On its website, thecampaign estimates drivers will receive at least 120 percent of minimum wage, which is $15.6 an hour. plus a compensation of 30 cents per mile.
Max says team needed people-person engineer Mekies

Max Verstappen says the atmosphere at Red Bull has improved following Christian Horner's departure, with new team boss Laurent Mekies already making a positive impression during his first weekend in charge at Spa.

Max Verstappen, Laurent Mekies, Belgian GP 2025

 Red Bull

The atmosphere is very good, Verstappen told Dutch media, dismissing any tension surrounding the recent leadership change. The triple world champion is said to have pushed for greater freedom to exit Red Bull in 2027 - and sources believe the end of Horner's reign cleared the path.

Mekies, unlike Horner, has a technical background, which Verstappen sees as a strength: If someone is more technically savvy, then it's normal that you can have more technical conversations with them. He's just a different kind of team principal.

Asked if that was lacking under Horner, Verstappen replied: We have a lot of discussions about a lot of things, and of course, that stays within the team.

Internally, Mekies is described as a people person - a shift Verstappen acknowledges. Maybe the team needed that. I get along well with him. That's always a bonus, of course. Hopefully, we can do that much more intensively in the coming weeks and months.

On whether an engineer-style boss is now essential in F1, Verstappen shrugged: Maybe. I don't know. I don't want to stand here and talk about that for half an hour. But everyone is happy, in good spirits.

The Dutchman praised his interim race engineer Simon Rennie and confirmed other changes may come: "It's very difficult to, within two weeks, suddenly say a lot of things need to change out of the blue.

Maybe you want to change something, and this is something that will happen over the coming weeks, months.

For sure, he (Mekies) is very keen and very motivated. I get on very well with him. Also with Simon. He steps in and he's immediately on it.

Very enjoyable to work with Simon.

Verstappen's sprint win gave Mekies an early victory. The team can always count on me. They will always get my very best, whoever is in charge. I'm always trying to give them the best possible result, and that's also what they pay me for.

But with higher downforce for Sunday's race, Verstappen fell outside the top three in qualifying. I'm always very realistic about what I feel in the car. When I look at certain onboards from other cars, I know enough.

Helmut isn't in the car, he said, pushing back on Dr Marko's optimism about a possible win and ongoing title challenge. I understand you have to be positive about it.

Ho-Pin Tung, speaking on Viaplay, noted Verstappen had gone from the fastest to almost the slowest on the straights in qualifying. It could very well be the right choice for Sunday, Tung added.

Marko agrees that Red Bull is counting on rain, obviously, but Verstappen remains cautious: McLaren is the best car regardless of the conditions, even on a wet track.

Rain here usually means that drivers from the back of the grid can see almost nothing, which is simply not ideal. Even then, I'll only be able to gain one place at most.

Looking to Verstappen's future for 2026 and beyond, Auto Motor und Sport quotes an unnamed driver as saying: If you're going to make a mistake, it's better to do it with the team you're with. In 2026, you'll be able to make a much better choice with more knowledge.

(GMM)
New Spa test aims to make F1 drivers easier to spot

Formula 1 is trialling a new way to help fans more easily identify drivers - by placing each driver's three-letter abbreviation directly on the car's onboard camera housing.

Pierre Gasly, Belgian GP 2025

 Alpine

The test, taking place this weekend at the Belgian GP, is a response to growing complaints that drivers are becoming harder and harder to recognise at speed - especially from trackside or on television. F1 and the FIA hope the move will provide an instant visual cue for viewers, much like the timing screens already do.

VES for Max Verstappen, HAM for Lewis Hamilton, or ALO for Fernando Alonso are examples of the codes now appearing in stickers on both the top and sides of the cars' camera units.

The solution addresses a growing visibility problem that has worsened over the past decade. As cockpits became deeper and the Halo safety structure was introduced, the visibility of driver helmets - once the easiest way to distinguish who was driving - diminished significantly. Helmet designs themselves have also become less reliable identifiers, with drivers frequently changing liveries race-to-race.

F1 had already mandated more visible car numbers in 2017, requiring teams to display them prominently on engine covers. But that measure clashed with commercial priorities and had only limited success, especially for fans viewing cars at speed. Previous experiments with digital displays were also shelved after limited testing.

Current onboard camera housings already feature colour coding - one car per team runs a black camera, the other neon yellow - but even this is little understood by many fans.

The new name sticker trial avoids commercial conflict, as sponsor branding isn't allowed on the camera housings. However, space is tight, and it remains to be seen whether the initials will be clearly legible at racing speed.

(GMM)
Russell cool on Wolff's 2026 contract hints

George Russell says he's not reading into Toto Wolff's public comments hinting that both Mercedes drivers are likely to stay in 2026 - despite weeks of speculation linking Max Verstappen to a shock move from Red Bull.

George Russell, Belgian GP 2025

 Mercedes

Speaking at the Belgian GP, Russell dismissed the idea that Wolff's remarks were a coded vote of confidence.

That message was for you, not for me, he told reporters. Nothing has changed on my end. I wasn't even aware of what Toto's been saying until an hour ago.

The 26-year-old - managed by Mercedes throughout his F1 career - has been at the centre of swirling rumours in recent weeks. Wolff was even spotted meeting Verstappen in Sardinia earlier this month.

But Verstappen now appears likely to remain at Red Bull in 2026 following Christian Horner's sacking and the installation of Laurent Mekies under the Austrian parent company's control.

Wolff admitted in Spa that the Verstappen talk intensified after Russell began publicly expressing doubts over his long-term status at Mercedes, despite being in the best form of his career.

Russell insists he's since shifted his focus.

It's not something I'm losing sleep over, he said. Initially, I was stressed and worried about my future, but in recent months, I've been focused primarily on performance. So I think it's within my control.

He added, Mercedes needs the best drivers, and I believe I'm one of them. I don't think there are many drivers who can do a better job than me. I need the team, and the team needs me. That's how it is in motorsport.

Wolff said Friday he expects Russell will sleep well over the summer break - but a new contract isn't yet imminent.

There's no contract on the table yet, said Russell. I don't know if before the break is realistic. Reaching an agreement in two weeks is unlikely.

(GMM)
Circuit Court Judge named GIMPA 2025 Valedictorian

GNA Education Jul - 26 - 2025 , 10:07 2 minutes read

A circuit court judge, Mrs. Sedinam Awo Kwadam was last Friday named Valedictorian of the 2025 Masters' Cohort of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

She graduated with distinction, earning a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.98 out of 4.00.



In her Valedictorian speech during GIMPAs 25th Congregation last Friday [July 25, 2025], Mrs. Kwadam said it had been one of immeasurable sacrifice, perseverance, and triumph.

I must confess that my time at GIMPA has been nothing short of restorative. This Green Hill has been more than a place of learning for me.

Mrs. Kwadam described the past year as a period of intense intellectual challenge and transformation: rigorous research, tight deadlines, critical discourse, policy debates, and profound academic experiences have shaped her and her colleagues.

Marking the milestone with her peers, she observed: We are inextricably connected to our community, our nation, and the world at large.  This interconnectedness compels us to act with purpose, grounded in GIMPAs enduring values of excellence, integrity and service.

It has been a sanctuary of healing illuminated by the warmth of meaningful connections, the promise of renewed purpose, and the transformative career opportunities, she said.

According to Mrs. Kwadam, The degrees we have earned today are not mere credentials; they are a summons. A call to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction.

GIMPA has not merely educated us; it has commissioned us to serve a world urgently in need of all that we are, and all we have become.

She emphasised that true success lies not only in personal achievement but in the change they inspire.

She has more than 13 years in legal practice, 10 of which have been spent on the bench.

She is an alumna of Achimota School 2002-year group.

She was appointed a Magistrate in 2015, and was elevated in 2020 to the Circuit Court.

Mrs. Kwadam earned her LLB from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and was called to the Ghana Bar in 2012, where she was honoured as Best Student in Law of Evidence.

Her LLM studies at GIMPA produced critical work on Africas engagement with the ICC, U.S. resistance to international criminal justice, and the Malabo Protocol.

credit: GNA
Next article: Nation mourns Daddy Lumba: See the tributes from Mahama, Akufo-Addo, NPP, Bawumia...

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11 Chinese arrested, trucks and bulldozer seized in galamsey raid at Bole Bamboi

Mohammed Ali Jul - 27 - 2025 , 10:12 2 minutes read

The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation Secretariat (NAIMOS) Task Force has arrested 11 Chinese nationals and seized a number of heavy-duty vehicles and mining equipment in a fresh clampdown on illegal mining at Bole/Bamboi in the Savannah Region.

The enforcement operation was carried out on Friday, July 25, 2025, when the task force moved in on a mining site in the area. According to officials, the action followed earlier intelligence that pointed to unauthorised small-scale mining activitycommonly referred to as galamsey in the locality.

Among the equipment seized were four tipper trucks with registration numbers GT 7048-25, GT 7035-25, GT 7265-25, and GT 7243-25.

Also impounded were a bulldozer (GT 5321-25), a low-bed truck (GT 1128-21), one Forland light truck, 10 drums of engine oil, 28 assorted Richlion tyres, and several motorbikes.

NAIMOS has since transported the confiscated items to its headquarters in Accra for safekeeping and further administrative procedures.

The raid forms part of a broader government drive to tackle illegal mining activities that have contributed to the destruction of farmlands, contamination of rivers, and loss of forest cover in many rural areas across the country.

Minister for Government Communications, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, confirmed the operation in a Facebook post dated July 27, 2025. He said it reflects the governments continued efforts to deal with the environmental and social damage caused by illegal mining.

The NAIMOS Task Force continues to carry out operations at galamsey sites in the area, Mr Ofosu stated.

The government is urging residents in affected communities to support the task force by reporting suspicious mining activity. Meanwhile, the 11 arrested Chinese nationals are expected to face prosecution under Ghanas mining and immigration laws.
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Govt allocates GH13.8bn for Big Push: 32 Major road projects targeted: Ofankor-Nsawam abandoned road will be done  Finance Minister

Daily Graphic Jul - 25 - 2025 , 11:21 5 minutes read

The government has allocated GH13.8 billion in the 2025 budget for the Big Push programme, aimed at improving the country's road infrastructure, the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has revealed.

Presenting the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review to Parliament yesterday, Dr Forson said the programme would focus on road projects nationwide.

The projects include constructing a new bridge on the Oti River at Dambai; the rehabilitation of the Wa-Han, Techiman-Nkonsia-Wenchi and WenchiSawla roads.

Others include the upgrading of the Tumu-Hamile; Tumu-Han-Lawra roads; the reconstruction of the Navrongo-Tumu road, the dualisation of the Winneba to Mankesim, the Cape Coast to Takoradi and Adentan-Dodowa roads; the construction of the Sunyani Outer Ring road; the Kumasi Outer Ring road (Eastern Quadrant); the rehabilitation of the Gbintri - Nakpanduri road; the rehabilitation of the Dodo Pepesu  Nkwanta road and the rehabilitation of the Atimpoku - Asikuma Junction road.

The rest are the rehabilitation of the Asikuma Junction - Anyirawasi road; the reconstruction of the Anyirawasi - Ho Tritrinu road; the upgrading of the Akosombo-Gyakiti-Kudikope road; the upgrading of the Asikuma to Anum Boso-Kpalime Road; the upgrading of the Adomi Bridge to Akwamufie road; the rehabilitation of the Ho - Kpetoe road; Kpetoe-Afiadenyigba road; Afiadenyigba - Penyi road; Penyi - Aflao road; Mankessim-Ajumako-Breman Asikuma-Agona Swedru road, and Tema - Aflao road (Section 1).

The reconstruction of the Dodowa - Afienya-Dawhenya road, the upgrading of the Oyibi-Appolonia-Afienya road, the construction of the Enchi - Elubo road; the Dadieso - Akontombra road; the upgrading of the Adwofua  Oseikojokrom road; the upgrading of the Enchi - Kudjouru - Pekyi road and the Bediako Junction - Camp 15 - Sefwi Adabokrom road are the rest of the projects to be undertaken.

Abandoned roads

Dr Forson, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam in the Central Region, disclosed that the government had also selected abandoned road projects that were not allocated funding by the previous administration to be included in the Big Push programme.

Those projects, the Finance Minister said, were the upgrading of the Kasoa-Winneba road, the Tumu to Chuchuliga to Navrongo road, including the construction of a 36-metre span reinforced concrete bridge over the Kanyibie River and a 24-metre span reinforced concrete bridge over the Bechelihu River; the rehabilitation of the Ofankor to Nsawam dual carriageway; the construction of the Suame interchange and local roads, the National Route 18 from Wa to Han road; the dualisation of the Takoradi  Agona Junction road; the reconstruction of the Navrongo - Chuchuliga - Sandema road; the rehabilitation of the Tepa (Mabang) - Goaso road; the rehabilitation of the Hohoe - Jasikan road; the upgrading of the Nkwanta - Oti Damanko Road; the reconstruction of the Have - Hohoe road; the dualisation of the Adentan - Dodowa road and the reconstruction of the Jinijini - Sampa Road.

Implementation

Dr Forson said his ministry had issued commencement authorisation for the road infrastructure projects under the Big Push programme.

He emphasised that the implementing agencies must comply with each project's agreed-upon scope of work, with no room for an increase in scope.

Dr Forson further announced that feasibility studies have been initiated for four major projects, and these are the AccraKumasi Expressway on an entirely new alignment, the Accra Outer Ring Road, the Kumasi Outer Ring Road and the AdawsoEkye Amanfrom Bridge to connect the Afram Plains area.

He said the Minister for Roads and Highways will be laying a new Road Maintenance Trust Fund Bill before Parliament to replace the Ghana Road Fund.

He added that about 5,000 kilometres of roads would be reconstructed in 166 identified constituencies in dire need of road infrastructure over the next three years.

Priority projects

Dr Forson has said the countrys default on external debt service obligations on December 19, 2022, halted the disbursement of funds for 55 bilateral projects, resulting in several uncompleted projects across the country, with a massive $3 billion in undisbursed loans.

The IMF and Official Creditor Committee (OCC) annual disbursement ceiling of $250 million for official bilateral loans means it will take a minimum of 12 years to fully draw down the undisbursed loans.

To address this challenge, he said the government had submitted a priority list of 24 projects to the OCC and IMF to accommodate the $250 million annual disbursement ceiling, prioritising projects over 70 per cent complete.

These projects, he said, were expected to trigger the resumption of disbursement upon signing of bilateral agreements between Ghana and creditor countries.

The 24 priority projects include a new bridge across the Volta River at Volivo; construction of the Tema-Aflao Road Project Phase 1; Tema Motorway roundabout through Ashaiman roundabout to Atimpoku; construction of 14 pedestrian bridges; Kumasi roads and drainage extension; Paa Grant interchange and Sekondi/Takoradi township roads phase 1; rehabilitation of Dome-Kitase road; Obetsebi Lamptey interchange Phase 2; Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulimakom Road, and PTC Roundabout Interchange Project at Takoradi.

Others are the construction of drinking water facilities at Wenchi in the Bono Region; Sekondi-Takoradi water supply; modernisation of Komfo-Anokye Teaching Hospital; construction of Central Medical Stores in Tema; Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Takoradi; Bolgatanga Regional Hospital; establishments of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development at Bunso, and state-of-the-art technical and vocational education training centres.

The rest are the integrated E-learning laboratories in senior high schools (SHSs), expansion and development of existing SHSs; renewable energy programme, namely pilot photovoltaic system; renewable energy and energy efficiency programme, construction of the Takoradi Market and Kumasi Central Market Phase 2.

The Finance Minister said the resumption of disbursements and associated debt service were fully aligned with bilateral debt restructuring and IMF programme commitments, with no room for scope increases in any priority project.

Additionally, Dr Forson said his ministry had commissioned a forensic audit into some of the stalled projects, where contractors had downed tools without completing the corresponding work, adding that the Auditor-General would conduct the audit in partnership with some of the big four accounting firms.
Next article: 3 students killed after gunmen stormed high school campuses in Bawku and Nalerigu and opened fire

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Government tightens curfews after fresh Bawku-related killings

Mohammed Ali Jul - 27 - 2025 , 15:41 3 minutes read

The government has deployed more military personnel and tightened the curfew in Bawku and other areas following a spike in violence that has left three students dead in Bawku and Nalerigu in the Upper East and North East Regions.

Two students of Nalerigu Senior High School in the North East Region were shot in their dormitory on Saturday evening.



On the same night, a final-year student of Bawku Senior High School in the Upper East Region was also killed.



The attacks are believed to be linked to the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy dispute.

Read also: 3 students killed after gunmen stormed high school campuses in Bawku and Nalerigu and opened fire

Earlier in the week, Naa Abdul-Malik Azenbe, the chief of the Kusasi Community in the Ashanti Region was killed at Asawase was fatally shot in his residence by unknown gunmen.

A few days later, another man was killed in broad daylight in the same community, further raising alarm among residents.

Related: Second daylight shooting in a week rocks Kumasis Asawase

In a press statement issued by the Presidency on Sunday [July 27, 2025], the government said it was shifting its approach from peacekeeping to what it called peace enforcement in response to the recent escalation.

The Ghana Armed Forces have been deployed to maintain law and order, as we intensify curfews to ensure public safety, the statement said.

The release, signed by the Government Spokesperson, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the military had been instructed to take all necessary steps to protect lives and property.

Mr Ofosu also acknowledged the role of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in mediating the conflict, noting that the efforts of the Asantehene, along with the Nayiri and Zugraana, had brought the process close to resolution before the renewed killings.

These very recent killings have necessitated drastic actions to protect all in the interests of the greater good, the statement said.

The government is urging all parties involved in the conflict to avoid violence and to support the peace process. Residents have also been advised to cooperate with security forces and to observe curfew regulations.

Although the Presidency expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the heightened security presence, it said restoring calm in Bawku and the affected regions remained a top priority.

A dusk-to-dawn curfew has since been introduced in Nalerigu, alongside a ban on the possession of weapons.

Security agencies have commenced investigations into all recent incidents as public pressure mounts for swift and decisive action to contain the unrest spreading across the Upper East, North East and Ashanti regions.

The Bawku conflict, which stems from historical disagreements over chieftaincy and ethnic claims, has led to repeated outbreaks of violence and loss of life, despite earlier mediation efforts.
Liu Shuhua (L), leader of the Chinese medical team, performs a surgery on a patient at the Bangladesh Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 26, 2025. (Xinhua)

DHAKA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese medical team from Wuhan Third Hospital on Saturday continued to treat the injured from a plane crash that happened on July 21 in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, at the Bangladesh Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery.

The doctors and nurses on Saturday offered advice to the Bangladeshi doctors about preventing wound infection and the methods of routine care for the injured, checked the patients' conditions, performed operations, offered assistance on cleaning the wounds and changing the dressings, and assisted in arterial punctures.

The medical team also held consultations with Bangladeshi doctors, along with medical teams from Singapore and India.

Liu Shuhua, leader of the Chinese medical team, said that they are willing to do whatever they can to support and assist the Bangladeshi side in treating the injured.

Also on Saturday, the handover ceremony of China's emergency medical supplies to Bangladesh was held here. Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and Md Saidur Rahman, secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, along with other officials and doctors, attended the event.

The medical supplies include more than 2,000 items of necessary medicines and surgical instruments, which were supplied by the Foreign Affairs Office of Yunnan Province and the Wuhan Third Hospital of China.

At the ceremony, Yao said that the batch of medical supplies was urgently dispatched by the Chinese side at the request of Bangladesh, reflecting China's humanitarian spirit as a responsible major country, as well as the deep friendship between China and Bangladesh in helping each other and standing together through thick and thin.

He affirmed that China would continue to provide assistance within its capacity based on Bangladesh's needs.

For his part, Saidur expressed gratitude to China for promptly supplying much-needed medical materials and dispatching a medical team to assist in treating the injured.

He noted that the Bangladeshi side highly appreciates the Chinese medical team's outstanding skills and professionalism, adding that their arrival has provided crucial support in saving lives.

The handover of materials is also part of the emergency medical assistance provided by the Chinese government to the Bangladesh side in rescuing the injured from the aircraft crash accident.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) of Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Air Force aircraft involved in a routine training flight took off from the A.K. Khandaker Air Base in Kurmitola, Dhaka, at 1:06 p.m. local time and crashed shortly later into a two-story school building on Monday.

Data from the press wing of the chief adviser of the Bangladeshi Interim Government shows that 33 people had died in the tragedy so far and 50 injured victims are now undergoing treatment at hospitals in Dhaka. 

Liu Shuhua (R), leader of the Chinese medical team, and two colleagues take a chest X-ray for a patient ahead of a surgery at the Bangladesh Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 26, 2025. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on July 26, 2025 shows a handover ceremony of China's emergency medical supplies to Bangladesh at the Bangladesh Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Xinhua/Sun Nan)

This photo taken on July 26, 2025 shows doctors from China, Bangladesh, Singapore, and India conducting a joint consultation on critical cases at the Bangladesh Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Xinhua)
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3 students killed after gunmen stormed high school campuses in Bawku and Nalerigu and opened fire

Graphic Online Jul - 27 - 2025 , 13:12 1 minute read

Two male students of the Nalerigu Senior High School in the North East Region have been killed following an attack on them by some gunmen on Saturday evening.

The students, only identified as Lukman and Gideon as of now, were reportedly at their dormitory when the said gunmen invaded the school and shot them dead on Saturday (July 26, 2025].



An uncle of one the victims who doubles as the assembly member for the Denugu Electoral Area, a community where the victims hail from has confirmed the incident.

It is not clear what triggered the incident, however, sources say it could be linked to the Bawku Conflict.

In a related development, another student was also killed at the Bawku Senior High School on Saturday night by some gunmen.

The attackers reportedly jumped the schools perimeter wall, entered the dormitory, and forcibly dragged the student outside before shooting him in what appears to be a targeted attack.
Next article: Vice President Opoku-Agyemang urges Africans to reclaim their history at 2025 PANAFEST celebrations

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See the areas that will be affected by ECGs planned maintenance on Sunday, July 27, 2025

GraphicOnline Jul - 27 - 2025 , 09:26 2 minutes read

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced planned and emergency maintenance works in parts of the Greater Accra, Tema, and Central regions on Sunday, July 27, 2025, as part of efforts to enhance service reliability and improve power delivery to consumers.

In a series of separate public notices, ECG stated that these maintenance activities will necessitate temporary power outages in the affected communities between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Greater Accra

In the Greater Accra Region, the ECG will carry out emergency maintenance works. Areas to be affected include Manet Junction, Spintex Junction, Sneada Company, China Mall, Kokomlemle, ATTC, and surrounding communities.

"ECG will undertake emergency maintenance works to improve service delivery," the statement said, adding, "ECG regrets the inconvenience that will arise as a result of this exercise."

Tema Region

Similarly, the Tema Region will undergo planned maintenance on the same day, affecting multiple communities from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Residents in Mobole, Ataa Mensah, Afienya, Greenhouse Enclave, Boiko, RSG, Pharmanova, Lakpleku, Bundase Military Training Camp, HFC Estates, Magna Terris, Methodist Junction, Central University, Miotso, Blue Hostel, Abbeykope, McKeown Estates, Atlantic Quarry, IT Quarry, Westrafo, Skyline and their environs will experience power outages during the maintenance window.

ECG said the activity is aimed at "improving service delivery" and apologised for the anticipated inconvenience.

Ashanti Region

Sunday, 27th July, 2025.

GRIDCo will undertake emergency maintenance works to improve service delivery.

Date: Sunday, 27th July, 2025.

Time: 9:00am to 12:00noon.

Affected Areas: New Edubiase, Adanse Asokwa, Fumso Obuasi Zongo, Antobuase, New Nsuta, Twapiase, Hia, Akrofuom, Okyerekrom, Wamase, and its surrounding areas.

Central Region

In a separate development, ECG in the Central Region has announced an unplanned outage due to a damaged underground cable at Ankaful. Affected areas include parts of Esukyir, Police Barrier, Winners Chapel, Mpeasem, Brimsu Headworks and surrounding communities.

"The Electricity Company of Ghana, Central Region, wishes to inform our cherished customers and the general public... that the outage being experienced is as a result of a damaged underground cable at Ankaful," the statement said.

ECG assured customers that its engineers are working around the clock to repair the fault and restore power as soon as possible.

The utility company expressed regret for the inconvenience caused by both the planned and unplanned outages and encouraged residents to plan accordingly. Customers are also urged to visit the official ECG website (www.ecg.com.gh) for updates and further information.
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Vice President Opoku-Agyemang urges Africans to reclaim their history at 2025 PANAFEST celebrations

Diana Mensah Jul - 26 - 2025 , 19:17 3 minutes read

Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on Africans across the globe to embrace and reclaim their history as a powerful tool for healing, unity, and progress.

Addressing participants at the 2025 PANAFEST and Emancipation Day grand durbar held in Cape Coast, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang underscored the importance of Africans taking ownership of their historical narrative. History is important. Studying is important. Nobody has forgotten. The narrative is still alive if we want to find it. Our elders have the history, and if we approach them with humility, they will teach us, she said.

She highlighted the need to foster stronger ties between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora, noting the legacy of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade that scattered African communities worldwide. We are in Europe, we are in Asia, we are in the Caribbean, we are in the Americas and beyond. When we talk about the African family, we need to connect all the dots, or we will not make the progress we need to make, she stated.

On the subject of reparations, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang explained that the concept should go beyond monetary restitution to address broader issues of dignity, justice, and opportunity. It has moral, political, and economic implications. We want to see a time when Africans are not living at the razors edge of life, no matter where they are  rich or poor, she said. We must live like everyone else, see ourselves in the future, and not be afraid. That goes beyond money; its about being ourselves and contributing to the world like everyone else.

The Vice-President also called for African governments to prioritise inclusive and human-centred policies that directly respond to the needs of the youth. When we say that the youth are our future, we must mean it, and it must reflect in everything we do. That is what this government  which I am proud to be part of  is striving for, she added.

She encouraged young people, particularly those in the diaspora, to participate in cultural events such as PANAFEST to reconnect with their roots and understand the sacrifices of their ancestors.

This years PANAFEST and Emancipation Day events were held under the theme Let Us Speak of Reparative Justice  Pan-African Artistic Activism. The celebrations brought together traditional rulers, ministers of state, council members, religious leaders, diaspora communities, and stakeholders from across Ghana and the African continent.

The durbar also commemorated the 100th birthday of the festivals founder, the late Efua Sutherland, a renowned Pan-Africanist and cultural icon. The gathering featured vibrant cultural displays, including drumming, dance, storytelling, and artistic performances.

Distinguished guests at the durbar included the Oguaamanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II; Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie; CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Maame Efua Houadjeto; Chairperson of the PANAFEST Board of Trustees, Esi Sutherland-Addy; and Central Regional Minister, Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere.

PANAFEST, which began in 1992, continues to be one of Africas most prominent platforms for celebrating cultural heritage and strengthening global Pan-African unity. The accompanying Emancipation Day celebration on August 1 marks the end of slavery in the British colonies and serves as a moment of reflection and renewal for African descendants worldwide.
Previous article: James Gyakye Quayson on how to save youth from being 'milked' by advanced countries in visa application fees

Featured

Give us 30% of district assembly seats  Oti chiefs propose power and revenue sharing

Mohammed Ali Politics Jul - 27 - 2025 , 08:20 2 minutes read

The President of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Soglo Alloh IV, has called for an amendment to Ghanas Constitution to give a higher percentage of representation to traditional authorities in local governance structure.

He made the appeal on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Dambai College of Education during a visit by President John Dramani Mahama as part of his nationwide thank-you tour.

Nana Soglo said chiefs in the Oti Region are urging the government to amend Article 242(d) of the 1992 Constitution to allocate a higher percentage of the portion of district assembly seats currently filled by government appointees to traditional authorities.

He suggested that 30 per cent of the assembly membership, which is currently appointed by the President in consultation with local groups, should be given to chiefs.

According to him, this change would make Ghanas decentralisation process more reflective of the role traditional leaders already play in dispute settlement, development efforts, and maintaining peace within communities.

The 1992 Constitution does not integrate chiefs into the local government system. The only formal link is through the Regional Coordinating Councils, he said. Since local government is nonpartisan, there should be no constitutional bar to traditional participation, he said".

Nana Soglo also called for traditional councils to be allocated a share of the District Assemblies Common Fund to support their roles in community development, conflict mediation, and customary justice.

District assemblies should also allow open, independent, and voluntary attendance by chiefs to observe proceedings, he said.

The call for reforms comes against the backdrop of rising tensions and conflict in some parts of the Oti Region. Nana Soglo referred to recent violence in Nkwanta South, chieftaincy disputes in Pahi, and Kadjebi, and growing unease in Kpassa.

He said the inclusion of chiefs in local governance could help address these issues more effectively through local dialogue and early intervention.

Established in 2020, the Oti Regional House of Chiefs is yet to have a permanent office and meeting place. According to Nana Soglo, construction of the Houses building has halted following a change in government. Currently, meetings are held at the Regional Coordinating Council, with the House sharing space with the Lands Commission in Dambai.

Despite these setbacks, he said traditional authorities in the region remain committed to supporting national development.

The people have remained steadfast despite economic hardship. They believe they have kept their part of the bargain and now expect visible infrastructure and improved governance as their return, he said.

President Mahama was in the region to thank residents for their support in the 2024 elections, which brought him and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) back into office.
Featured

James Gyakye Quayson on how to save youth from being 'milked' by advanced countries in visa application fees

Mohammed Ali Politics Jul - 27 - 2025 , 09:58 2 minutes read

"I personally believe that most of these so-called advanced countries are milking our people" with visa application fees, Deputy Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson has said.

To him, most of these countries are using that as revenue to support their embassies. And if we dont know that, we think that, oh, they are rich countries so they are able to afford to set up embassies [here in Ghana]. That is not the case. Most of the revenues are coming from us [Ghanaians] to support their embassies, and weve got to find a way to put an end to that, he said when he appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament last Friday [July 25, 2025] for his vetting.

He was answering a question on whether he will push for a policy to ensure that visa application fees are refunded by foreign embassies when the application is denied.

Mr Quayson said, "I think it is an administrative sector policy" that ought to be looked at.

On an average, most African youth, because of lack of opportunities, want to travel outside. A visa is not cheap. Even just the application form alone is about $160, which could be a month or two months' pay for some of our youth on labour, and these embassies are collecting this money and denying almost 90% to 95% of them, he said

"We have to find a way to streamline this to save our youth the money. Most of these countries are using that as revenue to support their embassies. And if we dont know that, we think that, oh, the rich countries will be able to afford to set up an embassy. Thats not the case. Most of the revenues are coming from us to support their embassies, and weve got to find a way to put an end to that, he added.

He said Ghanas foreign policy must reflect the countrys interests.

Foreign policy is not about protecting the foreign nations only. First and foremost, it should be protecting us. It should be reciprocated. Our domestic policy is what we extend to the foreign policy.

Watch a video of his response at the vetting
Deals: Samsung offers Buy and Try program for new Galaxy Z Fold7, Z Flip7 and Z Flip7 FE

Not sure that a foldable phone is right for you? Samsung and participating retailers like Amazon are letting you take the new Galaxy Z foldables for a spin with the Buy and Try program. This extends the return window to 45-100 days  you can return the phone (in good condition) and get a full refund if you decide that these phones are not right for you.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 also kept its free storage upgrade offer from the pre-order period, though it seems to apply only to certain colors. Also, Prime and Prime Student members can get a 100 discount.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 has an even better offer  in addition to the free storage upgrade and 100 off for Prime members, it also gets 10% off at checkout. In fact, several Samsung models get that, more on them in a bit.

Like its more premium sibling, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE gets the same offer. You may have been tempted to get the old Z Flip6 instead, but right now the FE has the better pricing with these offers.

Check out the Samsung Galaxy Watch8 and Watch8 Classic  you can grab a 10% discount with the GALAXY8 promo code and you will also collect an additional band and a Duo Wireless charger for free (the two are valued at 138). Remember that Samsung went with proprietary bands this generation, so you cant use the standard bands you have. And the charger will let you top up your phone and watch at the same time.

The Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro have some solid discounts of over 30% at the moment. Check out our Pixel 9 vs. 9 Pro article for a detailed head-to-head comparison.

Finally, we mentioned that some Samsungs get a 10% discount at checkout. This includes the Galaxy S25, S25+ and S25 Edge flagships (but not the S25 Ultra) and the likes of the Galaxy S24 FE and Galaxy A56 too. Some have additional discounts on top of that, though not all. You can find the full list here.

We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
After Samsung didn't handle the One UI 7 update very well, everyone thought the surprising One UI 8 release, based on the still-unreleased Android 16 with the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, was just some sort of redemption. However, it seems that it's actually the start of a new update strategy.

According to the renowned tipster Ice Universe, Samsung will continue prioritizing its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip phones when it comes to software updates. So from now on, the Galaxy foldables will launch with the latest Android version out of the box, while the Galaxy S series will receive an incremental One UI update.

On the other hand, Samsung may be prioritizing its flagship Galaxy S lineup in a way by polishing the user experience with each new software version before installing it on its S series. Although the foldables will be the first to receive the new UI designs, AI features, and software enhancements, the Galaxy S family will get a more stable and refined version of the software.

Source

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7
Atkins Kroll hosted an exclusive evening of elegance and innovation at its recent Lexus Leather and Luxury event designed to immerse guests in the Lexus lifestyle.

The evening at the Lexus showroom paired the latest Lexus models with a curated display of luxury leather goods in collaboration with DFS Galleria, celebrating shared values of craftsmanship, design, and timeless quality, Atkins Kroll said in a release.

We are proud to deliver an ownership experience that goes far beyond the vehicle, Atkins Kroll vice president and general manager Clark Boswell said in a statement. Lexus represents more than performanceits a brand built on integrity, refinement, and lasting relationships. Events like this reflect our continued commitment to our community and the Lexus brand.

In addition to celebrating luxury and lifestyle, the event marked the official launch of the Lexus Masters Pro-Am Fly & Play Campaign, which offers Lexus owners a chance to win an all-expense-paid, once-in-a-lifetime experience to Seoul, South Korea to participate in the prestigious Lexus Masters KPGA Pro-Am Tournament taking place this October.

At Lexus, our brand is defined by more than just precision, engineering, and luxury design  it is about creating experiences that are just as extraordinary as the vehicles we drive, Atkins Kroll marketing and brand engagement director Trina Cruz said. From the first test drive to experiences like tonights, we aim to create thoughtful, memorable touchpoints that embody the Lexus promise to Experience Amazing. This campaign is another way were bringing that promise to life.

Running from July 16 to Sept. 30, the Lexus Masters Pro-Am rewards both new and loyal Lexus owners for their continued relationship with the brand.

Eligible participants qualify by either purchasing a new Lexus or completing a Lexus service visit at Atkins Kroll Guam or Saipan during the promotional period.

In all cases, the Lexus must have been originally purchased from Atkins Kroll to qualify. To finalize participation, eligible owners must complete and submit the official Lexus Masters Pro-Am Fly & Play entry form.
Department of Corrections Director Fred Bordallo said DOC and Adelup are proposing changes to the Guam prison master plan that would prevent the construction of any new jails for detainees on the grounds of the Mangilao Adult Correctional Facility which, he said, should only be for prisoners who are already convicted of a crime and serving a sentence.

Mixing pre-trial detainees with convicted criminals such as murderers and rapists in the same compound, he said, poses safety risks to detainees.

Detention facilities or jails are for detainees awaiting investigation or trial.

Right now, because of an overcrowded detention facility in Hagatna, excess detainees are being housed also at the Mangilao Adult Correctional Facility.

Because many of the detainees are from the Federated States of Micronesia, Bordallo said he and DOC program director Sarah Thomas Nededog recently met with FSM Acting Consul General Johnny Silbanuz.

The concerns was that the FSM nationals that are pretrial are near and at times in the same housing units for disciplinary purposes with convicted inmates that are violent offenders serving murder sentences, Bordallo told the Pacific Daily News over the weekend.

The task of segregating pretrial inmates from convicted inmates in Mangilao, he said, is an uphill challenge that requires a strategy of relocating pretrial inmates away from the prison in other facilities that would serve as jails/ detention facilities as is standard practice in all jurisdictions of the United States corrections systems.

On Guam, there are more detainees than prisoners.

DOC facilities were built for 300 inmates but as of July 23, the number of prisoners and detainees reached 928.

The government of Guam has expanded the facilities piece by piece over the decades.

Of the 490 pre-trial detainees as of July 23, based on DOC data, 101 or nearly 21% are FSM citizens.

Of 490 convicted inmates or prisoners, 70 are FSM citizens.

Proposed changes

Bordallo and Nededog shared with Silbanuz some of the changes to the prison master plan that DOC, with the support of Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, is proposing.

The DOC director said these proposed changes include:

Deleting jail in the language of the master plan so that a jail or detention facility for pre-trial detainees would not be added or included within the prison grounds of the Mangilao Adult Correctional Facility for new facilities that will be built.

Deleting any language that suggests new construction facilities will house pre-trial detainees in Mangilao.

The highest population at DOC are pre-trial detainees as of July 23:

490 pre-trial detainees

398 convicted inmates/prisoners

40 federal/ICE

We shared with the Acting FSM consulate the challenge of continuing to have the prison as an overflow for incarcerating pretrial inmates here in Mangilao within the tent domes because of the pretrial inmate overcrowding situation at the Hagatna Detention Facility, Bordallo said.

The FSM consulate not only expressed appreciation for the briefing that DOC gave but also expressed concerns because of the alarming percentage of the pretrial inmates who are FSM nationals all awaiting their court adjudication process, and the potential risk and danger of the FSM nationals being within the prison grounds, Bordallo added.

DOC anticipates that the FSM consulate will share the information to the FSM leadership. He also hopes the same will reach federal officials.

Bordallo cited as an example a case in Hawaii in March this year, where a housing error may have led to the alleged murder of an inmate at Oahus largest jail.

DOC hopes to prevent the same from happening on Guam.

Bordallo also said a pretrial inmates death due to a state or territorys failure to provide safety and security, including segregation from convicted inmates, could be a violation of the Fourteenth Amendments due process protections.

If a pretrial detainee dies due to the states deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm, the state may be held liable, he added.

When you housed pretrial inmates in the same housing or within the prison grounds where hard core inmates serving triple life sentences with some psychosocial paths, that places the pretrial inmate at risk of harm and/or starts their induction into criminal university of Guam where they the pretrial inmate are likely to graduate from a property drug crime inmate to a violent crime inmate ready to do more serious activities, Bordallo added.

Earlier this year, some University of Guam students recommended moving the nearly 70 adult women in the DOC facilities to the existing Department of Youth Affairs spaces, after moving DYA and its clients to another facility, to ease overcrowding even at the Domes in Mangilao.

Late last year, Bordallo proposed releasing about half or up to 250 pre-trial detainees to address what he described as severe overcrowding.

Attorney General Douglas Moylan suggested building more DOC capacity to house the growing prison and detention population.

Earlier, DOC also looked at housing some of its population to Saipan, which has a prison facility that has ample space and could accommodate those from Guam.
ISLAMABAD, July 27 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured when a passenger bus overturned on a motorway in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province early Sunday, officials said.

The accident occurred when a Lahore-bound bus traveling from Islamabad, with 40 passengers on board, suffered a front-left tire burst, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, Deeba Shahnaz, chief public information officer at Rescue 1122, told Xinhua.

Six people died on the spot, while two others succumbed to injuries at a hospital.

Rescue teams and motorway officials reached the scene promptly. Seven of the injured sustained critical injuries and were shifted to local hospitals, the official said. 
The family of the late Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, including First Lady Wella Palacios, their children, grandchildren, and extended family, on Sunday released a statement expressing profound gratitude and deep appreciation to friends, colleagues, and community members from the across the CNMI and beyond, who have offered their prayers and who have continued to share the meaningful impact that the governor has made throughout his long career as a public servant.

The past few days have been difficult for the family, but the outpouring of love and support has helped lift them during this time of sorrow, grief and reflection.

The family was deeply moved by the residents who lined the roadways to offer their condolences and quiet farewells as the governors remains made their way to the funeral home on Saturday.

The late governors family is especially grateful to CNMI Governor David Apatang and Lieutenant Governor Dennis Mendiola for their help and leadership during this time of transition.

The family also recognized and thanked Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Guam Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio, as well as leaders and representatives from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Joint Region Marianas, the medical teams at Guam Regional Medical City and the Commonwealth Health Center Corporation, and others who have provided comfort and support.

In his decades of service to the Commonwealth, Governor Palacios championed many initiatives, policies, and accomplishments.

Beyond these, however, his most important legacy will always lie in the way he connected with people throughout the Marianas and in the many ways he genuinely sought to make a difference in their lives.

More information about funeral services is forthcoming.
MANILA, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Seven suspected rebels were killed in a clash with Philippine government troops in Masbate province, southeast of Manila, on Sunday morning, an army spokesperson said.

In a report, Major Frank Roldan of the army's 9th Infantry Division said troops clashed with 15 alleged members of the New People's Army (NPA) around 6 a.m. local time during a combat operation in the province's Uson town, resulting in the killing of seven insurgents.

No soldiers were killed or wounded in the fighting. The military said troops recovered seven assault rifles and two grenade launchers from the encounter site.

NPA rebels have been fighting government troops since 1969. Military data showed that the NPA's personnel strength has declined since its peak of around 25,000 armed members in the 1980s.

Despite its dwindling fighters, the NPA continues to launch small-scale attacks in the countryside. 




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Weapons : 9 Senators (D) Write to Rubio

9 Democratic senators, including Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, are calling on the Trump administration to lift the lid on arms exports to Haiti since 2021. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, they are demanding the publication of a detailed list of authorized weapons, the Haitian recipients involved, and the safeguards in place to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of gangs.



One BOID police officer killed, two others injured

A police officer from the Departmental Operations and Intervention Brigade (BOID) was killed and two others seriously injured during an armed attack on the night of July 24-25 against the Teleco facility in Kenscoff. The slain officer was part of the 33rd class of the PNH. Two vehicles were also set on fire, including a light armored vehicle belonging to the Haitian National Police (PNH) and another belonging to the BSAP. This attack came in retaliation for a major operation conducted earlier by the Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Task Force against armed groups operating in the area. Law enforcement has already regained control of the area.



FAd'H : Equipment Donation from Mexico

The Mexican Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AMEXCID) has donated 1,000 pieces of personal protective equipment to the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H).



14,885 people fled Dessalines and Verrettes

14,885 people, or more than 3,400 families, were forced to flee their homes after a wave of armed attacks on July 16, 2025, in the municipalities of Dessalines and Verrettes (department Artibonite). The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns of a critical humanitarian situation.



Iranians would like to recruit Nazon

International Grenadier Duckens Nazon (31) "could" leave Kayserispor (his current Turkish club). According to Iranian media, Esteghlal FC, a D1 club, is reportedly very interested in recruiting Haitian attacker Duckens Nazon.



An Electoral Chair at the UEH

Friday, July 25, 2025, the official launch of the "Chair of Law and Administration of Electoral Operations in Haiti" is an initiative of the State University of Haiti and the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). The two institutions signed a partnership agreement for the occasion, which aims to strengthen training and research in the management of electoral processes in the country. This project aims to train executives in electoral professions and strengthen institutional capacity in the country.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Palestine Action has now been proscribed, yet the UKs trade in military hardware continues without pause - even with regimes currently accused of ethnic cleansing. Just recently, UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk , described Israels actions in these terms. Under UK law, simply standing in a public space holding a placard that appears to express support for a proscribed organization can be considered a breach of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Yet since that very year, the British government has consistently sold arms to countries known for sponsoring or committing acts of terrorism - Turkey and Saudi Arabia being two prominent examples.

Some may struggle to associate these nations with terrorism, but the facts speak otherwise. Anti-Assad forces, including factions of the Free Syrian Army - infamously responsible for the execution of civil servants, such as throwing postal workers from rooftops in Al-Bab, Aleppo - were trained by UK Special Forces in Turkey. Turkeys ongoing military campaign against the Kurds, dating back to 1984, has resulted in the destruction of over 3,000 Kurdish villages and the deaths of more than 40,000 people, yet the British government maintains close ties with Turkey and sells Turkey military hardware.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) gave a death toll in Yemen back in 2021 at 377,000 from Saudi Arabian attack, yet Saudi Arabia continues to receive military support from the UK government. Then we have British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, just having shaken hands recently with Syria's Interim President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the still proscribed terrorist organisation, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and one time Al qaeda leader, who was previously directing terrorist forces against UK and US troops in Iraq.

Yet the British Government deems it a priority to proscribe Palestine Action. Al-Sham just about sums up the whole thing!

Louis Shawcross

This is a "Viewpoint" opinion column. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of The Helsinki Times. This column is not fact checked and HT is not be responsible for any possible inaccurate or incorrect statement in this article.
The third victim, born in 2008, was discovered around 23:00 by a volunteer dive team and a fishing vessel crew assisting the authorities. The two other boys, both born in 2009, were found drowned on Friday evening.

All three teenagers who went missing while swimming at Kalajokis Hiekkasarkat beach have now been found dead, Finnish police confirmed late Saturday.

The three boys had been swimming and playing with a ball on Friday afternoon when they drifted around 100 metres from shore. According to police, they likely encountered a sudden drop-off and were unable to return to shallow water.

Bystanders attempted to reach the boys using stand-up paddleboards, but the rescue efforts were unsuccessful. Emergency services, including the West Finland Coast Guard and the North Ostrobothnia Rescue Department, carried out searches throughout the evening.

Search efforts for the third missing boy were suspended late Friday and resumed on Saturday with additional support. The discovery came as weather conditions worsened, with thunderstorms and limited visibility affecting the area.

The victims were not local residents. Their families have been notified, according to the Oulu Police Department.

The search was difficult due to the size of the beach area, submerged obstacles and sea currents, said lead investigator Jan Sormunen earlier on Saturday. We thank all volunteers who took part in the search.

The shoreline at Hiekkasarkat features a gradual slope but includes sudden deep spots and soft sand, making it hazardous in places. Authorities have not identified any signs of foul play and are investigating the incident as a case of accidental death.

A memorial site formed at the beach on Saturday night as local residents and holidaymakers lit candles and laid flowers in remembrance.

Crisis support services have been activated. The city of Kalajoki, the regional welfare authority Pohde, and the local parish are providing on-site assistance for those affected. Crisis workers were available throughout the weekend at a local restaurant near the campsite.

Kalajoki parish will hold a memorial service on Sunday at noon. City youth workers are expected to be present.

Support is also available through national helplines including the MIELI mental health service, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, and the Churchs crisis phone lines.

Fridays incident contributed to a day of multiple drownings across Finland. At least four other water-related fatalities were reported in different regions.

HT
The previous record of 13 days, set in 1972, was already broken on Friday. The current streak, now at 15 days, is the longest since reliable temperature records began in 1961.

Finland has set a new national record for consecutive days with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, with Saturday marking the fifteenth straight day to cross the threshold. The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) confirmed the milestone was reached in Mikkeli, South Savo, where the temperature again surpassed 30C.

According to FMI meteorologist Ville Siiskonen, Fridays high was recorded in Koitsanlahti, Parikkala. If that threshold is crossed, it marks the 14th straight day of 30 degree temperatures somewhere in Finland, he said. Saturday then extended the record further.

Yle meteorologist Aleksi Lohtander said the heatwave is expected to persist into next week. The hot conditions have been driven by a slow-moving high-pressure system parked over the country, leading to extended periods of sunshine and dry weather.

The situation has received international attention. The BBC published a story on Friday focusing on Laplands extreme summer conditions, quoting Santa Claus who reportedly advised his elves to stay hydrated and avoid working outdoors during the peak heat.

I only go for a swim in the lake after 6pm, when things start to cool down, Santa said. According to the report, even the reindeer and visiting tourists have been affected by the unusual heat in northern Finland.

A tourist interviewed by the BBC in Rovaniemi said they had travelled from Prague to escape the heat, only to find similar conditions in Lapland.

Meteorologist Anniina Valtonen said on Friday that the hottest temperatures were expected in southeast Finland and parts of North Ostrobothnia. The 30 degree heatwave will likely continue through Friday and possibly Saturday. Sunday remains uncertain, she said.

The high-pressure system that has kept Finland hot and dry is now beginning to shift eastward, allowing more unstable weather patterns to approach from the west. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to spread on Sunday, especially in western regions.

People should prepare for scattered rain showers across much of the country, Valtonen said. These summer showers are actually welcome  theyre short-lived and can bring some brief relief from the heat.

The FMI predicts that Sunday temperatures are unlikely to exceed 30C. Although the heatwave may ease next week, warm weather is expected to continue.

HT
The Royal Jordanian Air Force and the United Arab Emirates carried out a joint air drop of 25 tonnes of food and medical supplies on Sunday. Jordanian authorities said this marked the 127th air drop by the country since the war began in October 2023.

Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza have intensified as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates launched new air drops, while Israel declared limited daily pauses in military activity. Despite these measures, dozens of Palestinians have died in continued Israeli strikes and from malnutrition, according to health officials in the territory.

Jordan also sent a ground convoy of 60 trucks carrying essential food, coordinated with the World Food Programme and World Central Kitchen.

Israeli military officials said humanitarian corridors have been established to enable aid convoys to move more safely through Gaza. Military activity was temporarily halted between 10:00 and 20:00 local time in three zones: Gaza City, Deir el-Balah, and al-Mawasi. These areas were designated for daily pauses to allow the movement of United Nations and other humanitarian organisations.

Despite the declared pauses, the Gaza health ministry reported 53 deaths on Sunday alone, including 32 people who were waiting for aid at distribution points. Witnesses and local journalists said air strikes hit residential areas and a bakery during the pause period. The Israeli army did not comment on the reported incidents.

The number of deaths from starvation in Gaza has reached 133, including 87 children, according to health authorities in the enclave. The World Food Programme said one-third of Gaza's population had gone without food for days and described nearly half a million people as enduring famine-like conditions.

Former UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness criticised Israels pause strategy as insufficient, calling the air drops undignified and demanding full and permanent reopening of Gazas land borders. Gazas land borders must immediately be opened 24/7, making these undignified airdrops unnecessary, Gunness said in a statement.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access food at Israeli-controlled distribution points since May. Aid agencies have condemned the existing aid delivery mechanism as dangerous and inadequate.

President of Finland Alexander Stubb described the crisis as a man-made famine and called on Israel to allow unrestricted access for humanitarian organisations. This situation is deplorable and shameful, he posted on social media. He joined a growing number of European leaders urging immediate and unhindered aid access.

In Gaza City, chaos unfolded as a limited number of flour trucks were surrounded and looted before reaching the intended distribution centre. Local residents said the trucks were intercepted by desperate crowds. Several trucks failed to reach the densely populated central areas of the city.

Palestinians reported that airdropped packages landed in inaccessible or hazardous locations, including the al-Sudaniyah district. Eyewitnesses said people rushed to retrieve the aid and were injured in the process. In some previous instances, falling aid parcels have caused deaths and injuries.

The UNs emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher confirmed that teams on the ground are attempting to reach as many civilians as possible during the designated aid windows. We will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window, he said.

The Gaza health ministry also said six people, including two children, died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours. Humanitarian organisations reported being overwhelmed and warned they are unable to treat all those suffering from extreme hunger.

Medical workers described scenes of skin and bones among children arriving at hospitals. One aid worker from Medical Aid for Palestinians said, The number of children dying from malnutrition is now outpacing the rate at which we can treat them.

Despite international pressure, Israeli air and ground operations have continued. Witnesses reported an airstrike on a residential building in western Gaza City shortly after the pause began, killing a woman and her four children. Local journalist Hind Khoudary said rescue teams were unable to access the site promptly due to security concerns.

International criticism of Israels blockade and aid restrictions continues to mount. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, It is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered. He stated that Australia would not immediately recognise Palestinian statehood but would consider it as part of a longer-term solution.

Meanwhile, France has pledged to recognise the State of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly session. Protests were held in Sydney, Australia, with demonstrators calling for an end to the siege.

The Israeli government has faced internal criticism over its handling of the humanitarian crisis. Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he was excluded from recent consultations and described the aid drops as a shame and disgrace.

UN agencies and rights groups have repeated their calls for a sustained ceasefire. An agreed ceasefire is the only way for humanitarian assistance to reach the entire civilian population in Gaza with critical food supplies in a consistent, predictable, orderly and safe manner, the World Food Programme said.

Despite Israeli claims of efforts to improve the aid situation, access to Gaza remains highly restricted. Israel has not responded to accusations of targeting aid seekers or obstructing aid deliveries.

The Gaza health ministry reported that since the start of the war in October, 59,821 Palestinians have been killed and 144,851 wounded. Among the dead are 1,132 people killed while collecting aid and another 7,521 injured at or near distribution points.

HT
Fighting between the two Southeast Asian nations began on Thursday along contested sections of the border. Both sides have exchanged artillery and gunfire, with civilian areas also sustaining damage. Officials report that most of the fatalities have been civilians caught in crossfire or killed during artillery shelling.

The prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to meet on Monday in Malaysia to discuss a ceasefire following deadly clashes at their shared border. Thai authorities confirmed the meeting after days of escalating violence that has left more than 30 people dead and forced over 200,000 to flee their homes.

The violence continued on Sunday, with further reports of destruction, including the shelling of residential buildings in Thailands Surin province. Images from the area show homes reduced to rubble.

Cambodia and Thailand have a history of recurring border disputes, particularly around areas with unclear demarcations and contested historical claims. Previous incidents have flared intermittently over the past two decades but have generally been contained through regional diplomacy.

The United States has intervened diplomatically. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he had spoken with both leaders in separate phone calls. The White House has not released further details, but the US State Department issued a statement urging restraint and offering mediation support if requested.

According to Thai officials, the death toll has reached 34, with the majority killed in the early hours of the conflict. Cambodian authorities have not publicly confirmed the number of their own casualties, but local media reported several deaths in border communities.

The United Nations Security Council held a closed-door emergency meeting on Friday following a request by Hun Manet, the Prime Minister of Cambodia. The council did not issue a joint statement but called for an immediate halt to hostilities and the protection of civilians.

Local authorities report that more than 200,000 residents from both countries have been displaced, many seeking refuge in temporary shelters set up in schools and community centres. Humanitarian organisations have begun mobilising resources to provide food, water, and medical aid to the affected populations.

The upcoming meeting between Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Hun Manet in Kuala Lumpur will be the first direct contact between the two since the outbreak of violence.

HT